Scout Camp

Last week, Ashton went to Camp Tifie to attend Scout Camp for the first time. Like a good mama, I helped him pack a change of clothes and underwear for each day, a towel, wash cloth and soap, various treats and snacks, and $30 in cash for items he needed from the Trading Post. Would you like to guess what came back virtually untouched after being gone for six days of camping?

I'll give you a hint- it wasn't the the cash or the snacks.

FYI- Boys are gross.

I love this photo of the Menagerie. All personalities on display.

Where Sasquatch Really Come From

It had been a long day and it was barely six in the evening. I had already been up for over 12 hours and a jam packed 12 hours they had been. It started with setting up and then holding my first yard sale from which we went immediately into the season's last T-ball and Coach pitch games. From there a hurried hour drive took us to a baby shower for my niece Katie, who is expecting her first bundle of boy in September.

After basking in Katie's pregnant glow and gorging ourselves with lemon bars & various brownies, we pulled back onto I-15 to make our way home with a clear docket for the rest of the night. With the radio playing some of our favorite songs we settled in for the ride and I found myself lost in the hypnotic turning of the wheels when from behind me a chant began,

"PU-BER-TY! PU-BER-TY! PU-BER-TY!

At first, I wondered if I was so tired that I might actually be dreaming, but after stretching and shifting in my seat, the chant continued,

"PU-BER-TY! PU-BER-TY! PU-BER-TY!"

I concluded I was very much awake.

My next thought went to the possibility of the 5 Hour Energy shot I downed earlier and the Diet Coke I was currently sipping had created an overload of caffeine and was causing some sort of auditory hallucination. Because really, how would my almost seven year old know the word puberty? And why, in heaven and earth, would he be chanting it?

Certain my ears were deceiving me, I turned to Ashton sitting in the passenger seat wearing an amused look on his face as he shattered my theory.

"You know he's chanting puberty..."

Figuring I had to say something I decided on the blunt facts.

"Ben, you don't even know what puberty is."

The chanting ceased. Silence ensued. Wonderful, non-questioning silence.

Until Dallin in the far back decided to chime in.

"What is puberty, Mom?"

My mind shifted into high gear as I noticed Ashton stiffen a little in the seat next to me.

I decide to go with blunt facts again.

"It's when between the ages of 11-14 when your voice gets deeper and you start growing hair on your face, under arms and swimsuit area."

Agonizing groans erupt from the very back seat.

"Oh, NO! That should be illegal!"

Laughter from Ashton beside me.

Ben innocently asks, "So puberty is all about hair?"

Dallin, having suddenly become an expert, answers with, "Yep! Hair, hair, EVERYWHERE! Puberty pretty much changes you into a Sasquatch."

I turn the radio up a little louder and figure that would suffice....at least, for now.

Spring Marathon: Odds & Ends

Just a few small experiences and tid bits to wrap up our Spring Break (esp. since it ended a week and a half ago)....

*Ashton had a dream that he had a pet turtle and he has driven us crazy wanting one since. We did find a very nice 20 gallon aquarium complete with a screened lid which normally sells for $80-100 for $8 at our local DI! Woo HOO! SCORE! Now he is saving to buy a $109 turtle which is supposed to live for 35 years...for that much money the dang thing should live forever.

*Price is a great place to buy leftover Easter candy at discounted prices. Especially, the huge Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs. I bought 3 at half price. I wish I would've bought more...but then again I went swimsuit shopping yesterday morning and I think that 3 was probably 3 too many.

*I got the chance to be Octo-Mom for a day when 4 of my sister-in-law's children stayed with us while she went on her honeymoon. During this time, I was told that "I ROCK" because I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast and when I told my 8 year old nephew it was time to take him home he whined and asked if they really had to leave. When yes, was my reply he said, " No! We're gonna live here and YOU'RE gonna like it!" Well.....what do you say to that?
If I could have kids who thought I was that cool all the time, I might have 2 dozen! But for now I'll love being the "favorite aunt" and take this to mean that I'll make a fabulous grandma in 20 or 30 years...

