Dance Classes

Avery and Macy had their first dance recitals at the new studio. Last year, dance was a nightmare with Avery. She was going to a nice studio that turned out amazing dancers, but something about it rubbed her the wrong way. The last couple months were dreadful as I pushed her to finish the year, and she pushed me the other direction. When the final recital was over, we all shouted Hallelujah. I wasn't ready to let her give up on dance though. I knew that she loved it, Macy was chomping at the bit to start lessons, and I thought that a different studio might work out better. I did some research, signed them up at Studio K, and crossed my fingers that the summer would be long enough for Avery to decide she would give another studio a try. Luckily, she did. She was pretty skeptical about it and made sure I gave her the option to back out if she desired, but that wasn't even necessary because she LOVES it! She skips out of class every week saying how much she likes it and how fun it is. And Macy loves it too. It is a small studio that uses a space inside a karate studio (not super impressive from the outside looking in), but I love that their approach is so much better for my girls. They make dance fun and exciting and enjoyable. Macy was so cute on her first day. She just ran right in there as fast as she could and jockeyed for the spot right next to the teacher. They are both progressing and I love that they really pay attention and try to imitate the teacher and improve their skills. It was so much fun to go watch them in their classes this past December. I love my little Ballerinas!

Thanksgiving 2011

See those Turkeys? They were the extent of the holiday cooking this year. It was the first year in my life where I went to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. I guess the fact that neither of my sisters would be able to come kind of squashed both mine and my mom's enthusiasm for the holiday. We decided if there was ever going to be a year where we didn't cook, this would be the one. So we didn't. It felt kind of nice not to plan, shop, cook, and clean. We had a nice dinner with my parents, brothers, Mary and George. But I missed the rolls. And my mom's potatoes and gravy. And Stovetop stuffing. As nice as it was, it just didn't feel like Thanksgiving. So, I don't think it will become the new tradition. We spent all our extra time pouring over ads and planning for our big shopping night/day. We spent more time planning than actually shopping. I headed to Walmart at 10 that night with my mom. As soon as we saw the overflowing parking lot, I was afraid. But I couldn't give up that easily after all the time and effort. So we went in. And quickly went out with empty hands. I felt like I was on the verge of a panic attack seeing as how I literally couldn't move it was so crowded. We attempted another store but decided it wasn't worth it before we even got out of the car. So, that was the shortest Black Friday ever. I decided I'm more of an online shopper now when it comes to all the holiday sales. So did John. He spent more money than anyone when he bought a TV online :)

The Pages Came to Town

The Pages came to town in November for Seth's wedding. Who are the Pages you might ask? John met Todd Page in the mission. They were never actually companions but they must have hit it off anyway because they were later roommates. Todd was witness to all the loveliness that was our courtship. When we first started dating, he was the one who would hear John come home and say, "I'm never asking her out again!" But that is a story for another time. Todd and John made "The Fifth Sense" together. They "studied" at the library while John would pick up chicks for Todd. They shopped Costco on sample day. They had a beautiful life together. Until I came along and threw a wrench in everything :) Todd married Gina a few months after we married, and we went on many a double date. Game nights, movies, Del Taco runs. Those were some good times. Dang Todd though. He had to move away and go to school. We were always hopeful they'd come back when school was over, but his homestate of Vermont came calling. So, Micah became the go-to Page. We loved hanging out with Micah and Xinru in Draper. Birthday parties, swimming, movies in the theator. And then California came calling. Next Page up, Seth. John got Seth a job, they went to lunch....and he was the only Page that didn't move away! Summer, Heather, and Winter had all flown the Utah coop too.

Luckily, Seth decided to get married and everyone came to town. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the whole family. It was so fun seeing everyone. I told their mom that we enjoy every single person in their family. I think it is pretty cool to be friends with all of them. Thanks for getting married Seth, and thanks Pages for spending time with us and letting us stand in as adopted family members :)

Field Trips

One of the perks of homeschooling is all the fieldtrips we get to take. We went to the Children's Discovery Museum in Salt Lake with my mom for a ridiculously low price. Homeschooling started out as a way for my kids to work on a level appropriate for them, but now, that is close to the bottom of the list of why I love it (although if I had to send them to regular school all day I'm sure it would jump back up :). I LOVE all the time I get to spend with my kids. I absolutely love it. I know that homeschooling isn't for everyone, heck, I never thought in a million years it would have been for me, but I am SO happy that I was led to do it. I am so happy that God gave me the courage to jump off that frightening cliff. I am thankful everyday that we get to do what we do.

