Halloween 2015

Byron's class put on the Halloween program they have been working on for the last few months. 

Lots of silly songs and jokes, black lit dancing skeletons, and startling "BOO's!" shouted. 

Thursday was the day of class halloween parties! This was bitter sweet for the boys because their new school doesn't do a Halloween Parade. Since this is Miriam's last year for the parade, I let Byron go to his school late to come see old friends, teachers and his big sister prance around.

As always the principal and staff went all out. They went with a rock star theme this year.

This was my first year ever not helping with class Halloween parties.  Since I am helping with two productions at M's school, and volunteering weekly at the boys school to help get them adjusted, I decided not to do parties.  It was nice not to stress about them, but when the kids came home and told me all the fun activities and games I kind of missed it all!

It rained all afternoon. Luckily a mom gave Miriam a ride home, but she had to wait on the porch for the boys and I to get home.  I just couldn't resist snapping a photo of the converse wearing-reading-princess...kind of sums Miriam up in one picture.

We got those pumpkins carved that afternoon. Darin said he would take the kids to the city pumpkin walk while I attended yoga.  With the promise of yoga in my future, I was able to help the kids get their pumpkins washed, cleaned, and carved before Darin got home from work. 

Darin and the kids walked down to the park in the rain, I stopped by after yoga to have a quick stroll through the pumpkins and give everyone a ride back home.

One of our favorites....

 Friday was a LAZY morning day for all of us.  Miriam made mini-doughnuts for her and the boys breakfast while Darin and I slept in.  I left for Crossfit while the kids were playing games on the computer and came back to them still playing games. We had no plans until 1:00 when I had to get the kids to piano lessons.  Afterwards, we kept heading down south for some cousin time.

Spencer had his 8 year old birthday party.

The whole house was decked out with these Lego cut outs.  The boys had a blast making Lego creations, and playing games. But, the best part was getting to stay while all the other guest had to leave to keep playing with cousins during Anna's "Witch Hat Soiree".   Miriam got to go with Anna to her cooking class during the Lego madness so all the kids got a full day of cousin fun in.

Miriam borrowed Madi's hat for the event since I wasn't on the ball. It happened to match her outfit perfectly! The party was non-stop giggles and crafts with pizza and cake for dessert.

Lots to Celebrate!!

First of all Lisa is staying with us for a few days!

PARTY!

We had a zen thinking putty session the other night till about 11 pm. Best therapy ever.

Saturday was Ray girls witch trip!

Always so fun, and this year especially fun to have Lisa with us.

We had bead charms made, but Grandpa also added to our Halloween jewelry collection with "Grandpa made" bracelets.

Miriam and I snuck away for a caramel apple + one for the boys at home.

That evening was a HUGE celebration!

A milestone birthday for Dad/Grandpa.

Good food, cute decorations, funny moments, tender moments, harp songs, guitar, and singing, some whipping and nae naeing happened. Happy birthday was sung in English, French, Chinese, and Tuvan Throat sining. Pretty much the perfect birthday party. 

Love this family of ours.

Sunday was Miriam's very. last. ever. Primary Program.

Miriam went out with a bang singing 2 solos beautifully this year.

The boys were so cute singing their little hearts out as well.

The boys and M said their parts clearly and looked at the audience. Cute kiddos.

It was so fun to have both sets of Grandparents AND Aunt Lisa come.  Talk about a stroke of good luck/timing! We had a fun combined family dinner, even Alicia stopped by for a second. 

Fall Break

Gardner Village trip.

Miriam gets to go back with the Ray girls this weekend, but this was the boys chance to go.

It was crowded! But so fun to get together with friends. Finding the witches is always entertaining, but our most exciting find was a turtle in the stream.

Yummy caramel apple was my highlight.  No surprise there.

Then the kids and I headed up to Silver Lake.  I was so proud of myself for taking the kids and finding it myself (even though it was so so easy to get there, very well marked).   Most of the leaves are gone, but the yellow aspens (I think) were a beautiful golden color. We want to go back when the wild flowers are in bloom.

