Wesley's First Day of School

Wesley is in Pre-K this year at the Harmony Preschool. It's fun school where he can go FOUR afternoons a week. I've never had my 4 y.o. go to 4 days of pre-school, but I thought he'd enjoy it. His teacher is super nice, and he seems to be enjoying it. I am also loving that I get a few hours a day in the house when it's quiet, because Julia naps while he's a school. It's been great all around.

Here he is on his first day of school. Again, we only had Daddy's fancy camera with the macro lens. Sheesh.

Mommy and Wesley outside Harmony Preschool

Wesley outside school

Wesley at the door to his classroom with Julia not standing still for a picture behind him

Wesley said, "Mom, if I do one nice one, then can I do a silly one?"

Yes, of course, son.

A Family Tradition Continues

It felt like every single Saturday night we'd take a bath, get in our jammies, and head downstairs to get our fingernails and toenails clipped while we watched "The Lawrence Welk Show". Seriously. If tradtions are something that families do to increase a sense of belonging and well-being then this one surely served its purpose. I think my brother Chris was the most fond of the show, but we all enjoyed it, I'm sure.

Well, the other Saturday night when Tim was still out of town, wouldn't you know it? "The Lawrence Welk Show" was on PBS. It was great. I was telling the kids how I used to always watch it growing up. Then, I was laughing with them about the guys' bright red suits. Lindsay realized that they matched almost exactly to the red suit coat she had "inherited" from Great-Grandma Shirley's closet this summer. She had to run upstairs and put it on. Thus began a great Dress Up Dance Off. I was so glad I had my camera.

Lindsay and Wesley (both sporting numbers from Great-Grandma's closet)

Samuel looking good in a dress from Great-Grandma and the wig and hat from our dressup box (the modeling pose and suave look are all his own)

Wesley busting a move

Yep, we let Wesley's hair "grow out". It would probably look similar to this without frequent cuts.

Miles doing a pretty good "Elvis". Thank you, thank you very much...

Samuel

Julia had to be part of the action.

Tim took my dinky camera with him to Guatemala, so I had his fancy one from the office. Unfortunately, it had on the really fancy "macro" lens, I think. So I could only get close-ups of everyone. Oh well...

He's Back

And we're all so happy he's home safe and sound. He had a great time: driving up riverbeds in the back of Toyota pick-ups, pulling teeth by head-lamp light, and just all around experiencing another culture. It's always such a good reminder of the blessings we enjoy here in our country and of the fact that we are all God's children and do share somewhat of a responsibility for each other.

Here are some pictures:

the lush country side of Guatemala

the crew after a trip in the Toyota. Love the wind-blown hair, babe

such a beautiful little girl and she doesn't even look that traumatized

Aren't these children beautiful? The moms would always make sure that their kids got treated first, and then, if there was still time at the end, they'd let themselves get treated.

6 Down and 3 To Go!!

At the last minute, Tim decided to join some dentists in our area and head down to Guatemala on a humanitarian trip for 10 days. 10 bed-time routines on my own. I have to say that I've been pleasantly surprised by my ability to remain mainly in control (of myself, that is. I'd never pretend to have "control" over my children...). I guess I should admit that I am sort of a "rise-to-the-occasion" kind of gal. Seriously, I do better when I know there is no possibility of a "bail-out" than when I know Tim will be home any minute but he's somehow taken 4 minutes longer than he said he would. Do you know what I mean? Sigh.

On top of the 10 nights alone, I even survived a holiday on my own. It ended up being very fun. We went to the pool at my gym and enjoyed swimming and hamburgers. We survived Sunday with the help of some friends being brave enough to invite us over for dinner. The weekdays aren't so bad at all. We just have our normal daily routine. It just gets lonely at night, and I miss my Tim. A two minute phone call every night or so just doesn't cut it. Now we just have Saturday and Sunday, then he's home.

