My Favorite Holiday

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite Holiday.  I have lots of great memories as a kid getting together with my cousins for the entire weekend and just having lots of fun together.  Now that I am older I still love it.  I love having a holiday that is all about being thankful. The celebration of it means getting together as a family and spending time together, and just being grateful for each other and all that we have.  

 

 

This year our family has been very blessed and I am very grateful for all that we have.   

 

This Thanksgiving we were blessed to be able to spend it with most of our Bolander family  at the Grand America Hotel.    

 

This is my favorite Thanksgiving Feast.  No cooking or clean up, and lots of tasty food to enjoy until you can't eat anymore.  Everyone gets to relax, and enjoy each other. 

 

 

After the meal we stopped by the toy shop where the two youngest Bolander's had fun playing on the candy organ.

 

For an even bigger treat this year, Grandma Bolander got everyone rooms at the Little America for a couple of nights so we could spend the weekend together. 

 

 

For Black Friday Grandma planned an activity for us at City Creek mall.  We were each given a person to shop for and $10 dollars to find them a gift.  Then we divided into teams and went shopping. 

 

 

After our group made a purchase, my little shopper Valerie insisted on carrying the bag.  she didn't get very far with it.  It was almost as big as she was.

 

 

At the unveiling of the gifts it was fun to see what everyone was able to find. (Some of the groups may have crossed paths with each other)   

 

 

After shopping it was time to swim.  After all you can't stay at a hotel and not swim. 

 

 

At least not when you are under 12

(Emily stayed in the room and took a nap)

 

 

 

We finished off the weekend with a visit to Temple Square. 

 

 

It was a fun Thanksgiving Holiday!

 

 

  Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Bolander for making it such a memorable weekend for our family. 

Monster Bash- Garden After Dark

Garden after dark is a Halloween activity we always look forward to.  We get to go with Grandma and Grandpa Bolander.  It is when we do the dry run of our costumes, and we always love the fun garden activities. 

 

 

This years theme was Monster Bash.

 

 

We started out by painting our pumpkins so that they would be dry by the time we went home. Emily and Valerie painted a nice dragon pumpkin, and the boys painted a pirate pumpkin.

 

 

the next stop was in the children's garden where the kids colored werewolf masks. As a finishing touch they glued wolfs bane (moss) on them to keep the werewolf's in the garden away from them.

 

 

After the children's garden we headed down into the garden where we made a special potion to keep vampires away.  Then we headed over to the pond where we made floating lanterns to scare away the ghosts.   

 

 

 

 In the rose garden there was a mad scientist helping to make torches for the angry mob to go after the monsters in the haunted forest. 

 

 

The haunted forest is always the kids favorite part of the night when we get to go through the black lights and watch their creations and costumes glow.  

 

Once again the garden did not disappoint and we had a lot of fun kicking off Halloween there. 

Making It Ours

I thought that when we moved into our new house I might have a little extra time to catch up on a few things that I had let fall behind.  One of those things being my blog.  I don't know why I was thinking I was going to have any extra time. 

 

 

We have really been enjoying our new home and have been having fun making it our own.  We began our projects right away by tuning the kids rooms into their rooms.  Josh's room was first  on the list for good reason. 

 

 (I didn't take pictures before we started painting, so the before pictures of the rooms are ones I took of the house while we were looking at it to buy it.) 

 

 The room we had picked out for him was a little girly and we needed to change that.  We started picking out paint colors as soon as we found out we were moving. I was hoping to be able to get in and paint the week before we moved,  but things did not work out that way.   Before we even moved his furniture in we took the wall paper off so that Josh could stand to be in the room. 

 

 

 He really wanted his room done.  As we were going through the process of buying the house and we would drive from our new house to our old one to check things out we would pass Camp Williams.  Josh loved driving by there and seeing the display of tanks, helicopters and other Army machinery they have out by the road.  Josh decided he wanted an army room.  It took a few trips to the store to find the right color green, but Grandma Bolander finally helped Josh find the perfect Army green.

