Bear Lake Monsters Inc.

Chod's family got together last weekend in Bear Lake for a little family reunion. His family is spread out and we don't see each other very often, so it was nice to have a few days together.

We stayed in a cabin overlooking the lake. It was just the right amount of busy. There was plenty to do, but very little that had to be done. We saw The Hanging of El Bandito at Pickleville, went geo-caching,

rode around on this cool bike,


spent time at the beach,

and maybe my most favorite activity was the entire family playing sardines. Great Grandma even got in on the fun.

Bridgerland Games

On Pioneer Day the Parish family participated in Bridgerland Games (the Olympics of the Pioneer World) at AWHC. Warren, Patrice, Tameka, and Brent made up the team. And since my dad (and Mom) take competitions like these very seriously, it was no surpise they won first place!
Hoop and stick
Graces
Tomahawk throw

Bison chip toss. Dad threw his chip over 100 feet, making him the clear winner.

Panning for Gold. There may have almost been a fight that broke out when Mom didn't agree with the rule changes.

Lashings

Knot tying. They tied 10 of the 13 possible.

Two man saw.

The scouters on the team were vital to the win. And the fact that the other teams were comprised of young children didn't hurt either.

Count with me

"On my next birthday I will be 4. And on my nother birthday after that 5, then 6, then 7, 8, 9 , 10, then one-teen, two-teen, and then three-teen!"

Pioneer Day '09

I've heard the stories about the pioneers, and I thought I could kind of understand what their lives were like.

I mean, I grew up in a log house. I've been cold before-one winter when it was freezing cold we had to help Dad outside on a job, and it was really, really cold. And one time at girl's camp we pulled a handcart.

But since volunteering at AWHC once a week, for 5 hours a time, I have gained a whole new appreciation for the pioneers. At the end of our 5 hours I get in my air conditioned car and drive home, to my air conditioned house and I take a warm shower. So really, I still have no idea what they endured. But here are a few things I have noticed:

• Pioneer children were dirty. Baths once a week, if there was water and no wet wipes to help clean up. Between the heat, the insects, and the dirt pioneer children had to have been covered in rashes. Heat rash, diaper rash, and rashes from just plain being dirty.
• Pioneer women worked really hard. Cooking meals over a fire is hard, hot work. Not to mention dangerous. Fires were the second cause of death in pioneer women. The combination of long dresses and cooking over the fire followed closely behind childbirth in the cause of death.
• Pioneer children cried a lot. Either from being too hot, or too cold, or hungry, or tired. Which to me are basic things, and the mothering instinct wants to provide those for my children. It would have broken my heart to have a starving or freezing baby and not have the means to help.
• Pioneers were always working. Providing food, clothing, and shelter left little free time.

And unlike the picture above, there were no sunglasses or Crocs (shame on you Deidra) to help alleviate the discomfort. The log home I grew up in was a modern house. While working in the freezing cold we wore insulated coveralls and spent as much time in the pickup with the heater running as possible. My handcart experience lasted two miles, we wore tennis shoes, and the handcart was not packed with all of our possessions--just enough to get by for 3 days.

Pioneers were so much tougher than I thought, and I don't even know the half of it.

Happy Pioneer Day.

Busted

Dirt under the fingernails is incriminating evidence that you have been in the houseplant.

Interrogation over lunch

Grandpa W. had an appointment in my town today, well not just my town I suppose. There are 5 of his granddaughters who live here, so we took him to lunch--or he took us, not sure how that works. (If you are counting and see 6, you aren't mistaken. #6 doesn't live here, but was visiting so we let her join us.)

We had fun listening to his stories of our moms, the cars he has driven, the fish he tortured the neighbors with, and of how he and Grandma met.

Thanks Grandpa. We will see you in a couple of months.

Pretty sure that's a no

While Bentley was naming off all the sisters he knew of--Lanie is Hudson's sister, Paige is Jack's sister, Deid is your sister, Sophie is Kaayl's sister etc.--I asked who his sister was.

