So I guess it's fall . . .

I have a hard time with the first day of school in CA. When I was a kid it FELT like fall. The leaves were changing color and the long pants and the sweater your mom bought you were actually weather appropriate. Today was 107 and I don't think the traditional Minnesotan back-to-school outfit was on anyone's body.

My kids are Californians. Yeah for new traditions!

Since I made Heidi a new school dress the other girls decided they wanted one too. Molly's is a cupcake dress and Emily's has Japanese dolls on them. She's all about Japan these days. Really. This week a Japanese exchange student is coming over and she can't wait. Notice that Heidi is still wearing her school dress (but the reverse side of the last time it appeared on the blog). She has been to school three days and has worn that dress three times. I wonder when she'll want to wear something else. (Also, that reminds me, I have to go change the washing so I can get the dress out for tomorrow. Done. Isn't it fun to do chores together?)

Check this kid out! She looks so grown up to me! She's in second grade and I cannot believe it. We are so excited about her teacher and her classmates. I asked Emily what she wants to learn this year and she told me "cursive and multiplication". OK then, here's to a year filled with cursive and multiplication!

Cute little Molls started Kindergarten today. She has the same teacher Emily had and we couldn't be happier about that. When Molly went into the classroom she sat right down on the rug. Apparently she didn't want to waste time coloring or playing little games. She was ready to get down to business. She has lots of cute friends in her class and gets excited to talk with them. I hope that she will learn to NOT talk for at least part of the day.

Happy fall!

Cubs in the Woods

Scott and I, along with Uncle Whit, Uncle Mike & the famous Savannah went camping last weekend. At first I was really hesitant to leave Heidi but Scott convinced me that backpacking is different than car camping. Aside from Girls Camp, I haven't had a lot of camping experience, but you know, he was right - there is a difference! Heidi had more fun with the cousins and grandparents anyway. They went to McDonald's for breakfast.

Scott, Emily, P, Molly and Q getting ready for the 2 mile hike.

Here's Molly pretending to be a turtle.

Emily decided to get up with the sun so instead of waking up the other kids, she and I went on an adventure. We ate our breakfast (not McDonald's) by the river. Do you recognize the jammies?

Have you ever seen kids happier to be in a tent? We might have to do this again soon.

3 of 3

Once upon a time, Emily started preschool at Cathy's house.

She LOVED it.

So did Molly.

Heidi couldn't wait to start too . . .

and today was the BIG day!

Happy first day of big kid preschool to cute little Heidi!

76 days to go

We went to Costco today.

Costco tends to have seasonal things ready to go waaay before the season actually begins. I didn't see Christmas trees today but we did see Halloween costumes!

Belle, a groovy girl (who kind of dresses like Blossom) and Merliah are ready for Fall. Good news girls - Halloween is only 76 days away.

Oh, so salty!

Haven't you always wanted to go to the Bonneville Salt Flats Rest Area on I-80? OK, maybe you haven't, but I have. It looks like another planet!

Unfortunately, it was so bright the girls thought it was like being on the sun. Oh well. We got back into the car and ate salty pretzels instead of standing on the salt.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

The Reward

Any kid who climbs to Timpanogos Caves as quickly as Emily did deserves a treat.

Thank goodness there was a shave ice stand near the bottom.

Dear owner of this Hawaiian Ice stand. You were the best, and trust me, I sampled a lot during the trip. Please come to the ville. I will have all my friends addicted immediately.

Quilt on a Mountain

Let's be honest, the scenery in the ville is not always so gorgeous. I have a super talented friend who is displays her quilts on her fence. She can't help that the background is lush and mountainy but I was a little jealous. I decided that I was tired of displaying my handiwork on the living room floor.

So this time when I finished my latest quilt, I brought it on vacation with me so it could have the mountains it deserves. After all, my ancestors moved from the UK to Utah. Shouldn't I move a little UK to UT?

Before I get to the quilt, how cute are these girls?

And now here's the latest summer obsession! I'd like to thank le tour de France for giving me hours of TV watching during July. I'd also like to thank my favorite youngest sister, Kristen, for standing on a chair as I yelled, "3 inches to the left, now up a bit more, etc," while taking these photos.

And because I am either a show-off or a glutton for punishment - or maybe both? - here's the back of the quilt. Hey, I had some left-overs. If you look carefully you can see my favorite part of the photo - Heidi sneaking into my aunt's storage barn through the window.

PC, UT

I love Park City. On Valentine's Day, 1992 I was on a date with Scott. On the last run of the day (Isn't it always like that?) I hit a bump, crashed and broke my collarbone. Luckily I didn't scare Scott off. In fact, a little under five years later we were back at Park City on our honeymoon.

Before last week I'd never been on an alpine slide and for heavens sake, I thought it was time to do something about it. Everyone had a great time, including Aunt Kristen and Grandpa Ted. Heidi especially LOVED the ride on the chair lift. I did not love sitting next to her because she was so wiggly. It's too bad she has no fear - too bad for me.

Kristen and I loved the alpine coaster so much we went back the next day and did it again. While we were there it was sunny and beautiful and just how you'd imagine heaven.

We made it home just in time for a giant rainstorm.

Emily didn't mind running around - or even spinning - in her clothes.

Molly was a little more appropriately dressed. She didn't want to accidently get her eyes wet. Do you see what she's holding? HAIL! (Everyone now, pretend you're 9 again and say, "OH HAIL!" Does that bring back memories of being slightly naughty?) I was a little worried that they wanted to play in it but I figured they'd probably get out as soon as the hail started hurting. How often do we get to play in hail in the ville? Never, so I thought we should live it up.

This was actually a different day but I thought it was appropriate to show another kind of downpour here. At the Gateway Center there's a great fountain kids can play in. Every half hour some music comes on and kids go bananas because that means the fountains go bananas. I think Heidi liked it.

The Funny Farm

The ville was way too hot, the girls were getting restless and we just needed a change of scenery for a while. My mom escapes AZ every summer and I thought I'd join her escape to UT. Another CA sister came too!

I went to UT nearly every summer as a kid and even went to BYU, but I never really appreciated how gorgeous everything is in the summer until this year. Why? I'm not sure, but I think it had something to do with having older kids (older is relative at our house) who can skip naps and do fun stuff. I loved hanging out with the girls and having great adventures.

Our first adventure was to Wheeler Farm. We grabbed Lola (the aunt dog) and Bear (the cousin dog) and went out to look at some animals.

Emily was a walking Wikipedia. She had a notebook that she had with her the whole trip. Every time she saw a different animal she wrote it down. By the end of the week we even added rattlesnake to the list. EEEKS!

Molly and Heidi decided to do a dog and pony show, but without the ponies. Those little dogs slept well every night, that's for sure.

My husband is a superhero

Seriously.

A year ago Scott decided he might as well start running. It turns out he is a really good runner. Since he finished a few marathons pretty easily he thought ht might as well start training for something else. Next month he'll be in a HALF IRONMAN. Superhero.

A few weeks ago Scott and Emily went on a training ride together. He attached our trailing bike to his road bike and rode to his parent's house. It was not close. Apparently my daughter is also a superhero.

On Saturday, as I was driving back from Utah, Scott was in a triathlon. As if that wasn't exhausting enough, later that afternoon he decided to go with a friend on a 50 mile bike ride - the temple was "on the way" (not really) so they decided to get a photo op.

I am married to a very handsome superhero.