Book Fair

As per our Tuesday morning schedule, I went to the temple at 5am and was back home at 6:10 to get Owen up for jazz band. After waking him, I came to the kitchen and made myself a carrot cilantro salad again, yum. I was really hungry so it was very good again. Then woke up P&K at 8 and went to the school for Books and Bagels. Peter had two donuts for breakfast cause I took one and gave it to him, Kat had one, and they shared some chocolate milk. I did not partake. Not sure why I went along with doing this damage to my kids. Then we went into the book fair. I told Peter I'd buy him a poster. There was a big sign by them that said "$5" but they were $5.99, so I think that's false advertising. Especially in todays "no more pennies" world currency. As for Katharine, I had to talk her down from a blank $17 fuzzy Frozen notebook to a $10 princess book. Daniel's not here so that saved me $10 bucks. 

Kathrine was a mess eating her donuts. And her hair dried a bit crazy cause I gave her a bath right before bed. 

It was raining when we were leaving. Katharine wanted me to carry her, but I told her to wait and I'd run get the car. She looked so small and vulnerable. 

lol, she's so cute.

I haven't done good cleaning today, but I am here typing on the blog, so yay that's one win. I'm on track to still be current after day 1. I've just let Kat watch movies today - Encanto, Snow White, then Ariel. I watched a few Sept 11th things and talked to Mel. She's thinking of taking a last minute trip to Florida, and was asking my advice, since she's in her last trimester. I did it before Katharine was born, I say go for it. Her doctor wouldn't give her a note though. I told her I had a note from my doctor in preparation for international travel (flying back from Brazil, Owen's pregnancy), but no one asked for it and thus I didn't need it.  I also didn't need it for that trip to Florida when I was pregnant with Katharine. No going on amusement park rides though! Not even the tea cups (that was stupid). As for the airport, just wear a big hoodie and carry your bag in front, you'll be fine. I need to look through and see if I have any good insights here to pass on to my daughters and daughters in law for their pregnancies and newborn infants. Maybe I'll make a master list of pregnancy advice and baby advice. As for traveling in the last trimester, I ALSO did it when we went to Pepperdine, but that was before my blogging days back when Corey was applying to Business Schools, so probably 2003 with Hyrum?

The rain is gone now, I think I'll go up to the ruins before Owen has soccer practice at 6. Lily won't be able to help me out cause she's at work! Today is her first day at the Chocolate Covered Wagon. 

Ok nevermind, I started to leave and some hail hit right as I crossed Wasatch boulevard and I was scared it was going to crack the windshield more!! The van has a big crack that almost goes across the whole windshield, but stops 6 inches short, so technically not "illegal" yet (from what the cop told me in January) so we still haven't fixed it yet. Corey's windshield has a big crack across too. We're just hanging on waiting for something. So I went on a hike after I dropped off Owen, but then unfortunately/fortunately I had to keep it quick so I could pick him up at 7:30. I was on the hike at 6 and made it back to the are at 7:15. I hiked across the creek and made it to the ruins via the south side again. It was so fun! There are two VERY nice spots right by the creek to sit and be alone on that side, I plan to go again. 

Beautiful fall!!

Two funny things - lately Owen is leaving to play with friends without letting me or anyone know where he is, which makes me frustrated when we have to leave for soccer or his trumpet lesson. Last Thursday he came back just in time for trumpet, but I had already been texting mom's trying to track him down cause I didn't know if he remembered and would be back in time. So I told him, if you can't find me, atleast write it on a piece of paper or something. Today, when he came back for soccer, I asked him if he had told anyone where he was. "I put it on a paper on the fridge." Oh! Good! I hadn't noticed it, but I'm glad he did that. I did notice it later, and saw that he wrote on a paper that was already on the fridge. He literally obeyed me, but now I need to try and erase that off my paper quote or print up a new paper. 

I didn't mean that paper that was already on the fridge. Get your own paper next time. That was kinda funny. He's a very literal child. 

Lily called at 8:30 when she was done with work. She rode my silver bike down, but without a bike lock. She texted "There is no place to put it, so I left it here (sent a pic of it next to a wall) hopefully it doesn't get stolen?" Well, it was. So now she has something else that her work wages can go towards. It will take a few weeks/months to break even from that loss. So that is too bad, less than $1000 loss, so good news is that it's cheaper than a kid breaking a car ($6900). 

