Weekend Home

We finally spent a weekend home and it was very nice. I don't think we have had a weekend where we didn't do much for close to 6 weeks.

Friday, September 19, I made a batch of raspberry jam. We love raspberry jam and grow through it pretty fast. I knew we wouldn't have enough to get us through the next year, so at the last minute I decided to make a couple of batches.

Saturday, September 20, Maisie and I got up early. She wanted to go shopping with me, so I made her go to Weight Watchers. Good thing I took her, cause she drew my name out of a bag and I won the WW salad bowl. It was kind of funny that she picked my name. After WW, we went to the farmer's market. I haven't been to the farmer's market in a couple of years and I wanted to get a couple of fresh produce. I bought some peppers and cucumbers. Then we went to Sam's and got some groceries, and then Wal-mart, and Macey's. We got home in time to put the groceries away and then went to Shannon's daughter, Jana's, baby shower. She is having a baby girl the first part of November. She got a lot of fun cute girly things.

While we were out shopping and at the baby shower, Eric and Parker went for a drive up Providence canyon. They found a fun waterfall that I think I might have to go see for some possible photo shoots.

We grilled chicken for dinner and then after wards we invited Sallie over and had a fire. We have been so busy lately that we haven't seen much of her. It was good to get to visit. We also got to meet our new neighbors. They have three kids and a new baby. The three older kids were not afraid to ask if they could join us by the fire. They are some very smart and energetic kids. They had fun playing in the wood pile and building furniture and a house. Parker was a little hesitant to play with them, but by the end of the evening he was playing and interacting with them. There mom came over a little while later and we got to meet and visit with her for a little bit. They seem like really nice people. Her husband his an orthodontist and happens to be Maisie's ortho's nephew. He will be working in the same office, so we will get to seem him when we go in for Maisie's appts.

Sunday, September 21, I spent most of the day doing homework. I am trying to get caught up in my math class. I need to be taking my first exam in the next few days and have been trying to study for it. The neighbor kids came over and played with Parker for a couple of hours. We did our usually Sunday stuff of laundry and cleaning and just enjoyed the day and didn't go any where. It was very nice.

September 12-14, 2014

It has been a very busy three days. Friday night I had to work until 8:00 p.m. for our college scholarship banquet that I was in charge of pulling together. It turned out really nice and I think our scholarship recipients and donors really enjoyed the dinner.

Saturday, September 13, I had to work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. First I took the college ambassador's photos and then I had to attend the college advancement board meeting and make sure everything ran smoothly. After the meeting and cleaning up, I ran to the grocery store and then ran home long enough to put the groceries away and then I took the kids to the Aggie football game. It was our first football game. Eric was really bummed that he had to work and couldn't go. At the last minute, I thought of inviting Sallie. She didn't have anything planned, so she joined us. We had a great time and thankfully the Aggies won.

Sunday, I recuperated and later went to my parents for cake and ice cream for the September birthdays. It was good to see some of the family. It has been awhile since we have seen them. Life has just been so crazy busy.

Parker's 8th Birthday

I can not believe my baby is 8. Time goes by way too fast. Parker is turning into such a handsome young man. He still loves toys especially Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Legos. He had such a hard time this year deciding on which Lego set to get for his birthday. It was such a big decision that he ended up in tears, cause he just could not decide. Parker also enjoys reading and math. So far, he does not mind doing homework.

Because I had to work on his birthday, we celebrated his birthday on the 11th. He didn't mind opening his presents a day early. Maisie was so cute and wanted to make his birthday a special one. Because it was Friday, she got out of school at 1 o'clock. She made him a cake and decorated the house with a birthday sign and balloons. She had been working hard to earn money so she could buy him a present. I took her to the dollar store and Wal-mart to buy his gifts. She bought him some of his favorite things to fill a basket full; candy, Ninja Turtle cup, silly string, Hot Wheels car, gum. He loved it. He got from us a Ninja Turtle Lego set, two transformers, clothes. He was very excited and very thoughtful. After he opened each gift, he had to run up and give both me and Eric a big hug.

To my dear sweet Parker,

I love you with all of my heart. You are such a special fun little boy. I love your sweet innocent personality that brings so much joy to our home. I am so proud of you and all the hard work you put into learning and growing. Keep up the good work. I can not imagine my life without you and I am so glad to be your mommy.

Love,
Mom

Camping September 5th

We are trying to squeeze a few more camping trips before the weather turns bad. We went up to Temple Peak again. This has become our favorite spot. I took half a day off work, so we could get up there a little early. We left our house about 2:00 and got up there about 3:30. We ended up in a new spot that is up the hill to the right, once you turn onto the Temple Peak road. It was a nice quiet spot. There were only a few other campers up there. It was a pretty relaxing weekend.

Maisie and I worked on homework. She likes to sit next to me and work on homework together. It is nice to accomplish homework and spend time together. We enjoyed a night by the fire. Eric and the kids got a little crazy howling at the "almost" full moon. The night was nice and bright. Maisie has been learning about the phases of the moon, so it was fun to test her and have her tell us about the different phases.

