Rock Canyon Hoedown

This evening was the Rock Canyon Hoedown, the free, fundraising event of the year.  We used to have a large Extravaganza to raise money for the PTA, but it was a huge production, required hundreds of volunteers, cost a lot for parents, and was something of a circus.  Last year they mixed things up, making it a much easier, smaller, and simply requested a $20 donation per child to cover the costs of PTA activities throughout the year.  It has been great from the perspective of work.  I hope they are gathering sufficient funds.

This year, Brick is now at Rock Canyon, so there was reason for him to attend the Hoedown.  Mikayla was alone, no Guy, and Cora and Kal were not up for an outing, so I collected Brick and took him with us.  Brandt found Paul and sort of disappeared, Blythe was looking for friends and sort of disappeared, but Brick and I did stuff.  We got in line to do the horse ride, but Brick didn't want to get close to the large animal and so we didn't do that.  He wanted to see the small animals at the petting zoo, but he didn't want to wait in line to see them, so he bumped the queue, looked at a hedgehog, and then walked away.  He really wanted to hang out with Brandt, and when we met up with him, it was all over for me.  He hung out with Brandt and Paul Moreland, and when they finally asked to be able to go off and do their own thing, Blythe appeared and Brick played with her on the playground.

All in all, it was a fun evening.  We all had a donut, we got popcorn, we took a few silly pictures.  Success!

Donut evidence.

Apparently Brandt was trying to consume his donut through his nose.

It took me six tries to get one picture of all three of these boys looking at me.

Funny Children

Sometimes the children say things that make me laugh.   Often, in fact.  Just recently Brandt came up with both of these doozies, and not wanting to forget them, I have recorded them here.  You know. For posterity.

A bit of background on the first.  Brandt had sixth grade maturation in January and brought home a whole booklet all about the male reproductive organs and their functions, as well as changes that happen to a boy's body at puberty.  That particular evening, it was my turn to read to Brandt, and he handed it to me and said, "Mom, will you read this with me tonight?"

The title of this little booklet is "Just for Boys," and I said, "Wouldn't you rather read this with Dad?  He is a boy, after all."

"No," Brandt said. "I want to read it with you."  So, wanting to foster an open, frank, non-embarrassed relationship with my son, I agreed to read it to him.  We read, in great detail, all about the changes that Brandt could expect, with all the terms and words you don't want to be using in polite conversation, and I managed to do it all without blushing.  In my head I was screaming, "KENT SHOULD BE DOING THIS WITH BRANDT!!! HE'S THE DAD!!" but I did it, answered questions, made pertinent observations.  I feel somewhat cheated because I'm going to have to do this all over again with Blythe, and thought I would only really have to do it with her, our female child.  But no.  Kent is getting off so easy.  The topic of Brandt's first quote stems from the reading of the pamphlet, and comparing his "trials" with Blythe's.

Parenting is amusing.

Brandt: "I would rather have wet dreams than bleed."

Brandt: "I don't want to go to hell.  I want to go to Taco Bell.  Hey! That rhymes."  I'm somewhat surprised that Brandt didn't say, "I don't want to go to Yellowstone," that wouldn't have rhymed with Taco Bell at all.


The other night, we were talking about toilets at dinner.  I know.  Eye roll.  Why, you ask, were we talking about that?  Blythe had watched some program about million dollar rooms, and she had seen an amazing bathroom, bigger than our living room, with a gold toilet that did all sorts of fancy things.  Jokingly, I said, "Does it sing to you?"

Immediately, Blythe sang, "Do you see what I see?"

She is quick and wickedly funny!

Kent: Our Blythe has fashion sense.
Blythe: Well obviously.

Selfies

Both Brandt and Blythe LOVE to take selfies.  

Here are some I found today.  

All courtesy of Blythe.

And then three pictures that fall into the "other" category.

Still life with ice cream.

Brandt might be making a pig nose.

Or he might be trying to balance something on his nose.

Hard to tell.

Ancient History Discoveries

Today I found a response I wrote to a request from our stake presidency in 2015.  Our stake theme that year was the temple, and each adult member was asked to write about what effect the temple had on their lives.  I liked our responses, but wanted a more permanent place to put them.  Just two weeks ago, I ordered by 2015 blog book, and so while these testimonies are from 2015, I'm going to include them now, three years later.

