Friday, April 28, 2017

Field Trip Friday #78--Rock Canyon Extravaganza

Tonight was the Rock Canyon Extravaganza!  Yeah!!!  We have been eagerly anticipating this day, more so perhaps than in years past.  Because Brandt is in fifth grade, he got to "help" with the cake walk.  All the fifth graders are responsible for bringing in lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of cakes that are then used for the cake walk and the cake auction.  The class with the most cakes gets a pizza party.

Talk about parental pressure!  Brandt told me we needed to make twelve cakes because one boy said they were bringing in that many.  Twelve cakes?!  Who would do that?  I agreed that we would make six small cakes plus a big one for the auction, and I felt like we were being super generous.  That's seven cakes!  We decorated the small ones like emojis, and Brandt covered the big one with Oreos.  I really thought we were doing a major thing by bringing seven cakes.  But wouldn't you know it, some kid really did bring twelve.

Ridiculous.

Anyway, Brandt's class missed having the most by only three cakes, and he claimed that someone had taken a cake or two off their table to put on a different class table, but whatever.  We could only do so much.  Maybe I'll make more for Blythe (but I doubt it).


Cake, cake, and more cake.
Neither of the children were successful in winning a cake, so we came home with none.

The Extravaganza was pretty terrific this year, except that it was cold.  Many of the games that would normally have been outside were inside, and for some reason, there were not enough volunteers.  Kent spent two hours at a game because no one came to relieve  him after the first hour.  I spent an hour at the petting zoo and then helped clean up for another hour.  It was fun to celebrate in the new school and it seemed like we had lots of people attending, just not volunteering.  Blythe ran around with her buddies Maggie and Addi, and Brandt ran around with his, so I only saw them briefly.  It was a fun night.

Maggie, Blythe, and Addi 

Brandt's face is covered in cotton candy.
Yuck!

Brandt and sheep
I wanted a picture of Blythe and animal, but she wouldn't pick one up and hold it while I was standing by with the camera. 

Sunday, April 23, 2017

A Fine and Brilliant Mind

I sat down this evening to check on emails and found one from my mother.  She has begun transcribing a journal she kept years ago, and felt it imperative to share the following with me.  After reading it, I'm so glad she did!

April 23, 2017 – The following is a typed copy of a handwritten journal entry I wrote dated January 24, 1980.
 Today I spent the day cleaning house for Georgianne. Earlier this month, I decided I could obtain our food storage by earning a little extra each month by working. But I have so little free time left now with four children, that I neglect important things at home when I am off doing things for others. I want to sew more, garden and work on home production, organize the interior of our house and work on teaching the children.
 I see clearly tonight how unmotivated and undisciplined the children are. Katherine has had two weeks to work on a map assignment and did not finish it. Yet she complains when I let her watch only one hour of TV a night or when I make her bathe twice a week. Dishes are never done, chores are seldom completed, and her fine and brilliant mind is rotting away from disuse.
 I need to give greater responsibility and establish a stricter schedule.
 ***
 I laughed and laughed as I typed this. Thirty-seven years later, I report that I never took up sewing, vegetable gardening or home production. My efforts to organize the house were achieved mostly by intermittent decluttering. I know all my children know how to cook – at least some basic meals – but I don’t recall teaching them. They most likely observed and experimented on their own.
 As for Katherine’s fine and brilliant mind, it’s still there and she learned to develop it without any prodding on my part. Reading this was like listening to Katherine interacting with Blythe.
 The lesson I learned: We worry too much. 

I called Mom after reading this and we laughed and laughed together.  She said in the next entry I confess to having cheated in school, but she figured she would give it a bit more time before sharing.  It's all too funny, and too painfully familiar.  Parenting is the same no matter when you're doing it.  Makes me realize I should be journaling more because who wants to miss out on moments likes this?

Friday, April 21, 2017

Field Trip Friday #77--Grayson's Birthday

Grayson's birthday is later in the week, but today was his birthday party.  Grandma Dawn had us all meet at a bounce house in Orem for jumping and eating of cake and general wildness.  There was all that plus loud music, a giant balloon bin, and an obstacle course.  The kids, all of them including the birthday boy, had a great time, and we went home a bit tired and ready for dinner.  Hooray for birthday celebrating!



