Trek - After

Chris and I were in Longmont to close on our property and figured it was just as good to stay in town and pick up Amy as she returned from her four-day Trek experience.  The buses were running a little late so Chris ran a few errands and then planned to head to the Stake Center to wait for the buses.  Chris could work there while we waited.  His plans changed as we arrived at the church and found our friend, Nolan, unloading a rather large horse trailer stuffed to the brim with plastic garbage sacs filled with sleeping bags and blankets.  Stuffed to the brim.

It was smart-thinking on someone's part to have each ward's bags color coded.  There were many a bag tossed into piles of bags on the lawn.  As more parents arrived to pick up kids, more hands dug in and helped in the unloading process.

We saw the first bus pull around the corner to the church and hoped that Amy was on it.  As luck would have it, she was.  As bad luck would have it, her bucket of personal items did not arrived until the fourth bus!  It was so good to see her.

Perhaps Chris can add some of the kind words Amy's Ma and Pa shared with him about her conduct while on Trek.

From S Ainsworth "Pa"

House Colors

You would have laughed if you had heard Chris and I while walking along Saddleback Ave. "That house is gray." "No it is taupe." "It is not. THAT'S taupe. This one is gray." Those are the kind of arguments we have.

Trek-Before

Amy had the opportunity of going on four-day Trek with the young men and women of our stake in Wyoming at the site where the Willy and Martin handcart companies suffered so severly.  Normally, youth have to be 14 to go, but since Amy skipped a grade, she would miss out on the opportunity in another four years as she would already be graduated.

All attendees were required to have period clothing and were encouraged to begin a program of exercise to prepare for the 5, 11, and 16-mile walks that were meant to best simulate the experience of the Mormon pioneers.  The youth were also able to have a little fun as they learned square dancing and the Virgina Reel.

Chris and I dropped Amy off at the Stake Center on Monday morning at 5 am where there were six chartered buses to transport the 300 plus youth and Ma's and Pa's to Wyoming.  We hugged Amy goodbye and left her in the care of good people.  Many a prayers were lifted up in behalf of Amy and all of the trekkers.

Isn't she adorable?

Camping

Yes, I went camping.  No, I never go happily.  We left Thursday morning after packing up all of our stuff.  Amy had an ortho appointment in the morning, so she and I drove in to Longmont to take care of business and to pick up some light sticks at the Dollar store on the way home.  Apparently, you just can't go camping without light sticks.  Ok, I will admit they are a pretty handy means of lighting up the night.

We were packed up and ready to go around 2 pm on Thursday afternoon.  Having a mini-van was good for camping; we could fit a lot of things in the back, middle, and front of that thing.  Alas, we are a little crowded in the Pilot, but we make do.  The skies were a little cloudy, so we hoped that it would not rain on us.

We got a little mixed up in detours around Golden but finally found a grocery store, picked up some milk and orange juice that we had forgotten, and arrived at the Golden Gate State Park.  Because we were a little late in selecting our site (along with Burnham's) we were camping in a different location this year.  The site itself was lovely.  The pit toilet?  Not so much.

Before leaving, the girls and I assembled "hobo" dinners with hamburgers, potatoes, onions, carrots and beans.  After putting the tent up and getting bedding situated (we forgot the air pump and had to blow up the air mattress manually!), we got the fire going.  Our children are all willing helpers when it comes to starting fires.  Amy gets a little bossy when it comes to taking charge of the fire, however, our dinners were delightfully tasty.

Burnhams arrived late so we all pitched in to help them get their tent and supplies set up.  After that, we were able to sit around the fire, roast marshmallows, and chat.

With older children, our mornings don't always get started quite so early.  I thought it was funny though, when I ask Amy to get up in the morning on a normal day, it takes awhile for her to finally drag herself out of bed.  This morning, I said to her, "Amy, do you want to start a fire?"  She was up and out of bed in no time.  I'm going to have to use that method another time!

Kristen, Estee, and Bridger spent the morning looking for worms.  For a girl who is afraid of frogs, Kristen has absolutely no fear of worms.  Odd.  They named their worms, gave them lovely places to live, and took care of them most of the day.  Ugggh.  Just please wash your hands.
 

Chris, Amy, Misha and I along with Rafer and Ryker went shooting in the afternoon.  Maria was kind enough to stay with the three younger kids so that I could have a chance to shoot.  I decided that if I am going to get a handgun, it is going to have to be a smaller size to fit my hand and not have so much kickback.  Didn't like that.  I didn't like having that lack of control with a gun.

After dinner the adult's walked over to the "Dude's Fishing Hole" to walk off the yummy dinner I had made in the dutch ovens--tater tot casserole and peach cobbler.

