Jacob in Nursery
Author: admin
Playing on the dirt hill
Ribs Ribs Ribs
Bingham Canyon Mine
More October Pictures
Murray Park and the Greek Festival
After cleaning and straightening up the house, we drove up to Murray to a park near Grandpa Smith and Aunt Marie’s home. The extended Smith family was holding a reunion gathering and luncheon. We arrived in time to see several cousins, Grandpa Smith and Aunt Marie.
The boys enjoyed playing on the playground and rolling down the hills. James worked on some requirements for the Athlete activity badge in Webelos. Benjamin, Samuel and Anthony also enjoyed running around the park and helping shag loose soccer balls as two teams prepared for a game.
After playing at the park we drove to Grandpa Smith’s home and had a nice visit. LaReita, Marie and the boys picked some peaches. The boys played with the bats, balls and cars while the adults visited. We signed a large poster that showed the family connections though Grandpa Smith’s grandpa.
After a nice visit we drove up State Street to the Greek Festival in Salt Lake City. It is held at the Greek Orthodox Church on 200 South and about 300 West.
We were able to tour a beautiful church with amazing stained glass windows built in 1924. The boys were intrigued with both the adult baptismal font and baby “font” which looked like a large metal vase, both of which were in the front corner of the chapel.
The boys also liked looking at the kneeling benches, decorative woodwork, stone pillars and the choir loft above and behind the main chapel area. It was very different compared to the stark somewhat less decorative chapels in LDS churches.
We walked outside and went to look at the displays, smell the delicious foods cooking and mingle with the 100s of people in attendance. We watched some Greek dancers on a stage and went out back to see the carnival rides. The boys were able to do one ride each.
Samuel and Benjamin choose to go in an inflatable bouncing tent. James and Anthony choose the bungee stretch where they were harnessed to a bungee chord and tried to make it from one end to the other. We then went to try out some of the great food.
We purchased two lamb dinners with feta cheese, Mediterranean olives, Greek salad and a dinner roll. We found a table and began eating. LaReita then went to purchase some bottles of water, a gyro, some baklava and other Greek pastries. Samuel really liked the Feta cheese! Benjamin finally tried some, but didn’t like it so much. Anthony…well, he ate all the dessert that looked/tasted like scones. Think he did try at least one bite of lamb.
As we were eating James took a few bites of the gyro and said “I still don’t like them, but this is the best gyro I’ve ever had!” Later after trying some more Greek food he said he hopes he gets called to go to Greece on his mission.
James played a dart game on the Midway and won a poster that says “No Parents Allowed”. He says he is going to hang it on his door. Then Anthony, Benjamin and Samuel wanted to play a game. They won a small stuffed animal and some dragon and eagle tattoos.
Jacob also really liked the feta cheese with the cucumber and tomato. He has very grown-up tastes for a 10 month old!
As we were leaving Samuel decided he wanted to do one more thing, we insisted on leaving and he threw a massive tantrum. David had to carry him kicking, hitting and screaming out of the festival and to the car.
We got all the boys loaded and headed home tired but well fed.
TV Station Tour
Samuel has potty trained!
The most exciting thing that has happend this summer so far is that Samuel has potty trained. Well, I shouldn’t say potty trained because sometimes he doesn’t use the potty. I’ll explain.
When we went camping the end of May I decided that this would be a good chance for Samuel to learn how to get close to nature. So I took off the diaper, and let him “go commando”. This is something that my Aunt Joanna did for her kids on the farm. Teach them how to go while running around outside playing. “Go on that rock,” is what she said to her kids, and it worked remarkably well. I just forgot to include that part of the instructions because Samuel decided to be like the dog and mark his territory everywhere.
So now that he has potty trained, I now have to remind him that if he’s in the backyard playing, that he needs to come inside to go pee. In fact yesterday after dinner, Samuel finished his dinner then went outside. The rest of us were finishing up. One of the kids got up to clear their plate and went to the window to see where Samuel was. “He’s got his pants down again. Oh! He’s popping!” I sent Dave out to help Samuel. When Samuel came back inside I quietly and gently pulled him inside and told him that he really needs to be inside when he has to go pee or poop. “Understand?” He said yes. I asked him “Where do you go to pee and poop? “Inside.”
We’ll see if he actually remembers and follows instructions.
bionicles
James- I have a lot of bionicles I built over 15!!!! Cool huh?? I like bionicles
Violin lessons
While at the music store to pick up some music Benjamin saw some little violins hanging on the wall. We said with the most fasinating tone of voice, as if mesmerized by the sight, “Oh mom, I want to play one of those.” It’s been a month since then and I’ve now got him started with violin lessons with Meika. Fortunately the Lewis’ had a little violin that Amanda had outgrown, so we traded for a 1/2 size violin that has been in my closet that is a family violin. When James practices piano, Benjamin likes to get out the violin and practice. Still the basics, and he’s only 5, but still it is fun to see him do this!