Staheli Farm Fun

Since the kids had no school today, we decided to head up to St. George and go to Staheli Farm with my friend Harmony and her family and some of their friends. We've never been there before, but I've been wanting to bring the kids for a while and I'm glad we did...they had a lot of fun! 

When we first got there, the kids played on the little "farm" playground.  It's amazing how much kids can entertain themselves on such simple toys. 

  We did a little measuring...         I think Jantzen has the longest arms.    Jaron loved this swing!  It was just a rope that you had to use to swing over an old mattress and some hay bales...the kids had a blast on it trying to get to the other side.      Then, the kids moved on to this wagon wheeled see-saw...     These were some HUGE tires!     The kids did a little duck racing and loved every minute of it...      Then, they goofed off a bit more!      Jaron and Jantzen then found a wheel of activities that they spun to help them decide what to do next...      ...and this is where it told them to go, to the little petting zoo..          Jaedyn was a little hesitant at first to pet the goats, but eventually she did...barely.  The boys, on the other hand, were all over it.
Jaron admired this sleeping pig, he was getting hungry for some bacon.  Run little piggie, run!!!     The farm had this fun bubble that the kids got to jump on like a trampoline.  They had so much fun on it!!          Next, the kids went to another little playground area and I had to laugh at Jaron and Jantzen because of this...     ...the two of them squeezed onto this little teeter-totter and, surprisingly, they had fun.  I had fun laughing at them! 
While her brothers were being silly, Jaedyn played a little pumpkin tether ball...     There was a fun little maze for the kids to walk through with this fun pirate ship.  The kids actually played on this for quite a while.      I think Jantzen is a little too tall for this maze.  It's too easy for him to see where he's going.     After playing for a while, and eating some yummy country style lunch, we all decided that we wanted to head over to the big corm maze and try to make our way through it.  We got to ride over to the corn maze on this fun trailer that was being pulled by a tractor...the kids were so excited!      We got a picture of all the kids together before we headed in to the maze...and hoped that we'd all make it out together.         This year the corn maze was a pirate theme.  It was actually called "Pirates of the Corn Maize" and if you saw it from above, it was shaped like a pirate ship with an octopus.  It was pretty cool!     We let Jaron, Jantzen, and Parker go off together to find their own way out.  I was okay with this because Jaron has a phone in case they needed help and I think they loved being in there on their own.     We all made it out, eventually, it did take a while.  I forgot how confusing these things are.  It's been so long since I've been in one.   Jaedyn found some corn on our walk through the maze and she insisted that she take it home...it got lost on our ride back on the trailer...oops!!  They did have a "mini" corn maze that was a story for the younger kids.  This year it was based off the book "Spookley the Square Pumpkin".  We've actually seen this movie on Disney channel, so we knew the story.  It was fun.  You got to stop at different stations to read the story as you make your way through the maze...and, it was a lot easier than the big maze!     I got a quick picture of all the kids before we played some more...     Jaron did a little archery.  I made a bet with him that if he made it through the middle hole that I would buy him an X-Box.  He's been wanting one for a long time and so he was really determined to make me have to follow through on my bet.  The whole time I was really hoping that he wouldn't make it.  Luckily for me he didn't, but he came REALLY close every time!  He was really bummed, but I wasn't. Whew, my wallet is safe!      One of the last things we did at Staheli Farm was head up to the pumpkin patch.  I wasn't planning on buying any pumpkins there because they are over-priced, but I let the kids pretend to pick some out anyway.      Here's Jaedyn with her friends that came with us...      Before we left the pumpkin patch, the kids checked out this witches cottage, luckily she wasn't home!          The kids tried to sell the pumpkins they picked out with no takers...      We couldn't leave without a little more playing.  Jaron said he was "too old" to get on the swings, so he pulled Jantzen and Jaedyn around instead.  I thought these swings were cute because they were made out of old tires and were shaped like horses.      It was getting late, so we decided it was time to go.  We got one last picture with all of us, minus Jantzen.  He was being a little stinker and refused to get in the picture.     After we left, we all went to Cracker Barrel for dinner, then headed home.   We all had so much fun today, I'm so glad we went, especially with good friends.  Next year we're going to come up here with Josh and stay later so we can go through the "Field of Screams".  The kids aren't really liking that idea, but I think it'll be fun!

"Halloween Dinner"...Take 3

Tonight was the third week of our Halloween dinners. On tonight's menu was "Boiled Vampire Guts" drizzled with "Werewolf Blood" and served with a side of "Witches fingers"... 

