BizTown

I was totally impressed with Junior Achievement City!  My older kids have done this and loved it, but I have not had the opportunity to go before.  I feel like we are so lucky to have this opportunity for our kids!  They each get a job and spend the day immersed in on the job training, commerce and business as little adults.  It's so cool.  The business fronts, all local businesses, are 100% professional.  My little gal was the CFO of Zion's bank.  Little smarty.  I was a volunteer assigned to the competing bank, First Security.  But, watching our kids do what they did was amazing!  The tellers were courteous and friendly even under a lot of pressure.  (Everyone trying to deposit their paychecks in a rush.)  The CEO was constantly needed and had heaps of responsibilities, but very cool under pressure.  She never lost her composure!  Our CFO was quite comfortable in her new role and showed a lot of initiative.  Our file clerk was fixing real tech problems with the computer.  My oh my!  Are they ever hirable!  When I'd go check on MissL, I'd find her taking care of all of her responsibilities like a pro, plus filling in for others.  What a treat to be a part of it.  On this particular day, the execs from Delta were there for a ribbon cutting to their new contribution.  They bought all
the kids Chick Fil A for lunch.

62 Quarts!

Besides running around with my kids, here is what I've been doing as of late.  Grapes, grapes, grapes!  It was a good year for my grapes.  I got 62 quarts this year.  Not a record, but pretty darn good.  Not so good for my husband who has to put up with the mess and doesn't even get to enjoy it.  No sugar added, but naturally very sweet.  Sorry Hon, but the kids love it!

Nutcracker Picture Day

I guess I could say the same things about dance for MissC as I did for Gman and biking.  She is learning dedication, commitment and hard work.  She is building strength and coordination.  She works really hard.  (I think her legs are probably stronger than Gavin's).  She absolutely loves her dance friends.  She doesn't get to the mountains much, but she does get classical music, live orchestras and artistic expression.  Insert happy mom face.  Aren't they lovely?  Side note, I love this old brick dance studio.

Snow Basin

Mountain bike races are super cool.  Especially in a beautiful setting on the perfect fall day.  Right?!  So nice.  My parents were able to come to this race and I'm so glad.  When your parents think your kid is awesome, it's a good feeling.  He didn't even have his best race.  He got caught in a huge pileup, but was able to make up some spots.  What better thing for a 15 year old boy to be doing?  Intense physical exsursion requiring strength and endurance.  Spending time outside and especially in the mountains.  Being part of a team family and encouraging each other.  It makes a mama happy.  Just don't break your neck.

Something Different

What a crazy election year right?  I mean maybe we can atleast all agree that this has been the wildest election ever. Most people I know are scratching their heads, not knowing what to do and quite concerned as well.  What a blessing it is to have a voice.  I get to decide for me.  That's pretty cool.  At times when it comes to politics I get overly passionate and end up inadvertantly offending my family and friends.  I don't want to do that.  I do want my children to know what I believe and for what reason I would do something I have never done before in an election.  This year, I will vote third party.  I've always voted for Republicans, because I can absolutely get behind the Republican platform.  I listened to all 4 pages of it being read to me at the caucus and I loved it.  This year is very different and maybe that is indicative of a societal movement.  The democrat's nominee is more liberal than any president we have ever had.  This is exciting for liberals, but frightening to me.  The Republican nominee doesn't represent the conservative values that are traditionally Republican.  In my opinion, both nominees have displayed behavior that is not in keeping with the position they wish to hold.  Now, no one is perfect but there are a lot of people in this country and I think we can do better.  I think a lot of people feel we can do better.  When I first heard about Evan McMullin, I was elated to know we had another option.  I wanted to know more about him, where he stood on the issues and why he was running.  I had the opportunity to hear from him in person and came home feeling confident that I could get behind this guy.  Happy even, that I could vote my conscience.  Now, this isn't a political ad for McMullin.  I simply want to express why I think it's important to stand for what you believe in.  It is possible that I may never again be in the majority in my country as far as my political views, but I won't abandon them.  It is far more important to stand up.  Still, I think there are a lot of people who feel similarly and I hope we can make a statement together and strive to elect leaders with integrity.

Pretty Blossoms

Creepy Clowns Can't Keep Us Down

I was kind of mad when our Junior High School was vandalized supposedly by the "creepy clowns".   Every entrance was hit.  MissC recieved a instagram request from a clown that stated "Fairfield, you're next!" just a day or two before.  Several others did as well.  Lots of the kids were scared.  But, they had it sandblasted pretty quickly and the Hope Squad fired back with an uplifting countervandalism attack.  They covered every entrance with uplifting messages.  This made me feel pretty great about our kids.  Way to go Hope Squad!  Don't let a creepy clown keep you down.  

Sometimes It's Hard to Get Left Behind

"I'm just waiting for Lily and Lindsey."

Powder Mountain

Guys, it was lovely when we left the house in tshirts.  It was freezing at Powder Mountain!  A crazy storm came in and it was so cold.

Tyler gets snuggled by his sisters keeping warm.  Isn't that the cutest?

I immediately bought a hoodie from the merchandise tent, but as G was freezing and needing to warm up before the race, I lent it to him and the Bishop lent an extra tee to me.

Yep, that's hail.  Besides that, pouring rain, lightning and wind.  All hit intensely as the girls were racing.  Poor girls!  Then the sun came out and it was perfect weather for our boys.  

But very very muddy.

Yep, pretty muddy.

My Little Mathematician

MissL is loving math.  I am finding these all over the house.  

Cohen's Baptism

Doesn't he look handsome in his new suit?  What a great day!  He has been soooooo excited to be baptized.  The baptism was wonderful, the confirmation blessing was perfect.  I loved having our family spend the day with us.  It was absolutely lovely.  We were delighted to have so much rain that Cohen's cousins, Nash and Curt and families were able to come due to their baseball tournaments getting cancelled.  (Sorry, but we were glad you could come.)  Thank you to everyone for sharing in our joy.

We chuckled that Grandma and Great Grandma are twinning.  They are so alike.

These girls!