 

 

Josh's Grandpa Bolander showed Josh how to paint and he helped in his room every chance he got.  He was really anxious to have it done.  After the paint came the accessories.  We found some fun camo sheets and a helicopter sticker to go on his wall.  We might add a couple more things, but for now Josh is a happy boy.  He loves his room and he really likes that when he looks out his window he can see the fire station, and watch the fire trucks. 

 

During the painting of Josh's room Valerie decided that she wanted to help paint too.  Luckily she discovered her love for painting before we got too far into the projects and her artwork was on a wall we were painting anyway.  I think I would have cried if she would have painted a wall we had already painted. 

 

After that we tried to keep a closer eye on her.  There were a couple more artistic additions from her,  but luckily nothing too major. 

 

The next room was Joe's.  His room started out just a plain tan that is the same color as the rest of the house.  Joe was the first of the kids to pick out his color.  He wanted a blue room for BYU.  We went to the store to look at paint samples and I have to say I was really excited when he picked out his blue.  It is not really a BYU blue,  but Joe didn't care.  When he saw it he wanted it. 

 

 

It is called cobalt blue and I love it.  I couldn't wait to paint it. I know it is a little bold for some people.  For example when my Grandma came to see my house I don't think she liked it.  Her first response when she opened the door was Oh! OH!  But Joe loves it and I love it.   It is a perfect color for Joe and really goes with his personality. 

 

Joe also loves the view out of his window.  If you look you can see the Y on the mountain

 

Valerie's room was next.  It was going to require a little more work than the boys because it had this nice stripe around it.  That had to be sanded off.  I am not sure what kind of paint was used to make that fun red stripe, but whatever it was did not want to come off.  Luckily Ryan's parents have an electric sander I was able to borrow that made the work a little easier.   Once the stripe was taken care of the painting could begin. 

I bet you can't guess what color Valerie wanted her room to be?

 

 

She picked Sexy Pink for her room.  which is about the color of the pink in her blanket on her bed.  I just couldn't bring myself to do that,  so we went with Billowy Cloud.  a very light pink....almost white.  When she is a little older I will let her pick a color for her room, but at two I just wasn't quite ready for her to take the reigns on this.  Valerie was with me every step of the way while I painted her room.  She had lots of advice and told me every day that I was not doing it fast enough.  I was really glad when I got her room done.  She was too, and she slept better at night too. 

 

     When we bought the house we planned on finishing a room in the basement for Emily.
My brother-in-law Andy (Ellen's husband)  is a builder and they were coming to visit this summer.  He had agreed to help us (meaning we buy the stuff, feed him food, and tell him good job while he does the work)  finish a room while they were here.  We did help where we could,  but he did most of it and we are very grateful. I can't say thank you enough. 

 

 

 

After we got the Sheetrock up Andy had to go home. 

I am proud to say that I did a lot of the mudding.  However the one thing I did learn is that when we get ready to finish the rest of the basement I think I will save up a little longer and hire someone to mud for me.  That was not fun, and I can tell that a beginner mudded in a spot or two.   :)

 

Luckily for us Andy was nice enough to come back at the end of the mudding and help us get the finishing work done too.  That was very nice of him, because if he had not come back I don't know if we would have done it right.   

 

 

 

 

Andy got us to this point and then he had to go back home.  Emily was so excited because it looked like a room.  Then it was time to pick out the paint.    Emily also wanted a blue room.  I was a little hesitant about blue,  because it is in the basement,  but she has daylight windows so we got some paint samples and tried them out. We decided on this blue.  I can't remember what it is called,  but it is a brighter blue. 

 

 

Having a three year old helper while painting an unfinished room without the carpet in it is a little less stressful.  Valerie helped me with this room too,  but she painted the floor. 

