.week before school started.

.Saturday.

Josh and I were able to attend the Temple Saturday night. Since our neighbors moved in we've now had a regular date night once a month! As most of you know, Josh's brother and his family moved in next door to us. Since then we've done babysitting swaps and that usually means our kids are tucked into their own beds at night before we get home! Sweet! I don't know if any of us knew what it would be like living so close to family. All I can say is that I highly recommend it!!! I wasn't so sure at first (Rachael, if your reading this...you understand what I mean right?) But its been an amazing experience. My kids get to see and play with their cousins everyday. I'm always able to borrow cooking supplies when I run out, we babysit swap and there is usually someone around to watch kids if something comes up or if someone is running late.

Like I was saying, Josh and I attended the Temple Saturday night and then went to dinner at the Union Grill.



.Monday.

Josh left out of town for the night Monday. Usually when this happens I try and schedule a trip to Salt Lake to see my family. Sometimes we even sleep over which is what we did this time.

We met my sister and Mom at the Gateway.

and let the kids play in the fountains...

Amy and Katy

Afterwards we went to the planetarium to see their free exhibits.

"weather today is cloudy with a chance of meatballs"

TJ lifting a heavy meteor

Hi, Mom! I'm on mars...

Now we are on the moon. How did we get the stroller up here?

Peace, martians.

moon walk

That evening Amy and I ran over to Wheeler Farm, a photographers dream! My goal was to get a decent picture of the three of them...

aww....sweet success!

.Tuesday.

The next morning the kids and I left Salt Lake to come back home. Josh was suppose to be coming home and we had some errands to run that afternoon at home.
We stopped at Kohls and Target on the way home and finished up school shopping. Bought the boys each new shoes and got backpacks as well.
Once we got home and unpacked we headed to Tremonton to the fair grounds to drop off our fair entries. The boys each painted a picture and I entered a few photos.
When we got home, it was off to back to school night with TJ. We met his nice new teacher, found his desk, paid for lunches, joined the PTA and located the bus schedule...whew!
Well, turns out Josh wasn't able to come home, he was sent on another job, this one in Idaho for another night. We should have guessed and packed accordingly. I felt bad he didn't have any extra clean clothes for the trip.

.Wednesday.

We went down again to Salt Lake. A photography group I'm involved in got a get together planned at the park and I really wanted to go. I talk to most of these people almost everyday online and wanted to meet some of them in real life. After that, we met Mom as McDonalds for lunch.
That afternoon, the fair opened! We met my brother and sister in law and let the kids ride the $1 rides for family night.

Thank goodness we got there early enough, the lines weren't long and the kids had fun choosing what ride to ride next.

We then went to look at the exhibits. We found the photos I entered...

second place...

first place...

and another first. Don't be too impressed, they freely gave out ribbons! ;)

and here is the final one I entered, its the one of Gage's hands in the middle holding peas. It was in the commissioner's choice entry.

We found the boys entries and stopped for a photo op. They were so excited to get a ribbon (its great, EVERY child gets a ribbon. Gage got a purple "participation" ribbon

And TJ got a blue. When I picked up the entries late Saturday night, they also each earned $1! You would have thought they won the lottery and wanted to know when we could got to the dollar store and spend their winnings.

In the comercial building the kids each got free balloons, candy and even a bottle of water!

checking out the bunnies.

stopping to pet each and everyone. So sorry to the poor people behind us.

threesome tractor picture. You can see Gage's shinner in this one. He got that one a few weeks ago on the trampoline.

.Thursday.

Still no Josh, I think this is why my week ended up being so busy...I need to be when he's gone.
We had a nice relaxing day at home. Later that evening we met the family at Willard Bay for dinner and to spend the evening.




We enjoyed the warm weather and the kids had so much fun playing on the beach.

.Friday.
I watched my nephews and neice in trade for our night out Saturday. Josh finally made it home later that evening...and none too soon!

.Saturday.
We spent at home, running errands and working around the house. Later that evening once the kids were in bed Josh and I left to go out to the fair (see how nice it is living next door to family, we just left the kids in their beds and asked my brother-in-law to check on them) We enjoyed time there and then picked up our entries and $.