Halloween fun begins

Last Monday was a pretty good day.  There wasn't anything going on.  Even the kids I usually watch on Mondays forgot to come.  I worked more on Halloween costumes and I made a couple more flowers to go on the grape vine wreath I made last year.  I'm not sure it is done, but I like it well enough for now.

Tuesday Bradley had preschool and I had a stake primary meeting in the evening.  We played outside a little, but last week was really cool, so not for too long.

Wednesday we went to the library and did a little more work on costumes.   We went outside but it was really cold.  I could only last about 30 minutes.  We also picked carrots and got rid of most of the other plants.

They all thought it was pretty funny that we grew baby carrots.

Thursday we woke up to a little snow and then after dropping those guys off at school it snowed about an inch. Bradley, Connor, and I helped in Lauren's class.  They were working on their favorite things Page for their all about me books.  It was kind of funny how the groups would have similar favorite things..like one little girl drew a Christmas tree and they all decided they loved Christmas trees.  This also happened with ice cream, strawberries, graham crackers, and pillows.   That night we had a community potluck and halloween party.  There was a lot of yummy food and fun games to play.  They had planned on having the whole thing outside,  but I talked them into eating inside and just the games were outside.  It was in the 30s.  I ran the pin the spider on the web game.

Friday it was so cold that the 2 sliding doors on the car were stuck shut.  One of them got unstuck on the drive to school, but the other one was still stuck when we went to go help in Jared's class.  That made it challenging to get Connor's car seat into the car since his door was the one stuck.  Bradley and Connor had fun playing at their friend's house and I had fun getting read to by all the kids in Jared's class.    I was having a pretty forgetful day.  I was thinking that after getting home we would eat a quick lunch and then hurry to walmart for soap and a couple last little things I needed for their costumes and we would be back in plenty of time to get Jared.  I knew Greg would be stopping by on his way home from the temple, so we decided to wait for him...then I would see if there was time to go to walmart before getting Jared.  We ate a really slow lunch and I was helping Brad wash his hand in the bath room and I thought about getting Jared...and remembered that he gets done early on Fridays.   and looked down at my watch and it said 1:41.  I said aaaahhhh!  I was already 11 minutes late.  I hurried everyone out the door as fast as we could...everyone needed shoes, coats, and or pants.  Jared said he was just about to go to the office to call, but then saw us coming.  When we got home Greg was just getting here.  Perfect timing :)  He stayed a few minutes.  We got ready to go run our errands.  We dropped off leftover apple crisp at Alan's lab, then we went to DI and walmart.  That night we had a ward talent show.  We juggled and Jared rode his unicycle.  They had soup, salad, and bread sticks from Olive Garden.  It was a fun night.


Saturday we finished everyone's costumes and watched Greg's ultimate Frisbee game and Greg got a hair cut...and I wish more of the boys had.  We watched part of the BYU game.  Then we went to a couple of fun Halloween activities in the community.  First we went to the central Utah gardens.  They had a pumpkin carving contest and some fun games.  Some of the pumpkins were really amazing.  Then we went to the Riverwoods.  They were having a pumpkin festival there and we went trick or treating at the shops there.  It was a fun afternoon and everyone loved their costumes.  Bradley didn't like the way I made the octopus at first, but by the end of the first place he said I'm never taking this off...he got told how neat and cute he was a lot.  Jared did too which was good because I had a hard time telling if he was having fun.  Then we hurried to winco and home for dinner and bed.

designated pull man

Under the Sea, octopus, jelly fish, little mermaid, and crab (poor Connor...most people thought he was a girl beacuse of the headband I think)

A couple of our favorites

pumpkin bowling was just on the other side...you can see all the broken pumpkins on the side

Check out my crazy hair...and ignore the messy room

Today was a good day too.  I went visiting teaching before church and church went well.  Some of the kids were singing so loud in primary their faces were turning blue.  It was a fun day. After church we went over to Jeff and Elizabeth's for a Harry Potter dinner.  It was super fun.  We all got to get sorted and have badges and eat yummy food.  I should have brought a menu home.  Alan has been reading Harry Potter (the 1st one) to these guys at bed time.  They only have 1 chapter left, so they were super excited about the dinner.  After dinner we played apples to apples.  Thanks for a super fun evening.  I was wiping the bathroom sink a little earlier because it was pretty bad and Lauren said what are you doing cleaning the sink.  I said yes and she said why are you doing it without me?  Do you want me to do it?  I love that girl.