Miriam is full swing into Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson, and Kane Chronicles so there was an on-going imaginary game the kids were playing about half-blood summer camp.  I always choose to be Nike the Goddess of Victory when they play.  I should be whatever Goddess is a charter service because thats my only role in the game. I love their little brains.
We hunted down sour patch kid slurpees for the ride home.

Did my 9 mile run on Friday.

The rest of the day consisted of chores, home improvements, piano lessons, oil change (where we got free pumpkins!!) and a slow, long drive to P-town.   My mom made us pumpkin cookies when we got there.  We just vegged watching baseball with my dad till bedtime.

The next day Tatum had the cutest baptism day/party ever!
Pastel rainbows all over the place because Julia is a go big or go home kind of person.  Wonderful talks, sweet music all for Tatum, one of the cutest, spunkiest 8 year olds around.

All the cousins together!!
Fun family dinner at J & J's and then home again home again jiggity jig.

Labor Day 2015- a long long time ago...

I didn't take any pictures this whole weekend.   I am not sure why, I hauled my camera in my purse everywhere we went, I just never took it out. Maybe it's because we are waiting for my new phone to arrive (birthday gift:) that takes good pictures.  I wonder if I am subtly breaking up with my old camera...not calling as often, avoiding eye contact...that type of thing?

Luckily the kids took a few photos:

These were from my cousin Adam and his wife Lisa's baby blessing on Sunday.

Fun people, and amazing Uncle Bruce lasagne.

Baby Jett is adorable...I could hold her for hours, I don't know how Lisa is going to get anything done with those big eyes staring up at her. Lisa will though, get a ton done, because she is a spitfire of energy. 

Spencer joining Apples to Apples with the kids.

The amazing magnetic tower.

On Friday right after school and Miriam's well-child check up we hurried to join the thousands of other people headed out of town to get to Scofield.  This was a work weekend so it was just my parents and us, and I loved it.  I seriously love working with my parents.  We didn't accomplish as much as we should have because of sleeping in (Darin and I) but we did a fair amount.  The kids entertained themselves.  It's amazing and wonderful how much I can contribute now that my kids are older.  Work use to be this very frustrating start.stop.start.game between taking care of their needs and trying to be contributing adult.  Now all the sudden I am a full functioning contributor and it feels nice. My parents were planning on making a trip into Provo for supplies so we drove out together Saturday night and ate at Red Robin.  I have said it before but it bears repeating.  My parents are the hardest working people I know!  I am so grateful for the example they set in my life.  Work is necessary, so make it fun, and when you have put in your 100% effort feel free to relax like crazy! Fun stuff. Good way to live.

Thanks mom and dad!

Date Day

The weather is gorgeous right now! Finally we are back to temps in the 70's and the leaves are responding! When Cameron asked if Darin and I wanted to ride a new trail around Park City we knew we'd better seize the opportunity while the days are so beautiful.

We rode the old Union Pacific Railroad trail between Wanship and Park City. 

Cameron and Sarah introduced us to Chubasco's.  

Such a fun Mexican restaurant with a huge selection of salsas.

The guys graciously kept their speeds down to accommodate Sarah and I.

Since we were in Wanship we drove around Highway 89 through Morgan to get back home.  

Sarah then insisted that we stop by Taggarts.

Why have I never heard of this cute little gem hidden in the mountains?

We shared amazing cheesecake in the car because the wait to get a table was unbelievable.

We hustled home to the kids, where Miriam had everything completely under control.  

It's a good thing my Saturday was so nice because Sunday was too full of responsibilities to be fun or restful.  

Although, we did squeeze a pretty hilarious family whiffle ball game in there between 7 and 8 pm. 

The Weekend...

I love home church.

I love hunkering down with my little family for the weekend. 

Saturday I ran 8 miles in the rain...all the way to Byron's soccer game which was played in a drizzle...and then home again. This game was their first loss but I loved it because the boys had to deal with anxious emotions, and they played their little hearts out! Byron's coach can get heated, but he is so kind to the boys when their emotions get the most of them.  It's always such a blessing when you get a good volunteer coach. I tell Byron over and over that I don't care who won, I only care how he played, I hope someday he believes me. 

