September 08, 2013

 This was a crazy busy week for Mommy.  Preschool started, gymnastics started, we put on a ward social, and we made a trip to Utah.  We are looking forward to a quieter, calmer week next week.

 Annie moved up a level in gymnastics.  To help with her fear of the beam, they played a game.  Annie had to hold a ball and walk it to the end of the beam, then reach up and shoot a basket.  She loved it!  She still wanted her coach close by, but she was willing to let go of coach's hand, take bigger steps and look up.  That is progress.

 Our adorable four year old (minus her shoes) on our way out the door for preschool.  She is the oldest in her class.  She loves playing with the kids and coloring.

 After making my zucchini run for the ward party on Wednesday.  I needed large zucchini for some games.  This filled the whole backseat of our van and we still had more to collect.  The girls were good helpers carrying the zucchini one by one from our friends' doors to the car.  They were both so tired after hauling 45 huge zucchini.

 Tommy sitting up like a big boy!

 Lily's first pictures from preschool.  A self portrait (she is dreaming about Annie missing her while she's away at school - that's what the little body in the circle above her head represents) and a family picture.  Tommy is the tiny doll-like baby hanging from Mommy's left hand.  I love that she put Daddy in a white shirt and tie and gave Annie pink hair since Annie's hair is a lighter red than Lily's hair.

 Flower arrangement I made for the ward party.  All the flowers are from my garden - the seeds were a gift from my sister in law.  The zucchini in the vase is from the garden too.  Our party was called a "Zucchini Bonanza"  It seemed like our friends and neighbors had zucchini coming out their ears.  Jeremy and I decided to have a party highlighting the super-producing squash.  We had a zucchini cooking contest.  People brought their best recipe featuring zucchini.  We played zucchini games.  Anyone with extra zucchini brought it to the party for others to take home.  We ate, we played, we laughed.  It was a lot of fun.  Tommy was feeling especially clingy and fussy (cried for an hour and a half straight).  So it made the night really stressful for Mommy.  But we survived and everyone who attended had a great time.

 So many yummy treats....cakes, jam, relish, salsa, dip, crostini, cobbler, muffins, brownies - all made with zucchini!

 "Face the Cookie" Game - played with zucchini cookies

 "Squash Smackdown" Game - based on Minute to Win It "Elephant Walk"

We also had relay races - which didn't get played since I was tied up with a very grumpy Tommy.  And zucchini bowling and zucchini bingo.  What a night!  Maybe we'll plant too many zucchini next year so we can have fun all over again.

 We got the ward party all cleaned up and climbed in to bed for a short rest before rising early to drive to Utah.  Our nephew Caleb chose to be baptized and we didn't want to miss it.  We had a very peaceful car ride.  The kids were exhausted from playing so hard the night before. Thank goodness Tommy got out all his crying Friday night.  He was an absolute doll the entire trip.

 Caleb and family after his baptism.  I love how strong the Spirit feels at a baptism.  Such a beautiful day.

 Some of the Hall cousins!

 Tommy sporting a lipstick kiss from Grammy.

Quick stop at the beautiful Brigham City Temple on our way home.  We were surprised to see pears growing on the trees.  Usually the temple grounds don't have fruit bearing trees.

Lily enjoyed the temple in Utah so much that she wanted to go again on Sunday.  She chose to visit the Idaho Falls Temple.  Annie sang "I Love to See the Temple" the whole drive there.  We had a lovely walk on the grounds.  Lily wanted to take a photo of every plant and flower we passed.  Unfortunately, when Mommy asked her to return the camera it slipped between our hands and dropped on the pavement. So we probably won't be doing any blog posts for a while unless we can get the camera operating again or get our old camera to focus.  I think we can never get a camera to last more than two years since we've had kids!

Next week Uncle Brady will be arriving to begin school at BYU-Idaho.  We are thrilled that Brady will be attending school where we began our college educations, met, and fell in love.  Jeremy and I both have so many great memories from our college years and we hope Brady will have a wonderful experience here too.