Monday, September 28, 2015

Master Thomas, today!  We jumped in the stroller to go get Meemer from school.  He's still not sure about this, although in general the outdoors perks him up.  Luckily it's not a long walk.


This afternoon I realized it was the last day I could take the driving school class.  Yikes.  So Grandmere came over and helped with Thomas so I could finish the silly class to clear my record of the citation from the accident.  I managed to do it, and took it over to the courthouse.  I got a certificate, and voila!  Record cleared!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Blood Moon

Another cool opportunity for a lunar eclipse...the blood moon!  My camera can't capture even what my eyes can, but I always still try.


I let the older two girls stay up to see it.  They thought it was pretty cool.  What I really wish is that I could photograph what Leiden's telescope can see, but I think that's outside my lens budget right now!

Friday, September 25, 2015

We love this pumpkin patch!  It's a little one kind of on the side of the road in Fruit Heights, and it's the best!!  They have tons of white pumpkins, Cinderella pumpkins, pie pumpkins, tiny little gourds, the funny warty ones, green, pink, orange, red...it goes on.  It really is the best selection we have found.  I headed up this way with my parents today, which has become a bit of a tradition.


They had TEENY little ones this time...ones that actually LOOK like pumpkins!


We piled our haul in the back,


and in the backseat with me!


Good times, and I love that it's time for pumpkins!  Hopefully this year it will not be so hot into October, so they don't all rot on my porch!


Later this evening I headed to the range.  I need to get more time in with this guy, and honestly need some pointers, or someone to watch me and instruct me how to do it all better.  Sometimes my aim is good, and other times it's not, and I don't even know what I'm doing wrong.  One of these days maybe I'll sign up for a class, or find an instructor.  I feel like I should be more proficient with a weapon that I own.


It's fall, and I'm kind of tired of my yard looking like a jungle, so I took the opportunity this evening to pull my monstrous zucchini plant out of the ground.  I mean, really.  This thing is madness.  I don't know HOW they grow so big!
Poor little Meemer...she found a bottle that had glitter water (I don't even know where this stuff came from, save that it's obvious that I either wasn't thinking clearly when I approved the activity, or didn't know they were concocting such a thing!)  Anyway, she had the bottle, and shook it!  The stopper came out, and she was doused with glitter water.  I laughed, but quickly realized she was upset.  I thought she'd think it was kind of funny or cool to be covered in glitter, but she did not like it.  Poor thing!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Jump Rope

The girls are getting harder to contain quietly during Leiden's violin lessons, but today stickers left over from Primary saved the day!  The song leader had played measles with the kids, so the girls played it, too.



The girls headed outside today with their jump ropes.  It's a pretty good skill to have, and awesome exercise, although harder than it looks to coordinate rope and jumping!


Mimi in particular had a funny time trying to get the jump rope around and then clear it!  This sequence of photographs was pretty funny.


And down she goes.


I got out there for a little while.  Even with all the running I've been doing, I was surprised at how quickly I lost my breath.  I need to do it more often for sure!


The girls found dandelion puffs.


And then we jumped some more!  I LOVE that Mimi is a blur in this picture!  It's hilarious!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Headed over to Meghan's house for dinner and some home improvements, tonight after my run.  Bless her heart, she watched the kids while I hoofed it for three miles, then fed us all!  In return we broke out my tools and worked on her bathroom fixtures.


While we were there, THIS little pea lost her first tooth!  Actually Meghan pulled it out, but it's gone!  Mimi is thrilled, and frankly so am I.  Mainly that Meghan pulled it and I didn't have to!  She likes it, so pretty much guaranteed I'll take all my kids to her every time!  Man, this kid is cute. 

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Our cute Brazilian song leader in Primary does this awesome singing incentive called Bolo for Solo...bolo is cake in portugese.  Basically, you get a piece of cake for singing a solo in front of the primary.  The kids weren't really jumping on it, so I asked if *I* could earn a piece for singing.  Done!  Singing for cake?  Absolutely!

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Had the chance to head up to Bountiful and have lunch with Amy and Tracey, as well as see Tracey's new house!  We went to Panda Express, and for once I finally got a decent fortune!  I wonder what will happen on Wednesday!


