TV Station Tour
Provo Colonial Days
Last year I heard about this free event that Provo holds called “Colonial Days” as part of their Freedom Festival. (One of the largest festivals celebrating our Freedom – aside from Washington DC of course.) So I loaded up the boys and took them.
It was at the Crandall Printing Museum and surrounding buildings in historic Provo. I didn’t know that the Crandall Printing Museum has the only fully-functional Gutenberg Press replica. We learned about where “upper-case” and “lower case” comes from. Also saw a replica of the Golden Plates, taken from a description that Joseph Smith recorded, including the ‘sealed’ portion. Because it was nearing lunch time Samuel was getting crabby so we didn’t get to stay very long in that part of the museum. So we ventured outside where we saw some Revolutionary War army items. Also heard a rousing rendition of the speech, “Give me liberty, or give me death”. James and I were the only brave ones in our family to say “Hear! Hear!” when the actor/orator was giving the speech.
We moved along and happened to run into a man who was telling about the Indian Chief Crazy Horse and why General Custer didn’t have a chance against him. Very interesting history!
We also saw a 98 year old man who is the oldest registered Scout in the Boy Scouts of America! I wanted to get all my boys around him for a picture. But Samuel was having a fit about his shoes, and Benjamin was not feeling well (left over from the dentist visit the day before). So I just quickly took a picture of him. Impressive with all his awards on his shirt!!!
We left before being to see everything. But I’m sure that we’ll do it again next year. And bring dad along to help.
Samuel wanting violin lessons?
Yesterday when loading everyone up to go up to Meika’s house for lessons, Samuel insisted on taking the little violin. I didn’t argue, and let him. So he had a short 5 minute lesson with Meika that made him so happy. The interesting thing was that during one of my cello lessons today, Samuel watched the whole lesson. At age 3, I’ve never had any of my boys stay and watch a lesson voluntarily. He was squirming back and forth on the couch during the lesson, but he was watching nonetheless! Hmmm….I wonder….
Jacob finally decides to crawl!
On his 8 month birthday, Jacob finally decides to crawl!
In words from cousin Savannah:
We were downstairs and Jacob saw piece of a horn. Then he decided to crawl to them. Then he crawled to them! I tried to get him to do it again. I used one of his toys. Then he did it again! I was so glad i told everyone!
Back to LaReita: It was a very exciting day for everyone! Jacob was beaming while everyone shouted and cheered for him. Today he has been crawling a bit more to everyone’s delight. I have been wanting him to figure out crawling because I know that it is an important developmental step for them in learning how to read. (Cousin Laurel Ann Strate, who is an excellent educator can fill you in on all the scientific details.) So our patience and efforts in helping him get down on his knees finally paid off.
Though his favorite thing to do is still to stand. And grab the glasses off my face. He’s getting pretty quick at that!
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.
Firemen for the morning
Julles told us that Springville was opening a new firestation, so we went over to check it out. Not many
people for the ceremony (complete with a printed program – only in Utah), but more people drizzled in with the rain. I found the EMT explanation quite interesting, but the boys were much more interested in the big trucks.
But the LifeFlight that landed and their tour was very interesting. Not that there was much to tour through, just their pointing and showing….
The boys kept asking silly questions. But I thought it was interesting that the flight nurse had to have a certain amount of years as an ICU nurse, ER nurse and take flight school classes. (Makes sense.)
One of the funnest things for the boys was to go and be able to sit on one of the original firetrucks, now on
display. It was used until 1975, and still was fully functional at the time of decommission. That wasn’t impressive to the kids. What was really cool was that they were able to ring the bell from the inside of the truck that made it ring on the outside. Anthony immediately went to work trying to figure out how pulling a cord from the inside would make the bell ring on the outside. He figured it out pretty quickly!
Wish I had brought my better camera, but the phone camera will just have to do sometimes!
What really made me laugh was that they began serving cookies/cake/punch at the Open House by 9:30 am. Talk about needing to help people that go into sugar shock!!! I told my boys, NO SUGAR because they had not eaten breakfast yet. Apparantly I didn’t get the memo to Dave. He let them have cookies and punch when I was off helping someone else. Sigh.
chaos faction
I like Chaos Faction right now I am on the last level with Vortion & a ATOM BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bionicles
James- I have a lot of bionicles I built over 15!!!! Cool huh?? I like bionicles
Flag retirement ceremony
Provo’s Freedom Festival always hold a flag retirement ceremony. I thought this would be very educational for the boys to go see. I thought it would be a good FHE activity. I had them wear their scout uniforms (as did I and many others, even though they didn’t participate). June also came with her kids. Dave ended up having to do some work, so he wasn’t able to join us this time around.
It was a good opportunity to talk to my boys about respect, honor and service to our country. I had to keep explaining it over and over to Anthony. He kept asking why we were burning the flag. It is a rather difficult concept to grasp for a 7 year old.
Some Marines were also there and I made sure my boys noticed how well they dressed, and walked in formation. It was not too hot of an evening, but the heat from the fire at times was a bit much.
Truck ride at carnival
For Art City Days the ONE ride that Benjamin wanted to go on was this little truck ride. Cousins Samuel, Matt and Ryan also hitched a ride.
