Speech Lessons

Joseph has been trying to teach Sarah how to say "Cordelia" (the name of one of our little cousins).

Here is the break down for all of you who would also like to learn how to pronounce "Cordelia."

Ca - dillie - ah.

Poor Cadillieah, will you still like us when we make such a mockery of your name?

Multi-tasking

I found a whole new way to get more than one job done at a time...and it's all about me. ;)

Sarah asserted that she wanted lotion this morning while I was busy primping (aka - curling my hair). But after I gave her a squirt of lotion on her hand, she decided she didn't want it. That is when my genius struck.

I propped up one leg and told her to rub the lotion on me. Ha ha! I had to keep squirting more lotion into her hand and before long, both shins and parts of my feet had been massaged. All the while, I kept curling my hair.

It's like a (very) low budget salon. And Sarah got some experience serving. {wink}

On her own

Sarah will be two on Saturday. Already? When did that happen?

She isn't talking much, but she's willing to try and her brothers and sisters are always telling her to say something or other.

She is very expressive and usually gets what she wants, even if it includes sneaking it and going into her room to enjoy it behind a closed door. That works until she wants back out and I open the door to find her standing there with a fruit snacks wrapper in her hand. (She got a time out for that!)

I rarely get to load or unload the dishwasher without her help and she's all over the table to get at whatever is up there that interests her.

She's more outgoing than my others were (if I can remember correctly) and will walk right up to a stranger to show them the band-aid on her knee. Of course, she expects them to care and they are often kind enough to give her the attention she's seeking.

This morning, I started getting her pj's off to dress her. I took off her top, and she stepped back to take off the bottoms. I gave the last tug to help her out and then she disappeared. When she returned, she had a new diaper in her hand, her onesie was unsnapped and she went right down on her back to begin ripping off the old diaper for me! When that was done, she went to her room to get a t-shirt and shorts from her dresser. (They didn't match, but even Daniel hasn't been able to figure out how to do that.)

Sarah may be our baby, but she's convinced she's just as big as everyone else. She does a pretty good job convincing us, too!

Fishing with Daddy

Chad took the kids fishing last Saturday while I stayed home with Sarah and pretended to be productive. (Hey, we did mow the lawn!) They drove to a spot about 45 minutes away, which took them a lot long than that because, after 20 minutes they had to return for the worms we'd dug up the night before. The lake they went to stocked blue gills, so they weren't planning on bringing any home. That's fine with me because I don't like fish. After about 10 minutes with their poles in the water, Joseph found success. His first fishing trip, Joseph catches a fish. And it's the first fish caught in the group. You might be able to imagine how that made his older brothers feel! Unfortunately, the fish died before it could be released from the hook. That was fine with Joseph because it meant he could hang on to it! Everyone used their best fishing skills. Leah had several bites, but never landed anything. Rebekah didn't catch a fish, but that is some nice lake slime! Nathan did a little conservation project by cleaning up this discarded can. They were dedicated and tried to meet the fish halfway. As I hear it, Rebekah decided to concede defeat and jumped into the water up to her armpits. ("If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.") That may explain WHY she didn't catch any fish. Daniel Nathan Finally, the boys reel in a catch! And here's another. Don't remind them that it's smaller than the one Joseph caught. They were gone several hours and were very ready for lunch when they got home. I couldn't help but wrinkle my nose when Joseph's fish was held up to my face. It was in a little scented bag for diaper disposal, but even that didn't mask the stinky fish smell. (It ended up being thrown up on the canal bank for the local wildlife to feast upon.) I think this was the first time our kids have been fishing in over two years (except for Nathan who went fishing to this very lake for a cub scout activity). Poor, underprivileged kids.

First Day of School wrap up

Our first day of school last week was a very nice day.

Joseph and Sarah played quietly together. (Joseph really loves Sarah and is so kind to her.)

I got some cleaning done and appreciated that it stayed clean...for a little while at least.

I made the kids a cake I'd seen on the Family Fun Magazine website. It's actually brownies. They thought it was pretty fun.

Joseph, Sarah and I were outside waiting for the bus to come. It showed up about 4:20 and kids just started spilling out (OK...there were only 4).

Rebekah was pretty tired after her first full day of school. The school schedule is a little different this year as we have moved to a 4-day school week (Fridays off) and school lasts longer (8:10 AM to 3:35 PM for the elementary, even longer for the secondary). Anyway, she was tired.

They all survived the day and we were happy to hear their stories. :)

Bugged!

