Conference Weekend

 Every Conference Sunday we head to Santaquin for Diane's WONDERFUL Conference potatoes and lunch. Jared came up with a brilliant idea that would stretch the event into a whole weekend. Saturday after the morning session of conference, everyone would head down to Santaquin to start dinner in dutch ovens. We cooked a roast, potatoes, and veggies.

 

There was a lot of chatting while the food was being cooked.

 It was delicious!

 I didn't get a picture of the yummy cobbler cooked in dutch ovens too!

 The weather was nice enough that we could eat outside!

Which was good because there are a lot of us!

 Then, after dinner, the ladies got ready to go out to "Ladies Night' at Deseret Book, while the guys watched the Priesthood session. This was the first time that they broadcasted it, so the guys could watch it at home.

 At Ladies Night they have 20% off everything in the store, food, and drawings. I actually won a puzzle which I traded with Jessica for a voucher for Old Spaghetti Factory, YUM!

I did splurge a little and bought this beautiful painting of Christ. The artist was there and signed it for me.

After shopping, we came back to Grandma's house for a fire. S'mores were on the menu. I think we all enjoyed just being together more than the s'mores!

We missed Hallie and Mia, but the 3 other "older cousins" camped out in the basement.

 We played some games, then headed to bed.

 It was great, people just crashed wherever they could find room. We were in the front room with the 2 pianos. We had early morning wake up calls from the "little cousins"!

 We woke up to these YUMMY homemade cinnamon rolls.

Thanks Angelica!

 Then it was time for Conference. I had found this idea to help the kids pay attention on Pinterest. I have to say that it was a HUGE hit! I had 5 different candies in 5 different bowls. One said "family" with a picture of our family, one said "faith" with a picture of a plant, one said "Prophet" with Pres. Monson's face, one said "scriptures" with a picture of scriptures, and one said "temple" with a picture of the Salt Lake Temple.  Whenever one of the speakers said one of the those words the kids could run up and get one candy out of that bowl. The only thing I would change would be instead of "scriptures" have "Book of Mormon". It was said a lot more. And maybe "temple" to say "Jesus Christ".

 We wouldn't tell them, so it made them actually have to listen. It was AWESOME!!! I have never seen R so involved in Conference. We will definitely be doing this again!!!!

I can't believe that I forgot to take a picture of the amazing lunch Diane made. Yummy ham, conference potatoes, and veggies. It was SOOOOO good. After lunch we all packed up and headed home.

It was SO good to have everyone together other than at Sky Ranch. Even though we all live pretty close, it's nice to be stuck together in the same house for even one night. I hope that we get to do it again in April!

September = Soccer Season

 For R's birthday, my wonderful sister Missy paid for R to play city league soccer again! This is one of my favorite gifts she gets each year. This is the first year that R actually played positions, and had goalies. They play 7 on 7 (including the goalie). 

 

R's division were 1st and 2nds graders and she was one of the youngest . The one thing I liked about how the the teams were put together, was how they tried to have one team all be from the same school. So even before school started R knew kids that were not from her kindergarten class.

 

R's coach was Coach Knoble. The first practice they mainly learned every ones names. I thought it was a little weird, but it actually made them become friends a lot faster.

 

R really loves soccer.

 R became really good friends with the coach's daughter Edie.

 They would find each other at recess and play together even though Edie is in 2nd grade!

 

 

 Sometimes while trying to capture great pictures of R, I would get photo bombed!

 They didn't have set positions, so R tried goalie a few times.

Not her strongest position, but she had fun while doing it!

 

 My poser with Edie!

 I would be lying if I didn't say the first few games were pretty boring to watch. She didn't quite understand the new way of playing, and wasn't very aggressive. 

 But towards the end something clicked and she was amazing. Both at offense and defense.

 She still wasn't the fastest, but with short legs she did great!!!

 "The Pink and Blueberry Pirates"

(the girls came up with the name, R hated it)

Top left to right- Coach Nate Knoble, Ashlyn, Tessa, Ellie, Brynlee, and Claira

Bottom left to right- Edie, Samantha, Brooklyn, Chloe, and R

 

 

Games started the end of August, and ended the end of September.  Two games a week. With R's games, and Missy's 3 kids games twice a week we lived and breathed soccer all of September. I LOVED it! 

 

I couldn't have been a more proud soccer mom. She did amazing. I can't wait for next season when she is in the older group, and already understands the positions!!!!

 

Way to go R!!!

Chalk The Block 2013

This year we weren't sure that it was even going to happen. The rain was CRAZY! Since water and chalk don't mix, we were hesitant. We ended up trying it anyway and met up with the Demings and the Hjorths.  It was the 1st of a two day event, so a lot of the masterpieces weren't done yet. Plus with the rain they had to wait a long time to even start!

 

Isn't Savannah the cutest chubby little lady?

I think this was the kid's favorite part of the night. Especially for P. Riding a school bus. The festival had a parking lot with a shuttle. We were the only ones on it, and the kids thought they were cool!

 

While we were waiting for the Hjorths, Jared disappeared with the 3 kids.  We found them riding on the carousel.

All the kids were happy!

 

 Then we started looking at the amazing pictures.

My kids checking out Shrek.

 P's favorite... Ironman.

 

 Then we walked around the booths.

My kids found a Harley.

 Me and my babe!

 While we waited for the school bus, they had kids chalk available to play with.

It kept R busy,

 and P and Aurora too.

I LOVE going to this festival. The artist amaze me every year. If you click here you can see the finished artwork.  I wish we could have gone back the next day to see them in person!

Fun at Grandma's Work

 My mom worked for UVU's Fire Academy, but recently changed jobs to work with UVU's Police Academy. UVU had Dean's day for the dean over the fire, law enforcement, and aviation programs.  We went to enjoy the little booths.

 

My two nephews Kaden, and Kyler raced to put on fireman uniforms.

 

 

There is A LOT that must be put on in order and in a short amount of time.

 Don't they look cute!

 P and his firetruck

 Then we got to spray the fire hose and knock over orange cones. My kids we the "helpers".

 Ready, Aim, Fire

Kyler

 and Kaden.

 Then Kayla my niece got to try,

 and with some help form Grandma, P got to try!

 Then we watched the police dogs put on a little demonstration.

That dog was AMAZING! I would NEVER want to be attacked by him!

 Then the kids got a chance to sit in the same type of plane dad flies!

 Then the kids piled in the back of a police car!

 It was fun seeing, and interacting with these great heroes!