The kids watched a group of deer jump our fence, and then continue to jump each of our neighbors fences.  When they were telling Darin and I the story, we looked up to see 3 bucks walking through our front yard and up the street. As long as they keep their escapades to the early morning I don't mind having them mill about.

The kids made some kind of hide out fort on the deck, they played in Miriam's room, and Byron created his up-cycled scout project.  A fun Hermit crab habitat. Darin supervised that...he is the best.

I made freezer jam with strawberries I found for $.33 a box!! 

They had to be used immediately, which is where the jam idea came about. 

I love it too much. 

After conference Miriam and I got her Halloween costume worked out. That included a trip to Target and Jo-Ann's. She had a late night planned so the boys and I (boys includes Darin) had ice cream with fresh strawberry sauce and watched some Wild Kratts. The boys are going to be the Kratt brothers for Halloween so it was kind of character research.

Sunday we had German pancakes with...wait for it....strawberry jam! And Darin's famous fried eggs.

Darin and I did couples yoga...that sounds strange, but it really is so great. I believe he is confident enough with his manhood for me to mention that.  Yoga makes my life better. Period. It's for everyone. 

Then Conference.

For a big portion of the first session Darin and just snuggled on the couch.  There may or may not have been some drifting off to sleep in there.  Pretty darn heavenly. 

I decided to try out my selfie skills.  I am not very good, and also I did not do my hair or put on make-up all day.  This is me in the raw.  Kind of hard to post these without smoothing out my wrinkles but I am trying hard to be at peace with reality. 

Then the kids came over.  

Then we started paying attention to conference again...

We took a family bike ride to "puke park" after lunch.

I am always proud of the kids for their tough bike riding skills. They complain, and cry, getting up the hill to our home, but they make it up on their own little leg power.

(obviously we didn't do anyone else's hair either)

So fun.  

All of us climbed to the top of the web.  I didn't dare take my fingers off the rope to take a family picture.  It is high! 

We rode home (up the hill) and finished conference.

Darin earned his dad of the decade award by helping Miriam with her math homework.  

Do all kids have to learn the hard way that procrastination causes pain and anguish? They got it under control and I hope M does well on her test today.

We had peanut butter and STRAWBERRY jam sandwiches, apples, and strawberry banana smoothies for dinner.  See?! I love that jam TOO much...it's going to be a problem.

Freezing Time - A Wednesday

6:00 am I wake Miriam up, and then return to my room.

6:45 am I go wake her up again, she had fallen back asleep and although she hates when that happens, it makes me think she needs the sleep so I let it happen. 

As she is eating breakfast the boys come in to the kitchen for theirs.  They had Cherrios.  We hardly ever ever have cold cereal but if you read this series it will sound like we usually have cold cereal! I found a deal 5 boxes of cereal for $1.50 each, and the only non-sugary version offered was Cherrios so we happen to have 5 boxes and my kids think its like Christmas morning when they get to have it.

Anyway....Miriam gets on the piano at 7:00ish...not the enthusiastic practice of a few days ago, but it happened. I get Byron set up to do his Keyboard Chatter, he burns out of doing homework before this happens in the evenings so we do it first thing in the morning now. Luckily this is the last week of it! I love that the kids learn keyboarding but both Miriam and Byron have fought me on doing it. One less think I need to encourage for awhile.

7:30 Byron starts his piano practice with me,  and Darin leaves for work. 

7:45 Miriam leaves with the neighborhood ballroom dancing kids.  

8:30 I drop Byron off at school

9:00 Soren and I hit Cross Fit.  There are no kids there today so I let him sit on a weight bench outside of the kid room to watch while he plays video games.  He is really good NEVER to leave the bench which is the only reason why the trainer lets him watch.  He is entertaining too.  He was pretending to row with us during our row/box jump workout. Sometimes he dances to the hard core music.  I wonder if he will remember this crazy ritual we have together.

10:00-10:30 Soren and I do his homework and then he is picked up by his carpool.

