1. I have fabulous friends. People who check up on me when I write nothing but depressing, manic blog posts and facebook statuses, don't answer the phone, and generally drop off the planet. People who understand (or pretend to understand :) my weirdness. People who pull me back to Earth and ground me. Thank you, all you sweet, sweet people. I love you so much and I'm so thankful.
2. It's Friday. It's the day that Nels is supposed to finish up this MONSTER that he's been babying for the past month and a half. Thank the Lord. It's Friday.
3. I was feeling nice tonight and decided to pull a Mary Poppins. "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." The house was really a disaster. I decided to "excite" the girls into helping me pick it up even though is was 9:30. Think of how fast this could get done if I had two little runners to put all the random toys, books, laundry, brushes, garbage, etc. away!! Amazing. We cleaned the living room, bathroom, family room, and their bedroom in record time. Hallelujah! It's was my greatest wish. Christmas wish! (For Lynsey)
4. I got my dead bush dug up this week and a new one put in its place. Hooray. My front yard doesn't look quite so sad anymore. Spent quite a lot of time outside cleaning up the yard this week. I'm not feeling quite so sad anymore either. Nice.
5. I love my babies. I do. They are so wonderful and I love being a mom. I love those sweet little ladies and each of their unique personalities. I have a new theory about maybe why family relationships can be so difficult sometimes. Don't get me wrong! I have wonderful relationships with each of my family members, but sometimes things are just difficult. As parent and child, particularly, sometimes we have a hard time seeing eye to eye. Getting the relationship to flow as seamlessly as I'd like it to. I have a theory on why I think this might be. I'll share it sometime with you when I'm not writing a post where it will be listed as #5. It's going to take more explaining than probably "#5" allows. --- Maybe next week.
6. My hormones are hopefully settling. Feeling much more human. It's lovely. (What did I tell ya? "Give it a week and I'll probably be fine again?" Yep.)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Teeter Totter
I feel like such a mess lately.
I'm sure it doesn't help that (other than our vacation) I've felt much like a single parent lately . . .
Just overwhelmed, tired, fine, not-fine, self-conscious, mad, happy, emotional, dead-to-the-world, productive, lazy . . . . Just basically C.R.A.Z.Y.
It's awesome.
Trying to balance my time and energy, yet still wanting to do everything and basically failing at everything. I feel spread too thin between a million different things that I want to be amazing at. I want to be able to do everything - to the ability that I know I could - if it was the only thing in my life.
I want to be a better mom. I want to be a better homemaker. I want to be a better cook. A better decorator. A better friend. A better wife. A better me.
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I have a long, long list of projects that I want to complete -- finish painting the basement, finish remaking my filing cabinet, paint the cupboard door in the bathroom, paint and hang my shutters, organize my laundry room and my storage room, paint the girls room, crochet baby hat, sew nightgowns for my girls, finish sewing dresses for girls, paint Elsie's bed, make birdies for little girls' room, make curtains for closet in little girls' room, make bed skirt for Elsie's bed, paint downstairs bathroom, dig up dead bush in front flower bed, weed front flower bed, clean out garage, clean out coat closet . . . the list goes on and on and on.
I either don't start them when I have time or start them and then get sidetracked - not finishing them until months or YEARS later - if ever. I hate it. My follow through has been terrible for years! I dream of having a different house and leaving my current "to-do's" for this house behind. Seriously. I have dreams about it.
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I love the kids in our neighborhood. They're wonderful and such good friends for my kids. I don't know what I'd do without them. At the same time, there is one little girl, in particular, that is troublesome to me. With her, three is ALWAYS a crowd. One of my girls is always on the outs. She can be mean and nasty and sneaky. Encouraging my children to do things that they know are wrong - behind my back. She just waltzes into our backyard whenever she desires. I can't tell my kids that I don't want them to play with friends on any given day, because if they're outside, even in our own backyard - she magically materializes. And I just get sick of all the drama that ensues when they're playing together.
Sometimes they all get along great. Sometimes the problems are not her fault at all. Mostly I'm glad that my children have a friend to play with. But sometimes, I want to kick her little fanny. Lately, I want to kick her little fanny. I'd like to have a gate on my side yard that would allow me to close it - and even lock it when I so choose.
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My ten year class reunion is coming up next month. I want to go. I've been planning on going for years. At the same time . . . I feel weird. I'm so very happy with my life, but at the same time, I don't know that I want to deal with all the comparing that will inevitably be part of the experience. Not that I wish my life were different or I'm not satisfied and completely confident in the life that I lead. I love my girls. I love husband. I'm happy with where we are and where we're headed. I love who I am and I love the role that I'm fulfilling at this time in my life . . . it's just . . .
I don't look the way I want to. I don't have the time or organization to exercise the way I want to. I'm eating for two and thus don't eat quite the way I should . . . I had a baby four months ago.
I haven't seen any of those people in over TEN YEARS! Good grief. I only knew them for three years when I was in high school. Do I really care to re-form relationships that for the most part I have not missed - even a little bit? I don't really know those people anymore. They don't know me.
I can exude confidence - but really? I don't like being around people I don't know. I get nervous. I don't know what to say. Get me past that self-conscious place, and I can have a grand old time - with minimal discomfort, but right now? I don't know . . .
At the same time, there are a few people that I'd really like to see and catch up with. -- But what if those people don't even come???
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I'm a mess. And here's what think is happening:
have you ever started a lawnmower? You know, you pull the rope and nothing happens and then you pull it again, it sputters a little then dies. So you push the little primer button a few times, and then pull again. It slowly starts and then suddenly ROARS to life. Then you turn down the motor speed a little, so that it sounds and feels normal and off you go. (Sorry if this analogy is lost on some. I like mowing the lawn.)
Well, that's how I feel. I feel like my hormones have been more sedentary since having Violet - yet right now, they seem to be starting up. Pulled and stretched, then nothing. Sputtering a little then dying. Roaring to life! - on high gear - and they need to be turned down just a little bit. So we can go along happily at a normal speed again. I'm a little high strung right now. Wound too tight.
Each of us battle every single day against the demons that we have. When I'm emotionally where I should be, the wall I build against them is strong and rarely penetrable. I'm happy with me. I like me. I'm not everything I want to be, but I'm happy with my efforts and I know that I'm making progress. Life and change takes time. Different phases come and go. As I stay close to the Lord, I feel peace and happiness and joy. There are times of craziness, but there's always an underlying calm. I feel good. The little doubts and fears and insecurities take a back seat to the person I really am.
However, I feel like my hormones are going cooky right now and they're busting holes in my wall. It's very frustrating.
Give it a week and I'll probably be fine again.
And yet, at the same time, I know exactly how to fix it NOW. And I'm not doing it.
The answer (for me) is to get to work.
Stop whining, stop indulging, stop delaying.
Just get to work.
I know this, because I've seen it throughout my whole life. My parents have been incredible examples to me of this principle. I've seen it work in my own life.
Stop waiting to "feel like it" and just DO IT.
As I DO IT, I start to FEEL LIKE IT.
I need to stop waiting for this phase to move on and choose to be happy where I am.
Too often we tell ourselves, "I'll be happy when . . . " I know that we can be happy NOW. What if things DON'T change. What about all the things out of our control? People out of our control? Are we going to waste our lives away waiting for someone or something else to make us happy?
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I don't know what I'm going to do about going to my reunion. I really don't know.
But today - I'm going to:
take a shower.
clean the kitchen.
make bread.
finish at least ONE project.
talk to my neighbor about building a GATE for our yard.
sort and do laundry.
MOW the LAWN.
