Memorial Day

 Sunday we went with Grandma Jake to visit the Provo and Orem cemeteries like we do every Memorial Sunday.  This year was my favorite because Alex was old enough to understand not to walk on every headstone and instead ran around fixing all the flower pots that had tipped over in the wind.  The weather was nice and we walked around reading names, righting flowers and running through rows of flags.

Monday, Kate organized a game of kickball and so after going to the store with Grandma to get new shoes for Heidi (and a sparkly pink pair for Alex that she absolutely adores), we met at Grandma Jakes for pizza and fun.
Fun would be an understatement though because it was a complete riot.  I'm pretty sure EVERYONE went home sore after the game, it was such a blast!

We had Grandma's playing, Aunts and uncles and lots of Cousins there. Even Heidi kicked and ran the bases once.

 Remember that outfielder in little league?

The one who picked the grass and undressed instead of paying attention to the hitter?  We even had one of those.

 Not much better than a day spent at Grandma Jakes.

Tyler helped me water the garden and I got a bit of weeding done as well.  We've hilled the potatoes (left of the pipe) and planted tomatoes and more corn.  I love this view because you can just imagine that all the green are plants and there are no weeds at all.

We ended the day by putting the kids to bed and Tyler and I went to the Serra Shell for an Acapella concert!  It's been 8 years since I've been to a concert and this was plenty different from those!  It was nice to sit in the grass with Tyler and just relax and listen.  We had watched the show "The sing off" and these 3 groups were finalists on the show, one of them even from BYU.  They all did well but we really enjoyed watching the winning group Pentatonix, they did a fantastic job performing and were very fun to watch.

2012 Ogden Airshow

 Alex and Heidi have started to act a lot more like sisters and partners in crime.  They will play together for hours at a time with only minor squabbles, it is heaven.

 Saturday we made the trip up to Hill Air Force Base for the air show.  I remember going to air shows with my Dad and brothers as a kid and so I was excited to share with own my kids (especially the airplane loving one) those great memories.

We drove to Salt Lake and then took the Train to Clearfield and a bus to the base.  The kids went crazy over the train and pointed out every other train they saw (very loudly and enthusiastically) through the window on the ride.  2 minutes after we got off the train and it left, we discovered that Heidi had lost a shoe on the train- this sentenced her to the stroller which she was VERY upset about and I think it dampened the whole exciting airplane thing for her.

 There were so many cool planes all over the place, but there were also a lot of people.

 Alex said her favorite part was walking through the big cargo plane and sitting on the bench.

 My favorite part was seeing all the old planes......

 And watching the MIG jet past and the little planes fly impossible stunts.

 This is what I must have looked like the entire day.

 The forecast said a chance of rain in the afternoon and we were planning on beating any storm that would come anyway.  I donated my socks to Heidi's cause and we let her run around pushing the stroller to stay warm while Tyler and I sat and watched planes fly.

 Alex just wanted to sit in the stroller and sleep.  She was very upset every time the MIG flew by and "woke" her up.  I had packed plenty of snacks but the girls cleaned me out in the first 2 hours.

 It started to get pretty windy and cold around noon.

 The kids didn't seem all that interested in watching planes fall to their death anyway.

 And even Tyler lost interest.

 Michael and Danielle came to see the show and Michael brought a blanket we had called to ask for and he must have been inspired to bring a extra rainjacket.  We almost didn't take the coats because we had decided to leave anyway and wouldn't need them.

 Not two minutes after we made our decision it started to POUR.  Here is Alex as we stood 20 feet from the entrance to a giant airplane hanger, trying to get in.  We gave up on that and decided we might have better luck catching the bus and then the train home.

Here is the line behind us as we waited in the pouring rain for an HOUR just to get on the bus.  In the background you can see a jet, the line wrapped around the jet and down that road as well.

 The girls did well for about 20 minutes and then just cried and cried and cried.  They had raincoats on so were mostly dry, but it was cold and windy and we hadn't brought an umbrella.  A father from behind us in line found some candy and half a bag of crackers in his pocket and brought them up for Alex so she would stop crying.  This nice woman held that red umbrella over Tyler and Heidi the ENTIRE hour.
      I can't explain how desperate we felt right then.  It was miserable, we were soaked and there was nothing we could do but stand in that line.  It felt like a state of emergency, a forecast of Armageddon.  All I could do for my kids was put on a smile and keep telling them that they were ok, and everything was going to be ok.  I got a glimpse into what it might have been like to be a pioneer, and made some mental notes of what to add to the 72 hour kit that I was going to immediately dig out of storage.

