***Salt Lake City Band/Choir Trip--May 2, 2013***

Playing more catch-up!

Thursday morning I took Benjamin to Grandpa's house & we met at the school at 8 am.  We loaded everything onto the bus (band equipment & suitcases) and headed to SLC.  I sat up front with the "threat" of sitting right by Zane if any misbehavior occurred.    We ate sack lunches provided by the school on the bus.

We headed to the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy, UT.  There were lots of fun animals there.

Here is the biggest tank--with sharks, 

sting rays, 

and sea turtles.

Plus lots of other fish (another picture of the shark).

Here the kids are at the "petting" tank.

Brienna was brave enough to reach down and pet the sting ray.

It was deeper then you'd think.  You could also pet the small shark--but you had to use only 2 fingers.

Zane, Karina, Brienna & Kyle

this the the octopus.  We couldn't use flash because bright light can damage their eyes.

Mini sea horses

And another kind of sea horse.

I loved the jelly fish tank.  it was by the octopus tank so it was darker.  I could have sat on the bench watching them for a while.  

Zane riding a giant frog

Hanging on for dear life??  I could have spent another hour or 2 there--about every 1/2 hour to an hour, they had a presentation (usually associated with feeding an animal).  

After the aquarium, we headed  to check into the hotel (by the airport).  To save on $ and an extra room, Brienna & I along with Josey & her mom, Jill, shared a room.  Jill drove the bus.

After we checked in (we had to wait for 1 room to be cleaned/ready), we got back on the bus to head to the Gateway Mall in downtown SLC.

I walked around a little when we first got there waiting for Jill to park the bus.  She said she parked on the north side and to walk to the north side (it's an outdoor mall covering a few blocks).  Well, I was over a block and missed her but we finally met & walked around the outside mall.

Brienna decided she wanted her ears pierced--so I called Rusty to make sure he was okay with it & so I went & gave permission.  I just told her that she was responsible for taking care of her ears & not to complain if she gets infections.
After the mall, we went back to the hotel.

 Some of the kids sat in the hot tub.

 Zane is on the left (with the black tank top) and Brienna is on the right.

Summer--More Catch up

I didn't ever get all my summer pictures posted--so I am working on catching up.

 Sleeping out on the trampoline--Everyone was excited to begin with.  I wasn't sure if they would stay all night.

 All cozy & comfy!

 Ben & Emmalee

 Emma & Brienna

 Brienna early in the morning--couldn't go back to sleep after the sun came up so she started reading.

 Playing in the pool in our back yard.

 While we were in Lander, Rusty & his dad re-did our shower walls.  When I came home, I cleaned the bathtub extremely well--I took a few hours to scrub it down good.

 They surprised me with also doing the walls & installing a bathroom fan.  I love my white walls!  

 And so does Ben!  No more "70's" wall paper!!

 Trying a new hair-do (in my "new" bathroom)

 I thought it turned out pretty cute!

And a close up.

Summer Catch-up Continued

 We had a backyard bbq--roasting hot dogs & marshmallows in a wheelbarrow.

 Grandpa, Zane & Carter

 Callum made a nice, shaded eating place with his tent fly.

 Brienna & David

 Callum roasting a peanut.  Silly kid!

 Janna Lee, Ashlee & David

 Me cooking a "biscuit on a stick".  We just use canned biscuits, wrap it around pinching it closed at the top & then slowly cook it.  

 when they are done, you can squeeze some butter in it & also some honey.

 Running thru the sprinkler to cool down.

 Ashlee sitting on the spinkler

And finally Emmalee's turn.

General Conference "Smart Cookie" treats & Ben on his Bike

 Each General Conference, I make the primary kids conference booklets to work on while they listen to conference.  And then the next Sunday, the kids report to me what they learned/their favorite talk/favorite apostle/story they heard.  Then I have some sort of a treat for them.  And in our ward, it is always Fast Sunday, so I hate to have goodies for them to eat at church.  This time I made cookies--but put them in baggies so they could take them home.

I love that my "older church kiddos" came to me with what they learned/enjoyed about conference.  Even Bodie May (recently returned missionary) came to me with a conference fact (he really just wanted the cookies & tried to take his sister's--Maggie's--from her).

I was so proud of my kids (younger 2).  They both chose to watch Saturday morning (playing bingo, working on their booklets & putting the apostles in order).  Emmalee pretty much watched all 4 sessions with me, and Ben did pretty good for both days.

 Ben has been working on riding his bike by himself, and could go a few feet without help a few weeks ago.  Then we got a little busy, and his tire was flat & needed a new tube.  Rusty fixed his tire Wednesday, so since then, Brienna has been helping him ride.

 He is officially an independent bike rider--he looks pretty proud of himself!

 He can even turn and turn around at the end of the street without stopping or getting off his bike.

My cute "little man"

And he is my typical little boy--has to ride right through the only puddle on the street.  I can't believe my little "baby boy" can ride a bike--and even more unbelievable:  He turns 5 in about 3 weeks!!!