 

 

Our next door neighbor is a carpet guy so when we were ready he came and installed the carpet, and Emily moved in.  I took this picture before we really got her totally moved in.  She is very happy to have four walls and a door that locks again.

 

I am glad to have these projects done.  The rest of the house will eventually all be painted,  but I am thinking we will wait to do that until after the Holidays are over.  I am still trying to decide what color I will paint it.  I am glad to have the kids settled into their rooms and that they all have a space that feels like their own.  Thanks to everyone who helped us.  It has been a lot of work,  but very worth it.   

 

Halloween Cookies

Halloween is always so full of sugar,  but I always like to add a little bit more by making sugar cookies some time in October.  While the kids were out on fall break I decided this was the perfect time to do this activity. 

 

I always let the kids have their own portion of dough.  These then become their cookies.  I keep some for myself  for sharing.  It is so fun to watch the kids make their own.  Sometimes they come out looking like the shapes of the cutters,  and other times the kids make their own shapes. 

 

 

the kids carefully place their cookies on the pans so they knew exactly which cookies were theirs for decorating.  This year they really got into the decorating part, and tried to make Vampire faces on their cookies with the candy corn.  They asked me when they were done which one I thought was the best.  I thought they were all great.  I will let you decided what you think. 

 

 

Valerie didn't get into the contest, but she got plenty of frosting and candy on her cookies too. 

Grandparent's Day!!

Yesterday was a special treat for the boys.........Grandma and Grandpa Bolander came to school! 

 For the last hour of the day their school had special Grandparent Day activities.  The Grandparents were invited to come and join their grandkids for some learning.  Ryan's mom and dad were happy to take a couple of hours off of work to come and play.

Whenever we tell our kids that Grandma and Grandpa are coming over, or that we are going to their house or even that we are going to see them at all.  The announcement is always met with cheering and clapping and much excitement.  (You would almost think we told them it was Christmas)  They love their Grandparents very much.  So when the boys found out that Grandma and Grandpa were going to be able to come to school with them, they were REALLY excited.

Grandma, and Grandpa divided up and took turns going into class with both boys so that neither Josh nor Joe had to be without a grandparent during the time.

In Josh's first grade class they had some fun activities.  One was to try to make as many words as they could out of the word Grandparents.

In Joe's class they interviewed their Grandparents and then shared the information with the class, and then did a few activities together.  In the picture they are working on a word search.

 Valerie and I stopped by at the end to get a couple of pictures.  Then we ended the day by going for an after school snack before Grandma and Grandpa headed back to work.    The boys talked about how much fun they had with their Grandparents throughout the rest of the day.  It was so great that they would take the time to come.  It made the boys feel very special.

Our Actions Define Us

     Today Emily and I walked the few blocks home together from church.  We didn't talk about anything important.  Just little things.   In fact the biggest thing we talked about for almost two blocks was whether or not she was going to get to make brownies.   She felt she had been robbed of a treat in young woman's due to the fact that at the last minute her leader decided to add hazelnuts to the treat she brought for her class.  So Emily was not able to have one because of her nut allergy.   I was planning on trying a new brownie recipe that night,  because lets face it, after playing in the nursery for two hours chocolate is always a good idea, and Emily seemed upset that she had to miss out on a treat.....  "EVERYONE got treats today.  One class even had cake, and Josh came home with a candy bar."  (teenagers are fun)  So we agreed that we would have brownies tonight.  Emily seemed happy with that.  We arrived home and went about our Sunday afternoon. 

   A little while later I started making dinner and the phone rang.  It was the YW president.  She asked me if Emily had told me about what happened in YW today?  I kind of laughed a little and told her that Emily told me about there being nuts in the cookies and not to worry about it.  We were making brownies.  It was all good.  In the back of my mind I was thinking oh that's really sweet of her to call about this, but it really is not a  big deal.  

