How Does Our Garden Grow?

I've always thought these bushes on the side of our yard were pretty- a little fast-growing for my taste, but beautiful in August and September when they bloom. Unfortunately they must taste good to the bees too who come in swarms and stay here for 2 straight months causing no small amount of terror in my children each time they try to pass.

I couldn't get a good picture but there are literally hundreds of them all of the blossoms and flying to a from wherever they go.

And who knew these pretty bushes would come in so handy when we put our garden just a few feet from them. Our plants are literally going gang busters!

Eggplants...

Carrots, zuchini, and more tomatoes than we know what to do with, oh and tomatillos. We actually planted 5 kinds of tomatoes so we could see which kind we'd like more of next year and the verdict is in: We LOVE our small roma tomatoes for salads and things, but our absolute favorites are these small yellow heirloom cherry tomatoes. They are the sweetest things I have ever tasted and they just keep coming and coming. Literally we can get 25-50 off the plant each day. And they are FABULOUS mixed with fresh mozzarella cheese and a little olive oil and vinegar. That's literally what I've been having for lunch every single day for 2 months now.

Unfortunately we forgot to pick our zuchini before we left for my family reunion and we returned to find these monsters.

Wanna know why you never see giant zuchini in the stores? Because their tiny inner seeds actually start to grow and become the size of pumpkin seeds, which doesn't really work if you're making zuchini bread. So these giants ended up getting their middle scooped out (just like a pumpkin) before we grated them up to make a year's worth of bread. Literally!

Here are my cute helpers who can't wait to get started.

Okay so you have to endure more pictures of my garden because I'm just so amazed that ANYTHING grew and to have this much bounty is AMAZING!

Peppers to go with all the tomatoes.

And in case you thought we were busy enough this summer with our garden, here are some pictures to prove otherwise. This time last year, you literally could not see ANY of our house from the sidewalk. The previous owners let the evergreen bushes grow uncontrolled until the bushes literally became 9 foot tall trees. So Taylor went to town on them this summer, cutting off branches, chopping down limbs and trunks, and even digging out their roots. Work! Work! Work! But so worth it! Isn't it lovely? Next year we'll work on getting more flowers and manageable shrubs in place.

There were even 3 more of the bush/trees inside our courtyard that he had to remove. Who knew there was a waterfall when we moved in??? We'll see if we can make that work for next summer and get all the rose bushes and flowers in some kind of shape.

Hanging with the Sheep Dogs

Every year on Labor Day weekend, the National Sheepdog Festival comes to lovely Heber Valley and we make the long haul to go watch. It is truly spectactular. In years past the kids haven't been very interested and so we didn't get to watch the real competition very long. This year I had a plan.
Enter: Babe the Pig Movie. I loved this show as a kid. And truly it is just a back story to the pig competing in a sheep dog competition exactly the same as the ones we watch. So Friday night we got pizza and spread ourselves out in front of the TV to watch Babe. The kids laughed and loved it.

And then bright and early Saturday morning they couldn't wait to see actual sheep dogs competing. Okay so Isaac kept asking when it was the pigs turn but still, they watched, they cheered, they were entertained!!!

Okay so nice weather and some snacks didn't hurt. Also we let them bring along their Swiss dogs in purses that Arty gave them a while back. Play with the dogs, watch the dogs, everyone is happy= we get to watch the competition for quite a while.

See? Actually watching. A miracle!

Isn't it picturesque? This was where the cross country ski competition was at the 2002 olympics.

Of course these boys can only be expected to watch for so long before it's time to head to the kids activities.
Miles was in love with these miniature horses.

Ethan was a little more tentative.

And Isaac got right in there and fed them... once... and then he decided that was grose and left. Can't agree more.

But Miles couldn't be dragged away.

So Taylor and Ethan stayed with him.

And Isaac and I left to play beanbags.

And then we headed up to the Splash Dogs. A yearly favorite. The dogs get a running start and then leap as far as they can, landing in the pool. It's truly entertaining and becomes hilarious when you add in Isaac's non-stop giggles. He has the best laugh I've ever heard and it's fully contagious. A good family day all around- can't wait for next year.

Playing at the Cabin

One of our favorite parts of Salt Lake City are the mountains so close by. Having friends close by may be even better than that. So when it's 100 degrees in the valley, we drive 15 minutes up into the mountains and it's a lovely 75 degrees with rocky streams for the kids to throw rocks in and winding paths to chase each other on. Good food and friends makes it a fabulous evening!

Wouldn't you love to build a cabin up here? Unfortunately you'd literally need to prove your pioneer ancestor's claim. Luckily Zach can.

A Big First-Grader: SO EXCITED!!!

Monday was the start of the school year and this cute boy could BARELY contain his excitement. It helped that we went to back to school night last Thursday and he got to meet both his teachers and see his 2 classrooms.
My boys normally sleep until 6:30 or 7 but I heard someone up around 5:30 and at breakfast Ethan told me he'd dreamed that he missed his first day of school and was so sad. This is the quick-take-a-picture-so-we-can-go smile. Can you guess what his favorite color is???