*Upon leaving our adventure in Price we headed up the canyon towards home. As the van climbed  the winding road we drove straight into a snow storm. The snow wasn't sticking to the road, but the fluffy flakes were coming down fast enough that it made it somewhat difficult to see and with windy roads and oncoming traffic it was enough to make one a little nervous, even with a trusted leader to follow.
Since we had forgotten to have a prayer before we got on the road, I decided that that moment would be an appropriate time. Since Ashton had offered one the night before when we left Goblin Valley, Ashton's friend Matthew, was asked to do the honors. A short and simple prayer was offered and I don't think "Amen" had even left his lips when the snow seemed to abruptly stop.
All three boys were astonished at the instant change and each commented on how cool it was that our prayer was answered. Who knows....it may have just been that at that exact moment we reached the summit and came out of the storm.....or maybe not.
I like to believe the latter.
After all, that is what those three boys believe happened and aren't we admonished to become like little children? Whatever it was, I know it is an experience we all won't soon forget.

*I changed the oil in our van on the Friday that Spring Break started. The following Saturday when I was driving home from eating at Utah Noodle in Ogden for Grandpa Parke's 74th birthday, I looked down at the odometer and realized that by the time I arrived home I would've gone 1000 miles over the course of the last week.
Wow. It really was a Spring Marathon.

Spring Marathon: Price & the Dinosaur Museum

As we returned from the hike in Little Wild Horse Canyon and pulled into the parking lot of our campground there was commotion all around. It only took one look at my own tent to guess what everyone else was excited about. The wind had significantly picked up while we were gone and the fiberglass poles of my tent and others in our camp were no match against it. My tent was flattened, others in our group had been blown down, and Ashton and Matthew's tent had everything covered with sand.

No biggie... We had a minivan we could sleep in- the boys in the back on an air mattress and me across the front seats. Others in our group planned to take shelter for the night in their own vehicles or in the stronger spring pole tents. The problem was solved....or so we thought.

Around dinner time the wind really picked up as a storm blew in. When we made a barricade to block the wind from blowing the cheese off of our sandburgers as they finished cooking and the stronger spring pole tents toppled over like dominoes a decision was made that things were only getting worse, so it was time to pack up and head home.

Everyone flew into take down mode. I was astonished at how quickly camp came down and we were on the road home. It was really impressive how well everyone worked together.

At a little after 9pm we were headed toward Green River to top off on gas and fill up on caffeine for the long drive ahead of us. On the way to Green River I was tempted to get a hotel because exhaustion was setting in and I wasn't sure I could safely make it home. The decision was made for me since we found out that Provo was having a snowstorm and Spanish Fork Canyon had snow covered roads and patches of black ice, so the group decided to continue on to Price and get a hotel there.

So with one room for the girls and one room for the boys we found somewhere to sleep for the night. And can I tell you...a hotel room floor has never felt so good. I was so tired that the next morning I had to apologize to the lady I had been talking to before I feel asleep, because one minute I was lucid and into our conversation and the next minute all of the caffeine from my Dr. Pepper wore off and I was out. Like a light. And according to my hubby, I probably need to apologize to the whole room of girls because apparently when I am really exhausted I snore like a grizzly. Anyway...

After a goodnight's rest we made a trip to the College of Eastern Utah's Dinosaur Museum and a Chinese Buffet before heading home. The boys really enjoyed the whole museum, but my favorite part was the Native American displays. As we looked at projectile points (Did you know that is what they call arrowheads now?), woven baskets and pottery, grinding stones and dioramas of different tribes living conditions, I was struck with what a lazy amenity blessed life I lead. It was really humbling and well worth the stop. It made me really appreciate the hot shower I had that morning even more than I already did and after two days in the blowing sand that's saying a lot.

