A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Finding a Christmas Tree
We cut our own Christmas tree yesterday. This is an experience common in Oregon but one I’ve never taken part of. For you trivia buffs, Oregon supplies 60 percent of the nation’s Christmas trees. This means the state is home to many Christmas tree farms. I was amazed when I moved here and saw huge fields of Christmas trees as I drove around that first summer.We drove less than ten miles yesterday and encountered at least five Christmas tree farms along the way. We picked one that supplied saws and twine since we forgot to bring them with us.
Getting on my knees and cutting with only one arm (other arm supporting myself in the mud) was more difficult than I anticipated. It was also tougher to carry the tree than I thought. Fortunately, the farm had a little tractor that came around periodically and carried our tree and our kids back to the parking lot.
The best part was baling the tree. The sign said, “Tree Baling $2, Kids Free.” After we baled the tree, I jokingly asked Elodie, “Do you want to be baled?” She said, “Yes” and climbed right into the baler. And then Madeleine followed. It was EXCELLENT. Unfortunately, they escaped the netting, so the confinement didn’t last long. J
And now we have the tree at home with all of the decorations below the 4’ level. I guess I need to interfere and rearrange a little.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Halloween Highlights
We had a busy Halloween week.
Monday I took the girls to the children’s museum. It was a members’ only Halloween afternoon. Kids were supposed to come in costume, but I was too lazy and decided not to mention that aspect to the girls.
It was a great afternoon to be at the museum. There were very few children, so my girls only had to fight with each other for resources. J The other bonus was that teenagers walked around the museum handing out “treats.” The kids left with stuffed bears, pencils, and other goodies.
On Wednesday, we attended a “Trunk or Treat” and chili cook off at church. (Will someone tell me—does trunk or treat exist outside of churches?) We started with the trunk or treat—meaning kids going from parked car to park car collecting treats. I have no idea why they had treats before feeding the kids, but that’s the way it was. Madeleine handed out the candy at our car while Russ and I took the other girls around. We ran out of treats pretty quickly—maybe because Madeleine was too nice to tell the kids they couldn’t come back four and five times? It actually worked out well for us because we got in line early for the chili. Before long the line was HUGE. We ate quickly and vacated our table for others.
It was a great afternoon to be at the museum. There were very few children, so my girls only had to fight with each other for resources. J The other bonus was that teenagers walked around the museum handing out “treats.” The kids left with stuffed bears, pencils, and other goodies.
On Wednesday, we attended a “Trunk or Treat” and chili cook off at church. (Will someone tell me—does trunk or treat exist outside of churches?) We started with the trunk or treat—meaning kids going from parked car to park car collecting treats. I have no idea why they had treats before feeding the kids, but that’s the way it was. Madeleine handed out the candy at our car while Russ and I took the other girls around. We ran out of treats pretty quickly—maybe because Madeleine was too nice to tell the kids they couldn’t come back four and five times? It actually worked out well for us because we got in line early for the chili. Before long the line was HUGE. We ate quickly and vacated our table for others.
Halloween morning I volunteered for Elodie’s Halloween party. They didn’t really need me since there were about seven other parents there, but it was fun to see Elodie and the other kids in their element. The kids put on costumes and did a little parade around the school. (They were the only grade to parade that day.) The kids then “found” pumpkins hidden outside and finished with a treat in the classroom. And after all that? There were forty minutes left of school. The other parents and I sat around while the teacher entertained the kids with stories and songs until the kids FINALLY got to leave.
The girls were so excited when Halloween night rolled around. We ate dinner and then headed out while it was still light. The girls had a very funny pattern of trick-or-treating. They only wanted to visit houses with REALLY good decorations. They didn’t care about the candy; they only cared about checking out scary monsters and fog. Oh well, it made for an easy night for the parents.
Random Pictures
Here are a few VERY random pictures for your enjoyment.
I found the masterpiece below while cleaning out the garage. I made this skull out of clay during high school. We started with a wad of newspaper and then added clay, using a real skull as a model. (Well, it was probably a plastic skull.)
My skull hit the pavement last Sunday, and so I took some final pictures and threw it in the trash. What was I going to do with a clay skull anyway?
Below: Lisa and Camille after the skull incident. I love Camille's smile.
Below: Elodie's feelings about photography. I have very few Halloween photos of Elodie because she "hates pictures." The left-hand picture is from before she saw me with the camera. The right-hand picture is her screaming after seeing the camera.
