State Fair 2012

on their way to what kids dreams are made of

awesome crab made out of car parts

This year we had very little time to squeeze in the fair but we made it happen.  The idea was to go with the whole family but it really is just too hard to stick together with so many people so we briefly saw each other while we were there.  Now I really do love the arts and crafts exhibits.  Not the wares for sale but the ones people have made.  Last year my kids thought they were so boring.  This year was a totally different story.  They thought almost everything was so cool and they wanted to know how it was done.  One gentleman was there displaying his skills with a scroll saw.  Such detailed work it really was impressive.  My boys surprised me by being so respectful and awed at this gentleman's work.  They asked him all kinds of questions about it really wanting to know more about his work and his tools.

hunger games butter sculpture

We didn't make it to the photography or the fine arts building which I was a little sad about but you have to sacrifice sometimes.  We did get to see all the animals.  I realize we had lived in California too long when we walked into the goat building and one of my kids yells out "Hey it's sheep."  Then another one says "No, its a camel right mom?"  Oh how I have failed them.  After I got over my fit of laughter I informed them that they were neither they were goats.  In any case they loved to look at all of the animals and pet them.  When we got to the real sheep exhibit William saw 2 sheep nuzzling  and he said "oh, that's a mom sheep and that's a dad sheep and they are kissing."  I asked how he knew which was which, he guessed then I showed him that he was wrong and how to really tell.  His jaw dropped to the floor and he said oh my gosh then started laughing. Lets just say these were some very well endowed sheep.
After all the animals we let them ride a few rides.  This was Scott's favorite thing when he was little.  He said he loved going to the fair because it was the funnest thing he ever did.  He remembers the rides being the next best thing to Disneyland.  Of course he had never been anywhere but hey its something he remembered from his childhood. So we bought them a few tickets to watch them make themselves sick LITERALLY. Brennen threw up after a whole bag of cotton candy and a spinning ride.

mesmerized by the high divers

the largest bull I've ever scene sitting like a dog

a sheep? a camel? no its a goat

my niece Jenni picking out what new chicken she wants

Geek of the Week

Brennen gets the spot this week for Geek of the Week.  I don't know what it is with this kid but he refuses to wear matching shoes.  He thinks as long as it has a right foot and a left foot he's fine.  He doesn't even wear shoes that are the same size.  He will often wear one of William's shoes and one of his own.  We have crocs of varying sizes for the boys to grow into but Brennen threw that all out the window. My favorite is when he wears a rainboot with a croc.

I did have to make a rule that when he goes to school he must have matching shoes. Is that really too much to ask? So everyday I am reminding him. . . "What did we say about matching shoes?"  That's his cue to go change his shoes or should I say shoe.
For some reason it bothers Peter too.  Anytime Brennen has his signature missmatches on Peter scolds him, "What did mom say about matching shoes Brennen?" Then he hounds him until he has matching shoes. such a silly thing .

Labor day

For labor day we worked.  We worked on our tans on our funky baseball skills and our water sports.

I really really really wanted to go to the lake at  least one more time.  The good news was Scott said we could go on Labor day.  The bad new was, that was the day my parents were officially moving.  I worried and fretted, felt guilty and earnestly prayed they would have enough help to move because we already invited friends to the lake before the moving day was set. In the end it all worked out and I have to say I had a great day at the lake.
We invited our good friends the Smiths.  I found out my brother Scott was already planning on going the the same lake with his friends so we met up after they got us a good spot on the beach. I also invited my sisters Stephanie and Amy with their families. We had a great time playing in the sand. The kids spent hours digging large holes.  We all played little Swedish baseball and some soccer, rode the wave runners, boating and tubing.
This time for tube wars we had 3 tubes tied to the boat.  It was so fun to see the kids hope from one tube to the next trying to pry their opponents fingers off so they could take over the tube.  They even hoped from one tube all the way to the far tube and back again.  I am happy to say I didn't lose this time.  I guess I am getting braver or stronger.  But William was our grand champion.  He would hunker down in his tube and lean just right so no one could tip it over no matter how fast the boat was going. There were times where we came so close to tipping him but nevertheless he held steadfast. Finally after countless tries and 30 minutes later my nephew Paul climbed onto Williams tube and threw all his weight into tipping the tube.  They both flew out but Paul claimed victory with a whoop and a fist punch in the air. This should be a sport. The only down side with tube wars is the brutal beating you get in the processes.  The next day everyone woke up extra sore and bruised.  Poor William was so beat he couldn't even walk up the stairs to go to school.  I came down with some ibuprofen and helped his legs find movement.  He was so baffled at why his legs hurt so bad.  I said 2 words "Tube Wars." Sadley I forgot my camera I just had my phone camera, so there is not actual record of these fabulous tube wars just our memories.
There is something so calming and rejuvinating spending the day in the sun sand and water.  I thrilled at riding the waver runners at full speed careful to not turn so sharp this time that I got thrown off.