And choose to speak softer, feel kinder, and accept the peace that the Lord will give as I ask for it.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Vroom! Violet
Violet's four month appointment was yesterday and she's doing awesome! She's fifteen pounds!! My other girls were only 18 at a YEAR!
On how I "don't have a heart."
Elsie has been trying to live in her swimsuit this summer. Most of the time I oblige, but sometimes it needs washed, you know? When she's not wearing her swimsuit she's wearing her Princess dress. But what happens when both are dirty?? Or if I just decide that she needs to wear normal clothes for once??
This morning, I woke up to see her in her suit. I told her she needed to change - which didn't happen until about an hour ago when I saw her running through the house naked. I have a standing rule that I get to spat any bare bums that I see. :) She ran to her room and spent the next fifteen minutes not getting dressed. I finally helped her and put a cute little non-Princess dress on her and she happily took off to play with the "stisters."
Just now I found her naked again, trying to steal her swim suit out of the dirty clothes basket. I took it away, again explained that it's dirty, and fought her back into her clothes. With her screaming the whole time.
She walks off, then comes back trying to get it again. I get up to stop her again and she says, "Go play on your computer." Wow. Do you think my two-year-old knows that she can get away with anything while I blog??
As I man-handle her back into her clothes again:
"Go in your room and lock your door."
"Go to sleep."
"I don't like you."
"I'm locking your door and I won't let you go."
"You're a Meanie."
I laughed and picked her up and put her on my lap as I write this, so that I can keep her from getting into the dirty clothes again. :)
As she's sitting here, on my lap, yelling, she says, "You don't have a heart, Mom!" LOL!
Hello. I'm Rachel Chick. I'm a mean mom and I don't have a heart. I have also - obviously - been spending too much time lately dinking around on my computer. I will now go do my laundry and be a mother to my children. This will be the last post written during daylight hours for quite some time.
This morning, I woke up to see her in her suit. I told her she needed to change - which didn't happen until about an hour ago when I saw her running through the house naked. I have a standing rule that I get to spat any bare bums that I see. :) She ran to her room and spent the next fifteen minutes not getting dressed. I finally helped her and put a cute little non-Princess dress on her and she happily took off to play with the "stisters."
Just now I found her naked again, trying to steal her swim suit out of the dirty clothes basket. I took it away, again explained that it's dirty, and fought her back into her clothes. With her screaming the whole time.
She walks off, then comes back trying to get it again. I get up to stop her again and she says, "Go play on your computer." Wow. Do you think my two-year-old knows that she can get away with anything while I blog??
As I man-handle her back into her clothes again:
"Go in your room and lock your door."
"Go to sleep."
"I don't like you."
"I'm locking your door and I won't let you go."
"You're a Meanie."
I laughed and picked her up and put her on my lap as I write this, so that I can keep her from getting into the dirty clothes again. :)
As she's sitting here, on my lap, yelling, she says, "You don't have a heart, Mom!" LOL!
Hello. I'm Rachel Chick. I'm a mean mom and I don't have a heart. I have also - obviously - been spending too much time lately dinking around on my computer. I will now go do my laundry and be a mother to my children. This will be the last post written during daylight hours for quite some time.
Moons in Montana - Part 3
For days following our hike, I walked like a cripple. :) SO SORE! But my brother-in-law, Chris, was awesome enough to help limber me up each day. :)
Thursday morning was lovely and we headed down to the lake, bright and early. First order of business: Tubing. The boat was able to pull two enormous tubes behind it, so one tube filled up with my oldest niece and nephews and Genny and I jumped on "Big Mabel". I want everyone to know, here and now, that I HATE Big Mabel! What a terrible tube for anyone over the age of 17! My body was not made to endure such torture. -- Although I will say, after our ride, my muscles were much less tight. :)
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I'll just let this one tell the story of the first tubing expedition of the day.
Thursday morning was lovely and we headed down to the lake, bright and early. First order of business: Tubing. The boat was able to pull two enormous tubes behind it, so one tube filled up with my oldest niece and nephews and Genny and I jumped on "Big Mabel". I want everyone to know, here and now, that I HATE Big Mabel! What a terrible tube for anyone over the age of 17! My body was not made to endure such torture. -- Although I will say, after our ride, my muscles were much less tight. :)
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I'll just let this one tell the story of the first tubing expedition of the day.
Me, Genny, Eli, Nate, Liza
Let's just say that the ride on the "inside" seat was a bit rougher than the outside (although both are terrible!). This was toward the end, right after I'd convinced Genny to switch me places. After this little spill I didn't hear any more "You're such a wimp, Rachel! :) Why can't you stay on??" :)
The next two days were spent
Wake Surfing,
Nels loved wake surfing and did awesome.
My first time out, I honestly couldn't figure out where the fun in this particular water sport was supposed to be. However, after some analyzation and sleeping on it, I finally got the hang of it and had a good time. Although, I think I need to do quite a few more squats and lunges before I get full enjoyment out of it. :)
Chris is an amazing wake surfer, and is good enough to get up and going with a child around his neck! Once up, he lowers said child down to stand on the board with him and (holding onto his legs) they also get to enjoy the ride. Lilie loved doing this and when I get the pictures from whoever has them, I'll have to add them.
TUBING,
Lilie LOVED riding the tube!
Love her face in this picture.
I also love the sequence of these next pictures! :)
Nels, Cade, and Ben --- Going UP . . .
(Nels displays the perfect form for take off!)
. . . and UP . . .
. . . coming down . . .
. . . and down . . .
(we can finally see Eli on the back! :)
Where'd they go, Cade? LOL!
Turtle Hunting,
Echo Lake has lots of turtles and we were able to catch several to inspect and then let go.
and U-Boarding.
(I'll have to add more pictures later, when I get them from various family members. -- But that might take a while and I don't want to forget to finish posting about our vacation.)
Both Hazel and Lilie were brave enough to try out the U-board. Lilie was rarin' to go from the moment she saw her cousins do it, but I was afraid Hazel would need some coaxing. However, when I told her it was her turn, she jumped right on and had a wonderful time. I was so proud of them both!
We had such a wonderful week. It's weird to think that a whole WEEK seemed too short, but it did. I think I could have stayed there all summer! :) Thank you Melissa and Chris! It was awesome!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Moons in Montana - Part 2
Wednesday dawned far and away warmer than the day before, but still not quite boating weather. Jake had been dying to get back up in to the Park and do some hiking and was in dire need of some buddies to go with him. (Hiking alone, in unfamiliar territory, in bear country is just not safe.) I volunteered, but knew that since I currently have a faithful (and hungry) sidekick, I wouldn't be able to commit to a long hike. We all waffled back and forth long enough to drive Jake nuts and for my dear, kind, magnanimous parents to offer to watch ALL THEIR GRANDCHILDREN (with the exception of my little sucker - that's FOURTEEN children) in order to give us some time together as brothers and sisters. I feel a bit guilty about being so quick to pawn off my children, but I must say having a newborn and three other little children leaves me feeling a little stifled at times. - Not usually, but every once in a while I need a little free time. And who better to spend it with than my favorite people in the whole entire world? My family.