Does this sound negative? Are you all wondering "why can't she handle her life/kids better"? I wonder that sometimes, too. What is my problem? Part of it boils down to the temperament of my children. As our Bishop likes to say, "You were not denied the blessing of active children." Also, I struggle with modeling calm, temperate behavior in stressful situations. This has led to my children also having a hard time remaining calm in stressful situations. Stressful situations come up a lot in a house with 5 active children. I'm working on this. I also have the honesty gene deeply embedded in my genetic code. So much so, that, if anything, I ere on the side of being too honest, and in that effort to be honest, I think I say or admit to things that come across negative. Who knows. Either way, I'm proud of myself for my good behavior in my husband's absence, and I'm so excited for him and the adventure he's having.

I also must record here that I do deeply love my five little people. They have been so instrumental in the development of who I am and who I want to become. Parenting, while relentless, is also the best way to learn and grow and change and improve that I know of. It's funny to look back 11 years and 2 months ago at the mother I was and see how I've changed. It's been such a journey. So worth it in every way. I'm so grateful to my children and the way each of their individual personalities and spirits have contributed to the mother I'm striving to become.

Thank you to the friends and my sister that I've called and talked to almost every night during my lonely times. Keep me in your positive thoughts until Sunday.

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

We celebrated our 12th anniversary this past Wednesday. 12 years!! We got a cake and sang, "Happy Birthday to our family" with the kids, then we went out to a nice dinner by ourselves. It was a great day. We've really had a great 12 years. We look back and can't believe how we've been blessed time and time again.

August 19, 2009

August 19, 1997

It almost never rains in August in California! It made for some good pictures.

When we got home from dinner, the kids had some sweet notes and cards on our bed. So cute!

While the kids had dinner, I reminisced and told them some memorable moments from our wedding day. I told them about the Father's Blessing Grandpa Call gave to me that morning before we left to the temple. I told them that Great Grandpa Call had performed the sealing ordinance for us. They all listened attentively. But, of course, the story that they all got stuck on was how Uncle Kevin messed up our car. Wesley could not get over it. When we looked through the wedding album before they went to bed, he could not figure out why we didn't have a picture of the car with peanut butter smeared on the door handles and dry potato flakes sprinkled all over the dashboard. Mind you, it was like 11pm and raining when we finally left which meant there were then mashed potatoes all over the dashboard. Thanks again, Kev.

Back to School Blues

The kids are back in school!!! It's always such a bitter-sweet time for me. I mean, literally, we barely survive some days of summer (boredom + siblings = fights, in our house unfortunately.). So there's this definite sense of relief when we get to the end of another summer, and we are still all basically in tact. But there's also the side of me that misses the little monsters so much. This year with Lindsay going to middle school, I had a lot of mixed feelings. Anyway, we survived the summer. We survived the first days of school for the olders (Wesley doesn't start his pre-school until after Labor Day), and we're ready for our first full week of school to start tomorrow.

"Okay, Mom, take the picture. The bell just rang."

Lindsay at Webber Middle School

Miles and Samuel

At the bus stop: Noah, our neighbor, Samuel, Miles

Samuel and Miles at McGraw Elementary

How I Survived the Last Three Weeks of Summer: my niece, Lynette

We started out last summer with having Lynette come home with us after our week in New York. She stayed with us for an extra 10 days or so. This year we got her for a whole three weeks and two days. It was heaven, at least, for me. She is such a smart, strong, awesome young woman. It was so fun to have someone to talk to and visit with. We got her hair cut in a really cute, sassy cut. She went with us out to BYU. We were there for the conference of the LDS Academy of Dentists. But while we were there, she got to take a tour of BYU (with a super cute 24 year old who served in the Arcade Branch, but it wasn't a date...). She almost gave Tim a heart attack when he let her drive his car home from his office. She had her permit. How was I supposed to know that she had only ever driven one time before? They made it home alive, thankfully. And even if she had run into that fire hydrant when she pushed the gas instead of the brake, what harm could it have really done to Tim's $900 old jalopy. (Did you know that you could still buy a car for that cheap?)