Anson
Blythe and Brandt
Erin, ?, Grayson, ?, McKenna, ?
Ever, ?
I don't know all the neighbor kids/friends

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Dirt in the Yard

The grass in the yard, both in the front and in the back, is very uneven.  There are spots where it almost like a hole, and other areas where there seem to be little hillocks.  It's been frustrating to me as I've worked to make the yard look good, so I decided to do something about it.  I went online to try and find out what options I've got, and found two separate videos explaining how you can level your yard with a dirt/sand mixture that you sort of rake over the sod to even it out.  It seemed straightforward enough, a project I could handle.  

So today I called Mikayla and asked if she and her little people wanted to join me for a trip to the nursery to buy dirt.  Of course they did, so off we went.  It was very exciting to watch the front-end loader fill the truck with dirt!  Upon arrival back at home, Mikayla and I began unloading dirt.  The video said to dump small piles around the yard, then disperse them with a shovel, then rake the dirt into the grass, making sure it springs back up because needs sun to grow, and if you get too much dirt and cover it all over, it will die, thus completely defeating the purpose for which you began.  I sort of forgot the step where you use a shovel to sprinkle it over the yard, so Mikayla and I were struggling for a while trying to move huge (small piles that felt huge) piles of dirt.  

The best part of the project was Cora who, after getting two or three piles of dirt on the lawn, began throwing her into the dirt.  She was all in, loving the feel of the dirt on her bare arms and legs.  It wasn't great for her cast, but she didn't seem to mind, and Mikayla said they could have it recast if the original got too filthy.  I'm not sure how it can't get filthy, but that's okay.  Brick was, in his words, "an awesome helper," and I completely concur.  He used a small shovel and helped as best he could.  After having worked on it all day long, I've realized it's going to take a while to get all the dirt evenly spread across the grass.  And I've lost my enthusiasm for having an even lawn in the backyard.  It's all a bit too much effort for me.







Monday, April 17, 2017

A First!

Tonight for our Family Home Evening treat, we tried Penguin Brothers ice cream sandwiches.  You get to select your own flavor of cookies and the ice cream you want between them and make an individual sandwich tailored to your tastes.  They were delicious!  Brandt liked his so much he wanted another one immediately, and Blythe requested that we come back every FHE for the rest of her life.  That's quite an endorsement.  

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Easter

It was a beautiful Easter Sabbath.  I love spring.  This time of year when all the world seems to be waking from winter deadness makes my heart sing and rejoice in the gloriousness of the gospel and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I think of Him and his life and death and that morning of joy when it seemed all sadness.  And I think of our parents and grandparents and those we love who have died and how wonderful it will be when we are reunited.  And it was wonderful to be with living loved ones, too.  We were uplifted in church and then spent a nice afternoon/evening with family.  And just for fun, we did an egg hunt.  In not so fun news, Brick jumped on Cora on the trampoline and broke her leg, so her day didn't end well.  She'll be several weeks in a cast, poor thing.  But she's young and resilient and will heal.  Happy and glorious Easter!

Brandt and Luke were entertaining Cora who couldn't do anything.




Saturday, April 15, 2017

Funny Children

Blythe had a soccer game this morning.  It was sort of chilly.  Brandt wanted to come.  This is what he wore.  Bathrobe, furry alpaca hat, flip flops.  There is additional clothing underneath that bathrobe, but who can tell it's there?  He's a very silly boy!  And very confident!!



Snow Cones!

I got a snow cone machine at the Easter Basket Auction.  It said it was a "shaved ice" machine, but in reality, it's just a snow cone machine.  The children were thrilled and have been making snow cones whenever the mood strikes them.  It's always a mess--a sweet, sticky mess.  Today friends came over and out came the machine, syrup, cups, straws, and ice.  Snow cones were enjoyed by all outside on the patio.

