Love At Home

Easter this year brought a new form of Easter Egg Hunt Entertainment, in the form of Confetti Eggs. Basically, these are empty eggshells (white and yolk blown out), which were dyed, then filled with Fruity Pebbles and glitter. The rules were that you couldn't throw them; only smash them on your competitors' heads. As you will see, all the rules went out the window.

Crazy Easter Egg Hunt

We had so much fun at this little impromptu Easter Egg hunt, the brainchild of my sister-in-law Tammy, that I just had to add some music to the pictures!

MacCool's

Looking for something fun to do, we decided to check out a local Irish Pub/Restaurant called MacCool's. We ate traditional Irish fare - Pierogies and Boxty's (potato pancake crepes filled with all kinds of good stuff like corned beef and cabbage)  - listened to fun Irish music, and had a great time pretending we were in Dublin.

They had these lovely little shamrocks on the table and I just couldn't resist. They were just so gleoite and cuannach (pretty and charming) that I had to have some pictures of them. Aren't they sweet?

"May your blessings outnumber

the shamrocks that grow,

And may trouble avoid you wherever you go."

Last Train Home

 http://www.tumbleweedchaser.blogspot.com/

We decided that if we couldn't go see the little guy and his parents this weekend (I have the unfortunate duty of being on call) we may as well get out of this infernal apartment and go do something fun. It was also  imperative that we find a way to make The Teenager go with us since his life lately is pretty much school and the apartment. So, we laid out options and decided that we would start with breakfast, followed by a trip to Union Station (the old Ogden train station) where we would visit the art gallery and the various museums available for one admission price.

The art gallery was small and featured paintings by Daniel Ramjoue', who not only has a curiously misplaced apostrophe at the end of his name, but also seems to have an obsession with vegetables. Paintings of green onions, carrots, and radishes aren't very inspiring - although the prices on the paintings were. For the life of me I couldn't imagine why anyone would pay $1000 for a painting of beets. But I'm open minded enough to consider that there's someone out there that would.

On to the Railroad Museum, which was by far the most interesting. We learned all about the Brakeman, the Conductor, and the Station Master which prompted me to embarrass The Teenager by singing the song all my kids loved when they were little (and doing the hand motions....):

Down by the station, early in the morning

See the little pufferbellies all in a row.

See the Station Master turn the little handle.

Puff, puff! Choo, choo! Off we go!

We marveled over the unimaginable feat of building tressles without modern engineering technology and were just like three little kids as we waited for the trains to come around the bend of the elaborate model railroad setup that ran through a good part of the museum. "Here it comes! Here it comes!" we'd shout.

On to the Browning Firearms Museum.....

....which I tried to like. I really did. But it just seemed like too much death and destruction in glass cases plus we got cornered for what seemed an eternity by the museum volunteer. 20 years! his vest pin announced and that's about what it seemed like. He felt the need to tell us the whole history of the Browning family including their polygamous ancestry which prompted a lot of eye rolling on my part. I nodded and smiled and tried to share his interest in lever actions, calibers, and superimposed shotguns but my eyes were starting to glaze over. We finally extricated ourselves from him, did a polite walkaround of the displays (Look! Here's another gun!), then moved on to the Classic Car collection which, even though it featured the classic gangster car - the 1932 Lincoln - and made us envision cops and robbers shooting at each other with something Mr. Browning probably dreamed up, it seemed safe and benign compared to the imagined carnage upstairs.

So that was a lot of fun and then Kent got a Railroad Museum inspired whim to ride the train down to Salt Lake. The Teenager even thought that would be lots of fun, so, we bought our tickets and climbed aboard The Frontrunner which is a "push-pull" train that runs between Ogden and Salt Lake.

We chose to sit on the upper deck where I snapped this picture as we pulled out of the station.

It was quite fun, rocking along down the train tracks. Kent and The Teenager wanted to go faster, faster,  faster and gauged our speed by comparing our progress with the cars on the interstate. Since we were only keeping up and not passing them by there were feelings that we just weren't going fast enough, but I reminded them that this is Utah, after all, and everyone on the interstate is going about 150 miles an hour so it was safe to assume that we really were moving right along.

On the way there we decided we would check out the "Black Holes" show at the Planetarium and grab something to eat at the Gateway Mall. Unfortunately, once you're in Salt Lake you have to take the dreaded TRAX system to your next destination which is really just the city bus on a track. I shouldn't be so negative. It's actually quite nice once you're on it, but the Utah Transit Authority seems to think that everyone has the system figured out because it's very difficult to know which train to get on and there are no signs pointing one in the right direction. Finally, one of the workers heard us debating and grumpily instructed us that "all the trains go to the Planetarium". Oh, well....thanks for SMILING while you're providing customer service. In addition, waiting outside at the station in the cold isn't so great even though we were entertained briefly by a policewoman citing "George" for some kind of infraction that obviously included alcohol and, probably, public indecency although we luckily didn't witness it.

