September Continues

September 9 was Wonderful Weirdos Day. We never have to put any effort into that holiday. We celebrate it by being us.

 

September 10 was National TV Dinner Day. I put a little more effort into that one, putting together a dinner with things you might find in a TV dinner. Crispy chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, brownies. Shout out to Jr. who baked the brownies for it.

On September 11, I took some time to reflect what happened 25 years ago. I found out that day someone I know was in the same building experiencing the same thing I did at the time the second tower was hit so we were both reflecting on similar things this year.

I also got out for a morning walk, which I hadn't done in a while.

On a brighter note, it was also Make Your Bed Day so I made pigs in a blanket. 

 

September 12 was National Video Games Day. The kids played video games. 

It was also National Chocolate Milkshake Day. Jeremy did some sketching of a chocolatey scene.

It was also Hug and High Five Day. Nichole, Jeremy, and I went to a funeral for my uncle so there were lots of hugs but not so many high fives.

You know family means so much to me, including extended family. Even if I haven't seen some of my cousins for years and we've gone in different directions, that love is always still there. We are always still family. It was also good for the three of us sisters to be there as well, representing the rest of our family.

 

Jeremy's sketch from that day must have been in my mind because the next day, September 13 was Roald Dahl Day and International Chocolate Day and National Peanut Day. Someone at church was wearing a purple dress. It made me think of Willy Wonka and chocolate. I pointed it out to her. Later she told me she had peanut M&Ms to celebrate. 

That day was also Positive Thinking Day. There was some positive thinking going on.

It was also Grandparents Day. I wished that happy holiday to my mom and sister.

And it was Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day. I told them to make dinner. I think they maybe made pizza? I don't know. I wasn't in charge. And I didn't take pictures.

 

Lots of emotions that week. 

Camp

Jr. Jr. and Lucky went to Young Men Camp for 3 1/2 days. This was Lucky's first time going because last year, he came down with a stomach bug right before they were supposed to leave. Poor kid. He was fine this time.

When Jet saw us getting them ready for camp, he was in favor of getting ready for camp himself and was disappointed when I told him just his brothers were going. That little guy likes to be involved. 

We came to a compromise. I told him we could do camp stuff at home while the boys were away at camp. We had their schedule for camp so we could do similar things, although we had some of our own things to do as well. Let me tell you about it.

The day the boys left was Monday, July 20, Global Hug Your Kids Day. They got a big hug from Jeremy before I took them over to meet with their group and head out.

Later, I got to hug the rest of the kids. 

While the boys were setting up camp at camp, I had the kids at home cleaning up the living room so there would be room to do camp activities. Jr. even made a makeshift tent for Jet for a little while.

Apparently there was a lot of free time at camp. My kids at home were definitely okay with that.

There was a scheduled time for Game Center so we at home played Rummikub. 

When Jeremy came home, he and Jet had their special drink together. Refreshing when it's been so hot.

We did Family Home Evening and had phases of the moon cookies because July 20 was Moon Day. We opened up mint Oreos because I didn't think we had any regular Oreos then the next day I realized that we did still have regular Oreos. Sigh. So we had green moons. 

 

Jeremy: There. I made half moons, waxing and waning. I also made Muppet eyes.

 

My phone told me earlier that day the moon was a waxing crescent.

Earlier in the day we had an egg that looked like a moon. 

 

Tuesday, July 21, one of the camp activities was Rock Wall. We weren't going to actually climb any rock walls or go repelling down any, but we did go out to the canyon and went to Bridal Veil Falls where there was water coming down a rock wall. We set up the selfie stick tripod so Jet could use the remote to take pictures of the waterfall and us.

That afternoon, we did a service project. We went to a park and picked up trash to make it a little nicer.

 

Later, Jet asked for chips, even though he'd had a bag already. I told him no and there was no reason to eat junk food then I realized, "Oh no. It's actually National Junk Food Day, " so I told him after he ate his chicken, he could have another bag of chips. He did.

We also had woo-woo which Nichole wanted for Junk Food Day. 

 

Wednesday, July 22, we kind of strayed away from the boys' camp schedule and did our own things. We went to the BYU Paleontology Museum. It counted for a Summer Reading activity and we'd been promising Jet we'd take him. He wore his pteranodon wings.

He had a blast and made a new friend. There was another little boy running around who had apparently been there a few times (this was Jet's first time there) and wanted to show Jet everything. It was fun. He had his own little tour guide. 

We were proud of Jet only touching things he was allowed to touch and being respectful. We can definitely take him back there.

That afternoon/evening, we had some more outside time.

Then we went inside to set up a "tent" in the living room for Jet and Jeremy made a balloon campfire (with glowsticks) like we did back in 2009. Wow. That was back when we only had two kids. So Jr. Jr. and Lucky still have not had that experience but Jet got to do it this time. We did not roast hot dogs over the fire. We cooked those in the kitchen but Jet and I did "roast" marshmallows before I stuck them in the microwave to make s'mores. Jet loved it all.

 

 

Thursday, July 23, was Gorgeous Grandma Day. I wished that happy holiday to my mom and sister.

I went out in nature by myself that morning then helped tie quilts for humanitarian aid until Jr. Jr. and Lucky got back from camp.

That afternoon since Jet didn't get to go "fishing" like some of the Young Men did at camp, Lucky, Nichole, and I helped him do that. Jeremy put together a fishing pole and printed out some fish for him. I added some snacks and trash (old sock, empty candy wrapper, crumpled up piece of paper) and the last item, a stuffed shark.

Here are some of the things that were said.

Jet: I better put it in my bucket.

Jet: Oooh, Candy.

Nichole: Looks like the fish are jumping. That's the best time to catch them.

Nichole: I think the shark ate the rest of the fish. That was probably the last one.

Lucky tossed a paper fish a few times to make it look like the fish were jumping. One accidentally fell outside the "lake" and we all got a big laugh out of that.

 

So Jr. Jr. and Lucky had a good time at camp (and got very wet because it rained a lot) and the rest of us had fun with camping activities at home.

I'd call it a successful camping week. 

 

Bonding Time: Museum Trip

January 21 was National Granola Bar Day. After school, Jet and I went down to BYU and sat in the van eating granola bars while waiting for Nichole to meet us after her class.

Then the three of us went into the Bean Museum to celebrate Museum Selfie Day.

While we were there we also celebrated Squirrel Appreciation Day

and National Hugging (National Hug) Day.

We let Jet be in charge to lead us around the museum until it was time to go. It was enjoyable.

I love bonding time! 

Hanukkah

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah. We are not Jewish but I think it is a good thing to learn about other cultures and religions. It’s a way to show love and respect as we all deserve.

So as the kids ate latkes and challah, I read a book to them called “The Story of Hanukkah” by Norma Simon. The recipe we have for latkes came from a Hanukkah book I got at school when I was a little girl.

I introduced them to the song, “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah,” which I remember my brother’s elementary school class learning and singing on the radio many many years ago.

After we ate, we played dreidel with chocolate coins. Over the years we’ve collected so many dreidels, mostly plastic but my son has a wooden one.

My husband was given some dreidels when he did balloon sculptures for a Hanukkah celebration years ago and I think my son’s came from school.

Even in different religions we can find things we have in common, including celebrating miracles. Let’s please show love and respect to others. It’s the right thing to do.

There was lots of love shown in our family yesterday. Lots of hugs. People helping out. Jet even sang a song. "I love you. I love you... Mama."

I absolutely love it when we have good feelings in our home.

P.S. December 14 was also Monkey Day so there was some fun monkeying around going on.