Homecoming 5K

(Post-race)


Caitlin won her age group. Nathan might have, had he not been pushing the stroller loaded with the two littlest. Still a fun race. I love this race because I know I am not going to finish last. I was finisher #1416 of 1803.

Next year we'll be in the 40-49 age group! ACK!!!!

Thankful tree 2013

Breaking bread together

If any of my siblings who read this have a better photo--please share.

Last Tuesday (Nov26) was the second installment of the 40th b-day party bashes.

Two years ago my SIL Sarah organized a surprise b-day party for my brother's 40th. We decided it would be fun to meet again in November this year when my sister turned 40. We reserved a room at a Cheyenne restaurant and met tonight for dinner to celebrate 40 years of Jennifer.

It was nice to be together as a family--we don't get it done very often, so it's a big deal when we do. We succeeded in surprising Jennifer and her kids, which was a lot of fun. Our cousin and his wife live in Cheyenne, so they were able to join us as well.

My dad wrote a song for Danny when it was his turn (On Top of Old Danny--sung to the tune of "On Top of Old Smoky" so he was assigned to write one for Jennifer. We enjoyed singing together.

He wrote to the tune of "O Christmas Tree" and the song was titled "O Jennifer."

O Jennifer, athletic Jenifer, the hurdles thou didst fly o’er.

O Jennifer, athletic Jenifer, the hurdles thou didst fly o’er.

Run like the wind, jump like a deer,

Dive with such grace, year after year.

O Jennifer, athletic Jenifer, the hurdles thou didst fly o’er.

O Jennifer, sweet-singing Jennifer, mu-sic be always with thee

O Jennifer, sweet-singing Jennifer, mu-sic be always with thee

From western hills to New York hall,

Play, lead or sing, you do them all

O Jennifer, sweet-singing Jennifer, mu-sic be always with thee

O Jennifer, hard-working Jennifer, for toil none can match thee.

O Jennifer, hard-working Jennifer, for toil none can match thee.

You drive the bus, you taught in school,

You’re always in the labor pool.

O Jennifer, hard-working Jennifer, for toil none can match thee.

(Final – Slower, with emphasis)

O Jennifer, dear Jennifer

This special day we honor thee.

Fall is here

Probably the worst photo ever shared on the internet, but it gives you the idea

Family home evening apple tasting (Found online, not my own creativity)
We tested 8 apples  . . . and I would have picked some different ones, but this is what they had where I shopped that Monday:
Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jazz, Pink Lady, Gala, Honeycrisp, Sweet Tango.

We voted on Sweet, Juicy, Tart & Favorite.

Here are the Favorite winners:
Gala: Ed & Diana
Sweet Tango: Andrew & Caitlin
Honeycrisp: Beth & Nathan

When it was over, we cut up what was left and put in on the stove to bowl. We got a small bowl of applesauce, they each got one spoonful in the morning to add to their oatmeal.

I think this activity would work with lots of ages. I feel bad for the checker who has to check you out at the store, but he'll get over it.


Giant Pumpkin contest
Between morning and afternoon sessions of Saturday conference, we went to a nearby nursery to see their giant pumpkin contest. It was a great break to get outside. There were not very many pumpkins there, but the ones that showed up were impressive.

Quite a thing to move a pumpkin that big--this is the winner

Officially this is a "squash," not a pumpkin, so its 900lb weight didn't win . . . it was the biggest

2nd or 3rd place?

I can update weights in the morning after the kids remind me how much they were. Nathan was digging in the Berthoud Mud, so not pictured here. He earned his Mormon Helping Hands T-shirt for slogging in the mud that day.

CSU Homecoming 5K

It's kind of tradition for our family to participate in the Homecoming 5K. We've done it (at least one of us), every year since moving here, except last year when N & A were in UT for conference. It was a big group this year. Every one of our family members entered. It's sponsored by the department that Nathan works with for research, so it's giving back to them a bit. A lot of people, 2000+. Chip timing is a lovely thing. Everyone had someone to run with. Nathan stayed with Diana, Edwin stayed with me (mostly in a stroller, though I made him run over the finish line), Bryn, Cait & Andrew started together but Bryn finished ahead of them thanks to her many hours of cross country practice this fall. She finished first for our family.
We took a starting line pic, but I've been asked not to share it. (boo!)


Fall Leaf Drive

This afternoon we had commitments until after dinner, so after our meetings we went on a fall color drive. Most of the leaves here turn yellow, so we were on the hunt for orange, red, and brown leaves. It was pleasant. We drove up to Lory State Park, turned around because we didn't want to pay, and headed up the Reservoir road from the North. We've never been from that direction, so it was fun to approach it from a different way. We came down and checked out some of the city park area, finishing off with a stop at the flower gardens across from CSU. They have planted an annual garden to show how different types of annuals weather in the Rocky Mountains. It is a lovely place that will not look so lovely in a few weeks. Nathan had the camera, so perhaps I will get photos from him in the next couple of days.

First Day

7th Grade

6th Grade . . . First day was yesterday

4th

1st grade . . . full days away from home. She's ready!

My daily companion . . . see my photo talking self reflected in the balloon?

First day of school balloons . . . keeping tradtion

Not sure why I continue this, but I feel it obligatory to take the first day of school pictures. They are almost all excited. Somehow the older you get the less you look forward to it???

