A Response to a kind Commenter

Yes I am back to blogging. I realized with are my intermittent absence, all my resolution to return, it really didn't change much. I would go about my day, with the thought that all that I am breathing, seeing, doing, should be spelled out. Not for others but for myself. Then I would quickly shove those feeling in the back cavern of my head to keep company with triathlon training, getting published, and doing my children's baby books (which are so covered in cobwebs and dust will take a lots of gentle nudging to get out.) So I would go a week or month changing diapers, figuring out biography projects, and putting on princess dresses on Anna, content and fine. Yet, none of that has found a spot on this blog. So in response to the one who knows me best, I am here and ready to pump the life back into this blog. We need the Elvis Dance Parties and trips to Wheeler Farm. More than not, we need not to forget our good life. We need to drown ourselves in it. To the rest of my quaint readership: I am back.

By the way, posting a picture, let alone letting someone take a picture of me solo is really out of character. What does this say? Not exactly sure.

And now to say Adieu, 2010

Basements and babies. Those two things seemed to fill 2010. Now the basement complete and the baby, well, I deny he is growing up. A week ago he lay on my chest in the early hours, and his big sister took up Aaron's. I could see their backs lift and fall with breathing a sigh escaping once in a while in that full bed. It is nice to be full and not bloated. I laid there satisfied after a feast of a year. Full and glad to see what preparations we can make for this year. Little goofy but, that's how I like them.
Partying princess style

Looks like we made it!

General Sherman came in November for a brief stay. I was surprised to find out his whiskers were drawn on.

Halloween Folks! Come join our wild west adventures.

Canyonlands

Here's proof of my child prodigy.

Loved Arches despite the bugs and heat.

Splish, Splash, Anna loves to dance. Sorry rhyming isn't my forte

Love him.

This will scare the boys away.

Montana skies and my men on horseback.

Smallest cowboy, cutest in the west..and north, south and east.

Wrangling kids @ Timpanogos Cave. I spend lots of time wrangling

A little retro-chick for Anna.

Summer's End

In all the summers we've had since the beginning of us, this one has been the most packed. Some dismal February day when all we could do to drink the gifts of summer by planning what we would do. We planned and planned some more. Taking out all the stops, excuses, and realities (like it is really hard to camp with a baby), we planned a whimsical and adventuresome summer. It was all we could have expected with a few bumps in the road. Yet to warn you: if you plan in February how you will weed away your summer days, be warned that they will speed by. Busy is always good, in my book. I have so many memories that I need to tuck away somewhere. Some of my favorite are Harris's amazement with Arches, Anna at the ranch on Ol' Timer, and Jack slumbering in the front pack on the way down from Timp Cave.

Then there are all the little things which filled in all the cracks. My house seemed to have a revolving door for all the neighborhood children. Our living quarters are tight, the basement still in the last stages of completion, yet it seemed they didn't care. Boys playing wii or plotting their weekly business. Little girls pushing strollers and conducting tea parties. Then there were the drawn-out mornings where Harris spoiled Anna with attention, pillow forts, and the Price is Right. Those walks to the park filled the twilight hours and drink runs with the kids. Jack growing and changing like the weeds in our garden. Not to forget, the tender sugary corn that we ate at summer's end, luckily there are a couple left on the stalks to make the warm weather linger. Then there was the night when Aaron and I took books out on the patio, meaning to read in candlelight and talked for hours. It probably was me doing the talking and Aaron wanting to get back to his book.

Now its over, school is back in session, the days are shrinking down and cooling off. Which means I actually have a schedule. Those long days of summer have slipped through my fingers. Yet, not without leaving their mark. So, when February rolls around again and we begin to schedule those warm three months, I hope we fill it. I hope we cram as much in, leaving very little air space. Just enough to breathe and to drink a fresh lime or two.

