Water Beads

We filled the sensory tub after a long drout of sensory activities.  I figure that my kids provide most of their own sensory experiences over the summer with all of their dirt and water play.  It was obvious today that the sensory tub has been deeply missed.  I will have to make more of an effort to keep it filled with interesting items.  We tried water beads for the first time.  They are epic.  It feels like a giant tub of eyeballs or fish eggs and we all love it except for Two Fish who hates it vehemently. It has been funny to see all of the neighbor kids crowd around the tub with absolute fascination.

To The Top Of The Mountain

 New Fish declared today's hike- "Best day ever!" She bounded to the top of the mountain. Red Fish likes all hiking and she is always happy to be outside. We will definitely be back to this lake soon. We are soaking up every last bit of summer.

Picnic With Mimi

Picnics with Mimi have become an important tradition for our family.  The girls have a special bond with Mimi and the special picnics.  Summer has gotten away from me and I didn't fit in enough picnic time.  IT was so good to to enjoy a nice afternoon at the playground. If I could pick and choose what my children remember about their childhood I would choose memories of their family, of simple days and the feeling of being together.

1st Grade

I don't know quite how to feel about Red Fish being in first grade.  She is so excited and so ready and I am just not ready.  I don't know if I should cry or not.  I dropped her off this morning and she bounced straight into school.  She hesitated for just a moment when we got there and said she was nervous but it passed before she even finished expressing the feeling. She will be speaking French for half of the day at school.  It will be interesting to see how that goes.

She was very concerned that I wouldn't get her backpack in the picture.  This backpack screams Red Fish.

First Day Of Preschool

It is difficult to get a clear picture when she can't stop dancing.  She is always dancing everywhere.  She was so excited to start school today. Life just continues to speed up.

The Night Before School

 The mountains are my happy place.  Bringing my family to the great outdoors fills me with peace and wipes away the stress of daily life.  Even when New Fish throws one of her epic fits, I am still happy to be outside.  New Fish only likes hikes that are strenuous and require climbing over rocks, a stroll around the lake "makes her legs hurt."  She only likes long crazy bike rides as well.  If it isn't a challenge then it suddenly becomes too hard.  After we found some big logs to jump off she forgot to be upset and we ended up having a lovely afternoon.

After our afternoon in the mountains we did our annual back to school dinner.  It requires party hats, decorations and fancy drinks.  This year our theme is "I Am Like A Star. " Our pep talk included all the ideas of reaching for the stars etc. but we mostly focused on the words of the primary song and "choosing happy things each day."  We frequently talk about choosing happy in our family. We try hard to recognize feelings, disappointments and the hard things but we want the kids to know that only they can choose happiness, to choose to overcome obstacles and enjoy life. We want them to know that they are so incredibly loved by their Heavenly Father and by their parents and hope that will give them strength to overcome any hardships that may come their way.  I think it is pretty much what all parents want for their children.  We ended the evening with father's blessings given by Two Fish.  The girls look forward to these blessings and I think it gives them a good start to the school year. My father and Two Fish's father always gave us father's blessings before the start of school.

Mommy Date

Two Fish and I try to take turns taking the kids out one on one.  Tonight I get a mommy date with this kiddo.  She is such a fantastic girl.  We went out to eat and then met Two Fish and New Fish for ice cream.  I'm a lucky Mommy.

Girls Day

Red Fish is still eating her pizza.

 Girls day out with Lovely L to a nearby landmark pizzeria and then off to the art museum.  I'd love to spend more time looking at art with the girls.  I need more hours in the day.  There is too much fun to be had, too many books to read, too much to learn.

Painting the sidewalk

Painting the sidewalk-always a favorite.

Art Group- Jackson Pollock Day

 Jackson Pollock day is an annual favorite.  The painting quickly devolved into body painting and there is never a finished product because everything gets overrun and shredded.  The kids are in heaven and they love every second of the sensory experience.  It is crazy and hilarious.

Quick Stop In Zions

 On our way home we made a quick stop in the Colob Canyon portion of Zions National Park.  Red Fish wanted to practice taking photos and we have been trying to fit more hiking into our summer. It is never a bad day in Zions.

Wedding Dance

 We went to see my cousin I get married.  It was a very quick trip but it was great to see family and to see cousin I happy.  The kids had a blast on the dance floor.  The girls were very excited to be invited to a wedding for the first time and they insisted on weaving cousin I some pot holders.  They were very worried that he wouldn't know they were from them so they had to track him down before we left to make sure he knew.  Poor New Fish was very sad to find out that the bride and groom do not generally open their presents during the reception and they were both sad they had to leave because it was passed bedtime but we all thoroughly enjoyed attending the wedding.  It is always good to be with family, especially since we do not get our extended family together very often.

Park

Good Friends and Mountains

My college roomie, Muffy and her darling family came to visit.  We packed out days full with the Children's museum and a trip up the canyon with all of our college friends. My girls were in love with her little boy and they thoroughly enjoyed playing with him. There is nothing quite like good friends.