Summer Memories from Utah

Almost a week ago, on Friday, August 2nd I was driving my four children back to our desert home after a month in the mountains of Utah.   Admittedly, I was feeling down.  Yes, I was going to miss our families, the shady trees and blooming flowers, a break from the daily domestic grind but at that moment all I could think of was my dread of returning to the awful Phoenix HEAT!!  Ugh! 

Today, I'm putting off showering and the compulsory hair drying which I detest because it just makes me sweat and puts me a rotten mood, and I'm going to take a walk down our Utah memories lane.


Provo, Utah 4th of July Fireworks viewed from the lawn by the Harmon Building.

This area of lawn has been in our family for many 4th of July years.  I remember rolling down this hill when I was about Buster's age. 

#3 and Nana putting together some glow bracelets.

I'm catching up with my cool brother in law while holding sleeping Baby E. That poor girl had had such a rough day, not a minute of sleep until she finally zonked out in my arms around 10:00 pm. 

The first thing Buster wanted to do was show Papa the new moves he had just learned at wrestling camp.

#1 and Papa riding home, 4th of July style, in the back of the truck

Sandy, UT July 5th extended reunion with cousins from my Dad's family 

My extended family gets together every other year but I haven't ever been able to attend one of these reunions. It was so fun to see my cousins and their children!  The reunion was held at this wonderful park in my cousin's private neighborhood.  There was lots of good food, swimming and organized games.

Here's #1 completing the obstacle course competition.  It was hard! But she did awesome!

Spouse and Baby E waiting for dinner.

Buster waiting in line with some cousins to do his world famous, huge cannon-ball!

Buster and #2 digging into their pinata loot with some 2nd cousins.

 July 9-14 Logan, UT my family reunion

My siblings (minus 1 :( )  and our families gathered at my parents home for a week of togetherness.  There was lots of trampoline jumping, playing at the park, Aggie ice cream and 4 wheeler rides.  Each day we had one or two organized activities.  Some of these included a fun run, water games at the park, the 2nd annual family dance!, a service project at the pioneer cemetery.  We also spent a day at Spouse's family cabin riding four wheelers, roasting marshmallows and competing in a billiards tournament. We took a day to visit my grandmother in the hospital in Salt Lake City and then tour Temple Square.

#3 and cousin Joph-fes

One day I was looking all over for Buster, calling for him.  I finally found him tucked away in the library reading "Battles of Freedom." He was so engrossed, I didn't want to disturb him so I took this picture through the glass door. He loves military histories.

Family Fun Run! It was a mile for most of the kids or 2 miles for the older boys.  My nephew on the right of this picture was the first to come in.  He ran the two miles faster than anyone ran the one mile: 13 minutes.  And that is with a lot of hills!  I was impressed.

#1 and her cousin racing into the finish line!

Buster really wanted to beat Joph-fess!

Fresh donuts are the best reward after a grueling one-miler :)

#1 and her Papa

Nana, Spouse and Baby E, post race. I gave Spouse a free pass on the run since he helped me get the music, tables and water set up.

My nephew Zack on the 4 wheeler at the cabin in Logan Canyon

"This is hot, don't touch it!"

All these years coming to Utah, I've never taken my kids to Temple Square.  So glad to have remedied that.  But I think we need to come again next year and plan to spend a lot more time.

The Conference Center roof was really cool. But actually it was really hot up there. 

#3 and her cousins at the Children's exhibit in the Church History Museum.  That's another place I could have spent another hour.

 
 July 15-21 Bear Lake with Spouse's family

This is a week my children love and look forward to with great anticipation.  They love running free with their cousins.  Making little trips to the resort store for ice-cream, jaw breakers and candy. They love the beach and boating.  They love going to the Pickleville shows and go-karting.  They love making a Bear Lake t-shirt every year.

I told #1 I bet she could climb to the top of the "difficult" coconut tree in 15 seconds.  She did it in 16!

#1 and #3 will cousins out on the deck trying to pick up the weak wi-fi signal.

Early morning scooter ride

Digging ponds is hard work!

Baby E loved being on the beach and digging in the sand. She also loved to eat the sand. 

I remember #3 as a baby and pushing her in the baby swing of this very swing set.