I start roasting butternut squash and cutting up vegetables for soup.  I make a hole batch of butternut squash soup for me (with fresh sage, onions, tart apples...add some salt pepper and cream before eating AH-mazing) and Vegetable Chowder Soup for everyone else.  Darin will eat butternut soup once in awhile but he is not as enthusiastic about it as me.  My darned kids don't like butternut squash OR sweet potatoes!! Not one of them would eat it as babies, and they still won't.  It's one of the great mysteries of my life!! I make them try it every year just to see if anything has changed.

I send what seems like a thousand texts, and emails. Get Nutcracker tickets purchased, get my volunteer times nailed down, work on getting Byron's baptism planned, and get some things ready for Young Women's tonight.  It's around 1:00 by this time and I realize I need one more onion, more chicken stock, and the kids will be more excited about the soup if I have some rolls on hand so I decide to run to the grocery store.

I shower, get ready run to Dicks, come home finish the soups, clean the kitchen and it's already like 3:00.  My day seems very unproductive at this point...all I have done is communicate with people and make dinner.  But it is what it is.

The boys had their first day of Chess Club after school.  Byron is hooked! Soren is just there because I don't want to run back and forth from the school to pick them up individually.  

They both had fun but it's Byron who truly loves it so far.

Miriam comes home soon after we arrive so we divy out snacks.  I try to let everyone have some downtime but Byron needs to get his stuff done before soccer practice so I have to rush him a bit.  He and I work on his math packet, chinese characters, and reading while Soren meanders around entertaining himself and Miriam is on the computer...I am hoping doing homework but I don't know for sure, could be American Girl Doll searching.

Soren decides he wants to come to soccer practice with us, since it's a bit of a drive I figure we will stay there so I can do some reading with him. Darin is on his way home from work so I let Miriam stay to keep doing her homework (or whatever she is doing).

We read a bit, watch Byron play for a bit, and then do a photo shoot.

He wants last weeks bike accident documented so I oblige. 

Before practice ends the mosquitos chase S and I into the car.  They were militant! 

It's after 7:00 by this point so I hurry to drop the boys off at home and run to Young Women's.

We are planning our Young Women in Excellence so it's mostly Personal Progress passing off, and idea giving but one of the moms made us crepes, with Nutella, whipped cream, fruit.  Yum!

I get home around 9, everyone is in bed but it seems like it was a rough night for Darin. I don't know for sure because he is already in bed as well.  So I go kiss everyone goodnight, go put away the soup (Darin and the kids have cleared the table and put dishes in the dishwasher...need to give credit where credit is due) and then I go to bed too.  

In bed before 10:30...that is not at all a usual occurrence. We need to do it more often.

Miriam's Brave Weekend

So I guess I am tweaking the freezing time idea, perhaps taking random days from the month to freeze instead of a full week. A sampling of days if you will.  I just have not carved out an hour each day for blogging and it was extremely difficult to fit in, which made the day not at all a normal day.  It's 1:03 am right now and I can't sleep, so this time was granted to me (unwillingly...making the best out of it).

So here is a Saturday...but those are all over the place, not a good sample of how life runs in general. This one is one required documentation for a few reasons.

First of all....I was determined to use the coupon for the Park City Olympic Park in the back of Miriam's 5th grade ski pass.  Darin will say it was FOMO, which it was absolutely, but this is the good kind of FOMO. The kind that gets you off your duff and makes you put a plan in motion so you won't miss out on a great opportunity. We asked a few different friends to come with us, but their schedules never grooved with ours until the last weekend before it expired.  

We found two neighborhood friends who also had passes and a free Saturday.  I planned to just watch them do the activities, but a really great thing happened! The family in line in front of us had 1/2 price prepaid tickets, they had more tickets than people, so they sold me an adult pass extra cheap, I couldn't pass on that deal...see what I mean...this was good/meant to be FOMO.