We drove back up to Glacier, headed for the Sperry Glacier Trail. A trail that begins at Lake McDonald and ends at the Sperry Chalet. It's 6.7 miles long (from lake to chalet) and rises over 3400 feet. Not having much hiking experience under my belt, I didn't really have any idea what a 3400 foot rise over 6.7 miles looked like. I was assured by both Jake and my dad that the reason why the trail was so long was because they purposely make the trails in National Parks to be at a level most anyone can do it. With lots of switchbacks and nothing too strenuous. My plan, carrying Violet with me in the Moby wrap - and Kelly's (who is 4 1/2 months pregnant) - was to hike until we decided we were done and then turn around and wait for everyone else back at the lake. Nels, not being much of a hiking enthusiast, was planning on just spending the day with me and making sure that his wife - and more particularly his baby daughter - didn't get eaten by a grizzly. :)
The first two miles of the trail should have been my first clue as to what the rest of the hike would entail, but I think I fit into the "glass half full" category and can't help myself but think that "it's got to get better just around that corner." :) Straight. Up. it went. But hey! we've got to get out of the valley, right? Of course the first of the trail will be straight up. We split into two groups fairly quickly. Jake, Chris, Melissa, Wendie, and Genny going on ahead and Me, Kelly, Nels, Ben, and Alyssa a bit behind. I couldn't help but laugh at our little group. Me - carrying my four month-old baby and my "I haven't been well exercised in over a year" body. Kelly - in awesome shape, but also halfway through her pregnancy with their fifth child. Alyssa - also in great shape, but still dealing with anemia. Ben and Nels - who have spent most of the past two years devoting long, long hours to work in front of a computer screen. Also, Nels carrying not only his camera, but his tripod as well, because if we're going hiking, he's at least going to get some good footage out of it. :)
The hike was beautiful. It really was and I'll keep reminding myself of that. However, most of it was also fairly monotonous. Up. Up. Up. Through the trees, most all of the time. Most trails seem to have beautiful vantage points along the way, where you can see your progress and at least have some gauge of where you're going and how far you've come, but this trail wasn't really like that. I think around mile 4 or 4.5 Kelly and I were feeling like we were about done, but Ben - ever the encourager - kept saying, "Just another 15 minutes." or "The other group has got to be almost to the top, why don't we just keep going till we meet up with them going down." And secretly, in my own mind, I just wanted to get to that place where I could feel like we'd actually "made it" somewhere. I didn't care much about the top, I just wanted to know I'd accomplished something. We ran into a Ranger going down around that point who said that there was a waterfall about 15 or 20 minutes ahead. He also let us know that over the past week a grizzly sow and her cub had been spotted in the area, but hadn't been seen for the past several days. I figured if we could make it to the waterfall, I'd be fine with staying there, taking pictures and either turning around or waiting for the rest of my siblings to meet up with us on their way down. - Besides, we were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes in the middle of the forest.
My gorgeous sisters-in-law
Alyssa & Kelly
Violet enjoying a change of scenery with Ben
the Chalet and Restaurant - high, high above
Much to my dismay, at the point I decided I was done -- totally satisfied with my efforts and feeling that just SEEING the ending point was good enough for me -- Nels and Ben decided that if we were going to stop, we should have stopped hours ago. There was no way that either of them were going to see the end without making it there. Gah! Are you kidding me??
A little further on, I sat down again, fully prepared to stick to my guns and sit there on my sweet little rocky ledge and wait for the rest of our group to come down to us, when low and behold we actually SEE our group. At the Chalet. Waving. What a terrible feeling, knowing that having seen us, they were going to wait for us at the top. There was no getting out of going all the way.
I know it sounds boring to read, but rest assured, it was all very dramatic at the time. :)
The view was gorgeous. Absolutely. Having been in the trees 7/8ths of the hike, with no real scenic beauties along the way, Nels was happy to have a reason to have lugged his tripod nearly 7 miles uphill. For the group shot at the end! :)
The lake in the very far away background is where we started.
Upon our arrival at the Chalet, I was able to find Violet's binky buried in the backpack and she promptly fell asleep in my arms.
We took a few pictures sat down for about 15 minutes on the top of the cliff and then headed out. Needing to beat the sun.
From then on, Melissa became our self-proclaimed Nervous Noise Maker. Not wanting to startle Mrs. Grizz by coming upon her unexpectedly, Melissa sang for probably more than two miles continuously, at the tippity top of her lungs. Every song in her head from "The Star Spangled Banner" to camp songs such as "As One Black Bug Bled Blue-Black Blood, the Other Black Bug Bled Blue . . .." Wendie, Alyssa, Genny, and Kelly helped -- with me chiming in for the high notes and gracing all with one charming rendition of "Climb Every Mountain". Melissa kept pestering me to "Sing, Rachel!" but sadly at that point, my poor body had no energy left for singing. It was concentrating quite hard on pick up foot, put it down, pick up foot, put it down . . . . I'm positive that not only did Melissa single-handedly deter that bear from running into us, but scared it permanently out of the entire canyon! :) I love you, Melissa -- and your nervous singing! :)
Unexpectedly - to me anyway - the hike down the trail was just as (if not more) difficult than the hike up. Not wanting to wake my babe, I carried her laying down in my arms. My feet decided to blister. And rigor-mortis seemed to be settling into all the muscles of my legs. LOL!
Violet finally woke up about 1.5 miles from the finish line and as both his reward and punishment for organizing this Trail of Tears, I passed her off to my "little" brother. :)
I cannot stress what an incredible baby Violet is. She happily rode in the Moby wrap almost all the way to the top of the mountain, only getting fussy shortly before we got there - probably as a result of being slightly chilled from being snuggled up to my sweaty bod and from being tired. She fell asleep as soon as I popped her binky in and then slept nearly the whole way down. She was happy for the brief periods that her uncles or daddy carried her and was basically an angel the entire day. Just happy to be with her Mommy. She is just such a sweet little dolly.
We finally reach the trailhead at about 8:30 PM. Four and half hours up - half hour at the top - and three hours down.
Don't we all look happy? :) I love that several of us have fake smiles.
My body was so exhausted at this point that there was no energy for true excitement. :)
We stopped at A&W on the way "home" and what a sight we were!!! I honestly could barely move my muscles - and I know I wasn't the only one. Melissa, Wendie, Genny, Jake, Alyssa, and Chris were in high spirits - looking as if they were ready to just sKiP the rest of the way back. However I hobbled around the restaurant, trying SO very hard (and failing) to not look like an 80 year-old who'd just had a hip replacement, and let's just say that one of our group took the two steps outside A&W backwards because going forward was just too intimidating. LOL!!!
We arrived back at the cabin to find ALL our little babes tucked sweetly into their beds. Grandma and Grandpa had spent the day taking them all to the park, to the lake, on countless four-wheeler rides, and frankly just wearing them all out.
I still can't believe that I hiked over 13 miles - while carrying Violet. To a large extent, I really overestimate my abilities and I don't know when to quit. I'm retarded like that. --- On the other hand, I did it. So there.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Moons in Montana - Part 1
This past week, from Sunday to Saturday, was spent with all the Moons having a grand old time. Chris and Melissa invited us all up to the Pilling cabin in Big Fork, Montana at Echo Lake. It was . . . awesome. And way too short! :)
Ben and Kelly drove up to our house Saturday evening, deciding to spend the night before caravanning up the next morning. I felt so bad that it probably wasn't much of a restful night for them, with me up until 4 AM cleaning and packing. I finally fell asleep and Nels called me two hours later, at 6:00, to come pick him up from work (having just finished 3+ weeks of late-nighters, working on a massive project that has yet to be finished).
With only two hours of sleep under my belt, I was feeling a little woosie as I got in the van, but by the time I'd driven across Idaho Falls and back, I was just rarin' for the six hour drive ahead! :) Back at home we woke the kids, ate breakfast, tucked Nels into the back seat of the van with his pillow and blankie, and headed out.
We made it to Butte in record time and stopped in for a little spiritual enlightenment with the Butte 1st Ward, picked up some lunch, and finished off our drive with nary another potty break. Incredible! Rolling into the cabin driveway, we were more than ready to spill from the van and leave our cares behind for the next week.
