If only fall could last forever.......
Three Eagle Cousins
We stated out the month celebrating Cameron's Eagle.
The boys were excited that the first Eagle's nest they sat in was for their cousin!
Hiking the Y!
Since we have moved to Utah, Lydia and Jacob have been fascinated with the letter Y painted on the side of the mountain. One Saturday we couldn't resist the gorgeous 70 degree weather and decided to take a family hike up to see this painted Y. Since it was fall we dressed in long pants, after starting up the mountain we were all wishing we had all worn shorts.
Hiking 1.75 miles doesn't seem too far, unless it is up a steep mountain. Who forgot the water?? Next time we won't forget;) Thank goodness dad is willing and able to carry some of us the mountain.
US Capital Christmas Tree
I had read in our Spanish Fork cable bill that the capital Christmas tree was going to be a the city park. We had a half hour to spare between basketball games so we thought we would go and see it. For some reason I was thinking the tree was for the Utah capital. When we got to the park, there was a huge diesel covered with a white tarp and people were writing their names on the tarp. After we parked and walked over we realized this was the US capital Christmas tree, and it was making it's way across the country. Stopping in selected cites. Even more exciting was that the tree had been cut down in Washington! We made sure to write our names on the tree's trap as it made it's way through Spanish Fork towards Washington D.C.
5th grade Wax Museum
The 5th graders at Mapleton Elementary participate in a fun learning activity. Instead of a typical report about someone from history they participate in what they call a Wax Museum. They pick a person who is no longer alive and study about them, write a report, memorize a 30 second dialog about them, dress up as them and then share it during the day with students and in the evening with the parents when the school turns into a wax museum.
No 5th grader can be the same person as another 5th grader. Lydia picked her top 5 women in history and ended up with her first choice Laura Ingals Wilder. Since Lydia already had a pioneer costume that she wore a few years ago for pioneer day we thought we were set.....until she tried it on. Lydia had grown so much that it no longer fit, with the exception of the bonnet. So we pulled the sewing machine out of our storage unit, made a trip to JoAnns and spent a Saturday sewing. Now she was set. She also insisted she needed a wagon. So we went back pulled the wagon out of the storage unit and dad and her covered the wagon and even found the rocking horse to use to make it look even more real.
She loved being Laura and she did pretty well reciting her 30 second dialog over and over.
And she looked pretty darn cute doing it too.
UCCU Family Fest
One Saturday our family (minus Landon and Mason) spent an afternoon on the UVU campus at the UCCU Family Fest. This activity sponsored by the UCCU credit Union, was a free event that taught the kids the value of money. Each child was given $5 when they entered the event. Then they could make more if they wanted by doing activities and/or putting their $5 in the bank for 30 minutes. With their money they could use it to buy treats, play games, jump in jump houses etc. Lydia and Jacob first took advantage of earning money and earned about $25 each. Then we participated in many activities until we were tiered and ended up giving our left over money to a family walking in the door.
Below are some pictures of some of the activities we participated in that Saturday.
One Saturday our family (minus Landon and Mason) spent an afternoon on the UVU campus at the UCCU Family Fest. This activity sponsored by the UCCU credit Union, was a free event that taught the kids the value of money. Each child was given $5 when they entered the event. Then they could make more if they wanted by doing activities and/or putting their $5 in the bank for 30 minutes. With their money they could use it to buy treats, play games, jump in jump houses etc. Lydia and Jacob first took advantage of earning money and earned about $25 each. Then we participated in many activities until we were tiered and ended up giving our left over money to a family walking in the door.
Below are some pictures of some of the activities we participated in that Saturday.
Thanksgiving
This was our first Thanksgiving in Utah for the past 13 years. We were grateful we could spend it with Zeke's family in Centerville.
Lydia made her traditional turkey treat. (This year just a little different version)
Jacob loved his turkey crown and is at such a fun age for holidays. Love 1st graders!
This was our first Thanksgiving in Utah for the past 13 years. We were grateful we could spend it with Zeke's family in Centerville.
Lydia made her traditional turkey treat. (This year just a little different version)
Jacob loved his turkey crown and is at such a fun age for holidays. Love 1st graders!
We loved Jacob's turkey. You can see he is learning about adjectives, because he used them so well.
example
"My cute mom"
Lydia is a little mom and she is always drawn to the little ones.
She loved holding and playing with Luciana during Thanksgiving.
Mason helped Grandpa bring the smoked turkey in.
