Us versus Them

Last week our family took separate vacations.

 Abe and Clark joined the boys and men of PiPod for a fathers' and sons' backpacking trip in the Uintas for three days.
They all went together in Andrea's school bus.  Yep, she's got her own school bus.

The little boys and we ladies gathered for a stay-cation at the Flynn's home for three days of rest and relaxation.

You be the judge of who got the better end of the deal.

While the boys were hoofing it up the mountain...

 We mothers were spoiled by the little ladies in the FFT (Flynn, Fox, Thygerson) spa-- pedicures and manicures.

While the boys went cliff jumping into Long Lake (which activity I do not approve of)...

We hung out in the hot tub with the little kiddos.

They got trapped in a tent during a rainstorm and played The Great Dalmuti for five hours.

We discovered a super fun game called Timeline where you have to put historical events in order.  A perfect game for homeschooling moms!

Clark learned how to snare, skin, roast and sample chipmunk.

We enjoyed tea and scones at our tea party.

They scaled a high mountain and eventually found their way back to camp without following a trail (another activity I do not approve of).

 The girls played dolls and we enjoyed movies in the home theater.

 They played with firearms.

We played dress up.

I don't know exactly what they are doing here, but it looks like they are dancing.  And that is something we had in common this week.  We ladies did quite a bit of zumba!  No wait, they're not dancing-- they're zombies.  Zumba.. zombie... close, but not really the same.

I'm sure they were tempted to jump off these rocks into the lake.

We were wishing their pool could have been finished just a few days earlier so we could jump in.  But it was fascinating watching a pool getting finished.  It is ironic that it will be ready to go on the first day we're starting school.

They had a great time with good friends.

As did we.
So what do you think?  Who had it better?

Pooped of Lagoon

Saturday was Abe's work's Lagoon day.  Everyone was so excited to go and the day did not disappoint!  Around 4:00 Cannon declared he was "pooped of Lagoon".   Good thing he got a second wind for another 5 hours.

The big kids overcame their fears of roller coasters.  They didn't ride the scariest one-- Wicked, but they did all the others.

Abe and are sadly getting a little too old to really enjoy the big rides, so we were quite happy to watch these little guys go on the kiddie rides.

I love bumper cars-- so did they.

Faith's favorite ride was Bombora.  It's a fairly gently roller coaster that she rode on over and over and over again.  Probably more than 10 times!

A couple of other families from our neighborhood were at Lagoon on Saturday as well.  Faith's and her good friend Lois loved the roller coasters.

And Elinor and her good friend Asia were riding buddies.  Here they are on the scary ride called "The Spider".  I would never go on a ride with a name like that.

And Cannon and his friend Chase.  This is a family in our neighborhood that has recently begun homeschooling.  How nice for us!

I do still like this ride.  I didn't do many rides with my older kids-- they were off adventuring on their own, so it was fun when I got to see them.

Clark didn't arrive until after 1:00 pm because he was of on a scout camp.  Fortunately his scout leader was joining his family at Lagoon as well so Clark got a ride to meet up with us.

Alright, now for my soapbox moment.  I am a people watcher.  I can't help myself.  We're such fascinating creatures!  I took a few notes on the fashions people wore and I have a bit of commentary. 

1.  A lot of women wear very non-supportive sandals to Lagoon.  They do look cute- I'll give them that, but yikes!  You're going to be on on your feet all day.  Do you have arches of steel?  I had on really supportive shoes, but by the end of the day my feet were hurting.  More power to you cute, stylish ladies.

2.  This one is about the ladies as well.  I have no problem with people coming in all shapes and sizes.  But I think those of us who come in a little bit bigger shape and size might want to consider wearing clothing that is a larger size than a twiggy girl would wear.  I would appreciate it if you wear clothing that adequately covers your ample top and bottom.  Come on!  There are little children here!

3.  I feel a little bit bad about the previous two comments, but not about this last one.  You see, for #1 and #2 you weren't asking for my attention or commentary.  But for this one you were clearly asking for my attention.  Well, you got it.  And this is what I really think.  Your T-shirts with the snarky/rebellious/immature/self-centered sayings tell me more about you than you might want me to know.  Here were my top 4 obnoxious T-shirt sayings.
     a.  "Normal is Boring"
     b.  "Sometimes bad choices make great stories"
     c.  "Bad Mormon". 
     d.  "Growing old is mandatory.  Growing up is optional"

Alright, that's enough.  Sorry for being stinky.

