Arr! X marks the spot matey!

Pirate One-eyed Willy left part of a clue on our front door with instructions to find his hidden treasure and keep it safe from Stinky Pete Blackbottom. The girls followed the map around the neighborhood finding clues at each location, only to uncover the treasure in our own backyard! What luck!

The sought-after treasure chest.

The treasure hunters: Savannah, Chloe, Irelynd, and Madilyn. They started out on their bikes, but as the trek got long and the temperature increased, they ended up in my van.

First clue was in the neighboring stake center. They had to check every tree in the back!

Yeah we finally found it! We had a shift change, as our first treasure seekers, and cousins, had to return home early to see their long-lost grandfather, returned from a dangerous mission to a far-flung country.

Divvying up the loot. Brighton made sure he got his due, even though he did none of the work. What good pirates we be!

T is for temple

We took the opportunity last month of touring the Oquirrh Mountain Temple before it closed for viewing. This makes the second temple tour for us this year. What a wonderful blessing it was to be able to take our girls inside the temple and talk to them of the importance of temples in our life! They were impressed, as always, with the beauty and magnificence of the temples. I like to point out the symbols inside the temple; specifically we've talked about the importance of the number three, and how it's often built into many Christian buildings, not just LDS temples. I was very impressed with Savannah; as there was often a wait in between viewing rooms, I asked her to tell me the story in each of the framed gospel artwork featured throughout the temple. There was only one she didn't know. I was not that knowledgable at 9 as she is. This rising generation is truly amazing. (So, apparently, are her Sunday school teachers. Thank you Brother and Sister Oldham!) I was more than a little teary at this, I admit.

The favorite feature in this temple was the glasswork seen inside the Celestial room. Apparently it was all done by hand. Amazing! This temple had a different internal layout than I've seen before on the other temples I've visited. Very open and airy.

The position of the temple in an already windy area does not make for great pictures.
See? Savannah, for future reference, not a good place for bridal pictures.

I is for Iceblocking.

This is something I haven't done since I was a freshman in college. I forgot how small those little blocks are. And how much bigger my little rear is since having to fit on one. The girls were so excited to try this, and I was equally so to let them, since it brought back fond memories of when I did this last. I don't remember how hard it was to stay on, however. I got thrown on my hiney too many times to count. When I was able to balance down the hill and get the ice cruising, it was a blast! What we do for fun in Spanish Fork...

Scott giving the girls the 411 of iceblocking.

Demonstrating technique...

Savannah required a push to get hers going.

Look at me go! Brighton was a faithful little puppy dog, following me up and down the hill.

Savannah thought it might work better to go backwards, dragging her long legs behind her.

I tried to get Brighton going, but he couldn't stay on and hold his feet up for long enough.

Scott and I decided next time we go we're going to make our own, using cookie sheets to hold adult-sized rear ends. Maybe even freeze them with rope attached and ski down the hill with a foot on each one. That could be fun...

O is for Orchard

We had to stretch a little for O, since the ocean is not within a day's drive. (Although I am having some ideas for next year's letter O as I type this. Hmmmm...) Anyway, we drove down to the orchards at the Big Red Barn in Santaquin. It has another name, but I can't remember what it is. They sell yummy jams, salsas, and ice cream. We sampled some chocolate covered cherries, jams, and a fruit salsa, which, expecting it to be sweet like the fruit salsa I make, I gave Brighton a big mouthful of, then puzzled at his wide eyes and very odd reaction. That was cleared up when I sampled it myself and found it to be the hot kind of salsa, only with some fruit thrown in. Mystery solved. I couldn't stop laughing. I tried their blue mint ice cream of which Utah Valley Magazine rated very highly. It was an interesting creation. I think next time I'll opt for my faves: cookies and cream or peanut butter cup.
Above is Brighton, Irelynd, Autumn and Lily Crandall, and Savannah.

Ditto. Man was it hot sitting on the west-facing porch!

Blue raspberry suckers!

B is for Biking and banana boats

We took the girls and cousin Chloe on an evening bike ride, and finished off the night with banana boats.

Does this kid look excited about ice cream tonight, or what?

This was Savannah's creation. Mmmmmm!

Oh, how we love tractors!

We really do love tractors in our house! Just so you get the picture,

We make our food into a tractor...(yes, that was made by oh-so-talented-me!)

We get stuck looking at the tractor displays everywhere we go (this one's at Kennecott Copper Mine in SLC).

we build them with our play doh, even after the colors are all the same tone,

and, best of all, we found one to sit on at a nearby park! What a happy day that was!

Pioneer Day Parade

Savannah and Irelynd volunteered to be on ALA's float in Spanish Fork City's Pioneer Day parade. They were told to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grew up. Savannah, my animal lover, wants to be a safari guide; Irelynd, my domestic diva, wants to be a mom. Even though I know that's typical for a 6/7-yr old to want that before the world tells her it's not enough to just be a mom, I was touched that she would want that. Her best friend Autumn dressed up as a mom, too; funny to see our different visions of what a mom looks like.

