Fall Fun: The Fairy Forest and the Scarecrow Festival

Utah has this forest out past park city near Kamas where people make fairy villages out of painted rocks and other random stuff. It sounded cool so I convinced Alissa and Hazel and Zev to come with us on Friday during UEA.  First of all, park city is beautiful (I'd never been in our 2 years in Utah). Secondly, while walking around with a 30 lb Jefferson strapped to my back was a bit less than comfortable (shout out to Cory for always carrying him during our summer hikes) it was super fun.

 Setting up our little corner of the forest. Luckily Hazel brought a fence and a gnome and other fun stuff to go with our awesome painted rocks :)

 That's one happy kid!

 We (and my we I mean I watched) broke open some little foam eggs and had little birds coming out of them which were then gingerly placed in a nest in one of the trees. Super adorbs, right?

 Posing by their nest (to the left of Harrison) It was a gorgeous day to be in the woods!

 Of course BYU front and center!

 Minions!!!

 Harrison's favorite

 So many rocks in piles. It was really interesting. Where do all of those rocks come from??

 Jefferson fell asleep in the backpack and stayed asleep as I proceeded to take him off for a bit of a break and hitch him back up again.

We opted to skip lunch beforehand so by the time we got back to Park City everyone was so cranky and hungry. We literally stopped in the first restaurant we saw and it turned out to be this awesome pizza place with probably one other customer.  They had toys and a chalk wall for the kids to color, a video game for harrison to pretend to play, and even turned on some kind of kids show.  Plus we fed everyone (5 kids and 2 adults) for like $30.  Sometimes you don't get lucky, but SOMETIMES you DO.

A few weeks ago on a cold and rainy Saturday we just had to hit up the Thanksgiving Point Scarecrow festival.  Because of the cold Carter was content to stay in the stroller and Harrison was thrilled to pose for pictures with all of the fun scarecrows.

SCARY!!!!

Somehow he was not scared by the clown (I guess that means he hasn't seen too many horror movies, yet...)

Darth Vader as a scarecrow!!!!

A fun hay bale maze by the waterfall. They also had giant sized checkers and of course we had to get a game in despite the cold and rain :)

EIGHTEEN MONTHS!!!

Even though he's nearly 19 months at this point I can't NOT give some updates on the cutest sweetest baby I know.  Jefferson at 18 months is an adorable little toddler who loves to get into trouble (today he found sugar in the pantry-YUM), attack the poor kitty, give his brother and sister big hugs, and repeat every word we say.  You can't eat without him wanting some and he will let you know. He likes to express himself in a LOUD way.  He LOVES to play downstairs and outside with the sand table.  He holds my hand and especially loves to have help walking up and down the stairs like a big kid.  He also loves to sit in the big kid chairs and feed himself with the big kid spoons.  He dances with our frozen toy microphone by singing "Go!" GO!" and going around in circles.  We catch him grooving to music all the time.  He knows he's not supposed to put small things in his mouth so he will do it and then look for someone to catch him and laugh.  He's content to sit in the stroller if we are moving and there is something to look at.  Otherwise he wants OUT. IMMEDIATELY.  Also, shock of all shockers (because he can be clingy with babysitters) he sauntered his self into nursery (even switching to the other nursery after the first week....perk of mom being in the primary presidency ;)) like he owned the place and didn't look back.  We love this kid so much.  He is the happy little light in our family that makes my days worth living when the big ones are driving me up the wall.  HAPPY 1.5 BUDDY!!!

Serious about finishing off someone else's lunch for them :)

More summer fun

 Hiking Ghost Falls in Draper.

 Makin pretzels with Carter

 Birthday party fun.

 Cruz and Wakely. Two of Carter's absolute favorites.

 Oh my. This fat baby.

 And in a hat.

 And eating watermelon.  So so happy.

 Kayak at the lake.

 $4 tinker toys at a yard sale. Hours of entertainment.

 Pony ride at this is the place.

 Swimming lessons.

FIRST GRADE!!!!!

I can't even believe it!! We are finishing up our second week of first grade at Eastlake Elementary in the Chinese dual immersion program. The switch to the full day is an adjustment, but eating lunch at school is AWESOME!! Yay Harrison!! Such a big kid!!!

 Lining up with his class

 A few minutes to play before the bell rang--he was SO excited to see his friend Brooklyn (not sure why the pic is black and white..thanks outdated iphone...)

That face says I'M EXCITED AND A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS!!!!

Pioneer Day

Pioneer Day is a big deal here in Utah. We got up at the crack of dawn and drove down to Mapleton so Harrison and Carter could be in the parade with Emmeline and Hazel. It was an "up" themed float. Carter dressed up like the dog and Harrison was a wilderness scout.  Super adorable. Plus the other three members of our family got to watch and enjoy while the big kiddos were taken care of :)

After we enjoyed the town carnival games, took a break, and then headed to another park for their traditional ping pong ball drop and some awesome fireworks. Plus sno cones, cotton candy, popsicles, glo sticks, all good things.  YAY for pioneers and small towns!!!!

 Parade watching. Complete with otter pops.

 My kids were somewhere on there :)

 Post parade popsicles

 swing break

KABOOM!!! Yay for fireworks and staying up til midnight!!!

Hiking season is HERE

Ok last post for awhile...I think...

One of my favorite things to do in the Utah in the summer is hike on Saturday mornings. We typically get out of the house early, bribe the kids with donuts, and then set out on the trail. We've had some good adventures already.  Carter is definitely more of a "challenge" this year. Since she's three she needs to walk and not be in a carrier...we're working through that...


Belle Canyon Reservior

 Rocks are a highlight for her for sure. And hiking in a frozen nightgown.

 Grumpy but she made it!!!

Silver Lake

 More rocks to climb of course.

 Ferguson Canyon. This was a new one we went to because Little Cottonwood was packed and Cecret lake was not going to happen. It was amazing. Lots of places to rock climb (for future reference when I have older kids and have time for such hobbies...)