So we were a few (ahem 20) minutes early for school since someone was so excited and there were just a few others there too. Ethan instantly found his homeroom teacher's name on a piece of paper and insisted on standing right on it and waiting... for the entire 20 minutes. He seriously wouldn't budge. I kept saying, "you have plenty of time you can go play" and he kept saying "but I want to be first in line so I can be first in the class and first in my desk."

Miles watched him for a second and then took off for the playground. Brother vs. Playing?

Not even a hesitation! Isaac however refused to play. He spent the 20 minutes stomping around the playground and announcing to anyone who would listen to him "I AM 6. I go to first grade." And then he'd make this face every time I said, sorry, you're not. He kept this up ALL MORNING- through Rite Aid, through Costco, even at home. Anyone and everyone he could get to listen to him, he'd announce that he was 6 and going to first grade. Poor thing. Just 2 more weeks though and his preschool will start.

Still wouldn't leave his spot!

And then the much awaited, magical time came when the bell rang and the teachers came out and proceeded to high five all the students in their lines (seriously felt like the opening of a basketball game). Mrs. Foulke made the dramatic gesture of removing her "magic scarf" that allows her to speak English. Ethan almost died jumping and giggling when she did this.

And then since she wasn't sure they'd all understand (which most of them wouldn't) she took Ethan by the hand, gestured to the class to come, and yelled "venga!".

And they were off! This last picture is my favorite. His smile is priceless!

Just as an aside, Ethan is at an entirely new elementary school this year- William Penn. We loved having him at Dillworth and really debated whether it was worth it to keep him there for the great teachers, art, music, and p.e. weekly classes, and the chance to walk to school with all the other neighborhood kids and build strong friendships. But in the end, we chose to continue his education in Spanish. So at William Penn his homeroom teacher speaks spanish only and he'll learn math, science, and social studies with her. Then he switches to his afternoon teacher, Mrs. McGavin for reading and writing and she speaks only in English. One of his best friends from Dillworth actually moved into the William Penn boundaries and even though he's not in the spanish program in the morning with Ethan, they have the same language arts teacher in the afternoon and get to go to lunch and recesses together. Ethan is in heaven!

He came home today and announced "we colored a pinata and read a story called No comes la maestra- that means don't eat the teacher- and we had 3 recesses and I ate with Chandler and he had a sandwich and carrots like I did!"

We are so excited for him and very grateful he has this opportunity and that he's happy.

Can't get enough of the dad!

These two are such cute little buddies. Miles is a big tease- and so is Taylor, which is absolutely hilarious to watch. I can't get enough of both of them!

Let summer never end! Swim with friends!

Love Milo in this picture. Could he be more obviously asking "can we go yet???"

We LOVE having friends come swim with us! So for our last day of summer we had cute Henry and Alice and their parents come over. Lots of splashing, lots of fun! A good way to end the summer.

Let Summer Never End! Friends and Dinos!

One of our favorite places we haven't gotten to this summer yet is the Ogden Dinosaur Park. So since we had some empty days to fill we went on up with some of our cousin friends.
Unfortunately my camera battery died the first 5 minutes so you only get indoor pictures.
The boys were in heaven with all these dinosaurs.

We walked/ran through the dinosaurs and then spent most of our time digging for bones and playing on the playground.

A final goodbye to Spanish Preschool

Ethan has spent 3 hours of each day for the past 2 years happily playing, eating, singing, dancing, acting, and all while learning spanish. He has LOVED this school and I think as his mother I have loved it more than he has. It's just the perfect way to teach a child a language and he has been so happy. Here's his cute teacher Carmen (above) and Nelly (below).

Here's Pati. He's definitely ready to move on from preschool. He was happy to be in a group with 2 other kindergarteners this year but having to sometimes be group with the 3 and 4 year olds was not his favorite.

So goodbye McKee! I can't wait to send Isaac here! And Ethan can't wait to start at William Penn with only other 1st graders!!!

Let Summer Never End! Discovery Gateway!

Tuesday we hit up on of Ethan's favorite places- our local children's museum. This is a slide for foam blocks but Miles still tries to climb himself up and through the tiny opening.

This construction zone is one of Ethan's favorite spots because he can direct other kids and build. Yes, he's an oldest child.

Isaac is all about the water most of the time.

Miles checking out the playhouse.

Isaac tried the horse for a second and then decided he prefered the water and went right back.

Ethan stayed in the construction zone the whole time.

Miles left and tried a few things and then came back, donned a fireman's helmet backwards and then helped him build.

And then we all went to one of their free classes. I always sign up when we get there and sometimes they're good, sometimes not. This was the BEST one yet. Catapults and ping pong balls. Okay so I might be biased with 3 boys, but this class rocked!

They tried their hand at shooting them. (love the silly grin on Ethan)

And they took turns trying to catch the balls in buckets. Perfect chaotic fun!