In which we return to a schedule

This week has been a pretty typical one. We're starting to get into a fall routine, although Logan doesn't start preschool until some time in September. He's been loving his online preschool program. We do it for 20 - 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, and I generally sit beside him to make sure if he has questions I can help. So far he's learned about rhyming words and to count syllables in words. It's cute to hear him say a word while clapping. He always asks me after "3 syllables, right?" but I'm sure over time he'll get more confident.

I've gotten back into exercising 3 times a week again. This is my third week in a row. The boys are more cooperative this time around. They mostly watch me, but some times Logan will join in. I'm just glad they're done climbing all over me during it. I get more of a workout that way.

the red towel is more muted in real life

Some time this week I volunteered to teach a Super Saturday class on machine appliquéing hand/tea towels (in October). I've been creating patterns and trying to make a few examples. I finished three examples (the colors are more muted than they showed up in the pictures). I want to make 3 every day designs, and three winter ones too. I figure the ladies taking the class can pick up to 3. I'll provide a plain white towel and material, or the ladies can go out and get their own towels if they want fancier or colored towels.

I also finished binding my American Flag quilt this week. I've been making it for 2 years now, and the goal was to have it done by the 4th of July. I love how it turned out and can't wait to hang it up next year for July! I had all kinds of plans to make patriotic decorations this year, but with the renters in the basement, I don't have a place to decorate, so it didn't happen.

Friday Dave's co-worker invited us to join his extended family volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. Dave has done this several times, but this is the first time we've brought the boys. They provide housing and meals for families who have a child really sick and is staying at the hospital (so the family can be close by even if they are from far away). The boys were good, although not too helpful they stayed out of the way well. We prepared and served dinner. It was good to get to do some service, especially for families.

Last Sunday Dave was called to be Young Men's Second Councilor, and this Saturday they were having a fireside up the canyon. Dave left at 6:00am and got back around noon. He's excited to get to work with the youth again, and hopefully he'll be released from teaching the Youth Sunday School soon. Since he'll be teaching the YM at least once a month, this will keep him from preparing two lessons in one week.

Saturday night I was invited to see a play with my friend Tenille, so I ditched Dave and the boys to see it! Let's be honest, I totally needed a girls night out. I haven't had one in a while, and with Dave gone most of Saturday, it was the perfect time for it. It was a mockery of Grease and West Side Story, and it was hilarious. We had a good time! They are doing "Star Wards: These are not the Elders you are looking for" next. Maybe I can convince Dave we want a date night next month to that one.

Sunday we were at church in the morning, and in the afternoon we went to the birthday party of Devonch (the boy living in the basement). Vrushali cooked TONS of food, and she sent us home with half of it. It was delicious! Two Indian Curries, Naan, a custard fruit salad, and some spicy rice. We will be eating well this week (and I froze about 8 servings for later). After helping clean up, we read a email from Grandma Sheila & Papa Mike and headed to bed. It was a busy weekend for us!

Logan's 4 Birthday!

Logan had his 4th birthday last weekend! All week he was excited and counting down for the big day. Since it was a Saturday we woke up, ate powdered doughnuts (Logan's request), and opened presents!!! It's great to have Dave home so we could celebrate all day. Both boys were excited that Logan got a Duplo Superman set. They've been fighting over Batman for months now, so it's great to have two super heroes! They spent hours building houses and hideouts with us.

Logan also got a bag of used Mr. Potato-heads. They LOVE building different guys and have each nicknamed their favorites. Logan likes to make a pirate and calls him Trey. Dustin takes one of the little potatoes, puts eyes and shoes on and calls it Tot (like a tater tot! it kills me). They will build these guys for hours on end. I love new toys!

Logan wanted Sully cupcakes for his birthday. So I found some Monster's stickers at the Dollar Tree, and attached them to toothpicks. The frosting dyed everything blue, so I insisted the boys eat them without shirts. Bathing is far easier for me.

Friday night Dave and I got to go on a date to see Jurassic World. It was pretty good, I would rank it after Jurassic Park, only because I didn't love the main characters as much as in the original.

