On the Rocks

We spent the afternoon training our girls to rappel in Silver Reef, Utah, out by Leeds. (What, you've never heard of it?)


Oh, are you taking my picture?



The toothless wonder.


Bad to the bone.

Here's the giant cliff they were rappelling:

I think they're ready for a slot canyon:

Nice technique:

Bethany gives me some pointers:

Halloween

Last night, because Dental Hygienists, Cowgirls and Cinderella need curly hair:


Gwenyth, Dental Hygienist:


No, she is not a doctor, nor a nurse, not even a dentist. She is a dental hygienist. She has wanted to be a dental hygienist for months, ever since one visited her kindergarten class and showed them how to brush and floss. A 15 minute visit from a complete stranger made more of an impression on her than her mother's profession. Whatever. She's the cutest little assistant I've ever seen though!


Bethany, Cowgirl:


She also constructed a stick horse all by herself out of -what else- a stick, a brown paper bag and some yarn. It's quite ingenious. Take it from me, I'm her mother & I think everything she does is ingenious. I finally found a Wrangler shirt on clearance for $5 at a country western store. Hooray! I spent more on the hat than I planned ($9.99 & worth every penny as soon as she put it on), so she didn't get cowboy boots.


(Matthew, Man we have cute kids! Does everyone think their kids are this cute? I am trying to be objective here, but I didn't see another little girl or boy come close to the cuteness of ours at the Halloween parade at the elementary school this morning. Really. We're pretty lucky. We also have the cutest nieces & nephews on the planet.)


Catherine, Cinderella:


After all my fruitless shopping, I finally decided to sew Cate's gloves. I made them out of the same light blue material as her bustle. They were long, reaching above her elbow, beautiful and elegant. (I didn't make all the fingers, they just came down to her wrist and a point on the back of her hand.) We forgot to wear them. Oh well!


The girls made a haul last night of course. After eating one piece of candy each, all they wanted to do was play with the Play-Dough they got at Mona's house. Isn't that a good idea? Better than toothbrushes or raisins!

Snippets

I spent all afternoon yesterday shopping for accessories for my girls' Halloween costumes. Catherine is going to be Cinderella; she has a dress, but needs long gloves. Gwen needs toothbrushes to put in the pocket of her scrubs so she can be a dental hygienist, and Bethany needs boots & a hat for her cowgirl costume. We came home with a few shirts that we didn't need, but they were on clearance, new ramekins, and an extra pumpkin bucket for trick-or-treating. I didn't find a single thing I needed for their costumes. We only had time to go to two stores because although I planned to go shopping all afternoon, that just means from noon (when Gwen gets home from kindergarten) to 3:30 (when Bethany gets home from school). By the time I fed my two littles lunch and drove 1/2 hour each way to St. George, my all afternoon shopping experience lasted only an hour. Sigh. I usually love living out in the sticks, but sometimes it is very inconvenient.

Bethany can ride her bike! This is huge. She rode to the bus stop this morning. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I had a seven-year-old who couldn't ride, because it was totally her parents' fault. We live on a narrow, quiet street with no curbs or sidewalks & hardly any traffic, except for our neighbors and us, so most of the time it would be safe for her to practice riding on our street, except when the two teenagers that live on each end of the road drive by. I don't know if they're too cool slow down for children at play, so I don't like my girls in the road unless I'm with them. Which is why Bethany just learned to ride her bike last week. Anyway, I'm so proud of her. She's pretty proud of herself too. When she got to the bus stop this morning she said, "I'm feeling pretty good!"

Now it's Gwen's turn. She learns in the opposite way of her sister. Bethany wanted to make sure she could steer, slow down, stop, etc., before she tried to ride by herself. Gwen can pedal down the road by herself, but she can't steer, slow down or stop. Hilarious. Such a good example of their personalities.

