Jared's 7th Birthday!!!!!

This past week has been super busy!!! Last Monday I guess there really wasn't much, but I think that is the only day.  We just had a fun time playing outside and having Family Home Evening.

Tuesday Bradley had his preschool in the morning and we walked down to pick up Lauren.  Then just getting some stuff done in the afternoon before getting Jared.  After we got Jared he hurried and delivered his invitations to his birthday party.  Then we got Alan and went to Ikea.  Alan wanted to get some things there to build a standing desk.  Kids eat free there on Tuesdays and we had a free dinner coupon from earlier this Summer...so we got to enjoy our dinner there.  They all loved it and had a fun time....too bad it isn't a little closer so we could go there every week.

Here is what Alan made...

Wednesday was the day I think...that I drove 6 kids to school.  When we were headed out to the car our neighbor who drives more neighbors car wouldn't start so we ended up taking them all.  When I got home we took Alan down since he was in a hurry.  Then my visiting teachers came.  Bradley, Connor and I went to story time at the library, got some boxes (for Jared's party) from BYU recycles, brought the boxes home, picked up Lauren, stopped by home really fast and went to ready to learn (which was in the court house building this time...we got to have a self guided tour while trying to find the class).  After ready to learn we came back and I watched some neighbor kids until it was time to pick up Jared.  After getting Jared we went to Winco.  Then hurried home and ate dinner quick (chicken from Winco) and I went to a Relief Society activity....What a day!

Thursday seemed almost as busy.  After dropping everyone off there was a birthday party in the quad for a little girl.  We had to leave early to help in Lauren's class.  We walked down and got a flat tire on the stroller on the front wheel, so the way back I just had to tip it back and they rode on 2 wheels.  We just had time for lunch and then we watched the Stuart kids.  Keith was defending his dissertation...and he passed and is done!  Jessica got back just in time for me to go get Jared.  While I was watching them we went outside and Brad and I were playing and he caught my mole...it started bleeding...luckily someone was out there who could keep an eye on everyone for a minute.  After getting Jared we worked on homework...like every day.  I forgot to go visiting teaching...oops...so I'll go next week.  I remembered I had forgotten on our way out the door to Lauren's soccer game.  Jared had an accident at the game...which made it quite exciting.  When we got home I went to our quad community meeting and Alan got home not too long after that.  He stayed for some info sessions...it was the career fair.  I made a quick trip to walmart and baked some cupcakes.  Alan made the pinata. It was a long crazy day.

Friday I spent most of the day getting ready for Jared's party.  I did go help in Jared's class (Brad and Connor go play at a friend's for it).  I made a few more cupcakes, frosted them all, and 2 batches of jello popcorn...plus a few other getting ready things.  Alan had a couple of preliminary interviews and went to another presentation.  Jared's party was at 3.  Alan made it home in time and Greg came up to help too.  Jared's party was a cardboard box party.  It was one of the funnest parties ever.  We just played with boxes for the first hour and then had a pinata and cupcakes, popcorn, and drinks.  It was simple but tons of fun.  I think everyone loved it.  I passed out 44 bags for the pinata...and that's only for the kids that cared...there were several too small and a couple too big to need bags for candy....it was a huge party!  After the party we went to the fall festival at Wasatch for a few minutes.  When we got home we went up and said bye to the Stuarts (they flew out early Saturday morning)...we sure will miss them.  We are all really good friends with their family...we did Jared's party this day so Nathan could be there...Jared says he is his best friend.  I think Friday night I turned to Alan and said day 1 of crazy weekend down.

Jared and Lauren's pop bottle creations they had to before school Friday morning

all the cupcakes...

toss the balls in the holes

our cardboard city...just getting started

bubble wrap hop scotch

creation 1...

creation 3 or 4...or so...

city from the other side

Lauren in her house/ car

pinata...look at all those kids...