The cabin was wonderful with rooms and beds, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a fabulous deck, a smaller side-cabin (where we bunked), running water (good for drinking, but so saturated with iron that it will turn white clothes and fake blondes {like moi} a brilliant shade of orange! - just ask my mom), and a five minute walk to the private beach!
Nels ate some dinner and crashed in a bed (Can you believe that he didn't find our six hour ride in a hot van with four kids restful?). I unloaded the van while the kids played with cousins and after they were all safe and sound in beds later that night, being dead tired from the drive and two hours of sleep the night before, I proceeded to stay up till 2:00 with Wendie, Alyssa, and my mom playing two rounds of Hearts. Making sure that my mom lost both games, after absolutely smashing us for the first half of both and then getting cocky - trying to take it all. :) I love her, but my mom is way too good a card player for me to not get satisfaction out of her losing. :)
After sleeping the majority of the day, when I finally went to bed, Nels was ready to be up for a few hours. He spent the time watching for bears :) and taking some fun long exposure night photos.
Monday morning Nels finally reemerged to the land of the living and we spent a great {and windy} day at the beach wake surfing and tubing. Tuesday dawned cold and windy - a good day to go hiking in Glacier National Park. However, when we finally made it to our destination, it was a whopping 52 degrees! Yikes! My mom and Alyssa were sweet enough to watch my little babes {Violet and Hazel just did NOT want to brave the cold}, while the rest of us hiked a short distance to a very pretty waterfall.
Why I was having my sleep-deprived hubby drive down this winding and precarious road is questionable, but as we drove past the "Weeping Wall" he couldn't help but get me close enough to run my fingers -- er, LAP through the waterfall cascading down the cliff and across the road. :) It started out so innocently with the fresh trickling water falling on my hand, but when the real stuff came up, he drove straight under it before I could roll up the window. :) He said that he was just returning the favor for my many "jokes". Touche, Babe.
With only two hours of sleep under my belt, I was feeling a little woosie as I got in the van, but by the time I'd driven across Idaho Falls and back, I was just rarin' for the six hour drive ahead! :) Back at home we woke the kids, ate breakfast, tucked Nels into the back seat of the van with his pillow and blankie, and headed out.
We made it to Butte in record time and stopped in for a little spiritual enlightenment with the Butte 1st Ward, picked up some lunch, and finished off our drive with nary another potty break. Incredible! Rolling into the cabin driveway, we were more than ready to spill from the van and leave our cares behind for the next week.
The cabin was wonderful with rooms and beds, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a fabulous deck, a smaller side-cabin (where we bunked), running water (good for drinking, but so saturated with iron that it will turn white clothes and fake blondes {like moi} a brilliant shade of orange! - just ask my mom), and a five minute walk to the private beach!
Nels ate some dinner and crashed in a bed (Can you believe that he didn't find our six hour ride in a hot van with four kids restful?). I unloaded the van while the kids played with cousins and after they were all safe and sound in beds later that night, being dead tired from the drive and two hours of sleep the night before, I proceeded to stay up till 2:00 with Wendie, Alyssa, and my mom playing two rounds of Hearts. Making sure that my mom lost both games, after absolutely smashing us for the first half of both and then getting cocky - trying to take it all. :) I love her, but my mom is way too good a card player for me to not get satisfaction out of her losing. :)
After sleeping the majority of the day, when I finally went to bed, Nels was ready to be up for a few hours. He spent the time watching for bears :) and taking some fun long exposure night photos.
Monday morning Nels finally reemerged to the land of the living and we spent a great {and windy} day at the beach wake surfing and tubing. Tuesday dawned cold and windy - a good day to go hiking in Glacier National Park. However, when we finally made it to our destination, it was a whopping 52 degrees! Yikes! My mom and Alyssa were sweet enough to watch my little babes {Violet and Hazel just did NOT want to brave the cold}, while the rest of us hiked a short distance to a very pretty waterfall.
Me, Lilie, Nels, Jake, Ben, and baby Bella
Me and my sistas. Not the most flattering shot,
but hey. I'll take what I can get.
As Elsie would say, it was "coldy" - so she hid under this jacket most of the hike. :)
Elsie loved riding in the backpack and I'd been dying to try it out for more than a year. Hopefully we'll make some more opportunities for its use in the coming years.
Because of the frigid weather, we didn't venture much farther into the park, but we thoroughly enjoyed the drive back through the pass and the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This highway takes you right along an incredible glacier canyon. Absolutely amazing views, numerous waterfalls, wildlife . . . mmmmmm . . . so beautiful!
Why I was having my sleep-deprived hubby drive down this winding and precarious road is questionable, but as we drove past the "Weeping Wall" he couldn't help but get me close enough to run my fingers -- er, LAP through the waterfall cascading down the cliff and across the road. :) It started out so innocently with the fresh trickling water falling on my hand, but when the real stuff came up, he drove straight under it before I could roll up the window. :) He said that he was just returning the favor for my many "jokes". Touche, Babe.
Further down the canyon, we stopped at a few lovely points along the river. I am so amazed at the beautiful blue color and the clarity of the water. It's truly breathtaking.
Driving down the canyon, we didn't see a lot of wildlife, but at one point Mom and Dad almost got run off the road by a big moose! Dad says that he saw it coming up out of the riverbed and never got close to hitting it, but that's sure not what that HUGE SwErVe looked like to ME. :) Unfortunately, although we were driving right behind them and I was holding the camera in my hands as we drove, I had to scoop my jaw out of my lap and regain my wits before I had the sense to snap a shot. By that point, it was already off the road and as exciting as a big dark mass in the bushes appears, I'm not going to post my one picture of it. :)
Jiggity-Jig
We've been gone for the past week on a vacation to Montana with my family. What a gorgeous place. Even though we were gone for a full week, it still felt all too short.
I'll try to post about all our fun over the next couple of days, but suffice it to say having fun is hard work! :) Between hiking and tubing and wake surfing and paddling the kayak, I think that I used all the muscles in my body that have been sorely neglected over the past year or so! :) I've never been so sore while ON vacation in my entire life! LOL! I guess that's what's meant by the term "Play Hard." :)
As a little follow-up on my last post, Nels finally DID make it home from work. He called me at 6 AM Sunday morning to come pick him up. So . . . another 29 hours after I wrote that. Meaning that in the 93 hours from Wednesday to Sunday morning, he worked 76 hours. That does not include all the work that he did from Monday and Tuesday (working late both nights) or all the regular hours plus late nights from the preceding two weeks. Wow. It's been a long month.
Now. To get back into real life. :)
I'll try to post about all our fun over the next couple of days, but suffice it to say having fun is hard work! :) Between hiking and tubing and wake surfing and paddling the kayak, I think that I used all the muscles in my body that have been sorely neglected over the past year or so! :) I've never been so sore while ON vacation in my entire life! LOL! I guess that's what's meant by the term "Play Hard." :)
As a little follow-up on my last post, Nels finally DID make it home from work. He called me at 6 AM Sunday morning to come pick him up. So . . . another 29 hours after I wrote that. Meaning that in the 93 hours from Wednesday to Sunday morning, he worked 76 hours. That does not include all the work that he did from Monday and Tuesday (working late both nights) or all the regular hours plus late nights from the preceding two weeks. Wow. It's been a long month.
Now. To get back into real life. :)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Growing Up
Nels has worked overtime every night for the past three weeks. He did decide to not work the last two weekends, which is kind of new during these kind of "crunch times", but he has been working his brains out.
