Buttoned Up

On Christmas Eve day we took the kids up the cabin one last time for the season.  Since the cabin is not finished, the caretaker will not plow to our cabin anymore.  We took up our sleds as well, mostly to try and wear down the kiddos so they would sleep well that night.

There was a lot of snow.  A lot.  Beautiful though.

The cabin is as close to being dried in as its going to get.  The roof membrane is on and most of the windows are in.  It is no longer practical or worthwhile to try and get workers to go up there.  So now we wait until the snow melts in the spring to start again.

Have you ever tried to take a selfie with an iphone propped on a deck covered with snow and ice?  It doesn't work very well.  Scott had a difficult time setting the timer then plowing through the 3 feet of snow in time.

Then the phone slipped. 

So we gave up and the boys continued with the snow angels, sledding and throwing snow.

Our Elf

Is your elf having difficulty finding new places to hide?  After 5 Christmas' in this house, our kiddos know all the spots and we have specifically told our elf he is not allowed to go on Pinterest to find exciting new ways to entertain the kids each morning.  I simply, I mean He simply does not have the energy for that. :)

A Guest Appearance

Baby Jesus needs some serious protection.

A Measuring Stick

For many years now, we have been going up to see the Christmas lights on Temple Square with Scott's parents.  It is something we look forward to during this season.  Each year we do the same thing.   Meet up at the Lion House after Scott's parents are done serving in the temple, eat dinner and then go see the lights.  We actually have the whole process down to a science so we can beat the crowds and congestion.

For some reason this event is one I always measure and look back on each year to see how it is gotten easier and how my kids are growing up.

In the early years with young babies and toddlers it was an exhausting evening.  Packing coats, hats, blankets, gloves and strollers was just the beginning.  Once we arrived downtown we had to haul everything across the parking garage and to the restaurant.

Dinner was always a chaotic event.   Carrying multiple trays of food to the table and pushing strollers through the line was the first part.  Then, cutting up food for the kids, helping them eat and hoping one of them didn't have a tantrum or start running around the restaurant before we all had finished.  I remember many years,  barely having time to shove down my food before the kids got out of hand.  There was also the worry that I would have to find a place to nurse Chase amongst the crowds as well. Been there. Done that too.

Chasey at Temple Square

Once the dinner was finished and all of the clothes were put on, it was the worry that they would get cold, we would lose one of them or one of them would start crying.  Or any number of these things happening all at once.  Once we finished and walked back to the car we would all be exhausted.  Let me re-state that.  Scott and I would be exhausted.  The kids were just getting started.

Each year when we have gone though, I have looked back at the previous year.  Soon, I wasn't nursing anymore. The next year, we only had 1 stroller and so on.  Slowly but surely it has gotten easier.  My boys now feed themselves and are responsible for their own clothes.  Yea!  I don't have to worry about tantrums and strollers.  Yea!   We can actually sit down and have a nice dinner and only tell Owen and Chase about 4 times to sit down and stop running around. 

On the other hand as it has become easier for us, it has become harder for Scott's parents.  Due to some health issues, Scott's mom no longer works in the temple and has a harder time getting around.  We are so grateful for the time we have to spend with them and hope we can continue this tradition for many more years.

A Change

A few weeks ago, Taylor handed me his 3rd revised edition Christmas wish list. 

On his list he had written that he wanted a pair of jeans and a button down shirt.

What?  I was confused.  This child has not worn jeans (save for 1 stake dance) or a button down shirt (except for church) in years.  All he wears is athletic shorts and athletic or cotton t-shirts.  Preferably with a Nike logo on the front.  When he is going out on a limb he will wear athletic pants.

All those jeans that I had so smartly bought during sales years ago and stashed them away for future use.  Never worn by this child.

So I questioned him about these items on his list?  Are these for church?  A special occasion?  A dare? To impress someone?

He told me no, he just looking to wear something different.  I had a hard time believing this.

Fast forward a few weeks and I noticed that some of his athletic apparel was looking a little skimpy and tired on him.  That's no surprise as he is growing right before my eyes and wears the same few things over and over.

I decided that instead of giving him jeans for Christmas I would just take him and buy him a couple pairs and a shirt. 

I still was dubious though when we went looking.  I didn't really think he knew what he wanted.  We found some jeans that he liked pretty easily.  Not too loose or not too tight.  He wanted them plain.  Nothing fancy.  Done.

He then went searching for just the right button down shirt.  I had no idea how to help him, so I just kept pointing out different fabrics and patterns.

At one point, I pointed to a plaid flannel shirt and said "How about something like this?"  To which he responded "I don't want to look like a lumberjack, Mom."   How could he not like a plaid flannel shirt?  You can't go into a clothing store without running into racks and racks of these.  They are all the rage right now.  I guess not so much for this 14 year old kid.

So,  I decided to keep my mouth shut until he found what he was looking for.

He did.  I looked at it and asked him for about the 10th time if he was sure he would wear it to school.  He promised me he would.  I then told him that if I didn't see him wearing it, he owed me money for the cost of the shirt.

