Toronto & Niagara Falls!!

 Greg's immediate boss is in Toronto, so he made another visit to work there for a week. And we used his miles for me to fly up on Wednesday the 9th to join him. My flight was delayed in SLC so my nice relaxing afternoon I had planned didn't happen. I literally dropped my bags, grabbed my heavy jacket and we left to meet up with his boss, Ben and his girlfriend for dinner. We ate at the revolving restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. It was great food and fun to talk and visit. Fun to hear what Canadian's think of everything , and to compare it to America, and with it being the day after Trump won the election and all the news it was interesting.

The CN Tower is the worlds tallest building, in recent years a few others surpassed it, but it's still the tallest in the Western Hemisphere. We were at the 115th floor or something. And we stood on the first ever glass floor (now you can find them all over). I thought it would be easy to walk out on, but when it came down to it, it kinda freaked me out and I did it for a quick moment to take a picture. Ha! But our views otherwise were amazing. The observation deck would switch from red to white lights. So I have selfie pics with both lights.

Thursday there was room service and I slept in until my hearts content. It was so so nice not having to get up for anyone or anything. Then I did a city bus tour. Luckily it was a nice sunny day, windy, but sunny. In the mid 50 degrees. I enjoyed it, except I forgot my hair elastic, so I kept trying to tuck my hair in my jacket. I tried capturing a few selfie's with the CN Tower. Greg thought parts of Toronto reminded him of New York. I totally think it's more like San Francisco. It's like the 4th or 5th largest city in North America. There are a ton of tall buildings full of condo's, lots of people live in the Toronto area.

And the super yummy ice cream cones were from a famous place called Sweet Jesus ice cream. We actually got those and ate them on the way to the airport. And I love the cone holder/drip guard. Why doesn't America use those? That would save my little kids a big mess.

After my bus tour I went back to the hotel to warm up a bit and as soon as Greg got off work, we rented a car and headed out to Niagara Falls. I was really excited to go. Toronto and Niagara in November aren't ideal, a lot of attractions are seasonal so some stuff wasn't offered and at Niagara we went at night so the boat tours and other things also aren't offered, but it was still lit up and amazing.

When we got there we drove around a bit, luckily it's off season so the millions of visitors weren't there. We went up to the top of the Sklyon Tower, in the picture there. It was freezing and windy. They also switch the lights from white to multi colored every few minutes.

And then we drove through and jumped out for a few pics along Table Rock and Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian Side. I really wanted to go to the American side as well, but Greg didn't want to wait at the border to cross there and back.

It was so cool and amazing to finally see the famous Niagara Falls! I really want to go back, in the day time, when it's warm and so I can explore a little more. One day perhaps. It was also neat to feel a little mist and hear the loud roar of the falls. The fact that they light it up at night is also just so cool. We are in front of American Falls which is lit from behind and is brighter lights, then the Horseshoe Falls are lit from shinning lights across from it. So it's not as brilliant and bright. And they were getting ready for their Christmas lights so we saw a few already on.  So after dinner and pictures and a few souvenirs. We headed back our 1 1/2 hour car ride to Toronto.

We flew home on Friday afternoon and arrived in SLC just as this beautiful sunset was happening over the Great Salt Lake. Not as big as Lake Ontario, but so awesome and pretty.

I am so glad I was able to join Greg on another trip. Canada is great, I had such a fun time, and a relaxing time. And am so thankful to my mom for watching our boys while we were gone.

Creeds big 10

 Creed is in the double digits now. We had a brief reminiscence of the day he was born and how he was my most difficult delivery and recovery. And we had a few good laughs of some pictures of him. Like this one...

Poo! Yes, that's poo on his hands and mouth. Yuck! When I saw this picture, it all came back to me (can't believe I forgot it in the depths of my memories) that Creed would sometimes be curious about what he had just done in his diaper and stick his hand down his bum and would of course get poo all over. I remember scrubbing his hands and using hand sanitizer. One time he did get it all over his crib and wall etc. - Ah, fun times!

And it seems at the end of the day when his hair has dried and fallen down he has the same hair-do he did as a one year old. See... what a cute little guy with a cute hair cut!

And now below, the sucker in his mouth is the one. See, same hair? Ha! I also took a picture at church of his hair-do because we are cutting it! Thank heavens! It was bugging me having him swish his head all the time trying to get the hair out of his eyes. The sign he is flashing he says "Chunck and a duce" - all the time. Ugh. The boys all do it with friends and think it's funny, it's from some show they watch.

 And then his green parakeet bird he got for his birthday. He named him Fredrick. Jax has been wanting a bird, so he got one for his b-day coming up and so the birds will have a buddy, we got the boys both one.

