Introducing...Autumn Blaze Maple

This post is mostly for posterity. As we mentioned in our Anniversary weekend post, we went out and bought a new tree for our yard. We are super excited and hope that it provides shade for years to come. We bought a pretty large tree (for us) so that hopefully that day will be sooner rather than later. However, I wanted to show a picture of the tree now, so we can see how much it grows over time. Here it is:

Good look Maple! Bring us shade soon!

Swimming Lesson 2018

Here are some pictures from swimming lessons this year. The kids loved playing and being in the water. This is the first year that Austin has done lessons and he was more nervous, but did just great. Lydia really enjoyed them and you could really see her start to get some of the swimming parts (monkey, airplane, soldier) and be a good little swimmer. Since lessons she has been practicing these and done really well. 

4 Day Weekend (Manti Pageant, Classic Waterslides, Highland Glen)

Manti Pageant (Thursday Night)

We had a 4 day weekend last week thanks to me taking a Friday and Monday of PTO. We planned this so that we could do Manti Pageant and then found a bunch of other fun things to do as well. 

First up was the Manti Pageant. We have not been to the pageant for...4 years? I think Lydia was 2 and Shantel was pregnant with Austin. We have really wanted to go back and were so excited. 

First up, obligatory stop at Shantel's home growing up. Shantel loves seeing this home so much and I think it is because of how much it meant to her and that this is where she became who she is today. 

First thing we when got there we went and staked out a spot and then walked around for a while and checked out booths and such. You could tell the kids were getting tired, so we decided to head to our spot and play games and read some books.

Austin staking out his spot to sleep.

It was probably only about 8:30 or 8:45 when Austin got all settled and had his spot to sleep at during the show. This is funny, because as it turned out, Austin ended up staying up until the very end of the show and Lydia was the one who went to sleep. She made it (barely) to the part where Christ comes to the America's. Then she was so tired, she just wanted to lay down. We actually had an awesome spot, so she could lie down and still see the show through the chairs, but she did not last long before she was asleep. In fact, I had to carry her back to the van at the end because she was out. 

The games and the book reading were so nice and we also loved that the kids got to meet some of the cast. The best part by far was the show. The kids were so good and sat and were interested and asking questions. Caleb had a little bit of a hard time falling asleep, but Shantel was finally able to get him asleep and transferred to the stroller and then I held Lydia and she held Austin under blankets for the rest of the show. The spirit there was wonderful. To be on the Temple grounds and watch the stories of the restoration and Book of Mormon was incredible. I know that those stories are true and that when we study them and understand them we draw closer to Jesus Christ.

Friday-Hang out and do yard work- no pictures :( . 

Model Homes and Classic Skating (Waterslides) (Saturday)

On Saturday we had a flyer for an open house for a homebuilder (Fieldstone Homes) that had some new models and was doing free lunch and prizes. We did not get Parade of Homes tickets this year- so we needed something to meet our look at houses need, plus free food and prizes and we were in.  It was actually a really well run event, they had multiple places you went to and you got different things at each place, food, free shirts, snow cones etc. Here are some cute pictures of the kids from the homes.

Next up was Classic Skating. We bought passes so we could do skating and bounce houses with the kids...but Shantel tried the waterslides with Lydia the other day and she loved them, so we took everyone to the slides. They loved it and rode over and over. The first few times Austin wanted someone to go with him, but then he was okay going on his own and loved it. Caleb was happy to play in the little pool and then hang out in the stroller and eat some grapes. Shantel bought a ton of grapes a month ago and froze them in the freezer to take with her to the pool or other places, they have been awesome and the kids love them and call them grapecicles.

Sunday: Church and Hang out at home

Here are a couple of pictures from the morning while Shantel was at ward council. First, cute Caleb doing some sweeping. Then the kids decided they wanted a little tea party. So I made them some frozen pizza, cut an apple and made Kool-Aid for their tea party, then got them set up on a table outside. They absolutely loved it.

Highland Glen (Monday)

On Monday we took the kids to Highland Glen for the maiden voyage for our kids kayak and the blow up paddle board we bought with my Eide Bailly wellness money. It was a huge win! The kids really loved it. Lydia learned so quickly how to use the paddle and move around on the kayak and by the end of the day she was paddling all across the lake. Austin enjoyed it as well, but his favorite part was just riding with Shantel on the paddle board. Caleb sat on the shore most of the day, but did go out with Shantel once and thought it was fun. The paddle board also was really good (we were a little worried about a blow up paddle board, but you honestly could not tell the difference). We spent hours at the lake eating grapecicles and floating around. After a while Lydia really decided she wanted to catch a fish and so she convinced Shantel to make a "fishing net" for her (and Austin soon followed). It consisted of a stick stuck through a ziplock bag. Lydia and Austin went and stood on a rock trying to catch a fish. At the end of the day Lydia and I went to the other side of the lake and spent 30 minutes trying to catch a fish. She was super cute. I enjoyed teaching them how to paddle and then seeing them learn it for themselves.

I can't imagine a better four day weekend with this family.