I guess they didn't get enough of playing in the sand in Goblin Valley. 

 Dallin- too cool.

Showing the dinosaur some love.

Me and the boys tee-peeing it.

Spring Marathon: Goblin Valley

I had a nasty tension headache perhaps triggered by the way I cried when I left my two youngest with my parents before starting the 4 hour drive from West Point to Goblin Valley State Park, but as we entered the desert country of eastern Utah my tension gave way to anticipation. Mostly because I was greeted by views like this...

Absolutely

 A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

How to describe Goblin Valley?

Well, have you ever been somewhere that represents a creation from the deep recesses of your imagination or a scene from a science fiction movie?

That is what Goblin Valley is. 

I had never been there before and I can only describe my first view of the goblins as surreal.

There they were stretched out before us...

...a playground of mushroom like goblins waiting to be climbed upon and hid among, beckoning us to come play.

So we did.

Unfortunately, the wind that is partly responsible for the shaping of the surrounding landscape was trying its best to do the same with us. It hurled a fine mist of sand that dug at any exposed and vulnerable places and sucked the moisture from our skin leaving the same web-like pattern on my hands as the cracked and parched desert floor. It demonstrated its power all night long ripping and tearing at our tent and stealing my nights sleep. But morning came with beautiful blue skies and weather perfect for hiking, so our group caravanned to Little Wild Horse Canyon trail head and set out.

The wind still relentlessly blew the sand in our faces, but nothing could have kept me from enjoying this hike.

I am a tactile person. I simply enjoy touching things. I make connections with people and objects through the sense of touch. The erosion patterns along the way were like a tapestry of texture just calling out to me to touch them. It may have slowed me down, but I enjoyed myself immensely.

  

Besides, there were friends all along the way to make connections with.

We were lucky enough to have been able to bring Ashton's friend Matthew, with us. The boys had a great time exploring, climbing, bouldering, and just being boys.

All in all, we had a fabulous time in Goblin Valley during Expedition Red Rock.

Even with the sand blowing, my tent breaking, and my car battery dying twice I really hope there is a trip next year....

...because the only thing the sand etched upon us is the fantastic memory of a one of a kind adventure.

 And I can't wait to do it again.

Kitchen Moments

There are times in my life where I am reminded of how lucky I am to be married to the man I call my husband. Times when I am grateful for his patience while I was a fickle and silly 19 year old girl who was still growing up, and that continued patience as I still have much growing up yet to do. It is during these times when I realize just how much I do love him and why. I call these moments, “kitchen moments”.


They are called kitchen moments because 9.5 times out of 10, that is where they happen. Why the kitchen? Because, as I figure it, the kitchen is where I spend at least 50% of my life. It is where my computer is, my desk and calendar, and of course, the dishes and all those appliances necessary for cooking and preparing food which come in quite handy for sustaining my family’s lives. It is where homework and projects happen; meals, bedtime snacks, and even the morning combing of hair before we dash out the door for school. It is where life happens and hence, also my “kitchen moments”.

One particular kitchen moment happened a few weeks ago on an ordinary night as the boys were finishing homework and I was attempting to clean-up the kitchen, but found myself very distracted by the music coming from my new under cabinet docking station. “Moon River” a great song to waltz to, was playing and I was itching to dance with someone. So I grabbed Dallin and proceeded to drag him around like a rag doll. He finally got some sense of the rhythm along with that I would die if my friends saw me doing this, but I kinda like it look and we danced until I felt like I had adequately humiliated him in front of his older brother and I let him go.

That’s when Richard walked in. I feigned great disappointment that Dallin didn’t really want to dance with me and Richard said, “Start it over and I’ll dance with you.”

My husband does not do things he considers unmanly; dancing is considered one of these things.

But I figured if he’s willing I’m not going to pass it up, so we started to dance.