Here she is with her cute new do:

Are my kids the only ones who totally obsess on Chuck E. Cheese? What is the fascination? Anyway, Lynette's in this second picture, too. The first picture is from a time that Wesley, Julia, and I went while the other kids were at school. The second is from a annual trip during the summer. We always make a list of things we want to do during the summer, and somehow going to C.E.C. is always near the top. Weird.

The Angst that is Middle School

Our school district is just switching from Junior High (7-9) to Middle School (6-8) this year. That puts my 11 year old in the first crop of 6th graders to have to brave the halls of Webber Middle School. It's been a very intimidating idea for her (and her mother). She's been adamantly against it. We drive by the middle school on our way to church most weeks, and she yells and shouts and won't look at the school whenever we pass it. Sure, most of it is just typical Lindsay antics, but there is also a lot of real live anxiety in there, too. And who wouldn't be anxious? Almost every adult I talk to remembers those middle school years with loathing. It's just such an awkward time. Everything is in flux: your sense of self, your physical body, your place in the crowd, etc. The "crowd" is almost overnight outrageously important. The whole "mob mentality" idea really begins. I still remember the Esprit shirt that every cool 8th grader had: white with thin, colored stripes, snap up front. Also, there was a certain shade of L'Oreal lipstick/gloss that we all HAD to have. It's just such a crazy time. Anyway, so now I'm faced with the daunting task of convincing my 11 year old that it won't be that bad, that there's really nothing to be afraid of, that it will actually be FUN!! (And, in some ways, it will be fun: a whole class devoted to science!!)

So, we found out two weeks ago that we will be out of town for the 6th grade open house night when they will get their schedules and locker assignments. Great. We're going to start out behind, AGAIN. One call to the office was a dead-end, "Just come in early on the first day of school." Then, I thought about it again. I have an 11 year old here with almost clinically diagnosable levels of anxiety. Surely, somebody could help me out and print out her schedule a day early. Well, I dropped by yesterday and found someone just that helpful. Phew! She said to come back tomorrow, and she'd have the schedule, etc. printed out for me. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Lemmon.

So, we get all of our school supplies ready (to the tune of about $150) and head up to the school. It all felt so weird. Trying to be up-beat and positive for my little girl but knowing inside that it might, in reality, be sort of a yucky time. As we walk in, I get the weirdest wave or flash back of feelings. Two girls (and you could tell they were most likely popular 8th graders-to-be) walked out of the school. They were all blonded and tanned and big in all the right places and skinny in all the right places. I got a total middle schooler feeling of inadequacy/jealousy/dread/inferiority. It was so wild!! Here I am, a thirty-six year old woman and mother of 5 children. Totally confident (well, most days...) in who I am, and I totally got all those feelings rushing back. It was so crazy.

Well, we went into the school. The gal with our schedule couldn't have been more nice. We ironed out a few obvious schedule conflicts (she can't do band, because her braces make it next to impossible to play the french horn), and we were off to explore the school. We went first to her locker. Have I ever mentioned that Lindsay, though she is one of the brightest 11 year olds I know (I'm, of course, not biased at all...), can't tell her left from her right? Seriously. It's a brain thing. Her mind just works in a different way. Also, most days her shirt is on backwards. It's hilarious. Well, just try opening up a locker when you can't tell your left from your right. She finally got the hang of it after like 7 tries. I was so grateful that we had an empty hallway of lockers to be experimenting in rather than a sea of swarming 6th and 7th graders. Phew! Then, we went to map out her classes. Her home-room teacher happened to be in there. Geography. Mr. Poduska. Seemed really nice. Phew, again. And we went from there through the rest of her 9 classes. At one point, we even asked some intimidating looking 8th graders-to-be where the gym was, and they very politely and kindly showed us. We had a little learning moment together about the whole "don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover" idea after that encounter.