Blythe, Brandt, and the Moreland boys: Paul, Kevin, and Bryce

Friday, April 14, 2017

Cereal Party

Today Brandt had a class party.  Several days ago he came home, thrilled to tell me all about the cereal party his class had earned.  What's a cereal party?  Well you many ask.  It's a party where you get to bring any kind of cereal you want and then everyone gets to eat as much as they want.  You know no one was going to bring healthy-ish cereal, like Bran Flakes or Raisin Bran or granola with dried fruits and nuts.  Oh no!  There was going to be a sugary assortment of boxes containing, in the words of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes, chocolate-coated sugar bombs.

Brandt insisted that we go to the store and get him just what he wanted, and as this was a party earned for good behavior, I agreed.  He lobbied for bringing three boxes of cereal, but I felt two cereals was adequate.  And what did he choose?  Cookie Crisp and Captain Crunch, both with lots of sugar.

When Brandt got home today, I asked how the cereal party went.  He said, "Guess how many bowls of cereal I had?"

"Four?" I guessed.

Not even close.  "I had TEN bowls of cereal!" he shrieked in delight, then giggled like a madman.  I suspect it was hilarity brought on by an overdose of sugar.  During the party, they watched Disney shorts and ate lots and lots and lots and lots of cereal.  Fifth grade is the bomb.  A chocolate-coated sugary one.

Friday, April 7, 2017

The Lion King

We got back from California just in time to have a fantastic date with several couples in our ward.  For Christmas, Spencer Magleby gave Stephanie tickets to The Lion King, and invited us, the Pugmires, and the MacKays to join them.  While tickets were pricey, and Kent wasn't super thrilled about the show, we were certainly pleased with the invitation and the chance to go out with adult people we really like.

We drove to Salt Lake with the Pugmires.  Gregg and Linda are so much fun.  We laughed up and back.  We met the Spencer and Stephanie at BRIO Tuscan Grille for dinner, and again laughed and laughed as we talked and ate seriously delicious food.  It was marvelous to have adult conversation and manners after being with the children all week, and to have time to be with Kent as an adult.

The show was amazing.  The costumes were incredible, the actors were talented, and the whole spectacle very engaging.  The MacKays were going to meet us for dinner but their son was in town, so they were just there for the show.  But we visited before the show started and during intermission, and all vowed to do it again.  I really hope we do.

**insert group photo when I get it from someone**

After the show, we piled into an elevator with a dozen or so other people to go up to the parking garage.  The elevator jammed and we spent perhaps ten minutes pressed close together in the tiny space.  Several women panicked, and we did call 911 to come to our rescue.  However, before they got there, Gregg, who was standing by the doors, pried them open and heroically freed us.  We were only about six inches up from the floor, so we all gratefully poured out and went back to our cars.  As we were leaving the parking garage, we saw a fire truck had arrived.  They were too late.  That certainly made for an exciting conclusion to a really fun evening.

While all of these are really good pictures, close up, with lots of details you can see, we sat in the balcony, far from the action, and couldn't really see anything clearly.  Still amazing, however.

Nala and Simba

Mufasa and Simba

Simba



Timon and Pumba




Scar

 



Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Spring Break Day 7--Butterflies and Oakland

Tomorrow we have an early morning flight out of Oakland back to Provo.  I booked a hotel in Oakland, close to the airport, with shuttle service and not too far from the rental car return so we can wake ridiculously early and head home.  We'll be home by 10:30am, which will still give the children some time to play with friends and mess around at home before going back to school on Tuesday.  Yep, that's right.  Tuesday.  They've got Monday off, too.  Too long, but there you go.

