St. George

I some how missed doing a post on our only excursion this summer.  Isabella really wanted to see a production of The Little Mermaid when it was on Broadway in New York.  We talked about doing it for her nine year old trip.  However, it ended it's run and we didn't make it.  She's not nine yet.  Anyway, earlier in the year I saw advertising for Tuacahn Theater in St. George and they had the production down there.  So Nate and I planned a little getaway and didn't tell the kids until we were all in the car on the freeway.  They were pretty excited and had a great time.  We stayed in a hotel, which they always love, but this particular hotel had sliding glass doors from our room out to the pool.  The kids thought that was the coolest thing ever.

This was taken from our room.  It was the Howard Johnson, if any one needs a suite that sleeps six easily and has pool access, here ya go!

Nate and the three kids loved the show, no babes in arms or kids under three, so Tessa and I did this instead:

There is a movie theater across the street from the hotel.  It was opening weekend, so I didn't really think I would get into the movie, but I did, it totally wasn't sold out and Tessa and I weren't crowded at all.  She slept almost the whole time and didn't make a peep, which was lovely.

We also went to the Dinosaur Tracks Discovery site.  It was okay, but no where near as developed at The Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point.  The kids loved eating out a lot and we treated them to Dilly Bars at Dairy Queen, none of them remembered having those before.  It was a quick nice trip.

Lehi Jamboree

The hottest weekend in August is the Lehi Youth Football Jamboree.  I have no idea how they know it will be the hottest weekend, but it is, and that is when they schedule it.  Nate had been gone on a scout camp out, so he arrived just as the action began.  Roger and Cassie took Bella and Sophie swimming, which was great, because the girls would have been melting out there with me.

 

Jack is standing the the middle with the yellow penny on.  He is playing quarterback this year, so it should be a fun year.  He loves being in on the action, and you can't get anymore in than that.  He is also playing defense, so I am working hard to make sure he stays hydrated.  They played a seventh grade team in their scrimmage (why?!?) and did pretty good despite the size difference.  I will try and post his stats after each game on his football blog, In the Zone. 

Color Me Mine

It felt like I didn't do too many big things will the kids this summer, besides provide them with a baby sister, that was really their main entertainment.

So in early August we all went to Color Me Mine and I let them pick out a piece and paint it.  I also got in on the action and painted a salad plate and a little bowl.

We had gone about three years ago and I had painted two salad plates.  A few months ago I broke on and Sophie got very very mad at me and told me I can't use glass dishes any more.  She has no enforcing power, but was really happy I finally replaced the one I broke. 

Sophie painted this mermaid and was very pleased with it.  It is very colorful now that it is fired!

Bella was very meticulous and spent a very long time painting this castle.  She also really loved how it turned out. 

Jack painted a giant mug with Colts, Lehi, and BYU logos.  He wanted the giant mug so he could use it for cereal and ice cream.  He took all the pictures that day, which is good because Tessa was in the wrap carrier and I probably would have forgotten to take any.  The kids want to go back again, they had so much fun!

Swim Lessons

We managed to get in two sessions of swim lessons with the kids this summer.

  Jack really looks like a swimmer out there finally.  He did really well.

In the second session, Bella got to move up a level, which is exciting. 

And Sophie had a ton of fun.  She is really happy all the time and just can barely hold it in when she is doing fun things. 

Everyone is already excited to do some more lessons next summer.  Maybe Tessa and I will do some mom and tot ones to get in on the action

First Day

I always have mixed feelings about the beginning of the school year.  I love that the kids are growing and having new experiences and adventures.  I also love to have them here with me.  Jack and Isabella have been beyond helpful this summer.  They have prepared meals and cleaned and been great helpers with Sophie.  And having a baby at the beginning of summer makes it go even faster.  Not that summer is over mind you, it is supposed to be in the high nineties all week.  Anyway, here is my big sixth grader:

He totally needs a haircut.  He wants to hold out until October, I don't know.....

And here is our third grader:

She got a spiffy new backpack this year. I was glad she picked it out, sometimes we have the same taste in things. 

Sophie, Tessa, and I went to the Thanksgiving Point children's gardens today with some friends.  Poor Soph, part of her really wants to go off to school and part of her doesn't.  It makes for some funny rants on her part occasionally.  She has a late birthday, so she still has a few more falls at home. 

 

We are all anxious to get back into a regular schedule.  It will be interesting to see how it goes.  Nate got the kids alarm clocks so they can be responsible for getting their own selves up on time, or staying in bed until a certain time, depending on which kid.  I set the alarm on my phone so I will remember to pick up Jack everyday-new for me.  Wish us luck on a new year!

Ice Cream Cake

I don't always make my birthday cake, but I really wanted to try and make an ice cream cake this year.  I started with a spring form pan. I crushed some Oreos then mixed them with cream cheese to make a crust on the bottom of the pan and put the pan in the freezer.  While the bottom layer was getting cold, I put some vanilla ice cream in my kitchen aid stand mixer and used the paddle to mix it until it was smooth and creamy.  This made it easy to spread over the chilled Oreo crust.  I put that into the freezer to chill and crushed some more Oreos.  I mixed those Oreos with some chocolate syrup and spread it over the vanilla ice cream.  While that layer was chilling in the freezer I mixed some huckleberry ice cream in the kitchen aid again, then spread it over the top of the Oreo/chocolate syrup layer.  Then I topped that with some cool whip and caramel.

  Then I let the whole thing freeze for a few hours.  When I took it out of the freezer I ran a hot washcloth around the edge of the spring form pan, then released the edge and put the cake on a tray.  I want to get some smaller pans to try different things now, mix in candy bars, different ice cream flavors, and toppings.  Yum! 

Round-up parade

Our ward was tasked with creating a float in the Lehi Round up parade this year.  We missed out on much of the decorating because it all occurred around the time Tessa was born.  But the kids had the opportunity to ride on the float or walk in the parade.  Bella decided she wanted to watch the entire parade, so she was with us.  Sophie rode on a little bench on the float and got to blow bubbles while Jack pulled the float along with some other kids from the neighborhood.

After the float the kids were on got to the end, Jack ran back and walked with the Youth Football players.  He really was excited to see his friends from his team last year.  I can't believe football season is upon us again.  He is pretty excited about that!