Anyway, all in all we survived. And I think that's how most of us got through middle school or junior high or adolescence. I'm so excited for Lindz. She's going to have so much fun (and growth, and angst, and learning) over the next three years. Hopefully, she'll always know that there is someone waiting at home for her who will listen to all the details of her adventures there. And, hey, if it'll help, I'll even go searching for a specific white with colored stripes Esprit shirt. Webber Middle School, here we come!!

Summer in NY

Our week in New York. What a fun time we had. There were too many good pictures to choose from. Here are way too many. We ended up renting a cottage that was about 15 minutes from Tim's parents. It was on Rushford Lake. If you've never seen a Western New York lake, you will be amazed at how beautiful it is: so green and lush, all surrounded by trees. It was so fun to have a place where we could host everyone for big family dinners and cousin sleep-overs. Uncle Kevin was nice enough to get his jet-ski fixed so we got to do that and tubing, etc. It was fun. The pictures will show the highlights of the trip better than I can say them...

The Cottage on Rushford Lake

the view of the lake from the cottage. We had our own private dock and beach area. So fun!

The first night we were there we just sat on the front porch and enjoyed the summer evening together. Somebody on the other end of the lake shot off some fireworks, so we enjoyed the free show.


Another reason for our visit was for Tim's Grandma Shirley's Memorial Service. She died in February of this year, but Tim's family waited for all of us to get out there to do her memorial service. I'll hopefully someday do an entire post on Grandma Shirley. She was quite a lady. Let's just say that after knowing her, I'm glad to not have to take all the blame for Lindsay's spunk!! Anyway, here's Lindsay wearing some gems that she chose from Great-Grandma Shirley's closet.


Miles on the front porch swing

Mom snuggling with Samuel on the front porch

Nathan and Wesley starting what became the perpetual fire. There was just enough wind most days to keep the fire going. It was the perfect way to warm up after a dip in the lake. Also, it made the whole trip seem more like camping. You could hang out by the fire, roast marshmellows, and then go inside and sleep in a comfortable bed. Nice. Just as close to camping as I need in my life right now.

Ryan, Wesley, and Miles at the fire

Ryan, Grandma Helen, Miles, Lynette, Samuel, Caroline, Tristen, Mariah, Nathan, Grandpa Joe, Julia, and Raymond

Jubee on the dock

Julia and Wesley in the kayak

Nathan, Samuel, and Ryan on the jet ski

Julia with Grandma and Grandpa in the cottage

a calm morning on the lake

an evening jet ski ride with Miles, Wesley, and Mom. We got out about 200 feet, and Wesley was ready to go back in. I think his face in this picture is showing that he wasn't so sure about the jet ski from the get go.

Even easy-going and nice cousins like Nathan and Ryan can get sick of their little 9 year old cousin pestering them and hyping out 24 hours a day. Here, Ryan finally decided to throw Miles in the lake. Wesley and Tristen were cheering him on. (Ryan is too nice to actually throw Miles in, but he almost did.)

another fabulous hair-do by Lindsay

Julia loving her cousin, Ryan

Monday, we made "The Buoy Pact". We promised each other that every day, rain or shine, we'd swim out to the buoy. It was a couple hundred feet from the dock. It was the perfect thing to make sure that we didn't let a day go by without enjoying a swim.

Mariah, Lynette, and Caroline jumping off the dock, heading for the buoy

We made it. Mariah, Lindsay, Caroline, Lynette, Sandi

Wesley even jumped off the dock. At Grandpa Call's house, it took him almost two weeks to get the courage up to jump off the diving board, but here, he jumped off the dock on the first day. Tim and I were amazed.

Samuel in the tube

Lindsay, preparing for launch

The front room became the cousin's sleep-over area. Every morning it was wall-to-wall sleeping cousins in there. Samuel somehow always ended up with this comfy couch. Lucky guy.

