Another Door Hanging

This is almost exactly what I envisioned in my head. I was originally thinking of the stripes being something less sparkly. When I was thinking of what I could use, I thought of plastic table cloth, waterproof type material in streamer strips. But I didn't know where I'd find that. So I looked around in the trim section at Hobby Lobby (50% off! :) And found this sequin trim (that I love)! There were also floral picks with 3 stars of each color: red, white and blue. These stars are exactly what I pictured! I also got the gold trim to go with the flag theme. 

I love how it turned out. And like the Easter one, it was a bit tricky to get it to look the way I wanted. I got online and looked up measurement ratios for the real flag-this doesn't follow them. It was fun to use different tools to get the finished product. I used a saw, yard clippers, paint, sand paper, a drill and the smallest bit, glue gun, fishing line and wire. And of course my trim and stars. Fun project!!

 

(Friday, June 9, 8:30p--While writing this, the house windows are open, welcoming the cool breeze of the Heber Valley.  In the distance, notes of country twang from the State High School Rodeo Finals can be heard drifting in.)

Stewart Falls

We're catching up! I have really really wanted to make the summer count and pack it in and enjoy being outside since its been a looong winter! And its sure to be the same in the next few months. Also with realizing how much I like to be outside. So I want to do a few hikes a month. Even if its just me and the boys. Or whomever I can get to come with us!

On Monday, Lexie and Ben came up and we hiked to Stewart Falls behind Aspen Grove. It was a cloudy day, but pretty much perfect temperature with slight breeze. There was a few times it started to sprinkle. When we got up there I didn't know I'd have to pay $6.00 at the booth. And none of us had any money! And there was no where else to park near by. I had like $2.00 and change. The lady at the booth would not budge and I didn't want to go ALL they way back home to get money.  So we turned around wondering what to do, I stopped at the Aspen Grove main desk thinking maybe I can see if someone has a dollar here or there to let me have.  The sweet BYU student at the desk was able to scrounge up $4.35 to make the $6. She was soo nice! I said I'd come back and bring her a treat. We went and paid the lady and when we were getting out of the car I remembered I had some Skullcandy ear buds in the car. So I turned around and gave them to her! She loved it!  Anyway, it turned an annoying situation into a positive one.

There was snow just down the trail. There is NO WAY I could have done this hike with out Lexie and Ben. They helped so much and it was good company too!

There were also LOTS of trees that blocked the path. It was easy to see where there had been avalanches.

Looks like trees heavy with snow pulled out of the ground.

There were also a few large avalanches that had left lots of snow to cross to get to the other side of the trail.

Stewart Falls

This was the biggest snow pack.  The snow was really, really slippery since it was melting. It didn't help that we didn't have much grip on our shoes! To get across this one I put Max on my back and tied his feet around the front of me and told him to hold on. That way I wouldn't have to hold on, and I could catch us if we fell and started to slide down the avalanche.

There was so much snow up there, we couldn't get to the falls.

But Lexie and Ben decided to venture out and sled down the snow.

I thought this was a cool picture

The boys did great! I am so proud of them!! Zac hardly complained and only did because he was hungry or wanted a snack. His foot slipped out of his shoe on one rocky steep part and he started to tip down the slope off the trail but grabbed a branch and luckily I was right there, Max tied to my back, so I could grab Zac before he went too far! Ben carried Max on his shoulders for a bit and I carried him off and on. Mostly I just held his hand and Max was able to stay with my pace. Max is so clumsy so he would trip or slip about every 10 steps. But he was such a trooper and didn't complain much either!  He was exhausted and fell asleep in the car. When we got home I put him in his bed. He took a nap for three and half hours!

I think it was a great kick off to our summer hikes. But now, where else to go that is easier for not having helpers?!

New Bikes

Zac's bike has been too small for him for quite a while. And while trying to go on a family bike ride, the poor kid is pedaling his 12 inch tires like crazy to keep up! So over memorial weekend, we shopped around for a bike that would fit him and that he could grow into.

