Memorial day Fun and Cakes

Monday was a fun cap to our 3 day weekend.  Alan worked on modeling a robot for most of the morning.  Then we played outside in the afternoon.  Alan came out and made some pretty cool paper airplanes for Jared and a friend...and before he knew it he had a line a mile long.  I think he made at least one for everyone in the quad (The next day all the moms told me how much their kids all loved them.  One little boy even slept with his.  The paper airplane trend has continued all week, but the are figuring out how to make their own now)....It's a good thing we were waiting for Elizabeth to get back from Mississippi to do our picnic.  We met Jeff and Elizabeth at Canyon Glen Park (up Provo canyon).  We barbecued hamburgers, had yummy salads, and played some fun games.  Lauren, Jared, and Brad were climbing on the hill and Lauren got tons!!! of burrs stuck in her hair.   Then went back to Jeff and Elizabeth's for gooey brownies and ice cream.  Then I had to get started getting all the burrs out.  I was able to get some out at the park...the ones you can see in the picture...the ones that took forever are the ones you can't see.  They were mushed and messed in good.  It took almost 2 hours, baby oil, brush, comb, bath, conditioner, and gloves to get her hair burr free.  It was almost midnight by the time we finished.  I think all in all we had a fun day and picnic.

Tuesday I started baking some cakes for a baby shower for twin girls...I baked 5 and had batter for a 6th when I figured out that the oil I was using was rancid and the cakes were disgusting!!!!  I borrowed another 8 inch round pan from a friend the help speed up the baking.  I tried to bake 2 at the same time and they sunk really bad....back to baking one at a time.  I also made 3 batches of fondant that night.

I think Lauren was so persistent in learning to ride a bike so that she could ride this one around.

Rancid cakes and batter...they look nice though...

Wednesday morning I got up to bake the 8 cakes that I still needed.  I told Alan I had to bake all the cakes twice since it was for twins.  Grandma and Grandpa Atherton stopped by for a few minutes to say hello as they passed through.  In the afternoon we went to play in quad 2 for a little bit...it was Esther and Ezra's last day.  When Alan got home he said it was the computer science barbecue (we had forgotten to put it on our calendar even though he had RSVP ...so we were glad he had been reminded about it at work) It was a nice surprise.  That night I stacked and covered the cakes with fondant.

Thursday I worked on cakes all day.  A friend watched Jared, Lauren, and Bradley outside for a while while I worked on them.  At about 4 we took the cakes to Wendy's. We played at her house for 30 minutes or so and then hurried home for a ward barbecue...bring our own meat and something to share.  Alan was able to cook a few hot dogs on the grill they had there, but then we were so late that we just took out our own leftover salads from Monday for us.  I threw this cake together with the cakes that had sunk really bad and extra flowers I had cut out and gave it to the friend who watched the kids for a bit.  I had planned to do both ruffle cakes, but the one took so long I had to come up the a plan B...and I really like it.  I told Alan I wouldn't make a ruffle cake again...ever...then I said ever in this kitchen...then I said only if someone asked me to....I do really like the way they both turned out.

Friday we had to clean up around here.  We also played outside for all afternoon.  In the evening we went to Trafalga and mini golfed outside on the lighthouse course (I lost my ball in the lighthouse) and we also did the go carts too.

Saturday was a full day... Alan worked more on his robot he was doing, we picked up kits at home depot's builder workshop, we went to a celebration at Utah Lake and free fishing day, signed up for the summer reading program at the library, went to winco, played in the sprinkler....and maybe squeezed in a little more fun.

Brad was super excited one time when he reeled his line too....I caught a worm!!!

Today was just another restful Sunday.  We enjoyed our stuffed peppers outside for dinner.

School's Out for Summer!!!!!!

Last week about the time I usually start to blog...I fell asleep.  I had a 10 minute nap or so, then felt like I could write a post, but decided to go to bed.  So this week I have to catch up.

On Monday Molly (Alan's sister) and some of her kids came into town for a visit.  We went and met them at Discovery Park and watched part of Quin's baseball game and played on the playground.  It was a fun visit.

This is a picture from astro fest the Saturday before.  It was published with the story for The Universe.
http://universe.byu.edu/index.php/2012/05/20/astrofest-educated-inspired-and-amazed-children-and-adults/

 

Tuesday we went and helped out at Jared's class store.  It was fun to see what the kids choose to spend their money on....they had been able to earn money in their classroom.  Then at the store they had needs that they had to fill before their wants.  They all had a buy a drink and snack and a school supply to help them over the summer.  Then they could spend the rest of their money on whatever they wanted or save it.  They had a sweet shop, toy store, and school supply store.  We worked at the school supply store.  Lauren got to help me take their money and put it in the 'cash register' and Brad just played.  Tuesday night I went to book club.  The book we read last month was The Giver.  I had never read it before...and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Bradley loving a mango pit

We bought the Pass of All Passes on Tuesday night, so on Wednesday we went to Trafalga to pick them up.  It was a pretty cold day so we decided that we would mini golf inside.  It was tons of fun....it took longer than I thought it would, but was fun.  Wednesday Jared got to go on a class picnic.