The kids loved this hammock that was in the side yard. Here, Shaylyn and Julia enjoy a ride.

This was the hammock on the other side of the house (that we found out was only for adults...oops). Samuel, Lindsay (in some more vintage clothing from Grandma Shirley) and Tristen (also in some dress-up from Grandma)

An Owens' Family Reunion Tradition: Jelly Bellies!!

a night-time swim to the buoy. Here are the survivors: (clock-wise from middle top) Caroline, Miles, Nathan, Sandi, Kevin (who had a slight panic attack out at the buoy - I guess he started thinking about the scene in "Jaws" that he was taunting us with before he decided to take the swim), Natosha Miess, Danny Miess, Isaac Miess, Lynette, Mariah, Ryan

We also got to go out to Palmyra for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Here the kids are in The Sacred Grove. Julia, Wesley, Samuel, Miles, Lindsay

the boys outside The Sacred Grove

How adorable is this picture of Wesley? Couldn't you just eat him up?

the whole gang just outside The Sacred Grove

Another real highlight of our trip was getting to be there for Ryan's Eagle Court of Honor. This was a real achievement for Ryan. He amazes us with his tenacity and hard work. What a great kid. It's so nice for my kids to have older cousins that they can look up to. I'm so grateful to Ryan and his good example of hard work and kindness.

Lynette, Kevin, Tristen, Mariah, Ryan, Sandi, Shaylyn, Nathan

a ride on the jet ski with Dad: Tim, Miles, and Lindsay

Julia watching all the action from the dock

a friend of Grandpa Joe who is a native of Rushford took us on a fun boat tour. It was a beautiful night.

a sunset on the lake

Anyway, if you've made it this far, you've survived too many pictures. It was just such a fun, idyllic week. We are so grateful for our extended family and feel so blessed that we've been able to maintain strong relationships with them even though we live far away from them. We love you guys and can't wait 'til next summer!!!

California

I know you're not supposed to back-log when journaling, because there's always the risk that you'll be forever trying to catch up and miss what's happening now. BUT, I think I'll give a go anyway.

Every year we do what I like to call our "pilgrimages": one trip to CA, one trip to NY. Sometimes people think we're extravagant to be always off somewhere. Sometimes I feel like we should for once go on a "Tim Owens Family Vacation". But mostly, I feel so lucky that we have such great families to go visit. Truthfully, put summer, cousins, and somewhere to run around and/or swim, and my kids have as much fun as they would have if they were at Disneyland (one of those "somewheres" we have yet to visit...).

My Mom just called the other night to try to remember what all we did. The almost two weeks just turned into somewhat of a blur. It was so fun, though. Honestly, I think I only said like three things that I wish I could erase, and all three were probably to my loving, forgiving sister. And she was loving and forgiving every time. We had so much fun.

We flew out Tuesday morning. How much do I love non-stop flights? Especially since I was flying 1-on-5. Tim was going to join us after he worked for the week. It was great. We sat down and got settled. Right near the end of boarding, a family got on, and there weren't enough seats for them to sit all together. I just offered to let their 6 y.o. sit with Samuel and Miles, and they sat a few aisles back. 1-on-6. Really, after 3 or 4 kids, it truly is sort of the "just throw another one on the pile" mentality. Everyone did great, Grandma picked us up at the airport in San Jose, and we were good to go. We were greeted my Aunt Catherine, Emma, and Tate at Grandma's house, and the festivities began.

Originally, Catherine and my plan was to come out a week before the week before the Fourth of July and go up to San Francisco for their summer opera season. So, even though Matt and Leslie and crew arrived late Tuesday night, Cath and I still sneaked up to the city Wednesday night to see Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess". You know the song: "Summertime, and the livin' is easy..." That's from this opera. It was an awesome production, but as with most operas the plot was a bit wild. This one is all about drug addiction and the hard coastal existence of African-Americans in South Carolina in the 30's. It was intense, but the singing was beautiful. My Dad splurged and got us amazing seats. We both so enjoyed ourselves. "Porgy and Bess" is rarely done, so it was a treat to see one of the great American operas.

