Have I Told You About?

Here's a new type of post I'm gonna try.  I started telling my kids about my childhood experiences and start with "Have I told you about...?" Then I share.  It's been fun.  So I'm going to record those stories here.

So,

Have I told you about when I was in elementary school and there was a Chinese Store around the corner that my sister and I would go to?  Well, there was a Chinese store.  I don't know if it actually had a real name.  They had strange and fun candy for kids like us.  So we would save our allowance and stop by after school to buy something yummy.  We weren't allowed to buy the candy cigarettes or cigars.  But the wax lips, juice filled wax coke bottles and other such novelties were awesome!  

They had these cinnamon toothpicks that I'd buy.  I would suck on the toothpick and enjoy the cinnamon flavor until it was a mushy mess.  Yum.

In Lava, Ruthie found these hotstix on a store counter.  I was so excited to see the cinnamon toothpicks!!  I bought them and have chewed on two of them so far. 

I have to admit.. they have lost their allure. 

But the memories will last forever!

I do believe my parents  told us we couldn't go to the Chinese store anymore.  I don't remember why, but I'm sure it wasn't due to drug busts or nearby shootings.  But when I picture this little store on the street around the corner from elementary school, I don't doubt my parents were worried.

A Day In The Life.. On Vacation!

This will be a multitasking blog post.  Why??  Because I'm busy.  And we just got back from a trip.  And I forgot to post last week.  And I just have to do it this way.  It will make me happy.  And I'm hot.  So happy is good!

So let's go back 2 weeks for a day in the life.  I'll go day to day for these last two weeks and share our vacation trip along the way.  Plus I don't have pictures for the first of the two weeks.  I didn't take pictures.  I was busy.

Monday...  So this was a Monday when we went to the local pool.  The kids swam and I read a book.  It was lovely.  Below is a picture in Lava Hot Springs.  That's where we spent last week. 

The boys.

Tuesday... This Tuesday was stormy.  I went to do missionary visits and then it began to rain.  The plan was to go to the drive in, but it rained and rained.  So we didn't go to the drive in.  The picture below is to prove that I, Jennie, wore swim gear and even went in the water.

The girls.

Wednesday...  This paricular Wednesday I went into the dentist.  I have had a molar hurting like crazy cakes and thought for sure that if I didn't go in that I would bite down on something hard and break my tooth and we would be up in Idaho. So I went in.  Nothing.  That was the verdict.  There is just no explanation for the pain.  There's no swelling, no infection, nada.  So he gave me a script for an antibiotic.  Just in case.  I should fill it and take it and see if it helps. 

We also had the missionaries and our neighbors over for dinner.  Lots of fun!

  This is a picture of the kids in the tent watching the laptop.  Ruthie is telling her brothers to shut up.  They are giggling and hiding from the camera.  Sheesh.

Thursday...  This is the day I took the hoodlums, I mean my wonderful children, to the Leonardo.  Fun museum for sure!  Go!  You'll love it.

This is my husband.  Striking a pose.

Friday...  Ruthie and I went to get our hair cut.  Always a good thing.  Daniel and I went to the temple on a date.  Good stuff.

This is supposed to show my eye that was bright red and just all around bugged.  I went through 5 contacts from Monday to Friday in my right eye alone.  I wore my glasses most of the time.  I don't know what was going on with the eye, but I'm all clear now.

Saturday... We got up early and headed to the cemetary to help a boy in our ward with this Eagle project.  We cleaned up headstones-trimming and edging and sweeping, then recorded names and took pictures.  All the information goes to be recorded as family history records.  It was so much fun.  All our family was able to be there to help.  Thanks Nate!

We had a family reunion with my mom's family.  It was fun to catch up with my aunts and uncles.  We played games and ate good food.

Here are the kids and Daniel watching the laptop.  See the fence behind them?  We were in a spot with a fence around it. It was so peaceful to not have neighbors right next to us. 

Sunday... Went to church and then packed for the trip.  Finally... The trip!

Sam, in the car.

Monday...  Took off for Lava after Daniel had a dentist appointment.  This was just a 6 month cleaning. We spent the rest of our afternoon setting up camp and walkiing into town to sight see a little.  Here are Daniel, Isaac and Ruthie on the river.

Tuesday... The plan was to hit the river and then head to the Olympic pools.  Instead we packed a lunch and treats and just went to the pool.  The first two pictures are all of us at the pool.  We spent most of the day there playing.  This is Daniel, Ruthie and me on the river.  Sam went down and then got in the car.  He had had an allergic reaction to the chlorine on Tuesday and didn't want to go back on the raft.

Wednesday...  We spent a couple hours on the river.  It was low so we bumped our bums on lots of rocks.  Here's our site.

Thursday... Time to pack up for home.  Sam in the tent while packing up. After getting home we decided that we were still on vacation.  So we packed up quilts and treats and really went to the drive in.  We watched Turbo and Monsters University.  We didn't get home unitl 1 am. 

Friday... Sleep in, laundry and grocery shopping.  Daniel went to work.  I made dinner for a gal in our ward who is having contractions but so not close enough to her due date. 