Hoping for Gryffindor...but he's in Slytherin 

Hufflepuff

Slytherin

Hufflepuff

Hufflepuff

Ravenclaw

Ravenclaw

Ravenclaw

the coveted Gryffindor!!!

Just another normal week

Early Monday morning Grandma and Grandpa came by to pick up Lindsay and Alyanne to take them up to Salt Lake on their way.  It was sad to say bye.  I went back to bed for a bit after they left since it was another no school day.  It was nice to have one more day.  I wasn't feeling great...mostly just sinus stuff.  My nose was drippy like a faucet.  We had a nice slow morning and since there was no school I forgot that the kids who come on mondays to play were coming.  I was about to get in the shower when they got here.  They were here about an hour and then we went and played outside.  We came in and had lunch and then took Greg to get his passport paperwork turned in.  The office was still closed for lunch when we got there at 1:45, so we got in the long line.  After a few minutes Bradley decided he needed to go to the bathroom, so then Lauren did too.  There wasn't a bathroom at the post office, so we went to find one.  We walked 3 blocks to the new Utah Valley Convention center (or whatever it is called) on Center street and used the bathrooms there.  We hadn't been able to go to the open house they had for it, so it was kind of fun to see part of it.  It took us a little while and by the time we got back the office had opened back up.  Of Course there was a bathroom in the hallway with the passport office.  Oh well.  It helped us pass the time to go for a little walk.  Beside we still got to wait plenty long once we got back...30 or 45 minutes.  Lauren and the lady next to her chatted the whole time.  We were glad when Greg was finally done...and so was he.  Alan had an initial phone interview for a potential job.

Tuesday Brad had preschool and everyone else was back to school too.  I still didn't feel very well.  It was a pretty normal day.  I think I got to fold some laundry and do dishes.  We went to juggling club in the evening.  The juggling club had won 3rd place for the performance category in the parade and got a little trophy for it.  They gave it to Jared and even wrote his name on it.  He is pretty proud of it.  He worked hard to be able to ride in the parade.  He took the trophy to his class for show and tell last week too.

Wednesday we went to ready to learn after picking Lauren up.  We walked down to get her and I rolled her bike down so she could ride it home and we could be a little faster.  We also walked to pick up Jared.  Lauren rode her bike and I took him his.  There are starting to be lots of fun halloween decorations up to see around the neighborhood.  Wednesday was also the day I went into the MTC 11 years ago...wow that sounds like a long time, but it doesn't seem like that long ago.  After Lauren's bath that night I decided I would finally cut her hair.  I think we've given it a little trim a long time ago...and really we just trimmed it a little again.  After I cut it she said she wanted it shorter and I told her it would get shorter as it dried.  She then thought it would get like 4 inches shorter, she ended up liking it in the end I think.

Thursday I was starting to feel a little better.  We went and helped in Lauren's class.  We were slow getting done there and then signing out at the office.  Jared was headed out to lunch recess right when we were leaving and he didn't want us to go.  He was super tired.  We ended up staying with him through his whole recess, but I don't think he was crying by the time he got back into his classroom.  I just think he was really tired and worn out...and maybe not feeling great.

Thursday was another laundry day.  Loving his dried apple and helping

Friday Jared's class got to go on their fall walk field trip.  They got to walk around BYU's campus and collect any signs of fall in a gallon bag.  They could just pick up whatever they wanted.  Alan went with Jared's class.  It sounded like they had a pretty fun time.  They got to eat lunch at the duck pond.  Greg stopped by on his way home from the temple, like every Friday.  It's fun to have him here.  That night Lauren and I went to Joann's for fabric for her costume...and a girl party.

