Fall Break in Review

Fall Break started on a Wednesday.  In fact, the very Wednesday that we received our package in the mail.  (Great way to start the fun).  We decided we needed to do some fun things for the break.  It's not easy to think of fun things to do when: 

1.) You aren't familiar with the area 

and 2.) You don't yet have any friends.  

So, we had to improvise.  Here is a lot of pictures of the things we accomplished during the 6 day break:

We did some art.  We used recycle goods to make bats!

 Once the bats were made, instead of hanging them up from the trees outside as planned... we played indoor soccer with them.  I'm thinking that was even more fun.

We explored the canyon.  Look at those colors!  I love seeing the autumn leaves!

 We walked to the only store in town and bought ice cream!

 We played at the park... a lot!  

 On Saturday, we went up "north" to do our supplies shopping.  We decided to make it a fun day, so we left early and stopped at Thanksgiving Point to check out a museum that my awesome cousin, Liz, told me about.  "The Museum of Natural Curiosity".  Thanks to our passes to the Science Center (which we won't be visiting any time soon) we were able to get into the Museum for free.  It was really neat.  Here are a few pictures.

 Brandon was brave and took 3 young kids into a pitch black tunnel.  They didn't like it too much... but they did it.  And I watched from outside.

 In case you were wondering... this is how much the ENTIRE Smithson family weighs.  We all got on together.

Sunday was our first opportunity to visit church.  Until then, it had been conferences and more conferences.  It was nice to sit in regular meetings.  The children still haven't had a regular Sunday, as they have been practicing for the primary program, but at least they got to meet some more kids!

It was a fun Fall Break!

So, I got Older

It's the time of year again...  The time were I wake up and find out that I'm older than I was the day before.  I magically get just a little older.  The odometer ticks up.  Instead of being 30, I'm officially *in* my 30's.  It's funny how that sounds, because I really don't feel any older than 20.  My husband likes to remind me, however, that I am getting old!  (Of course, he will also be 7 years older).  I'm grateful for a wonderful husband who makes me want to be a better person, gives me the strength to do hard things, and loves me unconditionally.  I'm definitely blessed.

To celebrate my birthday, I met up with a good friend from college (Jennifer Traynor), and her 3 fun loving kiddos.  We haven't seen them since Preston was born.  It was good to get together.  We went to the newly remodeled and renamed I.d.e.a. Museum in downtown Mesa.  It was fun.  It would have been even more fun if the exhibit were open (it opens Friday).  They have changed it to be even more hands on, which I love.  We got to do some crafts:

 Dance in a lazer dome that makes noises when you move:

 Draw with Ipads (my kids never get to play with computers, so this was a treat):

 Go camping in a black light room:

 And play dress up:

 Happy Birthday to me!

After the museum and naps, my good friend, Amy, offered to take the older kids so I could have some fun time without them.  Brandon got off work early and we went to Bahama Bucks, then people watched for a while.  It was fun.  Then we got the kids, ate dinner, sang "Happy Birthday" and ate some lemon brownies.  It was good old fashion fun!  I love my family!

Children's Museum

A while back, I snagged a groupon for The Children's Museum.  It was a good price and covered 4/5's of the family.  We held on to it... until this week.  Monday afternoon, the entire family headed to the museum for some family fun.  It was the prefect time to go, as it turned out that the museum was virtually empty.  This is very unique, since the museum is typically a crazy place to be.  Here are some pictures of the things we did.

 We started on the 3rd floor and, after going through the noodle maze, we decided to do some grocery shopping.

 Instead of "purchasing" cheese, Oliver decided to just be cheesy.  Look at that smile.

 Even dad got involved with the shopping experience.

 Noelle made me smile.  Apparently she was looking past the packaging and (in her mind) was buying the items actually in the bottles.  She came over to me and showed me all the buttons and sparkling things she had bought.  It made me smile.

 Next, we decided to race some cars.

 Preston hung out with me while I watched the kids have fun and retrieved their cars for them.

 Speaking of racing cars...  who do you think will win this race?

 All 4 of my kids wanted in on the race car action.  

 Then it was time to go to the bike wash.  Poor Oliver really wanted to ride the one with the trailer.  He could ride it just fine until he got to the bumpy floor.  Then he was just stuck.

 Daddy decided to ride in the trailer, and even took turn peddling for Oliver.  It was a lot of fun.

The kids did a lot of other things at the museum as well, but those were our favorites.  I'm so glad we went, and that it was so vacant.  We had such a great time.  We were also thankful that Brandon took the day off and was able to go with us. He had been out of town for 4 days and we had really missed him.