We enjoyed many halloween parties. The kids loved dressing up. The boys varied costumes, but Bridget always was in her pink to the toes dress. She was a butterfly fairy, a princess, or whatever she wanted to be at the moment! Sterling was Bob the builder, and I wish you could hear him sing the theme song. He is a cute little singer!
During General conference on Saturday Logan had lots of fun drawing. He is quite the little artist!
Whoa…I imported all my pics from the camera last night and I have over two months of new pics…so here comes picture mania. I hope to post lots over the next few days.
Calvin’s 8th birthday Oct 3. He got two parties, first one on Friday with a few friends. They were detectives and had to solve the mystery. Then on Sunday with the family, lots of yummy cupcakes!
It’s great to be eight! Calvin’s baptism Nov. 6
Calvin and Dad
The Family
The Guests!
Thank you all who were able to come for Calvin’s special day. We love family.
I was catching up with an old work associate and he turned me onto launching a weather balloon(camera attached taking pictures) with my kids. I felt that my kids were a little young, but that it would be a great idea for the teachers and priest in the ward. Some MIT students had done it on the cheap and I used their work as a guide.
The young men did like the idea, and we plotted and planned.
We had some struggles getting the weather balloon here. Twice they messed up the order. But in the end we launched out of desperation. Lest anyone worry, I did contact the FAA in Salt Lake and we were on the up and up.
We launched 7th Heaven, the name of our contraption, from Vernon Utah, 60 minutes west of American Fork, at 9:08am. The styrofoam box that housed the camera and GPS cellphone was swinging like a pendulum the whole way. I was sure that box was going to be ripped apart, but it held together without problem. The balloon climbed to and estimated 115000 feet taking pictures every 10 seconds. The weather balloon, initially filled to about 6 feet in diameter, swelled to over 23 feet in diameter and finally burst at 10:18am. 7th Heaven finally touched down at 10:49am. When under 20000 feet its GPS data was sent to a website and as a result finding it for retrieval was easy.
Here some pictures that it took along its journey.
A ward member did some photoshop magic. Its rather good I think.
Here is one of what it looked like.
The elementary school held its 3rd annual walk-a-thon. The boys really get into it…more running than walking, and plenty of water to keep them going!
Calvin went 36 laps=4 miles in the one hour time limit.
Logan was excited that he went 32 laps, the same number as on his shirt.
Kimball went an amazing 41 laps=over 4 1/2 miles. Way to run boys.
Sterling sat down and made an otter pop friend.
Otter pops for all at the end! Bridget and Sterling got 2! The walk a thon was in different groups…so we got to go in the morning to see the younger grades, and then after lunch to see Kimball run and help mark off lap cards.
August 25 the boys started back to school. Kimball is in 5th grade, Calvin 2nd, and Logan 1st! Sterling needs his backpack and lunch too. He loves his big brothers and tries to be just like them.
Bridget started Preschool Pals September 14th. It is twice a week. She loves it…there are fun girls!
The first few days of preschool, Sterling was confused as to where the boys and Bridget were…it was suddenly just mom and Sterling, so weird.
Labor day, Ammon, Bridget and Sterling cleaned out the tugboat! It had spiders and dirt…you can’t play in such a dirty dangerous place…so the kids have found new love for the tugboat. Sterling especially loves the new play place.
The water is getting colder, the lake trips seem to have ended (at least for the swimming part), but we had one fun adventure over Labor day weekend at the lake. Chan, Breezy, and Gabel had some exciting rides on the viper. Logan was very brave and jumped off the front of the boat for the first time. Although a bit cool, the water felt relaxing compared to the rocking waves while the boat was stopped for lunch.
We had a little trouble at the beginning. We found “blue worms” actually a piece of blue rope in the engine. Thankfully Ammon got it right out and we were able to have a great outing.
Sterling loves to ride “my scooter.” He figured it out all by himself at 2 years 1 month old!
Bridget and Sterling love to pretend to be Breezy and Gable. They will ride their scooters to the temple to get married! Pretty cute.
August and September were busy with soccer practices and games. Kimball’s 5th grade team was the “Fire Breathing Cougars.”
Calvin and Logan’s 1st/2nd grade team was the “King Cobras.”
This week, or the past few weeks, the kids have had some favorites…
The boys really like to play 4 square.
Sterling says “Oh Man” to just about everything, like the rocket landing in the street, or dropping a toy, or time to come for dinner…oh man!
Bridget uses all her hair bows to clip (sew) dresses out of her doll blankets.
Fun times with Fun kids.
April and Garrett were married August 17 in the Provo Temple! It was a beautiful busy day. The kids did well, although Kimball does not like weddings (a bit long and boring for his taste).
The water and fountains at the temple were a big hit with the kids. Calvin enjoyed dancing at the reception. Sterling loved playing on the teeter totter. He also took great interest in the goldfish that were the table decorations. Bridget adored holding the bouquet whenever we were in photos. Logan and Kimball had fun with cousins on the big open field.
Disclaimer: not the best pics, some were even taken by Bridget…you do what helps make kids happy!