Joseph was enjoying this beautiful, shiny blue beetle.  Ahh...the joys of summer.

Then Sarah came along and stole it away.  Ahh...the joys of little sisters.

Growing Up

I was behind a door for less than 5 minutes. In that short time, Sarah transformed from my "innocent" toddler to...this.


I can see she's going to want to grow up long before I'm ready to let her go!

(When Joseph saw this picture, he asked if I yelled at her.) ;)

First Day of School 2011

Kids anticipate Christmas. I anticipate the First Day of School. No one gives me nicely colored gifts or paper plates full of sugary goodies, but my heart races and the excitement builds just the same.

The kids were ready well before the bus came. (They were up by 6:45.) I put big, fancy bows into the girls' hair. We had family prayer and rushed outside to take pictures.

Rebekah is a 1st Grader

Leah is a 2nd Grader

Nathan is a 4th Grader

Daniel is a 6th Grader

And here is the entire school crew. Don't they look excited, too? Such good looking kids. And they are great kids. They will do well in school and come home with lots of stories to tell (Nathan will share the least, Leah will share the most.)

We really wanted the whole group of kids. Joseph just couldn't get his heart into it. He has two full years at home before he joins the older kids on the bus. It looks like he's going to need it!

Waiting at the end of the driveway for the bus. Leah kept sneaking out to the street to see if she could see it coming.

Sarah tried to talk Daddy into letting her get on the bus, too. She's got 3 full years to wait. Besides, you can't go to school in your pajamas!

THE BUS! I know that school buses are probably yellow because of the safety/easy-to-see thing. But to me it echos the feeling in my soul...happy, happy yellow!

So all day, it will be Joseph, Sarah and me. We will not have anyone to tell us what we really wanted to play, despite the choices we try to make on our own. We will only have to make 3 lunches and there won't be any food fights. If we want to go shopping, we won't have to consider that someone in Kindergarten needs to be picked up. And there will be less fighting.

And about 4 o'clock we will be anxiously watching out the window for the people we've been missing all day, hoping they will be as excited to see us as we are to see them!

HOORAY for school!

Last Day of Summer Vacation

The kids are disappointed, but I am mentally doing back flips! The school year begins anew tomorrow morning. (Pictures will be shared soon...after they've been taken!)

To make the best of our last day of summer vacation, I got all the bicycles ready for a ride. That was no small task as I had to remove Nathan's rear tire and add patches to the patch that wasn't holding. Then I had to put it on again. Just as we were taking off, he noticed he didn't have any rear brakes. Oops! Those are kind of important.

I was a little hesitant about taking all six kids out on the road. Only the three oldest can ride...Rebekah is dependent on training wheels. The youngest two were strapped into the trailer behind my bike. Our road is not super busy, but the speed limit is 50 (so everyone goes about 55) and there are a few hills, which makes for short sight-distances.

I was uncomfortable enough that we had a prayer before we went. As we started out on the road, Daniel in the lead and everyone following by age, with me in the rear, I was really worried about Rebekah's ability for such an adventure. Twenty feet down the road I called everyone back to the house. Rebekah ended up in the weeds on the side of the road before we made it back. So what to do?

I called a few people, looking for a place for her to play for a couple of hours. Finally, I found someone in town (which is where we were headed), so I drove her there and then came back to ride with the kids. We had some eggs to unload as well and those were in the trailer with Joseph and Sarah.

It was a nice ride and we got some good exercise. Rebekah got to watch a partial movie, help wash some windows and enjoyed a bowl of ice cream. We stopped at another friend's house for cotton candy...their end of summer vacation treat. (Daniel and I decided that cotton candy is not really candy. And we enjoyed our cotton very much.) A 3rd friend in the area let us leave our 4 bikes and bike trailer in their yard and gave us a ride home. I seriously doubt we would have been able to make it back up the hill to our humble home in the country!

After dinner, we drove back with Chad's truck, had one more little bike ride and brought all the bikes home. I am really sore from all that abuse my bicycle seat gave my tushie. That brings back some mission memories!

The kids all bathed/showered and after scriptures/song/prayer, the kids each received a Father's Blessing for the new school year. Joseph and Sarah did not want to be left out. Joseph folded his arms and bowed his head so low, that Chad had to lean way over the back of the chair to reach him! Sarah climbed into the chair last and tugged Chad's hands down for her turn. She kept her arms folded the entire time and stared out the corner of her eye. It was very cute and several older siblings couldn't stop laughing at her.