In addition to that, Max has been rockin' the trike. He is really good at pedaling and figured it out all by himself-something Zac was never motivated to do. Anyway, it was also time for Max to get a big boy bike. So, we drew up a bill of sale, and Zac gave his bike to Max :) They thought it was great. But we thought it was important to make it official in their eyes so Zac and Max would both understand that the bike is no longer Zac's and Max needs to take care of it and Zac cannot just ride it whenever he wants.

They brought the bike in and got it all cleaned up and put the training wheels back on. Max is learning how to pedal the new bike.

Assembling Zac's bike

Zac loves it and makes better speed and time with less effort!

Now if I could just fix the bike I use, then we could do real bike rides...

A Lesson on Littering

It is surprising to me how windy it is here. But I guess it makes sense, living between 3 canyon areas. Its not conducive to many summer outdoor activities, but it also makes littering a bigger problem. We were on our way home from one of Zac's soccer games on a Saturday morning and they got fruit snacks for their treat. Max always gets to have a treat too. The windows were down in the car, and Max threw his empty bag out the window. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and we stopped to try and find it but we couldn't. Then we talked about littering and since we could find the trash to throw it away, we came home and helped Max to clean up litter that was caught in the bushes and gravelly side of the house.  It was a positive experience and I think he learned his lesson.

 What a cutie!

Random Pictures from Spring

Playing soccer in the family room

Spiderwebs ALL OVER the ENTIRE lawn!!! Disguisting!! The babies were also hatching and web strands were all over the porch and the car, if I left it in the driveway. I couldn't walk outside without getting a web on me. There were even a couple instances where a baby spider hitched a ride on me when I left the house....eewww!!

Deer creek was so high last month. It has dropped a little. This is always a pretty time of year before everything gets hot and loses its green color.

While reading the war chapters in the Book of Mormon we often try to help the boys visualize the plot by using near by objects. Last night each of us represented a different parts of the Nephite and Lamanite armies.

I can't remember which story this is exactly. This particular night we had just finished eating dinner. Its one of the times when the Nephites (the jelly beans) are trying to take back one of their cities (the bowl) from the Lamanites (the m&ms). The Nephites lead the Lamanite army out while a hidden Nephite army pursues the Lamanites in the rear, and another portion of the Nephite army goes to take the city while the Lamanites are pursuing the Nephites.

This night Zac's soccer game got "rained out", but it was actually sunny the whole time during the game. And he was pretty bummed since the last game was canceled because of weather too. So we decided to head over to the rec center. They have some nice AstroTurf soccer fields in doors. It was great for the boys to get to play with their Dad, while I watched a movie on my phone ;) I had eaten terrible that day and I was starving and exhausted, and it was 7:30 by the time the boys were done playing. So we decided to go to a Mexican restaurant in Midway, Tarahumara. There was a clown there painting faces for free. The boys loved it!

May 19--more snow

Over Memorial weekend, we decided to do the first hike of the summer. We went up to Wasatch State Park. We probably only hike 30 mins in. But the boys did great! Zac didn't complain the whole time. And Max did pretty good too. We just had to stop for a snack every 10-15 mins. We are working them up to be better hikers :)

My growing boys!

House

So, we're moving........yes, again. Its a twin home in our neighborhood. It is more than two times bigger than the house we are currently in, it has air conditioner, its better quality and in better condition and has a back door!!! I knew not having a back door at the house we are currently in would be annoying, but I didn't know how much I really would miss it! We are really excitedWe are also excited to for it to take 30 mins to mow the lawn instead of 105 mins! We are moving in the next month.

When we first moved in here, I posted some pictures, and was planning to post more as we finished unpacking...but I never took more pics. And we didn't really decorate either. We put a few things up but that was it.

Craft room/playroom

Master

Boys Room

From the top of the stairs

Backyard to the right

Backyard to the left

Front room bay window

Front room view from the front door

The reason I post these, even though we are moving, is because I like to look back and see and remember how what previous places I lived as a kid looked like. And see the difference between how I remembered things and how they really looked.

Preschool Graduation

Three days after I posted about Costa Rica, Zac finished his third year of preschool. Zac was pretty shy about "performing". He did the motions in very small gestures and sang quietly. His head was tipped low most of the time. But still I think he had a good time and we enjoyed watching!

I love that he's pointing right at me!!

Ms. Nichole-we miss her already!

Now on to Kindergarten!