Little Vacation

Okay, so our big family trip this year was to Disneyland a couple of months ago. In addition to that, we figured we'd be able to get a couple of camping trips in this summer, but as we looked at our schedule and the limited time Quentin would be able to get off, we realized that our vacation options would be pretty limited. We tentatively planned a mini camping trip for this weekend, but the weather Friday was pretty nasty so we ditched that idea and at the last moment decided to take a mini-vacation to Park City. We've gone on an "overnighter" to Park City a few times before (before and after we had kids) and have really enjoyed it. Sure, it's not necessary to get a hotel room when we can just drive 50 minutes back home, but it's an excuse to get away. It feels so different in Park City and by staying overnight it feels like a little vacation. We left Saturday just after noon, went browsing on Park City's Main Street (the girls loved the Cows ice cream shop, the Christmas shop, the live music and especially the trolley ride), shopped a few of the Outlet Stores, swam in the hotel pool, then watched an old Cary Grant movie. Today we enjoyed the hotel's free breakfast (the girls got a kick out of that), then took a drive around Deer Valley and admired the $4 million-dollar homes! On our way back home, we stopped by the Alpine Slide and Zip Line Ride. After watching a few people do it, those activities suddenly became pretty high on Quentin's priority list - we'll just have to go some other time other than Sunday!

Anyway, it's funny how just doing something a little different and in a place different than what you see everyday can rejuvenate you and make you feel like you've been gone more than 24 (or so) hours!

MEETING A FRIENDLY BEAR . . .

DIGGING FOR ROCKS . . .

ON THE TROLLEY . . .

STANDING BY THE ALPINE SLIDE . . .


SWIMMING . . .

Adventures

The girls have had lots of adventures! My mom was brave enough to invite Kiera and Makenna over for a sleepover Tuesday night. I dropped them off around 1:00 and Kiera politely asked when I was going to leave because she and Makenna wanted Granny all to themselves! They had a blast doing crafts, watching movies, eating fun food and falling asleep in Granny's bed! They didn't want to leave when I picked them up today around noon. All 3 girls just adore Granny and light up every time they see her!

This afternoon we joined the neighborhood field trip group at the Farmington Pool. Chloe, Sophie and their mom were the only ones we knew there, but that was quite all right with us! Now the girls are tuckered out. 2 out of the 3 of them are taking naps, and Kiera is vegging watching her favorite show. Ahhh, summer!

CUTE "SKIRT" PURSES!

TA-DA!



CUTE KASIDEE!

THE GANG

MAKENNA COVERING KASIDEE'S EYES TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE SPRINKLERS

Catch Up

Boy, it seems like a lot has been going on lately, and I thought I'd better blog about it before I forget!!

First of all, I just have to say how proud I am of my girls. Kiera loves to just sit for hours each day and read. Her favorite spot is my big fat chair in the living room - she loves to read when the morning sun is streaming in, but she'll read in the car, on the swing, just about anywhere. She just can't get enough. Her last book was "Wayside School is Falling Down" - a 179 page chapter book that she finished in 2 days. Amazing. And sweet Makenna is loving learning how to read. She can't wait till she can read chapter books too!


Saturday was my 32nd birthday - aren't I just so old? I didn't feel old until I hit my 30's. But oh well! I had a fun day. In fact, Quentin wanted to celebrate my "birthday eve" too. He rented a movie and brought home pizza and donuts from Dick's Market (yummy!) as a surprise. He's so sweet! Then on my birthday, we picked up my mom and went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. So neat! Then we quickly browsed at Ikea and had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes! Mom came to our house afterward and Quentin made my favorite dessert for us - Strawberry Shortcake. And he even had a surprise - a Chinese birthday candle. It's so cool! Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-glXvDyVYm8



(DO YOU LIKE THE PIC THE SISTER MISSIONARIES TOOK? QUENTIN IS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT HOW HE WANTS PICTURES TAKEN, BUT THE SISTERS ASSURED US THAT THEY HAD BEEN TAKING PICTURES ALL DAY AND WOULD GET THE WHOLE TEMPLE IN THE PIC. HMMMM...)


(AND DO YOU LIKE QUENTIN'S MICKEY EARS?!)


And finally today Kiera was able to get her cast off - for about 20 minutes. The doctor said it is healing well but needs a little more time - about 2 weeks. He gave us the option of a brace or another cast, and Kiera chose a cast. A pink waterproof one this time. I was afraid she'd be disappointed to have to have another cast, but she's excited to have a pink one!

Tepid Tap Water, Anyone?

What an adventurous day! Quentin went to the temple with the Elder's Quorum presidency early this morning, then he met me and the girls for Kasidee's dental checkup (everything looks good!) Since he didn't have to go into work till noon, we decided to go out to breakfast - it felt like we were on vacation!