The kids headed to bed @ 8. The school days are longer this year and there is no school on most Fridays. We have no idea when the bus will be coming, so we will be ready for it before 7:30 AM. They won't return until after 4 PM. I will only have two kids home and I don't have to worry about a Kindergarten schedule for two whole years. I am looking forward to the peace that is sure to come!

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, and actually look forward to having a 4-day school week, but things have become survival of the fittest around here the past couple of weeks and it's been getting ugly. We are ready for new friends, new experiences and new memories!

Question of the day

This gem comes from Rebekah...only seconds ago.

R: Mommy, will we ever have a big fancy house with servants?

ME (laughing and hugging her): Nope! You {meaning the kids} are the servants!

Leah adds: Those houses are cleaner.

So rich people apparently staff their houses with better servants than I do!

Hiking Rocky Ridge

This month's Relief Society Night was about pioneers. We had some guest speakers who had served in the Mormon Handcart Historical Sites in Wyoming mission. They told of stories of the Willie Handcart Company and their rescue.

That night, I told Chad about it. We decided to make a special trip with our family to see it...before the summer ended. We went that Saturday (we are so spontaneous). We checked into ways to make it a two-day trip without spending shocking amounts of money. When that option became impossible, we worked out a way to make it a one-day trip.

We left the house at 4:30 AM. That means we were up by 4 AM. I felt like I was back in college tiptoeing through the house in the dark of night to get an early start on the day!

Here is a bit of what the inside of the car looked like shortly before dawn.

Sarah, Leah and Joseph were the only ones awake at this time. I don't think there was ever a time when all six of them were sleeping at once (because that would be against the laws of traveling with young children).

It struck me a little ironic that on our trip into Wyoming this time, we stopped for a picture of wildlife on the side of the road. We didn't pull over during our trip to Yellowstone. I hate being trendy. :)

No road trip, planned or unplanned, is complete without a road construction delay. It's the American way! Here is Sarah looking downright adorable while we waited for the pilot car to lead us on our 10-mile journey through mountain curves of dirt roads, past enormous trucks and varied construction projects. Whatever they were doing, it required clearing some trees, and I could smell the pine scent as we passed by.

We made our first stop in Dubois, Wyoming (not to be confused with Dubois, ID...which has even less to offer) to stretch, get gas, visit a restroom, and have a snack (of course).

We parked in one place first, then drove to the gas station. Correction: I drove. They all walked and used a chance to get the blood pumping!

About lunchtime, we made it to the welcome center for Sixth Crossing (the place the pioneers crossed the Sweetwater River for the 6th time). It was at this crossing that the Salt Lake City rescue party finally reached the Willie Handcart Company in October 1856, in the middle of a record snow storm.

After our picnic lunch, the welcome center missionary couple had some videos for us to watch, gave each of the kids a little necklace and provided us with some maps for our day's adventure. We told them we'd just traveled over 7 hours to get there and planned to hike Rocky Ridge. They thought that would be a great experience for our little "tribe" but cautioned us that our little ones probably would not be able to make it to the top. We said we'd come far and would give it our best shot!

They took us outside and let us pull a handcart. They use these handcarts for treks with youth groups and family gatherings in the area. You can pull your own handcart up over the mountain if you are so inclined! We were not.

I don't know how comfortable this ride was. Both boys are pulling, but Nathan is ducking down from the camera.

They were pulling so fast, I could barely keep up. I wondered how fast they'd be after pulling for 10 minutes!

After we were done at the welcome center, we headed for the Lower Monument of the climb over Rocky Ridge. As we approached, we stopped behind a truck pulling two trailers of handcarts from the latest group to complete a trek. The missionaries driving realized that they'd had a flat tire and stopped to change it. Chad helped. I stayed in the car and took pictures. (So helpful.)

I did talk with the sister missionary and learned that they are from St. George. They know of Chad's grandma, but don't know her personally. Small world, isn't it?

Finally, we started on our hike...about 10 hours after we started our trip. There were several markers like this one along the trail; this was the first. It was only about a 2-minute walk from the van. Doesn't everyone look so fit and ready to go?

Up and over the first ridge we went. It was hot and windy. The trail was well-traveled and an easy walk, though somewhat tiring as we were going UP. When we got to the next marker, we were starting to get sweaty and were ready for a drink of water! I think it was about 10 to 15 minutes from the first marker.

