Life goes on

And it is SO nice that Josh is home on a normal schedule this week! Yaa! And yaa for more night testing next week, a trip to Prague and more testing in Florida! Yaa overtime!
When Ryder was visiting his grandparents, we did some errands in SLC and stopped at the planatarium, and of course, got some fun toys! We got an ant farm (not working too well, two sets of ants have refused to eat the goo) and a mechnical science kit.
We got it out the other day and did some science, to the delight of the younger crowd:

Also here is our sunflower. The head is HUGE. (also notice HUGE zucchini - anyone need some?) Last year I ordered some fancy dancy seeds to grow a wall/fence. Well I planted a few inside and they died. I planted a few outside and they died. Then this year I was working in the garden this spring and saw a little plant with a familiar seed still on the top. It was one of those sunflowers that had not bloomed! So I planted it carefully in the box- and look what happened!

Our first full week of school and such fun. Have a great week!

First day of preschool!

Ashley has been patiently waiting ALL week for her 'big' day to come. And today it was here! First day of preschool! Ashley already knew her teacher, Mrs. Molgard, and was THRILLED to be in her class this year.
She picked out her clothes, and off we went!

Ryder is sad that his school does not start until Sept. 12. Today we played Legos and are going to practice the organ in our free time together.
Yesterday was Ellie's 'long' day at school. Every other Wednesday, the morning or afternoon kindergardens stay the whole day (which is actually the school short day and they get out at 1:30 p.m.). So she happily packed a lunch. I went to help out on the first big day, also because they are still hiring an instructor for her class. It was very interesting. The helper that day told me that Ellie was one of the best behaved students. And then she offered me an instructor job! (said I was doing a great job helping out).  I said I was busy this year.
Here she is playing during recess.

First day of kindergarden!

Yes, Ellie went off to her first day of kindergarden!! We went on Friday to the meet and greet and met her teacher (Mrs. Dye) and found her desk and coat/backpack hook.
Here we are (not) eating breakfast. (Finally she settled on two mouthfuls of peanut butter and three dried apple pieces).

Headed out the door. Lovely Miss Stacee is doing the morning van-pool drop off. I am the substitute driver for the neighborhood kiddos. Ellie leaves at 7:45 a.m. and we pick her up at 11:30 a.m.

Sariah took Ellie to the right place on the first day:

Waiting for the canpool:

Mom and Ellie:

And I didn't even tear up! But I am SO excited to hear about how her day went!

Airplane teeter-toter

The judge granted Ryder's grandparents unlimited visitation - so they came for a visit this weekend! We learned a lot more about Ryder's family. He had three older (half) brothers! (here are two of them)

We had a lovely chat with the grandparents and Mandrake's father. We invited them to dinner tonight.
Josh then let me take a wonderful nap and then he decided he wanted to get the girls (and boy) one of those teeter-toter, so we went to the store he looked up and got one! Then we hung out at the Gateway Mall for a bit AND got Ben and Jerry's ice cream - YUM!! Their new coconut seven layer bar is GREAT!
When we got home, Josh started assembling and I got groceries for the big dinner.

 Our wonderful neighbor came over and help Josh with the construction (freeing me to start the potato salad and put away the laundry!) in exchange for some chocolate banana pie!

 Very popular this morning!

My three shoes

So how is it going, being 40? Well pretty good. I am staying alive, looking to the long term and learning! Check out my three new pairs of shoes from this summer of learning new things. (Nice to stay the same shoe size - now you can get lots of fun shoes!)

My bowling shoes -  there is this great bowling program where kids bowl free all summer, so we signed up. And I figured, since I have been interested (and fairly good at) bowling for a long time, I should buy some shoes (and forego the shoe rental!) So I e-bayed myself some shoes! Once I bowled a 200 in them!
My organ shoes - I am officially an organ student, and MUCH smarter about organ stuff than I was three months ago! Let the practice continue!  And peddling really is easier with the right shoes.
My swim shoes - I really do like to water walk (against the current too) and I finally got a pair of shoes so that my toes aren't torn up by the bottom of the pool. Yah no skin flaps!

I found the camera battery charger!!!

Yes, there is was after four weeks, hiding behind the desk. Well the camera is now charged up (thank heavens, just in time for school to start) and we are off! Here is what happened today...

