Ballerina

Claire's dance class started up again for the fall today. After I got her dressed she couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror. She told me she needed to get her pictures taken because she was so beautiful. I couldn't resist. She IS so beautiful. I keep telling her to stop growing but she doesn't listen to me very well.

Pack Meeting

Last Thursday we hosted our ward pack meeting for our cute cub scouts. They were supposed to go up the canyon to roast hot dogs. Since fires are restricted this year they asked if they could use our yard and fire pit. 

I was laughing at how many scouts had their sticks in the fire at one time.

After dinner they got a lesson on fire safety. I was not surprised at all that every boy had some kid of story about being burned by fire. They start out young being pyromaniacs.

3rd GRADE

Brad started 3rd grade this morning with Mr. Nebeker. He actually got out of bed himself and got himself ready without being asked. We will see how long that lasts. 

I asked him if he wanted me to take him and he swiftly but politely declined. I guess he is much too cool to be seen with his mom.  He just got a new bike last week so that added to the excitement.

 going...

 gong....

 GONE!

After Brad left Claire exclaimed, "Yea!!! Girl party time". And I said, "Nope, clean the house time!"

She will be happy to start up Pre-School in a few weeks.

Last Play Date of the Summer

For our final play date we went to Stokes Nature Center in Logan Canyon.

We went on a little hike to get to the Nature Center building.

Once we got there we let the kids play in the river at the end of the trail.

I was so impressed with all the fun things they had there. There were tons of bugs, snakes, and creapy crawlies.

They had a TON of hands on stuff for the kids to do.

Brad playing with the cockroach puzzle.

They had a touch box that the kids could hold and touch anything in the box.

Yucky...snake skin.

Brad playing with the guess boxes. They could stick their hands inside and feel the mystery item in the box. Then try to guess what it is.

Ryan investigating the bugs.

Bird watching.

They had the cutest puppet show board.

Harrison thought is was funny to reach through the holes and steal the puppets.

They had a reading corner with TONS of nature books to read.

Sorry Harrison you are not quite as big as a hawk yet.

What goofy fun friends.

Our hike back to the car. I loved this play date. We will for sure have to visit this place again next year.

None of us packed lunches so we decided to stop at Firehouse pizza for lunch. I am sure the waitress was thrilled we brought so many rowdy kids to the restaurant. The kids had a riot...and it was so nice to visit with the moms.

It was the perfect way to end the summer.

The plague

After we got home from our Salt Lake trip we were planning to go to the John Schmidt concert at Wolf Mountain. Both Claire and Harrison still had fevers so I had to stay home with them. 

Randy and Brad went alone. 

They went with Matt and Tori.

From the reports I got when they got home we really missed out. Randy said Brad sang and hummed to all the music. Randy said it was a really good concert this year. SO sad for me... I guess there is always next year. 

The next morning Claire and Harrison's fevers were gone and they were acting great so we headed for church. 

Once we sat down for Sacrament meeting Melissa noticed that Harrison had some blisters on his hands. I hadn't noticed them before church. I recognized it right away as hand foot and mouth. I grabbed Claire's hand and sure enough she had them too.  I was so embarrassed. I got up and left immediately. It is really contagious. Randy said he felt like the family with the plague. 

 Poor Harrison had them the worst. They started out as little red dots then turned into awful blisters.

 We spent the last week of summer cooped up in the house. It was terrible.

They didn't seem to bother Claire too much she had a pretty mild case. The quarantine was the worst part for her. Luckily they cleared up in a week and we are back amongst the living.