I figure that of the past 64 hours he has worked 47 of them. That's just since Wednesday --- it's currently 1:00 in the morning and I don't expect to see him for at least another 12 hours.
What an incredible man. I love him.
There was a time in our lives when he would be trying to work on a paper or project for school or some such and I'd go sit on his lap and distract him and try to get him to be irresponsible. Forget about what needed to be done and spend time with ME! :) I seriously could hardly help myself. Boy did I love to distract him. Such POWER!!! LOL. I loved it.
The past eight years have changed me.
To say the least.
I miss him, but I have learned that his loving me and our girls is demonstrated in his dedication. NOT that he wouldn't MUCH rather be at home with us, but he works so hard because he loves us. I'm so thankful to be married to a real man.
I've learned that I can keep the house clean, even if Nels isn't going to be home to see it. I've learned that I can put all four kids to bed, all by myself - even on time. I can make dinner, even if he's not going to be home to eat it. I can bathe children, mow the lawn, shop, travel, watch movies, go out to eat . . . all as a single parent. I can even do it happily. If I choose.
I hope and pray every day that this phase of our lives will move on, but I also hope that we can always find happiness and joy in even the difficult ones.
But tonight? I'm tired. I don't like going to sleep alone - for the third night in a row. And I know that my Nels is tired too. I know that his work computer doesn't hold a candle to snuggling up with ME. ;)
I've grown up a lot. We both have. We are both willing to do what needs to be done, even happily. I'm thankful for his job. I'm thankful that I get to stay home with our girls.
But tonight I miss my husband. Tomorrow can't come soon enough. For both of us, I'm sure.
I figure that of the past 64 hours he has worked 47 of them. That's just since Wednesday --- it's currently 1:00 in the morning and I don't expect to see him for at least another 12 hours.
What an incredible man. I love him.
There was a time in our lives when he would be trying to work on a paper or project for school or some such and I'd go sit on his lap and distract him and try to get him to be irresponsible. Forget about what needed to be done and spend time with ME! :) I seriously could hardly help myself. Boy did I love to distract him. Such POWER!!! LOL. I loved it.
The past eight years have changed me.
To say the least.
I miss him, but I have learned that his loving me and our girls is demonstrated in his dedication. NOT that he wouldn't MUCH rather be at home with us, but he works so hard because he loves us. I'm so thankful to be married to a real man.
I've learned that I can keep the house clean, even if Nels isn't going to be home to see it. I've learned that I can put all four kids to bed, all by myself - even on time. I can make dinner, even if he's not going to be home to eat it. I can bathe children, mow the lawn, shop, travel, watch movies, go out to eat . . . all as a single parent. I can even do it happily. If I choose.
I hope and pray every day that this phase of our lives will move on, but I also hope that we can always find happiness and joy in even the difficult ones.
But tonight? I'm tired. I don't like going to sleep alone - for the third night in a row. And I know that my Nels is tired too. I know that his work computer doesn't hold a candle to snuggling up with ME. ;)
I've grown up a lot. We both have. We are both willing to do what needs to be done, even happily. I'm thankful for his job. I'm thankful that I get to stay home with our girls.
But tonight I miss my husband. Tomorrow can't come soon enough. For both of us, I'm sure.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Cure
Oh what do you do in the summertime?
When the sun and my kids stay up so late?
So do I.
That didn't make any sense.
What I meant to say was - I have a problem going to sleep. I always have.
I once thought that I was a night owl. That I didn't like mornings. However the truth I have learned since having children is that I DO, in fact, love morning time. I would love it if it were possible to burn both ends of the candle (and still function with any sort of coherency). What I have learned since college and had reiterated to me over and over again throughout adulthood is that I do not like being jabbered at in the morning - when I've just woken up. BUT I DO like QUIET and beautiful mornings.
What did any of that have to do with my reason for posting? Absolutely nothing.
So today, in preparation for our upcoming vacation, I finished weeding our garden. It was fairly overgrown, being as how this is the first weeding of the season. It took some time, but Violet was asleep and I was alone. It was nice.
Yesterday morning I enlisted my two oldest to help me with this undertaking. They were each given a row that was their responsibility to clean. I had taken the hoe to the pathways between the rows. They needed to clean up the chopped off weeds and pull out the ones growing around the plants.
In true form, Hazel began, enthusiastic. That lasted all of two minutes, but she continued to trudge along. Complaining occasionally and doing a lot of staring, but not seeing, but working nonetheless and making steady progress. Singing along with me, "Tick, tock, tick, tock, goes the big clock. And to me it seems to say, 'Hurry child get your work done, then you'll have more time to play.'" :) In her typical fashion, Lilie immediately sat down and declared the job too hard and proceeded to sit on her rear drawing in the dirt - waiting for someone to come "help" (i.e. do the job for her while she pretended she was working). :) After about 15 minutes, she finally became convinced of the inevitability of the work and Lilie started to randomly pluck at the weeds. It wasn't until I whispered in her ear that if she worked quick, she might be able to beat Hazel, that she really picked it up. :)
It took more time that it needed to, but they eventually each completed their rows. There was a lot of "this is too hard" "I'm hot" "this isn't any fun" and so on, but they did it. And I became more determined than ever that this probably needed to become a regular responsibility.
As I worked my way through the rest of the garden today, on my own, I at first thought, I should go grab my iPod so I have something to listen to. But as I pulled and pulled I decided not to. It was quiet and I was working.
And I came to a conclusion.
I think many of the great ills in this world could be solved by more people bowing down on their hands and knees in a garden - pulling weeds. Nothing to listen to, nothing to watch. Just there in the dirt, by themselves --- or maybe with a sister. :)
We don't have enough quiet time in our lives. There is always something jabbering at us or something entertaining. Something to do. Somewhere to go. Turning on the radio, the iPod, the tv. Noise. Noise. Noise.
Sometimes it's just time to
BE STILL.
To think and to listen.
To just be with yourself and your own thoughts. And if you're working? All the better.
Maybe sometimes people don't like themselves because they haven't spent enough time with themselves. You know?
Maybe we repeatedly make the same mistakes because we don't spend enough time thinking quietly about the choices we want to or have made. Thinking about the things we have or need to or do NOT need to say.
Maybe we all need a little more time spent weeding our brains.
So there you have it.
I've got a cure. Or at least a start.
And I'm going to start with teaching my children.
When the sun and my kids stay up so late?
So do I.
That didn't make any sense.
What I meant to say was - I have a problem going to sleep. I always have.
I once thought that I was a night owl. That I didn't like mornings. However the truth I have learned since having children is that I DO, in fact, love morning time. I would love it if it were possible to burn both ends of the candle (and still function with any sort of coherency). What I have learned since college and had reiterated to me over and over again throughout adulthood is that I do not like being jabbered at in the morning - when I've just woken up. BUT I DO like QUIET and beautiful mornings.
What did any of that have to do with my reason for posting? Absolutely nothing.
So today, in preparation for our upcoming vacation, I finished weeding our garden. It was fairly overgrown, being as how this is the first weeding of the season. It took some time, but Violet was asleep and I was alone. It was nice.
Yesterday morning I enlisted my two oldest to help me with this undertaking. They were each given a row that was their responsibility to clean. I had taken the hoe to the pathways between the rows. They needed to clean up the chopped off weeds and pull out the ones growing around the plants.
