I've been trying to go hiking each week while the weather is so beautiful and it has been SO BEAUTIFUL! There is one fantastic hike for kids that you get to cross a small stream about 5 times. Last week, I ended up taking 5 children on it and we had such a great time. Two moms were going to come, but couldn't last minute. I'm so glad that didn't stop us. We had such a blast! We invited a neighbor girl and boy with us, and it was the little girl's first time to ever go hiking. When we got out of the car and started, she was too nervous to even walk down the trail without holding my hand. But by the time we finished, she was doing awesome. The boys loved hiking with their hiking sticks, all of the kids found a special rock to bring home (there are lots of rock with micah and quartz, so sparkly rocks are extra cool), and we even found a little teepee that someone had made out of branches for a little shelter.
I gotta enjoy this weather while I can, because who know how long it will last. I have stuff I want to get done inside, but have a hard time getting myself to do it because I keep thinking that I will have 6 months of winter when I will be inside plenty.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Treasure Two
Kyle found another Treasure. Yes, for one more fantastic week, we were pet owners again.
You can see where this is going already, can't you.
Sunday evening, we came home to find our praying mantis belly up in his cage. We waited until morning to break the news. Kyle took it really well... he knew it was coming. We had discussed it. No tears at all, even while Treasure 2 was buried next to Treasure. But then he ended up sobbing when we pulled up a big bush. Near panic-sobbing that "it is my favorite bush!"
Good news: Treasure 2 was actually a she. She laid eggs in her cage, which was really cool to watch happen. Yeah... so we get to do this again and again.
You can see where this is going already, can't you.
Sunday evening, we came home to find our praying mantis belly up in his cage. We waited until morning to break the news. Kyle took it really well... he knew it was coming. We had discussed it. No tears at all, even while Treasure 2 was buried next to Treasure. But then he ended up sobbing when we pulled up a big bush. Near panic-sobbing that "it is my favorite bush!"
Good news: Treasure 2 was actually a she. She laid eggs in her cage, which was really cool to watch happen. Yeah... so we get to do this again and again.
Monday, October 3, 2011
FALL!
The first yellow leaves appeared in my trees 2 days ago. I took a picture. It is official. Fall is here.
This is my favorite time of year. While people make goals in January, it is always autumn that inspires me to be better and accomplish more. I think it is perhaps the coinciding of school starting and the harvest season, plus that hint of winter that whispers a reminder to "carpe diem" before the snow sets in.
That is one thing about fall. These beautiful fall days are spectacular, but they don't last long. There is always a storm just around the corner. Which is actually, kind of a good thing, because it reminds me that I better get out there and enjoy it. Temperatures are supposed to drop on Thursday, so I spent a lot of the day working outside. I might not have if it was always this wonderful!
Today I dragged the family up into the mountains to go on a short hike. I shouldn't say "drag", since they were all quite happy to go with me. It just takes so much effort... getting the kids fed early, getting jackets, socks, shoes, baby backpack, water, and then urging everyone INTO the car, then realizing Daddy wasn't quite as close to home as expected, so sitting in the car... Every mother knows that anything worthwhile takes at least some Herculean effort. Anyway, we had a wonderful time. Bekah was collecting leaves, Kyle was collecting rocks, Daddy was doing who knows what on his phone, Stephen was just happily chilling, and I was thrilled to be out doing exactly what I wanted with such a happy clan. It really was wonderful.