The farther we went, the farther our family strung itself out along the trail. Here is the beginning of the separation. Joseph is not in the picture because he is with me. I carried him over most of the inclines and tried to encourage him to walk the other times. He didn't really want to be encouraged.

Daniel, Rebekah and Joseph were our stragglers. They weren't much sold on this adventure they suddenly found themselves on. (Before we made the final decision to make this trip, I asked the kids if they were interested. Rebekah was the only one that didn't want to go from the very beginning. She thought we should leave her with a neighbor!)

At the 3rd marker, we were pretty tired. Leah couldn't even stand for the picture! We were thinking this might be near the end of the trail. So naive. It wasn't even half way. More water, please.

Onward we went, getting even more spread out along the way. When I took this picture, Joseph was still with me and Daniel and Rebekah were behind me.

We kept trying to bolster the kids and give them a reason to keep going. We often repeated the doubts the missionaries had that they would be able to make it. I think that is what kept them going the most. They wanted to prove the doubters wrong! I kept trying to mention the pioneers as we walked and tie in the struggles we were having to the struggles they had. I expect that most to all of those words did not even penetrate their minds; they were too busy concentrating on their own "pioneer" experience to internalize anything more.

When we got to the 4th marker, no one wanted a picture. We had a lot of drinks of water, though. It was about this point that I began to wonder if we should call it "good" and head back to the van. We'd been hiking over an hour and the end was no where in site. Just another ridge ahead of us. I was beginning to consider the kids over the pride of accomplishment.

Chad decided to go on ahead to see what was over the next rise. He would take Sarah (who he'd packed around on his back the whole time) and anyone else that thought they could go fast. Nathan volunteered for this "advanced party" and they set out. Of course, Joseph had to go, too. He couldn't keep up, so Chad scooped him up in his arms to keep up the speed of the mission. I was left with the 3 remaining kids (Daniel, Leah and Rebekah) and the camera and water bottle.

Before too long, Leah decided to join them and took off after them. Even though she jogged for several minutes, she was unable to catch them. Meanwhile, Chad is getting closer to disappearing from view and I'm starting to feel like I'm going to miss out on something. So I renewed my efforts to get Daniel and Rebekah going. Daniel revived enough to start walking and I gave him the camera and water to take to those who were so far ahead. I continued to coax and cajole until Rebekah got up and took my hand. We walked and walked and walked and walked(but did not sing).

Here is a shot of the trail and if you can get the picture big enough, you can see 3 tiny specks near the top of the ridge, just to the left of center. (Chad, Nathan and Leah a bit behind them.)

When we finally hiked that stretch of the trail and made it to the top of that rise, we looked off into the distance and saw our destination...the Upper Monument. Chad had already made it there. He left Sarah and Joseph in Nathan and Leah's care. Daniel was almost there and he passed him on his way back to Rebekah and me. We walked the last bit of the way together.

We were so proud of ourselves for making it ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! And I'm so glad that we didn't give up at the marker just before it. Even more so, I'm glad the kids didn't give up. What an accomplishment for them!

Upon reading this plaque, we learned that we were at an elevation of 7,300 feet (the highest point on the Mormon and Oregon Trails). The trail is about 2 miles long and climbs 700 feet. The trail over Rocky Ridge and down to Rock Creek is about 15 miles and took the Willie Handcart Company 27 hours to complete. Because of the conditions and being ill-equipped, the pioneers' feet bled and the area became known as the Trail of Blood.

There was a little bit more to go to actually reach the tippy top of the ridge. This last stretch really was a rocky ridge. We all climbed it and took in the beautiful site (along with feeling elated at our accomplishment).

Leah looked out and saw a lake and the Sweetwater in the distance and excitedly said, "Can we go?" Not on your life, sister! But I was glad to know her spirit hadn't been broken.

We did it!

However, as the saying goes, "Everything that goes up, must come down." And we had just hiked for over an hour and a half. It was time to head back down to the van. Before I was even done posing for pictures, Nathan and Leah were mere specks on the trail. They were obviously blessed with renewed energy!

See? I'm still up on the rocks with Sarah and Joseph! (These pictures ARE sequential.)

And there they go. By the time they were disappearing over this ridge, Daniel had joined them, Chad had Sarah back in the backpack and I had Rebekah and Joseph. I urged Chad to catch up to them. (I thought I'd heard a gun shot in the distance. I didn't really think it meant any danger, but...you know.) He left us with the last of the water (about two cups) and a promise to send more back when they reached the van.