Saturday Greg came up and watched everyone so Alan and I could go to the temple with the ward.  It has been a really long time since we've gone together.  Thanks Greg!  Then we went to a short Primary Teacher meeting.  We watched the Notre Dame football game.  I worked on Lauren's halloween costume and some other projects.  We mostly just took it easy.  Everyone has just needed a week to rest and get better...most have coughs and have just been tired.  Jared had a fever too and slept a good chunk of the day.

not done yet, but it's a start

Today Jared threw up this morning, but then felt fine.  He stayed home from church anyway.  Alan went at the start and then I went down 3rd hour to play piano in primary.  We got a new counselor in the bishopric.  We went on a short walk, had dinner, delivered some phantom treats, and Alan went home teaching.  Connor will crawl up on his knees sometimes now and he is pulling himself up on everything.  He is getting so big.  He had his first 2 teeth break through recently too.  One last week on Saturday and one last Sunday...both on the bottom. Saturday was the bottom left middle one and Sunday was the right middle one.  He is really good about just playing right along with the rest of them...and by himself.

caught crawling on his knees...and getting the MP3 player

It has been a good week with not tons going on...and we needed it.  Everyone is feeling better now though and is ready for a new week.  Here are a few of my favorite things Bradley has said in the last few weeks talking me (I was singing Take time to be holy to myself in the kitchen) "why are you making that noise?" Me, "Why am I singing?" Bradley, "Yeah, Why are you making that noise!"   The other thing he said that I thought was pretty funny was "I have 3 grandmas and grandpas, Greg, Grandpa.....and Grandpa's sister, Grandma"  I laughed pretty good for that one.

Fall Break! Homecoming!g Visitors!

Monday morning first thing Alan went and got a flu shot.  Then after dropping those guys off at school I went and got my stitches (from my mole) out.  At the student health center the phone was ringing off the hook.  There were 6 receptionists and they were all constantly talking to someone about physicals for missions.  Several appointments were set and some were just asking questions.  It is pretty exciting with the change in age for missions.  After I got my stitches out the 2 little kids who usually come on Mondays came to play.  In the evening we went to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Atherton, Wendy, Quinn, and Kati.  We went to Pizza Pie Cafe and got stuffed!  It is a pizza, salad, pasta buffet.  It is yummy too.  As we were finishing Jeff and Elizabeth showed up...which was surprising.  It was fun to see them there.

Tuesday Brad had preschool and we got to take the snack.  Alan met with his advisor and a dance professor to talk about how to get the robot to have more expression.  After picking Lauren up from school we walked over to campus for the homecoming barbecue.  It was hamburgers there and we got to see Greg too.   After school we picked up Alan and went to Tate's football game.  He is a freshman playing on the sophmore team and he plays quarter back.  It was Pleasant Grove against American Fork at American Fork.  There got to be some pretty intense moments.  I just kept thinking wow it's  just high school football, but it got a little crazy.  After the game we picked some apples from Alan's coworker's tree and then went to Winco.

Wednesday there was early release from school.   The time between Lauren's pick up and Jared's pick up was just enough to get Lindsay and Alyanne from the airport!!!!  After getting Jared it was time for the party to start.  That afternoon we just played lots and Jared practiced his unicycle a bit.

Thursday we all had to get flu shots in the morning.  Everyone did fine....all the boys were great.  Lauren not so much.  I think the whole building could hear her and I had to pin her down.  At least they are done now.  When we got back Lindsay and Alyanne were ready to go to the library.  There was record attendance at story time...it was packed!!  I think they said 61 kids in the older story time.  After the library we drove past the tabernacle so they could see the progress on it.  Then we stopped at the museum of peoples and cultures.  We had fun playing there for a little bit, but we all got hungry.  After lunch we played outside and Jared practiced his unicycle more.  We took Lindsay and Alyanne down to watch band practice for a while and we walked over to the farmer's market too.  Lindsay and Alyanne went up to visit some friends in the evening.  Our family went to the volleyball game and then out to the end of the women's soccer game.  BYU won both.

