Walking by the Lake

I'm thankful for morning walks along the lake. It's been a while but I got the chance yesterday so I took it.

School Begins

Before school started we picked up final prizes for Jet who was participating in "1000 Books Before Kindergarten." We'd finished 1000 books a while back (that kid likes books like the rest of the family). We just hadn't gotten around to recording them and picking up the last of the prizes. So we did.

He got a bag, certificate, sticker, and book from Orem Library and he picked a flashlight from the treasure box at Provo Library.

 

We went to Back to School Nights for Jr. Jr. and Lucky and Jet, and Kindergarten assessment for Jet.

I saw Jr. Jr.'s schedule and this is the conversation that came from it.

Mom: You're taking Earth and Space Science? How cool is that?

Jr. Jr.: It's out of this world.

-Later-

Jr. Jr.: Earth and Space Science. You can tell you're in the right classroom because it's always vacuumed.

He also had clever things to say after school started.

Jr. Jr.: When I get a homework assignment, I spend the first few days in de-Nile.

Mom: Is that a geography joke?

Jr. Jr.: Yes, because I'm doing geography right now.

Jr. Jr.: What river is labeled 8?

Mom: It's in South America.

Jr. Jr.: The river labeled 8 is where all your packages come from. 

 

What do you do when you have a child who loves school so much they are anxious for the first day of school to start?

Give them a task. Sharpen pencils. That will help when it's time for homework.

 

How does a child who does not like school combat the frustration of it? 

He takes juggling balls with him wherever he goes at school and at home. He impressed quite a few people who didn't know he could juggle, which he couldn't last school year. 

 

I got first day of school pictures for the kids (we had four different first days of school this year), except for Jr. I got first day at his apartment pictures. I had a little Nemo toy that I used to tell everyone, "First day of school. First day of school," that morning.

 

While the middle boys were at their first day of school (less kids in the house), I did something useful. I put together some freezer meals, using recipes that used ingredients we had at home so I didn't have to go shopping for anything. I put directions on the bags so I don't have to look up the recipes when it's time to make them. Go, me! Woohoo.

 

After one of the first days of school, we went to the annual Utah County Birders potluck. So nice to be around other birders. We've been so busy, we haven't been out birding much. Sigh. And the monthly meetings, I usually join online instead of in person. Also sigh.

I must say, though, my kids are awesome. They helped clean up after the potluck, even though they had school the next day. 

 

The first Saturday after school started, I did something for myself. I went to "my spot" by the lake to watch the "sunrise"- which actually means I watched the other direction from where the sun rose. I watched the light come across the lake from the mountains on the other side until it reached me then the sun was to my back when it came up over the mountains. That's how I usually like to watch the sunrise.

After Jr.'s first day of school, we picked him up and went to another BBQ/cookout. 

Jeremy: Do you want to go to this cookout? You don't have to figure out dinner.

I was in favor of that. Jeremy previously made a balloon arch for this cookout so we were able to get some pictures.

 

Another day, before Jet and Nichole started school, they went with me on a drive up Kyhv Peak Road. Nice drive and view.

 

I highly recommend this.

We keep a pocket sized copy of The Book of Mormon in our vehicle.

Now that school has started, that means more sitting around waiting to pick up kids. I get busy some mornings and don't get a chance to read my Book of Mormon. So even though I often have a physical novel in my bag, an audiobook on my phone, I realized I could get something even better out of my wait by reading what is always available to me.

My Spot by the Lake

I have a spot I like by the lake. I like several spots by the lake but I'm thinking of one in particular. There is a bench right next to the parking area so when I'm not going to go for a walk, I can sit there to read my scriptures, write in my journal, take pictures.

I see plenty of birds there. I often see great blue herons flying along the water. There's a spot they like to land and hang out. I love it. I've seen egrets flying by, pelicans out in the water or flying along, grebes, ducks. There are also trees and reeds to see plenty of sparrows, robins, Western kingbirds, blackbirds, swallows, all sorts of birds.

It is a very pleasant area whether I'm walking or not. 

One day I went for a walk in the morning then in the afternoon Jet and I went for a walk there. We saw plenty of birds. I pointed some out to him. When we got back to the van, he kept talking about the blue robins we saw. I finally figured out he was talking about the great blue herons we saw. Tee Hee. When I mentioned that, he told me they were great blue robins. I love that little boy. I love his silliness, too. 

Road Trip!

Road Trip!

May 30-June1, Jr. Jr., Jet, and I made a quick weekend trip with my sister and her family to California because...

MY LITTLE (younger) BROTHER GOT MARRIED!!!!!!

It was such a quick trip, traveling from Utah on Friday, wedding stuff on Saturday, traveling back to Utah on Sunday. The only day we didn't spend any time in Utah was May 31 which is National Utah Day. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

We met my parents and two of my brothers who traveled from Oregon and we all stayed in a house together for the weekend. 

Jr. Jr. and Jet both got to visit Nevada for the first time since we drove through there and stopped for lunch. 

We brought Jet's pteranodon wings for the trip and he loved wearing them both in the van and flapping around at the house we stayed in.

I got to meet my brother's fiance/wife for the first time and see that my brother is so in love. I am so happy for them. 

 

Saturday was a wonderful day. Jet was so well behaved in the waiting room at the temple with Jr. Jr. and his cousins while I went to the sealing. Jr. Jr. told me Jet didn't say anything while I was gone and when I got back he was quiet and whispered requests. I wonder if he could feel the Spirit there. It was beautiful. Outside for pictures, he also did well. No running off, he followed instructions from the wedding photographer. I am so proud of him.

I'm also proud of my brother for making such a good choice.

It was nice spending time with my brothers. Paco got to meet Jet for the first time. Jet has seen "Paco videos" at home but they hadn't met yet.

The reception was so nice, too. Jet again didn't run off but stayed by me. They had pizza so Jet got several slices as well as other foods.  

There was dancing. There was juggling. Of course there was juggling. It's our family. I love that I have a new sister-in-law who juggles with her juggling husband.

Some of my cousins came from Utah and Wyoming for the reception. That was great. 

It was a beautiful day. And getting married on National Smile Day is a pretty awesome thing. 

  

On Sunday, I said goodbye to Jr. Jr. because he traveled back to Oregon with my parents and my brother. It was his turn for the grandparents trip like Nichole and Jr. both did in previous years. He had a great time and my parents loved the time with him. 

Since we were traveling with my sister and her family, I had nieces and nephews part of the time in my van and my sister actually sat with me the last leg of the trip on Friday. It's a great time for chatting when you're traveling all day.

On the way back to Utah, we stopped briefly to get pictures with Donner Lake (after making all the jokes about not stopping while going over Donner Pass... just in case).  

Once again we stopped in Nevada for lunch. 

 

When Jet and I got home, Jeremy surprised me with an omelette bar. I got to choose the insides I wanted and he made me an omelette. My sweet husband. I love omelettes... and I love my husband.

It was a quick but very nice trip and I'm so glad we went to support my brother and sister-in-law and had quality family time.