Twofer

Or, tooth-fer.
On Saturday, July 16, at the beginning of scripture study, Caitlin informed us she had a loose tooth. At the end of scripture study she had two loose teeth.
She went to bed at 8:45 pm.
She wiggled in bed, and wiggled the tooth in her bed for awhile. By 9:30pm the tooth was out.
The second loose tooth.

We snapped a picture, because this is the first tooth she has pulled out by herself. Then, we sent her to bed.

But she and the tooth were still wiggling, and she came down again, asking us to pull out her tooth. We declined, and told her to work on it while we turned away--she didn't want an audience. In less than 10 seconds of our turning away, the first loose tooth was out as well.

9:45pm back to bed

BMX track

Less than a mile from our house is a BMX bike track. It happens to be in the middle of my favorite walk. If we all go as a family, Ed and I take a longer route and Nathan takes the others for a few laps around it. They ALL love it.

My sister and her kids visited last weekend and we took them there with us. We borrowed a bike and helmet for our cousin to use. Here are some of the photos--they don't really show how much fun it is.

Slowing down at the top of a hill

Up and over

Dad joins in on the fun, still in work clothes

The smaller the child--the more fun to watch.
Or at least the more amusing to watch. They've made great progress quickly.

I'm glad we live so close to it. I can't imagine loading up our bikes to drive to it. When you come to visit, bring a helmet.

Temple Location

http://mormontemples.org/eng/fortcollins/fort-collins-temple-location-announced

This is across the street from my church building.
I can't believe it!
Tears, shouts of joy, prayers. So happy!!!
I love where I live!

Nursery novice

Today was the day.

 
Background info: Our ward has two nurseries.

Ed ran out of the chapel and down the hall with his sisters once Sacrament meeting was over. Like mother hens they tried herding him in and were disappointed to find out they were in the wrong nursery. He finally got to the right one and stayed there the whole time--without motherly or fatherly assistance.

No opposition

We had Stake Conference today and a visiting authority. He had no information about the temple. Our stake president made a few points, however, which I will list from memory:

1)There has been no opposition from the city planning department. It is moving along. It is a process that takes a long time.

2) The estimated time is 3 years.

3) The size will be larger than some of the smallest temples, but he did not announce the size. For a reference point, the Denver temple is 27,000 square feet and the small temples are 11,000 square feet.

4) The planning commission will soon publicize the location.

5) It is likely that a website will be developed to track the progress of the temple. Stay tuned for the link.
 But in the meantime, I did find this link about the Fort Collins Temple on lds.org this morning.

6) He encouraged us to pray for the temple. Especially to encourage our children to pray for the process to continue to move along.

The visiting authority was from St. Paul, Minnesota and he said that having the temple come to their area (2000) has been a transformative experience. I can't wait to have it so close!

Field Day 2011

I've loved spectating at Field Day. In Texas, it was run by soldiers in their hot uniforms in the heat. Here it is a small army of parent volunteers. A few favorites:

Threatening the Rubber Chicken

Kid's Favorites:
A: Rubber chicken relays
B: Inflatables--slide and obstacle course
C: Water balloon catch
MINE: Shoe kicking contest

I watched Andrew's class of 29 children do the rubber chicken relay in amazement. They were throwing the chickens back and forth--running back and forth from cone to cone and NO ONE collided or got hit by a flying chicken projectile.

May moments

Mother's Day Tradition

4:45 p.m. on a Monday

Making a grass skirt

I love this photo in every way

Bear Lake from the highway