Friday was a cooler and rainier day.  We played in the morning and took Lindsay some places she needed to go.  Alyanne got to stay and play with us.  We just played and got ready for Grandma and Grandpa Schachterle to come.  Jared also practiced unicycle.  I think his record at the start of the day was 14 or so.  By the end of the day he had gone all the way around the quad and then some....about 306 pedals.  He was really excited because we had told him that if he could ride all the way around the quad then he would be able to ride in the homecoming parade.  That has been his main goal and motivation.  He really wanted to ride his unicycle in the parade.  Grandma and Grandpa got here pretty close to 2 and then helped Greg with some stuff for a bit.  Everyone came over for dinner  we had soy chicken and veggies for dinner.  Some people went to the homecoming spectacular.  We tried to go to a swim meet but it was just getting over when we got there.  We decided we could go out to the men's soccer game for a few minutes, but it started raining on us.  We didn't stay long....pretty much just long enough to use the port a potties that are at the field (I didn't just everyone else) and for Brad to knock over some kind of fence thing there.

Saturday morning we got up and went to the homecoming breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa, Lindsay, Alyanne, Jeff and Elizabeth.  We enjoyed our blue pancakes (some chocolate chip) whipped topping.  We saved some for Greg, Alan, and Jared.  We had a great time watching Greg dance, Alan and Jared ride unicycles, and everything else.  After the parade there was just enough time to go home and grab a snack then head down to the tailgate party.  We all walked down there and I was grateful to have the help of Jeff and Elizabeth on the way home.  I carried Connor, Elizabeth carried Brad who fell asleep, and heroic Jeff pushed Alyanne and Lauren in the stroller.  Neither of them were happy about it...and everyone knew.  One said "I want my mom" and the other said "I want to go" pretty much at the top of their lungs the whole way home.  Except when they took a short break to say don't say that quit copying me back and forth.  Their volume did decrease at times, but would pick back up again.  People on the other side of the street (that he knew) would wave to Jeff and he would just smile and wave back.  I thought the whole thing was pretty funny.  They both calmed down pretty quick when we got home.  We ate popcorn, watched the game, and made soup.   Alan and Jared got to stay and watch the game.  (Greg knew some people who weren't using their tickets)  It sounded like they had fun even though BYU lost.  When everyone got home we ate corn chowder and acorn squash soup.  Both are super yummy.  That night we went and watched the volleyball game.

Sunday  Lindsay and Alyanne went to church with Jeff and Elizabeth and so did Grandma and Grandpa.  We went to our own ward and Alyanne came down for sharing time with our primary.  (Grandma and Grandpa went to Greg's ward too.)  It was pretty normal at church.  Sunday was a nicer and warmer day.  We were able to barbecue and eat outside for dinner.  That evening we just sat around and talked about the reunion and heard stories.

I think other people must have taken more pictures, so I didn't take  as many.  It was a super fun weekend.  We were sad to see all of you go.

Bradley turned 3!!!!!

This last week hasn't seemed as busy as the couple before it.  Monday we watched a little girl in the morning....and yes most of the boxes were gone or back where they go by then.  Bradley, Connor, and I walked down to pick up Lauren.  We had a few extra minutes so we went a different way than normal. We got to see some fun Halloween decorations.  We also saw lots of water flowing down one of the streets. We had to go back and explore it on the way home.   It was a really nice warm day so we spent a lot of the afternoon cleaning up and outside after we picked up Jared.

Tuesday Bradley had preschool and I got the dishes done in the morning too.  Lauren always asks what we did while she is gone and I tell her and she says no what else.  She never believes me when I tell her it was just the dishes and going to preschool.  I guess it must seem like she does so much more in the same time.  In the afternoon we delivered invitations for Bradley's monster  birthday party.  Lauren rode her bike for part and wanted to ride down to pick up Jared.  So I rolled his bike down to the school (while pushing the stroller) so Jared could ride home. Tuesday night we went to an open house to say thank you and bye to the Freestones.  Then we went to juggling club.

Wednesday we made our usual trip to the library and a quick trip to the store before getting Lauren.  Jared got to walk over to BYU and see some dancers from China.  We just happened to see him walking back.  There were a ton of kids.  It looked like most of the school got to go.  He said it was pretty neat.  After school Jared and Brad both had well child checks at the doctor.  They are both healthy and doing well.  Bradley was super tired, but he just doesn't like going to the doctor...until it comes time for the sticker and sucker at the end.  Wednesday night Greg came over and anxiously waited for everyone else to get here so he could open his mission call.  He is going to the Mozambique Maputo mission.  I think he'll fit right in :)  We are all super excited for him.  He will be a great missionary.  (After the announcement yesterday during conference we were joking with him that it's good he already got his call so it didn't get mixed in with the new rush.)