This is the crew: Autumn Crandall (notice she's a fancy mom), Irelynd, Grace Packer, Blake Packer (as a chef--how cool is that?), Savannah and Lily Crandall on the back row (Lily is Savannah's other half--she is a zoo keeper. These girls were MFEO--made for each other, if you are not up to date on your 9-yr old terminology).

Savannah and Lily.

Waiting for the parade to begin... It was a lovely morning, with the sun shaded by clouds. It would have been this much better, if the parade people throwing candy could actually throw, and not just drop it on the feet of the people on the front row.

We love tractors! Even Keaton got excited at this entry.

Ever seen a pink tractor? Well, now you have. I love the umbrella addition. Smart girl.

If you look very closely on the far right, you might catch a glimpse of Savannah. Good thing we paid so much attention to details!

The twins' first birthday

Ok, you have to excuse my obsession, manifested in this extraordinarily LONG post. I LOVE LOVE LOVE kids birthday parties, and get so excited when I get to plan one. I've never given my other kids a first birthday party before. I wanted to give one for the twins because, one, it's not every day that you get to celebrate twins! And, two, it really is a miracle to have them here with us at all. 100 years ago, we would have all perished during child birth. That is a sobering thought. And three, they are probably my last babies, and four, see above where it says I LOVE birthday parties. Please feel free to skim over this post if you'd like. Really, I won't be offended. I couldn't part with any small details getting captured on film and for posterity's sake.

We had their party on Monday, July 6th at our house, and invited Scott's family, and my mom, sister Julie, and nephew Kyle. We were honored to have everyone attend, and most even came in costume. (though my sister said only I would be crazy enough to have a costumed party in July)

I made Bakerella's cupcake pops. So time consuming, but so yummy! And cute. We called these pat-a-cake pops.

Ring around the rosies and silver bells and cockle shells.

Grace as Queen of Hearts

Irelynd was the little girl with a curl--read it, it's Irelynd to a tee.

Maddie as Twinkle Little Star--so creative, Sallie!

Lizzy as Little Miss Muffett

Cadi as Baker's man

Spencer as Wee Willie Winkie--can you believe this costume all came from DI??

My BIL as the Muffin Man. He even had real muffins in that basket. Notice the flour on his face? Good job on the details Bradford!

And my favorite, 3 Blind Mice: Brooke, Julie, and Megan.

Kyle and Emily announced their news with this costume. Look closely at her mid-region. (in case you can't read it, it says "hill")

This was the cute birthday banner I made. I also tried Martha Stewart's pompoms but they didn't turn out like the picture. They looked like squashed flowers.

We played name that nursery rhyme.

The cakes. Keaton had the Humpty Dumpty one, Waverly the Little Miss Muffet and yes, those are sheep.

Here's a close-up, because I thought he was really cute. Scott did the wall--didn't he do a great job?Cami as...well, I'm not sure. The lady on the horse, maybe?

We played Jack be Nimble with homemade candlesticks the kids put together.

Then the kids helped Little Bo Peep find her sheep (hidden all over the yard.) The one who found the black sheep won a prize. We also played Little Jack Horner, like hot potato. The one who uncovered the "plum" was out.

Kissing tag with Georgie Porgie. We used stickers and the first one to "tag" someone with all their stickers first won.

Little Miss Muffet, like Duck Duck goose.

Waverly was Sugar and Spice. Grandma Henry made her skirt, and I appliqued the cupcake on the shirt. There's a reason why there is not a close up of it. I better stick to birthday parties.

Keaton was frogs and snails and puppy dog tails. I also appliqued his shirt. It's a cute snail.

Savannah as Little Bo Peep. Good use of her old Halloween costume.

We also played the 5 little piggies. The kids had to pop the pink balloons to find the pieces of the 5 piggies rhyme. When they got to "wee wee wee," Scott sprayed them with the hose.

Me as Mother Goose, Scott as Old King Cole. I had an apron to complete it, but couldn't find it.

Wrigley as Little Miss Muffet. Another skirt made by Grandma Henry.

Opening gifts

Cake time!

Waverly was so dainty with hers--just ate it with her finger.

Keaton dug right in with both hands. He finished almost the entire cake by himself.

Waverly had to try some of Keaton's...

Waverly

Keaton

Chloe as Jack Sprat's wife. She apparently came up with this by herself. Isn't she so creative?

I gave each food a name. My favorite was the BBQ'd spidered hot dogs, called Little Miss Muffet's revenge.

Thanks for looking! I'm offering my services to anyone who needs help planning a children's birthday party--Scott is afraid I'm going to talk him into more kids, just for the birthday planning aspect:)