Every Kid in a Park

With the free national park pass offered to 4th graders we decided to plan a trip to Zion National Park. It would be our little trip this year. I started looking into places to stay in January (because I was not going to camp with a new baby and toddler--ok maybe I just don't like to camp). I made a reservation for a two bedroom place with a kitchenette.  So I began packing last Monday and making food plans for the week.  Tuesday I had to run a few last minute errands and ended up at the grocery store and library with all 4 kids (I think it may have been the first time I'd done that--I usually try to grocery shop in the early morning or after the girls are at school) so I snapped a picture.

Wednesday morning Steve loaded up the car, we said a prayer and off we went. Marcus fell asleep rather quickly and slept until Beaver. So we pulled off there to get some lunch and take a break. Traveling went rather smoothly. We pulled into our hotel and went to check out the room and found this spectacular view waiting for us.

Andrew had been asking when are we going to the beach all week so we grabbed the sand toys and went down to the little beach area that was just a few yards away.

There were deer that came right past us up to the pear tree just outside our room to eat.

Thursday we woke up went down to the hotel breakfast and then headed into the park and were pleasantly surprised to find our hotel was within a 5 minute walk of the park where we took a shuttle to hike Emarlds Pool. I didn't know if we would make the upper pool hike, but the kids did great and so we made it the whole 3 miles round trip up some steep stairs with the kids.

It was hot, getting busy and we were tired so we headed back to the hotel for lunch. Put the boys down for a nap, the girls relaxed and played a game then I took them swimming and the boys caught up with us there a little bit later. Everyone swam until they were even more tired then we called it a night, had dinner and put everyone to bed. Friday morning Steve and the girls wanted to hike The Narrows so we headed down the River Walk trail with everyone which was enjoyable--the squirrels there get fed way too much from people and will come right up to you begging for food (Andrew dropped a grape while we were snacking and one ran under me to grab it at the same time I was reaching for it--freaked me out). I found a nice shaded spot by a little pool for Andrew to play in while Steve took the girls down The Narrows (we'd managed to find sticks for them to use while walking down the trail, but forgot to bring the waterproof case for the phone/camera so no pictures of them in The Narrows).

They hiked about .5 mile in (were gone for 1.5 hours) came back and ate sandwiches out on this little peninsula. 

Then we headed back to the hotel for more lunch, swimming for hours before dinner and bed (kind of a pattern: get up, hotel breakfast, hike, lunch, swim, dinner, bed). Steve and I did manage to hit the hot tub together this evening for a few minutes while the boys slept and the girls watched a movie.

Saturday we could tell the park was getting much more busy and everyone was a little tired so we did a small hike to Weeping Rock.

Then on the shuttle back Ellie asked if they could go to the museum. So Steve took Ellie, Lila, and Andrew to the museum while I headed back to the hotel with Marcus to feed him and put him down for a nap. After lunch I decided to take the girls to the Nature Center while the boys napped. We walked in and around and accidentally got on the Watchmen trail before turning back and getting on the Pa'rus trail to the Nature Center--it was hot and that little extra jaunt was exhausting, but a memory.  They had fun exploring the center, drawing a picture for their Centennial badge that they are going to laminate and display and working on Jr Ranger booklets. 

We stopped at the gift shop on our way back and checked it out then hit a few stores just outside the park where we managed to score smashed pennies for their collections, vanilla ice cream to go with our chocolate mug cookies and some post cards. We got back to the hotel just after Andrew and Marcus had woke up so we had mug cookies with ice cream then went down to the beach to play.  Andrew came and got my hand and said, "Walk with me in the river Mom. I want to hold your hand." How can a momma say no to that.

They seriously played for hours on the beach and at one point were doing ring around the rosie after falling down Andrew started doing sand angels when I grabbed the camera to capture the moment he went running away and stepped on a stick and wouldn't stop crying--I did pull out 5-6 silvers out of the bottom of his foot with tweazers that evening.

Just as I was getting ready to head back in with Andrew and Marcus I heard Ellie who was in the river say, "Uh, mom." I really thought I was going to turn around and see her holding a snake or something, instead she was holding an iphone in a water proof case (we didn't know where to turn it in because people were accessing that part of the river from all over so Steve brought it home and is trying to figure out who the owner is to return it).