From Katherine:

This year, as I have attended the temple, I have been able to participate in all the ordinances from baptism to sealing.  I have had sweet experiences and learning opportunities as I have been in God's house. 

The day I did baptisms, I had only one family name.  Oddly, the baptistery was very slow the morning I was there, and I was asked if I was willing to complete some family names for another patron.  I happily agreed as then I would be soaking wet for more than one person.  The young man who baptized me had Down Syndrome.  I was told by another worker that he had been a missionary at the humanitarian center in Salt Lake, and worked at the temple once a week.  As I was being baptized, watching and listening to this brother perform the ordinance, I was reminded that God loves each of us.  We are his children and he loves us each individually.  He wants all of us to return to him and makes that possible through the temple.  If I had only been baptized for the one woman whose name I had brought to the temple, it would have been time well spent.  I was opening the door for her, and the sweet brother baptizing me was contributing in a significant way to the salvation of others.  What a wonderful lesson!

I love participating in the initiatory ordinance.  We are promised such rich physical blessings that have such powerful spiritual blessings attached to them.  We will have strength to bear our burdens, energy to run and walk and not faint, we can hear counsel and discern truth and error, we are given strength to perform good works, and offered protection from Satan's power.  We are told that through the initiatory ordinance we can be sanctified or made holy.  Although we are expected to be obedient to the covenants we make during the endowment ceremony, our loving Father in Heaven promises and offers us all we need to thrive during mortality, working with the physical bodies He created.

As our year's theme has been coming closer to Christ through temple attendance, each time I have done an endowment session this year, I have tried to focus on the Savior and his mission.  Additionally, I have thought about what I can do to be more like him.  The endowment beautifully portrays Jehovah's love and willingness to act as our Savior.  We can look to him and return to the presence of God.  He is immediately obedient to his Father's requests and does all that is required of him with exactness.  God calls for our obedience, sacrifice, chastity, and whole-hearted commitment to building His kingdom on the earth, but promises so much in return that his expectations seem modest by comparison.  All the Father has can be ours, and all made possible through his Son.

Each time I do a sealing session, I am reminded of my wedding day and the two occasions Kent and I had our children sealed to us.  Those were joyous days when we felt incredibly close to Heaven.  Kneeling at the altar across from my good husband, with our small people, knowing we and they could be together forever, was incredibly sweet and tender.  Now, as I act as proxy for others who are receiving that same blessing, I am touched by my small contribution to their happiness.  I rejoice for their unions, and the knowledge that they will have their children for eternity just like I have mine.  Can there be a better work in all the world?

I love the temple.  My life is better because I am there often; I have greater peace, increased patience, and a wider view of the purpose of my life.  I love to see the temple and feel God's love and spirit each time I attend.

Katherine Barrus

Pleasant View 6th Ward

29 November 2015

From Kent:

Temple service is service.  Since we committed ourselves to attending weekly, we have been blessed with an increased love of those ancestors we have done work for, and an increased awareness of their love and gratitude to us.

We were doing sealings on one occasion.  One of the other couples was newlyweds.  The woman was from Denmark and was doing work for Danish ancestors.  We were doing work for Italian ancestors.  The woman turned to us and said, " Do they talk to you."  I said not so much but asked about her experience.  She said frequently the people she was doing work for would appear to her and thank her for doing their work.  They would also discuss their lives, which had been difficult, and their joy at finally being allowed to progress.  Their discussions were in Danish, and I figured I needed to learn Italian or French if I were to have the same sorts of experiences.  However,  the blessings of knowing that life continues after death, and the peace of the eternal plan of salvation, are the greatest blessings that come from service in the temple.