First, he started off like a snobby aristocrat at some fancy ball so stiff and proper; speaking with a fake English accent while commenting on how waltzing is lovely, or some other flowery word. Next we fell into a more relaxed sloppy sort of waltzing where many toes were crushed; the better part being mine. But this led into a portion where he seemed to be actually trying; being more led than leading we went around in small circles on the vacant piece of laminate floor. And even though, Henry Mancini & His Orchestra were playing a beautiful version of “Moon River” I had the words from another song playing in my head.

You make me shine like the sun

Fall out of bed, sing like a bird

Dizzy in my head, spin like a record

Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool

Forget how to breathe

Shine like gold, buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

Ohh, you make me smile

Don’t know how I lived without you

Cuz every time I get around you

I see the best of me inside your eyes

You make me smile.

And then like a needle being ripped across the vinyl of an LP, my dreamlike state was rudely interrupted by…

“Do you guys really have to do that in front of us?!”

And

“That’s just wrong!”

And

GROSS!!!

…Spoken by our on looking offspring. And so we stopped. The waltz ended.

But I was reminded once again, how lucky I am that in a world that sometimes seems as though it has been turned upside-down and is filled with doubt and uncertainty I have someone there who, even when he may not want to, is still able to make me smile.

And as for my offspring, my greatest hope for them, besides learning some manners, is that they will be lucky enough in this life to find someone equally worthwhile to have kitchen moments with.

Which I hope will be rudely interrupted.

Halloween Heroes

Each year as my children carefully choose their Halloween costumes, I notice if they don't choose to dress up as some kind of monster or ghoul,  they choose to dress up as someone they look up to; a hero of sorts. Usually, it is someone who displays extraordinary skills, has super powers, or just gets to accessorize with some neat contraption or accessory. But above all else they have to be cool.

In years past, we have had everything from superheroes such as Batman & Superman, to our everyday heroes like firefighters and policemen.  This year was no different.  All 3 of my boys chose a specific hero to emulate.

Dallin chose to be a BYU football player (surprise, surprise).  Sometimes, I feel like we give too much glory, and definitely too much money, to athletes, especially professional ones. I do however realize that there is a lot of hard work and determination that goes into perfecting skills to be good enough to play on college and professional levels and those values are something I don't mind him admiring.

Ben chose to be a freedom defending army guy and a cute one at that. Unselfishly defending our country and getting to carry a really awesome walkie talkie and gun; definitely hero-ish.

(Making his toughest army man face.)

From the day we first began talking about costumes for this year Ashton, knew who he wanted to be. He wanted to be a superhero of different a kind this year...

... his school teacher, Mr. Z.

And he wasn't the only one...

(The Z Squad)

...two other boys in the class did the same.

Of course, in this picture it was Halloween and even heroes like to dress up, so Mr. Z was pretending to be Wolverine, but on regular school days this superhero dons his suit of slacks, dress shirt, and tie and sports his extra cool accessory-spiky hair. And between the combination of suit and hair he unleashes his superpowers on unsuspecting 5th graders actually making school a great place they want to be, inspiring them to work harder, and simply to be better.

We could certainly use more superheroes like that.

Disappointed

Disappointed.

I simply love that word.
 
I discovered the power of "disappointed" when Ashton was 4 or 5.  He had done something wrong and upon discussing it with him I mentioned how "disappointed" Daddy would be.  He looked at me with anguish in his face and moaned,  "I can't handle disappointed! ANYTHING but disappointed!"

I realized that "disappointed" still has a spell on my oldest, as yesterday, I found him and a friend selling counterfeit Pokemon cards to his younger brothers for a $1 each.  He was very proud of his money making venture until I told him that what he was doing was deceitful and that I was "disappointed" he would do such a thing.

It didn't take long for him to come to me with that anguished look on his face and admit that he felt bad about what he had done and he was going to give them their money back.

Isn't having a conscience a wonderful thing?

"Disappointed" had worked it's magic again. So back into my bag of mommy tricks it goes until next time a conscience needs pricking.