Jeff stopped by right about clean up time and played with Bradley and Connor

and we put Greg to work

Saturday Lauren had a soccer game at 10 (we took the treat).  The Wymount opening social was also at 10 so we hurried over there after.  They changed the set up a little this year and had a few different activities...over all I liked it better.  One of the new ones was rubber ducky races...it was pretty fun...and mine got 3rd.  Greg went with us (to the game too) and his got 1st.  In a different heat Jeff and Elizabeth went 1 and 2.  Jared tried sliding down the duck track too...There was also tug of war...I had never seen a rope break until Saturday...it was pretty entertaining to watch both sides fall over backwards.  At the end we had to hurry to Jared's game (we took the treat).  Then we went to a baby shower for a couple that used to be in quad 2 at Rock Canyon park.  It was fun...and there were a few ice blocks that had been left there, so Jared and Lauren gave it a try.  From there we hurried home to drop some people off and I took Greg to get some dance shoes then hurried back and gave him a hair cut.  He was trying to get to the Folk Dance opening social.  I started working on dinner when I got home and after dinner we went down to Spanish Fork to hear a Piano Guys concert.  They were having sound problems so it started late and then we couldn't hear very well...and we were all tired...so we left before it was over...but I think we got to hear some of our favorite songs.

cake walk at the opening social

ducky slide

jump jump jump

Jared's last soccer game

before the concert started

Today is Jared's birthday.  It was also the Brigham City Temple dedication.  It was broadcast to all the stakes in Utah and some in southern Idaho.  We didn't have regular church.  Jeff and Elizabeth went to the 9:00 session and then watched our kids so we could go to the 12:00 one.  There was also one at 3.  Elder Packer presided and Elder Nelson and Elder Perry were also there.  It was really nice.  Jared wanted barbecue chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner...we also had some broccoli and green salad, and tried some fish that our neighbors left for us.  We had presents and cake and ice cream.  It was just a really nice day spent with family.  We sure are lucky to have Jeff and Elizabeth and Greg here with us right now.

I don't know why the tube kept getting clogged...the frosting was like soup

I'm looking forward to a little less crazy week coming up...at least I hope.

Visit from Great Grandma

Last Monday Alan got his paper all turned in and submitted and everything.  That was really good and nice.  In the evening I took Jared, Lauren, Bradley, and Connor to a city services fair.  I feel like most of this stuff was just usually at the Clark County fair. It had firemen, policemen,  public utilities,  parks and Recreation,  the library...I'm probably forgetting some.  It was pretty fun.  They were letting people spray fire hoses,and giving bucket rides in the bucket truck...We didn't get to ride on it....We did get to go on a bus...and get ten tons of free pencils :)  some were even color changers...like changes as it gets hot...what were those things called...I don't remember just that I thought they were pretty cool.  The weather started getting pretty nasty...really windy...so they started to take everything down.  It turned into a big thunderstorm the lightning was pretty close.  We picked Alan up on the way home and by the time we were getting him it was pouring pretty good.  We came by home for just a couple of minutes and them went to the library for the Provo reads kick off party...I was hoping to win a book, but we didn't get any.  We saw though on our way that lightning had struck Y mountain and started a fire...Luckily it didn't burn too much...it was still smoldering on Tuesday though.  I could see the smoke when I walked down to pick up Lauren.

Connor loving green smoothie

Driving the Bus

Tuesday was a normal day.  Bradley got to go to preschool again...just in the basement here.  Lauren and Jared had good days at school too. They had a special flag ceremony in the morning for the whole school.  Jared just happened to wear red white and blue and was pretty happy about it.  Jared had a soccer game in the evening.

Playing at Jared's soccer game....

Wednesday  was just regular.  I got to talk to Mom and Maggie in the morning.  It was school picture day too.

This pretty much sums up our morning...

Jared wanted one of his own

Thursday Bradley, Connor and I went to story time at the library.  Then walked down to pick up Lauren...like we do every day.  Thursday is show and tell for both Jared and Lauren.  Jared took a picture he drew and Lauren was supposed to take two things that rhyme...she took a doll and ball and a hat and cat.  Lauren had a soccer game after school.  Then there was a Grad student society opening barbecue.  There was food, jumpy things, and balloon animals.  It was fun to see so many friends there....our whole stairwell could have gone, but we only saw 3 of the 5 other families...plus several others from our quad.

