Camping with Cousins

Oh, internet, I have so much to tell you. I am 5 loads into my post-camping laundry--so much bedding and campfire-smelling clothes to wash. So, while I wash I will tell you about our weekend.

Many years ago Mike's grandparents became members of CamperWorld. They no longer use it, but Mike's parents and their children do. Let's just say it is my style of camping--grass, showers, swimming pools and plenty of shade. We share a tent trailer with Sean and Julie, so we have beds to sleep in. We tagged along with Jeremy and Robyn and Sean and Julie and had a great time.

Jessie brought me several bouquets of "flowers."

My kids adore their older cousins. Tyler and Andrew in the camper.

Bev, Jess and Kiki snuggling with Katie and Pam the dog (my kids adore her too.)

We set up a tent, but one night we slept eleven of us in the camper. It's a good thing we get along so well.

We had a campfire (well, sort of) everynight. I don't think there is anything better than a smore made over a campfire. Morgan, Kiki, Tyler, Taylor.

These two rascals loved exploring, playing with cousins and getting dirty.

Roasting hot dogs.

The adults playing a little round of Scum.

We headed up into the Uintah's to go fishing. Kiki wanted to wear Dad's fishing vest--he likes being like his Dad.

Jeremy brought his canoe--I love canoeing (Melanie, remember how good I am at it?)

We all took turns going out.

Courtney helped the kids bait their lines. She then supervised Jess and Camryn with their "pet worms."

More canoeing.

Katie and Jessie.

Courtney and Bev.

This was Jessie's first time fishing. All the kids love fishing.

A great time was had by all. The kids love being with their cousins and we love being with Mike's siblings.

Outside Dining

I am desperately missing the weather of the last few weeks. It has been cold and rainy, but I loved it. I loved not needing AC. I loved having the windows open, letting the breeze in. I loved the way the moisture helped the yard. Yes, I missed the sunshine--something my mental health thrives on. But, yesterday it hit 91 and I thought I would melt--I am a baby when it comes to heat.

The upside of this new weather is that we are able to enjoy eating on the patio. I don't care what it is--anything from pizza to a full meal is served outside. We tend to eat later, in order to avoid the heat and bright sun. I love being outside, but mostly I love the cleanup. The clean up involves taking the dishes inside and leaving the crumbs for the critters or birds to eat.

Father's Day

We were so excited to celebrate Mike on Sunday. The kids helped me make him breakfast and serve it to him in bed. They also gave me a gift that day--I got to sleep in until ten.
I bought a bunch of candy bars and had the kids design a candy bar card. His favorite line was, "You used to be Chunky and you can't do the Mamba but you love us Good and Plenty."

They all gathered around the card, salivating, eyeing the one they wanted, knowing that he would share with them.

With one o'clock church, we let him go back to sleep. He never gets to sleep in, so that was probably the best gift he could have received.

He used his new gifts from his parents and Grandma and Grandpa to install a timer for the lights. It is a magnetic arm band and a miniature hammer. Of course, his little apprentice helped him in the project. Whether it is outside or inside, if it is a project that Dad is doing, Kiki is there ready and willing to help.

Happy Father's Day Mike. We love you.

My Book Report

A few months ago a friend asked me what my favorite book was. It was an easy answer for me, and it reminded me that it had been several years since I had read it. I read it again last week, and yes, it remains my favorite book of all time. I remember reading somewhere that To Kill a Mockingbird was listed by someone somewhere as one of the books everyone should read before dying. It deals with big issues—racial injustice, class, compassion, courage, gender, parenting, growing up, loss of innocence. Back in the day, I studied a little about Harper Lee and I even put the name Harper on my list of favorite girl names—the list of favorite names for my future children that I started when I was thirteen--another story for another day.

If you have never read it, or if it has been since high school, I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.

I'm little but I'm old.

"I think I'll be a clown when I get grown," said Dill. "Yes, sir, a clown.... There ain't one thing in this world I can do about folks except laugh, so I'm gonna join the circus and laugh my head off." "You got it backwards, Dill," said Jem. "Clowns are sad, it's folks that laugh at them." "Well, I'm gonna be a new kind of clown. I'm gonna stand in the middle of the ring and laugh at the folks."