Saturday morning dawned early enough.  We had a quick breakfast and then pack began packing up camp.  Not my favorite part, but we were on the road around 10 am.

Cleaning with Dad

It is an interesting phenomenon that our children will participate in work when accompanied by a parent, most especially their dad.  Chris came home from a week of work and, after seeing the condition of our vehicles, deemed Saturday a "clean the car" day.  The girls weren't terribly thrilled at the prospect but once they got into the cleaning mode, they were happy to work with their dad.

Misha's Crazy Ideas

Misha: "Mom, can I have some throwing knives?"

All Squished Out

I was playing with Kristen the other evening.  She was my doctor, and apparently I had a broken leg that necessitated a four-week hospital stay.  She then switched to being my nurse who was going to rub my feet.  She had a container of lotion in her right hand and towel and supplies in the other hand.  As she tried to climb up on my bed, she tripped and fell against my pillow with her right hand squishing the lotion all over my shirt sleeve and pillow.  "I'm sorry. I'm sorry.  It was an accident!"

Even with my "broken" leg, I climbed out of bed and helped to clean up the lotion.  I'm just sad that I missed out on a foot rub.

God Is In The Details

Christopher and I have had so many experiences of late reaffirming that "God is in the details" of our lives.  It is sometimes hard to imagine that our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ would even care about the choices we are making, but we have a strong testimony of this and know that even in where we live, Their purposes are being fulfilled.

I will be honest and say that there are times when we wonder, "Is this really the right choice?"  Those times are usually the result of hurdles that are in our way.  The pathway to following Christ is not, nor was it ever promised to be, burden and hurdle-free.  I need to repeat that:  The pathway to following Christ is not, nor was it ever promised to be, burden and hurdle-free.  Chris and I can attest to that being true as well.  BUT there is never a moment when He shelves us and offers a trite, "I'll get back to you later."  It may feel like it.  It sometimes does feel like it.  Always, though, His purposes take time to accomplish.

I came across a quote yesterday morning that was a great reminder:

"If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now." 
Jeffrey R. Holland

The whole of Elder Holland's talk was amazing. I recommend it.  I needed it.

"Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence"

In a speech given by Elder David A Bednar, he offers:

Stonewall Jackson was a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.  Many military historians consider General Jackson to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in U.S. history.  As a young man he fought in the Mexican American war, and during the Civil War he served with General Robert E. Lee and commanded confederate troops in a number of key battles with Union forces.

Once as General Jackson was discussing strategic options with his associates, a commander began his recommendation with the statement, “I fear we will not find our wagons tonight.”  
Stonewall responded to the words, “I fear,” in his colleague’s observation with a penetrating truth that ultimately became the general’s trademark: “Never take counsel from your fears” (Mary Anna Jackson, Memoirs of “Stonewall” Jackson, 1895, 264).  That is the simple principle I want to discuss with you today: never taking counsel from your fears.

We live in a world that grows increasingly confused and chaotic, ever more evil and dark.  President Boyd K. Packer observed, 

“The world is spiraling downward at an ever-quickening pace. I am sorry to tell you that it will not get better.

“I know of nothing in the history of the Church or in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds in wickedness and depravity that which surrounds us now. Words of profanity, vulgarity, and blasphemy are heard everywhere. Unspeakable wickedness and perversion were once hidden in dark places; now they are in the open, even accorded legal protection. At Sodom and Gomorrah these things were localized. Now they are spread across the world, and they are among us” (Boyd K. Packer, "The One Pure Defense," Address to CES Religious Educators, 6 February 2004, Salt Lake Tabernacle).  

As we consider so many of the things that are occurring all around us today, we could perhaps find ample reasons to be afraid, to hesitate, and to wonder if things in our lives can indeed turn out the way we have long hoped they would turn out.

...some of you may question or lack confidence in your own ability to succeed temporally and spiritually.  Or perhaps you wonder if the Lord’s promises of support and guidance—which you readily recognize and acknowledge in the lives of so many other people—will likewise be evident in your life.  You may be uncertain about pursuing an opportunity because you cannot foresee all of the details about how things will work out, and thus you are reticent to start and take the first steps on that path.  Or you may be so concerned about making a mistake that you fail to act in faith and press forward, and you thereby increase the likelihood of the very failure you fear.    

To not take counsel from our fears simply means that we do not permit fear and uncertainty to determine our course in life, to affect negatively our attitudes and behavior, to influence improperly our important decisions, or to divert or distract us from all in this world that is virtuous, lovely, or of good report.  To not take counsel from our fears means that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ overrules our fears and that we press forward with a steadfastness in Him.  To not take counsel from our fears means that we trust in God’s guidance, assurance, and timing in our lives.  I promise each of us can and will be blessed with direction, protection, and lasting joy as we learn to not take counsel from our fears.

