Watch out for Demon Mops!

Prior to Halloween, we prepared by carving jack-o-lanterns.

In bell pepper form.

Seriously, it's so much easier. 

Although Calista enjoys using the knives in either just fine.

Spooooooooky!

There and Back Again

Driving to Oregon is long. Driving to California and then back home again? Even longer. 

But we did it. 

Lots of snacks

And lots of breaks.

Getting out of the car is essential to everyone's mental health!

Plus, spinning in circles is just fun.

A Day of Rest

During our trip to California, we made the choice to be intentional with our Sabbath Day. That meant going to church (even on vacation), spending time with family, and going to the LA Temple. 

Of course, it was hot, so the interior of the Visitor's Center was very welcome. We watched church videos 

and built temples with the toys.

And we had to take a picture (or 7) the Christus statue, 

Bubbling pits and honorable knights

While in California for Disneyland (and dolphins), we also took a jaunt into LA proper and went to the La Brea Tar Pits.

(Shade was always a hot commodity for us this trip...)

Sharks, rays, lorikeets, and DOLPHINS!

Our trip to California was obviously about Disneyland. Of course it was. But we wanted to do some other things, too. For our budding marine biologist, we decided to check out the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Happiest Vacation on Earth

Earlier this month, we took a big trip. Lots of driving, to end up in California.

And at... Disneyland!

How magical.

We, along with my parents, spent 2 days at Disneyland and one day at California Adventure. 

A decade of Craig

Craig, my favorite middle child (sorry Cliff!), has turned 10. 

A whole decade. Can you believe it!?!

Craig got his first present all the way back in July, when the Mays came to town. 

Grammie May made him a quilt!

It's got rainbow cats and video games and science and... he loves it.

Now fast forward to present day...

Craig begged to go do laser tag for his birthday. We lucked out and had a couple of free game coupons, so we decided the entire family could go.

We had a blast. They randomly assign groups, and Craig, Kyler, and I were on the purple team, while Calista and Caleb were the green team. We (mostly Kyler) spent a lot of time shooting Caleb, and running around, laughing. The green team ended up winning

but Craig had the highest score on the purple team! Way to go, Craig! 

Of course, for his birthday, there were more presents. 

He got Lego, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (the book, not the movie) and some hover balls.

They are fun, but dangerous! Especially for the videographer!

And, there was also cake. Obviously.

M&M cookie cake for my favorite 10-year-old.

The night before his birthday, I asked Craig for a hug. "It'll be my last ever Craig 9 hug!"

In the morning, he crawled into my bed and gave me a hug. "Your first ever Craig 10 hug! And there will be a lot more!"

Happy birthday, my little man. I love you.

First Day of School, 2023/2024!

First day of school! 

Grades 7, 5, and 2. 

Yup, that's right. Grade 7.

Junior high, can you believe it? Instead of her bus picking her up across the street, Calista now has to walk a couple of blocks. It's still not far, but it gives her some independence... and me some Mom-anxiety. 

Calista is ready for the challenge, though. And the challenge of a new school and switching classes with TWO-minute passing periods! 

I decided that, for the first day, I'd drive Calista to her bus stop and continue on and drive the boys to school. Their backpacks are so heavy that first day! So we got everyone in the car and headed the few blocks to Calista's bus stop. When we got there, I decided to check the bus delays app... and discovered her bus was 90 minutes late. Well, that's not going to work. Um, what can I do instead? It's too early to take the boys to school, and if I take Calista to school first, they'll be late. I decided to drop off the boys at their bus stop (early) and hope they didn't get into trouble, then run Calista to school.

Does this look like a face that would get into trouble at the bus stop?

Definitely not! Actually, he did really well. Being the oldest Rasmussen at the school means he's got some responsibility for his little brother that he didn't really have this year, and he's doing great.

He's sad summer's over, but happy school is starting again. Craig loves sharing his knowledge and trying to know more than his teachers. If he can correct their mistakes, even better!

Caleb was a bit of a wild card, but he waited with Craig at the bus stop very well (and I remembered that Kyler was working from home and so could run out and check on them, so I have a reliable source). 

