Date Night

Probably two years ago I was desperate for regular date nights with my husband.  For too long we had just been dropping the kids off with Grandma and Grandpa once every few months and I really wanted to get out more often.  That's when Allison and I came up with the. best. deal. ever.  We decided to watch the other's kids once a month for a date night and it has worked out better than I could have hoped.  On our date nights, we drop of the kids at Allison's (the kids love that part, it's more like a play date for them) and then she brings them back to our house at bedtime.  It's perfect... we don't have to spend extra money on a sitter and we don't have to rush home to put the kids to bed!  I am SO THANKFUL Allison enjoys this deal as much as I do!

All that being said, we've fallen into a bit of a "dinner and a movie" rut.  So we decided to switch things up a bit and become "tourists" for a few hours each month, or at least try to do or see something we haven't in a while.

Twelve and a half years ago Brad proposed at the entrance to Ensign Peak, but we've never been back.  It was a perfect evening to take a walk, or climb, to the top!  I love this beautiful valley.  But not nearly as much as I love my handsome husband! 

Our Last Trip to the Pool

This is it... the end of summer.

Ellie's Butterflies

Ellie got a butterfly kit for her birthday.  She got to watch the caterpillars grow, form chrysalis', and turn into butterflies.  Before they emerged Ellie let Avery name one, Summer, she is such a sweet friend.  Then she invited us all over for the big release.  Each of the kids got to hold one, although Avery was a little worried about it so she just stood next to me :)

Thanks Ellie!

I Love to See the Temple

I am so grateful to be able to go to the temple!  And I am so glad we got the opportunity to take our kids into the new Ogden Temple during the open house.  As we walked through the rooms Wesley said "so this is what you and Dad do on date night?"  I love that they can see how important the temple is to our family!

 

 That night I snuggled with Jack for a while before bed and he showed me his new trick...

Jack's First Day of Kindergarten!

Jack has finished three years of preschool and has been

SO ready for kindergarten!

For months he's climbed up on top of our jungle gym and excitedly watched the new school be built.  Finally, a week after Wesley, he gets to start school!

His teacher, Mrs. Nuttal, seems nice and fun and Jack already likes her.  Jack found his desk and, bonus, he gets to sit next to his good friend Zayne!  They were both so happy they didn't even notice us moms leave.

After school Jack was happy to tell me all about his first day, his new friends, music class, recess...  It was all "awesome!"

I am so proud of him.  He is an imaginative, happy, caring, and kind boy.  I can't wait to see how he excels in school.

Neighborhood Kids Fair

Another of our favorite neighborhood traditions is the Kids' Fair.  Kids come and sell cookies, candy, hair bows, toys, and all kinds of fun stuff for super cheap.  This year Maycee offered to paint fingernails for a quarter!  How cute is this?! 

 And our boys walked away with the whole set of Power Rangers for only 10 cents each!

 We also enjoyed our cookies from Tate and Ellie, lemonade and popcorn from the Guymons, and fresh bread from the Ereksons.

First Day at our New School

At the beginning of the year we found out a new charter school was being built right behind our home.  I've never applied to any other charter schools, but being so close I put Wesley and Jack's names into the lottery.  We were lucky and surprised to be accepted a couple months later.  The kids have enjoyed watching the school's construction from our backyard and have been excited to start this new adventure.  We're happy to have a lot of neighbors going to the new school also, but so SO sad Tate and Ellie and Austin won't be there this year (we still praying they'll get in next year!).  Luckily, both Wesley and Jack know a couple of kids in their classes.  They get to wear uniforms (if only Wesley wouldn't pull his shorts up so high!) and Wesley is so excited about getting a locker.  He had a great first day and now Jack is even more excited to start next week!

 (Ashwath, his buddy from last year, is in his class)

Sunday night at Grandma's

Cobble Creek 6th Ward Camp Out

Would you believe we have never taken our kids camping (you know, other than a tent in our backyard) not even once?  I think every one knew it was about time, so I was put in charge of our ward's camp out.  And it's a terribly long story so I won't tell it, but after months of trouble we got ourselves a pop up trailer to make camping with kids feel a little easier ;)

So this is us, and our pop up, on our FIRST camping trip!

We LOVED the trailer! It feels so roomy inside and everyone slept so good!

We had to be at the campsite early in the afternoon to get everything set up, so the kids spent hours exploring and Tess tried eating every rock she could get her hands on.

Sister Stock also braided Avery's hair, she loved how fancy it was.

 

Friends showed up, we cooked a yummy tin foil dinner, played games with the primary kids, and watched a movie late into the night.

 We had so much fun we are already planning to go again in a few weeks!  And already planning next year's ward camp out!