Halloween 2011!

A werewolf and three fairies!

We had a lot of fun this Halloween. Carston and Avery opted to miss the Halloween Parade at school so they could go to Daddy's work during lunch. All the kids went around trick-or-treating to the desks (a few hundred) and came back with their buckets overflowing. Our cute little neighbor Tara was ecstatic when I told her she was welcome to come with us next year. She came back the next day with permission from her mom. Since the kids didn't get enough candy, we headed out that night. It was a weird Halloween for us. My parents were in Texas and John wasn't working at the traditional Roberts' Haunted Garage (Brett was living in a rental). It was nice to have him out collecting candy with us and we missed my parents. Carston got invited to go with his friend from Timpanogos Academy. I wanted to say no because I'm his mother and not ready for him to fly from the nest, but John said I should give him the choice. He chose to go with his friend. So even though it was the first year we could have all spent together....we didn't! John and I headed out with the girls and the aforementioned Tara. We got such a kick out of watching Macy and Kate. They were running as fast as they could between houses. Poor Kate couldn't quite keep up with them. After awhile she wanted us to carry her in between houses. And then after some time of that, she turned and said to John, "You go get it for me." Her body was giving up before her spirit :) John headed home with her and Macy, Avery, and I trudged along with Tara and her Dad. Those girls worked hard. I think we were out there for almost 3 hours because they just kept begging for more. Since I was preoccupied with houses and moving, this was the first year where I set almost no conditions on the eating of their candy. And they had a lot! Carston weighed his and it came in a little over 10 pounds. They plowed through it all and miraculously no one got sick!

John and I carved pumpkins with Randy and Kristina one night after the kids went to bed.

Daddy

I love that my kids love their Dad.

Macy's First Day of Preschool

Macy was so excited for her first day of preschool! It almost killed her that her siblings got to start a week before her. She has been so excited to go to Miss Jill's class. We were in Park City on the first day so excuse the poor lighting. She looked so cute in her new outfit from Grandma. Each child was given a bear to color and bring on the first day of school. She wanted to paint hers. I looked over when she was almost done and it looked great. She had a lot of colors, she stayed in the lines, it was very beautiful. I looked back in about two minutes and the whole page was a sea of colors. The bear was no where in sight. Apparently when she finished, she wasn't finished with painting. So she just painted all over everything she'd already done and filled the paper from edge to edge with paint. We couldn't even see the bear to cut it out. If you look close in the last picture you can see her "bear" hanging up with all the others :) She had a great day and we are so happy to have such a great teacher who my kids will always love.

Park City Trip

In September, my parents were nice enough to invite us up to stay in Park City with them. It was convenient for us because we could still run down for school, Kid History Premieres, missionary farewells, etc. It was also fun because Chelsey and Jared were still here and so it was one big party! We had tons of fun playing games with them everyday (I want Dominion :). My parents did a cool FHE lesson complete with loaded ice cream sundaes. We did some shopping (and my car died because a light was left on...as soon as John got there to rescue us, I turned the key again and it came to life without any charge :) The kids did a lot of swimming. Carston will always remember Park City because it is where he finally learned how to swim! He was so excited! Too bad someone stole my video camera out of my car so we'll never get to see it. The girls were awesome in the water too. It was the first time where I could sit on the side of the pool while they all swam. I love the new life jacket I got -Puddle Jumper-it is amazing for little kids and allowing them to swim around and maneuver in the water. It was so much fun. I love my family. I never, ever, Ever get sick of hanging out with them :)

Scouts-Raingutter Regatta

Can you tell that Carston is a little obsessed with all things military?

First Day of School

The first day of school is long gone....but here are the pictures. We will be moving in December, so we decided to enroll our kids in Lindon Elementary. Carston and Avery were nervous and excited to start at a new elementary school. I was anxious all day waiting to hear how it went. We started a new tradition and went to get slushies after school while they told me all about it. It took both of them a few weeks to make friends and get adjusted but they are both doing great now. The day some boys from Carston's class invited him to play at recess was a VERY good day! Avery is lucky to have her cousin in her class and another friend she can meet up with at recess. I am grateful for both of their teachers who work with our unconventional schedule. Hopefully this will be the last change of elementary schools for all of our kids!

Carston picked out his school outfit: army shirt, army shorts, army backpack :)