Pictures on My Camera Roll

Here's a jumble of recent pictures I have on my phone:

Silver Lake Big Cottonwood Canyon

Friday, October 7

• Absolutely stunning.
• My kids said it was their favorite hike to date.
• We saw 3 deer and many chipmunks.
• The Bradshaws accompanied us.
• Izzy cried most of the way home. It was a 55min drive. Still worth it.

Preschool Adventures

“Monster Face”

• Both our kids love school! I’ve been able to help out in James’ classroom a couple of times and will get to again for his Halloween Party. I also get to assist with Isabelle’s Halloween Party. Loving this stage.
• Isabelle’s preschool does the cutest things. Her favorite part is dance class. She has ballet and tap shoes. When her tap shoes arrived, she insisted on keeping them on full-time and named them her “inside shoes.”
• Itching to get James’ school pictures back!

Andrew's First Pedicure

Friday, October 7

• Andrew was pretty skeptical walking in. The smell was a big turn-off.
• Andrew's feet are even more ticklish than mine. Yikes. We giggled lots.
• Andrew ended up really enjoying the experience. We both read in peace while seated in massage chairs. The employee pulled out the "cheese grater" (official term) and wax to refine Andrew's feet.

Lyle Lyle Crocodile

Tuesday, October 11

• We finished off a large popcorn during the previews.
• The kids asked for a popcorn refill one minute after the movie began. They inherited my love of popcorn. Extra butter, please. At least this time it didn't stain my pants.
• James started dancing and clapping during the movie because he was so captivated.
• James declared this is his new favorite movie. Isabelle was scared briefly, but still liked it. The music is great. I even thought the movie was cute and we plan to rent it, so Daddy can see it too.

Bike Ride to Cafe Rio and Rolling Hill

Wednesday, October 12

• Our house is one mile from tons of shopping and restaurants. It’s my favorite.
• We rode our bikes to Cafe Rio! James is a skilled biker and can easily ride at adult speeds. Izzy was very upset because we told her she could not ride her bike. She rode in the bike trailer and was adamant that I (not Andrew) pull her.
• French fries cheered Isabelle right up. The rest of us chowed on Cafe Rio outside, so we could keep an eye on our bikes.
• On our way home, we stopped at “Rolling Hill.” James has been asking to go there a lot. We made his wildest dreams come true and let him roll his heart out. Honestly, he seemed more interested in climbing the rocks. It’s the little things.

Pumpkin Patch

• Look at that view of the temple! 
• I didn’t expect it to feel like summer during this adventure. The sun was beating down. This was our first pumpkin patch this season and won’t be our last. The kids picked some large pumpkins with friends.
• We take advantage of James getting out of school early on Fridays.

Lion King

Friday, October 15

• We purchased tickets for this show back in March. I vividly remember that day. October seemed so far away, but it finally happened!
• Our friends McCall and Trevor Hendricks came along. Love them!
• We ate at Blue Iguana. Of course, I ate huge amounts and was stuffed right before the show. We all are Mexican food fans.
• I was blown away by the costumes. The animals were amazing and the actors utilized every space they could. The characters were on the balconies at one point and came up the aisles. Our seats were phenomenal.
• "Oh I just can’t wait to be king” keeps popping into my mind. That's fine by me.
• Isabelle was jealous she didn’t get to come along. The kids were lucky to have our nephew Alex and his wife Alexa babysit them.

My photo storage is running low. Next up, I’ll clear out some pictures from soccer season!

Mom Store

To attend book club this month, I had to pay a babysitter since Andrew was off hiking Mt. Saint Helens and some other peaks.

Clearly, Andrew had a good time. We made lots of plans while he was away and enjoyed ourselves (twice James declared he had the best day of his life) until Isabelle got another bad ear infection. She felt miserable and it was sad to see her so sick.  We're glad Daddy is back. Book club was a needed break while Andrew was away for 5 nights.

While at book club, I ate way too many cookies. Have you tried Crave cookies yet? You should. I'll say it-- I think they taste better than Crumbl. (For sure the chocolate chip cookie.) While on my sugar high, I noticed and admired the chore charts on display on Mary's refrigerator. I spent a lot of time in her kitchen near those cookies. It got me thinking, why don't I have charts for my kids? I've heard ladies at book club talking about doing a "mom store," but I guess I tuned them out. What was I thinking??

