Cars, Water, Cars, Water

On John James Audubon's Birthday (also known as National Audubon Day) on April 26, Jet and I went out for a walk by the Provo River. We saw some ducks and I saw an American dipper. I love seeing dippers dipping in the water.

At one point we crossed a bridge where there was a barrier between the walking part of the bridge and the driving part. I lifted Jet so he could see the water in the river and he immediately got excited when he could see the cars going by. So we took some time looking back and forth between the cars and the water. Cars, water, cars, water.

A few days later, Jet and I went to the BYU botany pond. I haven't been there for many years, not since they made it the "botany pond." I used to pass it all the time when there was just a duck pond there when I was in college. 

Jet loved seeing the ducks and ducklings and the fence around the pond is the perfect height for a toddler. I saw Jet turning around at one point saying, "Cars, water, cars, water." I realized it was because we were between the pond and the street and he remembered from before. I thought that was pretty cute.

Back to Audubon Day, April 26 was also National Pretzel Day. Jeremy and I made soft pretzels after the kids went to bed (except Jr. Jr. made one pretzel because Jet kept running back to their room so Jr. Jr. kept bringing him back out). Jet of course helped with the dough. He is my baking buddy.

Some of the kids also had crunchy mini pretzels for after school snack.

The next day, April 27, was Babe Ruth Day so we had Baby Ruths after school.

National Food Day 2020

October 24 was National Food Day. I put on the menu plan for that day "Food."

Also relating to food (wait for it), the Orem Library put on a "Parking Lot of Terror." Jeremy took all of the kids but Jet to drive through the spooky parking lot. They encouraged decorating vehicles so Jeremy set it up so there were bags of "groceries" on the top of the car and it looked like someone forgot to put their groceries in their vehicle. See? Food Day?

There was such a long line of vehicles waiting to go in that Jeremy got stopped several times by well meaning people to tell him he forgot his groceries on the top of his car. Sigh. It was a car "costume." Sorry.

The librarians thought it was a fun decoration and recognized "their" balloon guy when they drove through even though he was wearing a face mask. Even though it was such a long wait, Jeremy and the kids still enjoyed it, and the kids got goodie bags with treats and books at the end.

Jet and I stayed home and looked at Instagram updates from the library throughout the evening so we could see what kinds of things they had without being there. 

Another social distancing success!

P.S. Jeremy and the kids saw someone's vehicle that was decorated like a Viking ship with the people inside dressed like Vikings. They said it was awesome. That vehicle won the car costume contest with our car as the runner up. Jeremy was able to pick up a prize for us at the library. We got a "Little Women" Cookbook, some leggings with a composition notebook pattern and a mug with the same pattern. Jeremy read us the box for the mug.

Jeremy: "Happiness is a good book and a warm drink."

Jr. Jr.: And pants!    

Now we're all set for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

One on One Time

Jeremy and I have been talking about how we haven't had Daddy-daughter or Mommy-daughter or Daddy-son or Mommy-son dates in a while.  It's hard to schedule that kind of one on one time when you have so much going on- work, school, extra-curricular activities, scouts, mutual, Relief Society activities, homework, chores, errands to run, etc. etc. etc.  The list goes on and on and on.  We decided to do something about it this week.  Monday there was no school.  Instead of dragging the kids around birding as we sometimes do when there's no school we decided to have some one on one time away from home. 
First thing in the morning, Jr. and Daddy went to get an oil change in the car together.  It may not sound that exciting but it's kind of their thing.  Jeremy never takes any of the other kids.  It's always Jr. (when he can do it on a day Jr.'s around).  They sit together playing games or watching shows while they wait.  Sometimes they have snacks.  It's their bonding time.

When they got back, Nichole and I headed to the Orem Library.  We had a nice talk on the drive there.  We talked books and things while at the library (she even suggested a book I haven't yet read so I checked it out), chatted with a librarian, checked out some books and movies to celebrate some upcoming holidays, and we sat for a while coloring on one of those mandalas they print out for people to color. 

