Annual Trip to UT/ID

Each summer for the past few years, we have made the pilgrimage to Utah to visit Grandma Virginia, Grandpa Myron, and some of my college friends. We then travel on to Idaho for Kevin's family reunion in Downey. This year, I took the kids with me to Utah in the car. Eden flew out so she could see Grandma. We had a lot of fun. As we took of for the trip, we made it to about Troutdale, OR which is about 20 minutesfrom home before Marin asked if we were there yet. She said that she had already done everything she brought to keep her occupied. This worried me a little but it worked out okay. Marin decided to make a fort in the car. This was excellent because it eliminated the whole "Mom, he's looking at me" argument that happens between my kids every 3 minutes or so. We took the trip in two days, stopping in Boise for the night. The kids were really well behaved on the trip there. They love seeing Grandma Virginia and Grandpa Myron. We got there and of course they each just gushed about the trip thus far to Grandma. Eden got there the following day and we had some great times. Eden and I were able to go running together everyday. The altitude about killed us but it was fun nonetheless, and necessary because of all the rich food we ate during the visit. We went to High Tea and Sunday Brunch, both at The Grand America Hotel in SLC, UT. It is very exclusive and Grandma really enjoys High Tea. The kids were amazingly well-behaved. We also were able to see Uncle Steve, Aunt Pat and our cousins, Mark, Ryan, Hollie, and Ashley. It was a great trip. Kevin came several days into the trip, but he cheated and flew to UT. We'll forgive him though.
Our visit to Idaho was equally fun. Kevin and Andrew drove up with Eric a day earlier than Marin and I. We stayed for a day of shopping with Grandma Virginia. (Needless to say, I don't think Myron wants us taking Grandma shopping again. She got a lot of really cute clothes.) Back to Idaho. We went to Texas Roadhouse with most of Kevin's cousins, his Aunts and various other relatives. That was a challenge seating that many people. We took up three tables. Much food was consumed and Kyle sat in a high chair by himself for the first time. The actual reunion is always the same Saturday each summer. They have it at Downata Hot Springs in Downey, ID. This year, Andrew and Felipe said that they would go down the Black Hole slide. I told Andrew that it was pitch black and a straight drop down. He told me that it didn't matter; he was going to do it. Well, he went down two times but said that it was too scary and he would wait to go down again. He did enjoy going down the Aquachute though. That slide is much more tame. Marin enjoyed the smaller slide in the big pool. She probably went down it at least 30 times. It was a great reunion and we got to spend some quality time with Kevin's Grandparents. Andrew especially enjoyed Grandma Janiel's raspberry shortcake that she brings to the reunion every year. We will look forward to next year's trip.

College Friends

It is so great so see some of my college friends when I come to Utah. I am so glad that I have three of them that all live within several towns of each other. Laura, Sally, Carrie and I were able to get together several times to see each other. We had a wild time taking our 15 children to McDonalds and then to Sally's house. She is much braver than I would have been allowing that many children in my home. Amazingly, they all played together pretty well and there were no major catastrophes. In fact, there was not much to clean up at all. They did a fantastic job keeping themselves occupied while we were able to catch up on old times and reminisce. We also had an opportunity to have girl's night out. We went to Tepanyaki in Lehi. Carrie couldn't meet us for dinner but she and John joined us for dessert at The Malt Shoppe in Provo. It was like old times, getting shakes, laughing, and talking. We always pick up with each other as if we have never been apart. It is so amazing that we have been friends for the better part of 2 decades. I don't feel that old. We were also able to get together with the kids at a splash park in Herriman. Carrie couldn't make it but it was great to see her twice. I look forward to seeing them all again soon.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

For the past two summers, Mara , a neighborhood girl, has organized play practice for the kids. She comes up with what play they will perform, prints out copies with each child's part highlighted, and proceeds to direct them through the whole production. They meet twice weekly for about a month to practice their parts, work on set production and costumes. The night of the performance, there are refreshments, programs, and of course, the cutest players ever. This summer, the kids did a trilogy of Mo Willems stories. My kids were in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Andrew was the pigeon and Marin was the babysitter. It was extremely cute. They have such a fun time using their creativity. I hope Mara continues to do this every summer.

