Sibling Saturday at BYU

The first Saturday in August is always our Sibling Saturday - a fun day to spend with the family.  We chose to go to BYU, go bowling, eat at the Creamery and wander the campus.  Our kids love BYU and always have a great time while we are there.
Our first stop was the Creamery on the Ninth for lunch.  Yum!  We were so full, we decided to come back later for ice cream.  We walked to the Wilkinson Center and planned on going bowling, but the lanes were reserved for a private party, so we were out of luck.  Not to worry, we had plenty to do.
We ended up in the children's book section downstairs in the Bookstore.  The kids had such a fun time looking at all the books.  We hadn't planned on it, but we let each child pick out one book to take home.  They were all happy with their selections and they still remember they got those books at BYU.
Back to the Creamery for ice cream.  Double yum!  Their mint brownie is amazing!  Gavin and I both get it every time we go.
On our way home, we stopped for some pictures.  Isn't BYU the best place ever!?

 

 

 

NWR at the Zoo

Northwest Research again had their company summer party at Hogle Zoo.  We, again, loved it. 
A funny story before we left for the zoo.  I needed to run Gavin to his saxophone lessons.  I loaded Guard in the car and told Enoch and Kate I would be right back.  Enoch is always begging to be 'in charge' and 'watch Kate' while I take Gavin the 3 minutes to lessons.  They were happily watching Wild Kratts, so I told them I would be right back, they said okay and I left.  When I got back a few minutes later, Enoch and Kate were crying in the driveway with our neighbor comforting them.  I asked what happened.  Apparently, they were so into Wild Kratts they didn't hear me tell them I was taking Gavin to saxophone lessons (even though Enoch looked right at me and said, "okay mom, I'll watch Kate").  They thought I had left them home and went to the zoo by myself.  Yep.  I sneaked out of the house and went to the zoo.  Because when I don't have kids, that is where I'm heading.  Needless to say, they were upset.  And Enoch hasn't babysat since.
When we got to the zoo we had a yummy dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings, watched the bird show, rode the train and the carousel and saw a lot of animals.  Our visit in pictures:

 

Look at Kate's cute braids.  She calls them stuffed braids (I think because they are thicker than normal).

 

 

It was so hot that even the tigers were taking a swim.  Enoch was wondering why the water was blue in the tiger's pool.  Gavin told him that tiger's pee is blue (insert eye roll here - aren't big brothers fun?).  Enoch totally bought into it and was telling that to everyone who came to see the tigers.

 My little animal lover!

 

We have to measure ourselves every year.  I told you my kids have monkey arms!

 

 

In the eagle's nest.  Isn't he a good sport?!

 We all enjoyed the new exhibit, Rocky Shores.  They kids loved the seals and bears.

I think Guard liked the bird show.  He just spent the whole time taking it all in.

 

As many times as we have seen this elephant...Enoch still got sneezed on and was startled.

 Ohh?  Is that where teenage boys come from?

 Enoch is incredible at monkey bars.  He found these and played and played.  Greg asked him if he could do some pull-ups.  Could he ever!  A lot of them.  Not to be outdone, Greg jumped in on the fun.  No fair!  They have the freaky Fowler upper body strength.  I didn't even try, but Gavin did.  He just hung there.  Sorry, sweetie.  You get your wimpy arms from me.

We had a great time!  Thanks NWR!

Swimming Lessons

Enoch and Kate have been asking about swimming lessons since last September.  They love swimming and swimming lessons with Bailey are 'SO MUCH FUN, I CAN'T STAND IT!'.
I have been pestering Bailey, our cute next door neighbor, if she was going to do swimming lessons again this year.  When she brought over the flyers, I immediately signed my kids up for the entire month of July.  First, for the fun factor.  Second, for the convenience of just having to send them next door.  And lastly, for safety - with a trip to Lake Powell coming up, the kids needed to be comfortable in the water.

 

 The first session was great.  Enoch went at 8:30am and Kate at 9am.  They had a great time and knew a few kids in their classes.  The second session was perfect.  Because some kids needed to change times and a few got moved to other classes based on ability, Kate was the only one left in her class.  Enoch's class was big, so we moved Enoch and Kate to the same time and they basically had private lessons.  It was fabulous.

 

 

Enoch improved so much.  He can now do his freestyle stroke and can float on his back.  You wouldn't think that floating would be so difficult, but Enoch is a Fowler.  Fowlers sink.  His favorite part was diving for the rockets at the end of each lesson.

 

Kate is an expert back-floater.  Bailey said that she didn't have a student that could float as well as Kate.  Her strokes also improved and she got over her fear of getting her ears wet - not her eyes or face, but her ears.  Kate's favorite part of lessons was doing cannonballs.

 

 It is amazing as a mom to see your kids improve at things - especially at things that are difficult.  Maybe it's so amazing to be because swimming doesn't come naturally to me.  Enoch and Kate love the water.  They did so well in their lessons.  It was fun to watch and brought my heart joy to see them having fun, learning and working hard to improve.

Cub Scouts at the Water Slides

The Best Pack Meeting Ever!  That is how I feel every year when we go to Classic Water Slides for our July Pack Meeting.  We have a hot dog dinner, an extra short Pack Meeting (prayer and pledge) and then more water sliding.

 

 

Enoch and Kate stuck mostly to the little pool, except when they would go down the big slides with Dad.  Gavin had a great time with his friends.  Guard snoozed in his stroller by the side of the pool with Mom. 

 

 

The highlight of the night was the bubble bouncy house.  Yes, a giant bubble bouncy house.  My kids LOVED it!  They pumped bubbles into the bouncy house and let the kids in a few at a time.  So much fun!

 

 

 

Can't wait until next year (Enoch will be a Cub Scout then! Yikes!).

Gone Into Reading

As Grandma Randall would say, Gavin has gone into reading this summer.  If he has free time, his nose is in a book (or his Nook).  He has read new books, he has read old books.  He read all seven Harry Potter books in four days (he's a fast reader!). 
His favorite was Micheal Vey 2.  When I brought it home from Costco, he grabbed it and was done with it in about 90 minutes.  I only wish new books would last a bit longer.
I am thankful for his good example for Enoch and Kate.  Enoch is currently reading Dragon Slayer's Academy (recommended by Gavin) and Kate still loves her Dr. Seuss books.
I love how Gavin involves the whole family!

 

Bath Time

When Guard was a newborn, he hated his bath.  Now, he loves it.  Lots of splashing, kicking, smiling (and occasionally peeing) going on in the tub.

 

He loves to have his hair washed.  Just like his mom, he really enjoys a good head massage.  And he has such a smile of contentment when I rinse his hair with warm water.

 His feet are ticklish and getting him to unclamp his toes is work.

He likes his water quite warm and squishes up his face if the water is cool.

It's the highlight of our day!