theWitches

We spent the day at Gardner Village with Grandma and the cousins peeking at the all the funny witches.  We got there early and went to my favorite store Down to Earth and loved every minute.  I scooped up a great Pear tray for my kitchen of course and found the greatest chair tucked in the back corner of by the elevator.  $29.  That's it.  A smudge of yellow paint (which came right off) had relegated it to obscurity.  When the cousins arrived it was to the sight of me and all three kids hauling this chair to our trunk.  

Shar printed out a witch hunt list and we hunted and posed and laughed and chased down each witch- and Mason too. The kids loved all the funny witches-- the boys especially loved the "bad driver" who had careened right into the Mill's round silo.  Our success earned us 25cent cookies at the bakery.  Grandma gave everyone their own quarter to buy their own.  

We ran into more than witches, our old neighbors the Higginsons were there with their grandma too.  We had a minute or two to talk and catch up.  Their kids are so BIG, really I can't believe it.

Don't worry, grandma wouldn't be satisfied with just a cookie.  She offered to let the kids ride a pony too.  Funny because Cait is alwasys talking about taking her family to ride horseys.  She yelled to the attendant that she wanted the little guywith the green bucket-- Charlie, a gray shetland pony.  She loved every second and screamed when she had to get off.  She and Benj were the only kids who would dare ride at first.  They were a great example for the next round where everyone but Noah happily saddled up.    There will be no photographic evidence of this part of the trip, but I'm sure that Cait will remember everytime we try to go back.

 

SHOUTINGtoTexas

I found these pictures of the Baileys from back in August.  Our kids cried at the idea of their moving-- Benjamin was especially convinced that he would never have another friend like Hendrix... maybe not, but we hope they will always stay friends -- until they can be roommates at BYU!  We loved having one last sleepover before they headed south.  Here are all the kids lined up on the porch, awww cute. (Faryn should really be in between Noah and Cait, as they fought over who could be her friend the whole weekend).  We wish the whole flock of Baileys all the best in TEXAS!

FONDANTmemories

This is a dedication to my selfless Jeana, who agreed to make her sister's wedding cake.  When your friends visit from cajun country, you don't mind having to reunite over fondant.  Since I usually prescribe to the myth of the natural, I am sure that making a rolled fondant cake would be something I would try with the usual level of huberous.  Not now.  Call a professional or run away. Don't listen to Duff because anyone can't do it, unless they have all night.  Well it wasn't all bad, I learned a few tricks and tips courtesy of Jeana's New Orlean's friend.  All in all, I loved laughing with and at Jeans, getting covered in cornstarch and massaging with Crisco.  Jinxy, if you read this, thanks for a great time and a fairly painless reality check in the land of cakes.  

Fine Print: This is not the actual cake, but an example of an easier cake without stamping, eyelet lace patterns and overlays and of course all the frosted details that I didn't have the stamina for.  The real deal was beautiful and tasty I'm sure.

TPInn -or- While You Were Sleeping...

We got together with the Bramwells after the CS hike.  The boys went scorpian hunting in the desert and the girls watched a chick flick.  Because scorpian hunting means a late night, we gave up our bed and bath to Kyle and Juli so they could be close to Stinky while he slept.  Jeff bunked in Cait's bed and I had an air mattress to myself.  We had a fun evening, but our guests turned on us the next day.  Juli and I let Kyle and Jeff sleep in-- bad choice, because Kyle was not sleeping-- he was toilet papering our bedroom Bramwell style... and that's thorough.  Lucky for us he only used 4 rolls instead of the entire 12-pack that he stashed in his duffle bag. 

 

Later we took all the kids to the park where Jordie and Cait took turns giggling at each other while swinging and the boys swapped danger with Kyle.  They showed him how to get under the giant pine and up the branches and he showed them how cool it is to jump out of swings.        

We all ended up on a nature walk with Jeff and the kids investigating every spider web along the way.

 

We tried to get a few cute pictures of the kids, but they were uninterested to say the least.  "Noah smile." No response.  "Noah, just smile and we can be done." And there you have it.  I guess he hoped that this meager attempt would stop the madness.  Caitlyn did better on her own perched in the "pink camo" tree.  

And yes, Virginia, the TP master cleaned up his mess and we are saved it all-- can't be too prepared for the back-to-school germs.

DOUGHNUTfalls

Another great hike.  We got up EARLY to beat the crowds up this popular hike.  Lucky for us, we got a great parking spot and it was cool enough to call chilly.  The intrepid Kyle, Juli and Jordan were great hikers  and very patient with the continual questioning and telling that our very verbal children are always up to.  The hike is about 3/4 mile with good variety of inclines, declines and restful flat places.  I was disappointed when we reached our destination, because its not like I remembered.  What once was a chute of water cascading off the mountain, through a hole in the top of a wide-mouthed cave (hence the name), was merely a chute of water.  One face of the west part of the canyon sheered off and now blocks the entrance to the cave.  You have to climb up pretty far to see it.  

Of course Kyle and Jeff were ready to go the distance with Benjamin in tow (technically on Jeff's back).  Juli and I stayed to look at rocks with the little kids in the shallow streams downriver.  Once we were down to the parking area, there were hoards of people-- glad we beat the rush!

CASCADEsprings

 

After a long summer term and a week of school we headed for the hills.  Lucky for us we headed at just the wrong time, during an Alpine Loop road bike race.  We were creeping up the windy roads manuevering around cyclists and their fans.   On the bright side, the forest ranger let us in for free advising us to find a place to picnic and wait out the end of the race.  She pointed us toward Cascade Springs.  Thanks.

We hiked for about 2 hours, stopping to look at every flower, bee, spider and water strider.  Jeff practiced his macro photo skills while Noah read every trail marker and sign along the way-- only one week of first grade and already what a reader!  The further we got from the trailhead, the more Noah worried that we had lost our car.  We gave him the compass and showed him how to find southeast (where our car was)-- I don't know about his true orienteering skills, but he felt empowered enough to quit worrying. 

 

                         

 

It felt so liberating to get out into the real world and just be together as a family.  After our three hour tour, our perspective on life was improved and we headed back home ready to start a new week.  Our kids loved this family adventure-- so there is sure to be a repeat in the coming weeks.  Funny how the dwindling summer is motivating us to get out there and enjoy everything one more time.  

FirstDay of School

August 18th....

Kids woke up 6:30am

Kids got dressed 6:31am

Kids ate breakfast 6:35am

Kids woke their parents to go to the bus stop 6:47am

6:49am Mom broke the news that the bus doesn't come until 8:00am

 After meeting their teachers at Back-To-School Night, the boys were excited.  So excited, that it made me wonder if I had hallucinated all the hard mornings of last year-- all the whining, hiding in covers, and crying included. Apparently the third and first grade changed all that.    Well at least for the first three days of school.  Even Caitlyn couldn't wait to get in on the action and posed for her own back-to-school picture.