I found the masterpiece below while cleaning out the garage. I made this skull out of clay during high school. We started with a wad of newspaper and then added clay, using a real skull as a model. (Well, it was probably a plastic skull.)
My skull hit the pavement last Sunday, and so I took some final pictures and threw it in the trash. What was I going to do with a clay skull anyway?
Below: Lisa and Camille after the skull incident. I love Camille's smile.
Below: Elodie's feelings about photography. I have very few Halloween photos of Elodie because she "hates pictures." The left-hand picture is from before she saw me with the camera. The right-hand picture is her screaming after seeing the camera.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Job Update
I mentioned earlier that I had a job interview while in Utah. I didn't get that job, but I got two other jobs. I now work two part-time jobs, and life is very crazy.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm the "office assistant" at a local nursery. In theory, I help with accounts payable and accounts receivable. In reality, I do all kinds of things. I've discovered that working in corporate finance does not translate into being accounting saavy. Fortunately, I am learning slowly but surely.
I also do SAT and ACT prep for a local center. I tutor high school students (in two-hour blocks) for the verbal portion of the SAT or ACT. Being anal about grammar is a big help, and the kids have been great so far.
Going from no jobs to two jobs created challenges at home. I think we're getting into a rhythm at last. When I go to work, Camille just says, "Bye Mom" and gives me a hug.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm the "office assistant" at a local nursery. In theory, I help with accounts payable and accounts receivable. In reality, I do all kinds of things. I've discovered that working in corporate finance does not translate into being accounting saavy. Fortunately, I am learning slowly but surely.
I also do SAT and ACT prep for a local center. I tutor high school students (in two-hour blocks) for the verbal portion of the SAT or ACT. Being anal about grammar is a big help, and the kids have been great so far.
Going from no jobs to two jobs created challenges at home. I think we're getting into a rhythm at last. When I go to work, Camille just says, "Bye Mom" and gives me a hug.
Halloween Preview
I know it's not Halloween yet, but I already have some pictures of the girls in costume (from a neighbor's birthday party).
Pumpkin Patch
Last weekend we went to a pumpkin patch with the girls and some friends. It was really crowded, but the weather was nice. We went to the same pumpkin patch when we lived here years ago. We rode a boat over to the pumpkins and saw a scary shark and dragon along the way. After picking pumpkins (which get transported and dumped in the field from elsewhere), we rode a little train back to the cashier to pay for our pumpkins.
Finding just the right pumpking was the most difficult part of the outing. Almost as difficult was waiting until Monday night to carve them. The girls thought they would die having to wait so long. Now we just have to see if they rot on our doorstep before the big day.
Finding just the right pumpking was the most difficult part of the outing. Almost as difficult was waiting until Monday night to carve them. The girls thought they would die having to wait so long. Now we just have to see if they rot on our doorstep before the big day.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Teaching Stubborn Kids
We headed off to our annual community/church service project on Saturday morning. We went to one of the local high schools to do yard work. As we got out of the car, the kids said, “I hate to work.” “It’s too cold outside.” On and on and on with the complaints.
We hauled the three girls from the car and checked in. The coordinator assigned us to remove ivy. (Apparently this is a type of ivy that is now outlawed in Oregon.) Russ and I started pulling the stuff out and eventually moved to shovels to attack the incredibly thick roots. And guess what? Madeleine and Elodie worked right along beside us. We’ve never seen them work so long. They spent about one-and-a-half hours uprooting ivy, clipping ivy, and pulling it off the walls. They were almost the only little kids there, but they did a fantastic job. No, we didn’t last the three hours we signed up for, but I was still impressed.
We hauled the three girls from the car and checked in. The coordinator assigned us to remove ivy. (Apparently this is a type of ivy that is now outlawed in Oregon.) Russ and I started pulling the stuff out and eventually moved to shovels to attack the incredibly thick roots. And guess what? Madeleine and Elodie worked right along beside us. We’ve never seen them work so long. They spent about one-and-a-half hours uprooting ivy, clipping ivy, and pulling it off the walls. They were almost the only little kids there, but they did a fantastic job. No, we didn’t last the three hours we signed up for, but I was still impressed.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Fun Run
I spent Wednesday morning volunteering at the First Annual Fun Run. The local elementary school usually raises money through an auction. However, the lousy economy is keeping businesses from donating the way they usually do. The school’s answer was a “Fun Run,” where kids got pledges for each lap they completed.I was happy to see both of my girls participating happily. Neither of them ran the entire time (which was about an hour), but they both kept moving. I was especially happy to see Elodie completing laps. We tried to participate in a family 5K walk last spring. Elodie made it about twenty steps before she said, “I’m tired. I don’t want to walk anymore.”
