The two secret answers for those that read our blog (not to be shared with heathens that do not) are:
Yes.
February 12th.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Oregon Trails: Backyard Camping Edition
10:09 P.M. As you look into the sky, there are two tiny clouds on the horizon. Temperature inside the tent is 85 degrees. Outside is a pleasant 70 degrees. Do you (a) leave the rain fly on the tent, (b) intelligently take off the rain fly but leave it partially connected on one side, (c) allow your wife to take it off and put it in the furthermost part of your house?
C
1:02 A.M. Your wife awakes you and you realize that the water on your face is not drool. A pleasant surprise, but only for a moment. A light drizzle has started to permeate your tent, which has a complete mesh top, and your family is getting wet. Do you (a) throw a blanket over your youngest daughter so she can have her first water-boarding experience, (b) tell your oldest daughter to "can [her] whimpering" and "take it like a man", (c) ask your wife to go find the rain-fly as you try to locate the cell phones so they don't get wet, (d) all of the above?
D
1:03 A.M. The drizzle has switched to a flash summer desert downpour of 33 degree rain and you are standing outside the tent. Your hairless dome does not soak up any water and you are soaked to the nether regions. Your wife has not returned, did she (a) slip and slide down your front yard grassy mud trying to take a turn while running barefoot, (b) have trouble getting up while laughing at herself, (c) catch the rain-fly in the door on the return trip and nearly ruin your new tent (d) all of the above?
D
1:04 A.M. You daughters are still whimpering and gasping for air. Your son has (a) awoken and started doing an indian rain dance naked on his foam pad, (b) slid down to the bottom corner of the tent on an interior river of water (c) covered himself, starting his own waterboarding process, and fallen back to sleep.
C
1:06 A.M. You are now completely drenched. Your wife is still laughing. The neighbors are shutting their windows in angst. Under her sleeping bag, your oldest has started to pray for deliverance from this evil. The rain-fly is tangled. You have died of dysentery.
1:07 A.M. The rainfly is in place, and you begin transferring things from inside the tent to the kitchen. In what order do you take things in? (a) The panic-stricken oldest child who is wondering why this happens to people even after they pray, (b) the passed-out from lack of air, asleep other children, (c) the cell phones, (d) the guns, (e) the shoes, (f) the sleeping bags and pads.
c-d-b-a-e-f
1:09 A.M. The rain has stopped. Your 9th layer of your epidermis has started the water absorption process. Your kitchen is a pile of gear. You must now spend the next 25 minutes getting things to areas of the house where they can properly dry. You are completely awake. You stare out the window as the powers-that-be laugh, having proven again His sense of humor. Happy 4th of July. Good job declaring your independence from any pioneer-heritage-manliness, you ninny.
C
1:02 A.M. Your wife awakes you and you realize that the water on your face is not drool. A pleasant surprise, but only for a moment. A light drizzle has started to permeate your tent, which has a complete mesh top, and your family is getting wet. Do you (a) throw a blanket over your youngest daughter so she can have her first water-boarding experience, (b) tell your oldest daughter to "can [her] whimpering" and "take it like a man", (c) ask your wife to go find the rain-fly as you try to locate the cell phones so they don't get wet, (d) all of the above?
D
1:03 A.M. The drizzle has switched to a flash summer desert downpour of 33 degree rain and you are standing outside the tent. Your hairless dome does not soak up any water and you are soaked to the nether regions. Your wife has not returned, did she (a) slip and slide down your front yard grassy mud trying to take a turn while running barefoot, (b) have trouble getting up while laughing at herself, (c) catch the rain-fly in the door on the return trip and nearly ruin your new tent (d) all of the above?
D
1:04 A.M. You daughters are still whimpering and gasping for air. Your son has (a) awoken and started doing an indian rain dance naked on his foam pad, (b) slid down to the bottom corner of the tent on an interior river of water (c) covered himself, starting his own waterboarding process, and fallen back to sleep.
C
1:06 A.M. You are now completely drenched. Your wife is still laughing. The neighbors are shutting their windows in angst. Under her sleeping bag, your oldest has started to pray for deliverance from this evil. The rain-fly is tangled. You have died of dysentery.
1:07 A.M. The rainfly is in place, and you begin transferring things from inside the tent to the kitchen. In what order do you take things in? (a) The panic-stricken oldest child who is wondering why this happens to people even after they pray, (b) the passed-out from lack of air, asleep other children, (c) the cell phones, (d) the guns, (e) the shoes, (f) the sleeping bags and pads.
c-d-b-a-e-f
1:09 A.M. The rain has stopped. Your 9th layer of your epidermis has started the water absorption process. Your kitchen is a pile of gear. You must now spend the next 25 minutes getting things to areas of the house where they can properly dry. You are completely awake. You stare out the window as the powers-that-be laugh, having proven again His sense of humor. Happy 4th of July. Good job declaring your independence from any pioneer-heritage-manliness, you ninny.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Been Naughty?
In examining our progression of negative consequences - alternative activity... time out/corner... nap... shower - we realized that the last three of our punitive actions are things we wish we had more of. Maybe if I'm bad, they'll tell me to take a nap...
Probably shouldn't try to find out...
Probably shouldn't try to find out...
Friday, June 26, 2009
Step'n Out
We've been out on the town the last few evenings...
Monday night we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house and visited with friends. We enjoyed the star theme that permeated the building which was as impressive as Mt. Timpanogos' water theme, Provo's fire theme, Sacramento's wildlife theme and Salt Lake's vineyard theme.