Saturday afternoon Dave built us a new shed door. I looked into buying a new one, but after finding out it would be $800, we decided building one ($80) would be a better option. The ones that came with the house were inside doors, and getting pretty beat up after years of outside wear. And of course after we finished the door, I realized how bad we needed to paint the shed!

It looks so great now that I want to make new curtains to go in the window. I won't, but turquoise curtains would look so cute! I've only finished painting one of the sides, but hope to get the other three sides done by the end of the week.

The boys jumped on the tramp while Dave and I hung it up. They love bouncing!

This week we've been busy. Today I took Logan to get him signed up for an online preschool funded by the state. He loved playing on a computer (the assessment test), and I am excited for him to start (statistically graduates of this program test 3 times higher than those that go to regular pre-school on average). I was a little worried about starting him in Kindergarden next year because he will be the youngest in the class, but I think this will give him the knowledge he needs to start in a year. They focus on letters/reading, but also have Math and Science.

In Which We Sew & Run

Look at what I finished this week!!! It's machine quilted and bound! And I love it. It makes me smile every time I see it and think of the ladies who made it.

I tried some new quilting patterns on this quilt. This one is a swirl pattern to match the waves.

On this one I did circles. They remind me of little pebbles or sand. I used this on all the sand in the quilt, and a few other squares too. It took awhile to really get good at this one, but I'm glad I tried it! It will be a fun one to have in my repourtour.

Then I tried some waves for all the blocks that have water (well, except the two waves that got swirls).

And I finished it off with some clouds. They were really fun and whimsical. I think it would be a fun one for a baby quilt.

And I can finally see the material on the back! I love it, wouldn't it make a fun Lava Lava (wrap around skirt)? I love how the blanket turned out, and so do the boys… Logan has to use it every time he needs a blanket. He's already spilled juice on it, but fortunately it washed out. Sigh, little boys!

Saturday Dave had his second half marathon! His first one was last year (July 24th). He ran that one in 2 hours and 19 minutes. This year he ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 2 minutes! For his division he was 64th out of 315 men. So he's faster than 80% of the guys in his age group! We had fun watching all the runners, waiting for Dave. Logan told everyone that ran by "Good job, you run really fast! Where's my Dad?"

Here's Dave headed the last .1 mile to the finish line. It was a beautiful morning. Dave said when he got up to the top of the mountain the moon was just setting  and the sun was coming up.

Friday night we got a hotel in American Fork, because Dave had to be dropped off at 4am! And I didn't want him to have to drive 45 minutes all by himself that early in the morning (and loose that much  more sleep).

So we drove down as soon as Dave got off work, checked in, and went to see the Minions movie. The boys loved it! I've never seen Logan laugh so hard, it was hilarious to watch him watch. Dustin loved the songs! He danced to every one. Then we went out to eat and headed back to the hotel for swimming. The boys had a blast and Logan was brave enough to swim around all by himself (with his water wings). I think next year we'll get him in swimming lessons so he can really enjoy the water.

And here's a pic with his metal! The boys fought over it so much, Dave had to get out last years metal so they both could have one to wear.

He did a great job! We're looking forward to his next half marathon in September. I don't know how much time he'll shave off between now and then, especially since his toe is hurting after this race. But we're excited to cheer for him again. Logan told Dave he wants to run the next race with him. But not down the mountain, because that would be a long time. And he might have to walk some too.

Saturday night we had a Stake BBQ to admire our float from the 24th of July parade. They had a bounce house with water for the kids to enjoy, food, and did a drawing for the pieces of the float. I won some material which I will probably use to make bags to organize the kids toys (why do I always need more of those?)

Sunday we had a movie afternoon (so Dave and I could get in a well deserved nap), followed by hide and go seek. You may think Dustin is crying in this picture, but he's not. He's "hiding". He thinks if he covers his eyes you can't see him. It's pretty cute to see him "hiding" in the middle of the room, covering his eyes and saying "peep" so you know where he is!

And the iron in the back ground is an indicator of the next quilt I'm about to finish. It's been in process for 1.5 years… So it's about time I finished it! I'm sure pictures will come soon. It needs to be pinned, quilted and bound. Then I'll only have two more quilts in my stack to finish (one for Dustin's birthday in November, and one for Christmas).