Rob brought home a huge box of apples from my dad's, and I'm at it again. When I'm in the middle of canning, I always wonder why the heck I do it! We had a load of apples from our tree and I made applesauce. I've also done peaches, raspberry jam, and salsa. There will still be more salsa, more jam, and grape juice. So last week, I put a hole through my steam bath pan (only noticed after trying to figure out why water was EVERYWHERE). Then I broke a jar of applesauce and a jar of peaches. And what drives me the most crazy is that my kitchen is a MESS afterwards. Yet, despite these setbacks, I do this every year. I'm trying to figure out why. I think a little of it is because I have the fruit and feel a compulsion to do something with it... you know, not just waste it. Then there is the fact that the food is healthy. I know the applesauce I'm making is just that: apples. Healthy and simple. Well, and of course I am addicted to salsa and my salsa is better than almost anything I've tried anywhere. I use about 50 pounds of tomatoes in all, but I love it so much, I probably only have 1 jar left from last year. So despite my grumblings, I'm at it again. And our house smells delicious!
Okay, actually, now that I think about it, I did have a wonderful time last Friday making applesauce. Kyle was helping push the applesauce through the grinder while I turned the handle. It was so great to work with my son. There were no deadlines, there was no rush. I could be as patient as I needed to be and he was having fun working with me. That can be hard to find: a project to work together without whining. Especially with the reward of a bowl of fresh applesauce. I kept him home from school for an hour because we were both having such a good time, and I figured that learning to work with me was the greater lesson.
Anyway, I just had some real toasty-warm home-made apple juice with a little cinnamon. mmm...tastes so good, I think I will snuggle off to bed. :)
This is my favorite time of year. While people make goals in January, it is always autumn that inspires me to be better and accomplish more. I think it is perhaps the coinciding of school starting and the harvest season, plus that hint of winter that whispers a reminder to "carpe diem" before the snow sets in.
That is one thing about fall. These beautiful fall days are spectacular, but they don't last long. There is always a storm just around the corner. Which is actually, kind of a good thing, because it reminds me that I better get out there and enjoy it. Temperatures are supposed to drop on Thursday, so I spent a lot of the day working outside. I might not have if it was always this wonderful!
Today I dragged the family up into the mountains to go on a short hike. I shouldn't say "drag", since they were all quite happy to go with me. It just takes so much effort... getting the kids fed early, getting jackets, socks, shoes, baby backpack, water, and then urging everyone INTO the car, then realizing Daddy wasn't quite as close to home as expected, so sitting in the car... Every mother knows that anything worthwhile takes at least some Herculean effort. Anyway, we had a wonderful time. Bekah was collecting leaves, Kyle was collecting rocks, Daddy was doing who knows what on his phone, Stephen was just happily chilling, and I was thrilled to be out doing exactly what I wanted with such a happy clan. It really was wonderful.
Rob brought home a huge box of apples from my dad's, and I'm at it again. When I'm in the middle of canning, I always wonder why the heck I do it! We had a load of apples from our tree and I made applesauce. I've also done peaches, raspberry jam, and salsa. There will still be more salsa, more jam, and grape juice. So last week, I put a hole through my steam bath pan (only noticed after trying to figure out why water was EVERYWHERE). Then I broke a jar of applesauce and a jar of peaches. And what drives me the most crazy is that my kitchen is a MESS afterwards. Yet, despite these setbacks, I do this every year. I'm trying to figure out why. I think a little of it is because I have the fruit and feel a compulsion to do something with it... you know, not just waste it. Then there is the fact that the food is healthy. I know the applesauce I'm making is just that: apples. Healthy and simple. Well, and of course I am addicted to salsa and my salsa is better than almost anything I've tried anywhere. I use about 50 pounds of tomatoes in all, but I love it so much, I probably only have 1 jar left from last year. So despite my grumblings, I'm at it again. And our house smells delicious!
Okay, actually, now that I think about it, I did have a wonderful time last Friday making applesauce. Kyle was helping push the applesauce through the grinder while I turned the handle. It was so great to work with my son. There were no deadlines, there was no rush. I could be as patient as I needed to be and he was having fun working with me. That can be hard to find: a project to work together without whining. Especially with the reward of a bowl of fresh applesauce. I kept him home from school for an hour because we were both having such a good time, and I figured that learning to work with me was the greater lesson.
