Spring Break Camp-out

This year for sping break we put the ScOuT MaStEr to work for his family and went camping. It was the first stress free campout this mom has ever had! He really knows all the ins and outs of camping now...and with his dutch oven cooking every day I swear I gained 5 pounds in 3 days!!

We invited along our friends the Reidheads. Funny thing about the Reidheads - they have kids our exact same ages! 8-6-3 but they are all girls!!

Jack and Josie

Did I mention or first day out was St Patties Day?

(that's why you're seeing all of this green!)

It was cold and we had brought enough bedding to sink a ship but we sure had fun and slept well in our tent. Here's MB reading. A common sight wherever we are.

the Hike

The kids were out and about hiking for about 45 minutes when we decided to go and find them. They were fearless and having a great time. The older ones really impressed me by helping out the more timid hikers along the way. They held tree branches out of the way and everything. Seth dropped his stuffed animal at one point and Monte and Darby backtracked almost all the way back to camp to find it.

Clyde, Emery, Monte Birk, Seth, Jackson & Darby

Waterfall Hike

It really wasn't too much of a hike and the waterfall really wasn't too big but it was perfect for my guys! (Sorry the picture is cropped in too tight so you can't see the pretty fall below us!)

MB and Mom with wet feet!

Seth and Clyde feeling timid but getting there.

Last Day

We're still happy by day #3. Actually couldn't be happier!! Today we...

...said goodbye to the Reidheads-who were heading back down the mountain without us. ..made our own huge fire and breakfast...

...cuddled in the warmth of the tent and read a few chapters of 'Percy Jackson'...

...drove on up to the fish hatchery to feed the fish... (it was so funny to see them pop up out of no where to get the food!) ...and took our time loading up our own gear before heading back down the mountain ourselves.

TRiP

I went to Utah...alone...for 3 days!! No pictures of me and all I did however because I forgot my camera. But here is what I needed to realise and why I really needed to go alone.

These sweet boys.

I stayed with my sister in law and her 2 children, spent an entire day with my younger sister and her 3 children and had nothing else on my agenda during the day. I thoroughly enjoyed the company I kept. I read 2 books and ate great food. I visited old and dear friends. I remembered who Diane was before she had 4 boys (with one on the way), a mortgage, laundry and dirty dishes. I focused on those 4 boys in their absence and prayed about each one and their needs. Most importantly I had the time to really listen to the spirit and my instincts and try to see how I can improve on being their mother. Most of you are probably better at finding this quiet time without leaving town. Believe me, it was not why I left town but it is a product of my going.

I need to slow down and not care so much.

Detox, if you will.

I took the time to really enjoy my nieces and nephew, my sisters, their homes. What is most important is how we treat one another. Not the laundry or the crusty dishes in the sink. Not being on time for school, church or basketball. Not how you look in this or that outfit. Not if your bed is made and the toys are picked up. Not having everything ready for book club and definitely not about what other people think of you.

What does matter is how you treat the people around you. Your patience and kindness. Your understanding and compassion. Your relationship with yourself and your Father in Heaven. The thing is...either you are or you aren't. It applies to everything. A believing Christian, a good parent, a loving spouse, a happy person... I'm not saying you need to be smiling and go get 'em at all times. But if you're an are person it will show even when you are down. It is inside of you. It becomes who you are. And really...either you are or you aren't...right?

I want to be able to say I am.

1 week

We did it! We left the kids in the care of Stephen and Brindy for 1 week and took a trip! (Thanks guys!) We weren't sure where we were going until the night before...just found the most open flights for us "stand-by" passengers...and the winner was...FRANCE! It was my 3rd time and Monte's 2nd to the city so we only did the city at night. For those of you that have been there you know that the city is just a city. The days were reserved for Normandy, Versailles and riding bicycles in the country. I'll spare you the 300 photo's I took and give you the city. (Please no judgement on the self photo's...my arm is only so long...)

below is quite literally the view from our hotel, for us it was free (vouchers...gotta love 'em) for others $600 a night - OUCH! Notre Dame

Arch of Triumph



we did ride to the top of the Eiffel tower (and got rained on in the process), we did see the opera house (while were were wandering the city..not lost...wandering), we did NOT go into the Louvre (you can get lost in there, I know from experience) we did eat pastries (chocolate croissants are my faves), omelets (we stay over night by the monastery where they were invented) and crepes...wouldn't YOU?
My favorite highlight...other than the food
We spent one night in Normandy in the first town that the American soldiers liberated. I wish we had more time to spend there. The history alone of standing on Omaha Beach. It is difficult to find the words for such a sacred place. Awe inspiring is not quite right, reverent covers it better, and yet not, Miraculous seems better. Combine all three and that should cover it. To actually see the 5 miles of beach head lying before a hill with cliffs that were spattered with German soldiers. To know that so many boys and men, fathers and children died there. And to marvel that they ever got off that beach at all. I realised that it was a blessing for those of the Promised Land that they were protected. That the main part of the German forces were elsewhere. If they had been there at the beach the Americans would never had made it to dry land.