Kent Barrus

Pleasant View 6th Ward

29 November 2015

DeMartini Family Campout

This year's activity should have been called, "The DeMartini Family Campout that Wasn't."  It didn't go so well this year.  Brandt and Blythe have both been feeling crummy.  Blythe came home from school year yesterday and didn't go at all today.  Brandt stayed home today, too.  They watched some TV, they read, they laid around in bed, and Brandt and I played a few board games.  But generally speaking, they didn't do much.  They desperately wanted to camp out at Christopher and Tysen's, but I was firm about our sleeping at home.  Best thing for your body when you're sick?  Sleep.  What would we not get much of at the campout?  Sleep.  We did go over for dinner, but by 8:30 we were loading up to go home.  They whined and complained that they were going to miss Fugitive, one of our favorite activities of the whole summer, and I agreed it was a total bummer.  But we still went home. 

This morning we returned to Christopher and Tysen's to hear a report of the evenings activities.  Fugitive was great, as usual, with only Guy and Blake not getting caught.  Guy, Brick and Cora were the only ones who slept in a tent in the backyard; everyone else went home to sleep in beds.  We did have a delicious french toast breakfast and played some games in the morning, so it still felt like a fun DeMartini Family activity.  And I'm happy to report that the children feel better this morning.  Brandt said to me, "I felt better by 1:00 yesterday afternoon," but you can't play all afternoon/evening when you've stayed home from school. 

Here's hoping next year will be better.

An Apology

It was my turn to read to Blythe tonight.  At 8:27 I went into her bedroom and began to read while she was in the bathroom.  I read for about twenty minutes before she appeared in her room.  I said, "You didn't flush the toilet," to which she replied, "I didn't go to the bathroom."  Twenty minutes I had been waiting, thinking she was taking care of business and brushing her teeth before coming to bed.  I don't know what she was doing for the twenty minutes that I was waiting for her, but I was fairly unhappy that she didn't seem to care that I had been there.  I like reading to the children in the evening, having that one-on-one time with them, a chance to snuggle up next to them and share a story.  It's a time they will frequently open up and ask questions or share something from their day, and I consider it sacred time.  To have Blythe squander it made me mad/sad, and so I rose from the bed, said, "It's obvious you are not interested in having me read to you," kissed her goodnight, and left the room.  She insisted she did want me to read, but her actions told me differently, a fact I pointed out to her.  I went away and didn't read.

When I came up to bed, I found this by my pillow--Big-o-pot-a holding an apology.  It was as if my silly daughter was there in bed, waiting to apologize.  I couldn't be upset anymore.  That Blythe is infuriating sometimes, but wonderful at the very same time, too.

Just as a note, Big-o-pot-a is my stuffed hippo from my youth.

She's the only stuffed animal I saved because she was/is my favorite.

Blythe has adopted her.

Demolition Derby

I had a loud and raucous date tonight, with Brandt and Paul Moreland.  We went to the demolition derby in Spanish Fork as part of the Utah County Fair.  What a classic example of good old red-neck Americana.  Can it get any more ridiculous than a bunch of men driving stripped down cars into each other hoping for a large cash prize?  I'm not sure it does.

But while it may be ridiculous, it is certainly a really good time!  I can't help but laugh and laugh as they ram into each other, as cars crunch, tires come off, and occasionally someone gets flipped over or a car catches on fire.  It's loud, it's wild, and it's just so much fun.  Actually, Kent and Blythe don't think it's all that fun, but Brandt wanted to go, he wanted to take Paul, and I was good to have a double date.

We sat with Mikayla and Guy, Eugene, Sharae, Blake, Makenna, and Luke, as well as Crew and Griffin who were there with Taisen and Maren Allen and their boys, plus two or three others.  We danced in between heats, and the boys monkeyed around.  A good time was had by all!

The red car managed to reverse off number 45 car.

The grey car lost both front tires and ended all smashed up.

But he kept right on driving.

The truck round!

Paul was up until 2:30am at a campout with Kent and the 11-year-old scouts.

While I'm fairly confident he liked the derby,

I'm also fairly confident he was wasted by the end.

Luke is standing on a stair.

Brandt is standing one stair up from Luke.

Paul is standing one stair up from Brandt.

Luke is still taller than both of them.

And Brandt is still taller than Paul.

Everyone loudly singing

"OOOOOOOH, half-way there! OOOOH-OH! Livin' on a prayer!"

Me and my dates!

Swimming with Grandma Sue

We swam with Grandma Sue today.  She broke her finger a bit ago.  Christopher smashed it in the tailgate of the truck, and it's been very sore.  In addition, she can't get it wet.  But it's swimming season, so Mom has been in the pool, but her finger has not.  Bobbing about in the pool is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Story Time

Look who was at my house today!