Thursday we went and helped in Lauren's class.  This time we got to help them color their families faces for their special books they are making all about themselves.  Really we were there to try and talk them out of giving their moms green skin and their dads purple hair.  Most were pretty good but some no matter how hard I tried looked like they could have made appearances at Brad's monster party.  One little boy couldn't remember what any of his family looked like.  I asked him who dropped him off at school and he said my mom.  I said ok what color hair does she have.  He gave a very emphatic I don't know.   I tried skin color, eyes, mouth, nose...every time I got the same answer.  He was getting more and more frustrated with me...I told you I don't know!!!!  I wanted to say how do you not know, but we just moved on and worked on him.  He was sitting right there and if he didn't know I could tell him.  We spent the rest of the day getting things ready for Bradley's monster party.  We walked down to pick up Jared again...with bikes...and then over to get some monster body parts laminated.  We were able to eat out at the quad barbecue this week.  It hadn't worked for a while since Lauren had soccer games most Thursdays.

Friday I baked a couple of batches of cupcakes...and just did more general getting ready for the big monster bash...or maybe it was a mash.  I did go help in Jared's class for awhile.  They were working on their scarecrows.  It was kind of crazy but really fun to help them.  There are 19 boys in the class and 9 girls.  I only know a few of them from last year so I have been trying to learn their names.  I don't like to ask them over and over so I just try to listen for when someone else says it and then remember.   Last week we were playing a game to help with vowel sounds in the middle of the word (I'm pretty sure they all liked scarecrows better...I sure did) and I used one little boy's name (his friend had been saying it repeatedly) and he looked at me and said hey how did you know my name. Then pretty quickly he said oh the family presentation.  I just had to laugh inside...I couldn't remember any names from that...I couldn't even understand most of them when they said them right then.  Well this last week in Jared's class they were working on their scarecrows at the desks...with their names on them.  The same little boy said how do you know my name when I asked what color paper he wanted...oh yeah the family presentation. I think now though I really do know his name...I guess we'll see next week.

Bradley had a great birthday party.  He didn't want everyone in the quad to come...and that was just fine.  We still ended up with about 14 or 15 kids there.   We played monster monster how's your neighbor, monster monster who stole your fur, monster in the closet, read if your a monster and you know it, made a monster with the monster body parts, played with balloons, had cupcakes, and opened presents...and they decorated bags like monsters when they first got there.  It was tons of fun.  It seemed like a pretty quick little party, but perfect for the ages there.  Once again Greg came and saved the day.  After the party was all cleaned up Jared practiced unicycle for a bit and got 6 pedals without holding on to anyone or anything.  Then we went down to the tailgate party by the stadium.  We had a fun time there.  Brad was wiped out.  He slept through most of it...and for sure the loudest parts.

 Super Greg

Saturday we cleaned up a little and baked a cake and watched General Conference.  Jared thought it was pretty unfair that his birthday could never be on conference and that Brad's could.  I'll admit that's not what I was thinking....  Bradley did have a good day. He got to Skype with Grandma and Grandpa Schachterle and then during priesthood we did a Google hangout with Ashley and Lindsay and Alyanne...at the same time.  It was fun and a little crazy.  Greg, Jeff, Elizabeth, and Spencer all came over after the priesthood session.  We played a few games and opened presents and ate cake.  It was a lot of fun it just got kind of late.

He wanted a lemon cake and a red monster...I thought the party hat would be fun, but it looks more like a stocking hat...or a house without the eyes.

Today we just got to enjoy conference.  We played with some of Brad's new toys and went on a walk between sessions.  Mostly we just spent the day relaxing and enjoying each others company (except for the times when we weren't..but there weren't too many times like that :)

Connor pulled himself up on the BYU bucket so he could get some crumbs from someones french toast breakfast.  And this last week he started going from laying down to sitting up by himself too.

 ready for our walk...the shoes finally fit, but he doesn't like to wear them.

We are looking forward to this coming week with all our visitors and having a little break from school.  Have a wonderful orange-pineapple week!!!! And if you are coming here I'm sure you will. :)