Michael the Scholar

On September 2, Michael had his first day of Preschool:

Like last year, we're doing a co/op slash joy school with other moms and preschoolers in the neighborhood. Unlike last year, we're doing more than just an organized playgroup, and there are only six kids. We're meeting two times a week, and we have a set schedule and curriculum. So far, it has been great. All the moms and kids are awesome. The other moms are so creative and cute, and I love the fun things Michael  (and I) are learning. I never remember to take pictures when it is at our house, but at the end of September, they went on their first field trip to an apple orchard in Alpine. It was awesome. The folks at the orchard were amazing. They got to bag their own apples to take home,

 They got to go in the huge refrigerator and pick out their own apple,

 They got to see how apples are sorted, brushed, and bagged. We even got to sample some yummy apple juice. They were going to give them rides on the tractor, but it was rainy and windy and cold. So we just stayed inside and learned about apples.

 We had safety week the first week in October, and I helped at one of the lessons and was able to take some pictures:

I'm sure we'll have more fun pictures from preschool as the year goes on. Michael is loving having preschool and wearing a backpack. Sometimes, he even tells me that he needs to work on homework. I'm not sure what he thinks that means, but I love that he loves learning. 

About Devri Tab

Well, I just thought that I would let you know that I finished the questionnaire on my "About Devri" Page, so if you are interested, you can check out the finished thing. Hopefully, some of you find it interesting. If not, it is really for posterity, so...

Island Park Family Reunion

This year, for our annual Chadwick Family Shin-dig, we stayed in a cabin in Island Park, Idaho. We all had a blast--well, most of the time :) Most of us arrived on Friday, August 30. Michael and Wyatt lost no time in exploring around the cabin. Too bad all the wildflowers had mostly died and there was mostly dirt. Oh well, boys love dirt, right?

 Saturday was spent mostly chillin' around the cabin, while the boys continued to play in the dirt outside. 

 My dad made his grandsons these guns. They loved them!

 Every now and then, I had to stop to take some pictures,

 And some of us didn't like that. 

 Rachel will grab and play with anything she can get a hold of

 Including her grandpa's shoelaces. 

Since we had three doorways right next to each other, three jumpers, and three babies, we HAD to put them in the jumpers at the same time. And cameras HAD to come out. 

 I accidentally forgot to turn the flash on for this one, but I think it was a happy accident because it shows just how much each baby can jump. Aaron (3.5 months) is on the left, Henry (6.5 months) is in the middle, and Rachel (7 months) is on the right. Check out how high Henry jumps! That kid is the most toned baby I have ever met, and after spending the weekend with him, we all know why! 

 Here is the non-motion blurred one. 

 Rachel loves the jumper. 

Chelsea and her crew arrived Saturday night due toThomas's aunt's funeral held in Ogden earlier that day. 

The next morning, we went to church in Island Park. You would have thought it was Stake Conference. The chapel and cultural hall were completely filled with a sacrament table at the front and one at the back. There were at least three over-flow rooms with sacrament meeting being broadcast to them. And, next door to the church building, there was another very large A-frame Cabin hall filled to the brim with more people, another sacrament table, and I think the meeting was broadcast to them as well. The A-Frame cabin had a room the size of a regular chapel in it. Why so many people? All people on VACATION! Apparently, they had a full block meeting that met at 11, which I'm guessing was for the people that actually live up there year-round. There was a really awesome spirit in the meeting. It was amazing. 

After church, we had an AMAZING brunch, provided by all of us. Here's my mom and Chelsea cooking part of it.  

 Emily read to Michael and Sarah. 

 After brunch, Brian, David, and I made special cupcakes for later. 

 Sunday afternoon, we all headed to Big Springs, the place where the North Fork, or Henry's Fork, of the Snake River starts. 

 Big trout live under this bridge. We tried to entice them to come out by feeding them biscuits. They wouldn't take the bait. Someone else threw corn into the water, and then they came out. They were pretty big!

 When we came home, we had dinner and then took some family pictures. 

 Aren't we just a good looking crew?

 After pictures, we had an un-birthday party to celebrate everyone's birthdays. We had a pinata that Michael named Picco. All the grandkids got to take a swing at it. 

 Even the babies. And even Grandpa (good thing he missed*). 

Taryn decided Aaron would do better riding the pinata. 

After everyone got a turn, Ethan came and finished him off. 

 I love how you can see pieces of Picco flying everywhere! 

 And Grandpa made sure that Rachel got some candy too. 

 And then we had our special cupcakes 

 And later, ice cream. 

The next day, on our way home, we stopped at Mesa Falls. The Englands and Flynns headed out early, but the rest of us stopped to see this beautiful site. 

 Heather, Sarah, Matthew, Michael, and Brian

 Rachel and my Mom. It wasn't really cold, but it was a little rainy. 

  Michael asked if he could take some pictures. He could barely hold up my camera, but I lifted him up and he was able to take this awesome picture of Mesa Falls:

I didn't crop it or anything.

 Ethan

 Chelsea and Amber

 At the Snow Pole

We had a great time, and I'm really excited that we get to head back next year for the Saville Vacation!

*Okay, so he only pretended like he was going to hit it. He told me, "If I had tried to hit it, I would have." :)