After walking home from the bus stop this morning Catherine said to me, "Mom, my heart is beeping!" I took some pictures of her last night as she helped me with the dishes. She really helps too!
(Our dishwasher doesn't work because our water is so hard that it ruined the new one we bought when we moved here, so we aren't getting another one until we get a water-softener, which will hopefully be before the girls move out & we don't need a dishwasher anymore.) (She's wearing her Cinderella dress, her sister's flower girl dress for Dedo & Jena's wedding.) (Have a nice day!)

Behunin Canyon

Saturday my hubby, my dad, my little brother & I went canyoneering in Zion again. Man, I love that place. This time, we went down Behunin Canyon, 8 and a half miles round trip, eight rappels. First, we had to get up there. The ascent begins with the Angels Landing trail, but turns left (north?) at Scout Lookout after Walt's Wiggles. That's 3.8 miles with 2000 feet of altitude gain. Whew! Gorgeous hike though. I love getting up & out of the crowds. It was a beautiful day. & so many colors! Red & white cliffs, red & yellow leaves, green pines, blue sky. This was a trickier canyon than we've done in the past. Lots of boulder-hopping & cliff-hugging to avoid getting wet as much as possible. Here's a close up of the water we were trying to avoid:

Doesn't it look refreshing? We stayed dry until the 3rd to last rappel. Matthew went first: rappelled down to the first pothole, walked around it & then down to the bottom, jumping over a second pothole. This is a pothole: I went next, rapped down to the first pothole (full of cold, stinky murky water), walked around it & NOPE! Didn't quite make it! Suddenly I slipped & slid back into the water! I pulled on my rope, the brake, and found myself hanging waist deep in a cold, dark, slippery pothole. It took a while, but I managed to climb out & finish the rappel. But not before dragging Matthew into the cold, slimy, stinky water in the 2nd pothole as he tried to help me hop over it. (In my defense, I twisted my ankle & couldn't hop very well.) Ross & Dad followed shortly after, they'd been at the top yelling "Are you OK?" a lot. We were all fine. Cold, wet & stinky, but fine. (Did I mention that the water was not clean?) The last rappel was 165 feet - mostly free. Awesome. Then a short hike down to Emerald Pools and the Zion shuttle bus & home. Where Mom had dinner waiting for us. & there was warm clean water to shower in. & hot chocolate. Mmmmm.

It was an awesome day. (I think a need a new adjective.) Incredible. Beautiful. Fun! Definitely want to do it again next year. All the pictures we took are here. Here's some video:

Me, then Matthew, then Ross, he's kindof a show-off. (Love you Ross!) My camera battery was dying, so I didn't get Matthew's full descent.

Talking and the Middlest Child

A few years ago I read a study that showed the developmental stages of humor. I don't remember all of the stages, but I do know that sarcasm was one of the later stages to develop and that it isn't until about age 10 that most kids even get sarcasm.

I've taught 3rd and 5th grades and I've seen it first hand. If you make a sarcastic comment to 3rd graders and they think you're mean. When you get sarcastic with a 5th grader he thinks you're the funniest guy ever.

I'm not saying that this five year old always gets sarcasm when it comes from others, but tonight I saw for myself that she is capable of creating it:

Bethany was talking and she kept referring to Ramona Quimby. "Oh, that's just like Ramona..." or "Oh, Dad! You're acting just like Ramona Quimby's dad!"

Gwen turned and asked, "Who's Ramona Quimby?"

"Oh, she's this girl in some of my books. She's hilarious!"

To which Gwen responds with her eyes rolling, "Waah! I'm Bethany and I'm sad because my best friend isn't even real."

***********

Gwen has always been advanced verbally.

When she was a baby, she was already using language to deflect trouble: I'm specifically thinking of a time before she was two, still in a crib, and speaking in complete sentences; She had been climbing in and out of her crib at night and I wanted to catch her in the act. So when I heard the sound of her playing with her Little People playground set, I sprung into action. On the way to her room I heard feet thumping, a mighty leap, and a scramble into the crib. I opened the door to find the Little People still swinging in the tiny playground and Gwen in bed-- cool as a cucumber-- with her hands crossed behind her head, legs crossed, and one toe making lazy circles in the air above her bent knee. She looked up at me and said, (do you remember her little John Wayne voice?) "Dad, I hungry. Gimme some nuts."