We managed to pause for a moment and read some stories together.  

Although I can't be certain, I'm fairly sure this moment lasted but a moment

before being replaced by the normal chaos and destruction perpetrated by these three when they come to my house.

I luff them madly!

Splash Pad Splashing

This morning I joined Mom and Mikayla and her crew at the splash pad at Pioneer Park.  Mikayla has been wanting to take her kids to the splash pad for most of the summer, but she can't go by herself.  Her children run away and she needed extra hands to keep them "contained."  Whoever came up with the idea of a splash pad should be given an award.  They are so fantastic, and absolutely perfect for children.  It was a delight to watch Brick, Cora, and Kal run around.  They all enjoyed the water, but especially Kal.  He loves the water, and he was thoroughly engaged in the whole experience, running through the water, splashing, shrieking in delight.  It was wonderful, and it made me miss my kids being little.

First Day of School

The summer has passed and today is the first day of school.  Quite frankly, no one at our house is sorry this day has arrived.  Blythe asked two weeks ago if it was time to go back to school, and Brandt has been excited to start middle school.  While I like the no schedule days, I also like to have structure for me and the children, and everyone does better when we've responsibilities and meaningful things to do.  We've had a great summer, with swimming, canoeing, playing with friends, and our most excellent trip to Florida.  We've done pretty good about the TV and computer time; I haven't let the children spend hours and hours staring at a screen, and I haven't done that either.  I would have liked to hike with the children more, and done some bike riding, but c'est la vie.  I think the children have been happy, they are tan, and it's been good down time.

And now we're back at it.  Brandt went to middle school registration last week.  He got a t-shirt, had vision screening, got his new student ID, and we paid fees ($159! So much for free education).  We wandered around the school and found where all his classes will be so that he'd have some idea where he was going.  Last night I took Brandt and Blythe each separately to Back to School Night.  Brandt and I found all his rooms again, met all his teachers, and saw some of his friends.  We didn't run into anyone that had the same classes as he does, but Will Weidner and Jacob Avery both have first lunch, the same time as Brandt, and we suggested they meet up.  He's got an A day schedule and a B day schedule, he alternates between the two, and that means he's got six places to be every day, but six other places to be the following day.  I know he can work it all out and it will be fine, eventually, but this first day, I'm a bit nervous for him.  He's a bit nervous, too.  He didn't eat much breakfast, but he's got first lunch, so I don't imagine he'll starve before noon.  I can't believe we've reached this point in life.  Going to middle school is for big kids, and Brandt is still our little boy, though don't tell him I said that.  He'd be offended.  And of course, he's not little.  He's confident and brave and I believe he'll be able to stand true to his standards, even in the face of those who might behave inappropriately.

Blythe's teacher is new again to Rock Canyon.  She taught sixth grade several years ago, then went away, and has now returned.  She's tall and lovely, and Blythe is excited to start.  Ellen Mason is in her class, as well as Evan Runia, Hailey Hall, and several other kids she knows from years past.  She sits next to Evan on one side, and Slade Porter on the other.  Slade has autism and acts differently from others, and that makes her a little nervous.  Kent and I both encouraged her to be kind and patient.  It is those people who are a little different that most need our kindness.  We'll see how she does.  She had a lengthy list of things to do this morning, with over twenty items on it.  She wanted to get up at 6:40, a full two hours before school starts, and while I tried to convince her to sleep a bit longer, she was determined, thinking about all those things she needed to do.  She had breakfast almost immediately after she got up, showered, I braided her hair, she had her backpack all ready, and although she was early, she left the house at 8:12, unable to contain herself a moment longer.  She is her own person, determined and fierce.  She's likely to conquer the world, and fifth grade is just a step to the top.

Kent gave the children sweet father's blessings on Monday night for family home evening.  He blessed them both that they would have sharp minds, healthy bodies, and a determination to stick with things that might be harder to learn and understand.  It's a blessing they both need.  They are apt to throw in the towel early in a learning process, without realizing that it takes time to learn something new and not everything comes super easily.  We've got such great kids.  We want them to be happy and do well, and we want them to be kind.  Probably kind most of all.  Here's to a great new school year for our seventh and fifth graders.