The planetarium was fun, Z'Tejas (what's with apostrophes these days??) provided yummy Southwestern fare and before we knew it we were back on the train, rocking along back to Ogden. We were tired from our journeys, counted down the stations on the way home.....Woods Cross, Farmington, Clearfield, Layton, Roy, then Ogden....and peacefully watched the sun set as we reminisced over the fun day we had had together.

Summer

Sadly, my blog has suffered the same fate as most of my houseplants do, i.e. it is dying of neglect.

Therefore, I will give it a little boost with a brief summer update with the best thing of the summer - our trip to South Carolina. . Although, when I use the word summer I use it very loosely because, quite honestly, it feels like we never had summer. I guess in Idaho you take what you can get.

Our visit included:

Golf carts with pirate flags:

Daily swimming trips in the pond:

Shrimp.....mmmmmmm

Visits from wildlife friends:.

And of course lots and lots of family time.

Home sweet home.

Things we are learning about Caleb

1. He would rather sleep than eat.

2. He has his mommy's toes.
3. He has his daddy's calm outlook on life.
4. He sleeps like his mommy - arms and legs everywhere. He hates to be wrapped up too tightly.
5. He has beautiful blue eyes (that probably won't stay blue, but they're beautiful nonetheless!)

6. He knows how to wear a hat with style.

7. If you wait long enough, camera in place, he'll give you a smile.

This One's for the Girls

 

We ditched the boys this weekend and spent the weekend together in Boise - shopping, laughing, shopping, playing, shopping, eating......well, you get it.

...no sissy Lifetime movies for this crowd...

We started this shop-fest on Friday afternoon, which found us at the Cheesecake Factory. We should have started with dessert, because by the time we ate, of course we couldn't eat any cheesecake. Really, what's the point of eating at the Cheesecake Factory if you don't get any cheesecake? But, there it is. We hit the mall (clothes and accessories), Pier 1 Imports (a lovely shabby chic picture frame for me), and then.....where's that cheesecake when you want it?......we were ready for dessert so we went to Cold Stone.

At Cold Stone, I was less interested in the ice cream than I was in the family that came in after us. Mom, Dad, a 2 year old, and a little (read newborn) baby in a carrier. Dad (big guy with a Boise State Broncos hat on backwards) saw someone he knew (who just happened to be a really cute young woman with her school-age daughters), so he peeled off from the group and got engaged in what must have been the most INTRIGUING conversation since he was totally oblivious to the fact that his wife was standing in line, holding the baby in his/her carrier, fussing at the 2 year old, and ordering, paying, and delivering ice cream to the table where he sat. Like a king. Who needed his head pinched off. By me. Or, preferably, by HER.

At any rate, after ice cream it was Ross and Marshall's, then the pregnant lady ran out of gas and we went back to the hotel for our comfy PJ's and back-to-back episodes of "Lockup".  (No sissy Lifetime movies for this crowd.)

Saturday we started at the Antique Mall where I told my cohorts in shopping crime to leave me and come back in a week, but they performed an intervention and got me out in less than an hour. We checked out the Factory Outlet stores (nothing much there), Chili's for lunch, then TJ Maxx, and back to Burlington Coat Factory to get the stroller we saw earlier. 

At Burlington, I truly wish I had been in possession of a video camera. The stroller and baby carrier came in a ginormous, oversized, "let's kill all the trees in the forest" box that, of course, could not be squeezed, levered, or shoved into the back seat or the trunk. There we were, three girls in the parking lot, with a huge box and nowhere to put it.

Never fear.

We unpacked the whole thing in the middle of the parking lot, stored the purchase in the trunk, and left Burlington with the task of recycling the box.

Problem solved.

Unfortunately, the greatest picture passed me by as we zoomed toward our next shopping destination....a seedy establishment on the street corner that advertised "Guns, Ammunition, and Divorce Toolkits". I never have my camera out when I need it. 

The boys fared pretty well on frozen lasagna and Mongolian Grill. The house was standing when we returned, the dishes were (miraculously) clean, and all was well. 

Hmmmm.....looks like they CAN live without us. I've heard Salt Lake has some sales going on......and Kohl's just increased my credit limit. 

Leaving the Nest

So, off we go to send child #3 to college. She's been away from home before, then back again for 18 months or so, and now off to college. It's so exciting and she's well prepared to fly on her own! I'll miss her though. After all, who will I make chicken and rice for now? All that's left are vegetarians.

More pictures tomorrow. Until then, Go Broncos!

Later Family Reunion

We had this really great family reunion last week in honor of my mother-in-law's 80th birthday this coming December. All of Kent's family were with us here in Idaho - his brother, and all his sisters and their families. It was fantastic for all of us to be together. In fact, it's the first time all of us have been together at once in 21 years.