Day after Thanksgiving
We have always loved Thanksgiving weekend. For the past 8 years we have spent the day after Thanksgiving going into Seattle and watching and catching the free Frangos at the Macy's Santa Parade. After the parade we would make a stop at Macy's and the kids would write a letter to Santa. This Friday after Thanksgiving was a little different this year. Zeke and I went out for a short (and useless) Black Friday shopping day. Later in the afternoon, we make a trip into downtown SLC. We did a little shopping and found that the Macy's in SLC has the same Santa letter writing area. Lydia and Jacob were excited to write their letters, and we even picked up from Frangos while we were there.
After a little shopping it was time for the Temple Square lights to be lit for the first time of the season.
Surprising it was not as crowded as we had thought. There was no specific time for the light to be turned on. All we knew was that they would be turned on when it was dark. The kids sat on a ledge with the Temple behind them and I got my camera ready. I told them I was going to take a picture on the count of 3. When I began to count they smiled and when I got to 3 all the lights around us turned on. It was a magical moment as the timing could not have been better.
Ogden Santa RUN
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving it really started to feel like Christmas. Landon and Mason signed up to be in a Fun Run and this fun run was really FUN! Everyone in the race had to wear a santa suit.
It was a hoot to see the boys dressed up like Santa. Especially Mason who when he was little asked for a santa suit for Christmas for 4 years.
Even the little ones were given a beard and a hat! Oh what fun!
The race course was a little different. They runners ran up and down Washington Blvd two times. With milk and cookie stops along the way. Towards the end of the race the younger kids wanted to jump in and run some of the course. I think they just wanted the milk and cookies.
After the race was a Christmas light parade that went along the same race route.
Followed by Christmas lighting and a fireworks show.
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving it really started to feel like Christmas. Landon and Mason signed up to be in a Fun Run and this fun run was really FUN! Everyone in the race had to wear a santa suit.
It was a hoot to see the boys dressed up like Santa. Especially Mason who when he was little asked for a santa suit for Christmas for 4 years.
Ready to race!
Santa's were everywhere!
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And the race was on.....
It was a little hard to spot out our Santas
The race course was a little different. They runners ran up and down Washington Blvd two times. With milk and cookie stops along the way. Towards the end of the race the younger kids wanted to jump in and run some of the course. I think they just wanted the milk and cookies.
Followed by Christmas lighting and a fireworks show.
Rugby on the Court
Jacob loves balls, always has. So he was excited we signed him up for his first basketball rec. team in Spanish Fork. Since we live in Mapleton and sleep in Spanish Fork he didn't not know anyone on the team. That was ok because this boy just loves to play.
This basketball league was not like anything we have experienced before. Jacob was put on a team and they met at a local school two days a week. The first half hour was ran by high school kids, and the kids pretty much just practiced shooting. The second half hour was a scrimmage against another team. Since these were all 1st graders and the instruction the first 1/2 was weak it was a free for all. Nothing was called... a kid could foul, double dribble, go out of bounds, etc.
Jacob loved playing and didn't notice a thing. He was a strong player but sometimes it was painful to watch all the rules not being followed.
Jacob loves balls, always has. So he was excited we signed him up for his first basketball rec. team in Spanish Fork. Since we live in Mapleton and sleep in Spanish Fork he didn't not know anyone on the team. That was ok because this boy just loves to play.
This basketball league was not like anything we have experienced before. Jacob was put on a team and they met at a local school two days a week. The first half hour was ran by high school kids, and the kids pretty much just practiced shooting. The second half hour was a scrimmage against another team. Since these were all 1st graders and the instruction the first 1/2 was weak it was a free for all. Nothing was called... a kid could foul, double dribble, go out of bounds, etc.
Jacob loved playing and didn't notice a thing. He was a strong player but sometimes it was painful to watch all the rules not being followed.
Zeke coaching Jacob during a break.
Lydia loves BASKETBALL
For the last couple of years I have been trying to talk Lydia in to playing basketball. This year when Mapleton City put up a banner announcing the upcoming girls basketball season, I again encouraged her to try it. Since she had such a good experience playing soccer in Mapleton she gave into my request to get her signed up. And after the first practice she was in love!
It also helped that her closest friend from school ended up on her team.
Lydia's games were fun to watch and we loved seeing her improve over the season.
And every time the buzzer sounded and the players left the court...
this little guys ran down to shoot some hoops.
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