Memorial Day Weekend

My mom called last week and invited us on a last-minute Memorial Day trip. It was a bit of a rush to get everything ready to go. The biggest worry was, of course, the kittens. Thank goodness our sweet niece Katie agreed to come care for the little darlings. I had a list of things I needed to do before we left--school stuff, church stuff. I got most of it done, and left the rest undone and headed down to Moab.

We camped in tents, which the kids loved. I prefer using the trailer, but Mike brought a blow-up mattress and plenty of pillows to make us comfy. The last night was rough with some bad wind. In the morning Jessi said that she woke up and the tent was on her. I tossed and turned and ended up sitting in the truck for an hour. Mike, with his ear plugs in, had a great night's sleep.

We hiked to Double Arch.

The kids love Sand Dune Arch. The three oldest hiked to the top of the arch with Mike. That is Bev up there.

That is Christian.

Mom with Baby Henry and Erika.

When the kids start getting buried in the sand and doing sand angels, I just go to my happy place and remember that the sand will eventually come out of their clothes and bodily crevices. Jessi's hair is the most complicated for sand removal.

Poor Andrew ended up with a chipped tooth diving in the swimming pool. We're going to see the dentist tomorrow.

We did a few hikes. At the end of the Delicate Arch hike we got pelted with sand from the wind. The wind sort of put a damper on the hiking (and camping in tents) so we cut the trip short by a day. But the time we were there was sure fun.

Our kids love hiking. They do so well.

All the hiking wore out little Max.

I like the arches, but my favorite formation is Sheep Rock.

1. A family that likes traveling together.

2. Kids that enjoy hiking and enjoy being in the great outdoors.

3. A comfortable bed to come home to.

scout campout

Friday Andrew and Mike headed to the 11 year-old campout. At first Mike was not going to be able to go, but in the end, made arrangements and went. Andrew was thrilled. Mike did some planning and stopped at the store for a few things. Me? Well, I did what seemed was a full day of cooking and shopping for the less-than-24 hour event.

I made them shepherd's pie for their tin foil dinners. I baked some cookies. I got him all packed with hand sanitizer and wet wipes. I sent a first aid kit and extra blanket. The list I made was long and the bag of stuff he took was heavy.

I just want them to have what they need to be warm and have fun.

On their way out the door I asked Mike if he had a water bottle. He said that he took care of it--I saw his "water" in the back of the truck as he was loading up. He has a problem.

The rest of us watched a movie in my bed with a few kittens and I let the three kids sleep with me.

The campers returned home dirty and happy and exhausted with a bag full of stuff--most of which wasn't used.

out of the mouth of babes: 4

Prayers at our house are interesting. We encourage the kids to not say the same things every time. (Although in every prayer he says, Christian asks that there be "no arguing or complaining.") We encourage them to say what they think and feel. That makes things interesting.

Last night I made mini hamburgers and mashed potatoes--Andrew was pretty excited that it was not my weekly vegetarian chili. It was his turn to pray. He ended his prayer with:

"...and thank you for this luscious dinner Mom made."

And then a discussion ensued about the meaning of luscious and if it should be used to describe the hamburgers. I got on dictionary.com. Mike pulled out his iPhone. In the end it was decided that, indeed the burgers were luscious.

Holy Cats!

(Taking a picture of seven kittens at once is not easy.)

They are now five weeks old. They were born on April 6th--a significant day to Latter-day Saints. (It is the day the Church was organized and according to modern revelation, is the day that Jesus Christ was born.) So, I told the kids all about April 6th.

Christian then stated, "We have holy cats."

I cannot begin to describe how much fun it has been to watch them grow and develop. They now wrestle with each other, run and jump and are eating a little cat food. We are beginning to see their little personalities develop.

I googled "how to tell kitten gender" and after a long time checking kitten crotches, I gave up. It's a complicated task.

We have given them a few toys, but their favorite toys seem to be each other and poor Mama Cat. That Mama Cat is my little hero. She is so tolerant and sweet. She puts up with their antics and is protective and patient.

I took some pictures of the little darlings. Here are their 5-week portraits.

The kids didn't name the first two, so I decided to use some of my favorite girl names I didn't get to use on human children. I don't know if they are girls, but until we know, this one is Harper. S/he has developed a bit of white under the chin.

Penelope.

Racoony.

The twins are named Cuddles and Snuggles. We can't tell them apart.

Fluffy.

Another one of Fluffy.

Blacky who I renamed Ebony (if she's a girl.)

We are still looking for some loving homes for the darlings. They need to stay with Mama (and with us) for a few more weeks. I know parting with them will not be easy.

out of the mouth of babes 3

While driving Jessi to tumbling, I turned on the radio--it was NPR. She listened for a minute and then said, "Can we listen to music? You always listen to these guys talking and talking and talking."

Me: "It's so I will be smart."

Jessi: "I don't wanna be smart...I wanna groove."

May each of us remember this truth; 'one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God.' Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one.

-President Thomas S. Monson

You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out. It will not be the money you have made. It will not be the cars you have owned. It will not be the large house in which you live. The searing question that will cross your mind again and again will be, "How well have my children done?"

-President Gordon B. Hinkley

A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after.

-Peter DeVries

All that I am or ever hope to be,

I owe to my angel Mother.

-Abraham Lincoln

The sweetest sounds to mortals given

Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.

-William Goldsmith Brown

"All true trophies of the ages are from mother love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."

-William Ross Wallace