End of Summer

I was just realizing that today is the last day of August, so I thought I'd make a post about all of the other miscellaneous things we've done this month. I can't believe how quickly this summer has flown by! It's been so much fun.

While Karin and Ricky's family was here, Beth took our big family picture, as well as smaller family shots, individual pictures of the grandkids, and some pictures of all the grandkids together. The color scheme this year was purple and black. My mom took a few candid pictures while we were waiting, so that's what these are. I can't wait to see how Beth's pictures turned out.

Cute little Sam fell asleep while we were taking pictures

Karin and Ricky

Beth had a teddy bear on top of her camera to help the kids look in the right direction

Evie and John

Karin and Ben

Bribing...I mean encouraging the kids to cooperate with Smarties

Setting up a picture with the grandkids

During the times they were not needed, the kids watched DVDs in Beth's car

Earlier this month, Mike and I went to my 10-year high school reunion. I forgot to take any pictures at the reunion, but my mom took this one when we came back to pick up the kids. The reunion was nice; they had it at the Point Restaurant at the Huntsman Cancer institute. It has a beautiful view. It was a pretty small crowd, but it was fun. They had a nice buffet dinner, a slide show with old high school pictures, and handed out prizes for different things.

Sabrina is now an outdoor cat, due to issues with urinating in the house that we were not able to solve with numerous trips to the vet, and trying all kinds of different things. The vet determined that she doesn't have any medical issues, and that it is a behavioral issue. She has a little house out there, and seems to be adjusting pretty well. As far as I can tell, she hasn't left the backyard, and especially loves hanging out in the raspberry bush. She still loves attention, and to be held. Nora loves to go out and visit her.

We've had several rainstorms this month. Nora accidentally left her stuffed kitty, Custard, out there and she got soaking wet. Nora wrapped her up in a blanket and carried her around.

Here is Nora with toy baby Joey. When I said that I was glad that her baby had finally been born (she's been telling us she has a baby in her tummy since I was pregnant) she gave me a funny look and said, "Mom, this is just a toy".

We tried out Red Mango frozen yogurt. It was yummy.

We also had a little "Roomie Reunion" with some of my former BYU roommates. I forgot to take any pictures of this one too! Ahhhh! Nora was going around and taking some random pictures, and you can see some people in the background. Doh. It was a really fun get together, though! I really enjoyed seeing everyone, and it's amazing to see how the kids have grown.

When I realized that I hadn't taken any pictures, Veronica was the only one who hadn't left yet, so Nora took a picture of us together.

I took this picture at the neighborhood end-of-summer ice cream social.

Sammy

I was trying to take a picture of Evie, and she kept jumping around. I thought this one was cute, anyway. Hehe.

Mmmm, ice cream

Nora was able to hang out with some of her little friends

These are my parents' flower pots on their back patio

I think Sam looks really cute when he's dressed up in his Sunday clothes

Nora loves, loves, loves to do crafts! Here are a few things that we've done together during Evie and Sam's naps.

A hand puppet

Cardboard alphabet letters - we have been working on learning the letters in preparation for Nora going to preschool. On each letter, she glued little paper squares with that letter on the cardboard, as well as practiced writing the letter with some markers. It took us a couple of weeks to finish them all.

Pointing to "her" letter

Family Nights at Thanksgiving Point

Thanksgiving Point has some fun activities going on at their different venues on Monday nights. We were able to go to a few of them, and they were really fun!

The first one we went to was called "Up, Up and Away". Mike was working late and wasn't able to come with us, so it was just me and the kiddos.

The gardens are always so beautiful. I really loved these bright flowers!

I don't have a picture of it, but the first activity we did was to make a paper airplane that you could fly over the lawn. At first ours didn't fly very well, but this guy took a look at it and told us what we needed to do to fix it. Nora thought it was pretty cool.

Trying to get a picture of the girls by some flowers

The next activity we tried was balloon basketball (although the hoops looked more like quiddich). It was pretty tricky to not let the balloon touch the grass.

The last activity was a bubble station. They had a kiddie pool full of soapy water, and a table full of different bubble wands and toys. It was very popular!

Lots of bubbles!

Nora was very interested in the Moose statue while we were walking back. She wanted to know if it was real.

The next Monday evening activity we attended was "Fun With Food". All of us were able to go to this one, and it was great!

Mike helped the girls make a race car out of a banana. He made sure that the axels were completely straight and level.

Then they put the wheels on

They decorated it with markers and stickers

Evie couldn't stand still long enough to be in the picture, but here are Nora and Mike with the finished car.

The most exciting part - racing the car down the ramp!

Umm, I hope this video works. I am having some technical difficulties.

A picture to show that Sam was, in fact, there with us.

The next activity was throwing spaghetti noodles onto a big board. This was pretty funny to watch. They had big bins full of cooked noodles.

Nora throwing at the noodle wall

Evie decided to give it a shot

She loved it! She didn't want to leave! Luckily they haven't tried this at home...

The last activity we did was painting with potato stamps.

Nora was very proud of her finished picture

This last set of pictures isn't from a Monday night activity, but one Saturday we just decided to go on a little outing to the farm.

We fed the goats. Here is Mike feeding the crazy one.

The girls thought this was awesome. I'll have to bring more quarters next time.

Evie feeding one of the cute baby goats

The girls' favorite - Pony rides!

Nora loved the bunnies. (what is that bunny doing?)

They sure look happy to be in jail!

I told Nora to make a sad face, and this was the result. Hehe.

Evie breaking out

We also fed the ducks and geese

Mike and I gave the girls our tickets so they could go on a second pony ride

Checking out the baby chicks.