   The YW President kind of hesitated for a minute and said, "Oh I didn't, I wasn't talking about that.    Today when we stood to say the YW theme the girl sitting behind Emily pulled her chair out from under her and when she went to sit back down she fell.  I just wanted to call and talk to you about what happened and to make sure Emily was OK."    She then went on to tell me that the girl who did it has been having some problems and she is sure she did it for attention,  but how grateful she was to Emily for just standing back up getting her chair and sitting back down without making a big deal about it.  She said not many girls would have done that and how grateful they are to have Emily as part of their Young Woman's group.  She said Emily has seemed to make a lot of friends in the group.  However she was worried that maybe Emily was just too shy to do anything else in that situation and she wanted to make sure that she was OK.

     

     Had I have not walked home from church with Emily today I too might have questioned if Emily was OK,  but she did not say one word about this to me so I figured it must not have bothered her.  At least not as much as the cookie.   So that is what I told her YW leader,  but I told her I would talk to Emily about it and make sure.  She told me again how grateful she was for the way Emily handled the situation.  She said they have not had many problems with the girls, but that she would always let me know if anything like that ever happens.  I was very grateful to her for calling me and letting me know about what happened so I could make sure Emily was OK, and also make sure other things were not going on.   This is a very hard age and so many things do happen.  

     When I got off the phone I asked Emily about what happened.  She told me, and I asked her if she was alright.  She said, "Well, my side hurts a little."  I said no Emily, emotionally are you OK?  was it embarrassing?   How did you feel when it happened?  She said   She knew the girl had pulled the chair,  but she knew reacting to it might cause her to do it again so she just got her chair and sat back down.. the two friends she was sitting by both were asking her if she was OK.  She didn't feel embarrassed she felt the support of her friends.    

     As a thirteen year old girl I think I would have not handled that situation very well,  and I was in awe standing there listening to my daughter tell me how and why she did what she did.  and after talking to her I still believe what I told the YW President.  Emily did not seemed to be bothered by it.  She felt bad for the girl who did it, and wonders why she is so angry.    I told Emily that she did the right thing and how grateful her YW leaders were for how she handled herself.  

     As a mother this is one of those moments that we hope our child never has to experience,  but we know that they will, because this is the kind of world we live in.  So we try to prepare them for all of the ugliness that is out there without making them fear leaving the house, and we hope and pray that they will come home safe and unharmed.  We try to teach them that they are amazing and wonderful people,  but we wonder if they believe us.  I can not tell you how many thoughts and emotions went through my mind during that phone call,  but in the end I was so proud of my daughter for knowing who she is and what she is worth.   I love you Emily.  You are an amazing girl!

  

First Day Of 8th, 3rd, 1st Grade, and Preschool

Summer has come to an end and it is time to head back to school.  It feels a little early to me.  Our new district started school on August 21st.    (This post is a few weeks late,  because life keeps getting in the way of my blogging,  but this is a post I didn't want to miss.)  

The kids were all a little nervous and excited at the same time this year.  They all love going to school and being with their friends,  but they were a little nervous about starting at new school this year where they don't know very many kids or all of the rules and systems.  

Emily was the hardest for me to send off to school on the first day.  She is now in 8th grade,  so you think I would be used to letting her go out the door,  but this was the first year that I did not get to take her to school on the first day.  While last year I just dropped her off at the curb,  I still at least got to see that she made it safely there.  This year I took her picture and then she headed off to the bus.  I wondered all day how she was.  If her locker opened, if she found her classes OK, if she tripped on the stairs, and if she was going to be able to find the right bus to get home.  Jr High is very stressful for a parent.  Happily she made it through her first day,  and has loved school so far.  She has a few good friends and her very good friend Kelsey is her locker partner so that makes it even better.  

I was really excited for the boys to start school.  

Their school is 1.25 miles from our house so we have to walk, drive, or ride bikes to school.  We decided to give bikes a try. (At least until the weather gets cold.)  We are having so much fun riding to and from school together everyday,  and it has been good for me to get in a little exercise. 