Sunday morning we loaded the van and walked into the park to turn in the girls jr ranger books.  Here they are taking their oath--when I looked at Andrew during this he was a few feet away shyly holding his hand up--it was cute so the Park Ranger gave him a sticker. :)

We mailed our postcards and bought them each a coloring book as a souvenir then headed out. We heard several different languages while in the park and the girls asked why and Steve explained that this is a famous site that lots of people from all over the world come to see--they thought it was pretty cool that they were at a famous place. As we were heading out the girls were talking about how much fun they had and that they love Zions and are going to miss it and to be honest I had a little ping in my heart too--it was a fun albeit exhausting trip (Marcus did not sleep well the last couple of nights). They also decided that when Lila gets her 4th grade national park pass in a couple of years (if they determine to keep the program) that we should go to the Grand Canyon--they dream big, but I'm glad they enjoy spending time with us exploring this beautiful world we have!

Sweet Summer

This summer has been full of sweet treats (maybe that's why I haven't been able to lose the rest of this baby weight--hey enjoy the day right). I found this new delicious coconut pecan cookie recipe that may have been made every other week this summer. We've made blackberry/raspberry shakes (mostly fruit with a little ice cream the kids ate up), popsicles (Andrew knows how to open that freezer drawer and get a popsicle, but if it keeps them outside enjoying summer I'm all for it).  One day after picking the girls up from sewing class I took them to get a snow cone. They thought it was great. After we had been enjoying them for a bit Andrew said, "Wait! Where's my dinner?"  I explained I was letting him have a treat before dinner and he said, "WHAT?!?"  It was pretty funny.

The girls did another round of swimming lessons, tennis, sewing class where they made a pillow case and cute bags. Then Mimi took them for a few afternoons and they sewed quilts together.

Ellie competed in the Clearfield kid triathlon again.

Swim: 2:43.3; T1: 2:56.6; Bike: 8:15.8; T2: 17.6; Run: 3:27.7 (she's shaved 30-45 seconds off each year, but has a goal to do it 3 minutes faster next year).


Our sweet neighbor let us come swimming one morning before the activity day girls came that afternoon which I coordinated and we managed to snap a picture of us all in the pool.

I moved the girls into Ellie's room together, Andrew into Lila's old room and Marcus up into the baby/guest room.  I'm hoping the basement will start making progress and we can move the girls downstairs and Marcus into the big room and turn the other room into a craft/sewing room.  For now the girls are good about sharing and Andrew enjoys sleeping in a big bed.  I started moving their stuff while they were at sewing class (mainly so I could discard a few things--a little clean out while I was at it). Then while they were moving the rest in together Lila had the bright idea to turn the childproof handle on the inside of Andrew's room and that's been working like a charm. I thought there would not be a better time to try a bed out then in an empty room since I just moved all of Lila's stuff out and with the childproof handle he can't get in and out, it hasn't been completely smooth sailing, but an easier transition than it could have been and we've been slowly moving Andrew's stuff into the room and decorating it with dinosaur stuff. I love sweet productive summers. :)

Summer Cramming

We only have 7 weeks of summer break which is 2 more than we had last year, but for some reason this year I feel like we've crammed a lot into our 7 week break, maybe it's because the baby adds a different dynamic or the two little boys together make things a bit more difficult. Whatever, we're having fun and enjoying a break from school.  Although with the heat wave this week, I'm wondering why we can't wait for school to end so we can all hover together inside the air conditioned house to stay cool. ;)  I am going to miss year-round school when the breaks allowed times for the kids to just go outside and play in the nice weather. . . thus I digress.  Here is what we've been up to the last 3 weeks, really has it only be 3 weeks since school let out.

Ellie had music camp the 5th and 6th.  Her piano teacher does this every July instead of regular lessons--it's so nice to have the break from regular lessons and practicing.  She's working on a duet piece for August lessons.