When Nichole and I got back, Jeremy took Jr. Jr. to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point.  He didn't ride on the camel at Vernal Holly Days so Jeremy took him to ride the ponies at Farm Country.  Jr. Jr. also got to feed the ducks.

When they got back, I took Lucky to University Place (I still call it University Mall) to ride on the escalators.  He thought it was so neat when we rode the escalators at the Conference Center on Saturday that he was very much in favor of riding others.  Unfortunately I could only find one set in one store, though it did go up three floors.  We did ride some elevators, though, including one where you could see out as it went up and down.  After walking around the mall for a while, I decided to take Lucky down to the other mall- Provo Towne Center.  It has many more escalators (not just inside stores).  We also rode in an elevator that had mirrors all around inside. 

So we all had fun with our one on one time/parent-child dates.  It was a good use of the kids' day off of school.  No birding, though I kept mentioning birds I saw as Nichole and I were driving and walking to the library.
It was good family time, though divided up between family members.

Pinewood Derby

Jr. got to participate in his first pinewood derby and had a great time.

He and Jeremy designed his car, "Killer Bunny," Jeremy shaped the wood and Jr. sanded and painted it.

And of course Jr. raced it.
He earned his Bobcat and was awarded it there.  They had his mom come up so he could give her a hug.  I took the opportunity to get a picture of that hug.

The scouts each got a balloon trophy (Jeremy and I made those) and each brought a cake and got to take a cake home.

It was a good experience.

Go to the Mountains

For weeks Jr. Jr. has been telling us for Family Home Evening that he wanted to "go to the mountains."  Finally his turn came to pick the activity.  He had not forgotten that that is what he wanted to do.  So for FHE we went to the mountains.  

We went for a drive with the family.  We went up in the hills in a few different places.  We just drove and drove around.  While in Alpine, we did see some deer.  That was fun.  

Everyone just had a great time talking and laughing and singing.  The kids even decided to have contests of who could sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" the fastest.
It was a great family activity.

Let Me Tell You About My Day

I'm tired.
We got the kids up early this morning because we drove Jeremy to Thanksgiving Point to do balloon twisting at a Breakfast with Santa event.  Then the kids and I went home for a bit to finish getting ready.  Then we headed down to Salem to take Nichole to a dance practice at a school- lighting and spacing rehearsal for a show that afternoon.  The lady in charge of the dance company is a good friend and said Nichole could stay there while the boys and I went to pick up Jeremy from Thanksgiving Point, which we did.  We left Nichole with a lunch and Jeremy, the boys, and I ate in the car on our way down to Salem again.  I got to sit with Nichole's class during the show.  She really enjoyed having Mommy sit with her. 
After the performance, we all got in the car again to head back home to change because we had tithing settlement to go to at the church building.  After tithing settlement, we loaded everyone in the car again and went to Orem to do some shopping at Winco and pick up some pizzas for dinner.  Then we headed home where we ate dinner, did scripture study and family prayer, bathed and showered the kids, and dealt with stalling until the kids finally went to bed.  And Jr. Jr. got a haircut.
Oh, and it was cold and windy, too.

That was my day.  How was yours?

Spring Break- Day 3

Today was kind of a laid back Spring Break Day. I slept in. Thanks, Jeremy.

Jeremy went out this morning and got us a new windshield for our car. Our old one had a big crack across it. Thanks, Winter.

One of the instructions after getting a new windshield is to not wash your car for a few days. So of course the weather decided to rain today. Thanks, Spring.

Luckily, we have a tarp to cover the windshield.

Before it rained we were able to do Jr.'s special treat. He earned a trip to Wendy's a while back and we finally got to do it. Because of expecting rain, we ended up making a quick trip through the drive-thru after going to the Credit Union for Jr. to exchange his coins he'd been saving up for larger bills. Jr. was okay with that because at home we all got to eat our food while watching a Veggie Tales DVD (Rack, Shack, and Benny- hey, it's Easter time). And Nichole and Jr. got new games in their kids' meals. Thanks, Jr.

We also played some more Lego Batman. What can I say? It's a new game and it's Spring Break.
And Jeremy did some weeding out front just in case we get around to planting this year (also before it rained).