   
When we arrived at school Josh found his new teacher Mrs Jones.  She is very excited to be teaching, and I think Josh is pretty excited to be in her class.  Josh has had a hard time finding friends in the neighborhood this summer.  For the most part it is because he was happy to just hang out with Joe and his friends and didn't see the need to make friends of his own.  So I am hoping that he will be able to make a few new buds in school.   He is loving school and seems happy to have homework to do.....I hope that lasts.

     Joe's new teacher Mrs Carter is really fun.  She has their classroom all decked out in Pirate stuff and was really happy to meet all the kids.  I think Joe will have a good time in her class.  While Joe has made quite a few friends over the summer,  none of them are in his class, so he was a little bummed about that.  I am not worried though.  Making friends does not seem to be a problem for Joe.  He likes school,  but he is not excited about homework the way Josh is.  Surprise! Surprise!

Then last but not least......Valerie has started preschool this year.  I had very mixed feelings about this.  I signed her up last January for preschool in our old neighborhood,  and she has been talking about going ever since.  When we moved, I debated just keeping her home with me for another year,  but in the end I decided it would be good for her to have a little outlet and meet some new friends.  I found a little preschool a few houses down from ours and off Valerie went to school.

She was so excited to put on her new outfit and walk to school  her first day.  When we got to school she told me she could go in by herself,  but her teacher had asked us to walk our kids down to the room for the first few weeks,  so I told her I needed to come with her.  She was shy for just one minute when we got to the room,  but then she started playing and had no problem with me leaving.   When I arrived 2 hours later to pick her up she was happily playing and did not even notice me come in.  On our walk home she told me all about her day and what a fun time she had.

While the 2 hours of getting things done without the extra help was nice,  I missed my little helper asking me fifty questions and her little chatter in the back ground.   The only thing I hate about sending my kids off to school is all of the things I miss seeing them do.  I try to ask them about their day when they get home and they usually will tell me the exciting things.  Except for Joe, who tells me his day was fine, and they just did stuff and "Mom I am not really into this talking thing!"  So I get to hear about most of it.    Even though I don't get to experience school with them,  I am so grateful my children have the opportunity to go to school and be educated, and have experiences that I can not give them.  I have been blessed with 4 very great kids and I love them more than anything.  I am excited to see all the new things they learn this year.

A True Teenager

Emily is now officially a teenager.  The night before her 13th birthday she invited a couple of friends over to hang out.  Her friend Lindsey from the old neighborhood and her new friend Kelsey 

They had a fun time playing games and watching movies.  

The day of her birthday Grandma Bolander wanted to throw a party for her and Grandpa.  When we arrived Grandma told Emily she had to wait  for a minute before she could go out to the party.  At one point Grandma had talked to Emily about maybe inviting a few friends over including a boy.  So Grandma told Emily that she had gone ahead and invited a boy to the party and he was waiting on the deck.  

Emily was very relieved when she found out who the boy was.  Dad was too.  

Emily loves sharing her birthday with Grandpa.  It always makes it that much more special.  These two have a lot in common.  Someday I will have to do a post on all of their collections.   They both have some interesting ones.   

Emily loved her gifts.  Most of them had something to do with superheros.  

 Emily is such a great kid.....even as a teenager.....She is so helpful and hardly ever complains about anything.  Yes we do get the occasional eye rolls that seem to be a little more frequent now that she is really a teenager, but she is such a great kid we really can't complain.  At Thirteen She loves to ride her bike all over the place including the dirt trail by our new house,  and she also loves super heroes and comic books.  She was very disappointed when we went to the library in our new city and found that their comic book collection was very lacking.  So she was thrilled to get a few of her own.

Emily loves to read other books too.  She likes fantasy books.  If it has a dragon in it she usually likes it.  She  is very easy going,  and has had an easy time with the move.  She has already made some new friends.  I am so grateful for Emily and all that she does for our family.  I hope she knows how much we love and appreciate her.

We love you Emily.  Happy Birthday!!!