Also, the saddest part of our vacation happened Wednesday night, too. Conner broke his leg. Seriously. The kid who lives for being with his cousins. The kid who NEVER stops running or swimming or moving or going, going, going, going. He broke his leg, and it was the side of the pool for the rest of the time. They might come out to visit us in CO after he gets his cast off, so that he can really enjoy some "Miles time". We were all so disappointed. It was so sad to see him immobilized, but you know, that sweet little guy managed somehow to be just as exciting and fun and enthusiatic as ever, even from a stroller.

Thursday, we went to Great America. Wow. Cousins, roller coasters, rides, water-slides. Again, a great day. I went on all the scary water slides with Samuel (who wasn't scared a bit) and Leslie (who was maybe just as scared as I was. Okay, maybe a little less scared than I was.). It was hilarious. I mean, come on. Am I going to let my 6 y.o. go on water slides that I won't go on myself? It was fun. Later in the day, I ended up sending Julia (she was tired) and Lindsay (Mikaela got into town) home with Grandma. Cath was okay keeping Wesley and Samuel with her two, so Miles and I did a blitz run through the whole park and went on every single scary ride and roller coaster there was. I mean, we even went on "The Drop Zone"!! When I told that to Tim, he couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe I went on it either. Seriously, it's one of those raise up into the sky like 400 feet and then freefall drop down. I just knew that if Miles went on it, he would feel so proud of himself (and get to brag to all the other cousins and Uncle Dan). I just totally pumped him up and ignored the little voice in my own head that was screaming out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THIS IS CRAZY!!!" Miles barely made the height cut-off, but we got in. Seriously, I was so scared that I couldn't even open my eyes (my brother told me later that closing your eyes actually exaggerates the wild sensation of falling. Nice.). Miles wasn't too sure about it all, either. The fall was so intense. I totally had to tense up all my stomach muscles, or my stomach would have been in my throat. It was wild. There was absolutely no line, so we went on it again. Crazy. I think Miles liked it better the second time. Then, after we went on that ride, I told him that he had already been on the scariest ride in the park, so he may as well go on all the other roller coasters, too. And that's exactly what we did. No lines at any of them. It was awesome. And I just have to say that I love that kid so much. I can't remember the last time I got to spend an hour with him alone. I just love him. And yes, it was great to be able to go home and tell all the other cousins and especially Uncle Dan that we had gone on every roller coaster including the Drop Zone (even for me.).

Miles

Friday we just basically hung out around the pool. Let's just say that this is no ordinary pool. This is Grandpa Call's pool: a big diving board, a slide, a hot tub, ice cream sandwiches in the hot tub. It really is like a dream come true for the kids. They just love every second of it. And even when they've been in for 7 hours, we still have to pry them out at 10pm to plunk into bed. Fun.

Missiles in the hot tub, just one of the reasons why Grandpa Call's pool is so fun.

Emma, Samuel, Miles

How many grandkids can you cram in Grandpa's hot tub?

Clive, Mikaela, Van, Tate, Miles, Lindsay, Samuel, Emma, Wesley

Friday night, we hit another opera in SF: Puccini's "Tosca". It was great, too.

Saturday, we went up to Montalvo for a hike in the morning, I think, and barely made it back for Saratoga's legendary Farmer's Market where they have snow cones and great Indian food. It was delish. We swam some more in the afternoon, and then it was off to my cousin Beth's house for her annual Fish Fry. So much fun. What an awesome entertainer she is. So generous and hospitable. I think it runs in the family...

