Best. Tradition. Ever.

Sometimes traditions cause a groan, or the desire to run away screaming.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a firm believer in tradition.  But some traditions are definitely better than others.  And this tradition is the best one of all.  Notice that I'm already calling it a tradition, even though its the first time we've done it. I have faith that due to the enjoyment of the activity it will be repeated every year for the rest of forever.  With my dad in charge I'm sure this will be the case as he is the king of all things tradition.

What did we do you say?  Well, we rode on a bus to Temple Square to see the lights.  So what, right?  Lots of people do that....Wrong!  Nobody does a bus like the Spjutes/Binghams do a bus.  We had a bus come to my dad's and pick us up.  That's right, kind of like a taxi, or a limo, but it was a bus.  And this wasn't just a short bus.  No way.  Spjutes/Binghams don't belong on a short bus.  This was a full-sized, real-life school bus.  Big.  Yellow.  Did I mention big?

the bus parked in out front...big right?

The kids were so excited.  Let's be honest, some of the adults were as excited as the kids.  My dad was so excited waiting for everyone to show up that I thought he might explode.  The most exciting part of the ride?  Going down the big hill by my dad's house.  It was like being on a roller coaster without the seat belts.  We all put our hands in the air and screamed.  Good times.

Sage loving life

The kids at the back of the bus

On the way to Temple Square we sang all kinds of Christmas songs, and of course included "Wheels on the Bus".  When we got to the horn on the bus Clarence, the bus driver, even honked the horn.  So cool.  Then we were dropped off right at Temple Square.  That's right, no dealing with traffic, no stress of where to park, no walking from the parking lot.  Just dropped off right there.  We were super cool.

Sage riding in style

Zack and Kate

Kate and Sage

So we walked around and enjoyed the lights.  Or at least the ones we could see through all the people.  Still beautiful though, even with lots of people.  Zack's still trying to figure out exactly how many lights there were.  I'm sure he'll be able to tell us next year.

Sage...mouth full and hot chocolate in hand

On the bus ride home we listened to Polar Express, ate cookies, and drank hot chocolate.  We went so slow up the hill to my dad's that we were hardly moving.  I thought the bus was done for.  Especially because there was a strange buzzing sound like something was going to explode.  Anyway, we made it home and all was well.  My kids were exhausted, but happy.  We're going to have to re-visit our other traditions so they maybe stand a chance against The Polar Express Bus...

Derby Time!

Zack's car being set in place

The car and the scout

Since Zack turned 8, I've entered the world of scouting.  And quite a world it is.  I feel like its a strange secret combination complete with special handshakes, cheers, vocabulary, the list goes on.  I know nothing about scouting.  I'm not sure I really want to know about scouting.  I have learned, though, that some people take scouting very seriously.  Very seriously.  There is to be no joking about scouting.  This is serious business.  Like I said, secret combination...

Anyway, surprisingly, Zack is loving scouts.  He loves every activity they do and could spend all day doing anything related to scouts.  This could be challenging for me if it wasn't for my wonderful hubby.  Jake loves doing all things scouting with Zack.  Who knew?  So now my husband and son get great bonding time, and I don't have to do scouts. This is definitely a win-win situation.

Last night we experienced our first pinewood derby.  I have a fading memory of my brother Greg coming home after his first pinewood derby with a blue ribbon for first place.  I'm not sure I ever remember my dad being so excited.  So when Zack's derby came around I figured this was a big deal.

Zack designed the car on the computer, and Jake cut it out per Zack's specifications.  Then they painted it.  Zack decided on a shark design (not sure where this came from) and the number 80 (?).  I was proud of Jake for letting Zack do the work.  When it came down to speed we weren't so fast.  Maybe we should have done a little more research on this aspect.  However, Zack had a good time and didn't seem phased by his slow car.  If Zack's happy, I'm happy.  Who needs a blue ribbon anyway?

Turkeys, Lights, and Stitches

Cute Sage

Watching the fountain show

An eventful week for sure.  Thanksgiving has come and gone.  We gathered at my dad's and ate until we couldn't move.  I decided the reason you get so full at Thanksgiving is that all of the foods have large amounts of carbs.  Major carb overload for sure.  We decided to go to the fountain at Farmington Station after dinner so that we could make room for pie.  The kids had good fun.  Really, they had good fun all weekend with their cousins.  Kate and Megan are bosom buddies and spent their time putting on plays for grandma and grandpa and playing with American Girl dolls.  Sage loves Max and Sam and follows them both around.  I think they're not quite sure what to make of her.  Zack plays with whoever is willing to build with him.  I wish we lived closer so they could play together more.

Feeding the scary geese

On Friday we decided to fit everything fun into one day.  We started by feeding the ducks at Farmington Pond.  Ducks and geese I should say.  Quite aggressive they are too.  There were moments when the kids feared for their lives due to the hissing geese.  Following this, we promptly devoured all leftovers.  The best part of Thanksgiving.  Then we hurried to the Bountiful Bubble to swim our guts out.  My poor non-swimming kids tried their best to keep up with their fish cousins.  After swimming it was on to see "Wreck It Ralph".  Super cute show for sure.  By the end of the day the kids were exhausted, but happy.

