We're going on a moose hunt, we're going to catch a big one!

This past weekend we went on a little hike with the Garners in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It was around 4 miles and I was nervous about how the kids would do, but we didn't have any major meltdowns until the last half mile or so. Whew! They both did really well, thank goodness. Of course they did have Uncles and Grandparents who took turns carrying in arms and on shoulders and kept both kids happy. The most surprising part was the Mommy moose and her two babies at the trail head. They were right there, so close! It was crazy. The rest of the hike, Miles talked about finding the moose again so he could talk to it.

Two things about Sunday: 1. I was called as a primary teacher. Wonder if I'll ever be called as anything else. And 2. I snapped this cute picture of these two.

Oh yeah, happy first day of school Richie! This is his first official day teaching as a real, live seminary teacher. He couldn't be any more calm or prepared. It's not fair, because I would be a basket case, even if I was over-prepared. And the fact that he is so calm is making me a little basket-casey, and it's not even MY job. He can't wait to meet his students!

It's time

I'm sick of seeing the same blog post on my page every time I pull it up. So just for the sake of change, here are the latest pictures from our camera.

FHE night! The idea is that since we live close to so many temples now, we'll take the kids on "field trips" to all the feasible ones and take their pictures. Then we'll hang up the pictures in their room and pin point all the ones we've visited on their map. Hopefully that instills a love of the temple in them. If that doesn't work, I guess we'll just keep making temples out of rice krispie treats. They really liked that. :)

Snake Bubbles! Big hit round these parts.

That's why you marry a Garner boy

Over the past couple of weeks we've been greatly blessed with free produce! Being in the more populated Salt Lake Valley, we've been taking advantage of Ksl and Craigslist, more specifically the "free" sections. First we found apricots for free from an unused tree at at apartment complex in downtown SLC. Yes, it does cost gas money to drive there, but it makes for an outing with the kids.

About a week later, we found plums for free in West Jordan. Richie went and picked plenty on a Saturday, in addition to picking up free firewood and gravel for our window wells.

This past week, the Garners picked bushels and bushels of corn for a friend who wasn't going to use it and gave it to us!

We've figured Heavenly Father knows that putting up food is important to us and has humored us a lot lately. Most nights lately, include Richie and I sitting around the table pitting apricots, freezing plums and cutting corn till late hours while we watch shows and talk. It's so wonderful. If I had to pull that load by myself, I'd be crazy at this point, but Richie puts in a full effort doing a "woman's job". Not only Richie, but all of this brothers! One night, we invited them over to watch a movie and when they saw all the plums, they insisted on helping can the plums while they watched a movie.

This last picture is just too funny not to post. Before the boys came over, we had been outside running in the sprinkler. I had just finished "de-robing" the children to go inside and get in their pj's when the uncles showed up. Miles hopped on Ross' back, fully naked, and got a piggy back ride through the sprinklers. Miles thought it was awesome.

It's not a mess, it's creativity in action

In Rexburg, we did "school" every morning before early naps and watching a show. Just the basic singing songs, checking the weather etc etc. Miles and Gwen just loved it! However, as it got closer to moving, Miles started to get sick of it, so we stopped. Now that we're settled here and trying to solidify a routine, I miss having that structured "learning" time. So instead of the same "school", we have an activity we do before mornings naps and shows. Sometimes we're pretty easy going about it and just pull out the play-dough, bring out the blocks, or make bird feeders again (which the kids never think is as cool as I hope they would). But thanks to Pinterest, some days are pretty awesome.

Mixing the colors for our sidewalk paint

Check out these two blonde Jackson Pollock's in action :)

"Alright, your toys are trapped and you have to get them out! Here's your tools."

Miles got pretty capable with that hammer as time went on. It was really cool to watch.

One day we tried to make bouncy balls. The recipe sounded so easy and fool-proof. It was an epic fail. I didn't even take a picture of the disaster, it was so sad.

Today we made baked cotton balls! Crazy huh? All you do is mix equal parts of flour and water and add food coloring to make your "paint". Then the kids made "pies" by dipping cotton balls in the paint and putting them in the cake pans. Then you actually bake it in the oven!

I made the comment that Gwen's looked like a blackberry pie, so Miles insisted that his was a Green pie. Sounds appetizing.

So once Gwen is down for her morning cat nap and Miles is watching a show, before I get to shower and pretend I'm a girl and not a dish towel, I spend a good 30 minutes cleaning up. Today I even broke a sweat trying to get the "blackberry pie" off of the nice, clean, upholstered dining room chairs from my folks. Who needs a gym right? It ends up taking a fair amount of effort on my part, but it's oh so worth it.