He's Back!

I didn't mention this before but if you were wondering why my blogging has been so prolific this week...he's been gone...Greece...sound like a business trip to you?

The temple of Poseidon

watch out Percy...this guy'll give you a run for your money!

Parthenon

more of the the temple of Poseidon

the Acropolis
next time...I'm going with him.
please...please...please
let there be a next time!

Annual Ski Trip

Let me begin by telling you the difference between 3 small houses and 4 small houses when you are discussing the topic of housing 8 families totalling 44 people. Many of whom are teenagers and 12 of whom are married couples. Huge difference...we're talking huge!! Roosevelt, or as my father pronounces it "ROOsevelt" get those lips out there to get it right. Was AwesOmE this year with 3 boats, 3 jet ski's, 4 houses and all but 3 in attendance. This year we had family devotional time every evening after dinner and it was wonderful. It's the highlight of our summer. This tradition has been going on for at least 18 years now...WOW time flies...

This is pretty much what the boat I was on looked like each time...we just cram them on...and yes, they all had life vests. We were in the junior league with the tubers and babies. Robert's boat was the teenage boat with the knee boarders and skiers.
No difference what boat you were on each day this is what you felt like by the end of it.
We are great food, played plenty of games and slept hard, unless you were Shauna who braved it with an 8 week old...we've all been there!

My SeLFiSh UtaH TrIP

July 4th we go each year to Utah for the entire week. That's not quite true. I go with the boys for the week and Monte is there with us for either the beginning or the end. Whichever one the 4th actually falls on. I call it my selfish trip. I do what I want in my own time with my own little family. This year we went straight from the airport to Provo town center for the crafts, booths, and bouncers. We hang out at the MTC park picnicking with the Buehler cousins forever to see the Stadium of Lights. Laughing at the way people save seats. We light our own fire crackers in the street. (unlawful in AZ) We go to the big July 4th parade in the morning. We visit with all of my non-family friends and old college room mates that there is never time to visit on the family trips to Utah. We stay at Karen's house enjoying my sister and her sweet family. We go to the park every day, because in AZ it is too hot to go outside if you're not in the pool. And we live a life of unscheduled frivolity. This year we did fit in quite a bit of the Gardiner family as well. With a picnic at the Jordan family and Sunday church with Margot and her kiddo's. Grandma came to both of those as well. Karen and I snuck in a night out alone together for Steak dinner and to go see Audra McDonald in 110 in the shade at the Orem Hale Theatre-a real highlight of selfishness. We came home around 11:30pm to poor Fidalis, the babysitter brother-in -law, and all 4 of my boys and one of his 2 girls wide awake. With the twins crying to him, literally, about how they are going into 2 separate classes for school this year...random. we came home tired, happy, sick of fast food and ready for our pool! I have pictures of it all but those will go into the family book...you just get this...see?...selfish!

4th of July

OK here's a few more pic's... Provo does a fantastic job of entertaining the kids with crafts, face painting, food, jumper toys and the list goes on...we made bracelets, painted, sawed wood and had scouts burn scouting symbols onto our cirles with rod iron pokers...but I ask you now, does it get any better than the $3 Wal-mart shirts? Every good mom should get them!!

Sunday afternoon we got to building our “snow fort” and snowmen #2 and #3.

Snowman #2 is Monte Birk with short red hair #3 is Mommy with her longer curly hair
SNOW FORT!! We shoveled the snow all the way to the grass..."the grass is the carpet" according to Monte Birk. By the end of the day Clyde was the one mosty likely to go inside and hang with Grandma.
"Just relaxin'and watchin you mom," was Seth's motto by the end

Snowman #1

Clyde, Monte Birk, "Frosty",Seth

Sunday morning we decided to build a snowman. I told Monte Birk that it wasn't good packing snow and there was no point in "rolling" the snowman's body...as I went about shoveling snow for his base he proceeded to roll anyway and BIG TIME prove his Mommy wrong...yet again!