We did EVERYTHING:

 Multiple Zip lines (M and one of the girls couldn't do the extreme one because of weight limitations)

3 Ropes Courses
Alpine Slide

Extreme Sledding

Drop Tower

Watched alpine skiers jump and Red Bull 400 race

Miriam cried before trying some things, her anxiety kicked up into high gear for sure, but in the end she did it all.

I am very proud of her, and she is very proud of herself.  I just didn't want her over reactive nervous system to win, to keep her from doing things SHE wants to try. I don't want her to be a spectator in life when those uncomfortable feelings come. Also, I want her to be able to distinguish between real danger feelings and just plain nervousness. 

I only took pictures of the kid rope course and zip since that was the ONLY thing I sat and watched the girls do (Yea!).  They were so brave, and so determined to experience it all.  The intermediate ropes course about put me over the edge and I was about to call it a day until M's friends said "aren't we doing the advance? You HAVE to do the advance with us!".  Miriam and I both gave into peer pressure, next thing you know I am saying "Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh" over and over and over, which is just the thing I seem to do when I get nervous these days.

It was a super fun brave girl power day.

When we got home Miriam was all geared up to face what we left behind: homework and cleaning the rat cage. When she got all set up to clean the cage she realized that one of her rats had passed away.  This was not unexpected.  Nickolette Sandvanna Ray (named by Soren)  had been sick for awhile. She had ear infections which put her off balance for the last year.  She almost choked on peanut butter once. Miriam noticed her eating less, drinking less last weekend so she spent a very sweet Saturday just holding and petting her for hours.  Knowing it would be coming didn't prepare her for it to actually happen and she was/is heartbroken.  It seems like she spent 70% of that day in tears.  

On Sunday Darin helped her thoroughly clean the cage.  I told her that was a whole new level of bravery.  To pick up the peaces and move on when your heart is broken is the most courageous thing you can do.  I couldn't be more proud of her. 

Freezing Time- Tuesday

So much for a week of documentation. 

No pictures of today...zilch, didn't even cross my mind to get my phone out!
I guess that is indicative of how our days are as well, sometimes its all I can do to get through them.

6:00 am my alarm goes off, I zombie walk across the hall to wake up Miriam, zombie walk back to bed hoping to fall back asleep. That rarely works for me, once my mind wakes up it starts going it doesn't shut off well. Today I am suppose to do some of my 1/2 marathon training, so that weighs heavy on my mind.  I get out of bed at 6:15 and get ready.  I am at the track by 6:30 but only ran 7 out of the 12 400 meters on the schedule.  Time was running out, and my legs felt like led! Just a hard morning.

I get home at 7:05 and tell Miriam to get on the piano.  There is a bit of freakout because she needs to be at orchestra (first day) by 7:45 so she will only have 15 min to finish getting ready. Darin walks out of the bedroom and reassures her he can drop her off on his way to work.  That is a huge relief and hopefully that will work every Tuesday since she has her heart set on trying out the cello. Hard to walk/ride bike with a cello.

I make lunches and feed the boys (Miriam has already eaten).

7:40 Darin and Miriam walk out the door.

8:38 I drop off Byron at school. Soren and I run home to get ready for "church workout" which is, as it sounds, a workout at the church that I lead every other week. Today was my turn. I got to use my new phone (thank you Darin!) to play music on the speaker I got for free from DOMO. Feeling very techno-savvy.

9:00-10:00 Church workout.  We did Tabatta and EMOTM routines with Soren yelling "G0!" when it was time to move. I love church workout because I am surrounded by great women. Soren use to love church workout but all his friends there started 1st grade this year so it's just him and a 2 year old.  Soren isn't enthusiastic about little kids so it's not as fun anymore.

10:00-10:25 Soren and I do his homework on the sidewalk outside the church
10:30 we pick up Sadie and I drive them to kindergarten.  Soren asks me to wait with him in line which I do, but I shouldn't, it makes him weepy and clingy.

10:35 I go to FedEX, Costco, and the bank in my workout attire...yes I am one of THOSE gross women who shop all sweaty.  I had to choose between being productive or attractive, and I choose productive. This is no judgement on women who get gussied up to go shopping. Hopefully my choice will make them feel EXTRA pretty and fancy. Easy peasy service done for the day.