Saturday... Lazy day.  Yard work, house work, more laundry.  Daniel had put the pool up and found holes.  He tried patching, but to no avail.  So the kids slashed it with a razor and shot at it with a BB gun.  Daniel finally took it down and threw it away.  I spoke at a baptism for a woman in our ward.  It was so fun to be a part of it.  I love convert baptisms.

Sunday... Meetings, church, choir practice, home teachers, home teaching and family get together.  We went to my brother's house and hung out with cousins for a while.  Time to get back to the normals of life. 

Here are the kids at the drive in Thursday night.

Have a fun week!

Greatest Museum. Ever!

This last Thursday the kids and I took the opportunity to go see 101 Inventions That Changed The World at The Leonardo in Salt Lake.  My kids had wanted to go see the Mummy deal, but we never got to it.  So I made it a point to go see this.

Wow!! 

We were all completely amazed and loved loved loved it.  The 101 Inventions deal was awesome.  I sat and watched the whole thing, Isaac was with me for most of it and the other two kids ended up in the Lego room building about half way through.  After watching and looking and playing, we were ready to walk out of the exhibit and found these screens.  They had games and puzzles.  So we stayed for some puzzling.

After leaving the exhibit we went to see what else the museum had to offer. 

We found this little room.  You go in, put your arms out and the skeleton mimics your moves.  Here's Isaac...

And Sam, saying hi...

And Ruthie, dancing...

We then moved on to another area with this green screen.  Why are they being so crazy?

They're on the TV screen driving a car.

Isaac loved this.  Doesn't he look chipper?!

Right across from that were these dealios where you do stop motion filming.  Ruthie set up a few different scenes and took the pictures to make a quick movie.

Sam used the dragon and a mummy for his movie.

Isaac went to the little living room with the action figures and made a cool movie.

Then we went to the Tinker Counter where Isaac worked with all this electricity stuff.

Ruthie and Sam made marshmallos shooters.

If you have an afternoon, go here!  Just the museum itself held us for hours.  The 101 Inventions exhibit was crazy great! Plan on spending lots of time!

When gunpowder came up as an invention, there was this quote, which I loved...

"We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity- romantic love and gunpowder." Andre Maurois, novelist and writer.

A Day In The Life.

I know. 

We've been busy. 

At least I have now gotten to another week of a day in the life of the busy family with the mom who hasn't had time to sit and blog.  For days.  So here it is....

Monday...  Isaac and Daniel left for Scout Camp.  Can you tell he's excited?!  He is thinking "I am so glad I get to go to Scout Camp and learn new and exciting things.  My mom and dad love me so much and I appreciate everything they do for me".  Actually, out loud, he said "I hate this.  I don't want to go.  It's too early and it's just gonna be stupid up there." I don't care. Go.  He went.  Meanwhile, back  at the homestead, I took the remaining children to see Epic.  We liked it. 

Tuesday...  Sam watched his cousin up at the Ranch make Ramen in the microwave.  Awesome.  He just puts the noodles and some water in a bowl and nukes it for 3 minutes.  Then he adds the season packet.  Yum.  The kiddos and I went to Lowe's and purchased curtains for the downstairs windows.  I hemmed them and put them up.  They still need a liner.

Wednesday...  Sam had his friend Colton come play, then they went to Scouts together.  We ordered pizza too.  I went to get my eye brows done.  Yes, addicted.  Sam mentioned at some point during the week that we should try to make Oreo McFlurries like McDonald's does.  So I got the vanilla ice cream, put it in the mixer, got it all nice and creamy.  Then I added Oreos and mixed them in.  The kids thought it was yummy. 

Thursday...  Okay, now to Scout Camp.  Daniel took some pictures, so I'll share with those.  Isaac took the Rifle shooting merit badge class.  It was a tough one.  But Isaac had so much fun!! Really. 

Friday...  On Monday, all the boys needed to take the BSA swim test to be able to go into the water at all.  Isaac had already told us not to pack his shorts.  He wasn't going in.  After passing the swim check in the fr-ee-eee-zing cold water he wrote me a very nice letter, in calligraphy, which he sent to me by carrier pigeon, telling me how lucky he was to have a mom who packed his swim shorts and a towel despite his hesitancy.  He could never show me how appreciative he was of my extraordinary parenting skills.  Then he never went in the water again.

Saturday...  This is the day they came home from camp.  But during the week, this is Isaac with some of the boys.  I don't know what they're doing.  Or if something stinks. 

Sunday...  We all went to hear our cousin Jilynne speak in her ward.  She just got home from her mission.  Then we hightailed it out to Jessica's (another cousin) talk.  She is leaving soon for her mission.  I love cousin sister missionaries.  Ruthie is excited to follow their examples.  Isaac also took an Art merit badge class (along with First Aid, Environmental Science, Leather work, Basket Weaving and Rifle Shooting) He loves to draw and so this was an easy one.  Though he would never say it out loud again, he was heard saying that he had fun.  He may have even used the word awesome.  One of the leaders did all the cooking and the food was a highlight of the trip.  Although shooting a rifle is pretty high up there.

So there you have it.  A busy week at our house.  This week is just as busy, except everyone is home, so I think it's just more busy.  This week we are down to 5 weeks until school starts.  Yikes!