 We were able 20 people from a bus when it filled to capacity.  The father of the woman holding the umbrella for Tyler told us to get ahead of him in line and then a family of 4 with 2 older boys, around 12 years old got OFF the bus so we could squeeze on.  As I threw the stroller under the bus I turned around to thank everyone and just started to cry.  I couldn't help it, It really felt as though they had put us on the last life boat off the Titanic.  Heidi perked up after a few minutes on the warm bus.  We were sitting on the floor at the very front of the bus and after a 30 minute ride (which had previously only taken us 5 minutes) the kids were back to their normal selves and we had stopped shivering.

  The moment that stole the whole day though was when the sister of the lady who had held the umbrella, found us on the train platform with a blanket and a bag full of chips and water.  She had been called at home by her father told to come find us and bring us the blanket and food.  What a wonderful family!  As amazing as the air show was, all I can think of is that kindness of all the strangers along the way.

 The train ride was full of soaking families and we all huddled close so there would be room for as many as possible.  Heidi stuffed herself with chips and smeared her fingers on the window and Alex promptly fell asleep.  What had taken us an hour and 20 minutes one way, took 3 hours on the way back.  We drove home, warmed up, watched a movie and went to bed early, SO grateful for all our blessings!

Joy School Graduation

Last Saturday we had Joy School Graduation.

It was bitter sweet.  I loved Joy school this year (what a difference a year makes!), but I think we were all ready for the freedom of summer.

We had such a great group of Mom's and kids, I hope we can keep in touch and do play dates throughout the summer.  Everyone is either moving or has decided to put their kid into a preschool next year and it is half relief and half sadness that Joy school is over "forever".  We will see how Heidi grows and maybe I can do both years with her.

Here are the Joy school kids from last year, how they have grown!

 
Looking back, I think we were crazy to start them so young!

Our first week of summer has been great.  We have spent LOTS of time outside (at the garden) and yesterday Alex led us on a walk.  All morning she had been talking about going on a walk and so I let her take the lead as she packed us a picnic, directed us to our bikes and then led me to the park to play.  It was fun to sit back and let her be in charge of everything and I think she enjoyed it as well.

We have a week to figure out our summer routine before we go on vacation to Montana!  So far we have made a habit of making beds and cleaning rooms after breakfast.  Then the girls get dressed and I do their hair.  We then choose a chore stick out of the jar as well as attend to any messes that need to be cleaned.  I'm such a morning person that I can barley get the kids to this point before I want to be running errands and accomplishing things.  All this week we made it to the garden, where the kids played like Tom and Huck while I weeded.  We spend the rest of the morning playing and then do lunch and quiet time (nap) and then books and backyard play in the late afternoon.  It's been a good schedule so far but I think I'd like to interject some "school" time or a craft perhaps in the afternoon.  I'm an over scheduler.

Today we spent the entire afternoon in the backyard with cousins and friends.  The Mom's sat in the shade laughing and eating while the kids ran and played and ate.  They were so well behaved that the time flew by- it was one of those wonderful summer days that you almost feel guilty for!  I just hope I can squeeze in a dozen more before the cousins move away!

