Aquarium

I have been wanting to take the kids to the new Aquarium ever since in opened a few years ago.  It's so expensive, so I have been dragging my feet.  Monday nights is family night and $5 off.  They recently got sloths, and I decided that officially made it time to go.  So, we went up for Family Home Evening.  The kids loved it.  They had this Elf of the shelf thing going where they hid elves all through the Aquarium and if the kids found all the Elves they got to pick a candy.  They excited scoured the Aquarium for Elves.  I was slightly disappointed all the animals seemed to be sleeping and not too active, maybe it is worth it to pay more to go during the day?  Nonetheless the kids had fun.




 The kids spent forever trying to touch a sting ray, but those string rays were smart enough to swim just outside of my kids wingspan.  Nonetheless, they all left with wet shirts for trying.


Camden loved the shark tank.

We Had a Fun Fall

I snapped this picture of Liv one day at Chick Fil A.  She had stolen my sunglasses and had them propped up on her head and just looked so grown up for me.  I had to capture this moment of her growing up.

One evening Camden presented himself looking like this.  He got into my swim bag and soon after even dawned the fins and started tromping around the house.

I had to take a picture of Camden playing the drums on his Dad’s head while we were trying to have family scripture study (which is always wild).  We have recently switched from reading the illustrated scriptures to reading from the actual Book of Mormon.  Liv can read it on her own and loves marking verses with a colored pencil.  The boys repeat back verses that Derek and I whisper to them.  Everyone seems to enjoy this and it has been a great thing to be able to read the Book of Mormon every night together as a family.

My dang boys have shot up inches recently.  Once cooler weather arrived, I realized all of their pants had becomes floods from last season.  I took them to Old Navy to pick out some new fall clothes.  Camden picked out some camo pants and a camo shirt to match.  Then, as soon as we got home he pulled them both on and dug out a camo beanie I didn’t even know they had.

Liv has taken quite an interest in drawing lately.  These are some of her drawings.  She gets online all by herself and finds learn to draw tutorials and will spend hours just drawing.

Here’s all my kids on the morning of picture day.  All their pictures actually turned out quite good this year!

Derek took just Carter on a hike up Rock Canyon one Saturday morning with him.  He’s basically the cutest.

On of my Cooks Illustrated magazines came with a recipe for Chinese dumplings, so I spent two separate days making Chinese Dumplings.  The process was kind of fun making the wrappers and then wrapping the meat inside.  All the kids enjoyed helping fold the dumplings and then eating them.

The boys have been dying to go back to Little Gym classes, so as soon as soccer season ended I signed them up and they have been enjoying that weekly.

I had to laugh when I caught Liv like this wearing her high heals and Dad’s baseball cap backwards.  That girl is incredible with her ability to walk, play, do whatever in high heels all day long.  She loves to wear them whenever she can.  She will probably have bunions by the time she is 12. 

Here is cute Carter appropriately dressed to pretend cook Camden lunch down in the basement one day.

The boys have gotten to spend quite a few afternoons with Grandma and Grandpa when I get hung up in surgery.  They love their time with Grandma and Grandpa and one day I discovered one reason why.  They love warming their backsides by Grandma and Grandpa’s fireplace!

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I came home from an early morning gym class one morning and found my twins snuggled up together on the couch watching a show and sharing a blanket.  I love that they could have spread out, but opted to snuggle next to each other instead.  Twins are the best!

Derek has two season tickets to the BYU basketball games.  He is rotating which kid he takes.  This was Camden on the morning of his first date with Dad to the BYU game.  He was so excited and got all BYU adorned and has been singing the fight song in preparation.

And he got to hug Cosmo!!!  A dream come true for this kid.

