Jaker’s

Our mortgage company had a night at Jaker's. We couldn't go until later due to Tag's game and James's reffing. Sadly they were closing earlier than the flyer showed when we got there so there was only time for a few minutes in the corn pit. We did get pumpkins though so that helped me not be frustrated.

When we went to leave we noticed Zeppe's across the street. When near Zeppe's one much always stop and have an Italian ice. This was the highlight of the night.

Bunco

I have only played Bunco one time and it was when I was a teenager. My coworker invited me to an 80s themed bunco night. I didn't want to buy anything so Lynnlee helped me piece together things we had. She let me borrow her fanny pack and scrunchies. She also let me use her bright make up.

It was fun meeting Robyn's friends. I'm definitely not a super bunco player but it was fun to try it out again.

Sienna’s Braces

Sienna got her braces off for phase one. She will have them around 12-years-old. She has a beautiful smile! The timing was a little funny though. We scheduled it when the ortho had an opening(afternoon), not realizing picture day was earlier that morning. She wished they were off before picture day. I think it adds to the memories and I think she is cute with her braces.

Sunday Walks

We love going on Sunday walks. I thought the girls and Marshall looked so cute riding together.

BYU Football

Thanks to Uncle Dan, Marshall was able to go to the BYU game with our boys. It was a late game which seems like they mostly are all late games. They left after our ward chili cook off. They were excited and energized. They had a really fun night and then got home around 12:30. I love the before and after picture!

Dirt Cups

Sienna wanted to make dirt cups so I made it happen. It was a busy week and if you wait for the right time it will never happen. You just have to squeeze it in and make it happen.

Family Dinner with the Johnson Girls

Megan came to town so naturally we had a family dinner! I always get nervous to host but then I enjoy it once preparations are complete and the party starts. I also love that my family shares the dinner assignments so it makes hosting much easier. Ali made the most delicious grilled chicken, my mom made yummy scalloped potatoes and I made my favorite salad- craisin salad.

Frightmares

Frightmares at Lagoon was sooo fun! It's easy to beat last year though. Last year we spent the whole day and night in the rain. This year the weather was perfect, the lines were short and the rides in the dark were way more fun. We stayed until closing but it was worth it to go on all of the rides in the dark.

Playground

We left our playground when we moved. My kids were sad but we knew we would get another one. They helped us choose this one and it has made our backyard complete. There is something for all ages in our backyard now. Next item is to get rubber mulch to go under the playground.

Book Launch

An author came to Dry Creek Elementary and told the students about his books and a new book coming out. Then he told them about a fun launch party taking place in Orem that weekend. Kade, Taggart and Sienna came home so excited and insisted we go to the launch party. 

I took them to the launch party at Mountain View High School. There was a play/acted out portion to start off the party with a story line from the new book. Then there were author signings by fifteen local authors who all publish with Shadow Mountain.

The kids had the best night and were full of so much energy. This picture has Kade's friend Hayden, as well as a character from the performance. 

 

 

 After the book signings the kids got glitter tattoos. You can kind of see Kade's on his forearm. 

I was excited about the authors signing books because the author of the Elephant's Girl was there and since I bought her book, I took it for her to sign. She also had cute stamps for some of the characters.

There was a prize wheel so the kids came home with posters, bookmarks and Sienna won a book. They had the best night ever. 

I'm not going to lie though. It was a sacrifice for me and labor of love. The performance was about an hour and it was long and a little boring. Then the lines for the authors were long and moved very slowly. People kept cutting in front and it was very frustrating. We bought the main book by Scott Savage which was the book being launched. We wanted him to sign in but his line was very very long. He was on the stage and the line went to the back of the auditorium. At least that is how long it was right after the performance. So we did all of the other things there and then checked his line around 8:30. The launch started at 6:00 so I was pretty tired by this point and wanting to get home. When we checked his line it was significantly shorter. I knew I would regret it if we didn't get the book signed. We got in line and even though it was only from the center of the stage to the side of the auditorium, it was moving very slowly. The author was talking a lot to each person which is nice when you are the one talking to him but terrible when you are the one waiting in line. As we waited in line a teenage boy got in line behind us. He asked if he could go ahead of me and I was like sure. I mean one kids couldn't affect us that much right?! Boy was I wrong. Right before the boy go to the author's table his whole big family joined him. The author talked to him, each of his siblings and his dad. It added at least another ten minutes. Ugh! We finally got to the front of the line at 9:00. The author talked to the kids, signed the book and we got out of there. Whew!