Chore charts. Who knew something so small could make such a significant difference? If only I'd started them sooner. I decided to give chore charts a whirl. If anything, I could just toss the charts in the trash and not tell a soul. Instead, I'm writing a sermon to explain why chore charts will enhance your life. I will be bringing chore charts up out at the October book club. (We're reading, "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" which I think is worth your time.)

Now maybe the thrill will wear off, but we're 2 weeks in, and picking out a sticker to put on said charts is still just as exciting as ever. I didn't buy boring stickers. Bring on Halloween witches, Paw Patrol characters, and emojis. I haven't quite reached the lamination level yet because we're still trying to figure out exactly what chores our kids should do. I found a free and easy online template and print off a new chore chart each week. They have fun themes like superheroes and mermaids, although someone was quite upset I dared to pick a mermaid chore chart.

James' Chores:

Make bed

Clean Room

Mail

Homework

Trash

Set/Clear Table

Isabelle's Chores:

Make Bed

Clean Room

Homework

Go to bed happily

Get hair done daily

Keep pull-up dry 

(which we may need to remove from her chore chart soon :)

Chores are now just part of our routine and involve a lot less whining. 

How it works

Chore charts are on our refrigerator. As the kids complete their chores throughout the day, they choose a sticker to put on their chore chart. This has been excellent reading practice for my kindergartener. My house is so tidy. James likes routines and plans and he is thriving. He keeps giving me more ideas for chores to add to his chart. He's even started showering on his own in the mornings and getting dressed and ready for school independently. (This isn't even on his chore chart, but his plan.) Once a week, the kids get paid for their chores. We use fake money because who has cash these days? The kids have envelopes to help them keep track of their money. A couple of times a month, the kids get to spend their money at the "Mom Store." I like that this is teaching my kids about money too.

We had the first "Mom Store" today. I think it was cool enough to make the kids keep up with their chores. Izzy was grateful for the "mom store" in her prayer which says a lot. She likes to keep prayers mega short. Izzy bought a princess coloring book and bubblegum with her money. James bought a Halloween craft kit. It came with a canvas pumpkin to paint. The afternoon blew by since the kids were busily coloring/painting. Sitting next to Isabelle while she chewed her first piece of gum was the best part of my day. She was so concerned that she would swallow it. After one bite, she said she was ready to spit it out. I explained to her that you usually chew gum for a while. She got used to it and probably chewed for 10 minutes. James and Izzy both attempted to blow a bubble which was unsuccessful. James' gum ended up on the floor. We'll try again tomorrow. James' art is hanging on the door and he requested that we keep it forever. He eagerly showed Andrew his creation the instant Andrew walked upstairs.

All of us are giddy about the chore charts! I guess I better keep going to book club. Who knows what the next life-changing thing will be? For now, I'm crossing my fingers for more gooey chocolate chip cookies at the October meeting.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Months ago, my mom offered us their tickets to the play, "To Kill a Mockingbird." It was a no-brainer. We absolutely wanted to go. In preparation for the play, I decided to re-read the book.  The last time I read, "To Kill a Mockingbird" was in high school. It was an assignment for a class which made the reading less fun. This time around, I was so engaged while reading. I gave the book 5 stars and think its message is still extremely prevalent today. I'm glad for the refresher before going to the play. You forget a lot in 10+ years.

My parents had 4 tickets to "To Kill a Mockingbird," so we invited our friends, Michael and Valerie Bradshaw to join us. We had a spectacular evening out. We even carpooled. Since the play was at Eccles theater in Salt Lake City, we obviously had to take advantage of being close to so many delicious restaurants.  

We ate at Cafe Molisse, an Italian restaurant.  It had good reviews and I was excited.  It was okay/disappointing. I ordered lasagna and I think mine may have been the best dish at our table.  Just saying.  It was pretty good, but not the best I've had, and not worth the price tag. Andrew's noodles were far too al dente.  All of our meals came with a house salad. The salad lacked lots. I wondered why the waiter asked if we wanted to upgrade our salads for more money and later understood.  A plate full of plain lettuce wasn't what I expected. (No croutons or vegetables in sight) The rolls at the table were yummy though.  At the end of the meal, we all agreed that we probably wouldn't choose to eat there again.

When the play started, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I was surprised by the order of events. It started with the ending which threw me off for a second. They nailed this play! The way the play was sequenced was brilliant. There were snippets in between the court scenes to help set the scene and break up the monotony of the courtroom.  Scout stole the show! Her accent was spot on and she was perfect for the role.  Atticus also fit the bill. He wasn't quite what I envisioned, but I warmed up to him. The play was witty and kept the audience engaged and chuckling.  

