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!

New Years Day Pictures

It has become a fun tradition, and I couldn't let the day go by without doing it again... The New Years Day Pictures!  This year, we did these at the Red Mountain Park!  (Then we played, rode bikes, and had fun).  Enjoy!

 And a little fun with their ages!

Happy New Years!

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Yesterday, Melanie came home from school with a homemade kite.  It was a lot of fun to try out in our front yard before we came inside, so I had to make more.

 

Then we met our friend, Madison at the park, and flew them.  We made one for her as well.  It was definitely fun.

 

The best part of these kites is that even Oliver can fly them by himself. 

 

 

I think, if it's breezy again, we may do this today as well.  It was so much fun.  If it is windier than breezy, perhaps I'll get the real kites out.  The kids have been enjoying those with dad recently.  (or course, that means I don't have any pictures).  We love spring!



Saturday is a Special Day

Saturday was an amazing day.  It started with the baptism of my niece, Ashley.  Ashley is my brother's sister's daughter, and I remember when she was born.  It's really neat to see her grow up, and I'm so proud of her to make the decision to be baptized.  After the baptism, we went to my nephew, CJ,'s birthday party.  CJ turned 3, and they had a fun party at his house to celebrate. 

 

The morning was a lot of fun, full of a lot of extended family... and would you believe that I forgot my camera.  Yep, I had made a mental note to take it with us.  I put it on the counter.  And yet...  Well, there isn't anything I can do about that.

 

But Saturday night was special too.  We went to the park for dinner again.  I have really enjoyed our recent weather and can't think of a better way to share it with the family then the park.

 

Oliver loves to have the room to run and explore.

Melanie made friends, instantly, with a few girls that were at the park.  They eventually left, but she enjoyed them while they were there.

Brandon made us dinner...  And it was wonderful.  Isn't he handsome?

Mom was at the park too.  Self portraits are much cuter with little people in them.  (Even if the little person is giving the "oh, mom, do I have to" face.)



Oliver thinks he is a big boy that needs to use a big boy cup.  He is pretty determined.  Unfortunately, he hasn't figured out how to do it without drenching himself.

I love my family!

2 weeks later

Apparently, when you are busy taking care of "everything" at home... you ignore things like blogging.  Alas, I have decided to repent.  Though I would have most likely recorded things in more detail if I did it as I went... I feel like a short summary of events is better than nothing.  So, here we go:

Once upon a time there was a National Pancake Day... and we celebrated it!

Then there was an extremely early release... and even though we don't go to a public school, some of our "long lost friends" do, so we celebrated that as well.  We met friends Madison and McKenna at Red Mountain Park.  I'm so glad I thought to bring bread with us to feed the ducks, because they have ruined this park for little kids.  There is literally NOTHING for the littler children to do at the park.  I'm so disappointed with the City of Mesa. 

 Once upon a time, we made valentines for our friends (I let the girls make the paper pretty by doing marble art.  Then I cut hearts out for them, and let the girls stamp "You are just WRITE for me" on them.  Then we hole punched and the girls attached a pencil.  It was fun!)

And then we made Valentines for our family (Daddy, and the grandparents).

Finally, Valentines Day Eve came, and we did a LOT of celebrating.  Melanie had a party at school (they had a field trip to the post office to mail out Valentines to their parents.  Melanie sent one to me AND her daddy!  And then they went back to school and exchanged their own Valentines).  After lunch, we went to the park and had a Valentine Cookie Party!  It was a blast!

 On Valentines Day, we had a lot of fun!  I heart attacked the hallway.  We had a special Valentines breakfast of waffles with fresh fruit and whipped topping.  We heart attacked our friends' houses.  We went to story time and gave the librarian a valentine.  Then we had a special lunch with sandwiches cut in heart...  and finally, we had a special special dinner.

 

 Mom was exhausted by the end of the day. 

The following picture is one that I just took because Noelle is just too cute.  Seriously!  Okay, moving on...

Oliver learned how to eat a pizza like a big boy...

 The library had a new Barbie movie for us to borrow.  It's the Princess and the Pop Star.  Can you tell who wants to be who?  Silly Girls!

 Friday, we went to the Museum of Natural History, where Oliver met Cousin Blake...  I think they are going to be good friends!

It was the first time Morgan, Ethan, and Liz had met us there... and apparently their first time going.  I think they had fun, once we got away from the Dinosaurs (I don't think Morgan was found of them).

 But digging for Dinosaurs is always a hit!

 On Saturday, we went to our friend (Madison)'s 6th birthday party!  Her birthday party was at the movie theater, where they had a whole theater rented out for a movie.  We saw "Escape from Planet Earth" (which I had known nothing about, but really enjoyed despite the fact that Melanie ended up sitting on my lap and crying through the majority of the movie).  The girls really enjoyed being movie stars for the day and had a blast.

When we got home, Oliver decided he wanted special glasses as well.

 Today, I let the girls count the money in their piggy banks.  For the last year, I have been paying them a small allowance for them to do their chores in an effort to teach them how to pay their tithing.  But, until now, they had never spent any of their money.  It dawned on me that the money would be more rewarding to them if they understood it better.  So, they counted it, saved a portion of it, and were able to spend a portion of it.

I think they made out!  (And they were and are definitely HAPPY GIRLS!)

Apparently a little money can buy a little happiness after all!

 

There is the short of the long of our last few weeks.  :)