The morning of his birthday he had to come wake me up because he was sick of waiting for presents. He was a happy camper getting what he wanted. His precious lava lamp, electric tooth brush, sword, hovering helicopter ball, and his bird. I think that is all? I was going to start a new thing this school year and take the boys out to lunch on their b-day. But he decided he didn't want to miss recess and playing with his friends. Ha! Forget mom, I want to play. So I just brought him some McDonalds to school.

He isn't a huge fan of cake. So he opted to have a big 'ol chocolate shake! The boys call the shakes Greg makes "Heaven" so that's what we served for dessert. Grandparents came for dinner and celebrating. He loves getting presents of course.

10 candles weren't going to work in the whipping cream, so 3 it was blowing out the candles. Now Rafe has been constantly talking about his birthday and what he wants and what he's going to do. I tell him to stop, he has months to go and I don't wanna here about it everyday. Eh!

 Creed is a funny kid. He loves to joke around and make people laugh. He is my Rafe cheerer-upper. He still loves his video games and playing clash of clans or whatever on his ipod. We have to limit his time because he'd spend all day doing that stuff. He loves playing with friends and gets all silly with Greg sometimes, he eats cereal everyday for breakfast, he loves hot spicy food and likes sushi/seafood, chocolate milk, and pasta. He and Jax get on each others nerves and he can have a mean streak. I get mad at him everyday for something he does or says or disobeys.  His primary teachers usually love him, even if he's always standing and a little interrupting, at least he knows the answers and makes them laugh. And I love it, everyday when the boys all walk to school when they get there, Creed makes sure to kiss Rafe and hug Bodie goodbye as they walk to their side of the building. Apparently they do this in Primary before going to class sometimes too. Aw, melts my mom heart. Creed is a joy and a pill all at the same time. He is great! 

Greg says, once Creed starts laughing he can't stop, he loves the snuggles with Creed, and loves watching him play soccer."

 Happy 10th Birthday to Creedo!

Fall Sports

 Here's our sports report...

Rafe played soccer for the 1st time. And really he just ran around with his team and avoided the ball at all costs. Ha! Silly kid. It was comical actually. The ball would come right to him or he'd be the nearest one to kick it. And... he wouldn't touch it. He was too scared, too shy, and claimed he didn't know how to do soccer. Creed was such a good brother and helped him outside a few times and tried during warm up. Rafe is capable of kicking it. His coach would have him do the kickoff sometimes, knowing that's his only time to touch the ball and Rafe would give it a little tap. Good grief! But he would be out there running around and appeared to be having a good time. He also did his thing of skipping and hopping around. He also said he want's to play again. So it's a win I guess.

Bodie asked to play flag football and was so excited! He learned a lot and gained a lot of skills during his short little season. I mean he came a long way from the 1st game to his last. He was cute and would always be raising his hand and asking his coach if he can do something, almost every play he'd be asking. Sometimes he'd get his turn, sometimes not. And sometimes the play would go ok and sometimes not. But he loved it and says it's his favorite sport now. He is such a good happy kid and made some good buddies out on the field. And at home he was always wanting to throw the ball with someone and during Rafe's games the boys would all be throwing the football together.

 And Creed did his thang! Soccer again. I wish his games were up at the U field house too. I'm a fair weather fan. Ha! He had fun and his team had a good season. Creed's hair was often times kinda wild while he played. He got to play all different positions and really enjoyed playing, even though sometimes we'd get him complaining about getting ready and having to go, once we were there he'd be fine.

Creed's last game he was awesome and he played so well. Greg and I kept looking at each other and were impressed that he was "on it". And it was nice, we had an early Saturday morning date. Jax was in charge of the boys at home while we took Creed to his game. Just Greg and I sitting and cheering on Creed. Here we are before the sunrise. We got home before the sunrise too. 8am is too early.

Halloween 2016

 I love Halloween. I say it every year. But I do. The whole thing is just fun! 

The day finally arrived. I had a frantic morning and might have yelled trying to get my children in their costumes and out the door in time. I had to hurry over to the school for their parade. I love the parade. Waiting around for it I don't love. But I'm so glad their school does it. Everyone loved Bodie's costume. Creed helped do his make-up, Rafe was glad to get to wear a little under his eyes. And I made Jax put some "zombie" make-up on so he would be a zombie ballerina instead of just a girl ballerina. Greg was bugged by what he wanted to be. It was funny and he had fun with it though.

