My Handyman!

Jared was able to come home and visit this weekend (yeah!) but it ended up being very busy for him. Our kitchen faucet started spraying water out the side so Jared put in a new faucet. In order to fit under the sink to install the new faucet, he had to clean out all the crap that had been shoved under there (trust me... there was a lot of crap under that sink. Like my rolling pin that I thought was lost). He also had to make two trips to Home Depot.

In between snow, rain, and freezing cold he found time to mow & edge the lawn that I had neglected for the past month (or so). The backyard was REALLY bad.

He also made sure all hoses were detached (something I probably should've remembered to do on my own). He also drained and shut off the sprinklers.

He did the dishes. Not just once but two or three times. Unloaded AND loaded! He also cleaned the kitchen, polished the table and chairs, vacuumed the carpets, stairs, AND couches. Oh... and checked the beeping smoke detector in Aspen's room.

And in the mornings, he made waffles (note the Shrek reference)! Aspen has an obsession with frozen blueberry waffles... but only if made by Jared. Apparently I'm not capable of making them they way he does.

He played, wrestled, played, and wrestled some more with Chase. Poor puppy is feeling loved all over again. He also held Chase down and trimmed his claws which is NOT a fun task!

Jackson has refused to let me take him to Fantastic Sams for a haircut because he wanted his daddy to do it. So the night before Jared had to go back to Oklahoma, he gave Jacks a haircut (he needed a haircut WORSE than the lawn needed to be mowed).

After all the work, he had the kids read their school take-home books to him. I love hearing the kids read but sometimes a little break is nice. :) Also, on Monday morning (while I was sleeping in since I took the day off work), Jared got up at 6:30, got the kids ready for school (dressed, breakfast, on time, etc.), and dropped them off at school (this might not seem like that big of a deal but their school is 20 minutes away so it is kind of a pain). He also followed my rules and picked my nephew up on the way to school. AND... his plane didn't leave until early evening so he was able to pick them up after school!

I also dragged him to dinner with my friends on Saturday and to my moms for Sunday lunch with my family. He did not even complain (although watching the Cowboys in high-def on my moms flat screen was probably his highlight... until they lost).

Jared also had to go to the Driver's License Division to get a new driver's license (thank goodness they stayed open on Columbus Day). We did manage to sneak in a trip to Ikea and breakfast at Ihop (Aspen's choice).

What was I doing while he was working his butt off? I napped. A LOT. I took a few bubble baths. I read a few magazines. I slept in. I scrapbooked a little. I made a yummy cake. And I followed him around like a little puppy dog just to spend more time with him. I even convinced him to take a nap with me... and he HATES naps!

I am lucky. I am spoiled. I am blessed. I am grateful. I must always remember NEVER to take him for granted. Absense makes the heart grow fonder! Come home soon.

Jackson's Halloween Story

So, on Friday's I go to my kids school to help with the Take Home Library.  As I was walking down the hall to exchange books today I noticed some Halloween stories on the wall with a "scary" picture of the student who wrote the story.  I noticed they were from my kids' class so I took a minute to find their stories and read them.  I'll have to post the stories once I get them home because they were really cute.  

Jackson's story had a disclaimer at the bottom:  "Caution!  8 years and up."  I cracked up.

Jackson's story was also about a vampire.

Not just any vampire.

A vampire named EDWARD!!!!

Chase without Jared = SAD PUPPY!

Chase misses Jared (just like the rest of us).  When Jared is home visiting, Chase won't leave him alone, follows him all around the house, and climbs all over him whatever chance he gets (once again... just like the rest of us).

This is Chase without Jared.  Poor, sad, pouty, lonely puppy!

Jackson does a GREAT job helping keep Chase company (and vice versa)!

Empty 2-liter bottles, a backyard to run in, and playing fetch makes Chase a not-so-sad puppy!

Sprinkles... PUMPKIN Sprinkles!

My love for cupcakes is no secret.  I love love love all things cupcake (like my handmade apron from my awesome sis, or my trendy little cupcake decorative plates from my mother-in-law, and my cupcake display tower from my dear friends, oh and my cupcake coin purse... and my cupcake to-do list pad... the list goes on {and on}.  

However, my love for SPRINKLES cupcakes has crossed the line over to OBSESSION.  If we are ever in Texas visiting Jared's parents, the 35 minute drive to Sprinkles is MANDATORY.  Why oh why can't there be a Sprinkles cupcake store in Utah???  But since there's not one in Utah the next best thing to a Sprinkles store is Sprinkles cupcake mix... available and Williams & Sonoma... which IS in Utah.  