Friday afternoon one of Jared's good friends had a birthday party...and a going away party.  They will move on Saturday and our whole family will miss them.  They all have become good friends.   Nathan had a fun party...decorating cupcakes and playing in the quad.  That evening we went and picked apples at Alan's co-worker's house.  He has a green apple tree and he doesn't like apples...and neither does his family.  It had a ton of apples.  Even though we brought home 8 grocery bags full it didn't look like we made a dent.  I'll be busy with apples this coming week.  Brad was picking a cookie to eat and he saw one and said I don't want that one...it is too spongy.  (It was upside down)  I'll have this one (It was right side up).  I thought it was a pretty good description of how the bottom of the cookie really looked...but I have no idea how he knew that...We don't have a sponge....I was surprised.

Saturday morning Grandma Schachterle called and said they were in Ogden and coming to visit..If we were available later in the day.  I said sure.  They came around 1 and stayed until about 4. It was fun to get to see them.  It has been about 2 years since we last saw them.  Jared pulled out marbles. First thing...that is one of his memories of great grandpa's house.  Jared also said that Great Grandpa likes to play more than dad.  He has good memories.  Jeff and Elizabeth and Greg came to visit too.  In the evening we had an adult stake conference meeting.  We took Connor but Greg came over and watched the others.   When we got back from the meeting they were all dressed and ready to go to a wedding reception...we were surprised.  The wedding reception was for a guy that used to work in Alan's lab. Then we hurried home to watch the BYU Utah football game.

Today was regional conference.  We saw a broadcast at our stake center.  It was for all the stakes in Utah county...all 146.  It was broadcast from the Marriott Center and Elder Oaks presided. This afternoon we saw some old friends from quad 2 and walked up to the temple.

Brigham City Temple open house

Last Monday was Labor Day.  We didn't have a plan when we got up, but it didn't take me too long to decide that we were going to go to the Brigham City Temple open house.  I had looked at when tickets were still available for and none of the times worked for us.  I decided that we should just go...and if we were going to just go Monday was the best day.  It took us a little while to get ready but then we were off...I really had to drag everyone else along...but I think in the end they were all glad.   We called Greg after we had already left home to see if he wanted to go along.  He said sure..I'm not sure he knew what he was getting himself into.  The drive was fine, but I guess tons of people decided to go on Monday too.  The line to get in went out and around the whole Temple.  It took about an hour to get into the parking garage...We thought when we got there we would be in, but there was still more line inside.  We watched a video and then waited some more.  Seeing and being in the line outside reminded me of the Portland Temple open house.  The Temple was beautiful inside and outside.  They had little white booties to put on to cover your shoes.  Bradley was really tired, but there was no way he was going to put them on.  He just kept screaming at the top of his lungs No I don't want them!!!!  In the crowded spot with the other people who had waited to go into the Temple.  They said he could just take his shoes off and go through in his socks, but he didn't want to do that either.  He did finally put the white shoe covers on.  The peach blossom is a theme throughout the Temple and it is really pretty.  We got Greg home just after seven (We had left close to noon) so he could eat and hopefully find his family home evening group.  I think everyone enjoyed our trip...even if it was a little long and spur of the moment.

 Trying to hide out in the one little shady spot on that side of the Temple

Tuesday was back to school.   Bradley got to go to a preschool some moms are doing in the basement.  There were 22 kids there.  It was a ton.   It is all the 2 and 3 year olds plus any siblings they have who aren't in school.  It was fun and Brad really liked having something to call his own.  We got done just in time to walk down and pick up Lauren.  Jared had his first day of full long days.  He survived.  We picked Alan up on our way to Jared's soccer game.  Jared did great as always.  Alan came home for dinner and then went back to work.

Wednesday we walked down to pick up Lauren.   She is loving Kindergarten and had a great day.  Jared happened to see us at lunch recess and got really sad and didn't want us to leave.  He was still crying when the bell rang to go back to class.  I sent him in and he had a good rest of the day.  He was still crying in line and all the others in his class wanted to know what happened and he just told them that he was sad.  I guess they talked a little about it in his class and he was fine. We went and walked around campus a little after leaving Jared.  The bell tower was playing Skip to My Lou.  This is the second time I have heard it being played and it is just so fun...it makes me happy.  Alan came home for dinner and the went back to work for a marathon night.  I think he got home around 5 am.