Cute cousin Matthew helping Baby E take some steps

Utah photos and memories to be continued...

1st day of School, 2013 edition

My 5th grader is feeling confident and happy to be an upperclassman at her elementary school.  She is excited to learn to play the bass in the school orchestra and ready to take on the challenge of ALP math.  Baby E (#4) is going to miss her 2nd mama while she's at school all day. 

Buster, my 3rd grader, is looking forward to getting back to friends and fun things like PE and sports at recess.  Although a good student, he would much prefer to play all year and isn't exactly thrilled to be sitting in class all day again.   I have to admit, I'm not exactly thrilled to start the after-school homework routine either. 

My 1st grader is starting all-day school.  She's nervous about following the rules and not getting in trouble in her new class.  I hope she'll grow confident quickly and enjoy making new friends.  One thing she's really excited about: Specials! Music, art, PE and most of all, library!

Baby E's down for a nap and our house is quiet and empty. I'm missing my birdies and looking forward to 3:30 when my nest will be full again.  

 

Mom-high: Euphoric feeling resulting from intense pride and love for your child

When #1 received an invitation to participate in the National American Miss pageant I thought she'd laugh at the idea.  #1 is not a girly girl. She loves black and red, reading about dragons and studying birds.  She hates pink and looking too pretty. She's not a cheerleader or dancer and typically avoids the spotlight.

I was surprised when #1 told me she wanted to try out.  Believe me, I was more than skeptical.  I asked her to think and pray about it and we'd talk about it in a few days.

I spent some time researching National American Miss and pageants in general.  It seemed to be a legitimate group with tons of praise all over the internet from previous participants.  I tried to resist my instinctual repulsion of pageantry and look for facts in an objective way.

I concluded that if #1 wanted to be in a pageant, National American Miss was probably the least objectionable for these reasons: 1) #1 had been tagged because of her academics  2) No swimsuit competition, no talent competition, and no make up allowed for her age group 3) judging would be based upon presentation, poise and confidence, not beauty or fashion.

#1 sent in her application and was given a try-out date a few weeks later.  After her audition (which was 5 minute interview), she was told to expect either a letter of rejection or a phone call of acceptance within 10 days.  Until then I hadn't realized how much #1 really wanted to do this.  She anxiously went to the mail box and jumped whenever the phone rang.  Eight days went by and disappointment settled in.  It was day 10 when she received a phone call that made her very, very happy.

Before I could commit to helping her I needed #1 to understand my worries: that she view this competition as a learning experience and not as a measure of her value or worth.  We talked about the things she could learn like confidence, responsibility and a chance to be an example of her values.  She heartily agreed and promised to not pin her heart or her self esteem on winning.

So we started preparing.

She needed to raise A LOT of money.  #1 designed an advertisement and gathered orders for homemade cookies which she baked and packaged herself.  She made and distributed a flyer asking for soda cans for recycling.  Over the last four months she made regular trips on her bike collecting the cans, then consolidated them at home for weekly trips to the recycling center.

She also wrote letters to family members asking them to help sponsor her.  Any money she received from her report card or in Easter eggs or from the tooth fairy went into her pageant jar.

I was not looking forward to shopping for dresses.  She would need a dress for the formal wear competition and a dress for the interview and personal introduction competitions.  I already mentioned that #1 hates pink.  She also hates ruffles, sequins, flowers, sparkles... pretty much anything one would wear at a pageant.  Modesty was another factor that would temper our dress shopping.  And even though her Grandma had offered to pay for her dress, I was not excited to spend a lot of money on a one-time-wear dress.


I felt a little better after we attended a NAM workshop.  They encouraged the girls to look for age appropriate dresses that weren't over-the-top fancy.  Just nice dresses they could wear to church.

One trip to Macy's and we left with two modest, black and white, non-ruffly, non-sequiny, marked-down dresses.  #1 loved them and it couldn't have been easier.  What a relief!

Spouse escorting #1 in the formal wear modeling competition

We attended a training session where #1 was taught how to model her formal dress, how to sit prettily in her interview, how to hold a microphone and look judges in the eye.  It was essentially a two hour clinic in posture and poise.