Hyrum texted earlier that he was thinking of bringing Daniel home tonight after they go country dancing, so they are on their way and will arrive at like 1 am. He said Daniel's turned on Park City Mode where he's just being lazy and entitled. Sent us this pic and said "Bro just woke up and is complaining about going to devotional..."

"I think we’re at or almost passing the point where he’s just wanting to be a bum and not doing anything. He’s rotten right now. Thoughts on us coming home tonight? Wouldn’t be able to leave till like 9pm when dancing ends. We’ve been staying up late and I don’t think I’d struggle staying up. Get to Sandy at like 1 AM. If we didn’t do tonight I don’t think I’d be able to go till after work tomorrow and I don’t think he should be here for much longer. I just feel like it’s not good for him? He doesn’t have anything to do most of the day. We’ve taken him to a class and to the library for him to read. Or he’ll work in his Lego set. But if I ask him to come to almost anything out of the apartment he doesn’t want to go and makes it hard. It’s like park city"

So they'll be back tonight. He'll probably be sad he missed Books and Bagels, but it will be ok. I'm hoping he's able to sleep on the drive home, so I plan to wake him up in the morning for school. I know his teacher and friends will be happy to see him! We are all excited too, we've missed him! The kids to parents ratio has seemed especially off having him and Abi both gone. 

I'm Caught Up

It's that time again that comes up every +/- four years or so... I'm caught up on the blog! (June 2021, Nov 2017). I've been giving the blog priority the past few weeks over anything cleaning wise, and it is showing. Katharine is over at Scarlett's house right now and I just finished last week, so now I'm caught up!! Go me. Now the question is: Can I stay on top of it from here on out??? We shall see.

It was my turn to host the kiddie playdate this morning. I woke up Katharine at 8:55 and her friends starting showing up at 9. She had a granola bar for breakfast, they ate sugar snap peas for a snack, and they all had a good time playing with the Little People that have been all over the house for the past week. 

They played while I cleaned up the kitchen, which was a mess. Yesterday Ethan and Bella came over for a visit before they went to dinner at Bella's sisters house. It was fun to see them, though I went to read for a minute and fell asleep so I missed most of the visiting, doh! Alvie is such a cutie. It was funny to see him hold his ground as Corey growled at him. After they left, we hurried and got dinner ready. Dinner was scheduled for 5:10 and Wayne joined us. We had salmon, ravioli, mashed potatoes, and Natalie also made crepes, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream. All of that left a lot of big bowls that we didn't clean up last night, so today there was quite a bit for me to wash. There was also the usual daily usage of cups and plates... it was a lot. 

Unload, load, wipe of stove, wipe back of stove, counter, sweep, wipe out microwave, dishes, table, benches, wipe wipe clean clean. Yeah, I haven't done much at all to clean the house for the past month. Yesterday I knew I had to get to it this week, and I picked up my bedroom, and prepared myself mentally for a kitchen cleaning morning today. I did a good job. Took me three hours to finish the kitchen, but I did it. This was my "almost done" pic at the 2 hour mark.

Dishes drying on the island.

I recovered from all that good work with a ride to my beloved canyon after the kids get home from school. Abi called from Panama, her emails are really fun to read! She's funny.

I love the colors in the mountains! First day of fall is tomorrow!

Got home, cleaned myself up, Lily made curry for dinner (we all like it when she cooks dinner!) I took Peter and Katharine over to parent teacher conferences - Daniel at 7, Peter's at 7:15. I went and talked to his teacher even though he's not here. Still up in Idaho - 

Daniel's teacher was behind though, so at 7:15 I told the person waiting for the 7:15 slot to tell the teacher to skip us from the 7 time and I'd come back at 7:30. Over to Peter's class, then came back to Daniel's class room. Peter made a temple.

Sunset tonight was at 7:25, so it was dark by the time we're done at 8. I'm glad I got in my mountain time in before the conferences. 

Here are some more of the photos that Hyrum sent us today of their fun up in Rexburg.

On Sunday night they took Daniel to a party, and they celebrated his birthday again there. They had a cake with candles for him to blow, and a group of like 50 adults all sang to him! Corey said "Why do I think you'd have less people willing to give that kid such a memory at most other schools...." I love BYU Students. Too bad for us, we're never going to be able to compete with that!! Hyrum took him to a Lauren Daigle concert Friday night (I think). 

He wasn't that impressed, haha.