Have a terrific day.

A Day In The Life.

Monday...  We made all these slushy syrups so we could have icy treats.  Yum.  We also went to grandma and grandpa's house.

Tuesday...  Remember the bench I repainted?  I put these fun cushions on it.  Now you can't see the hole in it!  Hah! We went to see a summer movie and worked with the goats.  I had an appointment with my diabetes gal.  Everything is good and she's retiring.  Bummer.  P.S. Don't sit on the right side of the bench.  You'll fall right through!

Wednesday...  Look! I have white pants.  Can you believe it? And now I have proof.  I just think white is a horrendous color for a mom to wear.  I guess I'm horrendous. 

Thursday...  Up to the Ranch and then Malad for fireworks.  We had a fun day with grandma and grandpa and a couple of cousins who went up too.

Friday...  Isaac is doing an art merit badge at scout camp this week and a prerequisite was to go to an art gallery.  So we headed to Kaysville to see the Leconte Stewart art exhibit at the library.  The artist gave Daniel's parents an original sketch.. he lived in their neighborhood, so it's cool to go see the real thing that's well known and stuff.

Saturday...  Daniel's birthday!!  Yay.  Our cousin Olivia was baptized in the morning and then we went to hang out at her house with all our cousins.  We saw Ephriam's Rescue at the cheap theater.  Good movie.  Uncle Clark is in it but we didn't see him.  We had a birthday dinner at Burrito Grande, then had some cake.

Sunday...  Why, church of course.  We got to have all of Daniel's family over for dinner and stuff.  We were setting up for outside, but the weather turned.  Wind and then rain.  So all forty something of us were in the house.  But it was still fun.  Sam got all of his Godzilla movies, figures and poster lined up for a picture.  "This is all the Godzilla stuff I've collected over my lifetime!"

Onto a new week.  Hope your summer is awesome!

You Say It's Your Birthday!

It's his birthday today.  43 will be a great year!

We celebrated by going to the movies to see Ephriam's Rescue.  We had dinner at Burrito Grande.

We had cake a sang and gave him a pig tie.  That's a tie with pigs on it.

More gifts will be here this week, but he'll be at scout camp when they come.  So we'll just celebrate again next week!

 

Happy birthday my love.  We love you and are so glad you're the dad at our house!

Our Nation's Birthday!

This year for the 4th we went up to the Ranch with grandma and grandpa.  There was a little bit of work to be done, so we went up to help.

As the kids were helping grandpa clean up the wood, they found this stump that had been fashioned into a chair.

Sam chillin' in the chair.

Sam and I are writing a book.  We'll share more later.

Ruthie chillin' in the chair.

Isaac wouldn't change from chillin' in this chair.  With Pringles.

After eating dinner with grandma and grandpa, we headed into Malad to watch the fireworks.  We were up late and saw a spectacular show! 

We had a grand ole day celebrating and eating and fireworking.

Happy Birthday U.S.

A Day In The Life.

Can you believe it?  This is like a miracle happening right here before your very eyes.  Another Day In The Life post.  I must be awesome!

Monday... This poor bench has been on my front porch for years.  It faded and broke.  But we never seemed to get rid of it.  As I cleaned a couple of laundry room shelves I came upon the red spray paint I used in the first place.  So I sprayed it! Yay me.

Ruthie was invited by a neighbor girl to come to a soccer camp.  She got to go Monday through Wednesday for a couple of hours.  Fun!

Tuesday... Marsha came over to do eyebrows.  Lovely.  She just participated in the Mrs Utah pageant last weekend, so I figure she's famous.  The kids did another Dollar Store Mystery Game and colored the hats Ruthie picked with the highlighters she picked along with some other markers.  This is Sam's hat.

Wednesday...  My washer came early!!  YAY!  We didn't get it installed until late at night, but I did start one load!  Oh My Clean!.  We went to a summer movie to sit in a cool theater and have popcorn and soda.

Thursday... Laundry day.  I did laundry in that beauty all day.  And I would have done more if only there was more dirty laundry.  I love it!  Sam's Dollar Store Mystery Game item was this growing thing.  I don't know if it's a zombie or an alien.  I think it reached it's growth potential.  So now it sits on the counter.  Ruthie had her last art class.  We're hot!

Friday...  This year the Activity Day girls went on a Girl's Day Out.  They took FrontRunner to Salt Lake and went to Temple Square for a tour, then had lunch, then went on a tour of the Family History Museum.  She had so much fun! It was gonna be over 100 degrees in SL, so I opted to stay in the cool air conditioned home I own.  Daniel and I went to the Logan temple for ward temple night.  Always a wonderful date!

Saturday...  More laundry, can you believe it?  But I was so excited to do it.  We cleaned and caught up on stuff around the house.  I finally got Sam's Cub Scout awards framed.  He's excited to have his own Cub Scout frame!

Sunday...  Church, where I gave an awesome talk.  Grandma and grandpa came for dinner and played Sorry! with us.  Sam grabbed these bananas and put them on his head and said "Banana Horns".  We thought it was funny!

Hope you had a fun week!