As we exercise faith in Christ and trust in His promises, we can walk into the dark with the absolute assurance that our pathway will be illuminated—at least far enough to take the next step—and then the next step—and the next step.  "Fear Not, I Am With Thee" December 15, 2012

Kristen's Birthday Party

You might be wondering, "Aren't you a little late?  Wasn't her birthday in April?"  Yes and yes.  But her birthday happened to fall right in the middle of moving and there was just no way I could handle everything.  We told her we would have it later in the summer.  I'm pretty sure she wasn't that happy about having to postpone, but since she only gets a party every four years, she wasn't ready to postpone until next summer as I suggested.

We found some Living Social coupons for the Loveland Laser Tag center and promptly bought enough for a party for Kristen and then recruited some friends to buy coupons for a party for Misha.  We sent out the invites and Kristen excitedly waited for Saturday, July 13th.  As her friends began to arrive, I had them hide their gifts for Kristen throughout the house. 

The party progressed with smashing a pinata and then heading up to Loveland.  It took longer than we had originally planned at the Laser Tag Center, so Chris began texting parents that we would be an hour later.

The girls had fun playing laser tag, playing the arcade games, climbing through the laser maze, and some had fun on the climbing wall.  The afternoon also included lunch at their cafe and cashing in tickets from the arcade games for their prizes. 

We hurried back home for cake, nerd glasses, and final birthday wishes.

Crashing by the Fire Station

Amy, Misha, and Kristen hopped on their bikes to ride to the grocery store to pick up some powdered sugar.  They were gone for awhile, and I was mentally keeping track of when they should be back.  I heard the back door slam and went down to check on the girls, when I saw Chris and Misha backing out of the garage in the Pilot, I asked.  "Where are you going?"

"Kristen crashed on her bike."  Misha had ridden her bike home to get us. 

I hopped in to the car without any shoes on, and we drove the 1/2 mile to the ball park.  We looked around for Amy and Kristen's bike and finally spied them next to the ball fields in front of the Fire Station.  Chris went in first with Misha but since I didn't have shoes, I waited in the car.  I didn't have the patience for that and wanted to make sure Kristen was ok.  I hopped across the hot pavement to the sidewalk.  Ouch.  I rang the front doorbell without realizing that the garage bays were opened.  The firemen looked at me kind of weird-like standing there in my bare feet.  I said, "I'm with the other people," and they directed me to the bays. 

Kristen was all patched up by this time, there were no more tears, and she was getting her very own plastic fireman's hat.  Lucky!  If you were going to pick a place to crash, next to the Fire Station was ideal.  We loaded Kristen in to the car.  Misha wasn't too thrilled that she had to ride Kristen's small bike home, but I was grateful for two sisters who took exceptional care of their younger sister. 

Misha's 12!

Misha turned 12.  And the major milestone?  No more P..R..I..M..A..R..Y..!!!!!  She was beyond thrilled to move on to Young Women's.

I had taken Misha to Ulta the day before to pick out a few makeup items.  She picked out three things--mascara, eyeliner, and blush--just enough for her.  I also gave her makeup remover, some brushes and a zippered case.  I doubt that she'll wear the makeup all that often, but just so she had the option.

We celebrated her birthday early in the day with presents--always a good thing.  She had hoped for a kayak, but there's little room for a kayak in the rental.  She'll have to make do with a bike.  We had been looking for a bike for a couple of weeks but hadn't found one that was tall enough for her legs while still being good quality.

Chris found a bike on Craigslist that fit the bill in most areas except for the color.  Not red, nor green, nor black.  It was white with non-Misha like swirls.  We could probably take care of the swirls, but we needed the height and quality of the bike to be the most important.  Chris drove to Superior to check out the bike on Tuesday afternoon with Misha and his parents.  They hurried home for dinner so that Amy and Misha could then make it to Young Womens on time.  Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Amy's cake for Misha was an epic fail.  (In her words).  The cake was cut in to the shape of a "W" for Wicked (Misha is still obsessed with the musical.  She wears the black t-shirt [above] every night as a pj shirt and HANGS it up every morning--she doesn't ever willingly hang anything else up!)  But the cake just fell apart as Amy tried to frost it.  We lit candles, sang "Happy Birthday", and ate it anyway; Grandma promised to make Misha another one while the girls were visiting in Vancouver, WA.

Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa dropped in for a short visit on their way home from Grandma's NEA convention in Atlanta.  I say short because our tiny little rental got even tinier really fast.  Misha kindly gave up her room and slept on Amy's floor.

We, of course, spent a couple of hours at the pool each day so that Kristen could continue with her swimming lessons.  And frankly, there is very little to do at our rental, so it was nice to get out of the house.