(stick a pole in the ground to support our poor little gecko tree out front)
Also, for our adventure for the week, we left at 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning to take daddy's car into the shop for a recall fix. It was good. Then we went to play in the fountain at the Gateway Mall. Next time, bring swim suits.

Then we checked out the planitarium (would have been better with daddy):

And here are pictures from my cell phone (which will finally connect to the computer):
Here is how I do organ practice now. We bike to the church. I haul the bikes into the gym. Everyone rides their bike. I practice. It is hot. We go  home 25 minutes later.

Here is Ashley's favorite treat: toffee bars

Did we mention we got all the kiddos new bikes? (old ones were up to their knees - cute but not easy to ride). Here we are on the way home with our 'treasures.'

Kiddos help daddy wash the car:

That is what we have been doing sans camera battery!

Our fancy night away, and our good night at home

Well off we went!  It was fancy and nice. Our room was nicely decorated and big. We had dinner downstairs in the restaurant (we waiting more than 15 minutes to meet a waiter). Went to bed early. Josh said, " I even turned down the air conditioner for you!"
I got up sometime in the night and tried sleeping on the love seat, because the bed was SO FREAKING HARD! And it was HOT in the bedroom (living area was fine).
Josh woke up and wait "did you sleep on the couch in an attempt to find something soft?"
So we escaped and spend the day hanging out in SLC. We got organ and saxophone music. Saw Aliens and Cowboys (hint: there are aliens and cowboys). We cruised the mall. Ate some yummy food. Went home at 9:30 p.m. and slept in the guest room downstairs. SO SOFT!
So on our next adventure, we might just go camping. Or to the hot springs. Fancy smacy hotels are not really 'us.'
Thank you Aunt Holly and Uncle Matt!!!

We are alive, and off on our adventure!!

Well it has been a busy week. I finished a puzzle:

We went to the aviary and the dinosaur museum on Tuesday. I DO have pictures - on the cell phone and will one day down load them - something to look forward to!

R has had several melt-downs each day. Yesterday we went to Provo to see Heather (because she was having a nervous breakdown that week - but had totally recovered by time we got there). We went to the park and R had a MAJOR fit (poor moms there trying to have a PTA meeting). Finally Heather took all the kiddos home and I sat at the park with him. Then we calmed down enough to walk home, but had ANOTHER blow up, so we sat in the car (with the AC on high, of course) for another HOUR and a HALF. I really am ok, just weary. It is sad that some little kid is SO mad at all the things life has given them that they have to act this way. I really feel we are doing a good thing, even though it is hard and people give us strange looks and now my ear-drums are deaf.
(This commentary is to show you how READY we are for an anniversary/foster break/vacation).
Josh was home last night and it was lovely. We are all packed and the house is ready. Each kiddo has something to 'remember that momma will be home in two days' token. I am off to practice the organ and we are OUTTA HERE!!
THANK YOU AUNT HOLLY!!
(Just so you can remember us.....
http://www.grandamerica.com/

Yes, we are alive

It was a pretty good week (until this weekend). Josh was working nights, but we went to the farm at Thanksgiving Point, hung out a lot, had minor colds and played a lot of computer games.
There were pony rides:

Josh went off to work on Friday night - and came home three hours later! Apparently the big bosses FORGOT to tell everyone they could have the weekend off and just work all night next week. Yah! (Which was good because R was a major pain this whole weekend).
Anyway, we survived church (including the 63 minute screaming fit beforehand and the 15 minute fit at the end of Sunbeams), made it home, and as of 7:46 p.m. everyone is in bed and at least one (Ash) is asleep!!!
I did take lots of pictures with the cell phone camera, but of course, can't get them uploaded now. We lost the charger for the battery for the regular camera. I will look for it more tomorrow. Have a nice week.
BIGGEST NEWS!!!
I booked our get-away weekend!! THIS WEEKEND!!! Blessed Aunt Holly and Divine Uncle Matt will be taking over the children at 3 p.m. on Friday and Thoughtful Holly said we don't have to come back until Sunday night. AND it is stake conference so we don't even have to feel bad about missing church! The winning location is.......The Grand America in downtown SLC. We are thinking we are just going to stay in our fancy suite for the whole time and order room service! Happy anniversary/foster care survival/awesome marriage partner to us!!!