The Garden 2

Monday I swore I would make it to the garden everyday this week.  By Friday I was kneeling in the rows weeding like crazy for the first time, while the wind whipped around me and the clouds threatened rain.  The kids were playing nicely (I hoped) with their Great Grandma in the house and I had snuck out saying I had to check on the garden and it would only be a minute.
     I knew my one minute would most likely be 20 (if the weather held) and I had to triage the situation.  If any corn was growing, the tiny plants were completely hidden beneath the carpet of weeds and I didn't know what tiny corn plants looked like anyway.  The potatoes were easy to distinguish and thus far had proved to be the most industrial and hearty- they could wait another day, or week.  The peas were being eaten by some terrible viney weed that was easy enough to pull, but never really seemed to go away.  And the onions, if there were any onions left, were completely hidden.
   Two rows, I rationalized I had time for two rows and the peas and onions couldn't wait.  I knelt down and my calves screamed, still sore from the beating I had given them on Monday.  I crawled, pulling weeds like crazy left and right focusing on the area directly around the plants.
        How easy it seemed for the weeds to flourish while the gaps in the rows were evidence of planted seeds that refused to grow.  It reminded me of a friend who had recently pointed out that 'The best things in life arn't free, it's the worst things in life that come to us easily'.  I started to wax philosophical as my wrist cramped and the weeds refused to budge.
     I thought of how the garden seemed symbolic of my week.  My in-laws were gone, enjoying a Alaskan cruise and I wanted to make the sure the house was cleaner than clean upon their Friday return.  I had started my cleaning crusade on Tuesday- tackling the parts of the house that seemed to need the attention most.  Of course these were the dishes, the floor under the table and the toy room.  As I worked each day, practically detailing the stove top and carpet under the table- I noticed that I didn't seem to be making much progress.  The toys that I put away were instantly replaced by new once, the counters only stayed clean until the next meal and it seems a newly vacuumed carpet is a magnet for crumbs.  By Thursday night I had given up "cleaner than clean" and was now shooting for- no toys or clothes on the floor and counters wiped off.
    The garden was almost mocking my previous efforts at weeding and I scolded myself for the wasted effort weeding the outskirts a few weeks ago.  I was unsure of which plants were weeds and which should stay and so I justified weeding the unplanted portion of the garden where it was easy to spot what was bad, because it all was!  I pulled out large weeds and felt like a very successful gardener as my pile grew and the area cleared up.  I now saw that the tiny effort of identifying the baby weeds and easily plucking them from where seeds had been planted, would have saved me hours of work I was now doomed to spend days doing.
    I then began to think about how spending my week trying to clean was indeed a noble venture, like pulling weeds from the vacant section of garden.  But like weeding around the plants, my time at home could have more valuably been spent with my kids.  After a week of sweating and scrubbing and yelling at everyone to stop making messes- the house looked the same and I could tell from the amount of trouble my kids were getting into today- that they had been missing the quality time with Mom.
   Suddenly metaphors started springing up everywhere and I was reminded of conference talks left and right.  The sunflowers were not necessarily a weed, they had once been intentionally planted and would yield a crop if left to grow.  But they were encroaching on areas that had been designated for other crops, they were far from the worst thing that could grow and would indeed be beautiful, but there were taking the place of better things and had to be pulled.  I had not chosen the best use of my time this week and my mind drifted to Elder Oaks talk on "Good, Better, and Best".
    I enjoyed the last few minutes weeding my two rows and realized that like the garden, I had to prioritize my life.  It was so tempting to throw myself into the garden, intent on getting every weed and sitting there until it looked perfect- but that would never happen.  Just like at home I could try to have a clean house, with 3 fantastic and healthy homemade meals a day, clean clothes on my perfectly groomed children who were taught the ABC's, 123's and a lesson from the primary manual each day.  I could kill myself focusing on everything around me everyday, but that's not realistic.  Like those two rows in the garden I had to focus myself on what was most important each day.  Everyday that will always be scripture study, prayer, family and service- and whatever else I can squeeze in will be bonus!    That means that the floors will rarely be clean, a ponytail will have to suffice now and then and if dinner has a vegetable or two in it we are winning!

    Right now the weeds appear to be winning.  It's is neck and neck and there is much to do if we will ever pull ahead.  But I've seen this garden before.  Each fall the zucchini sprawl across the rows and bushes of potato plants, tomatoes and peppers impede the path.  It is difficult to get through the garden to harvest because of the bounty that has grown.  There are still weeds here and there, but you wouldn't know it at first glance.  I have to keep that picture in mind as I toil in the garden, focusing on the most important thing that day.

The Garden 1

I'm planting a garden.  I've been meaning to forever and last year Tyler and I planted a few things in pots in our driveway and learned a few things about sunflowers.  This year the stars aligned and my good friend Kathleen is teaching me the ins and outs of gardening at Grandma Jakes.

