Go Cougars!

It's Football Season!!! 

We love football, especially since it means that we get to go to the BYU games.  We have loved having our season tickets, and even got 3 instead of 2 starting last year so that we could always go with Dad M. 

We always make a day of it and get a great meal before.  The kids usually always get to go to my sister's for the day and play with their cousins and we try to always bring them back a cougar tail.  They aren't quite ready for the games, but grandpa makes sure they know who to root for.  They were so excited to get their new BYU clothes and hats.  Chloe got some pom-poms and it was amazing that she knew exactly what to do with them the moment she picked them up! 

We bleed blue at this house! :)

The Aviary

We had a great time with our friends going to the Tracey Aviary.  They have really made this place nice. 

We took my friend Somer and her two boys, Johnny and James, and headed out to spot some birds.  As soon as we got there Sam took over the map (as usual) and directed us to where we needed to go.  We had to see all the vultures first, then it was on to "Owl Forest", his favorite thing he remember from the last time we were there.

We spotted some new birds that we didn't notice before that gave us some good laughs.

This is the "super hero" bird, as we called it.  We loved how it looked like it was wearing a mask.

 This is the "Great Argus".  He sounded like he was the bird you would go to if you had deep, unanswered questions.

And this bird won the award for funnest name.  "Chaco Chachalaca."  Say that 10 times fast! :)

 

 We had fun running around in the shade and picnicking in the park.  The trees are just amazing.  I miss big trees.  I can't wait until they get big like this around us (although I'll probably be dead by that time!)

They have greatest areas for kids to play.  Somer and I were commenting on how we loved that it was so simple.  I get so tired of playgrounds that are so high-tech and different.  We have a lot of parks around us and we don't even know how to play on some of them.  It was refreshing to watch the kids just run and jump and climb and dig on some good old fashioned homemade play things.  Poor Chloe "ate it" a few times trying to keep up with the big boys, but after some quick hugs and kisses she was "off to the races" again in no time.

Who Moved That?!

So, something I hate more than anything is when I do something just plain old stupid!  And sadly, that happens more frequently than I would like to admit.

Today was the perfect example.  I decided to pull into our garage from the other direction and just judged my distance wrong.  CRUNCH!  I hit the side of the garage and popped the bummer out from the side fender!  I was so mad and I am sad to admit I did not handle it very well initially.  I couldn't believe how bad the damage was for how slow I was going and due to the fact that I barely hit it.

We went and got a quote for the damage.  $1,200!  What?!  Let's just say that suddenly I don't think it looks as bad as I thought! ;)

I asked my mom if it was bad to pray that someone would just hit the front of my car a little so that they would have to fix it.  She responded, "No, just make sure you pray for someone with insurance to hit me." 

Good call Mom! :)

Our Train Adventure

We decided it was high time we got on the Trax and took it Downtown to play.  So after a good long nap we snagged the kids and headed out on our adventure.  The kids were SOOOOO excited to be riding the electric train and were so fun to watch and listen to as they kept giggling, wanting to know what every sign said, asking each other questions, looking out the windows, and repeating over and over, "This is so exciting!  I can't wait!"

 After a very long train ride, I think which seemed even longer due to having to switch trains, we decided to grab some dinner.  This was my first time at the California Pizza Kitchen.  We decided to take our server's word for it and order his favorites and we were not disappointed.  By far their avocado rolls were the best.  Next time I think I will just order two of those and forgo the meal.

 We then headed off to the Children's Discovery Gateway.  They kids had a BLAST!  We just let them run free until about closing time.  I love letting kids do their own thing at their own pace.  From the beehive full of balls and tubes, to the supermarket, to the farm, to the house, to the construction site, to the dressing up they were having a great time and were wearing themselves out.

 The train ride home was just as exciting, but felt a little longer due to tired kiddos.  We had to come up with some fun game at the station to help pass the time during our switch.

We had a great time, but agreed that we like the comfort, quickness, and seclusion of our own car.

Cowboys

James, as we all know, loves to be different characters.  His latest is a cowboy.  He had grown out of him snow boots that he loves to wear around, so off to the store we went to find some boots.  There really aren't a lot of choices for boots in the middle of the summer, but James found some cowboy boots that he immediately fell in love with.

From the boots came the hat, then the bandanna, then the lasso.  He is so cute. 

 Sam decided he wanted in on the action and found a great hat.  He declared that he was the farmer that the cowboy worked with!

 These ensembles were perfect timing for Seth's company party that was held at This is the Place Park.  They wore their get-ups and had a great time walking around seeing the animals and riding the train.

Bear Lake

We headed out for the weekend and were so glad we did.  We LOVE LOVE LOVE going to Bear Lake and are so grateful to Seth's parents and their generosity in letting us go when ever we want to.  It really helps up get away from the relentless demands of everyday life. 

Chloe has decided that she wants to go potty.  She doesn't really do anything yet, but while in Bear Lake she did it!  Not sure if there will be a repeat performance in the near future, but we are pretty impressed with her ambition.

Chloe also made a big step and slept in the bunk room with the boys.  It is so nice to have them all in one room now so Seth and I get our own room and then his parents can come too and have their own room.  So many milestones have been made in the last little bit.  I can't believe how big my kids are!

 When we get to go with Seth's dad we always have to have at least a few games of cribbage.  This is one of my new favorite games ever since he taught it to us.  We always have to play with him though because we forget all the rules and how to count points.

Sam's Work

I am so proud of how well Sam is doing in school.  He has really grown up these last few weeks.  He is quite kind, patient, and more willing to put the necessary work into his project to get them done.

One of his first projects was to fill in this outline with things that he loves.  We had fun thinking of his most favorite things, drawing them, coloring them and then labeling them.

 The things that made the list:
Family, Trains, Nachos, Swimming, Hockey, Birthday, Playing Games on Mom's Phone, Christmas, Riding his Scooter to School, Fruit Punch Slushies, Dinosaurs, McDonald's Ice Cream, Pink Drink at Grandma's, Going to Bear Lake, and Disneyland.
(I'd say he has a pretty soft life!) :)

 Here's some of his first homework assignments:
This is the first paper we got back from school.  He had to find all the "thes" and rhyming words.  He then had to draw pictures of what was in the poem.  This paper is priceless to me!  I love his dish and spoon and his cat.

 This was his first writing assignment.  He did really well.  We just need to work on "top to bottom and left to right."

 It says: (starting from bottom right and then going up and around) "I do not like the story of the big bad wolf."  I was very impressed with his work.  His writing and spelling is amazing for having to do it all on his own and for his first try.
The drawing is of the "Big Bad Wolf."  So precious!

These are memorise I never want to loose!