October is...

Crazy Hair Day at school

We live in the most BEAUTIFUL place in the world!!

Juan and I went to our ward's annual Oktoberfest at the Aspen Grove Lodge.  Four words: bratwurst, rootbeer, pies, music (which was performed live, by the way.)

Our one and only arts and crafts project, due to a broken glass vessel and pompons with nowhere to go.  Adorning the playroom was the perfect solution.

Basking in the last warm rays of the day... through the bedroom window.

The christening of our [new] annual Camp Family trip to Rowley's Red Barn.

Two big cheeses,

two more...

...and two more.

"Train ride" through the orchard

Only one missing was Baby Leo, who was sleeping in his Mama's arms.

"Hello Mister Ape." (library window)

Qiana's Twinkle Toes dance classes are the highlight of her week.  I really don't mind waiting there either because Siena and Ezra are glued to the iPad during the whole class while I do whatever I want.  Yes, I give myself a little break twice a week for an hour and I'm PROUD OF IT!

See what I mean?  (iPad behind the big pumpkin.)

Trying to keep all the excitement inside.

Maybe I'll dress up for Halloween this year....

  

Reflections participation award!  Go Siena! (...and it was Pajama Day at school.)

Recap of Chavez Life this year...

2013…

·      January

o   Lived with Mom and Dad while looking for housing in Provo. Siena and Qiana started a gymnastics class and Ezra practiced crawling. Juan was optimistic about buying a practice in Orem, while he was simultaneously working there and two other places. Learned about service.

·      February

o   Ezra got bronchiolitis again. L We moved to Provo and Siena started her third round of a new Kindergarten class at Canyon Crest Elementary. Met our ward members and fell in love with the area.  Established a family Reading Nook time. Learned about gratitude.

·      March

o   Started seedlings for the garden and Siena practiced keeping a seed journal. Took an awesome 4-wheeling trip to the desert with Mom, Dad and Harp. Ezra turned 1! Stacia turned 29! Siena was accepted into the Spanish Immersion class. Kept Camp Family tradition of rolling Easter eggs. Learned about the Atonement.

·      April

o   Ezra started walking! Siena moved up to the next level in piano. Loved General Conference. Had a visitor from CA—Juan’s friend from his mission that recently got baptized. Played outside in the wonderful Spring weather almost daily; as a result bike riding skills improved. Every child caught the flu. Prepared the yard for the garden and eventually got around to planting it. Learned Self-sufficiency.

·      May

o   Wedding season started for Stacia! Digitally archived Dad’s elementary school scrapbook. Suffered through fights over piano practicing and screaming three year-olds. Nostalgic family bike ride to Utah Lake. Juan quit other dental jobs and signed on full-time with Platinum Dental. Family picnic in the canyon for Mother’s Day lunch. Watched the paragliders take off from Squaw Peak. Ran through sprinklers on hot days. Learned about Patience.

·      June

o   Swimming at Grandma Camp’s pool.  More weddings. No set schedule for anyone. Took a fun trip to the cabin with Mom and Dad.  Tried to stay busy while still keeping a clean house… unsuccessfully. Learned about prioritizing.

·      July

o   Fourth of July festivities with the Chavez family. Pink Martini concert date for Juan and me. Girls Camp for an entire week! Siena and Qiana had their first lemonade stand (…actually, it was limeade.) Grilled almost every day. Juan turned 30! Went on our first real immediate family campout past Rock Canyon Campground. Ez fell down the stairs and got 5 stitches in his noggin. Reaped the benefits of our garden! Got see a bunch of friends from Philadelphia. Learned about goals.

·      August

o   I got sick. Juan got sick. Grilled a lot of pizza. Siena turned 6! Took a fun Sparks family trip to Bear Lake for a day.  Siena started 1^st grade! Juan and I volunteered at a triathlon. Qiana helped me pick a lot of apricots and grapes and we cooked a lot together while Siena was at school and Ez was napping.  Learned about compassion.

·      September

o   Siena started another ballet class. Went to Brazil Day in SLC. Harvested a gazillion peaches and grapes. Kids got haircuts. Stacia took a trip to San Diego with Tristan, Sierra and Mom. Qiana turned 4! Went to the General Relief Society Conference in SLC with Tristan and Sierra.  Learned about baptismal covenants.

·      October

o   Built a bookshelf for the girls out of leftover bookshelves. J Watched and loved General Conference. Made Ezra a luchador costume for Halloween. New annual tradition of going to the Big Red Bard in Santaquin. Went to our ward Oktoberfest at Aspen Grove Lodge. Camp Family Reunion!  Learning about traditions.