Caleb started ADHD medication about a week before school starts, so I'm hoping that helps him be able to be successful and do awesome at school this year. 

Maybe he'll grow as much as "Piney" did over the summer!

All in all, a successful day. The morning didn't quite go as planned, but I got them all where they needed to be in the end.

Going back to school is exhausting.

What a tween!

While my family was in town, it was also Calista's birthday! 

Because summer is busy, we mostly actually celebrated the day before her birthday. 

She got her favorite meals, 

played in the park like the child she (still!) is, 

And opened presents.

Finally, she got to have her cake. 

Calista She asked for a raspberry cake with chocolate frosting and Loradona helped me deliver. 

The cake was flavored with real raspberries and topped with more, fresh from my garden.

Yum! Even if Caleb said he didn't like it because it had too much raspberry flavor, although he also generously forgave us for making a cake he didn't like... Whatever. Calista loved it, and it was her cake!

On her actual birthday, Calista had a stake YW day camp. She went to a ropes course, ate pizza, and went on a hike in the river valley...

...where she saw a moose! I'm not sure her day could have been any better.

Happy birthday, my baby girl! Bring on twelve!

Mays in July

My mom, dad, and Loradona came to visit us the last couple weeks of July. We went on a ton of adventures with them, 

exhausting us all but having a blast. 

One of our adventures was a long day trip to Jasper. 

Kyler couldn't come, so thanks to Dad and Loradona for sharing in the driving duties. I couldn't have do it without you!

My family actually drove through Jasper on their way to visit us, but the wildfire smoke was so bad that they couldn't see the mountains while they went.

The view was a bit better during our day trip.

Mom and Dad had been to Jasper during the winter, but summer means being able to do some things that are too icy in the winter.

Like Maligne Canyon (which you can ice climb in, apparently. Not a thing we did last winter).

Loradona was the butterfly whisperer. 

I don't quite know why it liked her, but it did.

I love the views in the canyon. My parents and Loradona headed back, and the kids and I went a little further down, to the Fourth Bridge.

Kids thought it was hard, but they did it. 

And we can do hard things.

Like Mount Edith Cavell. Craig desperately wanted to do this hike, so most of us did. 

I liked that if some people weren't feeling up to the full climb, there were picnic tables for them to wait at

right next to the stream. It was such a beautiful day!

And we made it to see Angel Glacier!

Happy Craig in his happy place.

Caleb made it up to the end of the hike with "Cappy," his cap, encouraging him along the way.

Our final stop in Jasper was Athabasca Falls, which Mom and Dad did see in the winter.

Much louder in the summer, though!

I tried to get the kids to take a picture with Loradona.

It... um... worked?

Mom and Dad posed nicely for me, though!

Speaking of Mom and Dad, on their anniversary, we headed downtown.

First stop was to see Doug and Bob.

Obviously. 

Then we took a tour of the Alberta Legislature.

It was fun to hear about the history of the building, including the hamburger in the archives and the "magic spot" where you can hear the fountain, 3 floors down, as if it is right behind you.

And after our tour, we had to play in the fountains outside.

Do you see his footprints? He is soaked!

Also on their anniversary, we took Mom and Dad (and Loradona!) out to a sports bar to watch Women's World Cup.

And watch Mom be ridiculously silly. I love you, Mom!

When we went out to go to out to dinner we found the car wouldn't start. So the next morning, Dad helped me change the battery

Before we went to another national park, albeit a bit closer to home: Elk Island!

We hiked around, ate a picnic lunch, saw bison, and generally enjoyed our time together.

It's not large, but I do enjoy having Elk Island so close to home.

Throughout their time here, we also had time to just hang out

And be a little bit silly.

We also played a game (or more...) of Yahtzee, as is tradition.

Craig had is best game ever, with 3 Yahtzees and a final score of 518. Way to go, dude!

Walks and reading.

The two most important activities.

After all that fun, the end of the visit was a bit of a let down. Everyone (*or at least all the adults) got sick and was super miserable. 

So we did chill things. 

Oh well. It was still a great visit and I love having my family here. Thanks for coming and hanging out with me!