Saturdays

 

Saturdays around here consist of football games and soccer games.  Lucy comes prepared.

 

                                   ...and spending time with Grandpa. 

 

We went to Peaks for some frozen yogurt and took our picture on this cool rock shaped like a "bug." Saturday's don't get much better than that!

Last Hurrah of Summer

 

Our Back to School feast at Old Spaghetti Factory...

 

...followed by a game of mini golf.  Lucy loved the fact that she got her own putter!

 

 

Mitch won by one measly stroke. I came in 2nd and Cameron came in 3rd, one stroke behind me.  I believe out of 7 of us playing Laura came in last!  HA HA

Puke-cation! a.k.a. Ohanapecosh 2013

 

 

Ohanapecosh!

 

We went on our annual Mount Rainer camping trip this year at the end of August.  While we were packing for the trip it was POURING rain but as we drove there the rain stopped and it turned out to be a beautiful weekend.  We took some "awkward family photos" on this tree.

 

 

The day before we left, Lucy and I stomach's hadn't been feeling too good.  The day we got there Mitch started to feel not so good.  As history has proven us, this was not to be a good sign.  Lucy threw up the first night 3 different times in the port-a-crib.  Note:  CAMPING AND THROW UP DO NOT GO WELL TOGETHER.   Cleaning up throw up in the dark by flashlight, in one tent, with lots of blankets and no way of doing laundry is no good.  Mitch almost packed up Lucy and went home.  The second night Julia woke up crying that her stomach hurt her.  Mitch and I jumped up, unzipped the tent as fast as we could and literally threw her out of the tent with no time to spare... she threw up all over the ground a foot from the tent.  The rest of the trip was throw up free but with some queasy stomachs. I guess this year will be memorable for years to come!  Why do all memorable occasions in my house have throw up in them?  These are some of the questions that keep me up at night!

 

 

The kids (or at least the majority of them!)

 

 

We bring our own blue skies with us, or in this case green.  After last year's rain out, Mitch is a little paranoid. But at least we are dry!

 

Our hike to Silver Falls.  We were lucky enough to have Laura and Dale join us this year!  Everyone loves Uncle Dale!

 

I covered Natalie in bug spray this year so that we wouldn't have a repeat of the cyclops eye she had last year when she got a mosquito bite.  She swells so badly anytime she gets one!

 

 

Working on their Junior Ranger booklets

 

 

Our trip wouldn't be complete without spending a lot of our time down by the river.  Cameron jumped off the rock and also the cliff! The cliff is high and the water is glacier, so it is insanely cold!

 

'Till next year!

Mitch's Birthday Party

 

The birthday boy!

 

 

Mitch's birthday party theme was "Cross Country."  Julia and Natalie were in charge of the decorations.  So cute!

Hump Day

My kids absolutely love the GEICO commercial with the camel and Hump Day.  Last week Julia made this hump day sign in the morning before everyone got up.  Who knew that a camel could be so funny?!

Here is a little piece of my hump day that I get to have each Wednesday evening:

Lucy seems to have a melt down each Wednesday while Natalie has soccer practice.  One might think she would enjoy running around outside, but she would rather throw a tantrum.  Did I mention that she is turning two next month?  This next year is going to be "fun."

Road Trip

 

In July, I took a road trip with my mom, Katie, and Laura to Utah for the Hulse family reunion.  This was the first time I had ever left my kids and husband for so long (ok so pretty much never). We left on a Thursday morning and got home Sunday evening, it was a fast trip but so much fun!   Mitch and I originally talked about taking the family to the reunion but the timing and money just didn't work out (Lucy is a terrible traveler!!)  Let it be stated for the record and the obvious.... road trips without kids is a completely different experience.  I almost didn't know what to do with myself for 13 hours without having to deal with anyone but me.  Well, I did manage to beat Laura at Phase 10!

 

 

The first night we stayed with my Grandma Schvaneveldt.  It had been a long time since I have seen her.  It was fun to catch up and see so many things from my childhood in her home.  Her famous egg collection, that as a child we were never to touch!  The games in her toy shelves are still the same!  We also drove to the cemetery to visit grandpa.

 

On the way down to Utah we discussed what we wanted to do while we were there.  Quilted Bear was of course on the list.  We also decided that we wanted to go to the Salt Lake Cemetery and visit all the prophets graves.  This was so interesting and fun searching for all of them.  We saw all the prophets that were buried there (a few of them are at other cemeteries) and also some famous pioneers as well.  If the sprinklers weren't going the whole time we were there it might have made it a lot easier but memorable to say the least.

 

 

We also stopped to take pictures of all the temples we passed.  This is the new Brigham City temple.  So pretty!

 

 

 

On the way down Laura made the comment that she wanted to get all The Work and the Glory books.  I mentioned that she could probably find them all at the D.I. while we were in Utah.  We then spent a good part of our trip going to every D.I. that we passed.  In the end, Laura got them all!

 

 

 

The family reunion was a lot of fun.  It was good to see so many of my uncles, aunts, and cousin that I haven't seen in a very long time.  I was sad that my family wasn't able to come and meet so many of them.  The blue monkey and wind up teeth are my winnings from Uncle Jim's bingo game.  We took a huge family photo of my grandpa and grandma's posterity before everyone left.  I still haven't seen a copy of it but it is quite the group!  Also before we left we visited Grandma and the cemetery to visit Grandpa.

 

 

On the way home we took the detour to visit the Golden Spike Memorial.  Every time we go to Utah I want to go and see this but we never do.  I can now say that I have been there. It is in the middle of nowhere.....

 

What a fun time we had.  I am so glad that I was able to go and spend some time with my mom and a few of my sisters!!  We need to do another sister road trip soon!



Kindergartner

 

Kindergartner!

 

Natalie's first day of Kindergarten was on Friday.  She was SO excited.  She has morning Kindergarten with Mrs. Tabit. 

 

When she got home from school I asked her how her day was she said, "First we sat on the rug and talked, then we went to PE, then recess, then we had free time, read a book and then it was time to go home.  Next week we are going to learn something!" 

 

After I got home from the school I was so happy Natalie was in school I literally was dancing!  No tears for this mom.  Here is to a FANTASTIC year!

 

 

All the Kindergartners waiting to go into class

 

 

Natalie and her friend Greta!  The are in the same class together. 

 

Back to School

 

School is back in session!!!

 

The weather this summer has been incredible, one for the record books.  So it was somewhat fitting on the first day of school it was cloudy and rainy.  We have had a few tears about the upcoming school year but I am hoping that as we get going things will get a little better. 

 

Julia is going into 3rd grade with Mrs. Hanson.  She has been all smiles about school.

 

 

Cameron is the king of the school this year, 5th grade with Mrs. Wilson.  He was a little less than thrilled about getting homework on the first day! 

 

 

Natalie has to wait until Friday to start. These might be the longest 3 days of the whole year...........

 

Yesterday I took a two hour, Back to School Celebratory Nap.  It was glorious!  Not sure Natalie was as thrilled with her two hour nap as I was though!