Even Camille participated. She only did one lap, but she thought hanging out on the playground was great.
Here's Elodie getting a snack between laps.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Elodie Cracks Me Up
On Sunday, we sat at the very back of the congregation during church. We sat on the folding chairs in the gym, rows added in the back of the regular chapel because the entire membership overflows the pews. Sitting in the gym inspired Camille to run back and forth on the wooden floor. I finally stood at the back of the gym to contain her. While I did this, I noticed Elodie creeping around the rows of chairs periodically. She would sneak up a few rows and then return to her chair a few seconds later.
I discovered what Elodie was up to when Camille and I finally returned to our seats. Elodie slowly stole all of the hymn books from the people in front of us. She had about twelve books by the time Camille and I sat down. Reverent? No. Funny? Very.
*************************************
Driving home yesterday, we discussed Elodie’s teacher who got remarried over the summer. Elodie said, “I’m going to buy a husband.”
“Really,” I said. “Where do you buy a husband?”
“At the store,” she replied.
“What store?” I asked.
“Target,” she replied.
I discovered what Elodie was up to when Camille and I finally returned to our seats. Elodie slowly stole all of the hymn books from the people in front of us. She had about twelve books by the time Camille and I sat down. Reverent? No. Funny? Very.
*************************************
Driving home yesterday, we discussed Elodie’s teacher who got remarried over the summer. Elodie said, “I’m going to buy a husband.”
“Really,” I said. “Where do you buy a husband?”
“At the store,” she replied.
“What store?” I asked.
“Target,” she replied.
New School Year
We’re at the end of the third week of school, and I’m just NOW getting around to posting anything about the new school year. Here’s the brief recap:
Madeleine: The school decided to “loop” Madeleine’s class from last year. That means Madeleine has the same teacher, meets in the same classroom, and attends class with many of the same kids from last year. The district split the school during the summer. Instead of 31 kids in her class, she now has 26. Madeleine was excited that one of the boys from last is now in another school. “He could run faster than I could,” she confided.
Madeleine has done a good job getting off to school each day. She has been a really good big sister to Elodie, especially riding the bus together in the mornings. However, Madeleine already told me, “I spend my whole life sitting in a chair!” She also said, “I don’t get enough time to play. I like summer better.” Madeleine also feels envious of her two younger sisters who don’t go to full days of school and get to “do things” at home.
Elodie: Elodie attends a.m. kindergarten. It has been difficult getting details out of Elodie this year. All I know is that she likes to take the bus in the morning and seems happy (but starving) when she comes home just after 11:00. I’m hoping she will share more details as the year progresses.
Madeleine: The school decided to “loop” Madeleine’s class from last year. That means Madeleine has the same teacher, meets in the same classroom, and attends class with many of the same kids from last year. The district split the school during the summer. Instead of 31 kids in her class, she now has 26. Madeleine was excited that one of the boys from last is now in another school. “He could run faster than I could,” she confided.
Madeleine has done a good job getting off to school each day. She has been a really good big sister to Elodie, especially riding the bus together in the mornings. However, Madeleine already told me, “I spend my whole life sitting in a chair!” She also said, “I don’t get enough time to play. I like summer better.” Madeleine also feels envious of her two younger sisters who don’t go to full days of school and get to “do things” at home.
Elodie: Elodie attends a.m. kindergarten. It has been difficult getting details out of Elodie this year. All I know is that she likes to take the bus in the morning and seems happy (but starving) when she comes home just after 11:00. I’m hoping she will share more details as the year progresses.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The Rest of the Story
Okay, so I failed on blogging each day of our trip. Now you'll have to put up with a lump summary of the rest of our Utah trip.
Day 3:
The day started on a very bizarre note. I woke up early to run, and I let the cat into the house on my way out the door at 6:00. When I got home from my run, my sister (Leanna) and Elodie were watching television together. "Why are you both up?" I asked.
Leanna answered, "I heard the cat screeching just after 6:00. I got up and found Elodie trying to stuff him into a dresser drawer." Frightening.
