Let's go Idaho

For fall break this year we took a trip up to Eagle Idaho to see The Pace's new house.  I had never been to the Boise area so it was a fun trip to see what it's like up there and of course to see Brigitte.

On the way up we stopped at Shoshone Falls.  It was so pretty and the falls are so big.  I've heard they are even more spectacular in the spring as they were at their low when we went.


When we got to The Pace's, the kids settled right in.  They all get along so well and have fun playing with each other.  The girls slept in their playroom on blow up mattresses and had fun rotating each night so everyone got a chance to sleep in the middle.  Jaron slept in Tagg's room and had fun being cute little roommates.




We went swimming one morning at the YMCA, which for some reason seemed to overwhelm the lifeguards as we had 6 kids swimming in literally about 6 inches of water.  insert eye roll...pretty comical though.


We decided to go drive by the new Meridian temple.  The open house wasn't opening until the next day and we didn't have tickets so we were just going to walk around.  When we got there the parking attendant told us to go to the chapel and they would let us through the tour since they were doing VIP tours that day.  We weren't dressed but he said it didn't matter.  It was so great, there was no line and we got a tour guide that would briefly explain each room.  It wasn't crowded and so when we got to the Celestial room it was so silent.  I loved it.  What a neat experience and I always love the chance to take my kids inside a temple when I can.


We also went and saw My Little Pony, ate at McDonalds and then one afternoon stopped at an indoor playground area where the kids loved climbing around.


We went to church and before we knew it our weekend was over.  We had so much fun and can't wait to spend another weekend up there sometime.

October 2017

We finally got our backyard landscaped.  We had such a hard time finding a landscaper, they were all so busy.  When we finally found one our neighbor's house foundation was having issues and they had to use our side yard to put all their dirt while they fixed the foundation.  We didn't mind at first and then when it lasted all summer we started getting a little more bugged.  We finally got it all worked out and our landscaping is in.  We poured a bigger cement pad outside our basement door and put in a rock wall to retain the big dirt hill and we are excited to be able to use it next summer.  We carved a little path into the scrub oak and the kids are excited to use their little secret hideout down by the little stream that flows through our backyard.


Brigitte came to town for her fall break and we met up at the Provo rec center. aka my kids new favorite place to swim. They have a big waterslide they can go down and instead of emptying into a pool where it freaks them out they land on a big chute that they can just stand up and walk out of so it's perfect and they had a great time (Well I couldn't convince Aria to go but hopefully next time.)  But Jaron, Siena, Tagg and Holland loved it.


Jaron got an ant farm for his birthday but we had to wait until the weather cooled down before they would ship us the ants.  We finally got them and it's been fun watching them dig their tunnels and moving around.


Aunt Margene came to town in October and so one afternoon we went on a drive up American Fork canyon to see the fall colors.  It was so pretty and we hiked around Cascade springs for a while.



Our annual trip to Gardner Village to see the witches, ride the horses and eat a treat.  Always a fun day.



Crazy hair day at school.  Aria was all for it and Siena was much more hesitant but went along after she saw how Aria's hair turned out.  I was glad they decided to do it and thought it was brave of them as they weren't sure how many people would do it and come to find out a lot of their friends didn't participate.  Jaron didn't even have school that day but was insistent I still colored his hair!


Annual trip to the pumpkin patch.  We love this pumpkin patch and have so much fun sitting on the tractors, going through the maze, getting a hayride all for free and then their pumpkins are seriously so cheap.  Fun times as always.


Nighttime shenanigans.


The kids had the best nursery and primary teacher in Draper.  This is Terri Burton.  She randomly called me and asked if she could come visit the kids.  She showed up wearing this dog mask that was so funny.  She brought treats from Nothing bundt cakes and we just love her.  She has always taken such a great interest in our kids and genuinely loves all her primary kids.  Always going above and beyond.


Jaron was so excited when Abbey had an assignment to bring a preschooler to her class one day and create a little preschool class.  Jaron felt so special and had a great time going to middle school.  Abbey was so cute holding his hand as I dropped him off.  They played games and made little spider crafts and she even made sure Jaron made one for Siena and Aria.


Our annual trip up the Snowbird tram.  We love this tradition and always have a fun time seeing the beautiful views.