 I helped with Jax's class party (games outside). And a silly pose by Jax and his friend Gavin (dressed as Tron). Then I grabbed Rafe from kindergarten and we went and helped in Bodie's class party. See Rafe and Bodie helping each other in Bingo. So cute.

Home from school at 4pm, then an hour later it was time to put costume's back on and touch up the make up and take pictures!

Let me introduce... Rafe as Master Chief (from the video game Halo) then Jax the zombie Ballerina (who immediately washed off the itchy make-up paint around his eyes), then the famous Bodie the Hobo (Bo the HoBo - get it? as he says) a homeless guy, and a repeat appearance from Creed as the Mummy. A zombie mummy I suppose with his make-up and blood lines he added himself.

A normal pose and seeing Rafe's face. He only wore the helmet for this picture. 

Then it was off to our annual neighborhood soup garage party. New location this year but same thing. We ate, then dashed home to get jackets because it was getting quite cold. Then headed out trick-or-treating with the Unguren's. The last several years we go around with them and their kids. Rafe lasted quite a bit, then at a donut stop he decided he was done and wanted to go home. It was almost 8pm so I took him home and we answered the door at our house. I turned our lights on, got a picture of our breezeway with our black lights and all the bats I put up. Making it spooky ya know. :) And when the older boys got home, we had pounds of candy, and face washing and showers, warmed up Greg and tried getting them tucked in bed. The parents too. What a day! 

Leading to Halloween

 I went on my first field trip with one of my children. I joined the 1st grade to the pumpkin patch. Bodie begged me to go. And by golly, I didn't have any little ones at home to deal with, so I did it! We went to the one in Farmington that Jax and Creed both did and I'm sure next year Rafe will as well. The last picture is from Sunday, it was Stake Conf. and I had Bodie and Rafe both laying on my lap, being tired and tortured for 2 hours. Ha! I loved Bodie's teeth and the top 2 coming in so I took a picture of his grin.

Friday before was no school, again. We just had fall break, but whatever. (Rafe was sick over fall break btw, with a fever (Scarlet Fever again) so we didn't do anything.) My mom joined us going to Gardner Village. I thought in the middle of a weekday it would be slow. But no, it was crowded. It was the big witches weekend. But we had fun and enjoyed the witches and the feeling of fall. Bodie was not in a good mood at one point, that's why he's only in one picture and certainly not smiling in that.

Then Friday night our ward had a trunk-or-treat. I made the boys do simple costumes because it was going to be quick and easy. Even though we had to stay the whole time and helped with the refreshments. All repeat stuff, Jax as Batman, Rafe Superman, Creed the mummy, and Bodie his go to Ninja. 

And then on Saturday night Greg's Bangerter cousins had a costume party. So I borrowed a cowboy hat (I've always wanted to wear one) and made Greg wear his swim suit and he went as a beach bum. Another quick and easy costume. We took our boys to G-ma/pa Lorenzon in Alpine while we went to the party. The next day, Sunday, we had family dinner at Greg's parents, again in Alpine. And the leaves were amazing in their yard. Bodie wanted some pics with him, then he photo bombed Rafe's picture with the leaves.

And Friday night after the trunk-or-treat we realized we would have no time to carve pumpkins. So we stayed up and got that done. Greg cuts, the older boys help clean guts, I help the boys figure out what kind of face they want and help draw those for Greg to cut out. Next year we need to plan better, pick pumpkins early, and schedule a good time to carve. Then we won't be rushed and can assist the boys with the knives and tools to start doing all their own jack o-lanterns. The boys are always very proud of the pumpkins. Me too.

The Recital

 Greg luckily came home from the hunt on Saturday afternoon so I could run up north to my high school reunion. And luckily they came back by Sunday because we had the Primary Program and a Piano Recital that day. 

I had to take a picture after Sacrament meeting of my handsome boys. Don't Creed and Jax look like little men in that picture? 
So last year and this year I got to have all 4 of them in the Primary Program. Jax leaves primary really soon. In fact there was only like 4 of them left from his class of 16. But he was happy to be apart of it. The boys did their parts well, they sang, well I can't say I saw Rafe sing much. And some songs I could tell Bodie was singing. But it's all good. I only cried a little. Greg wanted me to massage his hand during it, psssshaw! I had wet fingers from wiping my eyes too often. No, I wasn't that bad. I just want to always remember how neat it was and how happy I was to have all my kids in the primary doing their thing.

After church we went home and Greg made one of his usual Sunday lunches. Spam sandwiches. What? Spam you say? I know. Greg's parents came for the program and stayed for sandwiches with us.

