Fall is in Full Swing!

We are back at it.  Tennis lessons on Tuesdays. Swimming lessons on Thursdays.  Soccer on Saturday mornings.  Emma is all signed up for ski lessons.  (She is doing the Mountain Team at the Park City Mountain Resort base for 10 weeks.)  Meetings, meetings, and more meetings before and after school.  I have a 1/2 marathon coming up on Saturday, September 16th, so I am "kind of" still training for that in between everything else.  But...we still get out and have our family time, especially when the weekends roll around.   That is a non-negotiable!

 Abby and her good friend, Halle, are on the same soccer team.

Snacks at soccer are the best!

Sunday Funday family hike in Summit Park

Andy and Emma went to a Utes game one night so I let Abby choose what she wanted for dinner.  Her choice--macaroni 'n cheese and beans  

Game time!

more hiking in Summit Park

spending time at the cabin

 Abby wanted to try her "big girl" bike.

 

It wouldn't be a trip to the cabin if you didn't get soft serve ice cream from the Brighton Store. 

playing some frisbee golf

 Miner's Day (Labor Day) parade on Main Street (after my 10-mile run in the heat...ugh)

 

We love the Park City Marching Band!

Last night we went over to a friend's house to watch some football.  Once it got dark enough, they set up their outdoor screen.  Fun!

And then, obviously, the kids had to put on a show before we left!

Today we went on a fun hike up to Cecret Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  It is usually about a 2-mile hike roundtrip but since the upper parking lot was full and we had to park at the lower parking lot, that added about 3 miles on to our hike.  It was worth it!

getting some reading in on the trail

lunch at Cecret Lake

 

 

 Abby's reaction just as I said I wanted to take her picture... 

Summer Break Weeks #8, #9, #10, #11

Well, it's been 4 weeks since my last blog post and that means one thing--we are back at school and things are moving at record-breaking speeds right now.  We now have a 4 year-old in Pre-K and a 2nd grader (who I get to see all throughout the day since she is right next door!).

Emma has been wanting to make dinner about once a week.  Last time, she set out all the bowls with (plastic) forks.  Notice the napkins underneath.

She placed all ingredients and kitchen tools in the appropriate places...

We went to our last Deer Valley concert of the summer.

We love getting out on the paddle board.

Every year, there is a huge arts festival on Main Street.  This year we decided to take the city bus.

Abby insisted on taking pictures by the statues. 

Andy and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary on August 9th.  This is what I made for him.  The left mountain has a map of Anchorage (where we met); the middle is a map of Park City Mountain Resort (where we got married); and the right mountain has a map of Utah (since that is where we live now.)

family selfie before heading off to dinner and The Book of Mormon

We rented a house at Six Lakes (Altamont, UT) with some friends, again, this year.  I love seeing the Pilot loaded up with outdoor toys!

When you have 4 families (and 8 kids) together for 3 nights...

One night we had a popcorn bar to go along with our outdoor movie.

 

 Emma and I made some back-to-school gifts for the teachers at Abby's school. 

Abby's 1st day of Pre-K

Our very good friend, Ben, got married last weekend!

 

Andy and I had to go back on August 17th, and that is also the day Abby's school opened.  My sister came out to watch Emma before she went back on the 24th.  They had a great time together!

Emma (and my sister) made bags of trail mix to hand out to the staff at our school.  That girl has a heart of gold.

delivering the treats...

Emma loves to play nail salon.

making air fresheners with baking soda and essential oils

Emma even made me one for my classroom.

Each year we have a big "welcome back" get-together with all of the school district staff.  There is no better way to start such a meeting than the high school band!

solar eclipse

I love this photo!  Abby wanted Emma to walk her to the car one morning.

August 24th:  Emma's 1st day of 2nd grade