Jake dangling from the roof

Yesterday was spent doing all things Christmas.  We got the Christmas decorations up.  Not that this is a huge feat at our house.  I have maybe half the amount of decorations most people do.  Oh well, we all have our things, right?  Just not sure what my thing is yet.  Anyway, we also took a deep breath and proceeded to put up Christmas lights.  This is no easy task with our tall house.  Poor Jake dangles 20 feet in the air, risking his life as our family illumination specialist.  It's all worth it when the lights come on though.  At least, that's what I tell myself.  Not sure Jake agrees.

Sage's stitches

We added a little drama to the day yesterday.  I was outside working with Jake when Sage came out crying.  She pulled one of the stockings down, along with the heavy star that was holding it in place.  Apparently the heavy star landed on her head.  This isn't too surprising considering the size of her head.  It would have been more surprising if it had missed, really:)  Upon closer examination I saw that there was a big gash in her head.  Off to the doctor for stitches we went.  She got three stitches and was a trooper.  I realized this is the first experience we have with our kids getting stitches.  Guess our time was up.  By the way, our stockings are now on the floor.  No more heavy stars waiting to fall and smash my kids.

Anyway, deep breath, that was our weekend.  Busy, fun, good times for sure.  Now a really deep breath for Christmas....Ready, set, go!!

Snow!

Sage was ready to play - she kept her goggles on the whole time:)

I can't get up!

Hallelujah!!  My kids actually love playing in the snow!  No more taking 20 minutes to get their snow clothes on, only to have them play outside for a whole 5 minutes.  They played in the snow for hours last weekend.  Hooray!  Now we are set to really enjoy the winter:)

ps - We do have other kids besides Sage.  Guess we only got pics of her this time though.

I Choose Hope!

I just finished watching Zack's third grade program.  I found myself getting emotional through a lot of it.  How embarrassing.  In my defense, the program was all about America and what a great country we are.  It was soothing to my soul after the turmoil of this week.  How can you not have hope when you see a hundred little kids singing as loud as they can about our great country?  Sometimes I think we need to be reminded of what our country is about.  Of what our flag really means.  Of all of the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country.  I would also like to state that I was not the only emotional person in the audience.  I think a lot of people were touched, and reminded, of what's really important in our country.

So I'm choosing to have hope.  I admit that my heart sinks when I think about the elections and how things turned out.  I know it doesn't bode well for our country.  But I've been surprised at how many people seem so willing to write our country off.  Its over.  We're doomed.  That seems to be what everyone's saying.  But I'm not ready to say that yet.  Now, I'm realistic.  I'm not denying that there are hard days ahead.  That is a known thing.  But I also realize that there are still a lot of really great people in our country.  And I have hope that when its time, all of those great people will stand together and fight for our freedoms.  I have hope for my kids' future.  I'm not writing everything off to doom and gloom yet.  Probably not ever.  Because I know that even though its going to get really hard, and is really hard, in the end the good will win.  This time the bad folks are going to get kicked out on their rears!  So I'm to teach my kids the best I can in my house.  I'm going to teach them pride for their country.  And I'm going to teach them what our country is really about. 

p.s. Sorry to get on my soapbox.  Guess if I'm going to do it I might as well do it here.

p.p.s.  I did take pics of Zack, they're still on the camera and will come later...

Annual Witchy-Poo Party

Cute Sage Witch

serious bingo playing

rock climber Zack

cutest kids ever!

Witchy-Poo party....check.  It would not be Halloween for my kids without the Witchy-Poo Party.  We've been doing it for as long as they can remember.  Its ever evolving, but always great fun.  This year we added some extra games and crafts.  Even more fun for the kids to experience.  But I think the highlight is always the witches brew.  The kids get magic wands and they get to help add the ingredients.  This year's witches brew was actually edible, as opposed to years past where we had real teeth or yummy slobber added to the ingredients.  Good times were had by all.  Now on to the rest of the holidays!

St. George....Again

Zack would hike every day if he could

Cute Boy

We did a lot of this

weeping rock

The narrows with my girls

Me and my jacket:)

Kickin' it on the shuttle

Big Bad Zack

Crazies

Fall break was last week.  So of course, we headed to St. George to invade Greg and Tracy at their house.  St George is seriously the place of choice for my kids.  They love it.  We had hoped to go camping, but the weather didn't cooperate.  Rain isn't so fun in a tent, so we decided to live it up in St George.

It was a really fun trip.  Jake and I snuck in a mountain bike ride.  After we finished he told me I should stick to Cross Fit.  Always knew I wasn't cut out to mountain bike:)  We did some shopping, went swimming, and just relaxed.  On Saturday we spent the day in Zions.  It was the first time the kids had been there and they all really liked it.  They were troopers too.  We hiked to the Emeral Pool, Weeping Rock, and to the start of the Narrows.  It was super pretty, but packed with people.  Kind of like turning the wilderness into Disney Land.  I want to go back to do Angel's Landing when the kids are older, but otherwise I think we'll stick to more of the back country options if we go back again.

Anyway, I think St George seems to be a favorite for our family.  Someday I'd love a condo or something down there.  Getting away during the long winters is really nice.  A girl can dream, right?