Art City Days
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 - Posted by Sunny - 1 comments
It seems every little community in Utah has a city celebration. Pleasant Grove has Strawberry days, Payson has Onion days, Spanish Fork has Fiesta days, American Fork has Steel Days and Springville has Art City days...just to name a few. When we were in American Fork the city celebration came to us. The grande parade marched past our apartments the firemen's breakfast woke us with their sirens, we even saw the smoke from the burn out a couple streets over. The carnival was down at the end of the block we saw the fireworks from our porch, we were in the middle of it all. Then we moved to Springville. One day these cute cub scouts stopped by our house and sold us tickets for a car wash and breakfast at a church on Main street one Saturday. We went to get our cars washed and discovered that the grande parade was about to make it's way down the same main street we were on. The last day of Art City days and we just stumble upon it. This year I was determined to experience it as full as I could. So when the booklet came I poured over it and decided on what we'd do.

First up was the children's parade. Hyrum wanted to ride his tricycle so I set off to figure out how to decorate it. I started my pursuit on a windy day before the big event. I tried long trails attached to his seat but one circle around the back yard and they were entirely wrapped around the axles of the rear wheels. We were back to the drawing board and I wasn't able to get back to working on it until the next morning...P-day! We had suppose to go to a Teddy bear picnic earlier in the week that I'd forgotten about, and Hyrum had been so excited to go to it so I put a teddy bear on the back of his bike to make him think we were going to the Teddy bear picnic after all.


I have to say that I was pretty impressed how it turned out


The chariot ( stroller ) that Noah rode in was not as grand. But in my defense if there were any streamers within his reach they would be on the ground in seconds.


I can't tell you how excited we all were to be in the parade. As we started around the block I realized that this way probably the longest that Hyrum had ever been on a tricycle. He was such a trooper!

He even rang his bell and waved to the 9 or 10 people who lined the parade route.


Most of the time he walked his bike but sometimes he pedaled and when he did went really fast but it took a lot out of him

( for some reason they won't let me upload the video)

Once there was a puddle in the road and when he saw it he said "HOT WHEELS!!" and took off pedaling as fast as he could go splashing through the puddle fantasticly. I didn't get my camera out fast enough. To make it even better after it was all done they gave snow cones, a participation ribbon and a candy bar to everyone who was in the parade. It was great!



Noah didn't notice the streamers until we got to the car afterwards...then he made short work of them.


We thought we'd go down to the children's art festival but when we got down there it was insanely crowded and the art projects were a bit beyond Hyrum's ability to do alone. So we walked around a bit and then decided to hit the school playground behind the festival. On the way out we saw a work of art that Hyrum noticed. I asked him what it was and he said " a fish " I said " You're right Hyrum, it does kind of look like a fish" then he said "It looks like the earth when it's broken"


Wow...yeah it kinda looks like that too. The art festival was not a waste. Hyrum experienced art.

The park was fun though.
Hyrum was trying to make his way across this and kept saying "minute to win it!" He likes a challenge.


The next day I wanted to take Hyrum to the hot air balloon launch like my dad took me to when I was young. I'd tried the day before but they'd launched before Hyrum was even awake. It started at 6:30 and they were serving hot chocolate and donuts then when each of the balloons launched they would throw out colored balls that could be redeemed for prizes. We got there at 7:30 and they'd all launched...FAIL. They were blowing up the balloon they were going to use to do the free balloon rides during the day so we watched that go up.



When it launched Hyrum said "Where are the balls?" Fail. He also asked about the hot chocolate and donuts ( he had been SOOO excited for the donuts)...FAIL. Next year...Next year.

After that we went home and got everything ready to drive to main street to watch the parade. We got there about an hour early so we walked around while we waited for things to begin. Hyrum and Derek walked to the store to get donuts. Noah sat with me for awhile


but then he was off to explore


I decided to explore myself. Take in this place nicknamed "Art City"


There are a lot of things around town to make this nickname appropriate. Statues line the street and of course there is the Springville Museum of Art which is really the best kept secret in Springville. There is a building in town that I've always thought was beautiful, it was renovated not too long ago and a year or two ago was made into a restaurant ( Magleby's ). As I walked past it I noticed it's door handles.


Beautiful. In the window was the statue that the door handles were patterned after. It was entitled "Statue of Responsibility" (My dad will not be surprised that I noted it was a study) This week has made me feel more like a Springvillian.

The parade began with the motorcycle policemen ( behind them is the new library being built...we're so excited)


There was plenty of candy thrown and acquired by my little men. Noah always wanted to be walking the sidewalks. One time he sat down on the sidewalk because I wouldn't pick him up and a piece of candy fell in his lap. No wonder he wanted to keep going back.


That night we were tricked into going to the carnival by a coupon and we ended up spending way too much money but it was a night Hyrum continues to talk about. Memories made. Check!

As soon as we saw the Carnival Hyrum wanted to ride the "dragon ride" It was the very first ride he went on and he LOVED it.



Dad had fun too


The next thing Hyrum wanted to do was this...well I'm not really sure what you'd call it...a fun house maybe. We were worried that Hyrum would be too scared to do it but he was soo brave!



At one point we thought that he'd changed his mind and started the reverse track. It was horrible just to have to sit there and watch him with his little apprehensive face and body language and not be able to go and help him.


As it turned out he thought he'd gone the wrong way but he was headed the right direction and being the ring leader in no time "come on guys, let's go this way!"


We wondered if he would have his dad's fear of high swing bridges like the ones he would cross


We found out that he did not.

He loved the final slide.