Our seats were high up and not close to the stage,  but we were centered. Valerie does costume design and since I've been to a few plays with her,  I now notice the outfits more than ever. I guess she is rubbing off on me. I found it odd that Mr. Ewell was wearing a snappy suit for court. It seemed out of character. He has kids galore and his family is known for living in poverty. There are some gruesome parts of this story.  It was great that we didn't have to watch gory death scenes, and that we didn't have to miss out on the plot. Instead got to listen to the events retold. Andrew was astounded by Mayella's testimony in court. She was passionate. 

Plays aren't usually Michael's preferred date night activity, but he even liked "To Kill a Mockingbird." I was on my feet applauding along with hundreds of others. A standing ovation was deserved. Thanks, Mom and Dad for the tickets! Bring on "Lion King" at Eccles theater next month! 

Playmill Theater

Andrew and I were extremely indecisive about whether or not we should take our family to the Playmill Theater in West Yellowstone. Eventually, we decided to go for it and by then we had to pick a different showtime because it was a popular idea. When planning our mini trip, there were 4 things I had in mind for us to do. 1) See Tarzan! 2) Play in the hotel pool 3) Hike Mesa Falls 4) Eat at Big Juds. Traveling with kids is a wild ride. At times throughout our mini vacay, I felt like my heart was going to burst and that this trip was exactly what my soul needed. During other moments, I wondered if we were crazy when we had this idea.

Tarzan: Friday, September 2, 2022, at 5:30pm at the Playmill Theater

We arrived at our hotel with time to spare, so we could grab a bite to eat before the play. We had mouth-watering brisket at "Firehole Bar B Que." We noticed a park across the street and let the kids run free after sitting for 5 hours in the car. Minutes before the show started, we took the youngsters to the bathroom for one final time. We were surprised to find that our 5-year-old had pooped his pants. What on earth? I can't think of the last time this happened. Andrew and James dashed to the hotel to shower (once wasn't sufficient, so twice it was) and met Izzy and me at the play. They made it to their seats 1 minute before Tarzan began. Whew!

The Playmill Theater is an intimate theater. There isn't a ton of seating and the stage is small. That didn't stop the performers from going all out. I was amazed by how well the actors portrayed gorillas. What a fun atmosphere it was! I was surprised that there were pre-show performers and unfortunately James and Andrew missed those. We sat in the front row. It felt like we were onstage. The actors were so close to us and I had to move my long legs more than once. It was a very family-friendly place. I loved that there were showtimes before bedtime! During intermission, the treats were plentiful. The dole whip was incredible. Izzy did not want to share hers with me and licked every last drop. The root beer float was a bit "spicy" for James. 

After intermission, the kids were a little antsy. We got asked when Tarzan was going to end more than once, but overall they sat still and did well. Everyone working at the theater was so friendly. It felt like the cast treated us like family. They chatted with us throughout the evening. 2 things were a little disappointing-- 1: I'm pretty sure we had the Tarzan understudy. 2: The microphones should have been louder. It was hard to hear sometimes and we couldn't have been sitting any closer. I have since heard Izzy singing Tarzan songs. It makes me giggle because she doesn't remember the words quite right and repeats the one line she knows. Since our return, we've watched "Tarzan," "Tarzan 2", and a "Tarzan and Jane" show. I have yet to tire of the fantastic music. Izzy has declared she wants to grow up and be like Tarzan and live in a jungle. Quite different than her typical princess ball dreams.

Pool

Finding a place to stay was tricky. We ended up paying a little more to have a pool and be within walking distance of the theater. Not only did we book a hotel with a pool, but it also had a giant waterslide. That waterslide was used nonstop. We splashed in the pool after the play, as well as on Saturday morning. Saturday, we had the whole pool to ourselves. It was priceless to watch our kids swim and their swimming lessons are really paying off. (Their floaties stayed in the trunk!) Andrew continues to point out the fact that I got stuck on the waterslide not once, but twice on the same run. I don't know what I did wrong, but one ride was enough for me. In return, I've been able to tease Andrew about forgetting many important items-- his glasses, a hat, and (almost) his swim trunks. I spent the bulk of my time in one of the 2 hot tubs. Ahhhh. Someday, we'll get a jacuzzi. The kids liked the bubbles/jets. Another perk of hotel living was having cable. Saturday morning cartoons were a treat.

