Thanksgiving with Fransons

Got to spend some time this weekend, too, with these wonderful moms and sweet babies.  Wish we had pictures of the fun times at the park, playing football, seeing the lights at Riverwoods, swimming at Provo Rec Center, and the guys' trip to Riverwoods for sorting at Great-Grandma Franson's home and shooting afterward.

Thanksgiving with Luthys

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Logan with our Mom and Dad Luthy and John and Valerie and their kids.  Wish I'd gotten more pictures of the adults, but so glad to have documented some of the cute moments with these cousins.  So fun to get to be together!

Fun at the Zoo!

The day before Thanksgiving was free admission at the Zoo!  The weather was beautiful...about 50 degrees or so.  We got there just after it opened and enjoyed the morning before the crowds really arrived!  This is the first time most of our kids remember ever going to a zoo, so it was extra magical for everyone!

Emily and Willy Engaged!

Got to take some pictures of Emily (my sister-in-law) and Willy for their upcoming wedding!  What a beautiful couple!  So excited for these two!

Aaron's Birthday Party

Aaron's Birthday -- The Preparations

Aaron's Birthday falls close enough to Thanksgiving and soon enough after Greg's birthday (and our life is just busy enough) that I got worried we wouldn't "fully celebrate" him like I wanted to.  We briefly considered going out to do some activity the night before.  But, when it comes right down to it, doing the party preparations at home (even for just a party with our own little family) is what makes us all feel the "birthday spirit" more than anything else!

So, we had a Cars-themed party for the six of us.  Aaron and Elizabeth helped make the invitations that were taped to each person's door.  Nathan made a game of "Pin the Tire on the Truck".  Joshua created a board game with spaces on it like, "Tire Pop, Lose a Turn", "What Did You Eat Today?! Move Ahead Six", and "Uh, Oh! Out of Gas, Move Back Three".  

We put up a banner and got the house all ready for the party the next evening.

Gun Course for Scouts

Greg has recently done all the training to be certified as a NRA Rifle Instructor.  For the past several mutual nights he has been teaching the course to the Teachers and Priests in our ward.  One of the evenings was at our home.  You can see on the table near Greg just some of the guns that were brought...and this picture is only part of the boys and leaders that attended.  It's been a great activity to bring both boys and leaders out of the woodwork...and get them learning and teaching each other!

Greg's Birthday

Posted this collage of Facebook for Greg's Birthday.

Top Left -- Elizabeth's Letter to Greg:  "Dear Dad, I love you just the way you are."

Right -- Sending Greg off to work on his birthday morning.

Bottom Right -- We grilled Greg ribs for dinner.  I sent Nathan out to start the grill (charcoal) and came  out to find him cleaning it all out.  When I told him I thought he'd scrubbed enough he said, "But, Mom, it's my birthday gift for Dad."

The next morning was a piece of his birthday celebration, also, when he got to take his new rifle to the shooting range for the culminating activity with the YM after their rifle training.

Donuts and Settlers

Fun Sunday evening making donuts and playing "Settlers of Catan".  Love having kids old enough to play our favorite games and hold their own.  Yes...Joshua won...AGAIN!

Room Mom

This year I'm Nathan's "Room Mom" at school.  So, I get to help coordinate all the class parties for the year.  Four other moms ran "stations" with games and crafts for the Halloween party.  So, I decided I'd step up a little "photo booth" for a fun extra.  (Admittedly more a perk for me than anyone else.)  :)  These are the posters I created with photos from the party.  Pretty fun!

In Joshua's class I got to run a game station.  We played one of our family's favorite games, "Cat and Mouse", but I made little ghosts and called it "Ghostbusters" instead.  It was a hit!  So fun to get to go into these classes and get more of a glimpse of life at school for these boys!

Nathan as the "Lobster Bisque" Guy on Studio C

Nathan's Awesome Teacher!  Mrs. Gibbons

Greg Gets His Beads!

A happy day for all of us to have Greg receive his Wood Badge beads.  Mom and Dad Luthy came to help us celebrate.  Proud of what Greg does for Scouts and grateful for what it does for him!

Ready for Sunday

Greg got Aaron ready on Sunday morning.  

It took my breath away to see him come down the stairs looking so grown up!

Trick-or-Treating 2014

Nathan Creates

Nathan received a little sample pack of "Play Foam" at school in a Halloween goodie bag from his teacher.  He has literally had hours of fun with it.  This mind just does not quit.  My favorite thing he made was this..."Elephant at Elk at the Watering Hole".

Yesterday after school during Nathan's "down time" he decided to cook his own dinner.  A plastic cup (cut in half), tin foil, and a skewer later...and he had his new invention.  Unfortunately, the sun just wasn't in the sky long enough yesterday to help it make much warming progress.  :)  Don't worry, he had it back out in the yard this morning before school.  (Yes...with frost on the ground.)  Hope springs eternal.  :)