Then, I guess to get back into my good graces he felt the need to do some serious brown nosing....not really I just couldn't help posting these pictures of how he enjoyed the last piece of German Chocolate cake last night.  Seems he has a hard time keeping that handsome mug of his clean.

I suppose I should be "disappointed" in his manners, but it was too funny at the time. When you see him you'll have to ask how German Chocolate cake tastes when it's inhaled?

Sk8 Night

Friends- L to R Ryan, Wade, & Ashton

Really, I do know how to spell "skate", but I was informed this was "the COOL way" to write it. So to remain "hip" in the eyes of my followers, a.k.a. my children, I spelled it "the cool way". You know, just trying to keep up with the young whippersnappers.

Anyway.... last Friday evening our elementary held a Family Skate Night. All of the students and their families were invited to either rent rollerblades or ride scooters and have fun being together as a school community. And fun it was!

Dallin, Spencer, Wade, & Ashton

The kids had a great time riding their scooters with all of their friends. I had a great time chatting with all the other parents. And after Ben took a turn in the bubbles and was freezing in his wet clothes, Richard, had a great time getting to go home half way through. He was suffering from jet lag, so I was glad he wanted to come at all. What a good Daddy.

Midget Mania
I've always wanted to learn to rollerblade, but decided this was probably not the night. I didn't think my boys would appreciate their mother falling on her face, rear end, or other delicate body parts in front of their teachers, principal, or friends. Thus, making a fool out of myself and them. So I refrained from putting on the blades and settled for pushing Emma around on her early birthday gift, a new "Princess" scooter.

Bubble head

The biggest hit of the whole night was the bubble machine. The kids had talked about it all week. From what they had said, I had visions of this machine that generated a bubble big enough to encompass you. Instead, I found a blow-up reservoir like the kind you might fill with plastic balls, but instead of balls, there were bubbles. Tons and tons of bubbles! Like a giant bubble bath without the water.

Dallin swimming in the bubbles

All 3 boys had a turn in the bubbles and had a great time, except Ben.

He had fun alright, just too much. He got cold and must have swallowed too many bubbles since he started screaming to get out and go home. Once he was out and we were walking across the parking lot where everyone was skating, he started spitting.

Lovely. Just what everyone wants to skate through..... Ben's spit!

I told him to stop. He wouldn't. So I told him to spit into his shirt. At least, it would wash. I didn't think the reputation of being the lady with the gross, spitting, kid would come clean as easy.

I can't wait for next year! I'm thinking that I will rollerblade and embarrass him right back!

Thanks to Mr. Z for many of the great pics of Ashton and his friends. And to Chastina for the pic of me and Emma.

Pictures are worth a 1000 words

Ahhhh....to have a good camera and know how to take really great pictures! How would it be?
The professional pictures from our races in Pocatello came back last week and since they were free to download (another reason to run the races there), I did them all.
Here are a few of my favorites.

If you want to play along, leave me a comment telling me what you would put as the caption under the last picture of Ben. There just might be a plate of turtle cookies for the caption my kids, the unbiased judges, like best.

Dallin watching big brother, Ashton finish his race.

Ashton trekking along.

Ben with his best pal and race buddy, Daddy.

Go Dallin!

Dallin in the 0.2 kids race.

My nephew Hayden, smokin the competition. The man behind him was the race organizer who ran the 1.5 and Hayden left him in the dust!

Glad to be finishing and seeing familiar faces!

My niece, Aubrie (in bib #1232) finishing strong in the kids race.

My awesome big brother, Dan, finishing in 10th overall, 1st in his age group.

My absolute favorite picture! Ashton going strong for the finish.

Maysa concentrating on every step!

The sister I never had until she married my brother, Shaleece, the best motivator and running inspiration, making it across the finish line 1st in her age group!

( YOU FILL IN THE BLANK)

What would you say about that little guy swinging his medal?