Saturday, Eric sighted in his rifle for the deer hunt in a month or so. Parker shot his new bow and arrow. Then we went for a drive and a little hike to try and find some grouse. We didn't see any, but it was nice to take a little walk.

We got home Sunday about 2:00 and then it was unpacking and laundry. I tried to get a little homework done. The only bad thing about camping is I can't get much homework done without the internet. It was a nice and relaxing weekend.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend

Eric had to work the whole weekend, but I still wanted to do something with the kids. A couple months ago, Shannon and I talked about planning somewhere to go camping. We decided on Downata Hot Springs up past Preston.  This was the first time I have pulled our new trailer. It pulls a lot better than our other trailer. The only part I couldn’t do was back it in.

We left Logan at about 6:00 Friday evening. I took my time getting up there. Shannon’s husband, Mark, was kind enough to back my trailer into our spot. Thank goodness he is good at backing up, because the spots were very tight. We got all situated and were just hanging out by the fire, when Kyle and Misty pulled up. They didn’t get there until about 9:30. We got them all situated and then the camp host came and told me I was in the wrong spot. So we had to move my trailer on the other side of Shannon. Kyle hooked up his truck and we pulled it around. We got it all set up again right before all the vehicles started parking on the road, which would have been impossible to back it in with all the cars on the road. We finally got to bed about 11:00. The campground was still really noisy with all the people still up. Everyone settled down about midnight.

Saturday, Shannon and Mark fixed breakfast. We always plan meals together, which makes it so nice and easy. They fixed breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Misty and I cooked breakfast and dinner on Sunday. After breakfast, the kids were begging to go swimming.  Thank goodness the pool was warm, because it was pretty cloudy and chilly.  We swam for a couple of hours and then took a break. My friend and Shannon’s niece, Krista and her son Kendrick, came up Saturday night. We all went back to the pool after dinner and swam for another hour and a half. I think the kids could swim all day long.

Sunday, we fixed scones, sausage, scrambled eggs, and fruit for breakfast. After we got breakfast all cleaned up, we decided to go for a drive to Twin Lakes. It was about a 25-minute drive toward Preston. I have never been there and wanted to see what kind of camping spots they had there. It looks like it would be a fun place to camp, especially when it is really hot and the kids could play in the water.  When we got back to camp we all got ready to go swimming again. The pool was a lot warmer today. The kids swam and the adults just floated around. That is my kind of pool. I hate cold pools. We got out about 5:00 to go fix dinner. As we were leaving the pool, my friend Michelle and her family were just getting there and checking in. They had rented a cabin. They joined us for dinner. We fixed baked potatoes with sweet pork, broccoli, and Olive Garden Salad and we fed about 18 people for dinner. It is fun going with such good friends and family. After dinner, we just sat around the fire and visited and played a few games. The kids enjoyed playing on the playground and in the sand. Downata is definitely a place for kids. If we didn’t have kids, it would be pretty annoying. There were kids and people everywhere, but they have a lot of things to do.

Sunday, we fixed french toast and pancakes and then packed up to head home. I talked Kyle into going through Logan, so he could back my trailer into my driveway. What a nice brother. We got home about 1:30, then we started on laundry and unpacking. I had quite a bit of homework I needed to do to. This semester is going to be very time consuming. My math 1010 class just takes a lot of time to watch the lectures and work through he problems.

6th Grade Homework

WOW! On the 3rd day of school, Maisie had five hours of homework. I was amazed by her patience and diligence to get it done. We had no melt downs, but I am not sure how much I can handle that much homework. I might have a melt down. If the year continues like this, I am not sure I will have time to get my homework done. She is doing great and so far loves 6th grad at Spring Creek Middle School.

Trip to Price - August 22nd

We made a quick trip to Price for the weekend. Eric really wanted to get his Monte Carlo started for the neighbor who is buying it and also we were picking up a tool box from Cody. We didn't get to leave until Eric got home from work at 7:30 and it rained the whole way down, so it took us until 11:00 to get to his mom's. I really hate driving/riding in the dark. There was some type of race or event going on in Spanish Fork canyon, which I thought was totally crazy to be riding/running through that canyon at 10:30 at night. It is a scary enough canyon in the daylight. It slowed us down quite a bit. There was a cop escorting one biker and he was going about 10 MPH and we were stuck behind him for a good 10 minutes. We finally made it safe and sound. We visited with Eric's mom for a little bit and then we were ready for bed.

Saturday after lunch we hooked up with Cody and Lexi and went to their house and had BBQ. It was good seeing them and having time to visit. We were sad we didn't get to spend more time with the family. I realized that we haven't been to Price since New Year's Eve. Way too long. It is hard to believe it has been that long. It is so hard as the kids get bigger and now that I am in schooling our weekends just fill up too fast and it is hard to get away.

Sunday, Mary cooked us breakfast and then her and Maisie went to K-mart to exchange a shirt she had bought her. When they got back about 1:00 we were on our way home. We stopped at Costco in Spanish Fork, Cabela's and then Popeyes for dinner. We didn't get home until 6:30. It was a mad dash to mow the lawn and get laundry done for the week.

We had a great weekend and I am so glad we made it work. We need to keep the distance between visits shorter next time.