Sunday, we sang in Church. We sang a really nice arrangement of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing". Neil Rutman accompanied us. Oh, I have to mention here. Back when the week before the reunion was going to be the "opera week", my parents invited their friend, Neil Rutman, to come out for some opera and a visit. So, he had been visiting for the week, also. It was so much fun to have him at our reunion. He was just like one of the family: joining in on all the fun, staying up until 2am talking, eating too much. Neil also happens to be a concert pianist, so when I say that he accompanied our musical number in church, you can only imagine how amazing it was. Really, I wish I had a recording of it. (Didn't Bill Moon set up some kind of high tech recording system in our chapel at some point? Wish we had used it.) The rest of Sunday was just spent enjoying each other. I think at some point the sprinklers got turned on, because it was a scorcher. I wouldn't know because I got a 2 1/2 hour nap. Can you say "HEAVEN"? Ahhhhh.

Sprinklers and Soda. What more do you need on a hot summer afternoon?

Julia

Emma. Who's her hairstylist?

Wesley, Tate, Clive

An impromptu concert by Neil

Another somewhat imprompto concert by the rappas: Mikaela and Lindsay

Monday, we spent around the house again.

Julia

Another fun thing about Grandpa Call's house: the Murphy Beds, sleeping outside

Tuesday, we went up to San Francisco. We did the street slides last Thanksgiving, but Matt and Leslie hadn't tried them. They were a lot of fun again. We also got clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls. We got a cool view of the bridge from the southwestern side near the old army barracks. We also enjoyed the view up at the Marin Headlands. What a beautiful city. I love San Francisco.

At the streetslides. How many Grandpas are as prepared as ours?

Home-made lemonade and cookies

Conner even did the street slides with his cast as Emma jumps out of the way.

Natalie will love me for this picture.

Emma, Baby Dean, Grandpa, Neil, Miles, Wesley

Grandma and Baby Dean

Does anyone else see a future Christmas card picture?

Grandma and Grandpa Call and all the grandkids that could make it.

Wednesday, Matt and Leslie and crew left, and the rest of us headed up to Yosemite. Just the drive down the valley floor into the park is almost worth the four hour drive. El Capitan is just awe-inspiring. The falls were all pretty full. I just love Yosemite. I like to say it's kind of where Tim and I fell in love, but when I say that in front of him, he's like, "We did?" Thanks, hon. We went there the August after we first started dating in the spring of 96. He came out from Syracuse, NY for a visit during break from physical therapy school. Then, we've been there a few times since. It's just sort of our favorite place.

Since Conner was more comfortable on the floor, all the cousins got down on the floor and ate their ice cream there, too.

Tate, Conner, Julia, Lindsay, Cooper, Wesley, Miles, Samuel, Tim

Some of the "wild-life" in the meadow of the valley

a peek inside one of the tent-cabins where we stayed at Curry Village

Thursday was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Tim and I hiked Half-Dome. Wow!!! It was amazing. We left at about 4:30am and hiked by flashlight until it got light at about the Mist Trail for Vernal Falls. We hardly saw anyone on the whole hike up. I still can't tell if I just really like hiking now or if I just really loved spending 8 hours alone with my husband. Either way, it was a real treat. The whole time we were hiking, I just kept on looking up at Half-Dome and saying to myself, "I see no feasible way to hike up that." It is wild how freaky the last part of the hike is. At one point, we were like halfway up the cables. By now, I could not look up, I could not look behind me, I could not look to the right, I could not look to the left. Every view was nauseatingly high and exposed. I just kept my eyes right on my feet. I finally stopped and just said out loud to Tim who was like 20 feet behind me, "Tim, I don't know if I can do this." He said, "It's alright, hon. Whatever you want to do. We can be done. We can go down." Then, I thought to myself, "But, my sister has done this." And my feet kept going. It was so wild at the top. I can't believe I made it. It was awesome. The way down was crazy, too. I just held on for dear life. I'm glad they had the pile of gloves at the bottom, because I definitely needed them, especially for the way down.