The girls have been taking tennis lesson on Mon/Wed evenings.  They enjoy tennis and I really could see us playing tennis together as a family as soon as Marcus can run and shag balls with Andrew ;) so it's a good skill I like them to keep up on. 

Ellie has been doing some clinics for the mini-triathlon she is registered for the first weekend in August. We've never done the clinics before and thought we'd try it this year.  When I went to register her I got $5 off the cost, a free bike helmet and the transition clinic is at Pizza Pie cafe where she can eat for free so we thought we'd try it and well we probably won't do the clinics again, but she is learning and getting excited for her event.

Russ and Carole were in Salt Lake working on one of their rental homes and came and spent a weekend with us.  They brought Katie and Lexie which the kids loved spending the time with them, seriously they just played and played.  It is always nice to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma Moore.  The night they stayed with us Marcus slept until 4:30 am, but Andrew, bless him, woke up 2 times screaming so we finally moved Lila in with Ellie so Steve could sleep with Andrew.  That kid really doesn't like to sleep any where but his crib (another story about this to come later).

The Stake put on an all day super hero camp for the Activity Day girls which I am currently a leader for.  So the girls and I spent a half-a-day there and Steve was nice enough to watch the boys which was a much needed reprieve for me since Marcus was super fussy the day before and refused to nap or anything.

 

We left the next morning, Thursday for Idaho.  We went by the Golden Spike National Park on our way.  In Ellie's 4th grade program she sang a song about the two railroads and so we thought it would be fun to go see them and she also has a free park pass with the every kid in a park program this year.  We got there in time to see the trains come out which Andrew thought was awesome.

We walked around the exhibits a bit and then went out to the Chinese arch dedicated to all the Chinese who worked on the railroads. Lila even read a little of the Chinese for us on the sign. :)

 
















While in Idaho the kids enjoyed fishing, rowing, riding in Panca's boat (Andrew for some reason has decided that's Grandpa Buckley's name--he can say Grandpa, but always refers to him as Panca).  Andrew got to drive the boat and when we got home he declared he was going to have his own boat to drive. ;)  Saturday evening we went out to Oakley to see the Bump and Rub.  It's a dirt road race with old cars where they bump and rub each other off the track.  Panca road it in a couple of years ago.  It was a lot of fun to watch, but it did not hold Andrew's attention (we thought it would be very entertaining for him).  I think the dirt from the races irritated his throat more and he coughed himself into a fizzy that night, throwing up and barely sleeping.  Andrew did not sleep well on this trip at all . . . out of his bed and who knows what will happen, but most likely not sleep.  We took it easy on Sunday and when we got home I gave Andrew a breathing treatment, cough medicine and rubbed his feet with Vicks in hopes that he would sleep a bit.  He woke up crying after a few minutes so Steve went up and laid with him on the queen bed in his room.  He left him sleeping on that bed and then Andrew came out and said, "Dad I want to sleep in my own bed."  So Steve went up and put him back in his crib.  Crazy kid loves his bed.  I took him to the doctor the next day who put him on antibiotic, he said after the bronchonoscopy and carrot in his lung it may just be a bit irritated and the dirt inflamed the situation.  He's been sleeping like a champ in his own bed since then.

Oh--I forgot to mention that Steve managed to jump in the river in Idaho with his phone in his pocket--oops.  He was meaning to get his phone replaced under warranty any way so he just had to use a temporary phone for a bit, which happened to be the phone we let Andrew play on a bit so Andrew kept saying, "Dad, I want my white phone back."  

The girls did radkids this week (ressist and aggresssively defend r.a.d.).  This is a crazy world we live in and the city provides this great program to teach the kids safety and how to resist and defend.  It is good and even we as parents learn some extra things we can do to help protect our kids.  Here they are on the graduation day getting certificates and wristbands.  On this day they defended themselves against the redsuit guy (one of the officers geared up).

 
Andrew playing with Marcus and the legos while the girls were gone one morning.  He also declared that Marcus is his best friend (it may be we just don't get out much with the two of them).

