Feed the ducks

One of our favorite places to go on a nice day is to an beautiful shopping center near us, called Blackhawk Plaza, and feed all the ducks that flock to the fountains and stream.  The ducks are comfortable with people around so they let the kids get very close to them.  Bryant is always determined to pet one and chases them all around.  

Now it's Fall...

This weekend, after our Saturday games, we headed to Half Moon Bay to visit the famous pumpkin patches.  There were so many to choose from  it was hard, and I'm not sure we picked the best one but the kids had fun.  They loved playing in piles of pumpkins, wondering thru rows of corn (and picking and eating it), and the older kids enjoyed the huge hay maze (it took them like half and hour to figure their way out).  Unfortunately, I left my memory card for my camera in the computer so I didn't get to take those wonderful pumpkin patch pictures I was so looking forward to.  (This picture of Bryant is the only one that turned out from my phone). After the pumpkin patch we headed to a beautiful beach to watch the sun set and play around a little.  It was so nice to get away from the usual craziness of Saturdays and be together as a family again (as Craig had been in China all week).  Somehow going to a pumpkin patch made it finally really feel like Fall. 

Conference Weekend

You've got to love Conference Weekend - wonderful, inspired messages and council, lazy days with pj's till noon, no lessons to prepare or children to fight in sacrament meeting, good food (an excuse to cook a little more than usual), and BIG MESSES!  With the kids home more on Saturday, and all day on Sunday, this is what you get.

I think just about every toy in the house gets used - unfortunately, all at once.

Although, it's hard to complain too much since creativity is usually at it's height.
It's hard to see in the picture, but Ashlyn has Alexa (as well as herself) all made up with make-up.

I had to include Bryant during the prayers.  This is how Bryant folds his arm's for the prayer.  Craig always tells him to be careful not to sprain his wrists.  Too cute!

My little Bryant....

I feel almost guilty blogging this but it was just one of those cute things that you want to share with someone.  Yesterday I got really angry with Bryant about something (and pathetically, I can't remember what).  His lip did the little quiver and then he started crying and walked away.  A few minutes later I could still hear him crying and went to go comfort him.  I found him in our 'time out' spot in the downstairs bathroom - and he had even shut the door.  I have never put him in 'time out' before but he knows, from his siblings, what happens when you get in trouble.  It was so stinking cute - it's amazing how preceptive these little ones are.  Just look at the repentant face!

Canning

I remember when Sarah and I used to can in AZ we talked about how much we liked to just look at all the filled jars on the counter or in the pantry.  So, here are some that I looked at for a while and then decided to take a picture to share.  One of the things I love about this house we are in is all the mature fruit trees.  This summer I made plum jam, applesauce, and bottled pears -  all from fruit in the backyard.  My dream home would have a whole orchard of trees and a big, beautiful vegetable garden.  I would love to just live off my land as much as I could.  I get great satisfaction from canning.  Anyway, this is one thing I've been doing while the kids are in school.

School starts....

Yea - school has finally begun.  It's hard getting used to starting so late in the month after living in AZ for so long where they start at the beginning of August.  The kids are finishing up their first week of school here and it seems like it's going to be a great year.  

Dallin and Breann attend different elementary schools.  Dallin was diverted last year (due to limited space with class size reduction in CA) and we decided he would stay at that school until middle school.  Luckily, both school are in our neighborhood.  Dallin absolutely loves his class and teacher.  He's in a 4th/5th combination class and has his best friends with him.  Breann is so easy going - she loves everything about school.  She didn't get any of her close friends in her class this year but is excited to make new friends and still play with others at recess.

Ashlyn started middle school this year, if you can believe it (I hardly can - I'm not old enough yet for this).  She is really excited and loves to change classes.  She stays in core for 3 periods then has science, math, PE, and chorus (her elective).  She has a great group of friends and is excited for her adventures in a new school.  Lucky for mom, the school is close and she can still ride her bike.

I'm loving the stucture of a school schedule once again.  We had a fun, busy summer but I was ready for some organization once again.  I love that the TV has not been on all week, the piano is being practiced more regularly, I dare say the kids  are more anxious to play outside when they get home, and the house definitely stays cleaner.  They also start their after school activities - soccer and girls choir for Ashlyn, basketball for Breann, and a science class at UC Berkeley for Dallin.  Alexa starts Preschool next week and is enrolled in a little soccer class.  Those who know me well know that I love structure.  Life is good!

Weekend in Seattle

Craig and I were lucky enough to throw in a little getaway to Seattle before the summer ended.  I wanted to do a quick weekend trip somewhere and decided on Seattle because I had never been there and have always heard how beautiful it is.   We were lucky to be joined by two really great friends, the Hamiliton's and the Plewe's.  We were only there for two days but we sure packed it in - Pikes Market, Space Needle, Underground tour, hike to waterfall, Lock's tour, ferry to island, etc.  We had such a great time - the only thing that would have made it better would have been one more day (a little relaxing and shopping would have been nice).  On the way home I commented to Craig about how nice it was to go on a little adventure with him - forget we have kids for a few days and just try something new together.  I highly recommend it!