Thursday after dropping Jared and Lauren off we came home and tried to do everything that requires water since ours was getting shut off for most of the day...water plants, dishes, Brad even had a bath.  We woke Alan up just before 10...when they were turning it off.  Then we walked with him down to campus and then over to get Lauren.  After we got Lauren we walked back over to campus.  It was involvapolooza Thursday and Friday.  It is when lots of the clubs around campus try and recruit new members so they have booths and things set up.  It is pretty fun just to walk around and see what some of the clubs are.  We saw Greg on campus too...which is always fun.   Thursday Lauren had a soccer game....then Alan went back to work....but didn't stay as late.

Jared has been having color days at school, but Thursday was the last one and it was rainbow day...  There was a full double rainbow on rainbow day.   It was really vivid you can see how it comes down in front of the mountain.

Friday after we picked up Jared (he always gets early release on Fridays ) we went over to campus.  He wanted to see what was going on.  It was all about over when we got there, but Jared and Lauren both got to try climbing the climbing wall that the Army ROTC had there.  Jared went all the way to the top and rang the buzzer.   Friday night Alan came home for dinner and then we dropped him off at work on our way to the volleyball game.  We played Utah...and won in 3 games.  We all had a fun time.  Brad was a great dancer and you should see Lauren's Y dance!!!!

Saturday morning was our stake breakfast.  It was a yummy breakfast with a few games for kids...like fishing and bean bag toss. Jared had a soccer game.  They won and Jared scored a couple of goals.  Jeff and Elizabeth came to the game...and the breakfast.  It was fun to see them some.  In the afternoon we watched the football game.  Alan worked on some builder workshop kits with them and we went to winco.

Today was a good day.  I did singing time....it was a little crazy!!!!  So were both of the nurseries.  I think later church time is just in the middle of everyone's naps...as opposed to your nap being in the middle of church. :)  For dinner we had mashed potatoes,  corn on the cob, and grilled chicken.  It was all really good.  I also mixed up a can of pink lemonade.  At the end of the meal Brad was drinking his and looked down in the bottom of his glass and said "I don't want fish in it".  I laughed really hard.  Poor guy thought the pulp were fish.  Bradley loves corn!!! He husked 2 of the 3 pieces we had tonight.  I broke them all in half...Jared didn't eat one and Bradley at 2 with dinner.  One got taken back inside after dinner...in the pot with the lid on.  A little while later Brad came along and looked in the pot and said oh I want the last corn.  Lauren said  I want it too.  I told them they could share it.  Bradley started eating it and ate the whole thing except one or two little kernels then gave it to Lauren and said here Lauren you can have it now....to which she said It's gone!!!!

Hey I want your corn

Lets Go!!!

Connor can get wherever he wants to pretty much now.  He will go looking for me and pretty much always heads to the kitchen...even if he saw me go the other way...He is still just scooting, but he is getting faster.  Also one day last week while I was folding laundry on the floor next to him he dropped his toy into the laundry basket and he almost pulled himself to standing to get his toy back.

Alan's paper is due on Monday so hopefully we will see him a little more...and he will be able to sleep a little more too.

Lauren Starts Kindergarten

This Last week has been pretty busy....well not really but I tend to make things that way even if they aren't.  Alan was busy again all week trying to get things done, but did manage to squeeze in a little fun.  Last Monday after school (Jared still has early release) I took him to his SEP (student, educator, parent) conference.  He also had a reading assessment while we were there.  We played outside quite a bit.  Alan had to stay pretty late at work.

Tuesday Jared had another good day at school.  We always ask him how his day was when we pick him up and he always (so far) says good in a bright happy tone.  We walked down to pick him up this day.  We had been over on campus and then walked over to pick him up and home.  Jared had a soccer game in the evening and then we went over to the party at the stadium.  We got to see the new screens and ribbon light boards that they put in.  They were pretty cool.   They had athletes to meet under the south end bleachers and you could go sit in the seats in the south end zone.  Bradley didn't want to do anything except go sit in the seats.  It was a really pretty evening.  We tried out a couple of different places and when he had found a spot he liked he turned to me and said "when is the team coming out...when is it going to start"  He was pretty disappointed when I said there wasn't a game that night.  We also got to go in and see the locker room. I also went visiting teaching sometime in the afternoon.