He thought about it.

I waited. Then said, "You don't have a sister, you have a brother! Linc is your brother."

"Yes me do have a sister, her in oars tummy!"

"No, there isn't a baby in my tummy."

"Yes, my sister in oars tummy. I will hold her. I will rock her. I will love her. She be Linc's sister too!"

So when Chod got home from work and Bentley informed him of the baby in my tummy I had some explaining to do.

No baby here.

Dirt is delicious

Along with crawling Lincoln has also figured out how to sign 'more' and 'all done'. It has been a busy week for the little guy.

Today, as I removed him from eating the potting soil out of the houseplant containers he kicked his feet, squealed, and signed more, more, more.

Either he was really hungry, or it tasted mighty yummy.

Pink Lincoln to the Rescue

I strapped the boys in their car seats and jumped in the driver seat to take Bentley to his first dentist appointment. It didn't start. On attempt one, two, or three.

As I was running to get the Geo (it isn't parked in our driveway since it is rarely driven, but out of the way over yonder) I started planning. Is it faster to move two car seats or jump the car?

I decided to jump it, and as I am driving back I take the Geo key off my key chain-so each car will have the necessary key. Efficiency at its greatest. With the jumper cables in hand I pop the Honda's hood and then move to the Geo's. Except I can't I get the latch undone. I try to remember if there is a trick, but I can't think of one.

On to plan B. I close the Honda's hood, throw the jumper cables in the trunk and start moving kids and seats.

We were a little more than fashionably late, but we made it to the dentist appointment.

Bentley did great (no cavities).

Once we were back to the car I can't find the key. The lone key, not on the key ring with my other keys (I have those). I check my pockets and my purse. Nope and nope. So I go back in the office and look. No luck. Back to the car and do another search through the purse and pockets.

Now I am thinking, "Crap. Who is available to come and get us, that also has enough room for 3 extra bodies?" Because most of the people I can think of also have kids who fill up their cars.

Tameka! She may be at work, but I know her boss is out of town. I call and tell her my sad story and she says she can come and get us, while laughing at me.

Then I decide to look inside one more time. As I was telling the receptionist my story of the morning I put my hand in my back pocket--the key!

How dumb and I.

I call Tameka back and tell her we are okay, but thanks.

Then off to Einstein's for the promised bagel (Bentley loves bagels). While driving I think the first thing I should do when we get there is put the key back on my key ring. We buy our bagels, and head out to the car.

But wait. Where is that stupid key? Not on the key ring.

Yeah, can't find it. Search high and low, say a prayer, search some more, and then I call Tameka.

She got to rescue us this time.

P.S. Tameka drives a pink Lincoln Continental...no relation to my Lincoln.

Ginkon on the Move

Or a cheap wind up toy.

Is this what it is like to have a teenager?

Sunday Bentley's church pants were hitting at flood stage.

Today around 11 he asked for a bowl of cereal, and then another, and another. Three bowls of cereal. Then he ate string cheese and a peanut butter and honey sandwich. When he finished those he asked for a banana.

Then he said he wanted to go to his room and take a nap.

I think I've got a grower on my hands.

The milk man

We have two little neighbor boys, who Bentley refers to as his brothers.

We have gone over the fact that they are brothers, and Bentley and Lincoln are brothers but they are not all brothers.

Tonight their dad came to borrow a tool. After the door closed Bentley asked, "Is he my brothers' dad?"

"Um, no. Your brother and you have the same dad. Let's not get that confused."

Grandma Camp

After our day at the lake, the older boys went home with Grandma for the first annual Grandma Camp.

When I ask Bentley what they did at camp he told me of the really, really big pancake he ate, the huge waffle he ate the next day, the toys they played with, about taking a bath, and eating cookies. I'd say food was the highlight of his trip.