We don't get together nearly enough!


The kids had a great time playing together, and bless Tracey's husband's heart, he watched them all while we took off for our girl's afternoon.
 


It was good to see friends, and good to get the girls with some friends, too!



Friday, September 18, 2015

We all LOVE this little man!

Thursday, September 17, 2015

I actually finished the peaches the other night.  It was a long ordeal, and a sticky mess, but I did it!  I put up 47 pint jars of peaches.  ALMOST enough for one a week for a year.  Next year I think I'll do more!  They are SO worth the work.


The girls made an obstacle course outside today...pretty cute, actually.


These giant Jenga blocks have sure been used for way more than Jenga!


They wanted me to take a crack at it.


I love it when they are creative and come up with stuff to do that is outside the norm.  Especially when they do it without fighting and whining!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Somehow I managed to go all the way up to Brigham City to the peach stands across from Maddox, and NOT get a picture!  I bought two bushels, and this year decided to can the lot of them.  I have had trouble with jelly, and me and the girls LOVE the home canned peaches.  I think I'm going to be here for a while.


I bought four of these bags at Costco a while ago...the man was dumbfounded as to why I would be buying so much.  Guess he's not into food storage.  But it sure came in handy tonight!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Holy smokes, it's really fall!  These are my weakness, and I'm so excited to see them in the store!!!

Monday, September 14, 2015

Running in the Rain

Had to go out for a run, today, as training time for the half is winding down...and today it was raining.  I had to wear the old shoes, but it was actually pretty fun.  I am enjoying the training.  I can see the effects of the exercise on my body, and I feel a sense of accomplishment when I can get a run in.  13.1 miles here I come!

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Halloween Escapades

Mom saw these really cool plaster of paris hands, cast from molds made with your own hands.  Some were candle holders and others were just cool hands for the table or a shelf.  So because Martha Stewart makes everything look so simple until you're in the thick of it, we decided to try it out.  There were quite a few stumbling blocks, and measurement mishaps, but Mad and I did our best.


We shall see how they turn out!

Friday, September 11, 2015

Go Utes!

Any day is a good day to be a Ute, but Game Day is the best!  Thomas is all suited up for a win!


Later tonight after the girls left, I grabbed some dinner with a friend (an unfortunate BYU fan!) and then watched the game.  GOTTA love a win!  Especially with a Y fan friend who grouses about the win.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Dinner was spontaneously at In-N-Out tonight.  They offered the girls hats, and Mac suited up.  I was surprised they didn't offer her a job.  This girl would have sold them out!


The girls thought it was pretty funny when I put one on.  I had forgotten how yummy this place is.  I remember always going when we went to California, because they didn't have them here.  I always remember thinking that they must be so freshly made because the tomatoes, lettuce, and sauce was cold, while the hamburger was still hot.  That is still the case!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

The miles are beginning to rack up as I get ready for the half in October, so I got some new running shoes.  Hopefully they will alleviate problems with my knees and one of my toes.  I LOVE new running shoes.  They are something I don't skimp on, and somehow it's so satisfying to put on a new pair.  This first run worried me, though.  Afterwards my hips hurt!  They have never hurt after a run before.  I'm a little concerned that something about the shoes doesn't work well with my legs and back alignment.  I suppose this is why they tell you to run with them only on treadmills for the first couple weeks so you can still return them.  Oh well.  I'll run again in a couple days and hopefully my hips will see improvement.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Silver Lake

We headed up the canyon this morning to go walk around Silver Lake.  It's too early for leaves, still, but fun to get out and we needed our jackets this morning!


We wandered around the lake, which is pretty much the perfect sized walk for the girls.


There were surprisingly A LOT of people there today, but that meant someone could take our picture instead of me trying for another selfie!


The girls had fun and the fresh mountain air was wonderful.  We will have to try and make it up here again to see the fall color in a couple weeks or so.


Tonight Mac lost another tooth!  She's definitely a Mac-o Shark!


The whole teeth thing is kind of traumatic.  They (rightfully so!) get so scared when you try to pull it.  Will there be blood?  Will it hurt?  It doesn't help that I can't stand that particular parenting chore.  But now she has an even more gappy grin!