HALF DOME

At the bottom still before dawn

At the bottom of the cables. Just looking at the pictures, I still can't believe I did it.

a view of the cables behind us

Meanwhile, the other part of our group (our five kids, Cath, Emma, Tate, Natalie, Chris, Conner, Cooper, Grandpa and Grandma) went on a hike to the bridge below Vernal Falls. Grandpa, at the last minute, had the great idea of going up to meet us at Nevada Falls with Lindsay, Miles, and Samuel. Miles and Grandpa really wanted to see Nevada Falls. My Dad has this funky thing with the nerves in his feet, so I didn't trust him to be alone with just Miles. I sent Tim back up with them to make sure it all went well. That left me to hike down with the complaining, exhausted Lindsay and Samuel. I had just enough water for my own trip down and one snack. Nice. Thanks, Dad. Some other dad on the trail was kind enough to give us some water when he heard my kids' grumbling. Nice. Anyway, we all made it back down safe and sound.

Then, we had the brilliant idea to go canoing down the valley on the Merced River not knowing that the bridge where we put in was the beginning of a chunk of the river that had been closed due to rough waters and a drowning in 2007. Yep. We went down it with Cath, Emma, Tate, and me in one canoe. That is we were in the canoe, until we capsized the canoe. Hey, do you want to know a way to not be sore the day after you hike Half-Dome? Just take a nice ice bath in the Merced River. That'll cure any sore muscles. Seriously, I wasn't even sore. But back to the story. Basically, Catherine and I both are terrible canoers. Tim just walked in and read my synopsis of the story and said, "Even if you weren't on a dangerous part of the river, you two would have capsized anyway." Thanks for the support, hon. Anyway, we slammed right into a little island of debris which tipped the canoe over. The image in my mind is of my sweet niece and nephew going under the capsized canoe for a second, until Catherine and I frantically tipped it back over. It was still immersed, and the water was too deep to touch bottom. Luckily, two really helpful, sort of drunk guys jumped in and saved us. After we got out, we heard that the river was closed in that area. Cute. Meanwhile, Tim stopped to help us, but my Dad just kept on going with Samuel and Miles in his canoe. See ya! We ended up, er, Tim ended up pulling the canoes out to the nearest road. We tracked down my Mom who had the canoe trailer and eventually found my Dad. I was a nervous wreck: totally freaked out, totally over-reacted. I mean, come on. I had used up all my emotional energy to hike Half-Dome. It was too much. Wow.

Tim took this nice shot of Natalie and me betwixt two trees. He's really got potential.

Even Yosemite is too boring for Grandpa.

Friday was my sweet Lindsay's 11th birthday. We enjoyed a few more views and short hikes and headed home. Cath was the best and sort of staged a surprise birthday for Lindz when we got home. She made one of those candy bar posters for her and got a cake. It was great. Then, you guessed it, more swimming.

Aunt Catherine escorting in the Birthday Girl

the candy poster, a relic from Aunt Catherine's days as a cheerleader, I think.

The whole crew singing "Happy Birthday" to Lindsay: Cath, Caroline, Grandma Call, Uncle Chris, Aunt Natalie, Julia, Uncle Keith, Lindsay, Cooper. (I like Keith's face the best.)

Saturday was the Fourth of July. The kids rode their decorated bikes in the town parade. My parents had their annual Young Adult party. We swam some more. My sweet friend, Lisa Hiserman, came down from Napa with her family. It was so fun to see her. She is so great. I should also mention that I saw my sweet friend, Jen Hansen, but I can't for the life of me remember what day that was on. It was so great to talk to her too. Old (meaning long time...) friends are the best.

The Grand-daughters: Lindsay, Emma, Julia
A quick family picture in the t-shirts Grandma got for us all.

Lisa and I

Uncle Dan firming up his position as "favorite Uncle"

Wesley holding the toad at Uncle Dan's house

hanging out by the fire by the pool, so fun

Sunday, we went to Church again at my parents' ward, came home for a family dinner, and then headed off to the airport. It was such a fun trip. We were all exhausted by the time we made it home at 1am Monday morning.