Pinewood Derby

This year Alex and Jared went to Grandpa Allen's to get help cutting and making his pinewood derby car. He wanted to have a "Utes" car. The drivers head/silver helmet was the weight needed for the car! He had a fun time racing with the other boys participating and came in second place for his age group. He was excited to get his ribbon and a little red Hot Wheels car for his winnings!

It's All in Your Perspective

Actually, I am not sure how my kids got this perspective but none the less a conversation they had with my brother while I (by myself with them, Jared at work) was the one that took them to Bear Lake all week.

Andrew and Alex sitting on the park bench with my brother Brad right after I had taken them to play mini-golf, none the less!

Andrew: "Our dad let's us do whatever we want."

Brad: "hmmm, really..."

Andrew:"ya, he takes us to Artic Circle and stuff for lunch."(what? once?! he works!)

Not sure Andrew or Alex: "Can you imagine if it was just mom, all we would do is clean all day!"

There's nothing like feeling appreciated by your children ;)

Anika Preschool

I can't believe my youngest baby is heading to preschool! Where does time fly? She has been so fun to have around, it has just been me and her for a the last year during the day. I am a little sad to see her go as she is so funny, she enjoys being with me and me with her, and yet at the same time she is so good to entertain herself so that I can get things done. It is weird to think I will have a few hours with no kids, I hope to get stuff done this little break two days a week!
She is going to Corner Canyon PreSchool which we love from when Andrew went there.

First Day of School

Another summer comes to an end. This is always bitter sweet as I do enjoy my kids, but I do find it hard to entertain them for three months! One nice thing is I don't have to pick-up kindergarten half days and preschool!
Alex 4th grade

Andrew 2nd grade

Aubrey 1st grade

Anika preschool

Rachel (Jared's cousin) 8th grade

should I really post this?!

This is the goofiest post, and I am sure whoever reads it will think this is the weirdest thing to write and with that here it goes!!!

Is there something you have always thought about buying but put it on hold with the thought of, 'when I can buy that and not care I will know I am at a nicer financial spot then in the past'? What is your item?

Well mine is pretty goofy and perhaps a little embarrassing at it's simplicity....but I finally did it...I feel dumber as it gets closer to writing it!

Mine is buying TIDE and DOWNEY fabric softener to use at the same time to do laundry!!!

Okay, laugh and make fun of me all you want but there it is!!! I have always bought cheaper brands or bought Kirkland brand to substitute, but not this time baby I bought the real thing and I don't even care that it cost a bit more! I have to admit I was even excited to do the laundry today! The clothes smell so good!
So there it is my embarrassing post.

Although I guess I should admit I still used a coupon... :)

hot summer days cool summer nights

decided I needed to take the kids to the park, but forgot it was time for the set up of Draper Days! We went to the little stream for awhile and then ran home to grab food and come back for the free concert in the park. Kid's didn't like sitting around listening to music so much but I enjoyed it and they eventually went to play in the tree, rolled down the hill and visited the tents to get candy! Our new, & good friends John and Denise joined us later in the evening.

Kids Gone Wild...

with the camera!

What's a typewriter?

me: overhearing the dinner conversation:


andrew: saying something about a typewriter
aubrey: What's a typewriter?
andrew: goes on to try and explain what it is, and that dad has one at work in his office
aubrey: looking quite confused says, I still don't know what you are talking about!
alex: it's okay, they are from the 'olden days'
me: olden days? They're not that old!!!! :)

hmmmm

I really need to do a lot of back posting, but not tonight either! I did however add some new music for summer!
To all those not liking the rain, sorry, but I love not having/paying to have my A/C on and enjoying the cool air by day and having the cool night air come into my windows by night, not paying a water bill for my grass; I love looking around at all the green green grass in the neighborhood. There was the most amazing rainbow out my kitchen window tonight as I washed dishes, I don't know why I didn't think to take a picture of it...
Enjoy the cool air as the heat will come all too soon. I love Spring, even if it is officially summer as of last week!

Spring Flowers

My flowers seem to be coming back nicely this year. That makes me happy!
The side yard:


The park strip: (this should be nicer next year when my new ground cover grows and spreads out.)


The front of the house:




The front by the driveway:


The front fence:

Out With The Old And In With The New

My friend posted about her "white trash" table so I thought I would do the same!
I had a 'white trash' tile top table. I thought I would paint it, started sanding the chairs and even half painted a few black- decided it was more work than it was worth. Lived with that for awhile. Then my brother/sister-in-law moved and I got their table, the same only not tile top so I sold mine with the half painted black chairs, (the KSL classifieds are great!) but kept two 'better' half sanded chairs,

(as I need 6 chairs). We have lived with this table for a long time with my half sanded trashy looking chairs!!
We all fit around it but with a new family member it is quite squishy. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, so without further ado this week I should be getting my new table that I ordered almost 3 weeks ago. So excited! It came with 6 chairs and then I bought the bench so we should easily be able to fit 9 people around the table and then there is room to squish others in, if needed. The greatest thing is the table leaf is a butterfly leaf so if one would like the table smaller you just pull it out, fold the leaf inside, close it up and whola- no trying to find somewhere to store the leaf and then trying to remember where it is when needed!

New Addition to the Bennett Family

No not prego, but we are adding a family member. Jared and I are soon to be legal guardians to his 13 year old cousin, Rachel. We have known it may happen for about 8 weeks but it happened all so fast last week to make it real! We are excited to have her in our home and the kids can't get enough of her. She stayed with us last weekend and the girls took her everywhere, like she was their own personal rag doll!
She will join us sometime in June when school is over.
The kids ask everyday if today is the day she is coming, it's like Christmas for them!
Now I need to get busy and rearrange my house but for tonight I will just go to bed!
I am tired and need some sleep.