   I decided I should document the process, because each time I visit the garden I learn something new and I know I will have forgotten it by next year so I better write it down.

    Mid April we finally got around to planting the peas.  Apparently these are suppose to be done at the beginning of April, but even though we are late they are growing fast (it seems to me).  A few days before hand we tilled the ground (Tyler and Kathleen's Dad that is).  It was a hot day and I was exhausted just watching them. At the same time as the peas we had Alex, Heidi and Archie help plant the potatoes and should get 6 rows of reds to harvest in the fall.  The Giant Sunflower plants we did last year dropped plenty of seeds and we have had HUNDREDS of free growing sunflower plants pop up all over the garden!  We transplanted a dozen of them into a row and it almost kills me each time I have to pull up another sprout like it's a weed.  We also planted kale, lettuce and spinach that day.

    Every week I go out to irrigate the garden.  I walk through the rows in my bare feet with my pants rolled up to my knees, a sunhat I would be too self conscious to wear anywhere else, sitting on my head and a shovel in hand.  The first time I completely flooded the whole thing, the water was coming too fast and our rows were pathetic and too shallow, it was a mess.  

      Last week I went and spent a few hours weeding the garden.  Not much was peeking up yet and so I sat and chatted and felt successful as I plucked every visible weed in that lot.  A week later I returned to find that  for every one I had picked, 30 had sprung up to replace it.  At that moment I learned that the water doesn't just feed the plants you want to grow, it feeds the weeds twice as well.  I also learned that gardening is exhausting work.

   Today we put in 20 more rows! Kathleen's brother came to push the antique looking row maker and we blistered our hands with the rakes piling up the dirt and making the ditches deeper.  Today my lesson was that buying gardening gloves from the dollar section of Target gets you gardening gloves that are worth about a dollar.  They are already falling apart and the flaps of skin hanging from the popped blisters on my hands wish I had sprung for a $5 pair at a legitimate gardening store.  

    We planted tomatoes, broccoli, corn and strawberry corn today! With the whole garden rowed out and some of our earlier plants starting to grow it is finally looking like a garden.  Unfortunately the enormous job that weed control will be is finally apparent.  I think it may be dwarfed by the even more gigantic job of keeping the kids from walking on our little seedlings, as that seems to be the only part of the garden they wish to tread.  There is a fine line between happily involving your children so they will learn to work, and keeping them from destroying the garden.  We found that we also have some rogue potato plants from last year and it gives me heart that there are things other than just weeds which will grow without our constant nurture and care.  I wonder what the garden would look like by the fall if we left it to it's own devices?  

The second weekend in May.

Friday Tyler had the day off and so we went to Grandma Jakes to work on the garden.  We had also found a replacement patio table on KSL and picked it up. The new table was cheaper, but came with an umbrella so it worked out.  Tyler helped me apoxy the new table top to the old table, AND pull weeds. It was a great morning.

 Grandma Jake paid Tyler a few dollars for doing a bunch of odd jobs around the house and so we took the girls straight to the fish store.  Heidi and Alex are very excited about having their very own fish which are best friends, and the one I choose just harasses all the others.

 Saturday we spent the entire day outside in the yard, and that evening got together with all the Asay's and our cousin Alyson for a campfire, hotdogs and dutch oven apple crisp.  Bridger is a great camper, and has an amazing complexion.

 Heidi roasted a marshmallow, and then tried to ride the dog.  She then put her marshmallow dog hair hands into her mouth.  It was beyond disgusting.

 If I had any aspirations to be a carrier woman, I would convince Alyson to be our live in Nanny.  The girls love her, I think more than they love me.  Every day Alex asks me if Alyson can come play, and then asks a million questions about going to college.  I'm secretly hoping that Tyler and Alyson go to the same PA school and we can convince Alyson to live with us.

Danielle was the genius behind the fantastic apple crisp we had. Zested lemon, it made the dish.  Stephen provided the entertainment and Michael chopped wood in between playing with the baby.

 I don't really like hotdogs, but these guys brought some Hebrew National kosher dogs. Delicious. It's all I'm buying from now on.

 Like I said, Stephen provided the entertainment.  This looks far more dangerous than it is, and I swear there was NO fire danger whatsoever. The key is a VERY VERY LONG exposure on the camera.

