Labor Day at Amazing Jake's

Nana and Papa treated us to a full day at Amazing Jake's on Labor Day. All-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, salads, potatoes, soup and desserts, and all-you-can-play video games, bowling, bumper cars, race cars, miniature golf, roller coaster, laser tag, air hockey, train rides and rock wall! We were exhausted by the time we got home that night.
Spencer and Noah on the speedway.

Jeremy was the best driver in the fastest car. Jacob would get so nervous when anyone got close to passing them!

Nana and Isaac had a nice leisurely ride.

Papa was a speed demon, as usual!

This is me.

Jacob and Isaac both thought they got first place!

Nana and Papa went on the wild and crazy bumper cars.

They held their own amidst the grinding gears and whiplash!

Nana, Jacob and me playing mini golf.

Papa and Isaac on the mini golf range.

Our last stop of the night: the Rock Wall. Noah finally conquered the hardest route!

And yes, I braved the climb, too. Didn't make it to the top but got a good workout!

Happy Birthday to Spencer

Spencer turned 14 this year! He wanted to celebrate by going out to the Oriental Buffet for dinner. Luckily, Nana and Papa were able to make it here for his birthday and got to go with us. All the boys love to try the weird stuff at the buffet table. Spencer tried baby octopus this time. He ate two of them! Usually, they just try to put the restaurant out of business by eating mounds and mounds of crab legs and shrimp.

Spencer wanted me to make Joe's Root Beer Cake for his birthday cake, but it didn't turn out like Joe's. We'll have to try and revise that recipe or just resort to getting our free piece on our birthdays. Spencer's favorite presents were the "Why" book from Nana and Papa, the drummer T-shirts ("Plays Well With Drums", and "Got Drums?") and beef jerky from Granny and Grandpa, and of course the Nintendo DSI that he paid half of. Love you, Spencer. Happy Birthday!

Baby Bird

A few months ago, Noah and Jacob discovered a nest in our huge pine tree. Unbeknownst (is that a word?) to me, they climbed up (waaaayyyyy up) and found a baby bird in the nest. They got the camera and took pictures and made videos of the cute little thing. Look closely. Can you see how far UP they are? So glad I was oblivious until it was over.

Fun With the Flag

We've begun this round of Joy School! Isaac and 7 of his buddies (and their moms) are participating this school year. It was my turn to teach last week and we had a blast learning about our flag and our country and the Pledge of Allegiance. We listened to patriotic music and marched in a parade and made flags to take home. We colored a map of the USA and Arizona. We had fun "painting" our snack: toast and jelly. We love preschool!

A Bobcat and an Arrow

A rite of passage. At one pack meeting our family had one incoming Cub Scout and one outgoing Cub Scout. Jacob had worked so hard in the weeks before his birthday learning the Cub Scout Promise, Sign, Salute, and the Law of the Pack, so he could pass them off and receive his Bobcat the day after he turned eight.

Here he is, hanging upside down (hold on tight, dad!) while mom pins his Bobcat badge on his shirt. When he turned right-side-up, the badge was upside-down. That meant he had to do a good turn before he could turn it the way it should go. Good job, Jacob!

Then it was Noah's turn. Way back in May, he earned the highest possible rank in Cub Scouts: the Arrow of Light. It hadn't been awarded to him yet because we had to schedule a special Arrow of Light ceremony. There is a brother in our ward whose bloodline is through an Indian tribe (I can't remember which one) and he presents the Arrows of Light.

The ceremony consists of ceremonial face painting with the colors representing things in nature and Scouting values.

Then a handmade Indian arrow is presented to each boy and they are instructed to always display the arrow pointing North. Congratulations, Noah!

Since the monthly theme was "When I Grow Up" the kids got to participate in a fireman relay, learn to hammer nails into a board, and write a letter on a computer.

These are Noah's friends who also received the Arrow of Light: Luke Eyring, Israel Orona and Bryce Park.