Ahem

A bit irreverent, but he nailed it on Gingrich!

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DC trip

My three oldest and I went to visit my folks in DC for 4 days last week. Spence stayed home with the two youngest, and a friend watched them for two days when he was at work (thanks, Emily!!)  My Mom and Dad are on a mission back there right now teaching Institute. What a crazy trip! Exhausting, but we loved every minute of it. The following are not in order, but I didn't think you'd care.

Spent an evening with my kids, Mom, Dad, sister Amy and her husband Colin (who is stationed at Andrew's Air Force Base for a few years), my sister Emily and her husband Josh (who were there for two days at the same time as us to dance with the BYU folk dancer group), and my beautiful cousin, Susi (below), who lives in DC.

Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe.  Our table was right by a display from Peter Gabriel.  Spence and I have an "our song" by him, so I had to text a pic to him during dinner.  He texted a pic back of the two little ones eating dinner at McDonald's.  I win.

Elder and Sister Carpenter in front of their temporary townhouse. <3

Arlington National cemetery on Sunday.  Sobering.  So grateful for this country and all those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice so much .

Changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Went on a DC Ducks tour.  This awkward looking vehicle took us for a 90 minute tour of downtown, including driving down into and boating around in the Potomac River for a while.  :)

Sister Amy went with us.  Quack.

Pass and Stow.  The three Caballeros trying to look bored while their mama snaps a pic.

OK, so we managed to snag 4 tickets to tour the White House, a great feat in itself.  We walk up to the entrance right when it is time to go in and are told that there was a last minute schedule change so all tours are cancelled for the rest of the day.  Booooo!  Hisssss!  Ah, well.  What ya gonna do? 

They've got a country to run and all.

This is the inside of the dome of the US Capitol building.  At the bottom of the center group you can see George Washington (with the pink blanket on his lap) being welcomed into heaven.  On one side of him is Liberty, and on the other is Victory.  Then forming the rest of the circle is 13 angels representing the 13 colonies.  At one point, the man who was painting this had not been paid for some time by congress.  He got revenge by painting as the angels' faces the likenesses of some of the congressmen's current mistresses at the time.  Sticking to the budget and paying bills on time is always a good idea.  Especially as a government.  Ahem.

First taste of sushi!

Yes, I've developed a crush.  It's OK, Spence knows.  I kinda like George.  The more I learn about him the more I like him.  He's pretty much awesome.  More than awesome.

Maybe someday...

Lots of Metro time.  Pretty great system. 

So glad we never got lost!

I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to take these kids to see our nation's capitol.  We saw and did so much in the short time we had.  I hope they were able to grasp some of the magnificance that is our country, especially how important and miraculous our nation's birth was and all the sacrifices that have been made to secure and maintain our freedom.   

We had the privilege of viewing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

with our own eyes. 

If that doesn't make one patriotic I don't know what would.

J. is taking US History in his High School right now.  Posing for extra credit at the Library of Congress.  Great tour, by the way!  J. spends a lot of time at our local library and was a bit bugged that he was able to go through the world's biggest library and couldn't crack a single book!

At the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History they have a Butterfly room. 

M. and I went in.  Tween girl heaven!

Yes sir, Mr. President!

Yeah, me and Beyonce', we go way back.  I think J-Lo behind us looks a bit bugged. 

She's just jealous of our moves.

Couldn't resist.

...and...Mt. Vernon.  What a beautiful place.  Sigh.

We toured where they print money, the International Spy Museum, and saw and did so much more,  just too much to share.  Wish we'd had a lot more time. 

Two thumbs up.  Way up. 

Thanks Mom and Dad!

up, down and around

It's been a while, but I thought I'd share anyway. For the Utah Parade of Homes, Herriman had a replica of the house in the movie "UP". I drive right by it most days. Anyway, Spence and I took the two little ones for a visit while they were open. So fun!

Carl and Russell were there...

And they did such a great job replicating the home in the movie!

So cute!!  (Stupid small camera. 

We're getting a new memory card for it.)

Anyhoo, made some s'more cookies...

and enjoyed them.

Also bought a maple, bacon doughnut.  We enjoyed that too.

As for the rest of life, livin' it.

J. is now registered at Salt Lake Community College for a dual credit computer programming class.  If he does well in that this year and takes the one he's planning on for next year, he'll start college with at least a semester under his belt and some certifications.  He drives me all over the place now.  Each time I hope I live to tell the tale.

N. started 9th grade and seminary this year.  He started his first day in Geography by correctly guessing a particular flag his teacher presented for an extra credit assignment.  It was the flag of the Seychelles.  Duwha?  How on earth did he know that?  I guess he IS the trivia king.  Ken Jennings better watch his back.