Anyway, I just had some real toasty-warm home-made apple juice with a little cinnamon. mmm...tastes so good, I think I will snuggle off to bed. :)
Saturday, September 17, 2011
WOW! What a day!
Several months ago, Rob came home and informed me that he had signed us both up for a triathlon. Rob did a triathlon several years ago, but to me it was just something that I vaguely said "I should do that someday..." whenever someone talked about doing one. But the proposal came at a good time. We were in the middle of a wellness competition with another family, and so after a year and a half of me saying that I should exercise, I had actually started running. Rob was on a quest to lose 20 pounds (and feeling VERY motivated because I finally agreed that he could get a big screen TV if he did). And preparing for a race would be the motivation we needed to keep exercising.
So... as soon as the kids were gone to school and the baby was up from his nap, I was off trying to get my swimming, biking, or running in. A neighbor has a pool, and the baby was very good at sitting in his little booster seat and playing or eating goldfish while I swam laps. As the race approached, dear Chris Jackson lent me her thousand-dollar bike. When compared to my very old mountain bike where the the tire is slightly bent and keeps rubbing on the brake and I'm always pulling a bike trailer with a kid and stuff in it, this bike was heaven-sent.
So this is how a parent preps for a race: The night before. Rob was in a golf tournament until the evening, and after dinner had to hit the computer to work on a 50 page technical paper (which, so happens, he is working on right now). I just got about 30 pounds of tomatoes from a neighbor and was hurrying to take the skins off and freeze them in order to make salsa next week. While doing 3 loads of laundry and watching a neighbors kid. My dad called to see if B and K could come spend the night at his house (which my kids were SUPER excited about... especially since he has a puppy). So I packed really quick, ran up there, dropped them off, met Rob for dinner, ran home to grab the baby stuff and drop the baby at my mom's, then come home, move some of the clean laundry off my bed and put away the tomato stuff, pack and exhausted fall into bed. That is how a parent prepares for a race.
Day of the race: Rob and I got up early and drove down to Lehi. It was a very small race, with mostly just people who know (or know someone who knows) the guy who put the race on. Very relaxed. Perfect for a first race. The swim went great for me, Rob said that was his worst. I actually felt like I could keep swimming a lot more (which I can't say that about anything else on the race). The bike was beautiful, out in the rural part of Lehi and through a big park and along the river. And then came the hill. Oh, the hill. Man, I was glad that I was on the nice bike, because I probably would have had to get off my old mountainbike and push it up the hill. It was out by Camp William (?) and army guys were at the top of the hill congratulating and telling us it was time to turn around. At that point I was very happy to comply. Rob did awesome at the bike, keeping it at the high gear almost the whole time. I kept wondering when it was going to end... yes, 12 miles felt like 12 miles... very long.
Then it was the run (I know this is getting long... but it felt that way in the race, too). When I got off, another guy was taking his sweet time, so I was pretty slow about getting ready to run. And then I realized that this guy had already finished the race (being in the first heat-start... and being really fast, too), so I stopped drinking the propel and took off. Wobbily. It is hard to run after biking. You know how when you spin around a bunch and then start to run? That's how it felt. Only not dizzy, just super wobbily. But I kept going until it finally wore off. It was fun to see my mom pass us with the kids in the car (well, actually, we stopped for a quick picture). Rob also joined me for part of the run. It was great. Well, great because it's done. It was hard, but I did it, and only walked about 1/2 a block, mostly just because I didn't have the mental stamina to just keep going.
So it was fun. My kids and mom were at the end with pompoms to cheer us on. I would add pictures, but I don't have drive to get up and get the camera right now. I feel pretty proud of myself that I did it. And while at first I thought "Wow, I'm glad I did it. Don't think I'll do it again," the satisfaction is now getting to me and I am thinking of the next one.
