December Catchup

Here's a bunch of stuff that went on last month. Stan took most of the kids to a grand reopening of a park near his office. They had a free pancake breakfast, balloon animals, cookie decorating and standing in line waiting to ride the trains. This park has miniature (but still large enough to ride on) steam powered trains.

I didn't go because it was my first time teaching bookbinding at our local art museum. I stressed and worried and had so much fun when I finally got to teach :)

Heather and Gwen took part in their piano teacher's annual Christmas recital.

Here are snatches of each of the pieces they played.

I took Michael to the Kindergarten/First Grade Christmas Party at school. Each kid made about eight different projects. This is a wreath made out of smashed Shredded Wheat cereal, Elmer's glue, green food coloring and beads.

Later in the month, Michael, Naomi and I went on a field trip to the International Printing Museum. It was fascinating.

This is their replica of the press that printed the Gutenberg Bible.

The linotype was amazing. I loved the clacketty sound it made.

I got a kick out of the juxtaposition of technologies we saw in the break room on the way to the restroom.

One of the best parts of last month was getting to spend time with Summer (who, of course, I don't have pictures of). She caught a ride home from the Y with one of her roommates and her friends. They stayed a couple nights while they went to some tourist attractions. they were all so nice and a delight to have as guests. I thought this was a fun pictures of the three girls, Veronica, Christina and Maggie with their Macs.

Henry favors Apple products, too :) I probably got to spend the most time talking to Henry for two reasons. One, he slept in the living room on the couch and got woken up earlier than anyone else by kids running around and, two, he spent awhile each day waiting for three females to finish getting ready. He is a great guy.

I went to Stan's company Christmas party with him. His coworkers are all so nice. This picture was during the white elephant gift exchange which I counted as a rousing success because the gift we brought was taken from one person by someone else and because Stan got the books he wanted. Can you tell I am a dyed in the wool introvert? Even though I was having fun, enjoying conversations, relishing the food, my hands are still twisted in a knot trying to survive being around all those people :)

Last month, we made 50+ treat plates. It is a good thing I have so many capable people working in the kitchen. This is definitely a group effort each year.

Heather wrapped her Christmas gifts beautifully.

For New's Year Eve, we ate fun food and played board games. Here is Naomi poking some caviar to see what she thinks of it.

Happy 2012!

At the Park

The three youngest kids had swimming lessons while their sisters were at Girl's Camp. I've tried a few different places for lessons, but went with the one that was a 2 minute drive this time. It was extra nice because a friend who moved a while ago was taking her kids at the same time, so we got to catch up.

Michael is excited (but nervous) for his turn on the diving board :)

Kelly swan in the deep water a lot. It was a workout for her!

Naomi spent the time at the park eying the ice cream cart, so when it was her turn far a date with me, that is what she wanted. The girl pushing the cart finally let me take a picture when I told her she didn't have to be in it. She seemed pretty shy, but Mo wasn't.

Someone wanted to share...

Nebulosity

What I didn't tell you about sailing class was that, on the last day, Gwen got hit in the head with a boom! It hurt, but she wasn't really worried until she noticed the blood running down her face. They suggested that she go home, but she was a trooper and asked to stay for the rest of the class.

We have baby lizards in the backyard. I like the blue on their necks :)

Our home teacher gave Michael another computer to disassemble. He is sharing it with his sisters.

Last week, we went back to the park where the girl's took their sailing class to feed the ducks again. Everyone was looking forward to it except Summer and Rachel, but they had fun once I let them use the camera. Here are my favorite photos they took.




Finally, just for fun...

Sailing Class

Rachel, Heather and Gwen took a sailing class at a local park this past week. Each day when I dropped them off, the younger kids would want to feed the ducks, so on the last day of class, we brought some chicken feed and got there early.

Gwen even had a duck eating out of her hand :)

The students all helped to set up the boats each day.



It was lovely to see all the boats out at once.

On the first four days of class, the sailors went out in pairs, but on the last day they each took their own boat out. Heather and Gwen liked the freedom of sailing by themselves, but Rachel missed having someone to chat with out on the water.

This is how their instructor was able to give them direction while they were sailing - in a kayak.

Since they had eight boats and sixteen students, half the class stayed behind on Friday and learned more while they waited for their turn to sail.

I had fun with the three youngest while I waited for a chance to take pictures of each of my girls in a boat.

Michael found a little freshwater clam that he wanted to keep for a pet (not!).

We saw a cormorant.

We were near a big gaggle of geese. Naomi decided it was prudent to sit up on a nearby picnic table.

Doesn't that look fun?

Big Trip

I've been putting this blog post off for a bit because it was overwhelming - so many pictures to organize. I finally conquered them, so here you go!

We went to Utah for the annual family reunion, but left a few days early so that we could be with Father on Father's Day. The kids and I gave Stan, and we all gave Father, each an owl tie.

The next day, we went to one of my favorite places - Snow Canyon. Rachel was messing around with my camera in the car and took this inexplicable picture.

One of the things I love about Snow Canyon is all the different colors of rock - black lava flows, read and white sandstone. Its so pretty.

The kids climbed some petrified sand dunes.

We saw lots of little tiny tracks and...

...a couple dragonflies.

We found the canyon trail that we went on last fall and took it again.

It seemed about 20 degrees cooler in the shade.

Our nephew Tristan did some climbing...

...and found some interesting rocks.

We spent the next day doing laundry and getting ready for camping. The last few years, the family reunion has been on Pine Valley mountain. It is a great place to camp. This year especially, it had everything a good camping spot should have, starting with lots of dirt. This is Naomi about five minutes after we got out of the car.

Of course, the best way to improve dirt is to find a cousin to make mud with. Toddler heaven.

There were lots of cousins and lots of pine trees...

...fun places to sit...

...good food...

...and piles and piles of dessert.

Stan's coworker told him that roasted Starbursts were delicious. I was underwhelmed. Give me a good old s'more.

We saw a few deer...

...and Uncle Will caught a fish.


Oh, joy.

I fed my inner pyromaniac by building and maintaining lots of fires.

There was rest (sort of)...

...and relaxation. (What a lot of pretty girls!)

We left straight from the camp out on Friday to go north to stay with Derek and Holly for Genola Days. Kate came with us and her blow dryer was a little too noisy for her cousin.

Genola Days was a ton of fun. There was a parade with a giant chicken float.

There was a carnival and...

...our niece Natalie was one of the performers that took to the stage set up in the park.

The rodeo was the highlight. In between the events, they had activities for the kids.

The 2-5 year olds raced for candy.

People donated kittens, bunnies and chickens for the 6-9 year olds to chase and adopt as pets.

Finally, the 10-14 year olds got to chase the Cash Calf, a young bull with bills ranging from $1 to $20 duct taped all over him. It was pretty entertaining to watch :)

Heather and...

...Kate each got a dollar.


Here are some more rodeo pictures. I liked the bare back riding and the fireworks best.



Sunday, after church in Genola, we headed to Orem to see some friends and then took a short drive up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls.

Lots of people were wading at the base of the falls, but we were the only ones looking out of place in our Sunday clothes. It took multiple washings to get the mud out of Gwen's white skirt, but it was worth it.

Sunday night we were back in St. George, where I caught a toad in the front yard. I showed it to a cluster of kids and made my sister-in -law scream by surprising her with it, but I didn't kiss it because...

...I already have Prince Charming.