Then it was off to the space ships



and the super slide ( that he had to do with Mom AND Dad )


Then ended the night at the cars


He's the ultimate back seat driver


This ride reminded me of a ride at Great America that we have a picture of me "driving" when I was about Hyrum's age.


This was a great Art City days! We can't wait till it comes again. We don't even really care that it doesn't come to us. Except for the Hot air balloon launch...but we're going to make it next time.


Father's and sons
Monday, June 13, 2011 - Posted by Sunny - 1 comments
I should have done this weeks ago but there's no time like the present, right?

May 20th was the father's and son's camp out. I never could figure out why they would go camping in May. It is always cold. Last year Derek wanted to take Hyrum but he'd gotten sick. I couldn't figure out why they'd go camping in such a cold time of the year but then I realized it was to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of the priesthood...makes more sense now.

This year was no different than the other years it was going to be mid sixties during the day and around 40 at night. I was so scared to send my little guy out into the cold of the night. I packed sweatshirts, a winter coat, extra socks, hats, gloves, thermals, super warm pajamas and I also sent them with extra blankets in addition to their 0 degree rated sleeping bags.

Hyrum was beyond excited to go camping with his dad. Noah stayed with me, Derek doesn't have enough eyes to keep track of both of them and I was nervous enough about Hyrum going that I needed to make sure one of my boys was safe and WARM that night. As soon as Derek got home Hyrum was ready to be in the car and on the way


but we had yet to pack anything in the car. After what seemed like an eternity ( at least to Hyrum ) they were on their way. Noah was not nearly as excited about this idea.


Hyrum had to have an "Indiana Jones hat" just like dad. Not sure what we're going to do when another little man needs a hat like that.

Growing up in a house full of girls I didn't know how Father's and Son's go. I got an education. First stop on the Fathers and sons weekend is the grocery store...where apparently you buy your son's weight in junk food. I should have taken a picture of the pile of goodies that came back with them. All I ended up getting was a picture of the receipt. GAH!


I didn't get to sleep until 3 in the morning worrying about my boys in the cold and Derek didn't sleep well either because of worry. Hyrum on the other hand insisted that he take off one of his four layers that he was wearing because he was too hot and was dead to the world all night. It was all junk food and fun for Hyrum. Can't wait till next year!




10 years ago today...June 9th
Thursday, June 09, 2011 - Posted by Sunny - 2 comments
I went on a date with a young man. A first date. A date I wasn't sure at first was with the one who asked. The date was with Derek. When he asked me to go to a birthday picnic for a mutual friend I was under the impression that Derek was dating someone else and assumed that I was being asked to be the date of the birthday boy. After it was made clear that I was to be Derek's date unfortunately the miscommunication continued. I continued under the impression that Derek was dating someone else and since she was out of town and I was a friend of all the others attending the picnic that I was invited as a stand in. Derek was a friend and in the elders quorum presidency with my roommate's boyfriend (as was the birthday boy) and so we were friends. I thought of him more or less as the boy next door. Things changed a bit 10 years ago today.

We went to Kawanis park in Provo, Utah. We had submarine sandwiches soda and chips. I still remember what we were wearing. I, khaki short overalls with a coral shirt and he, jeans and a blue and green "Reusch" shirt. ( Derek still has the shirt and I still have my outfit somewhere - for posterity) After which we played catch with a football. One threw the ball while everyone else would try to catch it. I began seeing Derek with different eyes. The boy had hops. And...well let's just say he started to look much less like the boy next door to me.

After the picnic we went to Magleby's for pies, where my roommate was finishing up work then following that we went to Derek's apartment to play games. Some kind of mystery game that I can't remember now. When it was time to go home I told Derek "thanks" and walked home with my roommate and her boyfriend, leaving Derek at his apartment. He was confused.

The next day at church when I saw him I mentioned how much I'd appreciated being a stand in. Then he understood and told me that he was not dating the girl I'd thought he'd been dating. That, they say...was the beginning.

To be continued....


Preschool graduation
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 - Posted by Sunny - 0 comments
Our last day of Mommy neighborhood preschool was May 19th. It was a bitter sweet thing. Sweet because I won't have to worry about preparing lessons at least once a month. Bitter because it was really fun and Hyrum learned so much and really enjoyed going.

The mom who had the last day put together a little and very simple graduation ceremony. I used to scoff at things like this. I didn't understand why they would do a graduation ceremony for PRESCHOOL. Hello people...not that big of an accomplishment. I've changed my mind.

I thought it was GREAT!! They were each given a little paper mortarboard and a paper certificate of completion with their hand prints on it. We sang the graduation song as we took pictures. Well except for Hyrum who sang the Superman theme song. That's my boy!

On the way home I heard Hyrum say quietly "I'm so proud of myself" So am I, buddy!

I didn't think to bring my camera so we took pictures when we got home...by the front door, where it all started.


I felt like I graduated too. I was proud of myself for sticking with it the whole way through and continue to make a consistent effort straight through. Some of my lessons were received better than others but it was a fun to learn right along with the kids how to teach them more effectively. It also gave me much more appreciation for teachers in general. Teachers, you have my respect!!

I wish I'd taken more pictures of the things we did in preschool. We did a lot of fun things. What I do have are most of the name tags we used on our preschool tree.

Most every time I taught preschool I'd make new name tags that would coordinate withe the month or a holiday. When they'd get to school they would find their tag and put it on the tree and when they left they'd put it in the basket at the bottom. It was a fun way to feel part of a group and know who wasn't there that day. It was also an opportunity to note the changing seasons by what was on the tree. This is a sampling of what the tags looked like through the year.


We both feel a sense of accomplishment! It was fun to do this together. YEA US!