Weekend Fun

Saturday morning, Mommy and Daddy left bright and early and headed up to Big Cottonwood Canyon where we met with Daddy's EMBA class for a reunion. We met for breakfast, went on a beautiful hike to Lake Mary, had lunch, and had a lot of fun visiting with the other classmates and their spouses. It really is like a new family we belong to. It was fun to see everyone after being out of the program for a year. Sometimes I feel like we should still be in school mode, but it's nice to have that chapter of our life over and have such great connections because of it. 

 After we got home, we loaded the kids up and went to Chalk the Block. We loved this event last year and other than being hot and hungry, we had a lot of fun this year too! We saw some amazing art. Tessa is so inspired to have an entry at this event when she is older and I so hope she is able to someday!

 Everyone had their favorite square, but Calvin and Hobbs was Mommy and Tessa's favorite!

After we got home from Chalk the Block, Adam and Daddy headed off to BYU to watch the football game on campus since we don't have cable. It as a late game and we weren't able to pull off a win, but they still had lot of fun cheering and being at  BYU. 

Gwen Starts Mommy School

 It was a big week for our Gwennie. It was finally time to start Mommy School. She has been so anxious to start and has asked everyday since Adam and Tessa went back to school, when it was her turn. She was so excited when Tuesday rolled around and she knew it was her big day. Then she realized she wasn't leaving home. Suddenly Mommy School didn't sound so exciting anymore. She has told me everyday this week that Mommy School means we go somewhere else for school. It might be a long 2 years for this little girl. 

But she sure looked cute and so grown up all of the sudden. 

 For our first week of Mommy School, we learned All About Gwen. She loved that. She has learned the letter A, the number 1, what Utah looks like and where it is on a map, a new nursery rhyme, and we are working on writing her name and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. She's a smart girl! She is picking things up really fast and despite not leaving home, she likes working with Mommy. 

Tuesday we worked on writing her name and learned how to write A's. For her project that day, she drew herself. We loved how it turned out!

 On Wednesday, she made a life size drawing of herself. Adam and Tessa about died laughing when they got home from school and saw this hanging up. They think her face and head look just like a puppy dog. 

 Writing her A's.

 This week we read, "The Lady with the Alligator Purse" and made an alligator out of an A.

Week 1 of Mommy School went pretty well and we had a lot of fun together. She is excited to see what fun things we have to do next week!

Weekend Fun

Fall is just around the corner and we can't wait to do some fun fall activities as a family. But, the weather has been gorgeous, so we are soaking our last bit of summer too. 

On Friday, Daddy brought this giant box home from work. Since Friday nights are Family Movie Night, the kids decided to turn it into a giant car and have a drive-in movie. Eventually, it turned into a drive-in bed. They loved working on their car though and it added some excitement to our normal movie night. 

 Tessa has one summer merit badge left...learning to ride her bike. We have been trying to get her to do this for 2 summers now, and she is just plain terrified. She and Daddy have been working on it and she gets better each time. She just needs to have a little bit more confidence and be a little less worried about getting hurt and she will have this down. 

 Saturday afternoon, we took the kids to Thanksgiving Points Farm Land. They loved seeing all the animals! Caleb loves animals and growls at all of them. 

 The older kids got to try some lassoing. Tessa was a natural!

 All 4 kids got to ride a pony. Caleb loved it and screamed when we took him off. We'll have to go do this again soon. 

 We had Stick Horse Races. Adam beat the record by 1 second. 

 They learned all about horse shoes. 

 We went on a fun wagon ride. We got comments all afternoon about he whole family being in our BYU garb. Hey, it's game day people! We represent  and are proud of our Cougars!!

 We spent some of our evening at Ma and Pa's house for our annual Oktoberfest. Pa made delicious German food for dinner and the kids had fun playing some German games that Ma prepared. 

 Adam and Daddy got to go to the football game that night and sit in the Loge with Daddy's cousins. Adam loved every minute of it and was over the moon happy about our crazy win at the end of the game. Peter told me the next day that Adam knew more about football than he did. 

 Half-time nachos. 

Adam wishes it was football season all year long!!

What's Been Happening

There is always something interesting going on at our house. Adam and Tessa are loving being back in school and Gwen and Caleb are a little lost without the older 2 at home. Gwen is anxiously counting down the days for Mommy School. Here's a quick glance at some moments Mommy captured the last couple of weeks. 

I love when he plays so hard and then suddenly crashes. Cutest thing ever!

 Caleb thinks my shower is the best place to play. It keeps him entertained long enough for me to get ready most days. 

 Caleb and Gwen have been my walking buddies in the morning. We load up and go as soon as we get home from taking Adam and Tessa to school. 

 Bike rides around the neighborhood with Gwen. 

We stop constantly so she can pick her treasures. 

 Sometimes I cave and let Gwen have her favorite snack in the whole world...chips and salsa. I caught her licking her salsa bowl clean the other day. 

 Caleb loves Curious George and has recently discovered Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. I am not sure why all of my children (except Adam) feel the need to watch TV by standing right in front of it. 

 Adam and Tessa are doing great in school and are good about preparing all of their clothes and lunches before bedtime. 

 Tessa made us laugh with her board of all the things she loves. 

 Saturday we were ready to cheer on our Cougars. It's finally football season!

 We had a fun football party with just our little crew and loved watching an epic football game and win! I still don't think Adam has recovered from that Hail Mary win. 

 Saturday night, Mommy, Daddy and Adam all got to go to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival with Ma and Pa. I loved listening to Adam laugh and laugh. He can't wait to go again next year. 

Monday was Labor Day. We had kind of a lazy day at home. Daddy took the 3 older kids to the park while Caleb took his nap. Then we went to Ma and Pa's house for dinner. 

 Baby Gia is the life of every gathering. Caleb looks so big next to her. I love this picture of him about to "eat" her. 

 Gwennie adores her Baby Gia and holds her as often as she can.

 Tessa was the official S'more maker. She made a special S'more just for Great Grandpa.