Monday, October 31, 2016

The Force is Strong this October

Guys, it has nearly been a year.

Some day, I may get caught up on the past year. There have been some pretty intense downs and ups. It feels like more downs...and that's less-fun to blog about.

You know what IS fun to blog about?
My peeps.
Amelia completed her first season of soccer. She had a blast running around the field with 7 other Kindergartners. Things wrapped up before it got too chilly...oh, wait, as of the 31st it STILL hasn't gotten chilly!
All good things!
Henry had a field trip to the local Krishna Temple. Two words: Llama Races. Tyler chaperoned and a good time was had by all.
Tyler got to meet up with some friends of Latvian origin! They got to visit the "Light of the World" gardens at Thanksgiving Point, which features life-sized bronze statues of moments from Christ's life. You might not be able to see friends from Latvia if you go visit (your loss, for reals), but you can go see the uplifting statues at the Ashton Gardens. Love it!
Tyler got some shots of the kids in front of the gorgeous fall colors at a local park. It was a lovely, mild fall day. I was at the Super Saturday for Women at church. We all had a good time. Heh.
THIS KID HAD A BIRTHDAY!!! It is killing me a little bit that he's already one. ONE. This past year has gone by at speeds of lighting and molasses. I'm struggling with not really having been able to relish the past year. 
But Micah is such a sweetheart of a baby, we'll celebrate that Cole hasn't managed to maul him to death.
He got to try his own little fox cupcake! Micah was not sure what to make of the fire, but he knew just what to do with that cupcake. 
Smart little dude.
 He probably needed a bath afterwards. Micah has mastered the skill of saying, "Mama," "Dada," "Yay!" and "'i!" (which means, "hi"). He took his first steps this month and is really feeling the pressure to walk full-time. Probably so he can get away from Cole's "loving" a little more quickly. Micah eats pretty darn well. He's up to the 19th percentile for weight and the 85th for height. Huzzah for skinny babies!
Amelia celebrated Micah's birthday by losing a tooth! Her very first visit from the tooth fairy was everything she hoped and dreamed. She's been carrying around her silver dollar since then.
Jack had to take a 5 mile hike for Scouts, so I volunteered to go with him.
 I may be totally out of shape (ouch! My glutes!) but the fall views were worth it! The time with my firstborn: even more so. He sure can talk--for hours--about video games, but he has plenty of thoughtful insights about non-video game things, too. It was good for my muscles and good for my soul.
 Jack joined the Strings class after school and plays the bass. This kid has some serious musical talent. His first concert was last week and he rocked it, quite literally. He really enjoys the bass because it is too big to bring home, so he cannot practice every day!
 Sheridan had a Daddy/Daughter Donut Date for her Activity Day Girls activity this month. They had a great time together. She really flourishes with some serious one-on-one time.
Tyler took the kiddos to pick out pumpkins. Jack picked out a new look for himself, while he was at it.
Sheridan had to choose her fancy look as well!
Cole chose a green gourd that channeled its inner Jaba the Hutt. He calls this one, "Spooky Halloween."
No big surprise, Henry modeled his pumpkin after Pikachu (he's a Pokemon...Pikachu is, not Henry).
Jack got his idea for flying, horned eyeball from a video game. The boy got his stunning good looks from me.
 Sheridan decorated her pumpkin for her House-of-Choice from Hogwarts. She is still hoping to receive her Hogwart's letter in the next 2 years.
Amelia's cute little pumpkin is modeled after her favorite stuffed animal, Piplup.
Tyler also carved a pumpkin. His actually was award-winning at our church Halloween party. We have no pictures of that bad boy. Major fail.
Saturday, Tyler also took the kiddos to a concert put on by the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra. They did a variety of Halloween songs and had the kids parade across the stage AND handed out candy. The kids ate it up. Sheridan did not want to wear her costume, but commandeered Tyler's when she realized she really DID want to participate in the festivities.

...And, on to the actual Halloween! I took the kids trick or treating downtown, what fun! Micah is on oxygen right now, though, and the cord got tangled in the stroller wheels whilst getting loaded back into the car, which led to my phone falling into the parking lot (unbeknownst to me), which led to me discovering that I'd lost my phone...which eventually led to a broken phone (yay for living in a city full of really honest people, one of whom contacted the husband and returned it while I was back at the scene searching for it!) and therefore some limited photo ops. Sigh.

Without further ado, this year's cast of characters!
 Rey, as seen in The Force Awakens!
 Queen Padme Amidala (in her Parade outfit from the VERY end of The Phantom Menace)
 R2D2 with upgraded body, as seen in every single Star Wars movie!
 Luke Skywalker as seen in Return of the Jedi!
 Wicket the Ewok, from Return of the Jedi!
Obi Wan Kenobi from The Phantom Menace!
 Their new film, "When Ewoks Escape!"
Star Wars Family Reunion
Happy Halloween, everyone!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

August 2016

August is our last month of summer! It's a time of change, as the kids are getting ready to go back to school. 
This year we had swim lessons in August.
Sheridan loved swim lessons this year!
Henry passed swim lessons with flying colors!
Amelia isn't afraid of those water slides!
Cole overcame some serious fear his first day of swim lessons and turned into a fish!

Do you see his oxygen tube, twisted around everything? You cannot keep this boy contained!
Oh, silly Micah!
Grandpa and Grandma Carla came out for a quick visit with us, hooray! And thank goodness, because they were here and could watch the kids when this happened:
We will miss you, swift Danger the car. You have borne us well through many adventures.
Last splash of summer fun! Thank goodness for fun friends!

It's still a bit odd to me that mid-August is back to school. But, alas, here we go!
They are so ready!
It's his last year of elementary school! Hooray for 6th grade!
Sheridan is in 4th grade.
Henry is ready to rock 2nd grade!
Fierce Amelia is going to conquer Kindergarten!
Go team!

Sheridan read through the Book of Mormon by herself before the school year began! This girl is a goal-setter and an achiever. We're so proud of you for putting your mind to it and finishing this great book!

Tyler and I celebrated 14 years of marital bliss with a trip down memory lane!
Well, a trip around our old apartments in Provo!
This is Applewood, where I lived when we met!
And Presidio is where I moved that summer. 
Don't worry, Tyler moved right across the street from me, which was awesome!
At the Provo City Center Temple, which used to be the Provo Tabernacle, where we'd meet for church twice yearly after we got married. The inside burned completely, and it was restored into a temple. Our lives can feel a lot like that tabernacle--it was a great place that served many wonderful purposes in the community. But God had a greater vision for it. The fire looked like complete devastation, but it cleared the way for it to become a temple of the Lord. Sometimes our lives are really good, but the Lord knows we have the potential to become much more. And sometimes it seems like our life has been set on fire and burned to the ground, but it's a chance to let the Lord make something new. 
Anyhow, Happy Anniversary, Tyler! Love you forever!
At the end of the month, we had one of my favorite activities for the women at church. It was a Women's Retreat in Heber Valley Girls Camp. These ladies are the best! It has provided such a wonderful way to connect with each other and feel the spirit in the mountains. 
These awesome women make life so much better! Even if the leaders have to break us up because Janelle talks too much. Lol, we all know I'm the one who won't shut up. 
Nothing wraps up the month better than a Vigue Original Play! Happy August!