We introduced kindness jars to our kids a little while ago.  Anytime someone saw them doing something kind they would give that person a bean in their jar.  You weren't allowed to ask for a bean or put a bean in your own jar.  If you were found being unkind then someone would take a bean out.  It took a while but everyone finally filled their jars.  Each person got to go on a date with Mom or Dad and then we went on a family date and saw My Little Pony movie.  Jaron went to Chick-fil-a for ice cream and a cookie.  Shane took Siena to Carls Jr for cookies and ice cream and I took Aria to Cabela's and then to get a Slurpee.  They all had so much fun and it's always fun to spend some fun time one on one with each of them.


Halloween 2017.  We had a Sunday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's where all the cousins dressed up so we could see each others costumes.


We attempted carving pumpkins with stencils for the first time with what the kids were dressing up as...Pikachu, Charmander (Aria was Charizard but close enough) and Squirtle.  Pikachu turned out the best but the others were cute as well, just harder to tell what they were.  Siena still has a total fear of the inside of a pumpkin.  She has been like this every year.  She starts gagging whenever we pull the top off the pumpkin and is almost in tears if we make her use a spoon to get any of the guts out.  The next day we also let them paint a pumpkin as well which they had a lot of fun with.


All dressed up ready to go!  They were so excited to be Pokemon this year and yes they are still obsessed with Pokemon in general.


School parade.  It was so fun to see them marching along in their costumes and they had a great time!

Dear Siena

Dear Siena

What a year you cute 6 year old.  You have a contagious laugh and are thoughtful and very observant.  We've had a good year even with all the changes you have gone through.



Our move to Highland earlier this year was easy for you.  You seem to have adjusted quickly and love having your Pokemon room with your Pokemon stick ons we put in your room.  The only thing you didn't like when we moved was Aria's bed was too far away from you, so we moved the beds so your heads are together in the shape of an L.  We often hear you two talking to each other and especially in the mornings just laughing away.

You still go through little phases of waking up at night.  You always ask when you get to start sleeping with me in my bed.  One night you were insistent on sleeping with someone so you convinced Aria to let you sleep in her bed with her.  You slept so well and loved that night.  Unfortunately a twin bed isn't ideal for you both to sleep together each night much to your dismay.



You are my craft girl.  I can't tell you how many times I hear 'mom can we do a craft?'  I even got you a craft book for Easter to help but your passion of crafts never ends.  We even had Margene here for a couple weeks recently and you still didn't tire of doing crafts with her.  You are getting much more independent at doing the crafts and it's fun to watch the passion you have for crafting.

This summer you took off with swimming.  Having a neighborhood pool helped all of you swim.  But you are swimming really well, doing somersaults, swimming to the bottom for rings and have loved swimming this summer.



You have loved starting Kindergarten at Ridgeline and although you're not a fan of homework, it's pretty easy for you right now.  You worked hard at making sure you clipped up to Purple for a good behavior treat and when I asked Mrs. Reckling what you could do to improve so you could clip up she said nothing that you are doing great and she just needs to remember to notice.  You are quite the little reader and I should challenge you more when you read because I think you can read more than I even realize.  You even read your first scripture in primary all by yourself without me having to whisper it in your ear.

Starting gymnastics has been so fun for you.  You come out with a big smile on your face each week and are working hard at your cartwheel.  You do your forward dismount on the bar and are even walking backwards on the beam.  The one thing you don't like doing is a foward roll because for some reason it bugs you to land on your upper back.  We're trying to teach you to tuck it more but you still don't like it.

You and your sister have made some good friends since moving.  Mostly your friend Sorena.  She is in 1st grade but ever since she got brave enough to knock on our door and ask you both to play, you guys are inseperable. Every day you ask me if Sorena is out of school yet and can we go knock on her door.  She is a lot like you in that you don't like dolls as much as some girls and prefer animals, little live chicks, shopkins and toys like that.  You also play with Natalie that you knew from Draper before we moved and has since moved here and Avery who is in our ward and in your kindergarten class.  I'm proud of you guys for getting out of your comfort zone of not feeling the need to make friends cuz you always have a friend in your sister.

You have become such a cute girl.  You are more sure of yourself and although it still makes you nervous you are more comfortable in front of groups of people.  You love your sister and although you often fight with Jaron, I love the times all 3 of you play together laughing away making up games.

Siena, don't forget your cute smile and that you still love to have one on one time with Mom and Dad however you can get it.  I love that you often come find me just to talk to me by yourself from time to time.  We love you.

Love, Mom