Rock climbing

Ever since there was that big media fuss a few years ago about how "unsafe" playground swings are, I've paid attention to what newer playgrounds decide to put in their place. 

The result?

 

Crazy spiderweb-like contraptions, and tall rock walls for climbing on top of.

 

Not climbing walls - I think those would be safer than these 9-foot high boulder towers.

 

So I naturally had a little anxiety attack seeing my 3 littles go scampering up this one at Park City Mtn Resort and sent Brian up there to accompany them.

Hard workin little man

The difference between how dad vs mom plays:

I don't choose to launch my children *quite* so high in the air....

Kindergarten

 

 

 

 

So it begins...

 

 

Routine attempts.

We're starting off the school year trying to build a good routine. I got up early and worked out before the kids woke up. Then took advantage of their early-morning snuggliness and sat on the couch for about 20 min of reading time. Then made them breakfast smoothies. Then got Brianna started on our workbooks. We'll pack a lunch and go play at the park in the late morning. Then get back and get dressed to head off to afternoon Kindergarten! Then naps... I hope....

Popsicle pigs

These are the last 4 popsicles in the CASE I bought YESTERDAY at Costco. 

That's right. A Costco case of popsicles consumed in one day by one small family. Ridiculous.

Our happy place

I really love that I can just load them in the bike and be here in 4 minutes.
Then sit under a big umbrella in a lounge chair and watch them have the time of their lives.
And sometimes join them in the splashing bliss.

The icing: that I got the pass here at no cost other than my time, since I negotiated the advertising trade.

Love the Rec Center.
Love the water.
Love my little fishies.

Bistro on Main

Not exactly a typical "kid" eatery, but we had a BOGO coupon, so I bought two brunch entrees and it fed the 4 of us just fine!
I think the waitress/owner was a little scared when my troop came walking in.
 It's a good thing they had outdoor seating available :)

Fair

Saturday afternoon, after a very active morning, I informed the kids that if they each took a good nap, we could spend the evening at the county fair. Even though I'm pretty sure they had no idea what a fair was, it worked! They all napped. So we headed out around 7 and stayed til closing. So perfect- we beat the HEAT! It's been in the mid-90s every afternoon. So we went and enjoyed the free pony rides, petting zoo, exhibits, rides, and booths. I snapped a photo of the lower left image because it made me happy. Nice to see some support for the mamas! And to see the international breastfeeding symbol on the sign, not an image of a bottle with the words "nursing room," like they have at the slc zoo. So silly of them.
A funny: I totally wasn't going to buy tickets for the rides. Tickets were a buck each, and each ride required 3 or 4 tickets. So I wasn't going to pay 12 bucks for my 3 kids to spin around in a rickety germ infested tea cup for 60 seconds. But Mr. Bennett...the little wanderer who we lost track of every 5 minutes, came back from one of his excursions with a handful of tickets. Seriously. I was in shock. I looked around, trying to figure out where he snatched it. But there were crowds moving quickly everywhere. So the innocent thief got away with his crime and we enjoyed the rides, feeling a little guilty that Bennett might have been a pick-pocket somehow.
The kids were AWFUL on the way home- so whiney and demanding..."I WANNA DO IT MYSELF!!!"..."CARRY ME!!" (from all 3)..."I WANT CANDY!"... "SHE TOOK MY SEAT!"..."SHE CALLED ME A TATTLE TALE!"...
Not sure if the fun of the fair was worth the post-party tantrums.

Brian likes to jump over people

PocaBrianna

Swimming Sistas at the SDRC

We just got Family Pass to the Rec Center. It's been so awesome! The kids are crazy about swimming there. It's really amazing to have such a high quality facility just a mile from our home. The Rec Center has SO much - besides just the pools. I've been loving the classes and the staff there is so cool. It's helped me get up early and get my workout in before Brian has to leave (on some days - he still has super early mtgs a couple days a week, and I'm NOT working out at 5am. 6am is the limit). It's been such a blessing in disguise to get rid of my Gold's Gym membership. I didn't realize what a drag that contract was. It's a long story how it happened, but I amazingly got out of my 4 yr contract after only about 20 months of use, and got a FULL refund! I was bummed at first - I have great friends there, and I love the Cardio Cinema room. But the childcare there is AWFUL - my kids hated going, especially Brianna. And what good is a daily outing that is supposed to uplift and energize me, but ends up draining me because I have to DRAG my kids there? Anyway, so we got the Rec Center pass (free! via a sweet advertising deal trade) and it's been life changing.

 

Apricot dealin.

Coming to the Farmers Market at the very end of the night sometimes means poorer selection available.

But sometimes it means I get deals like, "hey, I'll sell you the rest of this big box of juicy sweet apricots for 7 bucks!"

New Caaaaarpeeetttt!

Words can't express how thrilled I am to get that icky stair carpet out and new soft clean non-feline touched carpet IN!

All four of us are sitting on it now basking in the happiness.

I think we'll stay here til Brian gets home and make it a family stair party.

I'm especially glad to have a landlord paying for it :)

Carpet transportation, McKell style

We drove the half-mile home from Allman's Carpets yesterday evening like this.
Well, with the people IN the car of course.
But a good 4 ft of tightly rolled carpet sticking out both sides.
Brian had thought we'd have to rent a truck. I showed him! :)
It's being installed today on our stairs, replacing the ugly shaggy smelly stuff there now. HOORAY!!!!!!

Learning to Skate!

She was super excited when I found these for her at a yard sale.

I'm pretty sure there's no real NEED for children to learn to skate....
I mean, when does ANYBODY go skating?!
Rollerblading, maaaybe....
but seriously, kids don't do this anymore, right?

Obviously it's not the worst thing we can do with our time.
But I feel like it's about as useful as spending the morning teaching her to bounce on a pogo stick or walk on stilts.

Discounted children

 

 

 

 

 The sign says "Day Old. This Shelf Only. 1/2 Off!" 

 

 

Love Great Harvest!

Sunday evenings at the Bountiful Pond

Feeding ducks,
meeting friends,
throwing rocks,
taking walks.

Sticker shock

Cast iron pizza

For my birthday, Linds sent me a cast iron pizza pan and this awesome cutter.
We.are.in.love.
And we are also feeling very educated, as we had to learn all the specific rules of cast iron skillet/pan care.
It's supposed to last 100 years, so maybe our grandchildren will be using this someday!

29

Had a lovely birthday!

Courtney turns 3!

My Courtney! My sweet, exuberant, fun-loving doll baby. Such a constant source of fun and happiness in our home. Brianna's best friend, partner in crime, and willing accomplice. She's my little angel and such a sponge - always soaking up everything around her, for better or worse.

 

Bennett turns 3!

My little guy. So full of life and love and energy and spunk and everything a little boy should be. I adore every toe on his feet and every hair on his buzzed head. What a blessing Bennett is to our fam.

 

Silly sisters

Here's a quick clip I took of Brianna and Courtney singing a silly friendship song together.  http://youtu.be/qdKUhTbYS1c   I plan on forcing them to watch this every time they get in their big squabbles.

Disneyland

 

 

 

Brian texted this to me.

He's having a rough day at work.

That Anaheim "training meeting" looks brutal.