Now, if you've looked through my kids' pictures and endured my self-righteous soap box, then you get to see my favorite part of the day.

We continued our tradition of doing old-time photos at Lagoon.  I am so happy with this one.  I especially love Cannon's and George's expressions.  They were told to be serious.

And it gets even better here.  They were told to look angry.  Oh my goodness, I could eat George up!

American Mini Warriors

Of all the high-brow activities our family enjoys, one of our favorites is watching a TV show called "American Ninja Warrior."  It is a glorified obstacle course for super athletes.  It is especially inspirational to my little boys.  They regularly play "Ninja Warrior" on their bunk beds.  But when we brought a mattress up to the family room for a house guest to use, they put it to good use as a warp wall to scale.

The game was to run up to the top and hit the black curtain rod holder.  It was a challenge for her, but Faith could do it.

Cannon tried hard...

 

... but needed a little help from Bethany.

The house guest I referred to was our wonderful English friend, Naomi.  To say that my children adore her is an understatement.  

Faith, Cannon, and George have behaved like no one has ever paid attention to them in their entire lives.  "Naomi, watch me!"  "Naomi, did you know...?"  "Listen to me sing a song, Naomi!" "Did you see my trick, Naomi?" "Naomi, can I sit with you?"
She is saintly patient with them and they can't get enough of her.  In the past couple of years she has stayed with us for several weeks.  This summer we only get her for a couple of days, and maybe a few more a couple of weeks from now.  So, the kids were desperate for their time with Naomi.

Naomi really brings out Cannon's sense of humor.  He's a really funny kid normally, but somehow when he's around Naomi, he is downright hysterical all day long.  He wore himself out with his antics and took a long nap this afternoon.

He sings and dances for her and she videos him.  The favorite activity was watching the videos from last year's visit.

I think she loves Cannon just as much as he loves her.

And I love it when she's here because I get to start speaking in an English accent in my head.  I try to not say things out loud, for fear it might be disrespectful to her, but I do think in an English accent.  And it sounds lovely to myself.

Sibling Love

Oh, look!  Cute little boys with their backpacks headed to school.  What?  Has Betsy come to her senses and sent her children to school?

No.  No plans for sending anyone to school.  This was Cannon and George with their backpacks all packed with snacks and coloring books for the five hour swim meet on Saturday.

I didn't take any pictures of the swimmers because I suppose I was too busy entertaining the little people.

Clark's Teachers Quorum at church have spent the last several months building kayaks for their high adventure that's coming up later this week.  They each brought them home to paint over the weekend.  This is the design Clark came up with.  The kayak has been tested out in the local canal and it does float, so I'm sure he'll have fun.

Here's what really made my day today.
I've been planning to start teaching Cannon to read as soon as we start school later this month.  We had some time this afternoon and decided to start a couple weeks early.  I didn't know what to expect from him.  I knew he knew his letters thanks to Leap Frog's Letter Factory (can't recommend it highly enough), but I also knew that that doesn't necessarily translate into ease in reading.  I wouldn't say any of my children (thus far) have picked up reading super easily.  And although I have truly enjoyed teaching them to read, we have had to work at it.  But Cannon opened up those little books and just got it.  He read the first three books to me today and then was so proud to get to read them to his daddy this evening.

 And honest to goodness, I thought my heart was going to melt looking at the two of them.  I find them both to be so handsome and incredibly charismatic.  I had to take a picture to remember the moment.

After snapping that last picture my heart was so full that I went to take a picture of cute little Georgie in his bed.  Oh, what a lucky mama!
Now, where are my other little angel children?

  Oh, yes.  There they are-- yelling and wrestling over who gets the brownies in the kitchen.
  What darlings.

Do you remember this as kids?  Just getting completely silly late at night.

It is almost 100% guaranteed to end in real violence and/or tears.  But it is unbelievably fun in the moment and pretty much impossible to stop.  Until it ends in tears.

Miraculously this encounter was tear-free and injury-free.  I suppose this was their way of preparing for the separation during Clark's kayaking trip.