Funny how Grandma never mentioned any of those things to me. Instead she tells of the shirts and necklaces they made, the bugs and fish they caught, the park they played at, the stories they read, and the track hoe they rode in. She kept them so busy they took naps everyday, and so much stuff planned that she had to keep them an extra day to fit it all in.

Yesterday, after swimming at Ross Park, the campers returned home a little more grown up. Bentley had a hard time saying goodbye to Grandma and wanted "No Back Home" and to "ride in Grandma's car".

Then he realized while he was away Lincoln started saying "Mamama". They spent the night catching up and giggling with each other. Last night after their lights had been turned out I heard Bentley tell Lincoln, "and when you are big boy, you go to Grandma Camp too".

Thanks Grandma. He is already looking forward to next year.

Drummer Boy

Dear Drummer,

The improvement you have made in the last 2 month is remarkable. Really it is. Way to not give up.

Surely there has to be a better location for you to practice than in the storage units across the way though. It is summer, and it has to be hot. But you must know that. Why else would you choose to practice from the hours of 1 to 4 in the morning? I am sorry your mom won't let you practice in her garage or basement anymore, but would it be too much to ask for you to invest in a set of drum silencers?

pretty please.

Sincerely,
All Drummed Out

Buh Bye

In real life I have a hard time letting friendships end. There is too much invested and I have a hard time giving up.

In the virtual world it is a different story. Google Reader allows me to follow quite a few blogs with minimal effort (except for those private ones). It is easy to add a blog to my list with a little copy and paste action. If I come across one that has a few good ideas, or that a google search provides on a subject I may be interested in for a day, I go ahead and add that to my reader too.

But sometimes I have to break up with blogs.

If I find a blog boring, repetitive, not original, or find myself annoyed after reading posts they get deleted during my monthly break up sessions.

It is liberating.

Is it good to you?

It is no secret that Bentley is a selective eater. He is starting to realize that just because something doesn't taste good to him, doesn't mean others feel the same. If only I could write this in his little voice.

B: Blueberry pie is yucky to me, is it good to you Mom?

M: I like blueberry pie.

B: Blueberry pie, and apple pie, and strawberry pie? Is pie good to you Mom?

M: Yes, pie is good to me. How do you know about pies? Who makes pies?

B: Pig on Word World!

M: What kind of pie do you like? Strawberry? Apple? Peach? Chocolate?

B: Honey pie. Honey pie is good to me Mom. Is honey pie good to you?

Is there such a thing as honey pie? Dang that Pig.

Independence day

It was another busy 4th of July at our house. Once again, our celebrating started on the 3rd with a BBQ and then it was off to the ball field for fireworks.

We passed the time waiting for fireworks with Old Maid and Crazy 8s.

Bright and early on the 4th Chod and Chris ran the Freedom Run 15k.

And then we were off to Bear Lake. Where Lincoln ate crackers.

And sand.

And cupcakes.

He had so much fun playing in this puddle.


And enjoyed his time in the tube. He wore himself out and fell asleep. He got pushed to shore and was our little beached whale.



Bentley had fun playing in the sand and water with his cousins. He loves the beach. The water level of the lake is so high that it seemed to be shallow forever. Which was really nice for the boys since they could play by themselves, and it was warm.

We entered the sand castle building contest at the last minute,

and got busy constructing Old Glory. The crazy man next door said we should win for sure. Because it was a flag, and it was the 4th of July. And that is why.

TA!


Happy Birthday America!

I've Joined the Club

To infinity and beyond

Tonight as we finished reading the "moon book" Bentley informed me he will take yogurt to the moon.

How you ask?

"I, I will, I will put yogurt in rocket ship. Take yogurt to the MOON!"

He stutters when he is excited.

Has your child ever aspired to something so great?

Didn't think so.

Come Fly With Me

1 thesis
2 states
2 universities
2 boys
3 gardens
lots of laughs
some tears
5 years