How does a parent wind down after a race? Well, since a parent has other children, the luxury of going and getting a massage or a nap is not so much a reality. Rob is working on the paper right now, holding a baby who I think is getting sick, having already unloaded the car and bikes. I am watching my kids and 2 neighbor kids doing crafts in my kitchen, having already cleaned the kitchen, made lunch, pulled out another load of laundry, and mowed the lawn. Ok, the lawn about killed me, especially because we have a push lawn mower and REALLY long grass. Luckily, my neighbors sons think our lawn mower is super cool, so they ended up coming over and mowing the backyard for me. Cuz they wanted to. Sweet!
So tonight, we are all going out to dinner (I'm not cooking!) and then Rob and I are going to a play. And then watching the BYU/Utah game. So a full, full day. But WOW
So... as soon as the kids were gone to school and the baby was up from his nap, I was off trying to get my swimming, biking, or running in. A neighbor has a pool, and the baby was very good at sitting in his little booster seat and playing or eating goldfish while I swam laps. As the race approached, dear Chris Jackson lent me her thousand-dollar bike. When compared to my very old mountain bike where the the tire is slightly bent and keeps rubbing on the brake and I'm always pulling a bike trailer with a kid and stuff in it, this bike was heaven-sent.
So this is how a parent preps for a race: The night before. Rob was in a golf tournament until the evening, and after dinner had to hit the computer to work on a 50 page technical paper (which, so happens, he is working on right now). I just got about 30 pounds of tomatoes from a neighbor and was hurrying to take the skins off and freeze them in order to make salsa next week. While doing 3 loads of laundry and watching a neighbors kid. My dad called to see if B and K could come spend the night at his house (which my kids were SUPER excited about... especially since he has a puppy). So I packed really quick, ran up there, dropped them off, met Rob for dinner, ran home to grab the baby stuff and drop the baby at my mom's, then come home, move some of the clean laundry off my bed and put away the tomato stuff, pack and exhausted fall into bed. That is how a parent prepares for a race.
Day of the race: Rob and I got up early and drove down to Lehi. It was a very small race, with mostly just people who know (or know someone who knows) the guy who put the race on. Very relaxed. Perfect for a first race. The swim went great for me, Rob said that was his worst. I actually felt like I could keep swimming a lot more (which I can't say that about anything else on the race). The bike was beautiful, out in the rural part of Lehi and through a big park and along the river. And then came the hill. Oh, the hill. Man, I was glad that I was on the nice bike, because I probably would have had to get off my old mountainbike and push it up the hill. It was out by Camp William (?) and army guys were at the top of the hill congratulating and telling us it was time to turn around. At that point I was very happy to comply. Rob did awesome at the bike, keeping it at the high gear almost the whole time. I kept wondering when it was going to end... yes, 12 miles felt like 12 miles... very long.
Then it was the run (I know this is getting long... but it felt that way in the race, too). When I got off, another guy was taking his sweet time, so I was pretty slow about getting ready to run. And then I realized that this guy had already finished the race (being in the first heat-start... and being really fast, too), so I stopped drinking the propel and took off. Wobbily. It is hard to run after biking. You know how when you spin around a bunch and then start to run? That's how it felt. Only not dizzy, just super wobbily. But I kept going until it finally wore off. It was fun to see my mom pass us with the kids in the car (well, actually, we stopped for a quick picture). Rob also joined me for part of the run. It was great. Well, great because it's done. It was hard, but I did it, and only walked about 1/2 a block, mostly just because I didn't have the mental stamina to just keep going.
So it was fun. My kids and mom were at the end with pompoms to cheer us on. I would add pictures, but I don't have drive to get up and get the camera right now. I feel pretty proud of myself that I did it. And while at first I thought "Wow, I'm glad I did it. Don't think I'll do it again," the satisfaction is now getting to me and I am thinking of the next one.