***********

With this history, I can't wait for the teenage years.

One of those days

Yesterday was one of those perfect days. We drove up to the cabin Friday evening after work. We made a big fire and taught the girls to play Dominoes. Saturday we slept in, made a big Cabin Breakfast (omelets and pancakes), went on a little walk in the snow, warmed up with Stephen's Roasted Hazelnut Gourmet Hot Cocoa, and read and napped by the fire. It was a beautiful, quiet, cozy day.

(Oh, we also toured the new cabin & it is beautiful! Dad & Mom you should be so proud of your handiwork.) The perfect end to the perfect day: coming home, putting all three girls in our big jetted tub for a bubble bath, putting them to bed clean & tired & happy & then a turn in the tub for me. Ahhhhh.

It was one of those days where I was surrounded with the people and things I love: my family, books, nature. A day without need or want. Without reminders of the holiday shopping season or the teetering economy. Simple. What I want my life to be like more often, quiet, loving, appreciative of this wonderful world and the special relationships in my life. As I get ready to get ready for the holidays, I made a little goal and mental note yesterday, to remember what's really important, what really makes me happy, what I really need this season. & it's not a perfect tree or designer decor or dozens of handmade Christmas cards, though a little of that sure is fun isn't it? But only if it is not at the expense of what really matters. It is the peace that comes on evenings after my daughters are in bed & I know that they know that I love them and I haven't been impatient and cross all day. It is talking to my husband about more than what babysitter he's picking up the girls from the next day, but about the funny and intellectual and spiritual things that we loved to talk about since we met. It is time spent reading and pondering the scriptures and the words of living prophets. What I really need, what I really want, is to share a holiday season with my family that will bring us closer to each other and closer to the Lord, to strengthen our testimonies and feel the blessing of the Spirit in our home more, to let our extended family know how much we love them, to be grateful for our bountiful lives.

Harvest

We were thrilled to discover carrots in our garden yesterday. We planted them in the girls' box, next to the corn and forgot about them. Now that the corn is mostly ripe & picked and cut down, the carrots are visible again. We ate a bunch raw - delicious! and put the rest in a delicious stir-fry. (carrots, cabbage, red pepper, celery, onion & chicken - can you picture it? It was almost too pretty to eat!)

I also picked lots of green beans last week - finally. I didn't think I'd actually get to harvest any this year. I have no idea why they took so long. Other veggies that did well this year: Roma & cherry tomatoes, soy beans (edamame - YUM!), basil, corn, peppers & jalapenos. Our pumpkin plant died half-way through the summer, as well as our watermelon. Oh well, we'll try again next year! Our garden will be bigger and better & hopefully we'll grow enough to bottle & freeze some, this year we've eaten everything we've harvested.

I (heart) Ira Glass

For anyone who has questions about or is interested in or has heard about the financial crisis here in America, listen to this. (Yes, it's NPR. Don't knock it before you try it. & I mean really try it, listening to Terry Gross for 5 minutes doesn't count. This Amercian Life is the best show on radio, & if you don't think that's saying a lot, then you've never listened to The Sunday Puzzle with Will Shortz or Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. I know, I know, I'm a big nerd.) In The Giant Pool of Money, they explain how the mortgage crisis got started, and turned into the credit crisis, which turned into the brink of disaster we're at now. They explain NINA's (no income, no asset loans) and CDO's (collateralized debt obligations). It's fascinating and infuriating at the same time. It will be worth your time, I promise. Then you'll be all ready to listen to part two tomorrow, Another Frightening Show About the Economy. You'll also increase your I.Q. just by listening to NPR.

After all that, if you need a pick-me-up, try Going Big, an episode about the Harlem Children’s Zone and it's founder Geoffrey Canada. Good what-a-difference-one-person-can-make stuff. It'll make you want to go out and found your own non-profit organization to help children living in poverty. Or at least read to your kids tonight.