We went shopping at Kohls one afternoon.  Here's Grandma sporting some six-inch heels.

It was handy that Chris planned a work trip on Wednesday morning (July 10th).  Amy and Misha were going to fly with Grandma and Grandpa to Portland to spend a week.  They loaded up the Pilot with all of their luggage and were out of here by 9:30 am.

And what did Kristen and I do?  We headed to the pool for a little time with Bridger and Estee B.

Swimming Lessons

Amy started swimming lessons with Kristen at the beginning of July.  It has been a good opportunity for Amy to learn how to teach and for Kristen to improve upon her skills; if we are going to be living on a lake, I want my kids to be totally comfortable with the water.

Teaching your sister is a bit of an experience.  Being taught by your sister is a similar experience.  Amy has had to learn the progression of a lesson.  For example, you don't just jump right to diving the first day.  You work up to it.  For Kristen, it has been a lesson in letting your sister tell you what to do and respecting her authority.  There have been a few power struggles but overall, I think it has been a good refresher course.

I  hope that Amy will continue her study of being a lifeguard.  I would feel a lot more comfortable knowing she had those skills.

Bowling

For a fun family-night activity, we decided to take the girls bowling.  We aren't usually this bad.

4th of July

We still try to figure out an Independence Day tradition, but I think our tradition is simply that we spend the day together as a family in some kind of activity that celebrates this beautiful country.   This year, we decided to spend the day in Rocky Mountain National Park with our friends the John family.

After Chris had everything cleaned up from the Ward breakfast, we packed a picnic lunch.  The John family similarly headed home to pack stuff for their family, and we met at the Walmart on Highway 66.  The road to Estes was busy and slow; Chris took advantage of the passing lanes every chance he got.

Our first destination was the Endovalley picnic area in RMNP.  From past years, we knew that it could get pretty packed, but we lucked out in finding an area with two tables and room to spread out.  The kids ate a little bit of food and then wanted to be off "climbing mountains."  Amy and Misha as the oldest, were good to lead the excursions.  It gave the adults time to chat and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and relax.

We left Endovalley and drove up to Bear Lake, opting to take our chances on getting a parking spot instead of taking the bus up.  No worries, there were plenty of parking spots available.  Jamie stayed with her baby while the rest of hiked down to Alberta Falls.  Johns have small kids, so we slowed to accommodate their pace but eventually made it to the Falls where all of the kids had fun climbing on the rocks.

The hike back up to Bear Lake was a bit more challenging, but we made it with some kids riding on shoulders.  We were just kind of playing the day by ear, knowing that the young kids would tire.  We stopped at the slides in Estes, and after a few runs decided to head home.

Chris was planning to be up really early on Friday morning for a hike, so he stayed home to get ready for it and then headed to bed.  The girls and I drove over to the library parking lot to watch fireworks.  It was ok.  There were a lot of trees in the way, but the girls were happy to climb up through the sunroof to sit on the roof of the car.

Amy's Pool Party

Amy invited a bunch of friends for a pool party at our property.  She was pretty excited to have a get-together of her own.  As we watched dark clouds gather, she and I were a little concerned that a downpour was on its way.  We figured we could always end up at our house if we had to, though it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

We stopped at King Sooper's for some plates, cups, and napkins and then at Domino's for pizza.  We arrived to find a couple of girls already waiting.  Ali P. was kind enough to pick up Misha and Kristen and take them to her house for a late-over with her girls.  As we were getting set up, I noticed that the gates closed, so Amy and some her friends ran to the entrance to meet up with the girls as they were dropped off.

Thus commenced a lot of laughter, shouts, eating, splashing, and having fun.  I noticed at the beginning that there was a division between her church friends and school friends, but by the end of the night, they were mixing together and having a lot of fun.  One of their favorite things to do was to scrunch all eleven girls on to the slide, take some pictures, and then suddenly go crashing in to the water. 

The weather calmed after 6 pm.  The girls went from the pool to swimming in the lake--some even swam over to an island.  Teen girls can be quite silly as I heard, "Lions, tigers, and bears.  Oh my!" yelled across the water.

I hung around for the party.  I felt a bit weird sitting in the Pilot for three hours, but I also didn't feel that it was appropriate to leave them without parental supervision either.  My iPad wasn't fully charged and ran out of battery after two hours, so I had to resort to playing games on my phone.  The favorite, profound quote that I overheard was:  "I'm not a third wheel anymore. I'm my own bicycle."  (Hmmm, sounds like it could be incorporated in to a great talk.)

Chris arrived home from a day of hiking just before 9 pm when the party was to end.  He was able to help me get things tidied up and to put things in order.  Amy was pretty pleased with the success of the party.  I'm sure it will be the beginning of many more.