Ellen and Blythe, twinners and besties.

They are in the same class this year.

Woohoo!!

Does he look ready for middle school?

Brandt has band today, so he pedaled off with his trombone in tow.

Our bright Blythe off to school with chapter book in tow.

It's one I read to her, but she liked it and is reading it herself.

This picture was on the school's Instagram page.

There's Blythe, front of the line to get into class, ready for her first day!

Sunday Afternoon Shenanigans

So there I was, lying on the couch, minding my own business, working on the crossword.  I was resting just a bit, after church, after making sorbet, after making cookies.  And wouldn't you know it--a big, brawny, boyish kid came and sat on me.  Next to me was inadequate.  He had to be on  me.  So uncomfortable.  And then a big skinny girlish kid came and sat on me, too.  Can't a girl just relax in peace?  On a Sunday evening with two children around, apparently not.

Email Missive

I've been going through emails and found this one I wrote to Charles.  I get newsy with him, and I like this report.  I'll include it here.

Dear Charles,

I just realized that I did not respond to your email.  I'm so sorry!  I read it happily, immediately marked the days you will be here, and told Kent and the kids, but didn't reply to you to say how glad I am.  Your visit has been blocked out, I know Mom is planning on keeping the pool open, we have breakfast up the canyon scheduled, and know we will be together to eat (and eat and eat). 

We are down to our last week of summer vacation.  We went and got Brandt registered fro seventh grade (middle school) yesterday.  He got his schedule, his school ID card, and we paid fees.  Whoever said we've got free education has not put a kid in school in a very long time.  Both kids needed new backpacks and Blythe wants a new outfit for the first, second, AND third days of school.  I reminded her that we have no income at the moment, but she seemed unmoved.  "Lily and Emma both have new outfits for the first, second, and third days of school!"  How can we compete with Lily and Emma?

I'm just back from a lovely morning bike ride.  I did thirty miles in the company of Kent's sister, Brenda, who is passing through Provo  on her way from Washington, DC to Taiwan.  Brenda's husband Brent will be the new director of the AIT (American Institute in Taiwan), the embassy equivalent in Taiwan.  He's essentially going to be an ambassador, though because of Taiwan's status as not a country separate from China, there isn't an embassy.  They'll have a large apartment, two maids, and a cook.  Sounds rough.  I give some thought to going to visit, but I'd rather spend my money (all the vast sums we've got) in Italy.  

I am looking forward to seeing you soon.  

Love you!!

Brandt Selfie

Found this selfie of Brandt on my phone. 

Too bad he's out of focus.

Tin Foil Dinners with the Barri

Brent and Brenda are in town, on their way to Taiwan where Brent is going to the ambassador, although because Taiwan is not recognized officially as a country, he's called the Director of AIT (American Institute in Taiwan).  They are here for a couple of weeks, and this evening we gathered with the Barri for dinner up the canyon.  Brenda suggested we cook tin-foil dinner and visit, and we met at Canyon Glen.  It was a beautiful evening, and a lovely opportunity to be together.  I made dinners of steak, mini potatoes, broccoli, and corn on the cob, with nice seasonings.  They cooked relatively quickly (about 20 minutes), and were perhaps the best tin-foil dinners I've ever had.  Most of the time they don't turn out very well, but tonight's were yummy!

After we ate, we gathered together and shared something memorable from the past year-ish.  We had everything from having a baby (Brandon), quitting a job and starting a new one (Kent & Lee), traveling to Florida (Brandt & Blythe), visiting historic family history sites (David & Sharon), and biking 70 miles (me).  I made tutti fruitti ice cream, a Barrus Family favorite, and we enjoyed live music being played in the park by a band with a small audience.  We certainly love being with our Barrus siblings/cousins/aunts/uncles. 

In case you failed to notice, we all match our chairs.

 A group shot for the family photo book.  

In the top one, Jonathan's face is somewhat obscured.

So we took a second . . . 

in which Michelle's making such a face.

Silly!

Anyone know how to Photoshop her head in the top picture into the bottom one?