Of course, if you really want to know how to best survive these troubled times, listen to this.

Picture Day

Answers:
I tied Bethany's in rags because Toquerville & even the town 3 miles south were clean out of pink curlers.
Gwen slept in braids & I curled it in the morning.
Target clearance rack.

Some pics from our weekend

Jena & David were kind enough to let me tag along with them all day Saturday. We went hiking & swimming in Zion with Jena's BF Annette and her boyfriend Devon (sp?). Matthew had a conference in Cedar City, so I was totally the 5th wheel, but didn't feel like it at all. I got a babysitter for my girls & thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with other adults & not worrying about my daughters leaving the trail & falling off a cliff.







Speaking of hanging out...


After we got home, Matthew, Bethany, Gwen & Cate joined us and we went rappelling. We found a great spot - not too extreme because there were a few first timers & plenty of bouldering for my girls.



Apparently Matthew & I are mean & boring parents because whenever we have guests, the girls beg them to take them home. It's kindof embarrassing when your child says, "I want to go with that guy" about someone she's known for less than 2 hours. Catherine's first words Sunday morning were "Is Devon still here? Is Annette still here?" Then she wouldn't sit by us at church, randomly choosing another grandma to cuddle up to. Friendly, outgoing? Attachment disorder?


We (& by we I mean they) had a good hair day Sunday, so I asked Matthew to take some pictures while I did my hair (in a ponytail).

I know that there's a glaring omission from my weekend report, so I have to confess that I forgot all about the General Relief Society Meeting. I think I'll watch it now!

Speed

I'm coming to you live today from a high-speed internet connection folks. I know, I know, we were quite possibly the last household in a developed country to be using dial-up, but no more! I can't believe how much my quality of life has imoroved. I got to see my niece Eve make her new scrunchy face on my little brother's blog and I got to watch the season premiere of The Office today.

I love technology. (Not smart enough yet to actually post a video, you'll have to follow the link.)


P.S.
Thanks for all the congratulations!

Working for a living

I was tired this morning. I worked late last night, crawling into bed after 1 AM. I hit snooze again and again as Matthew got up, showered and woke up the girls for school. Even after I walked my school girls to the bus stop and took Catherine on our mile walk through town in her stroller, I feel lazy. There are dishes to do and laundry to put away and bills and homework to organize and I just want to take a nap. But I have to get somethings done today, because I have to work again tonight. That means the only time I'll see Bethany yesterday or today was the rushed hour of getting ready for school, tying shoes, brushing hair, washing faces. Gwen & I will be able to have lunch together before I take her to her babysitters' house and kiss her goodbye for the afternoon and night & see her again tomorrow morning. I do enjoy the time I have at home with my Catherine all day. I have worked part-time nights and weekends for most of my married life and every once in a while it really wears me down. I hate not being home to have dinner with my family, to check my daughters' backpacks, to kiss them goodnight. I don't like being so tired in the mornings. It seems there is never enough time to catch up on the housework in between shifts. I want to be here for my family or at least leave them a clean house and dinner in the oven before I go to work and that doesn't always happen. Then, I get to work and it seems like I am never giving quite enough, I'm never as flexible as they need me to be, or as willing to stay late or work an extra shift. & everyone thinks I'm so lucky that I only have to work part-time. & I am, I know that. I know that there are mothers out there who work much more than I do & handle it with much more grace. (Like my sister!) There are single moms working and raising kids on their own & I don't know how they do it all. I know that I am blessed to have a husband who supports me at home and at work, who cooks dinner & tucks the kids in when I'm not home. I have a job that I love, once I'm there, and that pays enough that I do only have to work part-time. So although I am weak and ungrateful for feeling this way, sometimes I just get tired of being torn in so many directions. I feel guilty dropping the girls off, letting someone else ask about their day at school. I feel guilty eating dinner alone at work while my husband is home setting the table for our family. I feel guilty about our hit and miss family home evenings because I work every Monday night. You get the idea. And yet, with Matthew in school and our vehicles getting older and noisier, we never really considered me working less, or staying home all the time. We have always worked it out so that I could work a little. Until now. Until this little miracle that's making us change our plans and priorities. Maybe I can take a break for a year, or two, or more. I get excited thinking about being a full-time stay-at-home-mom. Four is just too many to arrange day care for and I am so glad. I'm counting down the shifts until April and then I'll be home. Home with a newborn and my big girls and my husband. I can't wait.