Bryn begins middle school--exciting & scary all at once. Diana also moves on by being gone for full days after half day kindergarten last year. We will miss her.

We went on our morning walk & shopping and enjoyed a quiet lunch, just the two of us.

There's a box of peaches calling my name and I have to plan & execute dinner early since I will be driving around this afternoon.

Pajama/pumpkin day

Monday morning started with someone sick at 5:40 am.
Same one sick again at 6:00.

#2 was sick at 6:45 am.
(these numbers are not which child, just the order of the sickness)

I called the lady whose son I was supposed to watch and warned her--can you get someone else?
Nathan left for work.

#3 sick at 7:30.
I called him on his drive, "Guess who else is sick?"

#4 sick at 7:45 am, I called the elementary school to tell them my three daughters would not be coming to school. I laughed because it helped break the tension. Then, I called the middle school as well.
To Nathan, "You're never going to believe this . . . ."

The last one was sick, too, but not the same kind, so he was fed breakfast.

While they watched some morning cartoons with sick tummies and no conversation, I went back to bed.
At least they got it over with, right?
Nearly everyone chose to stay in PJ's for most of the day. By dinner some were even running around.

For FHE, we carved pumpkins. A delightful end to a rough day.
Remember last year, when they didn't get carved?
Pumpkin carving 2012, CHECK.
FHE came through for me again.

Much better today

They were all back to school Tuesday morning and life is back to it's normal fast pace.

(I might be starting to embrace Halloween.? Slowly.
I read this post earlier this month & it really struck a chord.
Finally, a meaningful Halloween decoration.
I love it & will make ours in 2013).

After the pumpkin photos, Diana asked me to take this

Fall Wall

This year it's a little different . . . .

 It's a half-wall that divides the living room and dining room. It seemed like the perfect place to put the pumpkins. The family who lived here before planted them, and we happily harvested them.

My favorite are the small gourds with high contrast.

Rite of passage

Cracking eggs at our home is a big deal because you must be five years old to do it.

There's someone new in the "Egg-crackers" Club.

At first, Diana requested Cinnamon Rolls for her "birthday cake,"  but then she changed her mind and asked for Brownies instead. She wanted a Ken doll, a nightgown, a picture of Jesus, a salon toy, and a sweatsuit for her birthday. She received all but the salon and sweats. Her birthday dress is still in the works. She's registered for kindergarten and it can't start soon enough for her. She got to celebrate her birthday one day early, because we left for UT on her birthday to visit a cousin's baptism.

Happy Halloween

From our web to yours!

I saw these Spider Pops last year on the Family Fun website. When I found the spider web bowl at Pier One, I knew what our new Halloween tradition would be. This year we made around 70 and surprised teachers and Trunk or Treaters with this Halloween treat. Nathan had a day off work and got his hands in on the fun, too.

Mother's Day Love

A few years ago, I saw this delicious looking dessert in the magazine "Everyday Food." Nathan has made it every year since. Yesterday he heard me talking to a friend who asked if we had any Mother's day traditions. Thank goodness she asked--because it reminded him and he delivered.

Isn't tradition delicious?

It is "Strawberry Tart" and I think it was the May or June 2006 issue.

The fabric below it is Bryn's first apron. A friend of mine from Park Ridge was selling them a few years back. I bought them for Andrew and Bryn, and since then asked her for the pattern to make more.

A delicious way to end a wonderful Mother's day.

Click here
for a good story about the effect of a mother's love. We heard it from a teenage boy today in church. I want to be the kind of mom described in the story.

Tradition: Father's and Sons

Last night was the Annual "Father's and Sons" campout for all the men at church. Andrew has attended since he was still in diapers, about 20 months old. A couple of years it was cancelled in Chicago, so he was very excited to get to go with Nathan this year. Didn't have a great photo op at the campsite, so here they are with the tent in our backyard.

More details if you want them: They cooked their own hot dogs and marshmallows and played "Capture the Flag." At the fireside they sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" and "Ye Elders of Israel," and read the First Vision from someone's I-phone. Andrew said, "It was a meeting about the Priesthood." Another boy from our scout troop went with them, and they ate breakfast burritos this morning. No one used their jackets or sweatshirts.



Girl's Night In: While they boys were away, here's how the girls did play. After a quick trip to Walgreen's for supplies, we painted lots of little nails pink. The girls watched Barbie: Princess and the Pauper while I worked on an upcoming sewing project.

Easter Traditions

Disenchanted by large scale egg hunts, we've done a family egg hunt as long as I can remember. This year, for the first time, we were able to move it outside! We have close to 50 eggs which we re-use each year. The sports theme eggs made their debut this year, because I am the shopper and love them.

Nathan hides. Whoever finds the yellow egg with spots gets to hide the "adult" eggs, which are larger in size and fewer in number, (4). Since Nathan worked last Saturday (the day we usually hold our egg hunt) we had it last night, for Family Home Evening.

Bryn was the lucky finder last night, so she got to hid eggs for us. Nathan found 3 before I did, but was kind enough to let me pick it up. We fill ours with chocolate and jelly beans. Diana asked for jelly beans at breakfast, hopefully I'll get her to wait until after lunch! We missed having Stephen and Tara, and our cousins Odessa and Ada at this year's egg hunt.

For our lesson, we used this visual aid that Diana brought home from nursery, read a few verses from the New Testament, and sang "Jesus Has Risen." It was a great, short lesson that I think we'll use next year, too.