The rest of the day was pretty tame and slow in comparison. Russ went into work (twice), so we had some downtime at my parents' house. That was okay with the kids since they thought the "new toys" were so cool. (Remember that they played with these same toys when we lived in Utah seven months ago, but they have short-term memories.)
Swimming at the university swimming pool was the day's highlight other than the joy of toys. We discovered that we timed our trip really well. Local schools started the week before our arrival, so we had the ENTIRE pool to ourselves. (Well, until a little boy and his dad showed up.) The four lifeguards followed us around as we moved between the kiddie and regular pools. It was a bit unnerving, but having an entire swimming complex to ourselves was sweet.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Day 4:
Russ left Tuesday with the girls for a mini trip to visit his cousin and her family. I was planning to spend the night with my youngest sister in Salt Lake during their absence. However, I got an unexpected call to schedule a job interview (via the phone) the next day. [Note: I am venturing a return to the world of paid work after a seven-year absence. I always have to clarify the "paid" work part because it's not like I haven't been working as a stay-at-home mom.] The phone call turned my fun evening into a trip to the library and studying for my interview. Fortunately, Leanna and I made a few pit stops at local stores which made the pain much more bearable.
Rating: 4 out of 10 (Full points to Leanna for being nice enough to hang out with me while I studied.)
Day 5:
I started the day with a jog into the canyon. The weather was great, and the run was very enjoyable. However, my long run (and my procrastinating) cut into study time for my interview. However, I'm not sure if more studying would have made much difference. It's been years since I interviewed for a job, and I am very rusty. I had a hard time reading my interviewers reaction, so I don't know how well I explained skills I haven't used for years.
With the interview behind me, Leanna and I did a bit more shopping. (You've got to maximize on those opportunities while the kids are with their dad.) Leanna then dropped me off at the bus stop where I took the bus to Salt Lake for my postponed visit with Kristi, my youngest sister.
Taking public transit worked out well and provided plenty of opportunity to people watch. I met Kristi after she got off work, and the two of us spent hours talking before finally going to bed. No, we didn't spend a wild night on the town, but chatting was just as enjoyable.
Rating: 6 out of 10 (points deducted because of the job interview)
Day 6:
After getting ready the next morning, Kristi and I went shopping. Neither of us planned to spend any money, but of course we did. We had a great time together, and the hours passed quickly. My middle sister (Kimberly) then dropped me off at the light rail where I headed back to Provo.
Soon after I arrived, I met my sister-in-law to see a chic flick. (We saw Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. I missed some of the things from the books, but overall it was pretty good.) I had to see the movie while I had the chance because there's no way Russ would ever see it with me.
After the movie, my sister-in-law, brother, nephew, Leanna, and I went for Korean food and then gelato for dessert. (I know--Korean and Italian are a weird combination, but it was great dining and great company.)
Rating: 9 out of 10 (It would have been a ten if I'd seen my kids during the day.)
Day 7:
I started the day with another run up the canyon. The weather cooled since Wednesday, but I finally warmed up as I progressed. I was sad that I didn't have a camera in hand because I ran into an enormous MOOSE during my run. (Well, he was on the side of the trail.) The two of us stared at each other, and then I ran on without incidence. How cool is that?
I also passed a waterfall and lost of other beautiful scenery during the run.
Later in the morning, Russ and the girls returned from their mini trip. They had a great visit, but we were all happy to see each other again.
In the early afternoon, we returned to the pool for another swim session. We still had the kiddie pool mostly to ourselves, but we had to share the regular pool with hordes of freshman newly arrived for the school year. The freshman hogged the pool with their flirtatious games, so we stuck mostly to the kiddie pool. This was fine as we still had an exclusive lifeguard and a lot of fun.
That evening we met my four siblings, two spouses, two nieces, one nephew, and a dog for a picnic in the park. The three middle cousins had a great time exploring the trees and playing together. The two toddlers required constant observation. The teenager texted friends. And the adults laughed a lot.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Day 8:
We packed and cleaned in preparation for our trip back to Oregon. Our departure time got pushed farther and farther back as we packed a whole lot of stuff into our van. (We left a lot behind when the girls and I lived in Utah earlier this year.) We finally left at 1:00 p.m. MST which led to us returning to Portland at 2:00 a.m. PST. Fortunately, Russ was a champion and drove the last six hours while the girls and I fell asleep.