       We got to wash it all down with some yummy "Goblins blood"...     For dessert we enjoyed some fresh grave sites...and they were sooo good!!      The kids thought the vampire guts and witches fingers were super tasty...      But, their favorite part of dinner tonight was the grave sites.      Hmmm, which part do I eat first????     I think it's safe to say that the vampire guts are the kids' favorite meal so far.   Next week is our last Halloween dinner...I hope it's a good one!

Fire Station Field Trip

Today Jaedyn got to go on a field trip to the fire station with her preschool class.   She was so excited, not only because of the field trip, but because we got to be twinners.  Ms. Tate had "field trip" t-shirts made for all of the kids and us moms so we all would match.  I must admit, it was kind of fun matching Jaedyn.  Are we cute as twinners?!?!...

   The first thing the kids did when we got to the fire station was take a tour of the captains office, then they were off to see the fire trucks...that's all they really wanted to see anyway.  (Oh, and that's Jantzen's head covering most of the top right picture.  He had no school today, so he got to come on the field trip too)      The kids were excited to see the big fire truck up close.  They got to see everything it carries...      I think Jaedyn was having fun...      Here's more of the truck tour...     ...if you look closely at the bottom right picture, you'll see that Jaedyn's standing on her tippy toes.  I didn't notice that until after I had taken the picture.  She likes to practice her dance moves everywhere she goes.
I had to get a picture of Jaedyn standing next to the truck's tires because they were as tall as her.  She thought that was pretty cool!      Next, Jaedyn got to go inside the fire truck and look around...      Jantzen wanted to take a turn too...      Here's a all the preschool kids, plus Jantzen, with the friendly firemen that gave the kids the tour...      ...and one with Ms. Tate...     I love it that the firemen had pink hats for the girls.  I've never seen them before and the girls all loved them!  I tried to convince Jantzen to take a pink one, but he refused.
One of the firemen decided to give the kids a demonstration on how they put on all of their gear when going to a fire.  I can't believe how much stuff they have to put on and how much it all weighs!      Then, the fireman demonstrated a beeping sound his gear makes when it detects he has fallen down.  It was a beeping noise that gradually got louder and louder so the other firemen could find him.  The kids had to cover their ears because it got so loud.  
   My little Jaedybug makes a super cute fireman/firegirl, don't you think?!?!      After the kids were done with their tour of the fire truck and gear, they headed to the kitchen area to see where the firemen eat their meals.  The kids had lots of questions for the firemen there.     Then a surprise visit from the fire truck came around the back of the station with it's sirens going off.  The kids thought that was fun.  They got a demonstration with the ladder so they could see how high up it goes.      Then, one of the firemen walked across it to the top of the fire station and back.  Jaedyn was fascinated by that.  I think she wanted a turn with it too.      My little Jaedybug loves to play around.  Maybe she'll be a fireman when she grows up.          I love this picture because it's of all the girls having their little 4 year old conversations that I think are so cute...     Jaedyn had a lot of fun on her field trip to the fire station today.  I love how cute the firemen are with the little kids.  They seem to really enjoy giving tours to kids.

"McTeacher Night"

Tonight was "McTeacher Night" for Jantzen's school.   I felt bad because Jantzen did something to his back (I think on the trampoline) that caused a lot of pain, so he wasn't able to go.  Josh stayed home with him and I took Jaedyn and Jaron.  We were able to meet up with some friends there, but again I felt bad because one of them was Jose, Jantzen's best friend...

    Jaron was "too cool" to play with the little elementary kids, so he did a lot of playing on his phone...       Jaedyn found her own electronics to play with...       Here's some of the teachers that came to support the school...     I made the "Tartan" banner to display at McDonald's.  They are sponsoring our "Tiger of the Month" students with free food items until the end of the school year, so I put up the banner to recognize them.   As usual, my kids had a good time, except for my poor little Jantzen who couldn't even sit up with his back pain.  I hope he gets feeling better soon so he can resume his daily activities.

"Halloween Dinner"...Take 2

For our second Halloween dinner I made the kids "spiderweb pizza" and "bones" with some "blood" to dip them in... 

   For dessert we had "dirt & worms" per Jantzen's request...     ...the worms were really good this year!   We all washed everything down with some "ghost blood", a favorite at our house...     The kids loved it all, as usual.  This is one of the only times it's quiet at our house.  I should make fun dinners more often.     Watch out Jaron, you're going to eat a spider!      I think dessert was the favorite part of the meal, what do you think????         Jaron was the only one who didn't eat any worms...silly boy, they're the best part!   Hmmm, what's on the menu next time?????