Mother's Day Weekend

Oh, poor neglected little blog! I have lost my drive to blog I guess. Instagram and Facebook are so much faster. But I was looking back over old posts and realized as much as I felt like I was blogging in the past I wish there were even more details of our lives. So I am going to try again! Even if it is just a summary of what is going on and it is only for my own enjoyment. So here is last Saturday.

 The morning started as it usually does this time of year with soccer. This time it was Joshua's. Josh is so much more engaged in the game this season. He even made a goal last week!

 After soccer William and I went looking for flowers. Maybe a little foolish on the weekend of Mother's Day but it was such a beautiful day it still seemed fabulous. And look at this miraculous picture, no people in that greenhouse! At least at that moment. We went to three different nurseries. Then later in the day William snuck out and went to another. He came home with a tree. Again. That boy has a serious tree addiction!

Part of the hunt through the local nurseries was the need for two yellow rose bushes for the front yard. Of course my man found them, bought them and planted them. As my neighbor said to me, he just gave me roses for Mother's Day forever!

This was my real Mother's Day gift. New bird bath right outside my kitchen window. Now someone inform the birds it is open for business.

In the afternoon Brittany and I went out to search for the perfect flowers for the yard. My mom has trained her since she was tiny to be an expert flower planter.  Of course the super-reader cannot be without a book for any length of time.  We went to a couple more nurseries and found just what we needed.  I have spent the last couple of days trying to keep them alive until we can plant them tomorrow.

I did plant these in the front yard. For some reason Brittany does not consider the front yard her domain.

While we were out we had to stop at DI to see if they had more books for Super-reader and we found this gem. I still feel a little bad we didn't bring her home. There is just something about a Barbie wearing that much lace that I just want!

The next day was Mother's Day. Because it was Mother's Day and they had to do anything I wanted I made these three awesome kids who have made me a mother pose for a picture after church. I am so glad I get to be their mom.

We later spent the rest of the day with my amazing mom. Love this picture. She made both of our matching dresses. Aren't we both adorable? Yep, I absolutely won the Mother jackpot!

Park City 2010

We have just come back from our annual trip to Park City. We like to go up every year around this time of year for a little school shopping, a little fishing and the Arts Festival.

The Arts Festival was actually the last thing we did and this was toward the end when Josh got tired. Going to the Park City Arts Festival was actually William and my second date long ago. It isn't quite as peaceful with three kids but we still love it. I guess because we do a lot of crafts around here my kids are usually pretty well behaved and interested in the different methods and types of art there.

Pretty, pretty Park City. This is my favorite part, the old part above Main Street.

There are still a few remnants of the Olympics around. I have to admit to hoping that actually driving one of these things is not a skill any of my kids develop. Scary!

We made friends with a little art on the streets.

Off to the Uintas for some fishing! I love this picture, William looks like the Pied Piper of the forest.

Our spot, we had to move from our usual spot. The water was really low this year.

Brittany went on a flower hunt with my camera and Josh. This is our spot from the trail she was on.

This is what we were after. We love this little lake because if we can get there early enough (8 a.m.) we are almost guaranteed success. This was our first fish.

Lovely little lake.

Everybody caught at least two and sometimes three.

Brittany found lots of flowers too. There were tiny mushrooms and giant ones. That one in the top right hand corner was at least 6-8 inches across.

It was a great trip, I guess now we are that much closer to being ready for school to start.

What We Have Been Up To

It has been a strange week. The big news was that I finished the Halloween costumes! Yipppppeee! I am always so excited to get them going and then so glad when they are done. I was really pleased this year with the end result. Harry Potter, Hermione, Alice in Wonderland, Queen Elizabeth and a pretty witch. Joshua will be a recycled fireman from Matthew's younger days.

This is one of my favorite details. Love how it turned out and Matthew thinks I am cool so that is the most important thing.

Brittany had a volcano assignment. They "erupted" them this week


Matthew had to get in on the act too, they made their volcanoes out of paper mache.

Matthew was sick this week, walking pneumonia if you can believe that. The kid is so tough though it is hard to tell when he is really sick, I had no idea he was that sick when I took him in. Thank heavens for antibiotics. I thought I would post this picture as a tip for other parents headed into the flu season. See that hoop he is holding? It is his scarf he is knitting. The only thing that kept him on the couch for any length of time.