And perhaps that explains why Clark has been teasing his siblings ad nauseum this week.  Today I had had enough.
He asked to do his computer time.  HA!  I'll tell you what, Clark.  You write me a list of 10 reasons why you should not tease your siblings and I'll let you do your computer time.
I will share his list for posterity's sake.  Quite frankly, it's brilliant.  Absolutely correct and thorough. 

Why I Shouldn't Tease My Siblings

1.  Would I like to be teased that way?... No.

2.  It could leave a lasting effect on them.

3.  It weakens relationships.

4.  Not a good habit to have.

5.  It bugs Mom.

6.  Even if what I'm teasing about is true, it doesn't need to be said.

7.  It's not nice.

8.  I'm hurting myself in the long run.

9.  I need to be an example, not a problem.

10.  I can't be close to my siblings if I tease.

This proves that I am doing my job of teaching, and he completely understands proper behavior.  Now, why he will not implement this behavior, I do not know.  Other than the fact that he is a 14 year old boy.  Perhaps no other reason is needed. 

Plan To Land

I have mentioned several times this summer the efforts we have gone to to help Faith learn her aerial and get into the right class for gymnastics.  She has spent many, many, too many hours practicing gymnastics the last three months.  I say "she", but let's be honest, it was really "we".  I've had my little notebook and pencil in hand making endless tally marks of back hand-springs, one handed cartwheel and spotted aerials. 
I dare say I was bordering on being a fanatical parent.

But I think I learned a little something through our efforts that I want to remember.  She lands all of her aerials these days, but not too long ago she would land one occasionally, but fall down a lot.  And as you can imagine, the speed and power necessary to land a no-handed cartwheel is significant.  When she would fall she would fall pretty hard and her little body was taking a beating.  When I spotted her she did them very well, so she would try on her own, but regularly have a rough landing.

And instead of getting better, her landings seemed to get worse.  I was feeling frustrated, not understanding why sometimes she did it so well and then the next day her landings were atrocious again.  Like she'd never done this before in her life.

Then one day I noticed she was crash landing, but in a way that insured that even if she fell, she wouldn't get hurt.  She was planning to spare herself some pain in the landing.

The problem was that by planning to crash land painlessly, she could not possibly complete the aerial.  Her very efforts to avoid getting hurt were what was causing the failure in the first place.  So I began saying, "Faith,  plan to land!  Do it as if your 100% sure you are going to stick the landing."

And what do you know?
  
You know the rest.  She does them beautifully now.  But this got me thinking.  Are there some things in my life in which I plan to fall.  Do I do things in such a way that if I fall or fail I know I won't get hurt very much.  And by planning to fall without pain, it causes me to go about the project in a way that guarantees my failure.     
As opposed to going into an endeavor with the  belief that I am going to succeed.  By believing that, I will do things very differently and be more likely to "stick my landing".

Forgive me for trying to wax poetical , theoretical, philosophical, or whatever.  I know other great minds have said it more eloquently and succinctly, but this will be a life motto of sorts for me-- Plan to land.  

Thank You Notes

Do you ever watch Jimmy Fallon?  I haven't for a long time, although I do think he's very funny.  He does a segment on his show called "Thank You Notes".  This evening I will do my own version of Thank You Notes.

Thank you... good friend Shelley... who came out of your house when I walked by this evening and chatted with me when I was feeling lonely and more than a little sorry for myself.

Thank you...  good friend Michelle... who let me water your raspberry plants this week while you were out of town and gave me permission to nibble on the ripe ones.  I think I need to plant raspberries next year.  And as a result of typing "raspberry" I learned that it has a "p" in it.  I never knew that.  I don't think I've ever written the word before.

Thank you... Cannon and George... for behaving so miraculously well while sitting through a crowded, humid, hot 5-HOUR swim meet today.

Thank you... Clark, Bethany, and Elinor... for all agreeing to do swim team rather than three different activities and significantly simplifying my life.

Thank you... my extended Cannon family... for being the kindest, friendliest people on the planet.  So much so that I happily took myself and my six children to a breakfast reunion at the park this morning just so I could bask in your goodness.

Thank you... John Larsen... for being a unbelievable example of being positive and thinking the best of everyone.

Thank you... Abe... for working so hard to take care of our family. And being my best friend and father to our children.

Thank you... youth leaders at church... for volunteering your time to take my children on so many wonderful adventures this summer.  And bringing them home alive.

Thank you... my sister  Brigitta... for taking care of Faith all day today.

