Great Harvest field trip...

On Monday, Ryder's preschool class went on a field trip to Great Harvest. L-O-V-E Great Harvest bread!

They got to take a little tour and learn all about making bread.

He showed them how they take the wheat and grind it into flour.

Then he showed them how they mix the dough in their GINORMOUS mixer!

Playing with some dough.

The kids got to see the enormous oven and also the bread slicer and then they got to put the sticker on their own freshly baked and sliced loaf of bread.  :)  Seriously, my mouth is watering.

After the tour and our slice of pumpkin bread we headed over to see the temple since it was just up the road.

I just love the peace you can feel even just being on the temple grounds.  The flowers were beautiful and the boys were happy wandering around.

Ryder spotted Angel Moroni and the conversation went something like this...

Ryder:  Who's that up there?
Me:  That is Moroni.  He is on all of the temples.
Ryder:  Is he a boy?
Me:  Yes, he's a boy.
Ryder:  He looks like a superhero!
Me:  Well, he was a super special guy and did lots of important jobs for Heavenly Father and Jesus.
Ryder:  He plays the trumpet.  He's cool!
Me:  Yes, he is pretty cool.

The next day after we dropped Ryder off at preschool I asked Sawyer where he wanted to go today and he said, "Temple!  Temple!"  :)

Casting Leightyn...

I love the tradition of casting baby's hands and feet. It is something Steve's family does and I think it is a wonderful preservation of these precious baby moments that pass so quickly.

We love Aunt Nelda! She is an expert caster and we love that she comes to visit and does the casting for us. We tried to do it on our own for Kendyl and Brityn and the results don't even compare to what we get from Aunt Nelda.

Leightyn was the best castee of them all!  She hardly fussed sticking her hands and feet in the impression material.

Kendyl was an excellent assistant and very interested in finding out how it all works.

All done, time for a bath!  Thank you Aunt Nelda (and Aunt Margaret) for coming and sharing your time with us!  We love you!!!

Springs Preserve...

Last fall I bought a voucher for a family pass at the Springs Preserve, but amidst being pregnant and bed rest and kidney stones and holidays and just general busy-ness and poor weather, we didn't get over there to redeem it. So when we finally had a free Saturday with some really gorgeous weather, we headed over to check out the Springs Preserve and turn in the voucher before it expires.

We got there just in time to learn about Ladybugs and do a craft.  Can't go wrong with paint and paintbrushes.

After we painted our rocks we went outside to release some ladybugs.  The only one brave enough to let a whole bunch on her was Kendyl.

Ryder was content to observe them in the grass and on other people.

Sawyer got one on his hand and then promptly shook it off.  :)

Brityn did not want to touch any, but a couple of them landed on her shirt.

Ryder found one that had gotten smooshed.  He was concerned.

After the ladybugs, we headed into the gardens to explore.

We found a bunch of cool statues.

We stopped in to the trading room where they have some hands on things to see and where you can bring in any cool fossils, rocks, shells, etc. and trade them in for points.  Not sure what you can use your points for, but it looked cool.

Leightyn was a good sport and snoozed in the stroller.

Lately Sawyer has been packing around his favorite "orange car".  It goes everywhere with him and he seems to know exactly where he has left it whenever we go looking for it.  So.  Of course, "orange car" went with us to the Springs Preserve and I'm sure you can imagine what happens next...L-O-S-T.  So we backtrack everywhere we'd been for the last 2 hours, searched the stroller and diaper bag and pockets.  Nothing.  We load up everyone in the car and I reach into my pocket and there is "orange car".  You would not believe the relief, happiness, complaining and blaming that immediately followed that discovery!

At least it was a fun afternoon and we are looking forward to exploring the rest of the Preserve and checking out the museums, but I think next time "orange car" better stay home!

Reading week...

It was "Reading Week" at the kids' school this week. They had several guest readers come in each day and fun activities throughout the week. One of the nights they celebrated Dr. Suess's birthday.

Sawyer and Leightyn have been sick with coughs and runny noses, so they stayed home with Steve while I took the older three. Kendyl had V.P. duties so Brityn and Ryder and I went and did some of the fun things they had set up.

We made Dr. Suess hats and Thing 1 puppets and played book bingo.

We made hot air balloons and named all the places we wanted to go.

We didn't catch up with Kendyl until the end, but she got to do a bunch of the activities too.

On Friday, both Steve and I went to Kendyl and Brityn's classes and read and brought treats.  We love to read!!!