In true form, Hazel began, enthusiastic. That lasted all of two minutes, but she continued to trudge along. Complaining occasionally and doing a lot of staring, but not seeing, but working nonetheless and making steady progress. Singing along with me, "Tick, tock, tick, tock, goes the big clock. And to me it seems to say, 'Hurry child get your work done, then you'll have more time to play.'" :) In her typical fashion, Lilie immediately sat down and declared the job too hard and proceeded to sit on her rear drawing in the dirt - waiting for someone to come "help" (i.e. do the job for her while she pretended she was working). :) After about 15 minutes, she finally became convinced of the inevitability of the work and Lilie started to randomly pluck at the weeds. It wasn't until I whispered in her ear that if she worked quick, she might be able to beat Hazel, that she really picked it up. :)
It took more time that it needed to, but they eventually each completed their rows. There was a lot of "this is too hard" "I'm hot" "this isn't any fun" and so on, but they did it. And I became more determined than ever that this probably needed to become a regular responsibility.
As I worked my way through the rest of the garden today, on my own, I at first thought, I should go grab my iPod so I have something to listen to. But as I pulled and pulled I decided not to. It was quiet and I was working.
And I came to a conclusion.
I think many of the great ills in this world could be solved by more people bowing down on their hands and knees in a garden - pulling weeds. Nothing to listen to, nothing to watch. Just there in the dirt, by themselves --- or maybe with a sister. :)
We don't have enough quiet time in our lives. There is always something jabbering at us or something entertaining. Something to do. Somewhere to go. Turning on the radio, the iPod, the tv. Noise. Noise. Noise.
Sometimes it's just time to
BE STILL.
To think and to listen.
To just be with yourself and your own thoughts. And if you're working? All the better.
Maybe sometimes people don't like themselves because they haven't spent enough time with themselves. You know?
Maybe we repeatedly make the same mistakes because we don't spend enough time thinking quietly about the choices we want to or have made. Thinking about the things we have or need to or do NOT need to say.
Maybe we all need a little more time spent weeding our brains.
So there you have it.
I've got a cure. Or at least a start.
And I'm going to start with teaching my children.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Can't Leave Well Enough Alone
Sorry for any inconvenience to anyone's blog reader. I've been playing with the settings on my blog and you may (for the time being) not get an entire post to show up in your reader, only a snippet or paragraph. Therefore, you'll have to come directly to my blog to read the post in it's entirety. It's kind of inconvenient, I know, I'm sorry, but I'm experimenting. Thanks!
My Vi
I SO love this child. She brings happiness and joy to me every single day and I'm so thankful that she came down to be a part of our family nearly four months ago.
A few little tidbits about my Violet Chickadee Chick:
I don't know exactly, but I believe she now weighs about 14 pounds!!! This is amazing to me. None of my other girls have been over 18 lbs. at a year, so I'm really impressed with my little chubby-chub. She's such a good little eater and it makes me so happy to know that I can feed her and she's thriving.
She's by far my smiliest baby. The others were happy and easy-going as well, but when this girl smiles, it comes clear from her toes. She has inherited her mama's huge mouth and huge grin. Interestingly enough, she doesn't really laugh yet. We've gotten maybe one real belly laugh from her, but she smiles all the time.
She's a talker. More vocal than my others. She loves to sit and goo and goo and goo at you. She looks you right in the eyes and tells you all about what's on her mind. :) It's adorable. She'd be happy if I just sat and held her and talked to her all day long. She makes the sweetest little gurgly, spitty coos.
Violet is also more clingy than my others have been. Especially to her mommy. The other day, at the park, she was laying on her tummy, facing away from me. She could hear me, but could only see my friends I was talking with and the kids playing. All of a sudden, she just started wailing. At the top of her lungs as if she was just frightened to death. I picked her up and she hup-hupped for just a second and then just stopped as if all was now right in the world because she could see my face once again. :) She did the same thing to her Grandma the other night when she was holding her. Twice. She starts wailing and shaking until I take her and talk to her and then all is fine once more. Silly child. I really hope that she always loves her mommy, but also decides that others are nice too, you know? I somehow worry that this may get worse before it gets better . . . LOL.
She's been rolling over occasionally for a while now. Usually in her crib if she gets upset. (Don't tell our Pediatrician, but I put all my kiddos to sleep on their tummies. They sleep much better and therefore, so do I.) Every once in a while, particularly if she'd been crying or awake for a while, I'd go in to find her up in the top corner of her crib, on her back. But Thursday she started rolling all over the place. I set her on the floor next to me while I check my email and the next thing I know, she's 10 feet away, looking at me as if she can't quite figure out what happened. :) No more setting her on the bed! :)
She is an awesome sleeper. She often sleeps a good 12 hours at night without waking up at all. And when she doesn't do that, she'll only wake up once at about 5, eat, and go right back to sleep until anywhere between 8 and 10. She's a heavenly child, I know.
I love her. WE love her.
A few little tidbits about my Violet Chickadee Chick:
I don't know exactly, but I believe she now weighs about 14 pounds!!! This is amazing to me. None of my other girls have been over 18 lbs. at a year, so I'm really impressed with my little chubby-chub. She's such a good little eater and it makes me so happy to know that I can feed her and she's thriving.
She's by far my smiliest baby. The others were happy and easy-going as well, but when this girl smiles, it comes clear from her toes. She has inherited her mama's huge mouth and huge grin. Interestingly enough, she doesn't really laugh yet. We've gotten maybe one real belly laugh from her, but she smiles all the time.
She's a talker. More vocal than my others. She loves to sit and goo and goo and goo at you. She looks you right in the eyes and tells you all about what's on her mind. :) It's adorable. She'd be happy if I just sat and held her and talked to her all day long. She makes the sweetest little gurgly, spitty coos.
Violet is also more clingy than my others have been. Especially to her mommy. The other day, at the park, she was laying on her tummy, facing away from me. She could hear me, but could only see my friends I was talking with and the kids playing. All of a sudden, she just started wailing. At the top of her lungs as if she was just frightened to death. I picked her up and she hup-hupped for just a second and then just stopped as if all was now right in the world because she could see my face once again. :) She did the same thing to her Grandma the other night when she was holding her. Twice. She starts wailing and shaking until I take her and talk to her and then all is fine once more. Silly child. I really hope that she always loves her mommy, but also decides that others are nice too, you know? I somehow worry that this may get worse before it gets better . . . LOL.
She's been rolling over occasionally for a while now. Usually in her crib if she gets upset. (Don't tell our Pediatrician, but I put all my kiddos to sleep on their tummies. They sleep much better and therefore, so do I.) Every once in a while, particularly if she'd been crying or awake for a while, I'd go in to find her up in the top corner of her crib, on her back. But Thursday she started rolling all over the place. I set her on the floor next to me while I check my email and the next thing I know, she's 10 feet away, looking at me as if she can't quite figure out what happened. :) No more setting her on the bed! :)
She is an awesome sleeper. She often sleeps a good 12 hours at night without waking up at all. And when she doesn't do that, she'll only wake up once at about 5, eat, and go right back to sleep until anywhere between 8 and 10. She's a heavenly child, I know.
I love her. WE love her.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Freedom of Choice
What a glorious day. I would be okay if the Fourth of July always fell on a Sunday. It's such a wonderful blessing - and a beautiful reminder - to thank our Heavenly Father for the freedoms we enjoy.
I am so thankful for this country. Even with its flaws, it's so truly incredible. A blessing to each American that we often take for granted. I believe with all of my heart that our Founding Fathers were men inspired by God. Men with the integrity to do the hard thing, to rebel against a country that they loved with their whole hearts, to sacrifice all at the alter of freedom. Freedom for anyone who desired it. For anyone who would work for it. I know that the Constitution is an inspired document. I pray that we can each do our part in preserving it.