As a result of the early flight, we headed to Oakland today.  After checking out of our hotel, we made our way to the Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary, right in Pacific Grove where we were staying.  Online, this is what it says about the sanctuary.
Every October, thousands of butterflies make a stop in a Pacific Grove eucalyptus grove, the preferred Monarch butterfly habitat, during their migration to warmer climates. The butterflies hang in clusters from eucalyptus branches to maintain body temperature, and the resulting effect is stunning. Visitors come from miles around to take Monarch butterfly tours throughout the sanctuary.
The City of Pacific Grove created the butterfly sanctuary to preserve both this Monarch butterfly habitat and the opportunity to view this incredible natural display. The sanctuary is free, and visitors are invited to visit, watch, admire and take Monarch butterfly photos and videos, so long as they don't touch. (Molesting a butterfly is illegal in Pacific Grove -- the fine is $1,000.) Monarchs stay in the Monarch butterfly grove from October until February, when they continue their migration south.
I would like to point out that we have been in Monterey in April, two months after the butterflies had flown away.   While wandering through the grove is lovely, it lacks something of a punch with no butterflies around.  We did see three flitting by and directed them south, towards Mexico.  They must have been late bloomers.  Or not in any hurry.




Can you see the monarch?
I know.  
It's far away.
But it's a butterfly!
Two others flew by but didn't land where we could see them.
It's not much, but it's all we got. 



We tried to visit a lighthouse, but it was closed.  So we drove on to Oakland, stopping only because of traffic.  I've been reading aloud Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo, and that makes the time pass.  We encountered an accident along I-880.  An overturned cement mixer spilled concrete onto the freeway, blocking several lanes and slowing traffic for three hours.  We weren't in all that for the full three hours, but we were significantly delayed.  What should we expect?  It's California.



We arrived at our hotel and had to wait a bit for our room to be finished, even though we were there after 2:00pm which was check-in time.  The hotel where we stayed had a pool.  When we could finally get in and put the bags down, the children threw off their clothes, pulled on their suits, and headed for the water.  Kent went with them.  I took advantage of the quiet moment to go to the bathroom.  While sitting on the toilet, I heard a knock on the door.  I thought it was the children back for something they'd forgotten.  I heard the key slide and the door open and then the bathroom door was thrown open.  It was a maid coming in to bring us towels which she had forgotten to do as they finished up the room.  There I was, sitting on the toilet.  And there she was, standing with the door open.

"Oh baby!" she cried. "I sorry! Oh baby, I so sorry!  I leave the towels on the bed! Oh baby! I so sorry!"  All this with the door open.  She slammed the bathroom door, threw the towels on the bed where I found them when I finished, and bolted.

I'm not sure who was more embarrassed, though I do know who was more bare-assed.

The children swam, I read next to the pool, and then we went to dinner.  Mealtime has been something of a struggle, so we opted for Sizzler where everyone could pick what they wanted, there were lots of healthy options, and there wasn't going to be a fight about where to eat.  We should have eaten at Sizzler every night.  There was an Oakland A's baseball game tonight, and had I known, I might have gotten us tickets.  The stadium is very close to the hotel where we are staying, and they offer free shuttle service to and from the game.  But the children would likely have lasted only two innings and then been done, so all is well.

 
The pool was cold. The hot tub was not.

I'm quite enjoying my book.

We've had a marvelous vacation, seen fun things, and only been unhappy with each other a bit.  Here's to new places and fun adventures.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Spring Break Day 6--Whale Watching and Tide Pooling

We had tickets on a whale watching tour first thing this morning.  I will admit that I was super excited to go see whales, and hoped desperately that we would see something.  How exciting is it to think about real live whales, out in nature, doing their real live whale thing?  Super exciting!  Monterey Submarine Canyon, with canyon walls measuring over a mile in height (rivaling the Grand Canyon), is in Monterey Bay.  Because the canyon is in such close proximity to shore, Monterey Bay has deep, cold, nutrient-rich water all year.  This brings in many diverse  marine mammals and sea birds that feed within the canyon.  Some migrate through, but some come to spend half the year, meaning the likelihood of seeing something is pretty good.

We got lucky!  We saw a number of humpback whales throughout our three hour tour and learned all sorts of fascinating facts about whales in general and humpback whales specifically.  There was a marine biologist on board who told us about feeding, breeding, and migration habits.  We got close enough to a whale to smell the air expelled from its blowhole, the whale snot smell, described by the marine biologist as both special and disgusting.  We learned that sometimes scientists are able to discern the age of a whale by looking at its earwax.  One whale was aged at 95 based on earwax.  They were also able to determine that a bowhead whale had lived to be 211.  That's pretty old!  We saw one whale doing some tail smacking which made a tremendous splash.  I wanted one to swim right up to the boat so we could see it really close, but that was probably getting a bit greedy.