How does a parent wind down after a race? Well, since a parent has other children, the luxury of going and getting a massage or a nap is not so much a reality. Rob is working on the paper right now, holding a baby who I think is getting sick, having already unloaded the car and bikes. I am watching my kids and 2 neighbor kids doing crafts in my kitchen, having already cleaned the kitchen, made lunch, pulled out another load of laundry, and mowed the lawn. Ok, the lawn about killed me, especially because we have a push lawn mower and REALLY long grass. Luckily, my neighbors sons think our lawn mower is super cool, so they ended up coming over and mowing the backyard for me. Cuz they wanted to. Sweet!
So tonight, we are all going out to dinner (I'm not cooking!) and then Rob and I are going to a play. And then watching the BYU/Utah game. So a full, full day. But WOW
Saturday, September 10, 2011
treasure found, treasure lost
For one fantastic week, we were pet owners. Kyle was in heaven! And now Treasure, our praying mantis is.
We found Treasure while visiting my brother, Jared and Tonya. Kyle is an avid bug-catcher. Even as I write, we have about 5 grasshoppers in a bug cage. But grasshoppers are nothing compared to a praying mantis. Kyle loved that thing! We caught live flies and would eat our dinner oohing and ahhing as Treasure ate his. Kyle ran and showed our neighbors his new pet; he told everybody about it. That would probably explain why he called it Treasure. Every day, he anxiously awaited the time he could take his praying mantis out and let him walk around and on him.
Today, while Rob was at a conference speaking, Kyle excitedly took Treasure's cage down to let it have a walk. And there was Treasure at the bottom of the cage, his leg twitching occasionally. Bekah bawled while Kyle tried to hold it together, getting a little teary.
Tonight, after a full day of cleaning, long bike rides (and a few crashes), and fun at lagoon, we ended the day with a small funeral service and buried Treasure. Kyle offered a few tender words. ...and then it was back to watching college football.Thank goodness kids recover fast. :)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Parenting is killing me...
... it's not the diapers, or disciplining, or even laundry. No. I am completely overwhelmed. My daughter cried herself to sleep tonight. I know it's the first of probably many times but I have been crying ever since...
A new school year has started, and with it a shift in classes as they mix up the two 1st grade classes. What was left was Bekah in one class, while most of her friends ended up in the other class... including her best friend. While they still have recess together, others have naturally made new friends. Unfortunately Bekah is more of a one-best-friend girl and dislikes playing with a bunch of girls. So that has left her feeling very lonely and very left out.
This is killing me! We talk about how to make friends, talk about what she can do. But at the end of the day, she is still bawling in her bed that she will never make friends. And I feel horrible because I'm not being supportive or loving enough or whatever-enough, and knowing exactly how she feels. I moved into a new school in 1st grade, too (as well as moving in other grades). It's SO painful to see her struggle, especially when I know how acute that very pain is. Seriously, if this is how I feel when my 1st grader feels left out then what the heck am I going to do with bigger issues (especially because I have gone into her school and have seen that she does have friends and people ARE kind to her), ???
This is so hard. I'm telling you, it's like my heart is being stomped on. I don't know how God does it.
A new school year has started, and with it a shift in classes as they mix up the two 1st grade classes. What was left was Bekah in one class, while most of her friends ended up in the other class... including her best friend. While they still have recess together, others have naturally made new friends. Unfortunately Bekah is more of a one-best-friend girl and dislikes playing with a bunch of girls. So that has left her feeling very lonely and very left out.
This is killing me! We talk about how to make friends, talk about what she can do. But at the end of the day, she is still bawling in her bed that she will never make friends. And I feel horrible because I'm not being supportive or loving enough or whatever-enough, and knowing exactly how she feels. I moved into a new school in 1st grade, too (as well as moving in other grades). It's SO painful to see her struggle, especially when I know how acute that very pain is. Seriously, if this is how I feel when my 1st grader feels left out then what the heck am I going to do with bigger issues (especially because I have gone into her school and have seen that she does have friends and people ARE kind to her), ???
This is so hard. I'm telling you, it's like my heart is being stomped on. I don't know how God does it.
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