I am thankful that my children and I have been born at this time. This is a world full of wickedness and filth, but at the same time, infused with amazing goodness and incredible truth and light. I know that as we stay close to our Father in Heaven, we will be able to stand firm and true in whatever is required of us.
On this day when we celebrate our freedom, I can't help but feel overwhelming gratitude for my Savior. For the FREEDOM that the Atonement and the Gospel bring to me personally.
I know there are many in this world that feel that religion, and the Gospel in particular, are very restrictive. That it limits our choices and freedom. LOL! What an incredible misperception. I don't HAVE to follow the commandments. Nobody watches over my every move controlling my life. I have the agency to do anything I so choose. I CHOOSE to live the gospel. I CHOOSE to follow the commandments. Every person on this Earth will make choices every single day. These are the ones I choose. When I obey I am blessed. I know that by following the counsel given to us by a loving Father, I will always find JOY.
Obedience to God's commandments doesn't guarantee a life free from heartache or sorrow, but the Gospel offers me peace and joy despite any sadness I may encounter.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate freedom for each of us. Freedom from sin, from sadness, from pain, from loneliness, from despair . . . . For any and all that will choose to receive it. He blesses me liberally for my efforts, my accomplishments, and my desires. I love Him for it, with all of my heart.
I'm so thankful today for the freedom I enjoy. The liberty and agency I'm given to become who I choose to become through the choices I make each day. I love this country and I love my Savior.
I am so thankful for this country. Even with its flaws, it's so truly incredible. A blessing to each American that we often take for granted. I believe with all of my heart that our Founding Fathers were men inspired by God. Men with the integrity to do the hard thing, to rebel against a country that they loved with their whole hearts, to sacrifice all at the alter of freedom. Freedom for anyone who desired it. For anyone who would work for it. I know that the Constitution is an inspired document. I pray that we can each do our part in preserving it.
I am thankful that my children and I have been born at this time. This is a world full of wickedness and filth, but at the same time, infused with amazing goodness and incredible truth and light. I know that as we stay close to our Father in Heaven, we will be able to stand firm and true in whatever is required of us.
On this day when we celebrate our freedom, I can't help but feel overwhelming gratitude for my Savior. For the FREEDOM that the Atonement and the Gospel bring to me personally.
I know there are many in this world that feel that religion, and the Gospel in particular, are very restrictive. That it limits our choices and freedom. LOL! What an incredible misperception. I don't HAVE to follow the commandments. Nobody watches over my every move controlling my life. I have the agency to do anything I so choose. I CHOOSE to live the gospel. I CHOOSE to follow the commandments. Every person on this Earth will make choices every single day. These are the ones I choose. When I obey I am blessed. I know that by following the counsel given to us by a loving Father, I will always find JOY.
Obedience to God's commandments doesn't guarantee a life free from heartache or sorrow, but the Gospel offers me peace and joy despite any sadness I may encounter.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate freedom for each of us. Freedom from sin, from sadness, from pain, from loneliness, from despair . . . . For any and all that will choose to receive it. He blesses me liberally for my efforts, my accomplishments, and my desires. I love Him for it, with all of my heart.
I'm so thankful today for the freedom I enjoy. The liberty and agency I'm given to become who I choose to become through the choices I make each day. I love this country and I love my Savior.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Family Fun
** WARNING! Very long journal post ahead!**
-----------------------------------
We finally made it camping!!! I can't believe it. It wasn't for any kind of reunion and we didn't even get a flat tire! Hooray! We returned to our new favorite spot for the third time in a month. Palisades Reservoir. It's always pretty there, but this year is especially gorgeous with all the rain that we've gotten. The mountains are green and lush with lots of wild geraniums and lupine and the lake is filled to the max.
Our ward had the Ward Camp Out scheduled for this last weekend (the 25th) and we'd been wanting to go, but Nels has been incredibly busy at work this past week and we'd decided that we probably weren't going to be able to make it. No worries. I just really wanted Nels to be able to finish the HUGE project that he'd been staying late, working on every single night last week - so that he can relax and not have everyone hounding him about it. However, Friday morning he woke up and said that we should just plan on going. Forget the stupid thing - he needed to "sharpen the saw". HOORAY!!
I packed and cleaned and washed and "list-checked" all day, but still wasn't quite ready when he got off work that evening. By the time we actually DID get all ready, it was getting quite late and we just decided to head up for the ward breakfast the next morning and then camp Saturday and Sunday. Not something we make a habit of doing - camping on Sunday - but it sure was nice to be able to spend some nice quiet time as a family without rushing back.
We got up to the reservoir at about 8 o'clock, just in time for breakfast Saturday morning. Spent some time talking and playing with our ward and then set out on a drive before setting up. Nels and the girls are always so sweet to indulge me in my compulsive "adventuring" - i.e. taking drives to who-knows-where. We found some pretty, secluded areas and some possibilities for our Chick Reunion next year, but all the spots were already taken for the day, so we turned around to go back to our originally intended campground. Only once we got there, we found that the water level had risen and our perfect spot was perfectly soggy.
We piled back in the van. A few miles down the road, we came upon the camping spot of our dreams. It was away from most other campers, not in a formal campground, lots of easy firewood, and right next to the water - with a perfect little ramp right to the narrow, sandy beach with shallow water. Because of the high water level, there were a lot of logs and debris piled up near the shore, but we cleared a nice little spot for the girls to get good and dirty in.
We had such a good time playing that afternoon, setting up and just taking it easy. Lilie decided that she is an expert fire starter. She restarted our fire several times when it would die down by putting more sticks in and blowing hard. LOL! She even gave Nels a wonderful video tutorial on "How to Make Fire". :) Very funny.
Lilie, breaking sticks and making funny faces. I don't know if I got one straight picture from her the whole night. :) BTW, if you haven't ever made s'mores with strawberry marshmallows and chocolate grahams, you should. Good stuff. Hmmmm. Maybe with white chocolate? I'll have to try it.
You see? This is what I got when I said, "smile nice and pretty!" What a girl.
At about this point, Elsie decided that she was exhausted and just couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. I willing gave into her request, changed her into jammies, and put her to bed! Hooray for Elsie!
Five minutes later, I looked over at the tent to see this:
One of my new favorite pictures of all time. :)
She was apparently no longer tired and had changed herself out of her jammies and back into her dirty clothes so she could play for another hour. LOL!
Isn't that gorgeous? Too bad I don't have the ability to build a house in that exact spot and live there forever. Also too bad that come Winter, this exactly spot is probably about 80 - 90 degrees colder than it was at that moment. :)
We finally did get all the kids to bed at about 10. They. Were. Exhausted. I even got my little Vi to sleep in her little portable bassinet. Which was seriously one of my greatest thoughts of all time. It has a little canopy that comes up over half of it. I laid her in, with her two pairs of pajamas, one blanket, and draped another blanket over the top (with a little peep hole for air) making the perfect little insulated bed and she slept ALL NIGHT!!! Holy moly! Till 7:30 the next morning with nary a peep! And the other girls? Awesome as well. I think we may go camping much more often!
Once the kids were in bed, Nels had a good time playing with his camera, while I made us up some hot chocolate. It was so nice to spend some beautiful, uninterrupted time together talking. Gosh, I love him. I also love campfires. Did I ever tell you that he proposed to me by a campfire - by a lake - after we'd been swimming? He did. But that's a story for another day . . .
Long exposures are fun!
Sunday we got up and just lounged around, playing on the beach most of the day. It makes my heart so happy to watch my girls play together. Making up stories and adventures. Just loving one another and being the very best of friends.
Aren't those just the cutest little chubbity-chubby legs??? I love them so! (Hers, not mine.)