* The Recital*

A year after starting real piano lessons Jax and Creed finally had their first recital. Luckily everyone playing goes through the songs quick so it was only like 35 min. long. I was not only proud of Jax and Creed for playing well and not messing up but for being the only kids to speak up and say their song title's loud and clear and smile and look at the audience. Several people commented on their presence. Made me happy. And instead of a bow, Jax did "the Dab" (dance move made famous in a football touchdown move, head down arms up) at the end of his. I missed it with my camera but caught his arms in action. The boys did have their 2 pieces memorized but she wanted everyone to have their music just in case.

For posterity: Their piano teacher is Rebekah Smith, she is in our ward and lives down a ways from us. Jax goes to his lessons on Monday afternoons and Creed goes Tuesday mornings at 7:45am before school. When they practice I ask them to do it for 10 minutes a day. And it is NEVER for that long. They will whip through their songs in 2 minutes and think they are done. I'm always bugging them to do it again or for longer. They also really need to memorize the notes and their names. For a year it's been a never ending process.

I would like Bodie to start piano as well. But I have kinda tried, and I kinda think he's not quite ready to grasp the hand movement. All in due time.

The Hunt '16

I should have Greg do this post. Why am I, I wasn't even there. But, it was Creed's first time to get to go. They went down to Fish Lake. I was very glad about that. The weather is warmer and better than the Uinta's. They left on a Wednesday night after dinner, the boys got to miss 2 days of school. Greg took our camper and they did the usual you know... Fished, woke up early and saw the sunrise while hiking, rode the horses for part of a day, watched the others skin and quarter their elk, carved with pocket knives, scoped the mountain side for spikes, ate junk food, ate meat (beef), stayed warm, and came home on a Saturday. There was plenty of kids this time to play with. Jax has usually been the only one. But this year it all changed. Scott's 2 boys were there, cousin Jake had his daughter Annie, and Abe had cousin Lucy. Greg didn't get an elk, and that's a-ok. Fun time camping and hanging out.

The little boys sure missed their older brother's. They kept asking how long till they get back and said how they missed them. It was a lot quieter at home while they were gone. But we watched movies and had dinners and played while they were gone.

My Reunion

Oh boy I can't believe I just had my 20 year high school reunion! Like can't believe it's been that long. I'm that old. That is trippy!

I still see and visit my close friends from school/growing up almost every month. In fact just in Sept. I was in Park City for our annual girls weekend away. (the black and white picture is of us - Britnee, Amber, Elizabeth, Aspen, Jolene, me, Becky) -some have also moved away. For the Reunion I didn't really want to go, didn't want to pay the money for dinner, my friends didn't want to go. But, I also knew if I didn't go then I'd regret it. I don't want to have a regret in life if I can help it. An unusual thing happened on Facebook. The high school page and everyone started sharing their life updates. And I mean sharing it all, good, bad, crazy, sad, I even did one - one of the more simple and pleasant updates, I didn't share the gritty I guess. Anyways, so it kinda sparked an interest to go and see former classmates. In the end it was just 3 of us from my group, myself, Amber and Jolene. We met up with a few more that night. We had some good visits and we were glad that we did go. And I know I was glad to have the 2 of them to stick with, there's a few pictures of us.

Yeah Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah the class of 1996! We had a class of about 630 or so graduate. And that night I think there was about 200 people there. I enjoyed high school, I was proud to be a Viking and loved where I grew up. And I am really grateful I am still in touch with my best friends and see them as often as I do. In fact, I wish I was a little closer to them, once a month isn't enough for friends. But we'll take what we can get I guess.

And just for a good throw back, here is my activity card from my senior year. Rocking the bangs. And having youthful skin. Ha!

October stuff

 Greg was home this fall for the Oct. General Conference. The last many years, he's been on the elk hunt. But he switched up dates this year. I would like to say we all watched it and had a wonderful special time and made a nice traditional breakfast or something like that. But, we ate nothing special, and didn't focus and we weren't able to sit and listen very well. Our boys were sure busy, playing and goofing off and not paying attention and it makes it hard for the adults to listen too. I suppose Greg and I could have cracked the whip and tried harder, the boys were naughty, we were lazy, but we had it on and listened to what we could and enjoyed being together. 

On the sidelines for a while Bodie combed and played with my hair. A lot of pulling and a lot of ouch but I always love it when my boys play with my hair. It's the best!

One evening our good old friend and former downstairs basement apartment tenant, Michael Beckstead was in town and stopped by to visit. So naturally the boys get all hyper when company is over. I was trying to take a picture and got the chaos. Then I got one on the couch that worked.