I really appreciated this training.  Etiquette and polite posture isn't taught anywhere if it isn't taught by your mother.  Although contemporary culture doesn't support the idea, acting like a lady is still very important. Sitting up straight, crossing your ankles and looking someone in the eye shows self respect and asks for it from others.  I was happy that #1 was able to have these values reinforced.

This past month #1 wrote, re-wrote and memorized her personal introduction. We practiced hundred of interview questions.  She wrote, edited and polished her resume.  I watched hair tutorials on YouTube.

Finally, pageant weekend arrived.

It was a hectic two days for me.  I juggled babysitters for kids at home, rehearsal and competition schedules with clothing changes and hair touch ups, drives to and from the hotel with traffic, all while trying to keep my nervous girl upbeat and relaxed.  I'm not ashamed to admit it: I'm so happy it's over!

Friday #1 rehearsed for and competed in the formal wear competition. Spouse donned his suit and walked her into the spotlight as her escort.  She walked slowly and kept her eyes on the judges and turned her head just right.  I knew she was nervous by the way she was smiling and from her tight shoulders.  But she was beautiful and perfect.  Mom-high.

Saturday morning before the personal introduction and interview competitions #1 was nervous.  She was stressed and snapped at me a few times.  On stage she spoke in her super high, super nervous voice and mixed up some of her lines.  Instead of getting flustered or running off the stage in tears, as some of the other contestants did, she gracefully ended her introduction and exited the stage.  I told her afterwards that she and I were the only ones who knew it hadn't gone as planned.

#1, from Gilbert, AZ giving her 30 second personal introduction

#1 loved the interview portion.  She burst out of the room beaming a big, relaxed smile.  I knew she would do well interviewing.  She is mature, articulate and probably has a broader vocabulary than the judges.  She was relieved because the judging components were over.

Waiting for rehearsal, making friends

The rest of the day was spent rehearsing for the production number (ie: group dance) and staging for the final pageant.  In the breaks we grabbed some lunch and #1 decompressed playing on her iPhone.

 

Goofing off in between rehearsals

my attempt at the waterfall braid

I was anxious to see how #1 would handle the production number.  She does not love dancing and she struggles to feel rhythm. I'm looking for a kind way to say, she cannot dance. 

She did great.  Really.  For a girl who can't keep a beat, she held her own.  She kept looking at me and smiling like, "what the heck am I doing up here?" I loved it!

#1 getting her groove on

She changed into her formal dress and was presented on stage again with her state finalist trophy.  All the girls stayed on stage while the semi-finalists and winners were announced.

#'1's age group was tricky.  It was called pre-teen for girls from 10-12.  However, many of the girls had turned 13 after the January 1st deadline had passed.  So #1 was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, in her division.  Her age group would have been more appropriately divided by "developed" and "undeveloped." She was on stage with some very womanly looking 13 year olds!

Accepting her trophy and taking her place with the group

At the conclusion I went backstage to find #1 and found a I'd stepped into a weeping zone.  Poor, broken-hearted. "pre-teens" everywhere!  I worried maybe #1 was one of the criers, waiting for my comfort.  Just then I felt a tug on my arm and turned to see the happiest, most fulfilled face of my sweet #1.  She was beaming! We hugged and I told her how proud and happy I was for her.

Mom-high.

Spouse took us to the Sugar Bowl (#1's choice) for dinner and ice cream. We talked about our observations and #1 told us things she felt she'd learn.  There was a pause in the conversation then #1 asked why so many girls were crying.  Although she has a big heart, #1 is more of a stoic.  She doesn't often display extreme emotions, so I wasn't surprised she didn't understand the crying.  I explained that the girls were disappointed, that they had hoped they would win.  She replied, "Well, I wanted to win too, but there were 130 girls.  Didn't they know the likelihood of winning was 130 to 1?"

Ha! That's my girl with her head on her shoulders!

Its Summer!

Summer! Arizona summers are not to be compared with what most people experience. Summers here are very long, dangerously hot and quite difficult. Considering the circumstances (four kids at home, 110 degree heat outside, tiny house) we are doing OK.

Way back in May, we celebrated the end of school with an extended weekend trip to St. George to meet up with some of Spouse's family.

Warm, red rocks were explored.  The kids marinated their school weary bones in a cold pool for hours on end.  Baby showed off her thickening thighs and high speed crawling to adoring grandparents and cousins.  We surrounded ourselves in relaxation and love of family.

