Puppy Time

My kids love to play puppies.  Half of the time it just involves crawling around barking and trying to sit in my lap like a lap dog.  But the rest of the time they get more involved with leashes, dog bowls of water and "dog food" (cereal) which are awesome when they get left out and then stepped on and spilled and stepped in some more. ;)  I had to capture the cuteness one puppy day. I love that Isabelle put bows in his hair, (he was a girl puppy) and labeled him with stickers.

First days of School

We had very different start dates for school. Everyone has now been in for 2, 3 or 4 weeks.  Everyone is loving their teachers, friends, and school routine. Another good school year is in the works. 

Isabelle started 2nd grade in the Chinese Immersion program at the neighborhood public school. She loves her new teachers and I have liked what I have seen too.  She did a good job using her Chinese this summer and went to a Chinese camp.  She said it was easy to jump back in. 

A week later kindergarten started.  This kid was DYING to go to school!  He's in afternoon with a big group of his preschool class all in the same class. He has made a few new friends here in our neighborhood (but in another ward, so they are new to us).  His behavior has been awesome and is just eating up school. 

Bus stop time, this was the beginning. Turns out there are 9 littles that get on for afternoon kindergarten and they are almost all in the same class.  I love all these kids moms too. Kinder drop off at the park turns in to social hour alot. :)  

 And then another week later this little one started preschool. He goes to morning preschool 2 days a week here in the neighborhood.  I planned it that way so I have time with Michael and Spencer.  Then afternoons when Michael is at school, I have Luke and Spencer.  He seems to be really enjoying it and meeting lots of new friends. 

End of Summer Fun

We finished up the summer with a family reunion at Lava Hot Springs.  Super fun place! Great time staying up late and playing with cousins and chatting.  It's always fun to get together with Mike's family. We tent camped outside in the yard.  The kids loved it.  Unfortunately that is all the camping we have done this summer.  I'm really rooting for lots of camping next summer. 

On our last day of summer before Isabelle started school, we hit up 7 peaks with Sharon's family and Mike's mom.  This was the first and only time going to 7 peaks alone with my knee situation. I'm still not cleared to swim all the slides Michael wanted to ride landed in a pool, which I couldn't do. It was sad and hard.  The kids still had fun, but it was pretty miserable for me.  Next year....next year.

Park City

We spent a week in Park City with Mike's parents and Sharon and Joe's family in August.  It was nice and relaxing.  We played tons of games, went swimming, and did a few touristy things, but mostly just hung out. 

We happen to be there the weekend that the big bike race "Tour of Utah" went through Park City.  They had a street fair around the finish line for stage 7.  We enjoyed walking the street and getting lots of fun free sunglasses, frisbees, cow bells, and whatnot. 

We found a place a little high up where we could see.  It was the last sprint to the finish. 

I was shocked how fast they were!  

Then we hiked back. With my knee, I was unstable and definitely not up for extra weight.  Mike saved the day for tired legs. :) 

We spent lots of time at playgrounds. 

We went to Olympic Park, where they train ski jumps.  They are in swimsuits and skis and do their tricks and land in the pool.  Then they carry their skis back up a million stairs and do it again.  We watched kids from about age 5ish to 16ish.  It was pretty cool to watch.  Spencer LOVED it!  Every time someone went off, he said, "OOOOHHH!!!  WOW!!!!  COOOOL!!!!"  And then he clapped.  It was so cute. 

Another day we did the Alpine Slide.  Michael rode with me, Luke rode with Mike, and Isabelle drove her own.  

The kids loved riding the ski lifts.  We got to ride a couple the week we were there. 

So proud of this girl for making it to the bottom! She was SO nervous at the beginning.  I was on the one next to her and tried to encourage her, but had to speed up for the people behind us, so I left her in the dust.  It took forever, but she finally showed up at the bottom all smiles and not scared! 

I'm sure Mike's mom has lots more pictures.  That's all I have.  But it was fun! 

Watermelon Season

Summer means watermelon. I mostly love it.  It's a delicious addition to any meal or snack, and my entire family LOVES it. HOWEVER, my kitchen floor is perma-sticky.  Because when a piece of watermelon drops on the ground, (a good one, anyway) goes, "Plunk, SPLASH" with a beautiful spray across the floor, walls, table legs, my feet and whatever else is in a 3 foot radius of the stray piece. 

Despite the sticky floor, I still bought alot of watermelon this summer and everyone enjoyed it. Spencer especially.

I think he likes it. :) 

Grandma's Birthday!

 Grandma's birthday is close to the 24th.  So it's a good excuse to have an awesome party, complete with fireworks. :) We used our birthday placemats and got a yummy cake and had a bbq and a good night with food, family, and fireworks. 

 Chase and Annabelle spent the night for a cousin sleepover.  We went swimming the next morning and they all played and then had "parties." The girls had a tea party, but Chase said tea parties are just for girls, so the boys had a "food party." Hahaha!!!!  Definitely a boy party. ;)