Temple Tuesday

Grandpa and Grandma Lowry took Jameson and Lynnlee to do baptisms one morning before school. Marshall tagged along.

Labor Day

We hosted a fun family gathering the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. We had Aunt Donna, Jenny and Ben as well as my parents, Betsy, Grace, Ali's Family and Steve's kids. The kids happily played in the court, basement and backyard while the adults mingled.

Monday we didn't have set plans. All I wanted was to get one open swim in for the summer. I really missed not training this summer compared to last summer. At first Marshall was going to go with me to Manila Pond and kayak next to me while I swam. Then Kade decided he wanted to go too. While loading up the car Taggart and Sienna decided they wanted to go. Lastly, Lynnlee changed her mind and came also. (James was staying with Drew) When we got there I swam for an hour. It was pretty crowded at 10:30 so I stayed on the East side and did shorter laps. It was awesome! I felt like anything could happen the rest of the day and I wouldn't care because I had the best swim.

Then we paddled around on the paddle boards, the kids kayaked and paddle boarded while I swam. Then they played in the sand. After a couple of hours we cleaned up and packed up. I rode my bike home. There was still a lot of time left in the day so I took Taggart and Sienna to the Lehi Outdoor Pool and they each invited a friend. It was super hot that day so it was nice being around water that day.

That night Marshall made a really yummy dinner of steak, corn on the cob, watermelon, and risotto.

Swiss Days

I got to go to Swiss Days Friday morning with my mom, Betsy and Aunt Donna. It was fun but really crowded. Probably the most crowded time to go. It seemed like all the moms in Utah decided to go while their kids were in school. 

*note to self for next year: don’t go Friday morning* We went back that night as a family and it was much cooler and way less crowded.

Saturday morning some of us ran the Swiss Days 10k. Kade was so excited because he set a goal at the beginning of summer to run it. He didn’t train as much so I was a little worried but he did so good! James and Marshall ran it as well and James got a PR! We talked Kjersti into running and she did great! It was her first race and she did it with no training! I ran it with Kade as a support but didn’t register. I haven’t been feeling myself since October and with my hamstring injury I was worried I wouldn’t be able to finish the race. Thankfully I kept up with Kade during the race and we listened to his favorite music (Weird Al 😆) and he told me funny stories. I loved getting to encourage him and cheer him on!

He finished in 1:02!! 3rd in his age group!

James’s friend ran it too!

Next was the parade. We had low expectations because we heard they wouldn’t be handing out candy and that’s the only reason my kids go. Then it turns out this was the most candy my kids have ever gotten. 

Jenny and Ben joined us. Taggart and Sienna had so much fun with him!

The rest for the day was spent shopping, cooking off indoors, then more shopping. Taggart and Sienna wanted to spend every last penny.

James and Marshall helped in the scone booth Saturday afternoon.

It was a very hot year at Swiss Days but we still enjoyed it. The older my kids get, the better it is. I also like their independence and sending them off to shop in pairs. I loved shopping with my friends when I was a kid. I remember going to the mall with a friend and splitting up from her mom and just being able to shop on our own. It was so fun!

Aunt Donna

My Aunt Donna came to visit. She hasn’t been to Utah in 18 years so we were all so excited to have her here!

She is my mom’s older sister. More posts to come about our fun weekend with her.

Soccer

Tell me you love soccer without telling me…

I dusted off my cleats and played soccer with my kids. They are all trying to convince me to play on a team since everyone else is playing. We’ll see…