Thursday was Jared's last real day of school!!!  That night we got together with some friends for a dinner in quad 2.  The Frosts were moving and the Browns came from Spanish Fork for it too.  It was fun to have one last barbecue with everyone.  We made ice cream which was super yummy.

Friday was the all school dance festival.  Each grade had a different dance that they learned and then performed for the rest of the school and parents.  They did it outside in front of the school and it was a rainy cold day...we got a little wet and it was hard to see around umbrellas at times, but Jared did a great job in the jello dance.  It was over by 10:30 and the official start to our summer had begun!!!!  The night before Lauren had told me that her eye was hurting and it was pretty red so we stopped at the health center on the way home from school (we had walked)  The doctor gave her a prescription for eye drops for pink eye...she had to have them for 5 days...and she preferred Alan to put them in.

Jared has a blue J...

Jared and Mrs. Porter

 

Friday night we went ice skating.  Jared has been wanting do all winter and we finally went.  We had a ton of fun.  The ice arena here has little walkers to help them skate and once they got a hold of them they were doing great and by the end Jared was zipping around the rink without one.  We stayed until 9:30 when we had to go...and no one was ready except maybe me.

Brad (after 1 lap) was not very excited about spending his evening ice skating...but he warmed up to the idea. (and Lauren's pink eye)

I don't know if I've ever tried a picture like this before...

The oldies out for an evening stroll 

Saturday was another wet cold day.  We went swimming at the city pool and to winco.  Connor got in too and wet all the way up to his shoulders.  He got cold pretty fast, but he loved it.


Last Sunday was a nice restful day.  Jared helped make a strawberry pie...he did almost the whole crust by himself and putting the strawberries in.

 Jared and Bradley peeling potatoes getting ready for dinner with Jeff.  (Elizabeth was gone)

Who cares?

The second to last week of school was pretty busy.  Monday and Tuesday were normal mostly.  Tuesday evening we went to juggling club.  They have changed the time to a little earlier and it makes it easier for us to go. We had a fun time.

Jared's art work that he got to bring home last Monday.

Lauren has pretty much taught herself how to ride a bike.  A couple of weeks ago I ran around the quad with her once.  She has been really persistent about seeking out bikes around the quad that are small enough that she can put her feet down on...and then just trying it.  She is a pretty good little rider now.   

Wednesday Jared had a class talent show.  For his act he recited Hat by Shel Silverstein...with props. Wednesday was also ready to learn.  We got Chicken Soup with Rice...reminded me of Lindsay's I can read note book.  We also had a quick trip to the library.  That night Jared Lauren and Brad went to Jeff and Elizabeth house for a bit so Jeff and Elizabeth could practice their face painting skills.  Jared came home with a dragon on each cheek and swords, flags, and shields down each arm.  Lauren got flowers one cheek and ...I don't remember on the other.  Brad got stars and other various things on his arms. They were all very sad they had to wash them off that night.

Thursday Jared had to go to kindergarten at the morning time.  They practiced their dance for the last day of school, got to meet a first grade teacher, and have lunch in the cafeteria.  I thought he was going to get to meet the teacher that would be his next year...I think that's how they have done it in the past...but they aren't sure if they will have two or three regular classes next year...so they didn't tell anyone who their teacher will be.   Jared said he had a fun day at school that day.  We made another quick trip to the library too.

Thursday Alan came home a little early and worked on getting bunk beds set up in the room that didn't have any.  It took him most of the evening, but Lauren happily sleeps on the bottom bunk...and boxes fill the top....this is almost done with the set up...we don't have one in it's current state, but Alan says it's not done yet.

Friday morning  was Jared's field day at school.  The rest of us went to help and watch....all week had been really nice, warm, and sunny...Friday was not!!!  It was super blustery and cool.  After about an hour they sent everyone inside...We got in just before the rain...He got to finish doing musical chairs in the music room, but then had to go back to his classroom.  Aside from being cold I think Jared had a good time.  In the afternoon we went to a friend's house to play.  That evening we went to a barbecue up in quad 2... It was fun to see some of our friends there.

Saturday we got a few things around here done in the morning.  Then in the afternoon we went to the astrofest down on campus. It was tons of fun!!!!  There were free planetarium shows (Lauren called it the lambitarion), rocket building and launching, star wheels, solar telescopes, bounce houses (astronaut training) and glasses to see the eclipse tonight.  We had a good time.

Today was a good day.  I did singing time and Alan taught.  We had a nice relaxing day and were able to watch the eclipse tonight.  We were able to see it really well...except for when the sun was  almost totally covered...it got a little cloudy right then..and the sun was so dark it was hard to see with the glasses on.

I don't think I mentioned last week that Jared gave a talk in primary all by himself...he did a great job.

So one day last week the kids were selling newspapers (the ads that come in the mail and copies of The Universe )..or as their sign said nooz papers... On the balcony...there were no takers.  I told them they had to come in and bring in all the papers with them.  They brought them in and dropped them right in the walkway.  Between their coloring earlier in the day and banding the papers the front room floor was totally covered...I said don't just drop them there...We don't live in the garbage dump...to which one of my lovely children said who cares...and it probably isn't the one you are guessing (unless you guessed the red head).

Just one more week of school until SUMMER!!!!!