Christmas Lights

Tonight for family night, we took the kids downtown for dinner and lights at Temple Square. The kids and I rode the commuter rail and met Kris at the Gateway station. We then took the kids to Bucca di Beppo for dinner. We enjoyed an authentic Italian dinner there and the kids enjoyed some of the funny pictures hung throughout the restaurant. The pizza reminded me of my trip to Italy, and the kids all agreed that they liked the pizza thin and greasy!

From there, we made the trip through Temple Square to see the holiday lights. The kids even got to go inside the Tabernacle for the first time. It was a great way to kick of the Christmas holidays.

Merry Christmas!

My Little Trick or Treaters

This year Justin and Tyler went as the Super Mario Brothers, Mario and Luigi. They were a hit everywhere they went, even teenage boys told me how much they liked their costumes. And Hayley went as the Progressive Insurance lady, Flo. I loved how easy her costume came together, my favorite kind. Halloween was a bit rainy, but the kids got quite the loot between Trunk or Treat Friday night, and Trick or Treating on Saturday night. Happy Halloween!

One Year Older

Tyler celebrated his seventh birthday last week. Other than being busy with sports, it was a great one! He got to play his first basketball game on his actual birthday which he didn't seem to mind, then we celebrated with friends over the weekend. I let him have a late night with 8 other boys for three hours, which after the invitations were sent out I started to worry about too much time to kill. Thanks to the help of the whole family, we all had assignments and divided and conquered the entertainment of 10 boys for 3 hours! Whew!! Because it was so crazy, I didn't realize until after the boys left that I didn't take any pictures! The agenda was pizza, outdoor games, haunted house where they fish or treated for their goody bags, campfire with marshmallows, donuts on a string, and watching Scooby Doo until the parents came. Glad it's over and glad Tyler had a great birthday!

Portland

Kris and I at the Pittock Mansion

The Heathman Hotel (which I am told is haunted, after I stayed there!)

Kris enjoying the king size bed without children in the room

The concierge or bell boy (I am not sure what a concierge is, but I know this hotel had one)

Last week, Kris and I went to Portland, Oregon for the weekend. Kris had a convention for work up there, and I went along for the ride to visit my sister. For his convention, they put us up in a hotel way fancier than we are used to, complete with a concierge, robe & slippers, bed turn down service, and a stocked refrigerator and goody basket that I found out, were not complimentary, but very expensive! The first day we had a free day to spend with my sister and her three kids. We explored the grounds of the Pittock mansion, then went to Sauvie Island which my nephew corrected me by saying it is "Sauvie" not "Suavie" as in the shampoo. Thanks Chad! There, we visited a pumpkin patch had some lunch and then ventured to the beach of Sauvie Island. Afterwards, our gracious host and taxi cab driver, Missie, dropped us off at the hotel where we got ready for dinner with the other attendees of the convention, and afterwards were treated to a comedy club in downtown Portland. Had a good time, just glad we went to the milder 8 pm show rather than the 10 pm or midnight showing which can get raunchy. Most of the other people from the group, kept the drinking going and went to a bar from there, while Kris and I opted for the quiet hotel room for some rest after our really early morning flight. The next day, Kris had a workshop to attend all day, so I went shopping with Missie, hung out at their house for a while, then we picked Kris up so that we could go out to dinner with just us adults. Had a great time at a lovely Italian restaurant, said our goodbyes to Missie and James and enjoyed one last night away from the children who were being well cared for by parents. Thanks to Mom, Dad, and Missie to whom this great weekend wouldn't have been possible!

I Should Be a Camera Man (Woman)

Okay, so my oldest child had his first official touchdown today. He has had several in practices, a few in scrimmage games, come close to several in real games, but today he scored his first (almost had two), and I was fortunate enough to catch it on film. I will preface this by saying that I was holding the camera, the snap went off and I thought "I should try catching this play on film, just in case..." So I did, and Zach always mentions my skills, because I always catch the good plays...

I get excited, can you tell?! Anyways, luckily a guy on the team video tapes all the games, so I should have this play in video come next week. Great job Zach! Also, check out this cool picture the coaches' wife took of Zach in action. (He's #88 in black and yellow)

How Zach Spent his Birthday

Our weeknights are pretty much crazy. Our nights are filled with football, soccer, gymnastics, scouts, activity days, young mens and that's just the kids schedules! Well, yesterday was Zach's 14th birthday, and it was spent doing the same crazy schedule. I did my best to try to embarass him yesterday by going to his school while he was in class and putting a goody bag in his locker. Kris told me no balloons, so I kept it simple. I think I would have to try pretty hard to embarass Zach. He still thinks his parents are cool, I think! Anyways, he came home and got to open one present with just me present, then we had a quick dinner and carted him off to his football scrimmage, then I took Hayley up to gymnastics to drop her off, then back down to Zach's scrimmage game. Kris left the scrimmage a little early to go pick up Hayley, and then we all ended up meeting at home around 8 pm for the rest of his presents and cake and ice cream, all while trying to get homework packets done. Don't even ask about baths for the younger kids, we are lucky to squeeze 2 to 3 baths a week in! I think in a couple of weeks our weeknights will be less chaotic once football and soccer are done. As for his birthday, I think he had a great one, and he got what he asked for, no surprises! Happy Birthday Zach!

High School Football

Football season has started, and that usually involves Zach's games and games from the local high schools. Previously we were Viewmont Vikings fans (high school that the kids will go to), but most of the kids in our area are Davis Darts fans. The football program at Viewmont has been pretty bad the last couple of years, so Zach has decided to switch teams, at least for now. High school is still 2 years away, so we will see where he decides to go then. (Did I just say high school is just two years away?! Holy crap!) Anyways, this last weekend, there was a big game at the University of Utah between Alta (my high school) and Bingham (my dad's school he taught at and Zach and Hayley were Mini Miners - preschool - there). We decided to take the kids to the game, and since the Bingham side was closer to the entrance, and everyone but me wanted to cheer for the highly favored Bingham team, we sat on that side. Zach ran into some friends and took off to hang with them, while the rest of us sat in the family section and enjoyed the game. Unfortunately, my team, Alta, ended up losing, but I kind of knew that going in. Everyone had a blast, and I felt like an aged teenager trying to relive my past.