Mesa Falls

I lived fairly close to Mesa Falls for 4 years and never went. Boy did I miss out. I made sure to fit in the Mesa Falls hike this trip, even if it added some driving time. It wasn't much of a hike (mostly walking down some stairs), but I don't think we did the entire loop. We went strait to the falls. There was a lot of whining. The falls were huge. There was even a rainbow. What a stunning place. Andrew commented on how surprised he was that the topography changed so drastically so quickly. We were surrounded by a forest at Mesa Falls and suddenly endless farmland. 

Can you spot the complainer?

Big Juds in Archer, Idaho on Saturday, September 3, 2022

We ended the trip back where it all began at Big Juds. Andrew and I went on our first date to Big Juds in 2012. We wanted to take the kids there. While there, I spotted the table we sat at over a decade ago. Driving through the farmland and open spaces brought back memories and made me sentimental. I even turned on "Take Me Home, Country Roads" By: John Denver and "Brown Eyed Girl" By: Van Morrison. Country music is not my jam, but it was fitting and I was belting the words. Big Juds wasn't quite as good as either of us remembered, but the Huckleberry shake was top-notch. I heard Andrew explaining to the kids that Rexburg is a special place for our family because it's where mom and dad fell in love. Awww.

Let me gloat about the kids' behavior in the car. They were superb. We read library books, played with sticker books, and got to watch shows. I read a 5-star book (more on that next post!) and ate Pringles. I even napped which is rare/hard for me in the car. None of us got a restful night of sleep in the hotel, especially since the kids woke up in the middle of the night. I had a grumpy moment while on the drive when I realized my tablet didn't charge. Thankfully, my phone saved the day and I was able to download shows. We didn't stop once on our drive to W. Yellowstone. On our way back to UT, about an hour from home, Izzy frantically cried that she had to use the bathroom. We exited the freeway stat and got stuck at the longest red light ever. Isabelle barely made it to the potty. Phew!

I think next time, it will be easier to decide whether or not we should go to the Playmill Theater. James is already talking about going back next summer. There's never a dull moment when traveling with children, and boy am I grateful for the spice they add to my would be boring life.

Thanksgiving Point

Thanksgiving Point has become a place we visit regularly. This is the second summer in a row that I've signed children up for summer camps there. There are numerous camps to choose from and it was hard to decide which ones to sign-up for.  Last summer, James did a dinosaur camp. 

This summer, James did a half-day pirate camp and a half-day lego camp. He was begging to go back for more legos! That was by far his favorite camp! James also did 4 half days at an engineering camp. James wasn't a big fan of the engineering camp. I was relieved when it ended because it made for a lot of driving with whining as background noise. Most of these camps James did with his friend, Harrison. 

Monday, August 1, 2022

You have to be 3 to participate in the camps, so Isabelle had to wait until her birthday. I signed Izzy up for pony camp with her friend Adrianna. She had the best time and even got to ride a pony. Her only complaint afterward was that her shoes were too tight. We immediately took her shoes off and found a blister. Some tears followed.

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

In addition to summer camps, we've explored more of Thanksgiving Point. We wandered around "Dinosaur Island" with the Bradshaws. It's nice going with friends who have memberships because I can get our tickets for half price. We went in the early morning and it was toasty by the time we left.  The kids were captivated by the volcano and enjoyed feeding the fish.

Friday, August 12, 2022

Paying for tickets on any given day is pricey. We live for cheap days and went on both $5 Tuesdays this summer. First, we went to "The Museum of Natural Curiosity." The kid's cousin Cooper happened to be in town and came with us. Apparently many others had the itch to go to this museum as well. It got progressively more crowded the longer we stayed. The museum has an inside playground that goes all the way up to the ceiling which the kids think is pretty cool. James felt like an expert after spending many summer camps inside this museum and liked playing tour guide. I somehow managed to forget my bag that was full of snacks/water/my wallet. We survived and had a car full of hungry kiddos on the way home. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

The next $5 Tuesday, Grannie was in town! We went to "The Museum of Ancient Life" aka the Dinosaur Museum. Grannie treated us to a movie there about dinosaurs and Antarctica. The main attraction for my kids was digging for fossils in the sand. They could have done this all day and brought home lots of sand as a souvenir. 

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

An important question-- should I finally just cave and get a membership to Thanksgiving Point? They're doing a promotion right now which has me considering it more than ever. Regardless of our membership status, we've spent a good chunk of our summer partying at Thanksgiving Point.