At home I unload all the groceries pick the meat off the chicken I bought, brown the sausage for dinner, saute the onions...all before showering because I hate smelling like meat and onions....or soup. "Soupy Sails" does anyone know that movie?

Finally I shower.

2:40 I run to Target to finish off my shopping list. I get out in time to pick up the kids at 3:25
I ate Costco samples, and pieces of chicken and sausage for lunch...and a bag of Funions.

4:15 Byron has scouts...we walk down and I realize I misread the text about it.  Fire station is NEXT week, this week is cleaning a stream and he needs water shoes.  So I walk back home and run his Keens down to him.

4:30 I start the Zupa Tuscana and let Soren watch Vat19.com.  By 5:00 I ask him to get off and he FREAKS OUT so I grab his beloved bear blankie and make him lay down on my bed with me while the soup simmers. He is NOT HAPPY but he needs it! We both need it, we zonk out fast, but I wake up at 5:30 when Byron walks in the door.

I reluctantly go get dinner on the table, getting frustrated that the kids keep asking for food, and opening the pantry door.  I tell them carrots, or a banana but nothing else. My pet peeve is when people eat WHILE I am preparing dinner!! Seriously, don't touch my shredded cheese! This is when I miss the days when the kids were little and we hung out at the townhouse playground until Darin came home. I keep telling Byron to start his homework, but without me physically putting the pencil in his hand it's not going to happen...and I am in the middle of dinner, so I let it go. Dull headache is coming on, that nap was not long enough.

Finally...Darin walks in the door, I can't say how much of a relief this moment is to me. God bless single mothers.  They deserve all the goodness the world has to offer.

6:30 ? We eat dinner, the kids get going on homework.
The boys get showered or bathed (Miriam does this every day on her own so it doesn't affect my day).  They smell wonderfully of conditioner, and the kitty breath has been brushed away.

8:15 we all start reading Shakelton's Stoweaway in the boys room while they are tucked into bed.  We are nearing the end, the gritty part where madness sets in, and toes are cut off.  Its good.

9:00 we hug and kiss the boys, send Miriam off to her room with a hug and kiss. Darin starts immediately reading the book, I jump on the computer...time passes.... about 10:30 I get a text. It's from Darin and it says "I would like to invite you to come get ready for bed".  That is a joke because we have had for real fights about him going to bed without telling me he is going to bed.  See what he has to deal with?! All kinds of crazy BUT on the flip side we have a really good marriage so my crazy must be helping us do something right.  I think his good humor about it all helps...a little.

Freezing Time

 "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around for awhile you could miss it"

- Ferris Bueller

Here is my attempt to document a random selected week through photos and sniptis of commentary.

I awoke Miriam up at 6:00 am at her insistence.  She likes space and time in the mornings, and as long as there is not a last minute freak out (she tends to be anxious and a bit dramatic) I let her do her own thing without micromanaging it all.  Only stipulation is that she must practice the piano at 7:00.

At 7:00 sharp she was practicing without any complaining! And it was a good practice where it seems like she really is trying to improve rather than slog through the 30 min. Happy Day!

I put Cherrios on the table and started making lunches. Make myself some tea.

Darin leaves at 7:30

Byron was on the piano by 7:40 unfortunately there were tears, but he is usually fairly compliant. 

8:15 more tears because he saw the Mamba wrapper robot he and Darin made at church in the garbage can.  I told him it was technically garbage, and it was left on the living room floor so I threw it away.  That didn't help.  He would not pull it out because a tissue was on top!! So I let out a huge huffy exasperated breath (Thats ALWAYS so helpful in these moments).  We argued garbage/treasure for a few minutes and then I said "Buddy, the joy is in the creation not in the keeping.  You and dad had a great time quietly folding candy wrappers into a recycled robot during sacrament meeting. Just let that be a great moment and not keep the trash..okay?" It had to be okay.