The Boys Turn 5

The week of the boys’ birthday began with a joint family birthday dinner and celebration for Steve and the boys at Steve and Diane’s house.  The boys were so excited to have it finally be the day everyone celebrated them.  They got some fun new clothes and toys that have been a hit.  One Tuesday, we went as a family to the Nickelcade (per the boys request).  We had pizza and played games then each of the kids got to pick a couple things from the prize counter with the tickets they had won playing games.  Friday, was their actual birthday and they were super excited to bring treats in to share with their preschool class.  

They both wanted to bring Rice Krispee Treats, but the fight was over who got to carry the grocery sack with them into their classroom.  I told them they could each grab a handle of the bag and both carry it which they agreed to and walked to class with each of them holding one side of the bag.  After, I picked them up, we loaded up the car, checked out Liv early from school and got in the car to head to St. George.  Here is Carter in his birthday crown ready for the journey.

 The only problem was a bit of weather down to Cedar City for the new Cedar City temple open house.  When we left our house it was pouring rain, and I swear the storm just followed us the whole way down to Cedar City.  It rained almost the whole way and as we got to that mountain pass just before Cedar City it turned to snow.  There were cars spun off all over the roads, accidents everywhere and the driving was almost stand still for a whole hour trying to maneuver through all of that.  Liv was a little panicked by the whole thing, so we said a family prayer and were able to make it safely to Cedar City.  We didn’t have to wait at all to get into the open house.  The temple was beautiful, and it was really special for Derek and I to explain some of the ordinances that mean so much to us to our children in that soon to be dedicated house of the Lord.

We then clamored back into the car and drove to St. George to spend the weekend, and continue celebrating the boys birthday, with Babi and Papou.  Liv had told the boys on the way down all about Babi and Papou's new remote control bed, so that was the first thing they all ran in to check out.  

Then, we got to visit a little bit with Papou who seems to be thoroughly enjoying and adjusting well to retirement and the move to Utah.  In the morning, we ate breakfast.  Then, all of us, Papou, and London went to hike Johnson Arch right before the entrance to Snow Canyon.  It was a neat little hike and the kids practically ran it and London was loved by all the fellow hikers.  London was in heaven finally recovered enough to accompany us on the thing she loves most.



  When we got back Babi had arrived with Uncle Nathan and Benazir.  Liv immediately sat down and made Benazir paint her nails, Carter attached himself to Uncle Nathan, and Camden slinked off to find his tablet.  Shortly, after our arrival Babi had cupcakes ready, and we all sang the boys Happy Birthday, and then they opened presents.  Carter with his cupcake face.  

Babi gave them each their own watch which Camden hasn’t taken off since and some new clothes.  Uncle Nathan gave each of the boys $5 of $6 dollars (their choice) and they both can’t wait to take the money and splurge at the dollar store.  Later that afternoon, the boys all went to the driving range while Babi and I took the kids to the pool.  Then, we took them to Thunder Junction Park to ride the train and play on the park.  Such a fun park!  


The kids love that place, and Benazir joined us.  Liv climbed all over this crazy climbing wall.

They even took advantage of the splash pad, which I personally felt it was much too cold to be running.  


Back at the house we all had dinner together.  I discovered that 2/3 of my kids (Carter and Liv) love blue cheese--the devoured a whole block of it!  Hurrah! 
Then Nay and Benz drove back to Vegas, we put the kids to bed, and Mom, George, Derek and I played Mexican Train.  Derek killed us all winning all 3 games and ending with a score of zero the very first time he ever played! 

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Sunday, morning we got up and attended sacrament meeting.  We got there right at 9am and were left with only, what seems to be our designated bench in that branch, the very front row.  But, the kids were amazingly pretty good again in that very silent ward.  Then, we went back to Babi and Papou’s place, packed up, and drove out to Anasazi Petroglyphs for another hike with the dog and all.  Hiking two days in a row London couldn't have been happier.  It was a neat little hike and the kids really enjoyed climbing on all the rocks to discover petroglyphs.  After that it was time drove home--quite an eventful 5^th birthday for our twins, and probably our last family round trip in our Acadia together.