Heavenly Father knows the desires of our hearts. I am so thankful for this blessing and for the Lords' timing. He knows what we need much better than we do.

10-12-08: Sadly, this pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 12 weeks. We are thankful for the opportunity we had to reexamine our priorities and put our faith and family first in our lives.

It's Autumn time

These are the flowers I just ordered from High Country Gardens. I can't wait until they arrive. Fall is such a nice time of year here. The cooler days make me want to spend all my time outside digging in the dirt. There's still plenty of time to plant and let these flowers start growing before it gets cold.

Want to see the progress my high country garden has made this summer? I knew it! My Desert Willow in the front yard has really taken off. It was little more than a twig when I planted it early in the spring.

These were sticks when I planted them too. Any day now I'll have masses of bright yellow mini sunflowers!

This is a white lavender. I'm getting another one because it seems to do well on rocky slopes.

I can't remember the name of the bush on the left, but I'm glad it's finally blooming. I planted it a year or two ago. The small plants on the right are Agastache or Hummingbird Mint. They're supposed to get 3-4 feet high. I'm getting another one of them as well.

Road Rash

In response to my little brother's gore filled post, Bethany crashed on her bike the other day too. She's still working on the brake thing. & we live on a hill. I love her little checkerboard smile right now.

Ross, here's Matthew's hand after his longboard ride (this was about 2 years ago):

She's got a crush on Obama

We, along with the rest of the nation, have been listening to a lot of political speeches lately. After listening to Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention, Bethany commented to her dad, "I really like him. He said that we can do better!" She hasn't stopped talking about him since. I was impressed with how much she paid attention to what he said and the questions she asked us. We listened to John McCain the other day and after listening to Matthew and I discuss the election she said, "I wish there was one person with all the right answers." So do we sweetie. I hope that she always keeps her mind open and listens to both sides of every presidential race and every other decision she makes in her life.

Here's my rant: why is the other candidate always The Devil? I sincerely believe that both candidates want the same thing for America, a strong economy, peace and freedom at home and abroad, safety, hope, honesty and integrity in government, an earth that can be enjoyed by our children and grandchildren, educational opportunities for all, etc. Now, they have entirely different ideas about how to go about their goals, but why not just talk about what they are going to do, what their ideas are, instead of going on and on about why their opponent is so wrong.

Also, it is hilarious to hear her and Gwen's pronunciations of the democratic candidate, Rock o' rock o' Bama, etc.

Lastly, I am posting something else immediately because, for all my spirited idealism, I am kindof a wimp and not the best at defending my position in a debate, so I'm not leaving a political post at the top for long!

Bangs

I am usually against bangs, on myself & on my daughters. They add another element to doing hair that I can't be bothered with. It's just more hair that won't fit into a ponytail! But then there's Catherine's hair. Catherine's baby-fine, blonde, wispy hair that refuses to grow into enough hair for me to even comb, let alone put in a ponytail. She'll be four next year & most 1 1/2 year olds have more hair than she does. I totally love it, really, I do. It makes her seem like my baby for that much longer. Lately though, it's been especially fly-away & in her eyes. I finally got Matthew to let me trim her bangs. (He's even more against them than I am.) I only had to cut about three hairs, but it made a big difference.

Mystery Canyon

My kinda date with my kinda guy, Mystery Canyon at Zion National Park:

Me & my hot date just before descending into Mystery Canyon.

The first of nine rappels.

Clipping in at Mystery Springs; it's a long way down.

The canyon drops right into The Narrows.

I'm the one in pink.

See all the people watching? We felt like rock stars.

Eight hours later, in The Narrows.