Lest you think our lives are all sunshine and unicorns (stole that one from Spouse), we also enjoyed one serious case of explosive diarreahea from one child who shall not be named on the 8 hour drive home to the desert. We left a trail of spoiled underpants in roadside gas station bathrooms.

Since returning we are attempting to accomplish a few daily academic pursuits, a few domestic chores and lots of reading and imaginitive play.

Baby is getting used to the constant noise and commotion of having all of her siblings home at once.  The first week she clung to me like a spider monkey. 

 
#3 just completed her two week session of swim lessons.  She says she is ready for swim team next summer.  She had her first piano lesson last week and has practiced her simple drills with much seriousness and concentration. 

Being cooped up is difficult for #2.  He's like a puppy scratching at the back door, needing to be let out. Despite the heat he rides laps on his bike around the block.  Basketball camp next week should help.  

#1 thrives at home in the summer.  She loves to be able to read all she wants and sleep later in the morning.  She relishes her position as Queen Organizer  (or Boss) of play and fun. #2 and #3 (almost) always defer to her imagination and leadership.  She has been my life/sanity saver, since I can leave one or two of the kids with her so I can grocery shop or run an errand without having to pack up the whole crew. 







Summer doesn't mean much to Spouse; his schedule and daily life go on as normal.  One happy change is that the children's later bedtime means that they are all awake when he gets home and get to enjoy his company for an hour or two. 

 Me? This summer is making my school year life seem like a vacation. But all is how it ought to be and despite the noise and chaos, we are happy to be tucked in our tiny (now very messy), (but air conditioned!) house together.

A dog party! A BIG dog party! - thank you P.D. Eastman

Because she's lost 6 teeth and is nearly a Kindergarten graduate, #3 has deliberately given up pink and kittens as her favorites.  She insists that dark green and dogs are her greatest loves now.  So even though she started planning her My Little Pony birthday party about 10 months ago, her desire to seem "grown up" forced her to reconsider her party plans.

At first she declared it would be a werewolf party.  (Ugh!)

The next week she revised her plans: a wolf party. (Not much better.)

At last, two weeks before her birthday, a final decision was made: A German Shepherd party it would be! (What? Huh?)

Me: Do you even know what a German Shepherd is?

#3: Yeah, its a huge police dog. Like in Underdog!

Me: (in a very nervous voice) Uh, OK.  Sure, yeah.  A German Shepherd party. If that's what you want?

{I'd already been feeling like my creative days are over and that I'm ready to retire from mom-made birthday parties. So it was hard to meet this German Shepherd idea with much enthusiasm.}

We made it happen.  #3 and her puppy friends went to obedience school, had a kibbles eating contest, played a kitten chasing game and went digging for buried bones (or skittles) in the sand at the park. For a grand finale, we were visited by a real (huge!) German Shepherd which was sweet enough to be pet and cuddled by 9 little girls (and one 8 year old boy who didn't want the dog to leave ever!).

Happy Birthday #3!

#1 was determined to dress #4 as a puppy for the party. You can't see it in this picture but #1 fashioned a tail to hang off her back.  The necklace is #4's dog collar.

#3 with Sage, the beautiful 12 year old German Shepherd that surprised our guests. Sage is a retired seeing-eye dog for a the blind. She was so calm and well-behaved. 

Sage's owner is telling the kids all about how she helped serve a blind man and got to go to movies and restaurants and even to church!

Coco Puff kibbles!

How do you get 9 girls to all look at a camera and smile?

Buster did not want Sage to leave. He is one dog-hungry boy.

paw print pupcakes

My beautiful birthday girl with a look of contentment. 

The only weekend we could give this party happened to fall on a weekend that Spouse was already committed to work.  He wasn't around to "enjoy" any of the preparations or festivities.  (Thank goodness for a super responsible and helpful 10 year old daughter!)  This party exhausted me to the core.  But while I was sweating and swearing under my breath I was encouraged by the thought of #3's happiness.  I worry that she is too often left out of things, is dragged along to her brother's and sister's activities, is made to wait, is told "no" inequitably,  is put to bed too hastily.... is not getting as much of me as I'd like to give her.  It felt good to make a deposit in her bucket of happiness.