July and August's Pictoral Recap

Share a Smile Triathlon Volunteering with Juan

We started the timing at the swimming portion

...and it was cold that day.

First pumpkin out of 12 from our garden!

Got creative with our home-grown produce.

Ladies Man Ez

Propagated a lot of coleus from cuttings off of one I bought at the nursery.

Siena started 1st Grade!

Took a Sparks Family trip to Bear Lake.  Too fun for words or pictures.

...but we did eat an obligatory Bear Lake Raspberry Shake.

Taught the missionaries how to toss pizzas...

...only after I learned how at a YW activity.

Siena's birthday was so fun.  I still can't believe she is 6 already!

Sierra and Tristan and I took them to Thanksgiving Point Gardens (Children's Garden first to play in the splash pad,) as per her request.

Ez still had a bandage to keep his scar from getting sunburned.

Getting her hair brushed by Tio Melvin.

Because of all the nearby fires, the sunsets were amazing this summer.

Didn't let a month go by without grilling pizza.

I can't get enough of the sky right before a rainstorm.

They can't get enough of it either.

Homegrown zinnias to help with the pollination of the garden.

We finally were able to take advantage of our Pass of All Passes to Seven Peaks this summer.  Cousins are the best.

The girls were so patient with Tia Sierra as I was in with Ez seeing the Urgent Care doc about his cut.

This 5-stitch-worthy gash was a result of a little too much confidence in Ezra by both him and me.  He fell down the steep set of uncarpeted stairs in the house.  Ugh!  Poor thing.

"We're Cheerleaders!"

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

Being crazy at 7am at the top of Slate Canyon.

Thinking of the hike we could have gone on that morning, if only we had packed the children's fever medicine.  Poor Ez got a terrible fever and we had to leave our campout to nurse him back to health.

Glow sticks make camping a million times more fun!

Camping?  More like Glamping with this cake, if I do say so myself.  #harharhar

Birthday Boy!

Baby Leo is such an angel!!!

Summer produce coming in full force.  The BEST food.

Little Ez can't get enough of being a boy outside in his element.

At my Grandpa Wood's 80th birthday party with his sister, Edith and brother, Allan.

Ez and his friend, Michael.

Little does the rest of the world know, but Ezra could LIVE on a four-wheeler.  It's probably what has brought him so close to his grandpa, my dad. They bond through the love of four-wheelers.

Playing Hide-and-Seek with Papi at the park.

The girls had their first limeade stand this summer.  It raked in quite the cash, too--$25 to be exact.  It was quite a nice supplement to their Disney trip fund jar.

Qiana's always looking for new tricks to perform.

At our "Philly Phamily Reunion", just soaking up a good water day.

They take a lot of ownership in what comes from the garden, since they were there from start to finish.

The "Adult Session" of our "Philly Phamily Reunion"

Cousins at Seven Peaks.

Every once in a blue moon we get a date night.  This one was a chart-topper.

Pink Martini at Red Butte Gardens

  

Which one, which one....?

Taking care of the tomatoes, which were starting to overcrowd themselves.

Baby Leo is soooooo tiny here, but he sure grew fast.

The quintessential Fourth of July: waiting for fireworks after the parade, while eating cotton candy on a picnic blanket.

What's more American than a Fourth of July piñata?

I was in charge of table decorations, so I took the easy route.

Baby Leo was only 1 day old, so we had to bring the fun of the Fourth of July to him.

Prime seating here, folks.

Hanging with Melvin.

Since his brother, Max was born on Flag Day, Baby Leo decided to be patriotic too.  He just couldn't wait one more day for the 4th of July.

I think the bow tie is rather large on you, Leo.

This is what I like to see....

"Hey Mommy, do you love me?"--is her go-to phrase when seeking approval of her fashion statements.

Project on the fly for soon-to-be Big Brother Max.

Showing off her homemade flower press.

Pressing flowers for Grandpa and Grandma's Christmas present.

The flowers were picked at the mountain property during the most wonderful time of the year there.

Trying out dessert at another date-night earlier this summer.

  

Sierra is my sister.  She also happens to be my go-to person when I'm in need of a second nurturing hand with the kids.  I love living near her.

Trying out Provo's new splash pad.

Kurt, Amber and Kate came to visit!!!

Siena's welcoming sign for the Adamsons.

Playdate at Siena's school playground in scorching summer heat with Kate.

Herbs-a-plenty