 8:20 Miriam is out the door, headed to Tiffany's house.  I know Tiff won't be ready yet...in fact Tiffany's mom very well might end up driving them because she is running behind.   I let her go anyway because like I mentioned before...trying not to micromanage the stuff that doesn't matter.

8:30 I load up the boys and drive Byron to his school 5 min. away because there is no one in our neighborhood for him to walk with. Next year will be so great when the boys can walk, scoot, or ride bikes together!! 

8:55 Soren and I hit cross fit where I do, among other things 20 overhead squats, rip the skin in my hand attempting toes to bar, and 200 double unders...SO HARD!
Soren played video games the whole time.

10:15 Soren and I pick up the book Darin has reserved at the library "The Marshmallow Test mastering self-control" because we think it's something we could all work on.

10:30 Sarah and Sadie pick up Soren for school.  There are not tears today as he leaves which is a huge breakthrough.

Monday is laundry day.

My favorite, and I am not even being facetious, I really enjoy doing laundry.

I love beds made with clean sheets, I love the smell of laundry detergent and fabric softner. I also love listening to podcasts or talking on the phone while folding and ironing. I Love Love Love when I get it all done, folded, ironed and put away in one day! What a triumph! It takes not doing any errands -at all- the entire day...today was my day. Done and Done:)

Today it was the Mystery Show podcast...so good, and phone conversations with Julia and Mirissa.

I had caprese salad again for lunch.  I always get obsessed with this when my maters get ripe. I didn't know I was planting orange cheery tomatoes last spring but it's been a happy mistake because they are so sweet, much sweeter than the red ones. I have no idea what kind they are. 

I have been eating this almost every day since the end of August.

Thats normal for me, I get on seasonal food jags all the time.  Eat the same thing over and over for months at a time. 

Vacuum the upstairs...do a little time wasting on the 'puter (really should have had a nap instead) and then its time to pick up these guys! Byron and Soren have the cutest carpool friends.

Tonight was the 6th grade star party, where they bring out the school telescope, and ask families to bring ones if they own them, to the school field to get a closer look at Saturn and the moon.  Families are invited and everyone wanted to go so I had to the get kids right onto their homework after school.

4:45 All of us head to Ballet. It's in Farmington 15 min away so we stick around Farmington rather than drive back and forth.  The boys play at "sand park" while we wait...I might re-name that park "goat head park" because goat head weeds are taking over! Goat Heads are my arch nemesis.

6:30 ish...Darin walks in the door HOORAY back up has arrived! We have spring rolls, rice, and oriental cabbage salad for dinner.  It's a Costco meal, even the salad came pre-made from Costco. 

7:00 Made Bub do his typing. He HATES typing practice. 

8:00 Star Party! We all stand in lines to take turns squinting up at the planets and then let the boys play tag in the dark while Miriam hangs with some friends.  

9:00 Kids bed time. Darin and I veg till 10:30

Just a regular old Thursday FULL OF EAGLE SPIRIT!!

Miriam LOOOOVES being on the Student Council. Those essays, interviews and the skit were worth it, although at the time the stress it caused her made me want to make her quit!

She takes her duties very seriously! 

At this spirit night event they unveiled the new mascot Echo the Eagle!!

(Miriam told me one of the names in the running was DJ Barbecue Sauce, good choice Student Council)

These two aren't Eagles anymore, which I am not going to lie, makes me sad.

I believe...I hope....I think this chinese immersion thing is the right choice but when I see all our neighbors and so many friends hanging out at spirit night together I can't help but miss that. The problem with our new school is that everything is so new.

This green-eyed boy has been doing fantastic with the transition. Taking all the newness in stride, not stressing about understanding zilch during the Chinese part of the day.  He made a new friend and seems happy to go to school every day. Soccer has started up again, Thursdays are practice days

 Surprisingly, this hazel-eyed boy is having a hard transition.   He sometimes has to sit in the "power chair" during class until he has the power to stop crying.  When I ask him what is making him sad he just says "I just sometimes REALLY want to be home with you".  Mom heart breaker right there. He and I have been spending a little more one-on-one time before school starts to read and snuggle. Here's to hoping his little soul gets use to things soon.