M. went and got all grown up on me.  She started Jr. High this year at our new Charter school.  Seven periods, a locker and everything.  She seems to be loving it!  Not sure I am.  She was my baby girl yesterday.  She'll turn 12 in February and start Young Women's at church.  Sigh.

A. also went and grew up on me while I wasn't looking.  He started Kindergarten this week.  No way!  Way.  He's all tall and smart and responsible now.  He just straps on his Toy Story backpack and away he goes.  My little Bugaboo.  Sniff.

If you caught all that, you may have caught that I have 4 kids in 4 different schools this year.  Heaven help us.

L. is my little helper now.  She helps me clean.  She helps me make messes.  She helps me cook.  She helps me shop.  She helps me do laundry.  She helps me pick vegetables and strawberries in our garden and helps me eat them (well, more the strawberries).  She tells me what to do.  She drives me crazy and keeps me sane all at the same time.  L. just started dance classes near by.  So. Stinkin. Cute.  Last week we she spotted and fell in love with a Rapunzel costume for Halloween at the store.  It was just her size and very inexpensive.  Bingo.  Still trying to decide if we just go with her long, blonde hair or use the extremely long, blonde braid wig of a few years past.  We'll let her pick.

Spence is getting more used to his newish job.  It's crazy.  Anyway, Spence is just holding on, working hard, and wondering if he'll ever know why, exactly, he is supposed to work for the Church.  He enjoys a lot of things about it, but it gets outta control sometimes.  Love my man.  He does so much for us.

Me?  I've committed to another 1/2 marathon.  This time it's right before Halloween, so I get to wear a costume.  Any ideas?  It has to be runnable.  I don't know what I'm thinking.  Primary program coming up.  Fruit orders starting next week.  Honey for sale!  Going to DC in a few weeks.  Photo shoots left and right plus lots of other projects underway.  Fasten your seatbelts.  It's gonna be a wild ride!  Wouldn't have it any other way. 

Powell

The Flandro family Powell trip. Everyone came from the four corners of the country except for one brother and his family (missed you guys!). Gorgeous weather, prayers for safety answered (over and over), and great time with the fam.  Two thumbs up!!

Something wrong with the pic, I know, but still cute cheesin'!

Some of the family we went with.  I think we counted 48 people this year.

Ta- da!  Made it to the top of the Sand Hill.  Actually, she beat us all!

Cousin buddies.  I think I had some sunscreen or something smudged on the camera lens.  Thus, why I don't bring my nice camera to such events!

Spence's mom on skis.  She's 71.  She skis at least once each year.  She's my hero.

Some of our tent city.  With a houseboat, 2 ski boats, 2 waverunners and a jetski, not to mention numerous other toys, we had a blast!  Thank you Barlockers!!

what we've been up to

Warning- picture overload. Some of the general stuff we've been up to this Summer.

We have a 16 year old! Learner's permit only for now. I'm not ready!!

G-ma Carpenter made a "cake wreck" for him. LOVE!!  

(What am I talking about? Only one of J's and my favorite websites. Click here for a peek-see.)

...and he was ordained to the office of Priest in our ward.

So glad both sets of grandparents could be there!

Water fight for his birthday. We ambushed him.

Hiked to Timpanogos Cave.

Watching G-pa dance to Dance Central. Enjoyed that immensely.

L. made me beautiful.

Got creative for the 4th. Yum!!

Love having girls I can do this to!!

Ah, yes. The 1/2 marathon. This is me sweating to death with about 2 miles left to go.

Did it! 13.1 miles and ran the whole way. That was the goal. Time? 2 hours 14 minutes.  Not bad for a first try at a very old age. Not sure if I'll do another one, though I'll definitely keep running.  Maybe this fall.

L. keeps me laughing. She was trying to wash her hair in the sink. Not sure why or what she had in it to begin with. She's never seen anyone else do that. Just some hand soap and water everywhere. So funny!

...and here we have her artwork. The picture doesn't do it justice. Floor to nearly ceiling (she got herself a stool). Just when I was going to get a bit mad, she whispered "I just wanted to be like Rapunzel." Oh, man. How do you punish that? Didn't. Just explained we don't do that in our house.

Waiting for the Draper parade.

And watching some very scary renditions of

Cookie Monster and Elmo.

Those two will be giving out some nice nightmares.

M. is such a great big sister!

Finally, boating over the 24th weekend with my family.

The classic in front of the world map at the MTC. Moms and Pops left yesterday to drive to DC. My little missionaries. Sniff. They'll be awesome!

Love and hugs!