Then I was working with Bodie on his handwriting - which is quite awful and his teachers ask that he practice. So I asked him to write our last name. So he wrote what he thought it might be. Ha ha. I wrote the correct spelling underneath. I did work with him last year on how to spell our last name. Apparently he forgot.

And Jax was thrilled to be able to do the 6th grade Rocket Launch. He is pointing to his yellow and red tip one. It was one of the highest in the sky. He had 2 engines and was a happy kid doing both. All the kids had a fun time.

A few weeks ago my sister Amy and Karl finally got their puppy. They've been waiting for months for it to be born, then be ready to leave it's mama to bring him home. We even through them a little puppy shower (baby shower). It's a poodle. Supposedly hypoallergenic. She named him Chewy and the boys loved meeting him. Then they kept asking when they get to see Chewy again? And asking and asking. He's a puppy so he's hyper and jumps and nips and the boys have a good time with him. Greg is glad they are getting used to being around an animal. 

And the last picture was crazy hair day at school. Creed was super glad his hair was long enough and could do pony tails. I was able to stick 2 little ones on Bodie's short buzz hair too. They didn't last on him. And the boys begged to get some color spray again. I had fun styling their hair. Fun stuff!

Later After

After school started, late summer stuff.

I talked about summer ending, and here is what we've been up to since school started.

Technically this was the day before school started. We didn't get to the track too many times this summer but I did snap one picture of us resting after a few of us ran the mile. I couldn't get the Davies girls to look at the camera. And then we ran some errands and had lunch in the park. I climbed to the top of the pyramid with the boys. That deserves a picture.

The Friday after school started we headed up to Jordanelle with some of Greg's family to go boating. Here's the sisters on the beach, well I should say girls on the beach, Jax and Rafe enjoying cruising around, loading the boat back on the trailer. And I had to take a picture of the amazing sunset from our car at the gas station on Wasatch Blvd. by our house that night. We said "Our gas station has better views than your gas station". he he

After my usual Sunday afternoon nap I woke up and saw on the security camera all the boys hanging out and playing downstairs while watching a movie to keep them quiet so I can sleep. I thought it was cute. Their typical Sunday after church chill'n. 

Creed had some major bed head that we laughed at and thought deserved a picture, but what angle was the best?

The boys fell in love with the giant teddy bears at Costco. They think they need one or two or 4. Ha!

The last picture (bottom left):

For Family night the boys enjoyed going through all of Greg's journals and some pictures from his mission. Trying to get them excited or interested in what it's like to serve a mission. The next day Rafe asked this, 

"so is my mission 2 days or 2 weeks?"  

me: "2 years buddy!"

"Like I'll miss 2 birthdays?"

me: "Yep"

"Mom, so did you wear a plate hat on your mission?"

me: ? Wha?

"The guys in the black suites w/ hats that hang down" (showing him covering his ears) "like in daddy's pictures?"

me: oh, the Russian fur hats. (ha ha)  -wish I had a picture handy to share.

We had our annual back to school pancake breakfast in our front yard. It was our biggest turn out yet. It's the best kind of party. It starts, we eat, 30 minutes later everyone leaves for school and it's over. Super quick and fun. 

The last weekend in August I went on a girls over-niter to a friends cabin up Millcreek Canyon. It was a fun good time. We eat, talked, made bracelets, did hair, laughed, stayed up way too late. It was a bunch of us from our ward. Glad I went. Greg took the boys to the late movie at the school play ground.

Greg cuts the boys hair. Always. Creed was having his turn. With a worried face about how his new hair-do is going to turn out.

Glovestrong - the glove. Greg and his partners (bro. Chris and friend Spencer Erickson) launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to get the first set of gloves made and sold. It didn't take off as they'd hoped. So now to plan B.

And Labor Day Weekend we went to the Bangerter Reunion and the boys all played with cousin Bella trying to do some Smash ball. All our other plans for the holiday weekend didn't work out. Our last boating we had to cancel because of wind. But we did go to dinner and the mall with the Denzer's. And Monday we were going to go rock climbing. But that ended in just a hike. We'll try again.

And we took the boys to their first U of U game at Rice Stadium. Well, Jax has been to one before. It was the 1st game of the season against SUU. We won! Every section in the stadium wore red or white so it looked like a checkerboard.  It was fun, the cloud cover made it not hot, then it poured rain for a just a few minutes. So we quickly put our ponchos on. Then just as quickly took them off. 

The boys had a blast. Although after a while the younger boys kept asking when we can go home. I think it would be fun to also take them down to Provo and go to a BYU game. Those are always fun. And since we like both teams we have to even it out. BYU and Utah actually play each other this weekend. We don't know who to cheer for? Ha!