Slip and Sliding with Felipe

Kevin bought a slip and slide today so the kids could get cool and wet with their cousin Felipe. It was fun watching them. I think the kids had a blast and they were certainly cooled down in the process.

Fourth of July/Pioneer Day Parade

Our ward has traditionally done a pancake breakfast the morning of the Fourth of July. This year, our new activities chair wanted to do something a little different. I don't know if he couldn't get the building and was compromising or he didn't think it all the way through but they had a 12th of July pancake breakfast that was to include the Fourth and Pioneer day. Interesting idea, but not many people showed up. It was a shame since the breakfast was really well done. They had tons of fresh fruit--blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, cherries, etc. They had whipped cream and pie filling for the top of pancakes, sausage, two kinds of pancakes. It was an incredible spread. They also had a parade for the kids to ride their bikes in. It was a fun morning. Too bad more people in the ward couldn't attend.

Vacation Bible School Closing Program

Vacation Bible School came to a close on Friday. The kids really enjoyed the whole week. On Friday evening, there was a program for the parents. Each group of children sang a song for the parents. There was an ice cream social and more water sliding to follow the singing. As the leader ended the singing portion, she encouraged all of the children to come to church on Sunday. She stated that they would be learning more fun stories from the Bible as well as singing. She followed that up by saying that the church would have the water slides open after church services. I was waiting for the rest of the program for one of my children to ask about going to this church. Well, on the walk to the car at the end of the evening, Marin said, "What day is it tomorrow? Is it Sunday?" I said that it wasn't and asked why she wanted to know. She said, "Could we come here for church on Sunday." I knew it, I knew it. Of course I said we were going to our church on Sunday. How do you top a water slide at church for children. There is nothing that compares to it in our ward at least.

Vacation Bible School

For any of you considering putting your child in vacation bible school--do it!!! It was such a fun thing for my kids. (Plus it gave me a chance to do some running this week.) It was run through the Presbyterian church that both my kids attended preschool at. They knew several kids that attend our ward who were also attending VBS. It was 9-noon M-F for one week. They do crafts, learn bible stories, play games, sing songs, and play with slip and slides. I am sad that tomorrow will be the last day of it. They do a program tomorrow evening followed by an ice cream social and more slip and sliding. I wish they could do it all summer long. I can dream can't I.

Fourth Of July

The Fourth of July was kind of a chilly day. Kevin and I started out the day running the Ridgefield 4th of July 10k. Kevin's mom ran the 5k--where she got first place in her age group. It was great running weather. We stuck around for the parade. Norm is one of the Sewer Commissioners so they were in the parade. The kids loved running into the street to get the candy that was being thrown. After the parade, we hung out at Kevin's parents for a while, cleaned up, and then began lighting off fireworks. We started in the afternoon with them. Keri's boyfriend, Charlie, managed to burn a hole in his shirt trying to hold a firecracker in his fingers after he lit it. I hope my kids are not taking lessons from Charlie. Kevin and Charlie were quite the pair trying different things to make the fireworks more spectacular. The ritual fireworking of the Swanger's mailbox also happened later in the evening. Every year for the past 20-25 years, Kevin has lit fireworks in their neighbors' mailbox. We had to keep with tradition. Kevin even took video of it to post on Youtube. We finished the evening off with more fireworks at Kevin's parents' house. It was a nice holiday.

Swim Lessons

Andrew was in the Polar Bear class this round of swimming lessons. I have to admit, I was a little nervous that he would not pass the class. He really surprised me though. All his swimming skills just clicked and he was able to complete the requirements of doing the front and back crawl, the elementary backstroke, and whatever else it entailed. Andrew has pulled together his side breathing and is getting to be quite a good swimmer. I am very proud of his accomplishments.