Oktoberfest bei Snowbird!

Five years ago, while pregnant with Alyssa, we went to Oktoberfest at Snowbird with our kids.  The mountains were spectacularly lit with fall colors and the brats were delicious and way too expensive.  And yes, there was a TON of beer.

I wanted to go again.

So we did.

This time, only two of our children took the drive with us up to Snowbird for a few hours.  We had the most lovely time. 

Austin and Alyssa loved the lederhosen.  I had to take their picture here:

 (Do you like our rootbeer?  I swear we were the only ones not carrying around 3 liter mugs filled to the rim with German beer)

 When we arrived at the great tent, the people were doing the chicken dance.  After our kids watched round 1 of the teens doing the Kindertanz of musical chairs, they were both eager to participate!

 Alyssa was the last girl in!  She was so cute when she got out.  She pranced right over and grabbed her prize from the treasure chest.

Our Austin was one of the two finalists!  He was so excited!  I caught his expression here:

 Had Austin run closer to the chair, he would have won the grand prize!  He didn't care---he got a prize from the treasure chest!

It was a wonderful experience at Oktoberfest! 

Two Things That Made Me Smile!

 First, 12 years ago, a student of mine borrowed an old tape with a song on it that was irreplaceable.....and he accidentally erased it while trying to copy it!  I was so sad! 

Today, this student arrived back in my classroom, in his mid-20s, with a gift for me!  A CD with the lost song copied to it and the sweetest note!   I loved it!

Second, since I was sick today, Alyssa got the opportunity to sleep in!  When she came out from her beauty sleep, this is the hair I got to see!

Made me smile.  A lot!

Quilting with Grandma!

When mom and dad invited the kids up to Idaho for a few days during my first days back for meetings, the kids wondered how they would fill their time there.  Mom and talked on the phone about Taylor working on some of her YW values.  Mom called one morning and suggested that she and Taylor make a quilt together.  I knew that was a HUGE project for them both, but I also knew if it weren't for my mom, Taylor wouldn't be making a quilt because I don't know how!

Mom was awesome!  She and Taylor went to the store and chose some beautiful material with the YW values on it.  Then they went to work!  They quilted for hours, talked and Taylor loved the entire process!

We can't wait to see the finished project!  Love you, Grandma Rae Rae!

OCJH Opening Social 2013

 My 2nd year principal started a tradition at OCJH that we are loving:  a simple, but effective opening social for the faculty, staff and their loved ones!  Pony rides, BBQ, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorns and face painting, there was something for everyone!

The "Michael Jordan" of soccer: ALYSSA!

 Alyssa's soccer team, the "Purple Clouds", are led this year by two little girls who KNOW what to do with the ball:  Alyssa and Scout!  These two girls dominate the team this year.  Just last weekend, their coach made this reference to the girls when a father from the opposing team asked if he was starting the 2nd half with the all-star girls.  "Of course we are!  We're not letting Jordan and Pippen sit on the sidelines."  LOL!  Go baby doll!

It's Another Lindsay Late Night!

 One of the deals we have with our children is that every few weekends, they can do what they want on Friday night if Dave and I can go out on Saturdays nights!  And so it was a few weekends ago!  We ended up with 17 kids at our home....a record!  Homemade ice cream, night games and a movie topped off our night.

My Girls: Taylor, Alyssa and Clara!

 Taylor has been learning about caring/babysitting children in her CTE class in school.  The teacher had the students bring 3-4 year olds for a teaching opportunity.  Thanks to Grandma Barbie and Meredith, Taylor was able to bring both Alyssa and Clara!  I made arrangements to pick them up and had to snap a picture of "my girls!"

Later in the day, we went swimming over at Yolanda's house.  The girls couldn't get enough of each other's company!

Austin: the unforgotten!

He's my little sweetie!  The not-forgotten middle child!  Love my little heart beat!

Jaxson's Cyst continues to heal well!

 We had a follow-up appointment with the leading specialist in bone cysts in Utah for Jaxson.  His cyst was discovered a few months before he turned 3 when he fell from the counter top while trying to get chocolate chips at the top of the cupboard (yup, that's our Jax!).

After the X-Rays, the specialist reported that the cyst was filling in "at a remarkable rate."  We feel so blessed, so very blessed today.

2011 X-rays of Cyst                                               2013 X-rays of Cyst

Birthdays, Babies, Basement, and blasts from August!

 Here is Taylor at the park- she is just growing up too cute!

 Mykin's 40th Birthday Celebration!

My dear friend, Mykin, turned 40 in August.  We met at the Cheesecake Factory in Sandy to bring in the new year with good friends, laughs and fun.

Good-ole Cousin Fun while shopping at the new outlets!

Our Basement Project

 Yes, the basement is finally turning into something we can live in!  Over the summer, we finished framing and sheet rocking the entire thing.  Now for the mudding and taping-

Baby Heaven

Oh, how the kids LOVE babies!  Little Ethan is adorable and Klein is yummy too!

Cousins