In addition to the whales, we saw a couple of otters, sea lions lazing on the rocks not too far from where we began and ended, and a large flock of Brandt's Cormorants, black sea birds that were in the process of nesting on the same rocks the sea lions were hanging around on.  I took lots of pictures, not all of which I will post.

One of the suggestions for the whale watching tour was to take Dramamine an hour before getting on the trip.  This would help prevent seasickness.  Very diligently, at 8:00, we all took our pill.  Brandt is not good about taking medication, but I told him he would need to take it or would likely spend the whole time on the boat throwing up.  He doesn't like to throw up, so he took the pill.  The thing about Dramamine is that it makes you drowsy.  While I thought the whole trip was highly mentally stimulating, both Brandt and Blythe were overcome and ended up falling asleep.  Half the whale watching was instead a really expensive nap.  Thanks okay, however.  I would have hated to have half the whale watching be a pukefest.

As we were getting ready to go, 
Brandt was showing me he could still work the phone with his gloves on.

I was able to work the phone without my gloves on.

There is a kid right behind Blythe's head who must have also taken his Dramamine
because he slept through the whole whale watching.
If he saw anything at all, I would be surprised.











This is the otter.



That's two!









The children went inside the boat because it was chilly.  


Tail slap!



Brandt asleep, Blythe still awake.

In the end, she just couldn't stay awake.


This is the sad remainders of the former cannery section of Monterey.

A Brandt's cormorant with nesting material in its beak.

As the boat was coming into the dock, a sea lion swam right up next to us.

We hoped off the boat and had some lunch on the pier--clam chowder and fish and chips.  It seemed appropriate.  I had really wanted to go poke around some tide pools and was told that Pinos Point was the spot.  It was rocky, not far from where we were staying, and just at lunchtime was at low tide.  Off we sped to look for small sea creatures.  

We found lots.  We saw bright orange star fish, shell camouflaged anemones, lots of crabs, and some very small fish.  It was all interesting.  I hoped to see an anemone open up a bit as the tide came in, but I was out too far to last long enough--the water would have rushed up too high for me to get back in safely.  The kids played in the sand, Kent sat on a bench and enjoyed the sun and surf, and we relaxed a bit watching the water.   





This was as good as I got of Brandt.


It's an anemone covered in shells.





 


That's a bigger crab in a crevice.


Anemone AND orange starfish.





 
My favorite creatures I saw on the beach.


 


After poking around the tide pools, we took what was touted as "The Drive of a Lifetime!"  A brochure we picked up says, 
17-Mile Drive is widely recognized as one of the world's most scenic drives.  Since 1881, this famous coastal landmark has run through Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach, from the dramatic Pacific coastline and through the majestic Del Monte Forest.  The awe-inspiring vistas and legendary sites can easily fill an entire day with exploration and discovery, although visitors with less time should not miss the opportunity to experience this wondrous journey as well.
We were unaware there was a fee to drive this "wondrous" 17 miles, but we paid because we'd heard how great it was.  Perhaps we had a bad attitude, but we weren't impressed.  We drove past many large (very expensive) homes and really a lot of golf courses, but we didn't see many vistas, and the "majestic Del Monte Forest" was filled with lots of scrubby pine trees.  We didn't make it the full 17 miles because everyone was bored and just wanted to go back to the hotel and down to the beach.  

In the evening we went into downtown Monterey, a bit away from the tourist sites.  There was a street festival we wandered around while trying to decide upon where to eat.  It's difficult with the children who don't have adventurous palates.  In the end, we stopped at Subway so they could have a sandwich, and Kent and I ordered take-out Indian food.  We returned to the hotel to eat, watch TV, and pack for our return to Oakland in the morning.  We loved our time by the sea!