I got a blue ribbon!!!!

 Yeppers, I screwed up my courage this week/yesterday and went to my first horse show ever. I got it figured out (sort of). Found my horse and got her ready. Walked around a bit. Then waited in the shade. I think I cricked my next. Then it was my show and we walked around very sitting up straight, heels down, moving hips and legs with the horse. (There were a total of three of us in the class). 

We lined up and.... we all got a blue ribbon! She gave notes: Ann has only been riding for a month or so and did amazing. The other two riders had been in other classes and she was impressed because they had fixed all the things they were missing before. So yah for me!!

Ashley finished her Halloween costume. Then she had some friends over and they all had their fancy clothes on.

The oven fire is out

 Since Josh is gone at night these days, we have pretty simple meals. On Monday Michael and I were making nachos with the broiler. The first batch burned so we put some of our big nacho circles in with beans and cheese. Apparently they touched too high and caught the broiler frames. Michael was like "Hey mom, should I check them?" And he opened the oven and they flames were licking out of the top of the oven. I slam the door shut and (like a good foster parent) had my smoke extinguisher  in the corner of the pantry. 

I was worried for a split-second I forgot how to use it. But I whipped it out, the pin came out, I pulled the towels off of the oven door, flung open the door and shot!! It was pretty cool, but SO smokey. Like there are still dust piles (well, a very small layer) of dust on everything in the TV, living room and kitchen. 

We evacuated the house and went to the front lawn (every window and door was open - but the smoke alarm only went off like three times and stopped on its own!) We talked about our safety plans. Then we went in the back yard and the kids practiced spraying the rest of the tank.

So then we tried to go out to dinner, but I made us to get a new smoke extinguisher (and one for Dad since the one down there is also as old as the house. So we did that, By this time Ashley is totally han-gry. We to get Panda. I tell people to start eating.  I go and wait 25 minutes at Costa Vida, accidently buy myself a tres leche CAKE and not a flan. So  I am totally worn out. And everyone is mad. We go home and eat on our patio and everything is a little better. 

Watch the broiler!!! (And guess who gets to clean up the mess!??!?!?!?!)

More first days!!

 Ellie went off to her first day of HIGH SCHOOL!!!!! My little baby! They are doing half days for the first two weeks (???!?!??!). She reports that she is having fun.

My first day! Back at Salt Lake Community College, West Valley campus. I have been teaching at SLCC for six years now. I like the West Valley Campus the best - very friendly. I am teaching three classes this year, including a new one: interpersonal communication. It looks interesting!

Babysitting

 We watched the Call's twins this weekend so they could go on a date! Ashley did enjoy a little cuddle time. Michael and Charlie were great, Dad took his turn snuggling a baby to sleep. A good time was had by all.

Michael

 The boy-who-is-a-complete-manly-boy has built a huge box fort in his room. I don't think he has ever had a real fort so this is good. He likes to watch TV and be with Romeo. Michael has done a TON of 4H classes this summer: drones, rockets, pickleball, cake decorating. He is very talented. He can be sweet and very caring. Love you Moo!

Ellie

 Soon-to-be-high-schooler!! She is trying to work on the BYU high school art class this end-of-summer. Here are some of her drawings.  She also got to back the car out of the drive way yesterday!!

Ashley

The cutie middle girl is going great. She had a late-over with Natalie (notice the jammies), survived a huge cold sore in her mouth, got her braces adjusted, tried to look like her friend Kaiya, learned how to make a shirt sleeve (she is sewing her Halloween custume already and still being the first one up!

Ashley and Michael go back to school!

 Thursday they stared with half days at Excelsior Academy. Ashley got seated next to her best friend in digital media. She was thrilled. (The teacher (best friend's dad) is cool). she likes being a eighth grader! Michael reported his besties Gavin and David are both in his class. He eats lunch in the middle school. 

And then we went to Lagoon!!

 We have been waiting all summer (well some of us) to go to Lagoon. Dad finally had a day he could go. We got the reservations figured out. We went after the cake=decorating class - so for the afternoon. It was super fun. Ashley only wanted to go on one roller coaster. Her foot was still recovering from her scrapping. Everyone else went on coaster. We kept hydrated. And ate food when needed. Everyone stayed sane. The pioneer village was interesting - Ashley loved the old timey dresses. Rattlesnake Rapids was super fun when we all tried to race around the raft trying not to get wet.

Other stuff this week

I took some dog pictures, kids were looking cute, etc. The swing set is leaving tomorrow! It is totally trashed now. I was out pimping the dog again.

More adventures on our pass!

 Ashley had the great experience of having  a wart literally cut out of her foot this week. He gave it two shots and just dug around and got it out. She screamed a bit, but now it needs to heal up. Tough girl. Another fun thing we did this week was go motor up to Layton to go to SeaQuest! It was on our pass. It was WAY cooler than I thought. Ellie played with some Bangle 'kitties' and a good time was had by all.