When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, and evasion simply muddles 'em.

If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.

There are just some kind of men who - who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.

I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year.

Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.

Now I want to watch the movie. In fact, Mike will you stop and get it on your way home. Thanks a bunch.

Friday Favorites--TIVO Edition

Now that Summer is in full swing--well at least as far as television viewing is concerned--we are enjoying fewer shows than usual. I thought I would share our three favorites right now.

We started tivoing The Deadliest Catch a few months ago. I didn't think I would like it, but I got sucked in. Mike says it's educational--it teaches our kids that they should get one so that they won't have to work in dangerous professions where people swear a lot. I have to say that I have had some ethical/environmental/crab-loving issues come up, but it is some fascinating stuff, so I keep watching.
We love So You Think You Can Dance. This is my favorite from last year.


And, of course, Little House on the Prairie. I remember watching this episode when I was a kid. My sisters and I cheered. Oh, yeah, I still heart Pa Ingalls.

Friday Favorites

Here are a few of our favorites lately.

Ace Bandages: Last week we got to be guinea pigs for our friend Teena. She is taking a class on emergency medical assessment. We all had to make up an injury and she assessed us. The kids were in acting heaven. Kiki still talks about how his arm got chopped off and then Teena made it all better. They have been wrapping themselves in ace bandages ever since. I have to be vigilant or they try sleeping in them or wearing them to school.


Laundry Time: Fridays are usually a day I do a lot of laundry. It rained today, so C & J slugged on my bed and watched Star Wars while I folded. Notice the apparent head injury Jess has going on and Christian staking his claim on fluffy.

Almonds: We eat a lot of them in this house. Okay, Kiki, Jessie and I eat a lot of them. I keep a bag in my purse, a jar in the car and craft room and a few in the kitchen. The other three members of the family have not yet come to love them as we do.

Pancakes: At the beginning of the week, I make a big old batch of these. I pack them with whole wheat mix and ground flax seed. We keep them in the fridge and just heat them up in the mornings. This has been a lifesaver--I don't have to get up early to make them a healthy breakfast.

May in Review

I was organizing photos today and decided I would post some from this last month. It was a fun-filled 31 days. To begin with, we added a new family member--fluffy. Fluffy is well-loved and always has someone wanting to snuggle it. I'm telling you, it may just look like a pillow, but it is really a little bit of bedding heaven.

Bev was baptized.

Melanie came to town and my mom took us all to Wicked (loved it!) It was so fun having all of my siblings there and almost all of our spouses there (we missed you Doug.)

Maui (a.k.a. heaven on earth.)

On Mother's Day I took this picture of my grandparents. This picture is worth a thousand words to me.

We were so blessed to be able to celebrate our other Grandparent's 65th Wedding Anniversary. I made a cake and we had a really nice celebration.

Mike's brother Ben came from Alaska for the celebration. It is never boring when these four are together.

The boys all went on the Father and Son's Campout with my dad. They had a wonderful time and A and C came home really dirty. They were so dirty that a regular bath with a washcloth didn't cut it--I had to scrub them with a brush. (Oh, that sounded mean--I was gentle.)

Bev started going to Activity Days. She was beyond excited for the Mother-Daughter Tea Party.

The scouts had a Raingutter Regatta. Andrew and his Sea Dog took 3rd place.

Andrew decided that he wanted to learn how to mow the lawn. Mike will still need to help him out for a while, but I love that we are getting some good little helpers trained.

Mike is coaching Kiki's soccer team. He loves playing. (He also loves to volunteer to sit out.) His favorite is when he can play goalie. Mike is working with him on staying on his feet. He wants to slide whenever he kicks the ball. I love watching him play. Oh, and he got to pick his jersey number.

Mike has also been coaching Andrew's flag football team. It's been a little bit of a rough season, but hopefully we are learning the art of having good sportsmanship in both winning and losing (but mostly losing this season.)

Oh, and Angels and Demons. I got obsessed with seeing the movie after reading the book, but then Mike read the book so I had to wait to see it (loved the book, really liked the movie.) And a movie just isn't a movie without a little ice cream. (wink, wink.)

What a busy, fun month we had. Hopefully the next is as fun (and not as busy.)