{Somehow I didn't get a good picture of Elsie in her cute little swimsuit, but let me tell you a story about it. First off, besides her "princess dress" it's the only article of clothing that I can get her to wear willingly lately. Because it has a skirt. So this summer, I decided that she needed a new suit. The other one that she fit had been through two other kids and besides it was an 18-24 month old suit. She's almost three. High time for a new swimsuit. So we went shopping. To Target. To Walmart. To no avail. Finally to Old Navy. So many cute suits. However, problem. 2T wouldn't fit - too big around, fall off. 18-24 no go. Still too big. WHAT? What did we end up with? For a new suit for my almost 3 year old?? A 12-18 month tankini. I'm pretty sure that in 6 months it's going to fit Violet as well! :) }
Hazel and Lilie pretty much spent the entire day floating around on driftwood logs and playing on this half-covered stump near the beach. Pretending to be "Jack and Annie" and riding their "alligators". I love them! Sadly, I didn't think to put sunscreen on Lilie's poor little legs and she is now paying for my negligence. She has her Daddy's sensitive, white skin - while Hazel and Elsie got mine, which gets a little sun-kissed on occasion, but rarely fries. Poor Lilie. I just didn't think.
After packing up, we finally made it home by late afternoon Sunday. We had such a good time, but I still think Nels and I were happy to once again see our home. Not because of the dirt or the campfire cooking or any of the normal reasons you might suspect. You see, if we're going to go camping, both Nels and I would much rather NOT camp in a formal campground. Love the seclusion of finding the perfect spot without someone 10 feet away from you. However. There are certain conveniences of manicured campgrounds. Mainly TOILETS. I genuinely believe with my whole entire heart that our children have NEVER had to use the "potty tree" more times in their LIVES than they did in those 36 hours. LOL! Still, we had a GREAT time and can't wait to go again. Soon!
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We finally made it camping!!! I can't believe it. It wasn't for any kind of reunion and we didn't even get a flat tire! Hooray! We returned to our new favorite spot for the third time in a month. Palisades Reservoir. It's always pretty there, but this year is especially gorgeous with all the rain that we've gotten. The mountains are green and lush with lots of wild geraniums and lupine and the lake is filled to the max.
Our ward had the Ward Camp Out scheduled for this last weekend (the 25th) and we'd been wanting to go, but Nels has been incredibly busy at work this past week and we'd decided that we probably weren't going to be able to make it. No worries. I just really wanted Nels to be able to finish the HUGE project that he'd been staying late, working on every single night last week - so that he can relax and not have everyone hounding him about it. However, Friday morning he woke up and said that we should just plan on going. Forget the stupid thing - he needed to "sharpen the saw". HOORAY!!
I packed and cleaned and washed and "list-checked" all day, but still wasn't quite ready when he got off work that evening. By the time we actually DID get all ready, it was getting quite late and we just decided to head up for the ward breakfast the next morning and then camp Saturday and Sunday. Not something we make a habit of doing - camping on Sunday - but it sure was nice to be able to spend some nice quiet time as a family without rushing back.
We got up to the reservoir at about 8 o'clock, just in time for breakfast Saturday morning. Spent some time talking and playing with our ward and then set out on a drive before setting up. Nels and the girls are always so sweet to indulge me in my compulsive "adventuring" - i.e. taking drives to who-knows-where. We found some pretty, secluded areas and some possibilities for our Chick Reunion next year, but all the spots were already taken for the day, so we turned around to go back to our originally intended campground. Only once we got there, we found that the water level had risen and our perfect spot was perfectly soggy.
We piled back in the van. A few miles down the road, we came upon the camping spot of our dreams. It was away from most other campers, not in a formal campground, lots of easy firewood, and right next to the water - with a perfect little ramp right to the narrow, sandy beach with shallow water. Because of the high water level, there were a lot of logs and debris piled up near the shore, but we cleared a nice little spot for the girls to get good and dirty in.
We had such a good time playing that afternoon, setting up and just taking it easy. Lilie decided that she is an expert fire starter. She restarted our fire several times when it would die down by putting more sticks in and blowing hard. LOL! She even gave Nels a wonderful video tutorial on "How to Make Fire". :) Very funny.
Lilie, breaking sticks and making funny faces. I don't know if I got one straight picture from her the whole night. :) BTW, if you haven't ever made s'mores with strawberry marshmallows and chocolate grahams, you should. Good stuff. Hmmmm. Maybe with white chocolate? I'll have to try it.
At about this point, Elsie decided that she was exhausted and just couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. I willing gave into her request, changed her into jammies, and put her to bed! Hooray for Elsie!
Five minutes later, I looked over at the tent to see this:
She was apparently no longer tired and had changed herself out of her jammies and back into her dirty clothes so she could play for another hour. LOL!
We finally did get all the kids to bed at about 10. They. Were. Exhausted. I even got my little Vi to sleep in her little portable bassinet. Which was seriously one of my greatest thoughts of all time. It has a little canopy that comes up over half of it. I laid her in, with her two pairs of pajamas, one blanket, and draped another blanket over the top (with a little peep hole for air) making the perfect little insulated bed and she slept ALL NIGHT!!! Holy moly! Till 7:30 the next morning with nary a peep! And the other girls? Awesome as well. I think we may go camping much more often!
Once the kids were in bed, Nels had a good time playing with his camera, while I made us up some hot chocolate. It was so nice to spend some beautiful, uninterrupted time together talking. Gosh, I love him. I also love campfires. Did I ever tell you that he proposed to me by a campfire - by a lake - after we'd been swimming? He did. But that's a story for another day . . .
Sunday we got up and just lounged around, playing on the beach most of the day. It makes my heart so happy to watch my girls play together. Making up stories and adventures. Just loving one another and being the very best of friends.
Aren't those just the cutest little chubbity-chubby legs??? I love them so! (Hers, not mine.)
{Somehow I didn't get a good picture of Elsie in her cute little swimsuit, but let me tell you a story about it. First off, besides her "princess dress" it's the only article of clothing that I can get her to wear willingly lately. Because it has a skirt. So this summer, I decided that she needed a new suit. The other one that she fit had been through two other kids and besides it was an 18-24 month old suit. She's almost three. High time for a new swimsuit. So we went shopping. To Target. To Walmart. To no avail. Finally to Old Navy. So many cute suits. However, problem. 2T wouldn't fit - too big around, fall off. 18-24 no go. Still too big. WHAT? What did we end up with? For a new suit for my almost 3 year old?? A 12-18 month tankini. I'm pretty sure that in 6 months it's going to fit Violet as well! :) }
Hazel and Lilie pretty much spent the entire day floating around on driftwood logs and playing on this half-covered stump near the beach. Pretending to be "Jack and Annie" and riding their "alligators". I love them! Sadly, I didn't think to put sunscreen on Lilie's poor little legs and she is now paying for my negligence. She has her Daddy's sensitive, white skin - while Hazel and Elsie got mine, which gets a little sun-kissed on occasion, but rarely fries. Poor Lilie. I just didn't think.
After packing up, we finally made it home by late afternoon Sunday. We had such a good time, but I still think Nels and I were happy to once again see our home. Not because of the dirt or the campfire cooking or any of the normal reasons you might suspect. You see, if we're going to go camping, both Nels and I would much rather NOT camp in a formal campground. Love the seclusion of finding the perfect spot without someone 10 feet away from you. However. There are certain conveniences of manicured campgrounds. Mainly TOILETS. I genuinely believe with my whole entire heart that our children have NEVER had to use the "potty tree" more times in their LIVES than they did in those 36 hours. LOL! Still, we had a GREAT time and can't wait to go again. Soon!
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