We are the Settlers of Catan

OK, so if you don't know this about us we enjoy good games and love to have game nights with family and friends. Jared especially likes strategy games and Rook is a family favorite that never seems to get old. Several years ago we were introduced to a game called The Settlers of Catan. Wow! We were hooked. For month and months, that was the game of choice.

Chelsea and Chas came over to play with us at least 3 nights a week. The game always changed and the intensity was there every time. After awhile, we moved up a notch to Cities and Knights of Catan. Again, tons of fun and hours and hours of working on winning. We are all competitive by nature, but the McClures take is up a notch. Playing with them gets pretty cut-throat. The games were always interesting and close. Some nights we had dinner before we played. A few evenings, Chelsea and I traded off making cookies and cakes to snack on as we planned our attacks. We seemed to consume a lot of cheep pineapple soda and red vines on all of the other nights. Our lives became busier (again) and Settlers game nights were not as frequent.

Before Chas could leave for Canada, we decided to revisit the game nights of 3 1/2 years ago. Settlers was dusted off, Red Vines and Pineapple Soda were purchased, and we were ready to play. (except we had to wait until almost 10 for Jared to get home from work) Chelsea won the 1st round, Jared the 2nd, and Chas won the final bid for Catan. He left on his mission as the last winner. Not bad.

If you ever need a fun game that changes around every time you play, we highly recommend The Settlers of Catan. But, be warned, it is pretty addictive.

Uncle Elder Chas

Chas (Jared's younger brother) is off to Canada, eh. He was about as prepared as a missionary could be, and we have been so excited for him. When Jadyn said one of her first prayers after he left she called him "Uncle Elder Chas" and I thought it was adorable. We took some photos the night before he left for Utah and the MTC with Mom and Dad. These are some of the favorites! (Yes, he really is as tall as he looks!)

Uncle Chas with all of his nieces and nephew. Boy our family is going to change while he is gone.

The brothers. Funny, funny boys!

Chas with his Sis and Sister-in-laws. Doesn't Chelsea look great for being 8 months pregnant?!?

And (of course) the new Elder with his happy parents.

Good luck, Uncle Elder Chas. We are so proud of you. Our thoughts and prayers will never be far from you over the next few years.

The Most Bestest School Trip

With limited summer activities, Jadyn really was looking forward to our school trip to the Fire Station. After both activities were over and we were on our way home Jadyn happily told me, "Mother, this was the Most Bestest School Trip I ever had!" Poor deprived kid...Of course I had to laugh. I knew that she had a great time with her friends.

I was a little stressed with the 3 young kids running around, but it worked out for the best. Hyrum was so good at the station, and he just loved watching the rest of the kids play in the water. He even fell asleep for awhile. He is such a good baby. Jenna was a little more of a handful, but just because she is such a monkey. She has to check everything out and is quick to run, climb, slide or do whatever to get involved in the world around her. She was bored with the stroller after about 10 whole minutes of cruising around the fire station. She is not one for sitting around - ever.

Here are some of the photo highlights of our fun "school" trip. Since I didn't do any of the planning or coordinating, I felt like it shouldn't count for a school trip, but we didn't have Mommy School that day. I was tired by the time we got home.

Here are the girls in their red hats. Jadyn wore hers around the house for days afterwards - she even decorated it with flowers and glitter. In this photo she seems happy with the "plain" red hat.

After visiting the Fire Station we went to Lori's house to let the kids play on the water slide and let the moms relax and eat lunch. That inflatable slide was something else. My kids had a blast on it and never wanted to leave!

Here are the last batch of pictures from the water slide. Jenna splashed around so much and laughed the entire time. It was so much fun for me just to watch the kids play. What a cool contraption. It turns your back yard into a water park.

We had a great time at the Fire Station and the Super Slide - a special thanks to the ladies that put it all together for taking care of all of the arrangements. It was a great day for us... just like Jadyn said.

Short Hair

Yep. I did it. I cut my hair. It was too long and I never did anything cute with it. So, in July I chopped it all off. (about 9 inches worth)... I like it so much better! I even went a few inches shorter last week, but I don't have any pictures yet. Jared's cousin did a great job on my new look! Thanks Tresley! (Jadyn took the first photo - not bad, eh?)

School is in Session!

Jadyn doesn't start preschool until September. This is a different school - Mommy School.

Just call me Ms. Mommy (or Ms. Mother as Jadyn prefers).

I started Mommy School this July as a way to occupy my kids for a few hours every day and keep us all from going stir crazy. (Better late than never!) Last summer I remember that we went out a lot more, but with the ridiculous gas prices we have become home bodies. School has made a HUGE difference in the longs days at home and the girls really look forward to all of the different activities that we do in Mommy School.

We have several things that we do every day – like Show and Tell, Project Time, Story Time, Music Time, Exercises, Play Dough, Flash Cards, Games, Workbooks, Puzzles and Treats. We have also done a few hands-on learning activities, Musical Rhythms, New Songs, Finger Plays and Scripture Stories. I had binders of early childhood learning games/ideas/music play from my college courses in Music and Elementary Education. Finally I put some of it to good use!

Jadyn was able to work on more advanced skills like writing her letters and numbers in Jello powder and workbooks while Jenna was able to just have fun with the Jello and color.

One of their favorite projects (hands down) is painting. Jadyn and Jenna both love to paint pictures with watercolors or to paint objects with crayola craft paint. I LOVE the dollar store. We were able to get lots of little things to paint and color for $1 (or less)!

Music time was always loud - but lots of fun. The kids and I worked on short and long notes on the recorder. Even Hyrum got in on some of the action!

It has been great to change things around a little and be called Ms. Mommy, or Ms. Mother, for awhile each day. I have been taking pictures, but the best part of the day is when Daddy comes home and the girls clamor to show him the things they learned and created in school.

We love Mommy School! Looking back, it has been one of the highlights of our summer.

Where did I go?

OK, so you've probably noticed I have been MIA for over a month. These last few months have been especially hard for me. (Have you seen the dark circles under my eyes?) I haven't even had time to check my blog or add anything new for over a month. I feel like I have been unable to keep up anything lately. I have been overwhelmed with life and the pressure of it all. I have felt like I just get to tread water - it is enough to survive, but doesn't get me anywhere. To top it all off, I have been just tired... tired of Jared being gone so much (working all of the time), tired of 14+ hour days with young (needy) children, tired of not getting out much, tired of the heat, tired of not having any money - basically I have been tired. It has been hard, but not impossible. I was feeling a bit run down, but things are finally starting to look up. Whew. Thanks for letting me get my whining done for now. Sometimes things are just hard and this summer has been one of those difficult spots for me. Now it is on to better things...

I am going to try and play catch-up with my blog. I have about a million entries that I want to add. I may actually only get to a few of them. The good news is that life is starting to get a little more normal. Jared will try to cut down and only work 12 hour days now that things are up and running at the new office and preschool starts for Jadyn in a few weeks! Hallelujah! We just got back from a family reunion and my sister is in town for a few more days so this month is definitely going to finish better than the last one for sure.

Looking back I am grateful that things were tough this summer. It has made me appreciate my husband and our daily blessings even more. I have really had to search for things to be happy about some days, but I have always had something.

This is all that I have energy to post tonight, but more will soon follow with stories, pictures, and all the craziness that is going on around here. I had better get some sleep so that I am at least functional tomorrow.