And now . . . we are home with a bug-encrusted car, a lot of dirty laundry, and a whole lot of stuff to unpack. I guess that's what Labor Day is for.
Rating: 5 out of 10 (points lost due to our late departure and our overstuffed and filthy car)
Day 3:
The day started on a very bizarre note. I woke up early to run, and I let the cat into the house on my way out the door at 6:00. When I got home from my run, my sister (Leanna) and Elodie were watching television together. "Why are you both up?" I asked.
Leanna answered, "I heard the cat screeching just after 6:00. I got up and found Elodie trying to stuff him into a dresser drawer." Frightening.
The rest of the day was pretty tame and slow in comparison. Russ went into work (twice), so we had some downtime at my parents' house. That was okay with the kids since they thought the "new toys" were so cool. (Remember that they played with these same toys when we lived in Utah seven months ago, but they have short-term memories.)
Swimming at the university swimming pool was the day's highlight other than the joy of toys. We discovered that we timed our trip really well. Local schools started the week before our arrival, so we had the ENTIRE pool to ourselves. (Well, until a little boy and his dad showed up.) The four lifeguards followed us around as we moved between the kiddie and regular pools. It was a bit unnerving, but having an entire swimming complex to ourselves was sweet.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Day 4:
Russ left Tuesday with the girls for a mini trip to visit his cousin and her family. I was planning to spend the night with my youngest sister in Salt Lake during their absence. However, I got an unexpected call to schedule a job interview (via the phone) the next day. [Note: I am venturing a return to the world of paid work after a seven-year absence. I always have to clarify the "paid" work part because it's not like I haven't been working as a stay-at-home mom.] The phone call turned my fun evening into a trip to the library and studying for my interview. Fortunately, Leanna and I made a few pit stops at local stores which made the pain much more bearable.
Rating: 4 out of 10 (Full points to Leanna for being nice enough to hang out with me while I studied.)
Day 5:
I started the day with a jog into the canyon. The weather was great, and the run was very enjoyable. However, my long run (and my procrastinating) cut into study time for my interview. However, I'm not sure if more studying would have made much difference. It's been years since I interviewed for a job, and I am very rusty. I had a hard time reading my interviewers reaction, so I don't know how well I explained skills I haven't used for years.
With the interview behind me, Leanna and I did a bit more shopping. (You've got to maximize on those opportunities while the kids are with their dad.) Leanna then dropped me off at the bus stop where I took the bus to Salt Lake for my postponed visit with Kristi, my youngest sister.
Taking public transit worked out well and provided plenty of opportunity to people watch. I met Kristi after she got off work, and the two of us spent hours talking before finally going to bed. No, we didn't spend a wild night on the town, but chatting was just as enjoyable.
Rating: 6 out of 10 (points deducted because of the job interview)
Day 6:
After getting ready the next morning, Kristi and I went shopping. Neither of us planned to spend any money, but of course we did. We had a great time together, and the hours passed quickly. My middle sister (Kimberly) then dropped me off at the light rail where I headed back to Provo.
Soon after I arrived, I met my sister-in-law to see a chic flick. (We saw Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. I missed some of the things from the books, but overall it was pretty good.) I had to see the movie while I had the chance because there's no way Russ would ever see it with me.
After the movie, my sister-in-law, brother, nephew, Leanna, and I went for Korean food and then gelato for dessert. (I know--Korean and Italian are a weird combination, but it was great dining and great company.)
Rating: 9 out of 10 (It would have been a ten if I'd seen my kids during the day.)
Day 7:
I started the day with another run up the canyon. The weather cooled since Wednesday, but I finally warmed up as I progressed. I was sad that I didn't have a camera in hand because I ran into an enormous MOOSE during my run. (Well, he was on the side of the trail.) The two of us stared at each other, and then I ran on without incidence. How cool is that?
I also passed a waterfall and lost of other beautiful scenery during the run.
Later in the morning, Russ and the girls returned from their mini trip. They had a great visit, but we were all happy to see each other again.
In the early afternoon, we returned to the pool for another swim session. We still had the kiddie pool mostly to ourselves, but we had to share the regular pool with hordes of freshman newly arrived for the school year. The freshman hogged the pool with their flirtatious games, so we stuck mostly to the kiddie pool. This was fine as we still had an exclusive lifeguard and a lot of fun.