Sunday Update

We just came back from a great adventure in Park City. First we started at Hoogle Zoo, one of my kids favorite places. You have to pose with the gorilla, unless of course you are Joshua and refuse. Apparently frozen animals are scary. Brittany and Matthew even touched this scary guy. Don't you love Brittany's face? Then is was up to Park City and the fabulous suite William got for us. The hotel had a fun pool so there was a lot of swimming happening too. It was great! The next morning we got up REALLY early so we could drive up to the Unitas for a fun hike and some fishing. Don' t you love this picture? There were loads of wildflowers. And lots of fishing lessons. More about my great fishermen later. We stopped at the Upper Provo River Fall. So pretty. This great vacation was all thanks to this great guy, my man. The next day we awoke to balloons. Is there any better way to wake up? Then we were off to the Park City Arts Festival. It was so great, now I am all inspired to try something new. I love that arts festival, I always see something I have never seen before. This time is was a guy who printed individual pictures of black and white trees onto wet plaster. Amazing. No pictures though, I was afraid of upsetting someone. It really was a great trip!

A Fun Week-Sunday Update

We started this week off with a fun bang. The kids were out of school for a teacher prep day so we took advantage of the chance to go up to the Children's Treehouse Museum in Ogden. Monday is a discounted day. I think it cost us $14 for all of us to go from 10-noon. Which about the right amount of time for me anyway. I love this museum, there is a fun one at the Gateway Mall in Salt Lake but it is a lot more expensive and always packed.

They have a big fire engine, always a big hit.

Brittany has loved to plant this flower garden since she was about Josh's age.

Matthew loves to play scientist.

And what two year old boy wouldn't love a bunch of train tables?

It was also the fourth grade program at school this week. Can't tell you how happy I was when they sang "Utah, it's the best State!" It's sure good to be back home! Brittany did a great job and sang at top volume with full enthusiasm the entire time.

New this week is the discovery of marble games. I found bags of marbles at the dollar store complete with instructions for games and "shooters". Brittany and Matthew have been squeezing in games all day, even before church.

Hope you had a good week too!

Late Sunday Update

Last week was a fun week. This week we are not off to a good start, spent the morning with Josh at the doctor for an ear infection. So I am going to post this late, just to remind myself that we did have fun!
It was lovely, sunny and almost warm Friday. Josh didn't take a nap(the beginning of the ear infection I think) so after much begging and pleading from the kids we went off to the park.

Nothing makes a boy happier than pushing your truck through the sand.

Or jumping off of things while yelling, "Mom, take my picture!" Followed by "Are you going to put that on the blog?" Here you go son. Your jump is now famous.

Brittany was giving lessons on how to make the perfect sand meatball.

I love that all three of my kids can all have fun at the park. I can't help but wonder for how much longer.

Lots of reminders that Joshua is growing up fast. He had his first real dress-up session with the kids. Have you ever seen a more adorable Mr. Incredible? His dress-up team is pretty good at hamming it up for the camera too.

After bath time the other night Brittany tried to reclaim our baby by swaddling him. Looks a little nervous doesn't he?

So welcome Spring, lets have some more this week!

Sunday Update!

Oh No! My baby has been mummified!

Actually he bonked his head (how unusual!) and this was how his sister fixed it.

Doctor and patient. Notice those boxes behind Brittany? Yeah, we are still working on it.

And High School Musical 3 was rented so that mom could get a little more accomplished. Yeah, they are watching it on the laptop because we haven't found the DVD player. Matthew watches with great enthusiasm, can you tell?
I suppose I ought to mention that all my productivity came to a screeching halt after I fell down four concrete stairs in my parents garage. I have these amazing collapsing ankles and when they go out on occasion I go down. I even went to the doctore to make sure I hadn't messed up my knee seriously. It resembles a big marshmellow now but is only sprained and already doing better. I would just hate for you to think things are too perfect around here and that became a big part of my week!

What Happened This Week!

Well, we had a great Valentine's Day weekend! The kids had a blast at their school parties. They came home and produced one of my favorite traditions. The Valentine placemat. We take a sheet of clear contact paper, they arrange all of their Valentines on it and then we cover it with another sheet of contact paper. Presto! A cute placemat and there are no loose cards floating all over the house to make me crazy!

There was a lot of snow this week so we had lots of fun outside again. Have to say we are starting to wish for Spring but the snow fun is still not getting old. This storm finally produced the perfect kind of snow for snowmen. Especially ones that like to wear Dad's hat.

Good for snow angels, or snow naps-not sure which. Oh, Brittany says she was catching snow in her mouth here.

Joshua discovered the joy of our little red shovel. He loved helping Dad and Grandpa. Now if we could just convince him to share.

It was a good week for trains for him too. Built them all around himself!

Next week we might have moving pictures! Assuming we have a functioning computer in all the chaos!