Then this afternoon, my sweet neighbor and friend brought over some yummy cupcakes (thanks, Candi!) - and of course our girls wanted to play together. So I agreed, since I was just going to try and give my front door a fresh coat of paint. Well, before I knew it, the 4 girls had 2 TV trays set up in our driveway and began setting out plastic cups filled with ice and tap water. Oh, no no. When they explained that they were going to sell ice water to the people biking down the street, I told them no. I told them that maybe one day next week we could buy some lemonade, make cookies, etc. and do it "for real." But they were so intent on selling their little cups of ice water that I thought, "Well, okay. No one will buy it, and they'll learn a lesson about planning ahead." They set their price at $1 per cup of water (ouch! - I tried to no avail to convince them to do maybe 10 cents), and I watched from the window. Within minutes a grandpa strolling by bought a cup. Oh, that's so sweet! But would you believe that within the 2 hours they were out there, those 4 girls made about 13 bucks?! I guess the little lesson they were supposed to learn didn't work. How embarrassing. Who knows what my neighbors think! But kids are kids - when I was about their age I went door to door with my friend, selling plain pieces of white paper for 25 cents each.

Oh, how fun to be a kid and be so hopeful and naive!! I wish I could just bottle up their sweetness and goodness. (P.S. All of that hard work tuckered them out. All 3 of my girls fell asleep at 6:30 - before they even had a chance to eat dinner!)

Princess Festival

Last Saturday Kiera, Makenna, Quentin and I joined Nikki and Marina at the Princess Festival in Lindon, Utah. Wow - what a fun experience for all of us! The girls got to join 22 other girls, dressed up in their princess-best and help save Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty and others in their dilemmas. Then they saw the princesses join their princes at the Royal Ball.

This was all a special program sponsored by "In Our Own Quiet Way" (see www.inourownquietway.org), which started because a Utah family's lives were touched when they went to Kenya. They came home wanting to help children in Africa - 100% of the proceeds from the Princess Festival went to this cause. How inspiring! This is definitely something we'll have to do again, especially when Kasidee is old enough to join!

SAYING GOODBYE TO GRANNY AND KASIDEE . . .


WAITING FOR THE EVENT TO START . . .


THE CUTE PRINCESSES WAITING INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FAIRY . . .


SAVING RAPUNZEL . . .


CINDERELLA AND HER PRINCE . . .


SNOW WHITE AND HER PRINCE . . .


RAPUNZEL AND HER PRINCE . . .


BELLE AND HER PRINCE . . .


ARIEL . . .


SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER PRINCE . . .


ALICE & THE HILARIOUS MAD HATTER . . .


CAPTAIN HOOK, PETER PAN & TINKERBELL . . .


THE WICKED WITCH WHO ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE NICE . . .


THE GIRLS WITH PRINCESSES FROM KENYA . . .


PLAYING BY THE CASTLE . . .


"FLYING" WITH PETER PAN . . .


A BEAUTIFUL CARRIAGE FOR PRINCESSES . . .


ALADDIN & JASMINE'S CASTLE . . .

Announcement

We are SOOOO excited to announce a new addition to our family - the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (I had to look that up). It's our new, REAL camera!! We've been wanting a nice digital SLR camera but couldn't seem to find justification to spend the 900 bucks it would take to get it. Well, thanks to Quentin and his hard work, he gets points for doing well on campaigns and then he can redeem the points for merchandise - that's how we got the Wii and my food processor for free. And yes, you guessed it. We were able to get the camera for free by using up 51 of his hard-earned points! We've been having fun playing around with it, but there's still a lot to learn. I'd like to take a digital photography class soon. But until then, we're just amazed at the quality of pictures this thing takes - soooo much better than our little "everyday" camera. Take a look:





(A CLAY BIRTHDAY CAKE KIERA MADE)

See ya later . . .

The other day the girls had their friend Halle over to play. Halle is a little younger than Makenna and is such a cute little friend. Halle and her family are moving this Saturday. Though they'll be renting an apartment pretty close for a few months, they'll eventually be moving out of state. So we wanted to make sure to squeeze in one last playdate before they get into their apartment. I'm sure we'll still see her every so often till they move "for real."

Al Fresco

The other night we ate dinner on our patio. The girls and I have eaten breakfasts and a few lunches on our patio, but Monday was the first time this season the 5 of us have eaten dinner there. Ahhhh.... It reminded me of why I have love eating outside, and I hope to eat summer dinners out there most days of the week! Ahhh, simple pleasures!

Dinosaur Museum

I didn't realize how addicted to blogging I really am until we had "issues" with our computer and I couldn't blog for, what, 5 days. I guess it's like being content to stay home until you realize you don't have access to a car - then you itch to get out of the house! Anyway, I've got a bit of catching up to do, but I thought I'd start with today. This morning for our weekly neighborhood field trip, we went to Thanksgiving Point's Dinosaur Museum. We've been there only once before, when Kiera was about Kasidee's age. The girls (and everyone in our group) had a good time - the girls were especially happy that Granny could join us!

MAKING DAMS AND RIVERS AND ISLANDS AT THE EROSION TABLE . . .

KASIDEE WEIGHING HERSELF ON THE DINOSCALE - SHE WEIGHS AS MUCH AS AN EORAPTER, ABOUT 23 LBS. . .

DIGGING FOR DINOSAUR BONES . . .

PUTTING PLASTER IN A MOLD TO MAKE . . .

...A MOLD OF A TRILOBITE (MAKENNA) AND A RAPTOR'S TOOTH (KIERA)