That evening we met my four siblings, two spouses, two nieces, one nephew, and a dog for a picnic in the park. The three middle cousins had a great time exploring the trees and playing together. The two toddlers required constant observation. The teenager texted friends. And the adults laughed a lot.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Day 8:
We packed and cleaned in preparation for our trip back to Oregon. Our departure time got pushed farther and farther back as we packed a whole lot of stuff into our van. (We left a lot behind when the girls and I lived in Utah earlier this year.) We finally left at 1:00 p.m. MST which led to us returning to Portland at 2:00 a.m. PST. Fortunately, Russ was a champion and drove the last six hours while the girls and I fell asleep.
And now . . . we are home with a bug-encrusted car, a lot of dirty laundry, and a whole lot of stuff to unpack. I guess that's what Labor Day is for.
Rating: 5 out of 10 (points lost due to our late departure and our overstuffed and filthy car)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Day Two in Utah
We spent most of our second day in Utah getting ready for church and attending church. We also managed a little socializing time with family.
Highlights of our Sunday:
-Enjoying visits from my brother, sister, and brother-in-law (although the real reason for the visit was to enable the two men to watch a show together).
-Chatting with my sisters.
-Hearing Camille call my sister on the phone to ask why the dog wasn’t over visiting.
-Watching Camille play with her youngest cousin, Bridger.
-Seeing Bridger eat the dog’s chew treat.
-Visiting with a friend I’ve known since I was five.
Lowlights of our Sunday:
-Madeleine throwing an enormous tantrum because the clothes Grandma bought her weren’t as cute as the clothes Grandma bought for Camille.
-Madeleine climbing up a tree and tearing a massive hole in her dress right before church.
-Some elderly person at church “shushing” me because Camille was making too much noise during the worship service. (I was even on my way out the door with her when it happened.)
-Camille melting down because we went to church from 1-4 pm, and I declined giving her a nap when we got home. (I didn’t give in because I didn’t want to be up until midnight with her.)
Highlights of our Sunday:
-Enjoying visits from my brother, sister, and brother-in-law (although the real reason for the visit was to enable the two men to watch a show together).
-Chatting with my sisters.
-Hearing Camille call my sister on the phone to ask why the dog wasn’t over visiting.
-Watching Camille play with her youngest cousin, Bridger.
-Seeing Bridger eat the dog’s chew treat.
-Visiting with a friend I’ve known since I was five.
Lowlights of our Sunday:
-Madeleine throwing an enormous tantrum because the clothes Grandma bought her weren’t as cute as the clothes Grandma bought for Camille.
-Madeleine climbing up a tree and tearing a massive hole in her dress right before church.
-Some elderly person at church “shushing” me because Camille was making too much noise during the worship service. (I was even on my way out the door with her when it happened.)
-Camille melting down because we went to church from 1-4 pm, and I declined giving her a nap when we got home. (I didn’t give in because I didn’t want to be up until midnight with her.)
First Day in Utah
We spent our first day in Utah with four of my five siblings and their families. (We were only missing my brother stationed in Iraq. We also missed my parents who are still living the rough life in La Jolla.)
Saturday afternoon we had a picnic lunch with my brother and his family. We took lunch up to Sundance and ate on the grass there. (No, we didn’t see Robert Redford or any other famous people—not that we know of anyway.) Lunch was good, and we managed (barely) to keep my girls out of the nearby stream.
After lunch, we rode the ski lift for a fantastic view of the resort. The view was beautiful, but my kids weren’t entirely cooperative. Elodie complained about how “sweaty” she was and removed her shirt mid-ride. Camille then decided that she didn’t want to be held and freaked all of us out as she squirmed trying to get free. Madeleine then spilled water on her shirt, which she removed. (We forced her to put it on again.) All of this occurred while we were many feet above the ground with only a small bar between my kids and a huge fall. We should have let my brother’s family go ahead of us on the lift because we gave my sister-in-law multiple heart attacks with our antics.
Saturday evening we all got together to celebrate my youngest sister’s birthday. The food was great and the company even better. The four young girl cousins played together amazingly well, and the old people laughed a lot.
Saturday afternoon we had a picnic lunch with my brother and his family. We took lunch up to Sundance and ate on the grass there. (No, we didn’t see Robert Redford or any other famous people—not that we know of anyway.) Lunch was good, and we managed (barely) to keep my girls out of the nearby stream.