It looks pretty awesome doens't it?!

Mother's day was the best day of my life.  Tyler made the best breakfast ever- wheat pancakes shaped like hearts with carmel syrup and the best fried egg I've ever had, shaped like a heart. Greek yogurt, my favorite jam on toast and cranberry juice in a champagne glass with constant refills.  The kids even behaved during church and Tyler went up to the stand with the girls so they would sing for me (I've anxiously waited 5 years for that moment).

 Sunday afternoon Tyler drove me and the kids to Dividend, Utah. Somewhere in them there hills Tyler proposed to me almost exactly 6 years ago.  We had out picnic above the lovely town of Tintic in the back of the truck and then went on a walk looking for rocks.  We saw a lizard, it was fun.

The day ended with Tyler bathing the girls, getting them ready for bed and then Heidi sneaking back into the bathtub.  Tyler did EVERYTHING ALL DAY, it was amazing, best day EVER.  I have a lot to live up to come Father's day!  

Summer

There are a few things I love about the summer, and this summer in particular.

I love that I can set the kids free in the backyard.  With the fence, the toys, and Alex able to obey- I can fix dinner, clean up a room or sit and relax for a few minutes while the kids lose themselves in an imaginary world full of sand and grasshoppers.  They could stay outside all day if I let them, and once the neighborhood kids get home from school the whole block is a party until dark.

I love being outside with my children. Somedays it's being barefoot, sitting under my big red umbrella with a book and a bowl of apple slices and some water.  Other's it's barefoot in the garden pulling weeds while Alex chases butterflies through the field.  There is just something about being outdoors calms us all down, and as frustrating as it is, I can't blame Heidi for trying to ditch her shoes every chance she gets.  I'm sure she gets it from me.

 There is something so fun about eating and drinking outdoors, not worrying about crumbs or spills or utensils.  There are the special cups and plates (if any are needed) and the bright colors.

This afternoon it was windy.  I've made a habit of leaving the umbrella up and open at night and the afternoon gusts destroyed my lovely table.  The wind blew the umbrella up and the pole shattered the glass table and then it was thrown across the yard.

I lost my umbrella stand, my table and the luxury of going barefoot outside.  To add insult to injury the dog chewed up my tablecloth. grrrrrrr.

The table was a steal from DI last summer, $8 well spent.  I can't convince myself to pay $50+ for a new table, or $20 for a replacement top. I suppose I'll begin scouring garage sales and checking adds. grrrrrr.

Alex had awful bedhead yesterday, so I curled her pretty little hairs and she loved it.  I was shocked when Heidi then begged me to do her hair and actually sat still for it!  Her little golden head done up in curls was too cute to handle.  Here Alex is glorying over her newly caught baby grasshoppers which she "saves" and puts in little homes (holes in the sand which she promptly buries them in.)

Heidi's 2nd birthday!

Thursday we celebrated Heidi's 2nd birthday!

 She woke up before Alex and so we got to enjoy a bit of alone time with her on her special day.  As soon as she saw the giant bear she ran up and gave it a hug.  I wanted to do the same thing.

 Tyler had set up her train tracks and so she sat around for a bit playing with the trains before breakfast.

 We got yet another grumpy "get this hat OFF me" face to add to the files.

 She enjoyed drinking out of the special birthday glass and eating her favorite special cereal "Lucky Charms".

 Alex woke up and insisted on helping Heidi open the gifts Alex had chosen and purchased (by herself!) for Heidi.  Heidi didn't mind letting Alex open the trains up.  This picture keeps throwing me off though because it looks like Heidi's head could be coming from Alex's body.

 After breakfast we cleaned up and Heidi got to join all the "big kids" at Joy School for the day.  The novelty wore off after about 10 minutes and she just ran around distracting everyone the next 2 hours.

 The night before I had decorated the cake. It had been siting in the freezer for a month and I froze it straight out of the oven so it was SUPER moist.  I hadn't though about it much until birthday morning when half the frosting had sluffed off the side.  So here is a picture of the good side.  We looked at EVERY toy store in Provo and Orem for a toy airplane (Heidi LOVES airplanes) and Susan saved the day by finding one at Funfinity after I had given up.  Apparently kids don't like airplanes anymore?!?