We all went to the temple together, had a great day in Jackson Hole (in spite of the rain) and played hard on Tuesday at the Olympic Game Day. It was so much fun to see everyone playing together. Thanks to Debbie and Mike for planning the Jackson trip and the Brosie family for planning a great day of games and food. Tray and Tammy made a fantastic ham and potato dinner for Sunday then treated us to home-made Japanese food on Tuesday night. And how many hours (months?) did Jill and Mitch spend on making a 25 minute video including pictures of everyone in our family?? It was absolutely fantastic.

So, here are some fun pictures from the reunion set to music. It won't be as good as Mitch's (can't wait to see that!!) but it's fun anyway.

Good memories of good times.

Enjoy!

Moving Day

It's official. Matt and Katie have their own apartment! They moved in today and, at last check, hadn't made a lot of progress on unpacking boxes but had put the kitchen table together and started the dishwasher so they'd have something to eat off of.

It's really quite fun to watch them establish their own home. We bid them farewell by stocking the pantry and fridge with essentials - bread, milk, eggs, and a dustpan - and Kent and Joshua helped move all their stuff up three flights of stairs. Mercifully, our next door neighbor showed up unannounced and unasked to help. Bless him!

Having them here with us has been great fun. I love having them around. But, as all things must progress, it's time for them to have their own place and start their little family. The house feels a little emptier tonight, but our hearts are full of the blessing of having them nearby and doing well!

Mother's Day

My favorite Mother's Day memory comes from about 1992. I was working nights on the weekends and, after working Saturday night then going to church, was sleeping on Sunday afternoon so I could go to work Sunday night. The next thing I knew, there was Jarom (all of 6 years old), standing by the bed, screaming his head off and he was covered in blood. He had been riding his bicycle while carrying a cardboard box and had biffed it on the sidewalk. All that blood came from a cut on his lip about an inch long which required stitches and a call-in to work (sorry, can't make it tonight). It was a test of my ability to be the cool, calm, collected mother. I think I did well. (I didn't faint or throw up, so I figured it was all good.)

I'm amazed at how stressed out men get over Mother's Day gifts. Are women that shrewish, materialistic, and cruel that a simple card or even just a kiss and a hug isn't enough? And the jewelers certainly don't help. "Lovely diamond earrings for that special mother....show her how much you love her....spend $1000 on her" (oh, and if you don't? Trouble in paradise, apparently.)

I could do without Mother's Day. I love my mom. I think she knows it. My kids love me. I think I know it. Why have a day where everybody gets freaked out and crazy?

But, then, perhaps it's a good thing for us to have a day where children feel obligated to call and chat or do the dishes. I think I like it. Guilt is a wonderful tool for getting things done.

School Days

I thought the other day about how tired I get of doing schoolwork this time of year. No, it's not my schoolwork - it's Joshua's. But it sure feels like mine! Homeschooling requires a little extra effort. OK, homeschooling requires a lot of extra effort. But it's so worth it! We have a great time with it and the best part is that he's actually learning something.

I call it homeschooling, just because we do school at home. But he actually goes to school online through K12. He has real teachers, live classroom via the internet, and lots and lots of learning experiences.

Someone asked me the other day if I was concerned that homeschooling prevented Joshua from getting the social interaction that he needed. I said, "have you actually been IN a junior high school lately?" That kind of social interaction is interaction I can do without. Yikes!

So, we like it. It's not for everybody. But it sure has been great for us.

Make a Smilebox greeting

Goin' shrimping

This time of year I start getting a little homesick. I need warm weather and a big bowl of fresh shrimp. Where I'm from, you can head down to Steamer's on Lady's Island and they'll serve up a great big platter of shrimp for you. Or, you can do it the fun way and go get the shrimp yourself. All you need is a low tide, a boat (no motor required, but oars are definitely helpful), a cast net, a bucket, and no worries about getting wet and muddy. It's great fun! These pics are from our September, 2008 trip. Mmmmmmm....those shrimp, they're beginnin' to boil!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Wii Fat...so Wii Fit

The latest fun in our house is the Wii Fit. Yes, I know....we're way behind the times but without Jarom here it's tough to be connected and powered up. I'm not sure if the Wii Fit has made me feel better about myself because I'm getting off the sofa, or has done immeasurable damage to my self esteem by constantly offering comments like: "You put your foot down, didn't you?" and "Your leg is a little shaky." (I likened this to Kent's very helpful comments to me when I was in labor and he, ever observant of the fetal monitor, would say things like "you're having a contraction".) Yes, I know my leg is shaky, thank you very much.

We've also spent some good quality family time trying to knock each other out in boxing. Now THAT'S therapeutic. But, often, we don't do our best because sometimes the remote doesn't work right. This is happening quite a bit, actually, especially when the game is getting increasingly competitive. I'm thinking we might need to go buy new ones because their poor performance is seriously affecting my ability to beat Matt in tennis.