After lunch, we rode the ski lift for a fantastic view of the resort. The view was beautiful, but my kids weren’t entirely cooperative. Elodie complained about how “sweaty” she was and removed her shirt mid-ride. Camille then decided that she didn’t want to be held and freaked all of us out as she squirmed trying to get free. Madeleine then spilled water on her shirt, which she removed. (We forced her to put it on again.) All of this occurred while we were many feet above the ground with only a small bar between my kids and a huge fall. We should have let my brother’s family go ahead of us on the lift because we gave my sister-in-law multiple heart attacks with our antics.
Saturday evening we all got together to celebrate my youngest sister’s birthday. The food was great and the company even better. The four young girl cousins played together amazingly well, and the old people laughed a lot.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Staycation Ends
Our staycation finally came to an end. We left Friday for a week with my siblings in Utah. We don’t take very many long drives, so twelve hours in the car in one day was a feat for us.Elodie and Madeleine were pretty good sports. Elodie asked, “Are we at Grandma’s house yet?” when we were still in Portland. She asked the question about a dozen more times.
Madeleine kept asking, “Are we out of Idaho yet?” I was very happy when we could answer yes.
Camille had the most difficult time during the drive. She wasn’t entertained by movies or coloring like her sisters were. On top of that, she was exhausted from her early wake-up call. This all somehow contributed to Camille being obsessed with milk during the drive. After she finished the small amount we bought for breakfast, she cried uncontrollably. Camille just couldn’t get the concept that we didn’t HAVE more milk and thought we were holding out on her. We finally loaded up on milk at a gas station, and she kept guzzling. Oops. When we stopped for dinner, Camille lost it all. Fortunately, I was almost in the bathroom when the curdy stuff made its way back up.
Even with that adventure, we made good time. We missed the morning traffic in Portland, we hit very little road construction, and we avoided any deer crossing the road. With only brief stops for gas and bathroom breaks, we plowed through until we got dinner at 5:00 p.m. We stopped in the megalopolis of Snowville. We only had three options for dinner, and we opted for the very authentic diner experience. The girls hopped right up to the counter and thoroughly enjoyed the gritty food and atmosphere.
Even with our lengthy dinner break, we still made it to Salt Lake ahead of schedule. We made a pit stop at the airport to pick up my sister and then crammed in the car for the last hour of the drive.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Garlic in the Running Shoes
For any serious runners, stop reading now. You will find the story below completely wimpy. For anyone not into running, stop reading now. You will find the story below a total bore.
For anyone in between, hopefully you can bear with me.
I ran my second 10k on Saturday. The venue? The world-renowned Garlic Festival. Never heard of it? Well, join the rest of the world. The race was small (only about two hundred runners), but the countryside venue was as beautiful as the weather.
As someone said to me this weekend, "Why do I pay money to run?" Good question. I guess I just want to push myself to run a little farther and a little faster, and competition gives me that extra push. I'd save a lot of money if I were just a little more SELF-motivated.
When I signed up for the race, I read about the "rolling hills around a beautiful golf course." "Great," I thought, imagining gentle ascents followed by gentle descents.
I was wrong on that one. The first hill appeared at the 1 km mark, and it just kept going, and going, and going--for the next 3.5 km. On the way up, I thought, "I don't care what time I make. I will just be proud of myself if I finish this race." Yeah, it was that annoying. I finally hit the summit and ran downhill, thinking the course would be a breeze from thereon. But no. There was plenty of uphill work yet to do. Yes, the hills were mostly inclines rather than true mountians, but my legs were still sore the next day.
As it turned out, I ran the race in just over 50 minutes, with a pace of 8:05 per mile. That's a little poorer than my previous 10k, but I think not a bad showing considering the hills. The cool part was that I came in first for my age group. (Thank goodness there were only two hundred contestants and that the nine women who finished before I did were all younger or older. I lucked out there.) I got a lovely medal featuring--garlic.
For anyone in between, hopefully you can bear with me.
I ran my second 10k on Saturday. The venue? The world-renowned Garlic Festival. Never heard of it? Well, join the rest of the world. The race was small (only about two hundred runners), but the countryside venue was as beautiful as the weather.
As someone said to me this weekend, "Why do I pay money to run?" Good question. I guess I just want to push myself to run a little farther and a little faster, and competition gives me that extra push. I'd save a lot of money if I were just a little more SELF-motivated.