Wednesday was Lauren's first day of Kindergarten.  Alan took her into her class and she just went right in.  She sounds like she is loving it.  The first day she got to do the ABC dance.  Just tonight she showed us all how it went and as Greg put it everything is better with jazz hands.  She tells us way more about what she did that day and who is in her class than Jared does.  It is fun to see her get so excited about it.  We walked down to pick Lauren up and then back home.  We had to go get Alan so he could renew his driver's licence.  He just had a small window when he was able to go (between people coming in to do his user study).  He still had the car when it was time to pick up Jared.  We walked down again..well Lauren rode her bike and I rolled Jared's bike down for him.  That way they could both ride home.  When we got back Alan was here, so we dropped him off on campus.  We came home and played for a bit.  When Alan got home we decided to go to seven peaks.  It was one of the last days that it was going to be open.  We saw several friends there and had a good time.

Thursday we walked to pick Lauren up from school and then over to campus.  They were having a hot dog barbecue and popsicles.  We saw Greg and took some food to Alan and had a good time.  Lauren was pretty tired and complained so much she got a shoulder ride home.  I had the carrier for Connor, but he was sleeping so well I didn't want to move him.  We got home just in time to pick Jared up.  Thursday night was the computer science opening social...all the pizza you can eat.  It started at 5 and Lauren had a soccer game at 5:30, so we dropped the boys off (I kept Connor) with Alan who met us there (Kiwanis Park) and I took Lauren to her soccer game.  It started to pour right when her game was supposed to start.  It took them a minute but they kept playing.  Connor and I got pretty wet.  Connor looked like he had just gotten out of the bath tub even through I tried to protect him.  We were pretty much dried off by the time the game was over....one of the good things about dry dry Utah.  We got back to the party just in time to pick up the other guys...they had saved some pizza for us.  Alan and I  watched the BYU game, but made the other guys go to bed part way through.

Friday was Alan's birthday.  Bradley, Connor and I made lemon bars to take to Alan and his lab for his birthday.  We picked up Lauren and then walked the lemon bars down to him.  Then over to pick up Jared.  Sometime in there we lost Connor's hat.  Jared has been wanting to walk around campus all week, so he was pretty excited at the chance to trace our steps back and see if we could find the hat.  All week there has been a little tent canopy thing set up outside the library with a game to play and if you win you get a Frisbee or water bottle.  Lauren is pretty much on a first name basis with the girl who runs it.  She collected water bottles all week.  (I think we have 4 total and 3 Frisbee)  Jared was glad to get a chance to do it too...and Friday was the only day that Bradley wanted to try it.  They have also opened the new ramp by the bell tower.  I used it every day this week (except wed since I didn't walk to campus that day)  It is really nice and I like it!!!  Another funny thing we saw were cookies that someone had tried to bake on top of some lights close to the new dorm buildings...so looked more done than others...and on some of the lights the cookies were gone.  We did find Connor's hat...in the bush next to our house.  It was a fun walk anyway...  Alan had decided that since he has been so busy he just wanted to have a big dinner and cake today.  We did have a few presents for him to open.  I think he had a pretty good day. 

Saturday Alan had to go into work again.  It was kind of a long day since we didn't have much going on.  We did make a trip to winco and we were able to get some apple boxes from Macey's.  Our neighbors were also getting rid of a huge lazyboy box.  It is now in our place...and they are having tons of fun  with it.  We watched Little Rascals last night too.

Today we played in boxes before church.  Church was good.  I just played piano and I think Alan's class went well.  After church Jeff, Elizabeth, and Greg came over and Alan made pizza.  We also had cake.  Alan just wanted pound cake with strawberries (I also pulled out some raspberries) and whipped cream, but we sang to him and made him blow out all 32 candles.  It was another great day!  I'm looking forward to a holiday tomorrow.  It would have been the perfect weekend to go somewhere and do something fun since it was his birthday and a long weekend, but Alan has to work...and I would rather be done.

I'm not sure if I wrote this or not yet.  When ever Bradley see a B he says "a B for Bradley"  I love it.  It is the only time that he will say his name and it comes out so cute...more like bwalley.  A few weeks ago at church while looking at the clock he said look a 2 for me and a B for Bradley....I think he must have been seeing the 8.  Well one day last week when we were walking to pick Lauren up, Brad said "look an A for Ashley...our Ashley...mom an A for our Ashley" in his cute little voice.  Have a wonderful orange-pineapple week!!!