The pumpkin mix is only available during the fall... this was my first time tasting them.  They are SO amazing... and the frosting... not just any frosting... cinnamon cream cheese frosting.  It was actually my BEST frosting batch to date... no doctoring was needed to thin it out or thicken it up!  Mmmmmm....

Monet to Picasso and "ewww"

On Friday night, we went to the amazing Monet to Picasso art show at the Utah Museum of Fine Art.  It was here from July to September and yesterday was the final day.  So my mom, my grandma, my sister, Aspen and myself had a "girls night" and headed to the show.  We drove an hour to downtown Salt Lake and "Sold Out" signs were everywhere.  Ultimate devastation!  Unless you know my mom.  If you do know her, you'll know she's quite GUTSY!  So she parked the car anyway (AFTER the parking attendant told us to leave... "there is NO way you'll get tickets to the show").  We put Grandma in the wheelchair and the five of us headed inside.  It took all of about 15 seconds for my mom to work her magic and we had tickets in our hands.  

Festival of Flowers- Matisse

The Apple Seller- Renoir

The Thinker- Rodin

***My favorite part of the whole night.***  We walked into one of the rooms at the museum and I felt Aspen tap my arm.  I looked down at her to see what she wanted and very quietly she pointed toward this painting and said, "Ewww."  

She didn't make a big fuss... just a quiet little "ewww" muttered under her breath.  I hadn't thought about explaining to my 8-year old that some of the paintings/sculptures may have nudity!  We all laughed.  

Woman in Waves- Gauguin

There was also a complete nude sculpture... a nude MALE sculpture.  I thought I had guarded Aspen from seeing it since she never mentioned it.  However, when we picked Jackson up it was the first thing Aspen told him.  "Jackson, I saw a sculpture of a naked man.  ALL naked.  It was DISgusting."  Then the topic was dropped... no other details... she just wanted Jackson to know what she had to see.  

Aspen LOVED the museum... she is still talking about how much fun it was.  I am SO grateful that I grew up with a mother and a grandmother who taught me to love art.  I'm pretty sure I went to my first art museum when I was about 8 or 9... the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.  I love that Aspen got to have this experience and I also love that she LOVED it!  

And the souvenir she picked from the gift shop??  A fancy little set of colored pencils.

Sundance & Stewart Falls

We had such a great weekend!  We took advantage of the great weather (not too hot, not too cold = perfect) AND a good portion of the U.C. population was at the BYU game therefore leaving the rest of Provo not crowded and free to explore!  We decided to head up to Sundance and ride the tram.  It was beautiful... we all loved every minute of it.

At the top of the lift we got off the tram and decided to hike to Stewart Falls.  The kids were such troopers and loved hiking.  They loved seeing so many grasshoppers and butterflies.  We even spotted a couple of deer. 

Aspen's poor little legs got a bit tired so she needed a ride for part of the hike.  We hiked about a mile and a half to get to the waterfall and then instead of hiking the rest of the way back down to Sundance, we hiked the mile and a half back up so we could enjoy the tram ride on the way down.  Parts of the hike got pretty steep... that made for sore legs later in the day!

The waterfall was amazing-- it was so beautiful.  We sat on some rocks, ate some snacks, and enjoyed taking in nature and all of the beauty surrounding us!  It was great to be together-- just the four of us-- no cell phones, no video games, no ipods... JUST US!  We decided we need to do stuff like this more often.  The kids thanked us over and over and over for taking them... they loved it!

**NOTE to those asking about our family pics:  My darling little Aspen was the photog for the one of me and Jared.  Then some random, really nice lady offered to take the family picture.**

My babies are in 3rd grade!

We are 4 days into the new school year. So far, things are looking great. They LOVE their school, they LOVE their teacher, they LOVE not having to go to daycare after school, they LOVE recess, and they even LOVE their homework (I'm sure this won't last). Oh... and they've made friends with the custodian. If they help clean up garbage at recess, he gives them treats!

I think we're in for our best school year yet. I LOVE having 3rd graders. I LOVE having structure and routine. I LOVE hearing about their day right after school. I LOVE surprising them with notes in their lunchboxes and shapes cut into their sandwiches. I LOVE these kiddos!