When I signed up for the race, I read about the "rolling hills around a beautiful golf course." "Great," I thought, imagining gentle ascents followed by gentle descents.
I was wrong on that one. The first hill appeared at the 1 km mark, and it just kept going, and going, and going--for the next 3.5 km. On the way up, I thought, "I don't care what time I make. I will just be proud of myself if I finish this race." Yeah, it was that annoying. I finally hit the summit and ran downhill, thinking the course would be a breeze from thereon. But no. There was plenty of uphill work yet to do. Yes, the hills were mostly inclines rather than true mountians, but my legs were still sore the next day.
As it turned out, I ran the race in just over 50 minutes, with a pace of 8:05 per mile. That's a little poorer than my previous 10k, but I think not a bad showing considering the hills. The cool part was that I came in first for my age group. (Thank goodness there were only two hundred contestants and that the nine women who finished before I did were all younger or older. I lucked out there.) I got a lovely medal featuring--garlic.
Airshow
Our town (home to a small airport) hosts an airshow every summer. We decided to watch the airplanes on the grass outside the airport instead of buying tickets. We weren't alone in our cheapskate plan, and we joined a bunch of other people on a patch of grass. Despite my kids' fighting with each other, it started as a pretty enjoyable evening. Then a cop came over.
"The sprinklers just came on over there, so I want to warn you folks they might be coming your way."
We figured we'd take our chances since we'd scored a good view. But not ten minutes later, the sprinklers came on full force. Everything we had, including the camera and our coats, got doused. When our kids started complaining of the cold, we gave in, took them home, and missed the fireworks.
"The sprinklers just came on over there, so I want to warn you folks they might be coming your way."
We figured we'd take our chances since we'd scored a good view. But not ten minutes later, the sprinklers came on full force. Everything we had, including the camera and our coats, got doused. When our kids started complaining of the cold, we gave in, took them home, and missed the fireworks.
At least we didn't waste money on tickets, right?
The airshow.
The sprinklers.
Camille post-sprinklers.
Friday, August 8, 2008
More Fun on the Staycation
Yes, our staycation continues! Here are a few photo highlights.
(More to come.)
Camille (sporting some bedhead) works out with me in the morning.
The girls "help" put up the tent in the backyard.
Madeleine shows off her raspberry bounty while Camille eats her weight in berries.
(Notice Camille's bathing suit. She thinks swimming suits are daily apparel, even if you're not swimming.)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Birthday
Madeleine celebrated her seventh birthday this week. Other than her cake being a disaster and then starting on fire when we lit the candles (long story), she had a fun birthday.
(Note the lovely flames below.)
(Note the lovely flames below.)
Rock Climbing 101
We FINALLY found an outlet for all of Madeleine's excess energy. After chasing her around and watching her bounce off the walls for years, we discovered rock climbing.
I signed her up for the class, just trying to find an activity she would agree to and might enjoy. (Madeleine vetoed basketball, baseball, and soccer because she's not "good" at them and wouldn't have fun. How does she know she wouldn't have fun since she hasn't really tried any of them? Don't ask me.)
As it turns out, Madeleine has a natural inclination for climbing. (Anyone who knew her as a toddler will not be shocked by this.) She has little fear, some pretty good arm and leg strength, and a big desire to climb two-stories to ring a cow bell. :)
Granted, this might not be the most comforting sport for a parent. I'm just excited that Madeleine found something she loves doing and excels at. As long as she learns how to climb safely, I'm all for it.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Staycation
This summer is apparently the year of our great American "staycation." (Meaning: we're staying put for the time being.) Here are a few photo highlights from our staycation thus far.
The girls enjoyed splashing around on our putting-green-sized lawn last week.
Russ took Madeleine and Elodie fishing last weekend. (Don't get too thrilled by our outdoor skills just yet. It's one of those places where the pond is stocked and the fish basically jump on your hook. However, I have to give Russ credit for gutting the fish.)
The girls caught fish right away, but they refused to eat it. Their loss, as it really wasn't too bad.
The girls enjoyed splashing around on our putting-green-sized lawn last week.
Russ took Madeleine and Elodie fishing last weekend. (Don't get too thrilled by our outdoor skills just yet. It's one of those places where the pond is stocked and the fish basically jump on your hook. However, I have to give Russ credit for gutting the fish.)
The girls caught fish right away, but they refused to eat it. Their loss, as it really wasn't too bad.
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