He's been having so much fun that Hyrum commented "I do feel like he’s already becoming a little bit of a monster. Sorry about it and good luck with that" We'll put him back to work when he gets home! I'm glad he's having this experience though. 

Daniel is 10!

Daniel is having a lot of fun up in Rexburg with his brothers. They got him some presents, my treat -

They got those at Hobby Lobby - I'm not sure if they let him pick out things he wanted or if they surprised him. I'll get the details from Daniel after he comes back and we have his second birthday party here. I think the best birthday memory will be a Dino nugget volcano that they did, something fun and to check it off Wesley's bucket list. Hyrum preparing the place of art -

Making the potato landscape, taking their art very seriously - 

Daniel working on the volcano.

Their friend Sebastian. 

Excited to see the sculpture taking form. 

Wesley shard this video with us on the completed work. Looks like a masterpiece to me. Bucket list #9 complete! So that is super fun. They showed Owen such a good time with a trip to Yellowstone and a lego revealing ceremony. Now Daniel gets a birthday party and dino sculpture dinner. They better be careful, they are keeping expectations high! Peter is excited for when it's his turn! 

I did a bit of recreating today. I went on an early morning walk up to the Great White Icicle. Someday maybe I'll have gear to climb it. But for now it was really cool to be right up next to our granite cliffs. 

I got to touch the mountain. 

Then I walked back down the narrow path - if I come up here again I'll bring some clippers and clear the path a little wider for myself. I got pretty dirty today!

After the hike, I took Owen to his soccer game. I went to the rec center this afternoon for 20 min in the sauna and 40 swimming, and then I hurried home so Corey and I could do a ride before it got dark. Yeah, I might have done a bit too much today, but I'm just looking out for my mental health! Yesterday I played up the canyon too - I hiked up the creek past Hogum fork until I could see the Ruins waterfall. 

I was so surprised I got to the ruins from the south side! And I figured out a way to climb up and around to get to my spot. As I've been on the top before, I've never before been able to see a way down around it, but coming from the bottom I saw how to do it. It was really fun! So that was yesterday, and yesterday after I got home, I saw Natalie was at it again. 

This has practically become a daily thing. Last night she was making herself a zombie, using glue to make it look like it's peeling off. 

I thought the green was a bit too dark - more witch like than zombie, but what do I know about face art - Natalie is the expert! And she's rubbing off on Katharine!

Lily actually did that work, not Natalie. Kinda fun. Messy, but fun. 

Three Favorites

Corey and I had the (currently) rare opportunity to go on a ride together early this morning. Hyrum was home and he got Daniel and Peter out the door for me, thanks Hyrum! As we got to the top near Lisa Falls, it was lovely to see the colors on the mountain.

When we got to the ruins, I did a little bit of puttering around and was glad to get this photo from the other side of the creek of my favorite person and favorite trail during my favorite season.

Hyrum was playing with Kat after we got home.

He was telling us about the game they were playing "Her majesty demands that all the boys come in and watch the girls sleeping, which is a little weird to me (sigh)..."

Followed by "I'm so tired..." 

"It's the same story over and over again. The Erics forget her name every five minutes, and then they have to fight for her..." Haha, thank you Hyrum! He's such a good big brother. They all are. After we got back, I cleaned myself up and then Kat and I had to go - my dad was picking us up at 11. I had to work to sweet talk her away from her toys, but she eventually got ready and willingly came with me to my dad's car. We drove down town, picked up Beka, and then Neil and Jerusha met up with us for lunch at City Creek.

I ordered Katharine some fries and chocolate ice cream from Shake Shack. 

I went across the patio and ordered the Chimichurri steak from Vitality bowls. We had a nice visit, talking about some of their work stuff, almost officially being retired, maybe on Oct 1st! And what he thinks would be good for him and my mom as they move on from realty management and how we can help. Some talk of turning mom's home office into an art studio, which we'd all love. Good visit. As we were walking back to the car, we passed a store with a big pink throne. Katharine had to sit and feel her true princess identity come through. 

She's such a character! My dad dropped me off right at 2. He came over to see my rose, and I told him the whole story of the bushes getting annihilated and how thrilled I am that I've had roses this year. This one is a real beauty!!!

As he got back in the car to head home, Hyrum pulled up - he picked up Daniel from school at 2, and they were going to head straight out to Rexburg, but Daniel forgot some stuff and/or wasn't fully packed. We got him Sunday clothes, Sunday shoes, a towel, tooth brush etc and they were off. Daniel is going to spend the week up there with Hyrum and Wes. So fun Daniel!