Now I want to get the stand up jet ski so I can practice my submarines.  The ones we have are just to big to get them to dive under the waves.
 I made the comment to Scott that I loved going to the lake (any water will do)  and that I don't think its possible to have a bad day at the lake.  The realist that he his said of course you could have a bad day at the lake.  Then he went on to list all the things that could go wrong.  lets just say I choose to ignore those possibilities and I reiterate there is no such thing as a bad day at the lake.

poor Hyrum and his broken arm

this is how you know you had a good day at the lake

swiss days 2012

This year for Swiss Days we decided to not sleep over in the motor home to save a little money for New York.  I know it is breaking tradition but we'd rather break tradition than out wallets.  The night before it rained a terrible rain storm complete with thunder and even knocking out the power in half the city.  Lucky for us it was turning into a beautiful day at 7am. Our beautiful day didn't last long or I should say it routinely interrupted by this wet stuff they call rain.  I say that because it has been the driest summer ever.  Swiss days had been scaled down quite a bit from past years.  Apparently the city made new ordinances making it very hard to expand the vendors booths.
We walked and talked and laughed the whole day through thoroughly enjoying each others company.  We say some cute stuff and some interesting stuff but not too many things that we just couldn't live with out. I did make it out with a couple of ties for each of the boys and of course the Relief Society baked goods.  My favorite are Bratzilis a thin wafer like Swiss cookie super delicious.

the rubber band bazooka

just finished the bratwurst and saurkraut mmmmm.

  

When the boys asked why we always want to go to these kinds of things I think my sister Amy said it best when she said "It's like a living pinterest." Then they got it.
I was planning on getting a couple of rubber band crossbows for my kids but they sold out by the time I went over to buy them.  I guess that was probably a good idea who knows how many fights I would have to break up after someone got shot in the eye. They did have this super awesome rubber band bazooka gun that I would love to try out.
   But like I told Scott I was just going for the food, ideas and yodeling.  Yes I am a sucker for yodeling go ahead, call me a geek.  I think it has something to do with my childhood memories and spending days getting ready for Swiss days (my mom had a booth every year) and then manning the booth and eating the food and yes listening to yodeling.

not uncommon for homes to look like this.

It was my days at Swiss days that taught me real life math.  I learned how to figure out tax and how to count money backwards to give change all by the age of 8.  We as kids also made crafts every year to sell.  The money we earned went to school clothes for the year.  So looking back we learned how to be very responsible with money at an early age.
Swiss Days is held in Midway Utah a very beautiful city nestled in the mountains with green grassy fields and rolling hills.  If it didn't get so cold here I would definately live here it is so incredible when I come here I get an idea of what it might be like to live in the Swiss Alps. The landscaping it  lush and most of the buildings look like they came out of a story book.

First days of school

This year was a little rough for me sending my baby to junior high school.  She started a day before everyone so they could have their 7th grade day.  Its a day where all the 7th graders come to figure out where their classes are how to open their lockers and what to do about lunch etc. without the pressure of the older kids there.  Ellie did really great except she has classes on the extreme ends of the school and back again. And she has yet to successfully open her locker more than 2 times.  She just hauls her stuff in her backpack all day.
William started the next day.  He was so excited he didn't even want me to walk him to school because I was too slow.  I told him tough it was my right as a mother to walk me child to his first day of school. He placated me just long enough for me to see him park his bike then he was off playing with his friends.

what? we can't lay on the floor?  What kind of place is this

Brennen was a full week later than the rest of the kids.  He was excited and not the least bit nervous.  I guess that means I am doing a good job teaching my kids to be independent.  We got there a little too early and Brennen got bored waiting around to be let in his class.  He couldn't believe that laying on the floor was not okay. So many new rules to learn.  He loves his teacher and comments on how tiny she is.  She is way shorter than me probably about 4' 8" and weighs about 80lbs.  The staff jokes that she can only teach kindergarten because they kids are all taller than her after that.



Peter was very upset that he couldn't stay at school.  He was so lonely with all his buddies gone for the day.