 Thursday afternoon we treked to the Zoo, a new tradition for second birthdays around here. I was tempted to make Heidi wear the same clothes Alex did when we went to the zoo for her second birthday, but then I put my crazyness in check.

 She did get a new shirt, which she only stained twice on the first day of wearing it, first with chocolate (I washed it during Joy school so she could wear it to the zoo), and then with ketchup that evening. Whenever Alex spills something on herself the first thing she says is, in my voice, "It's going to stain!"

 The Zoo hadn't changed much in 2 years except a chunk of it was under construction.  The kids had fun running around and riding in the stroller, and begging Daddy to carry them.

 I was so happy to have Archie, Kate and Annie along with us and I particularly enjoyed this moment while we sat for a break and crammed our faces with apples slices and oranges in front of the parrot cages.

 Archie and Heidi are special friends.  I think because she is a bit tougher than Alex when it comes to Archie, and isn't afraid to jump on him and try to start a fight.  I get the impression he respects that, and likes rough housing with her a bit too.

But Annie is tougher than them all.

 Here we are back in 2010. Little Alex and little Archie.

 Two years and our group has doubled in size!  Heidi seems so much bigger and much more grown up than Alex did at 2.

Annie couldn't get enough of the porcupine.

 Alex was pretty cute with her camera, but only had the patience to hold it while we were in the reptile house.  Unfortunately for her, windows and cameras don't turn out the best pictures.

Archie and Alex at 2 in 2010.

Alex, Archie, Annie and Heidi, 2012.  No, we can never get ANY of their names straight.

 
My wise little Heidi. She refused to get off of the tiger so we could move on.  This was a recurring theme of the day.  Next time I'm just taking her and we are going to sit and spend more than 30 seconds at each exhibit.

 Archie was a stud and walked almost the entire time.  He also kept asking where they kept the train, we probably should have ridden it first thing.

 Annie was also a trooper and didn't make a peep the whole day!  Alex sat in the stroller 2/3's of the time, lounging with her sack lunch which she though was the greatest thing on earth.

 This may have been the most exciting "exhibit" of the day for these two.  Perhaps we will start touring construction sites for activities.

 Here we are nearing the end of our stay at the zoo. The Parents are tired, the pre-schoolers just want to run ahead, and Heidi decided to pick every weed she could find and walk backwards.  This is what happened when I asked Archie and Alex to go hold Heidi's hands and help her walk faster.  She is great at playing 'limp noodle' when she doesn't want to cooperate.

Luckily Daddy is great at doubling as a horse.

I had a bit of a weight problem in 2010.

 

 You can see that I've dropped a few pounds in the last 2 years.

 I hope over the next 10 years we can make it back to the zoo with Archie, and that wherever our paths take us, these two will stay close as they grow up.

 

Heidi seemed to enjoy her time at the zoo.  Her favorite animals were the cats and the ducks.  I don't think we will hurry back anytime soon and will instead just visit the duck pond and Grandma Jakes for our animal fixes.

 We ended the day with a train ride and a stop at the gift shop.  Heidi got a snow leopard from Daddy.

 We drove home and readied the bubbles and airplanes party.  I got to use my cupcake stand AND my new water server spiket thing, so it was also a great day for me!

 Heidi was a champ and got the candles out in one blow.

 So I made her pretend to blow them out again so I could get another picture.

 She ate a cupcake, and then a slice of cake, claimed Uncle Stephen's baked beans right off his plate and probably ate some sand as well.
 Almost all of her favorite people came to the party, and when she opened up the cup of quarters from Grandma Jake, you would have thought she had won the lottery from the reaction on her face!

 After that it was pulling teeth to get her to open presents.  Each one was so great she would just run off to play with it and didn't want to come back to find out what was in the rest of the pretty packages.

 Alex was QUITE eager to help her out though and Heidi even told her "OK Alex, you can open this" and then walked away.

 There were LOTS of bubbles.

 And I think everyone,

 Young and Old, enjoyed them.

Heidi finished off her party with a bit more cake and then we all fell into bed!  It was a fun day, the weather was perfect and Heidi was pretty good too.