I don't mind the change, that's for sure.  He wore them to school today and I could tell he was slightly uncomfortable in them.  A little fidgety.  He's not used to clothes that don't stretch.  We will see how long it lasts.

My handsome boys

 

Tucson

A week before Thanksgiving, Scott and I went for a short trip down to Tucson.  Scott and a few of his riding buddies decided to meet down there and ride the "Tour of Tucson" bike race together.

They all finished.  102 miles in 6 hours and 20 minutes.  Pretty impressive considering none of them had done much riding the month before the race.

The weather the warm and the food was great and I didn't have to ride a bike to enjoy it all!

 Taking a short break at mile 75.

 Scott always wears his lucky "leisure suite" jersey for bike races.

If It's Not One of the Kids...

It's the dog.  On a weekend.  Nowhere near a vet.

Last Saturday we drove up to our cabin to do a little clean up after the framers.  We got out of the truck and went inside the cabin to see how it was coming along.  Scott had climbed up into the loft and was helping the boys climb up.  All of a sudden he looks down onto the main floor and sees our dog Andi, bolt across the main floor and scramble up and out one of the windows.  Presumably to chase after a squirrel.

The problem is, she didn't think about how far the drop was on the other side.  She dropped about 10 feet onto rocky ground.  Not a peep did she make.  She turned around and then Scott got a glimpse of her leg.  It was dangling where it shouldn't be dangling.

I ran down to see if she was o.k. and confirmed what Scott saw from above.  Not only had she broken her leg, she had snapped it clean.  Gross.

We've been here before.  Except it was an arm on a human.  These are not good things to look at.  Note to self: We need a really good first aid kit at the cabin.

Scott picked her up and carried her to the truck.  We then attempted to make a splint out of cut up pieces of construction wood and strips of Bennett's t-shirt.  Luckily we have cell phone reception up there, so I started calling down to Spanish Fork to see if I could find a vet that is open on a Saturday.

After one rejection, I found a vet in Payson that would see her.  I left Scott and the boys and took Bennett with me and headed back down the canyon.

Our makeshift splint

Sure enough.  It was a really bad break.   Bad enough that she needed surgery and ended up with pins coming out of her leg with external rods to keep her bones in place while they heal.  She will have these for at least 6 weeks.

She is back home now and recovering and our bank account just got a little smaller.   

Lake Powell 2014

Everyone had a great time at Lake Powell this year! 

There was a lot of hanging out with cousins.

 

Spearing Carp with Uncle Jaron.  A highlight for my boys.

   

It's amazing what will be attracted to your bait.

 

Fishing off the back of the houseboat.

 

I even caught one and I wasn't even trying!

Going down the slide.

Acting silly.

Hanging out by the campfire.

Playing games.

Relaxing on the tube.

 

Not relaxing on the tube.

 

 

Going on a few hikes.

   

Going for jet ski rides.  Taylor was old enough to go by himself, to his delight.

 

Even Andi, our neurotic dog got a ride.  She looks thrilled, doesn't she.

A little wake boarding for Scott and Taylor.

 

Taylor got up for the first time!

  

And of course, taking a lot of pictures!

 Wow!  That was a lot of pictures!   Thanks Mom & Dad.  We had a great time!  Till next year!

Halloween 2014

We had quite a few last minute Halloween costume changes this year.

Chasey started out being a zombie when he left for school that morning.  However, by the time he got home, he had taken off all the gory flesh that I had put on and announced that the make up was too itchy and he didn't want to be a zombie anymore. 

I argued with him for about 2 minutes and then realized that was pointless.  He then went down into the Halloween box and picked out an old Batman costume.  He was happy the rest of the night.

Owen decided he wanted to be Tim Howard. He is the goalie for the U.S. soccer team.  I tracked down a Howard t-shirt and bought him a beard and bald cap.  Unfortunately he ruined the bald cap by scribbling on it, so right before school started we just buzzed his head.

About 5 minutes into wearing the beard he decided that it was too itchy and refused to wear it.  So, he pretty much he looked like he looks every day.  Oh well.  I tried.

Bennett couldn't figure out what he wanted to be.  He couldn't decide between a robber or a gangster or some mix of in between.  I bought him a pair of black jeans and a black shirt.  Then, last minute he decided that wasn't what he wanted to be either.  He opted for last year's morph suit.  At least it still fit and his black clothes I bought him can be worn to school.

Taylor came home on Thursday afternoon and begged me to go buy him a $30.00 blow up turkey costume.  I wasn't even aware he wanted to dress up this year.   I told him that I didn't pay that much for the other costumes, so I wouldn't pay that much for his.

He kept casting about trying to figure out what he wanted to be.  I kept giving him suggestions, to which he responded "It can't be lame, Mom."  Finally we stumbled on a pix online of a Captain Crunch costume.  He thought that would be awesome.  Especially since Captain Crunch is his favorite junk cereal.   I took a look at the costume and thought I could put that together pretty cheap, since I already had the foam for the hat and the right color of jacket.  A little felt and some fabric and I would be good to go.

Let's just say that 6 hours and $30.00 later he had his Captain Crunch costume.  There was a lot of hot glue and spray glue involved.  But, according to him it was a hit.