Before long, it was just me and Joseph and Rebekah. And a very long walk up and down the hills and rocks...in the sun and wind. I had big blisters on my feet and was hoping nothing would pop while I was walking. Thankfully, the kids had not complained of anything like that.

Joseph insisted on being carried and I insisted that I only would when we went uphill. Somewhere between the 4th and 3rd markers, Rebekah tripped on a protruding rock and rolled herself to a stop. Her knee, elbow and arm were banged up. I poured some of our limited drinking water on her knee. When we got to the 3rd marker, I said Rebekah could have the first drink. Joseph protested that and I said it was because she'd gotten hurt. At which point he trips and skins his own knee! Luckily, I was holding his hand and saved him from a worse injury. There went more drinking water on a knee. And I realized that we had made our own Trail of Blood.

Rebekah was not injured enough to require me to carry her. THANK GOODNESS! I don't know how I would have done that, but I'm sure I would have figured something out if I'd had to. She was such a trooper and just quietly cried as we continued on. Joseph's injury did not hurt as badly and he kept up his typical chatter.

We walked that trail forever. I knew how far we had to go and was a little disheartened. I kept my eyes on the ridges before us thinking this might be the ridge I would see our own rescue party appear. I got a better understanding of the hope the pioneers had when they looked ahead of them, expecting help but not finding any.

At the 2nd (counting from the beginning) marker we stopped for a bigger drink. We were getting closer and the kids had been out in the sun for quite a while. I knew the van would be coming up in the next 15-20 minutes, so we took a longer break. Just as we prepared to get moving again, I saw Chad come up over the crest of the next hill. YIPEE!!

He met us with two bottles of cool water. We drank enough to indulge, but not enough to split our sides. Rebekah (who had been crying for the past half an hour or so), held her Daddy's hand and finally stopped crying. We walked and Chad filled us in on their journey back. It turns out that Nathan was the only one of the kids that didn't fall and skin a knee. There were some patients waiting for Dr. Mommy back a the van; we used 7 band-aids. My feet were killing me. I wanted to take my shoes off and see if I needed band-aids, but I didn't dare because we had more walking ahead of us.

We returned to the welcome center to report (to different missionaries) that we'd made it. The missionaries we'd spoken with had informed the next shift of missionaries that we would be stopping in. After washing up in the bathroom there, we climbed back into the van for an hour-long trip to Rock Creek Hollow...the place the pioneers camped (and some died) after conquering Rocky Ridge.

Rock Creek was a special place and I wanted to linger a bit, but the kids were beyond exhausted. The sun was setting and the mosquitoes had sent their strongest/hungriest welcoming party to greet us. We tried to listen to the stories the missionaries were sharing, but I was too focused on swatting at mosquitoes all over me and the kids (and even Chad). It was pretty miserable. Even so, I felt the spirit stronger there than anywhere.

The stake in the area had done the temple work for the pioneers that had died along the trail. They called it the "second rescue" (because the Salt Lake Saints had performed the first rescue) and a monument was erected to commemorate that act of service.

The missionaries snapped a quick picture of our worn out, sun burned, trail-beaten family. :) If you can enlarge the picture enough, you can see quite a few mosquitoes on some of us!

Here is a picture of the monument and the area that it is thought to be the place that the 13 members of the Willie Handcart Company who died here are buried. Their heads were placed together and their feet extended out...think of a wagon wheel. It's thought this is the spot because there is a slight, circular depression where they would have scraped out a bit of frozen ground around the perimeter to bury their family members.

We left Rock Creek Hollow about 7:45 PM and began our journey home (church was at nine the next morning). We took a different way home, mostly to avoid the crazy construction traffic we'd gone through on the way. As it turns out, there are no roads in Wyoming that aren't under construction; we found some along the way.

I am usually the driver for our family. Chad uses a cattle prod to keep the kids in line while I drive. Just kidding. But I've thought one of those would really keep the fighting down! Anyway, I'm usually the one to drive. Thankfully, Chad was alert enough to do most of the driving this time. I tried so hard to stay awake to keep him company, but I think I fell asleep once every 30 seconds.

We arrived home at 1:30 AM. It was a 21-hour trip. Yes, we are crazy. We're grateful we went and had that amazing experience. The kids impressed me with their ability to endure and finish out that hike. I hope the older ones will remember it for a long, long time. (But not long enough to refuse to go on a youth pioneer trek, as Daniel is already threatening.)

We backed out of the driveway for church 7 hours later and pretended to be alert during our meetings.