Up for the Challenge

Jason and I spent most of the summer training for another of triathlon. It is so great to enjoy that goal as a couple! I felt ready for the race, though he didn't feel as good about it this year. However, we both did better than our times last year! Jason's time was 4 minutes faster and mine was two, so he did better than he thought he would!! This year my mom was here which made it more fun. She and Erik came to the race to be our cheerleaders. Since it was on a Wednesday night Victoria had Young Woman's and Austin had scouts. They had decided they wanted to go to the church instead of the race. I got them rides there and home, so they were in good hands. Karissa had cheer practice, so that's where she was.

This year we participated in the August race, instead of July, so the sun was setting sooner and it happened to be a nicer day, which made for pleasant weather! I had decided to only do breast stroke this time, and that's how I trained. It is slower than freestyle, but I actually took about a minute off my swim time because I trained that way and then I didn't need to waste my time freaking out in the water with all those people around me and getting confused with my head in the water at the lake.

This was the T-REx race, so lots of dinosaurs for decor.

Our cheerleaders.

Jason finishing up!

We did it!!

The next day, we held a lemonade stand/garage sale that the kids and I had been planning on doing for months. We planned it in conjunction with our subdivision garage sale, particularly with our corner neighbor, Barb, who always does garage sales. Victoria is going to Washington DC for her 8th grade field trip, in October. She didn't do very well in the school fundraisers (who does, really?), so we decided that a lemonade stand could be a good way to earn money without asking for a lot from one person and we get all the profit (minus the small amount it costs for the supplies). All the kids were excited to contribute. Karissa's going on a two night YMCA field trip, so some of the money will go to her trip as well, but the boys, they wanted to be a part of it, even though they're not going on any big field trips like that.

I was impressed with the work the kids put into it and the amount of time required to stay outside. They took turns advertising at the corner of the street with a sign and staying at the table. My mom and I stayed in my driveway with my garage sale items (which we only sold one of, though I didn't have much out) and the kids were one house away at the corner of the cul-de-sac in front of Barb's so they could do the work. We were touched by the contributions people made. We specified that it was for donations only for the field trips. Along with the lemonade we sold my homemade banana chocolate chip muffins. Most people bought one or both, but some just donated. One lady stopped in the middle of the cul-de-sac, handed out a bill, and drove away. The kids were very gracious to everyone. Barb's lawn service man gave $10! I couldn't believe the generosity. On Thursday they made $86! Friday only brought $10, so we closed early, but that was an amazing amount! We will do it again some day!

Erik was our taste tester. 

And he pretended to buy stuff from my little garage sale.

Happy sales people!

Big Traveler

Victoria got to go on one more vacation this summer. My mom flew her out to Utah to see her and Jim, my siblings, and their kids. Victoria flew by herself and then flew back with my mom just yesterday. I think she had a great experience from the pictures they sent me (though for some reason they won't download from my phone to the blog...) (Here's the link to my mom's blog, if you want to see what they did! www.jlandpj.blogspot.com)

 Here she is packing her bag. Leia was trying to stow away.

At the airport

 While she was gone, here's we did in Michigan.

Ran around a lake. 

Tween kitchen at the library (making edible ear wax, edible kitty litter, edible slime, and used band aids. Sounds tasty, huh?)

Erik and I went to a Nifty Fifties special event at the Plymouth library.

Monkey business.

Building Legos

 Ward campout.

Soccer in the rain.

Mafia

Roasting marshmallows.

breakfast the next morning 

pancake breakfast

more soccer

Activity Days Stake Activity

Pool at the roller skating rink

Austin won the race for his age group!

Thanks to Grandma Pat for flying Victoria out and taking care of her out in Utah! Thanks to Uncle Derek for taking her on the boat, Aunt Karina for letting her sleep at your house, and all the cousins for the fun memories! It's always a great time in Utah!

Preschool Summer Job

Since our wonderful friends, the Loosli family, moved at the beginning of the summer, my girls and I decided to take on their tradition of holding some summer preschool classes at our home as a good way for the girls to make some money and have some experience. Victoria was an assistant to Analee Loosli for two summers when they held it at their house. This summer, she took on the "lead" role and Karissa was the assistant. We only held two sessions this summer since we weren't home very much, but we're hoping to do more next summer, especially since it went so well! One mom kept saying we should have done it every week, so maybe we can even get in 4 sessions next summer if we plan it right.

Victoria and Karissa planned for the first session on our way home from Disneyworld. The theme was transportation. I was impressed at how well they planned a variety of activities and knew how to alternate between active activities, structured, free play, and "circle time". I guess having come to work with me many times gave them a good basis for how to lay out a preschool lesson. Even the day of, the girls were very professional and the boys did a great job "staying out of their way". They supported the girls by cooperating and participating when appropriate.

First session circle time.

A game the girls created that involved the children moving like different modes of transportation.

Our second session was all about bugs. We had a few extra kids and one of them was a fair bit younger, but I had invited him on purpose, thinking he would be a good fit. After I had watched him a week before at playgroup, I knew he was going to be a bit too young, so I assigned Austin to be his special buddy. Austin was wonderful! He stuck with him and guided him gently to where he needed to be. Austin got some of the pay for that session! (We charged $5 per kid for the two hours).

I am so proud of my kids for being such great preschool teachers! I have no expectations of them doing this when they're grown up, but if they want to do it over the summer at Red Bell when they're 16, they will be hired there for sure!

Story time at second session.

Hunting for bugs. Yes, some of the older ones are almost as tall as Karissa.

Looking at the bugs in the compost bin.

Bug yoga.

Snack time: ants on a log.

Austin and his buddy making the craft.

They colored plates and glued on spots to make lady bugs.

I Love My Family!

Jason and I celebrated our 19th anniversary last week. We went to dinner that night to get Indian food, my favorite!! It wasn't much on our actual anniversary, but we've been celebrating with our time at the Journey concert last month, some time at the temple, and our weekly bike rides we get to go on in preparation for our triathlon in a couple of weeks. This Saturday, my good friend Gayla wants to come over and have us leave for 4 1/2 hours while she hangs with the kids. She loves doing that about once a year. My kids love it too! Since it will be after 3, the last session of the temple is at 3, we will do our ride in the afternoon, followed by a run, to get a good training session in, and then soak in the hot tub at the Summit. Sounds like a good date to me!

Happy Anniversary to us!!

Victoria was at Girl's Camp last week and I have to say that we did have some quieter moments! We missed her as well, and all her siblings gave her very sweet hugs when she returned. 

This is Jade, Victoria's new friend from the other ward she met last year at camp. They rekindled their friendship this year. They made these awesome crafts with the Detroit Temple pictures. The theme for camp was: Decisions Determine Destiny, and that is what she wrote on her frame. 

Someone had to keep up the hair-doing while Victoria was gone. Karissa found out how to make her own cats ears using her very own hair and pipe cleaners!

Karissa and Leia

I convinced them to go on a bike ride with me to the Dairy-go-Round to get ice cream, while Victoria was gone. It was a fun 7 mile round trip!

Another day, we made homemade Kona Ice, after having them go to the grocery store with me to pick out their own items for a meal for under $10 each. They did great and were super helpful!

Just blend up ice so it's like a snow cone and add melted freeze pop juice. They were in heaven!

Erik lost a tooth at playgroup. It was so loose, it just fell out!

This week, Austin's been at cub scout day camp.  I got to go today as a chaperone. It was super fun, but I have a lot of respect for those leaders in charge of that!

I love all these moments with my family! They're so great!!