Hyrum said the school office ladies were excited for Daniel when Hyrum said some of the stuff they plan on doing - music concert, country dancing, and maybe Teton National Park. Hyrum said that he thinks having Daniel there will be beneficial to him as well, to get the attention of some ladies he hopes. "It'll be like having a puppy." haha. They left then came back after 10 min - Daniel forgot his medicine for his lymph nodes. He has a few more days of taking that. Daniel is super excited to be going up to Rexburg for the week! 

One more pic of my rose at sunset today, isn't it BEAUTIFUL!?!?! I would cut it and bring it inside where I could enjoy it more, but there are three buds around it, so we're gonna leave them all together and let those bloom, exciting!

I skipped dinner last night so I woke up really hungry this morning. I had recently seen a video for a carrot cilantro salad, and I bought the stuff for it last night, so after waking up the kids and getting some bread started, I made that for myself for breakfast, I loved it. 

Roots of Knowledge with the Grandpas

Katharine and took my dad and Corey's dad down to Utah Valley today to see the Roots of Knowledge Gallery. The first and last time I came and saw this gallery was in 2021. 

Corey's bike has been in the shop, and it was finished today, so that was an other purpose for this trip. My dad and I were planning to come yesterday, but pushed it to today when Corey's bike wasn't ready yet. Today after Corey got the text that it was done, I called my dad and we decided I'd pick him up at 11. Then I called Wayne to see if he'd like to join us. I picked him up when I dropped Corey off at his house (Corey works there) and then we got my dad. We enjoyed a nice visit on the way down. We were in Corey's car with no AC, but kept the windows up so we could hear each other. It didn't get too hot - the temperature has been more bearable lately so it was fine. I got a little warm, but the grandpas were comfortable. We arrived, found a good spot to park and didn't have too far of a walk. Katharine came with us. It was an outing with the grandpas.

One thing that I don't remember hearing from last time, is how the roots of knowledge go along the bottom in each glass panel, reaching forward to the future and the tree at the end of the gallery, the Tree of Hope for Humanity. Likewise the branches from that tree reach back to the Tree of Knowledge. As explained on the website.

Roots of Knowledge portrays a story of human achievement and the pursuit of learning through time. The roots and branches that weave through each column signify the interdependence of the human family. “The Tree of Knowledge” in column A marks the beginning of time and invites us to reflect upon our origins. Concluding the work in column Z, “The Tree of Hope for Humanity” calls us to conscientiously shape the world of which we dream.

Katharine was most excited about the treasure box!

There was a crown, jewels, gold, and other luxuries.

My dad is like me, taking photos of all the quote he liked. 

We were there for about an hour. Afterwards, my dad wanted to see what it looked like from the outside, so we walked around there, and the campus was having a club expo. Dad asked them if they have an astronomy club. The person he asked didn't know. Wayne wanted a corn dog and treated us to one. My dad go last dibs and said he was treating, gave me $20 bucks, which almost covered our three "mini" dogs at $7 each. I let Wayne cover the last $3. Corndogs with the grandpas!

We had our fill, so we're saving the BYU Museum of Art for another time. Heading back to the car -

Picked up Corey's bike on our way home. Dropped off Wayne first, then my dad, and then Kat and I went to Target to buy her a toy, cause I had to bribe her a little bit to come with me today. 

After we got home, I skipped out for a bit on the rest of my responsibilities and I went and explored in the canyon for a bit. I found a big human nest.

And climbed up the creek on the south side. Pooh corner from the south looking north. 

I'm getting less freaked out at being on the south side of the creek. Thankfully haven't run into a moose or anything yet on that side. It's fun to see familiar places, like Pooh Corner and Techy, from a new vantage point. 

What else... yesterday Natalie made a Halloween costume for Peter. He's going Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas.

She asked if she could cut up a costume, I said yes, but if I had known it was that one I would have said no. She cut up the jacket and pants, sniff. Good bye Zoot suit. RIP MJ costume for me. So I'm sad about that, but good on her for being creative and developing a skill. 

Went over to my sisters house for a visit last night, giving her some moral support.

I went there while Corey took the kids to the elementary school's family skate night. Today - a pic of one of my roses!

I cut it and brought it to my desk so I could admire and enjoy it a little longer.

Time to go to bed after I write out my 5 things of gratitude in my simple abundance journal (I've done it for every day this year!)