Thank you... Dad... for letting Clark borrow your life jacket for his kayak adventure this coming week.  I do wish you had a paddle and stadium seat as well, but now we're the proud new owners of those.

Thank you... moldy smell that has been afflicting my house as of late... for disappearing and leaving us in peace.

Thank you... minivan that I love and appreciate and will never speak ill of... for getting us safely home this evening, even though something is very clearly not functioning correctly and absolutely must be seen by a mechanic this week.

Thank you... my children... who fervently praying that the van could make it home this evening when I was quite afraid it would not.

Thank you... Jillian Michaels... for being super mean, yet strangely inspirational, and helping me get off my tushy and exercise this week.  Even though I am partially crippled right now.

Thank you... George... for singing "Yankee Doodle" loudly in public places.  I just like it and it makes me happy.

Thank you...Faith... for working so hard on your aerial and officially getting into the "Yellow Class" that works so much better for our family's schedule.

Thank you... good friend Andrea... for lending us the black mats so Faith could properly practice her aerials. 

Thank you...Jordan River Temple... for being AMAZING.  If you are LDS and have a temple recommend, get thee to the temple this week!

Thank you... Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends... for entertaining all of my children this week, even if you are really messy and spread all over the living room floor.  You're worth it.

Thank you... Dr. Who... for allowing me to let my children watch TV without feeling guilty.  You're just smart and geeky enough to make me feel like they are still being productive. 

Thank you... parents of my piano students... for being so flexible and working with my ever-changing summer schedule.

Thank you... Alan Bradley... who writes some really charming murder mystery books that I enjoy.  I don't read them for any educational purposes or book club discussions.  Simply because they humor me.

Thank you... Susan Wise Bauer and Jim Weiss... for writing and reading aloud on CD great history stories for kids.  I knew it was time for something more meaningful in our car-time listening when George started singing, "... call me maybe...".

Thank you... Elinor... for showing me such confidence and bravery by swimming in the summer championships after only one week on the swim team.  Oh, could we all be so brave! 

Thank you... Miss Riverton... who was recently arrested on bomb possession charges and charged with four felonies at the tender age of 18...for giving me a fantastic, although very unfortunate, example of one moment's stupidity horribly affecting the rest of your life.

Thank you... Bethany... for crocheting me a case for my new glasses.  Which glasses I think I like; even if they do make me look like Velma from Scooby Doo.  I do feel smarter when I wear them.

Thank you...Blogger... for providing me an avenue for feeling heard and validated.  Even if it is only six people who may read this.  I feel better.   

All Is Right Again

At the risk of being a big whiner, let me just say it's been a rough week.  A rough month.  I have felt worn down and emotionally unsteady.  Abe has been working  A LOT; for which I am very grateful and I will not complain about.  Clark has been gone so much with camps and activities.  Bethany was so sick.  We are not doing our regular school so I haven't had a full schedule to keep me focused on other things.  In short, I've had too much time to sit around and feel sorry for myself.

But today is better.  Abe is home.  Clark is back.  Bethany is all better.  Church was completely nourishing to my soul.  My family is having one of those magical days where everyone is pleasant and happy to be together.  And I am a mother breathing a deep breath of gratitude for a healing day like today.

Clark arrived home Saturday afternoon with an absolutely glowing report of the 50-miler.  We sent him with a disposable camera and he did an admirable job of documenting the week.  He must be his father's son.  He loved it-- his feet and legs held up well and he had no problem keeping up.  I am eternally grateful for the leaders who take time away from their families to lead these boys on such adventures.

 Bryson was Clark's hiking and tenting buddy.

Can you read the bottom sign?  It says "Betsy Lake".
My man-child thought of his mamma on his hike.
He loves me.

We were all so happy to have him home.  Cannon and George especially were overjoyed.

Elinor had a fun event this week.  Her summer band classes ended and they had a little concert.  It was so much fun to see her playing her trombone which was mine and was her grandpa's.  She did great.  Interestingly, Clark's hiking buddy, Bryson, also played trombone with Elinor in this summer band, but he missed the concert for the 50.

Some of the more advanced kids played an arrangement of Pacabel's Canon in D.  Elinor played the bass chords on the piano along with them.

Cannon celebrating his completion of the library's summer reading program.

It's Christmas in August in our basement.  I'm not sure what prompts such creativity, but I like it.