This week the kids are also doing swim lessons.  In June I had debated put Andrew in a mommy and me class, but by the time I paid for the lesson and a sitter for Marcus it was as much as private lessons so I decided to just sign him up with the girls. . . it's been torture.  The instructor has been awesome and working with him on back floating on his own, but Andrew screams, cries, and refuses to do it even though we all know he can.  Finally yesterday he floated by himself for 15 seconds.  One of the moms for the kids after us walked in and was like, "He's doing it. That's great."  That's what a stink he has been putting up--the other moms notice.

 



After Andrew putting up such a stink about swim lessons I decided we needed to take the kid swimming this weekend to make sure Andrew remembers how fun swimming is.  And it so happens that my friend, April who moved to Japan last year is in town and invited us down to her parents house to swim this afternoon so we took the opportunity.  She lives about 5 minutes away from Stephanie so we stopped in and visited with them for an hour and then headed over to swim.  The kids had a blast playing and even Marcus got in to swim for his first time-didn't get a picture :(.  Then we hurried home to get off to tennis lessons. The teacher moved one of the classes to this week so this week has really been insane, but there have been a few tender mercies with a few things getting shuffled, moved, etc and Steve taking today off--we love spending time with him!  Summer fun keep on rolling!

Independence

We celebrated our independence from school on Friday, yes we made it. Andrew and I had planned to surprise all of the girls, Ellie, Lila, Maddie, and Cecily (our carpool friends) after school with silly string, but alas Andrew was still tired from his all nighter so he was sleeping when they got home. Everyone enjoyed a nice cold treat while we visited and then Andrew and I sprayed Ellie and Lila and then sent them outside with their own cans to spray and have fun.

Sunday we had a family home evening lesson about the 4th of July and gave just a quick synopsis of what took place at beginning of this great nation and we sang some patriotic songs--it was touching. That evening the Olenslagers invited us down to play a lawn game and have dessert so the girls made festive cupcakes to take. And we had a good time chatting and watching the kids play. Andrew came home talking about his friends and the teeter totter plane they played on. ;)

Monday we got up enjoyed red, white, and blue muffins and some eggs for breakfast before heading out to the Clearfield parade.  I also was able to weed the garden and RVpad area--it has needed it bad, but I wanted to get out there in the morning while it's shaded and cool so I managed to sneak that in.

The kids decorated visors while we waited for the parade (the wait was not long, we got there right in time--we're figuring out the system for saving a spot, storing stuff in Steve's office, and parking right across the street at the Church).  Lila was a little sad we wouldn't be hanging out with cousins this year (first time we haven't done that, but Mommy and Daddy are still recovering from a crazy week and we needed a little chill time). They passed out Madbrook Donuts at the beginning again which is always a hit. Andrew was so excited to have his bag for candy. He wasn't so good at the gathering because he would get distracted by the eating, but the girls were really good to share with him and look out for him (last year he sat in the stroller and enjoyed the parade--occasionally people would give him a handful of candy). There was also this cool little fire truck driving around squirting the crowd.















Andrew got a little bored in the middle so I pulled out the bubbles and he tried to get his sisters with them. :)

After the parade I fed Marcus in the office while the kids drew on the white boards in Steve's office (Ellie got to wear USA earrings--changing her earrings is new she just got to start doing that and she needs some practice and patience that's a whole other story).

Then we went to Habit Burger to use the kids certificates for free kids meals they got for perfect attendance.  Then we went home let the kids watch a movie while we relaxed.  Then we had a yummy piece of cheesecake (also festive).

Then Andrew and Lila took a nap (necessary since we were planning on going back for the firework show).  Steve worked on the sprinklers while I whipped up dinner.  After a late nap we had pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, grapes and chips (I love me a good bbq meal although we had a lot of food--leftovers the rest of the week ;).  Then the kids went out and played in the bike car wash, swing, jump on the trampoline oh and Andrew helped himself to the raspberries.  We bathed them put them in pajamas then went back to Steve's office to chill and wait for the fireworks.  They watched a Phineas and Ferb episode (we thought it was fitting since our summer just started) then we went out to the lawn area we had reserved. Marcus was a little fussy before the fireworks, but as soon as they started he just sat there watching. :)

It was a late night, but we had fun together, celebrating the way we wanted to, which is definitely something to celebrate--freedom.