Wide Open Spaces

Howdy all! We are now recovering from cowboy camp. Oh, how we loved this place. The Gallitan River, the mountains, our first spotting of a bear in Yellowstone Park. It was as rejuvenating as the cool Montana Air and cleansing as the storms that visited us each evening. I feel a bit heartbroken as this trip begins the close of our summer. One more short jaunt and then back to books and car pools and cold weather too soon. There is a lot I will remember about this summer: Arches, crying babies in the car, Ragnar, swimming with the kids, and fresh limes. We have grilled almost every night and dined on the patio. Yet, as I watched my family blend in to the Montana landscape, I'm convinces that this summer is one to be beat. Aaron and Harris played their western roles well. The cowboy hats grew on me. A few times I thought maybe we should have left the young'ns at home.

There was oodles of water running in and out of the ranch for tiny fingers to wade in.

We might need to get Aaron a bigger gun in thirteen years...

Anna and Timer

I hope this trip doesn't affect any career goals.

How I waited for my cowboy to come home from his two hour ride.

My cowboys

Afternoon at the fish pond.

Harris learning the ropes.

Oh, every girl wants a cowboy

Cowboy Jack on his morning ride.

New Blog and more to Come

So I did it. Started a new blog. Say what you will, but it is done. If you would like to check it out, here's the web site: www.reinkarination.blogspot.com. Also, we just returned from the vast lands of Montana along the Gallitan river. We rode horses, lassoed fake cattle, shot Bibi guns and such. We even saw a bear. Now, who can say they saw a bear in Yellowstone, now we are amongst the fan club. Shortly, I'll be blogging about all that. There is more to come as well using Stories as the mother ship to all kinds of other adventures.

Revisiting the Old Blog

I know. Its been a while. What do you do when your good writing time is barricaded by a sleeping baby. All moms agree that is precious time. That is time that is worth sending the guard dogs to lie in front of the bedroom door. So now with him sleeping more soundly I am attempting to write with out the other two barging in asking for Popsicles and calling over so and so or going this way or that. Also, why not wrap up one vacation montage when you are about to emark on another? Good plan I think. Or it might just remain with the dust in between my keyboard keys.
We ventured off after Harris was released from Fourth Grade and went on a desert vacation. This vacation planted me firmly into my role as a mom. #1 We were all in our van. Yes, I now drive a sporty red Honda Oddessy. I have enough kids that I have to yell to the back seat so Harris can make the decision between red or black licorice. #2 We had a screaming baby. I love him, I just don't like that he brings up the noise levels where ever he goes. Aaron and I were a bit afraid of getting kicked out of our first National Park because of some noise ordinance violation. #3 Several trips and searches for commodes, bear potties or discreet areas for Anna to do her business. At least she's got that covered. All in all it was a very good time. What is better than a son who every turn, found something to exclaim about, especially the bounteous lizards? It almost made me forget about the bugs.
Park Avenue is closer than you might think. Much more spectacular and it doesn't break the bank.

They love each other

See my death grap on Anna, Aaron wouldn't have it any other way. We didn't spend long at Delicate Arch, even after our hike

Sand! There was something Anna digged.

Quality reading time.

Only one of many, many lizard pictures taken by our offical wildlife photographer Harris.

All Together.

Don't Get too close, that is one big drop off.

Love a desert rose.
This dropoff is even a little worse.
I think this was annoyance at being toted all day long.
The kids worked for their supper in Mesa Verdu
Amazing Cliff Dwelling.

A little down and out

This week we've had a touch of infection at our house. My stomach wouldn't settle yesterday. So I ignored the fact and went on making princess crowns and changing diapers, avoiding food smells. All day long all I wanted was Diet Sprite, I am just now enjoying chilled sips of it. So, when Aaron stumbled in the door at 9:00 last night I declared that I would be sick until I went to bed and he was in charge. Of course, they all were down, except Jack who Aaron quickly bundled and Paul Simon lulled him to sleep. Mr. Simon, you were right, it had been a "long, long day."

After quick inquiries about our day apart, I feel asleep only to be awoken by a wheezy girl. Who, hours ago was perfectly content to hang her crown on her headboard and snuggle down with pink blanky. Aaron took charge, those student loans were worth it, and sat with her outside until the croupy cough ended, oxygen flowing freely in and out. He then rushed to grab her meds. I sat with her blond curls tickling my chin. All I could think was of how she was planning a bike race tomorrow with her bff next door and they would wear their crowns she'd constructed. She probably was planning on a banana Popsicle or two as well. Now she would be tired and a bit out of sorts.