We took a family hike up the glorified hill behind our home to try to learn why prophets in the ancient times spent so much time in the mountains. Everyone made the trip without complaining, causing massive shock and near heart failure to both parents.
On Wednesday, we went to the Manti pageant, or as it is now called, the Mormon Miracle Pageant. The weather was wonderful, the sky danced, and the temple looked great. As for the performance itself, I think our feelings are best described by Mg's comment halfway though the show - "Daddy, that's not how it goes in the Book of Mormon" - proving truth and falsehood is discernable to anyone who studies the scriptures. There was so much potential in the story without trying to fabricate it for showbiz. When the truth is more interesting and powerful than "based on a true story", why would one accept the latter? It was a once in a lifetime experience because we'll probably only go once.
On Thursday Melissa and I were graciously offered tickets to Andre' Rieu at the USANA outdoor amphitheater. That show was pure entertainment. The music permeated through the frustrations of the night before, relaxing and melting away annoyance.
F.Y.I. All pictures were taken by us and we reserve all rights and use of those on this blog.
Monday night we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house and visited with friends. We enjoyed the star theme that permeated the building which was as impressive as Mt. Timpanogos' water theme, Provo's fire theme, Sacramento's wildlife theme and Salt Lake's vineyard theme.
We took a family hike up the glorified hill behind our home to try to learn why prophets in the ancient times spent so much time in the mountains. Everyone made the trip without complaining, causing massive shock and near heart failure to both parents.
On Wednesday, we went to the Manti pageant, or as it is now called, the Mormon Miracle Pageant. The weather was wonderful, the sky danced, and the temple looked great. As for the performance itself, I think our feelings are best described by Mg's comment halfway though the show - "Daddy, that's not how it goes in the Book of Mormon" - proving truth and falsehood is discernable to anyone who studies the scriptures. There was so much potential in the story without trying to fabricate it for showbiz. When the truth is more interesting and powerful than "based on a true story", why would one accept the latter? It was a once in a lifetime experience because we'll probably only go once.
On Thursday Melissa and I were graciously offered tickets to Andre' Rieu at the USANA outdoor amphitheater. That show was pure entertainment. The music permeated through the frustrations of the night before, relaxing and melting away annoyance.
F.Y.I. All pictures were taken by us and we reserve all rights and use of those on this blog.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sing-a-long
When Melissa went off to a meeting I overhead in the hallway... singing to himself...
Humpty Dumpty sat on a WALL,
He was hungry, so his Mom made him the best coo-KIES
AAAANNNNNNNDDDDDDD heateuntilhewasFULLLLLLLL
AAAAANNNNDDDD it made him SOOOOO happy that he begin to runnnnnnnn
on a big Harley motorcycle.
A-wemba-way
A-wemba-way [yes, that's a song change to The Lion Sleeps tonight, not like he's following any set song]
Then he KICKED A CAR
And smacked RIGHTTTTT into it
And then he jumped right on TOP
And hit the gaaaasssss ped-DALLLL
and ran over somebody. Hur-RAY!
Off in the hell-a-copper [helicopter]
brgikggggkggkgkgggkgkgggg [machine gun noises].
The therapy bills are going to be enormous.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Family Happenings updated with pictures
I've not been able to have corn for over 8 years. Thus, the family hasn't had it, either. I had no ill effects when I accidentally got some last month so I decided to try it again... Success! The family all really enjoyed the cob-style.
A nearby town has a sweet wooden playground with learning and "discovery" tools. I took Tm and Am there and they had a blast! We're going again next week with all three.
I'm trying new recipes, again. The children got to try my "gingerbread waffles." They were scrumptious! I also found a basic wheat bread recipe that is tasty and worked fantastic for a bread bowl. Yeah!
Mg came soooo close to scoring a goal in one of her games. The next game was a challenge in the downpour. One more game this weekend and the season is over. (Post note: She again tried and tried but just missed the goal again in the final game. Her teammates gave up several goals to pass it to her. She just couldn't quite connect.)
Am has learned to open doors... and unlock them... so bed time has a little more challenge but she mostly knows when she's tired and zonks out accordingly.
I got a cute picture of Am coloring on her own the other day. She was very focused and enjoying herself.
The family enjoys frequent Lego parties in the theater.
Our trial camp out in the backyard was an adventure! Am wasn't too impressed with her sleeping conditions and actually fell off her mattress in the night onto David's face. Poor guy!
It was late when we fell asleep and the sun was up for an early awakening. Mg and Tm enjoyed watching A Bug's Life before knocking out.
One of David's old friends posted an old-school picture of David at this friend's birthday party. Mg was able to immediately identify her dad. Can you?
A nearby town has a sweet wooden playground with learning and "discovery" tools. I took Tm and Am there and they had a blast! We're going again next week with all three.
I'm trying new recipes, again. The children got to try my "gingerbread waffles." They were scrumptious! I also found a basic wheat bread recipe that is tasty and worked fantastic for a bread bowl. Yeah!
Mg came soooo close to scoring a goal in one of her games. The next game was a challenge in the downpour. One more game this weekend and the season is over. (Post note: She again tried and tried but just missed the goal again in the final game. Her teammates gave up several goals to pass it to her. She just couldn't quite connect.)
Am has learned to open doors... and unlock them... so bed time has a little more challenge but she mostly knows when she's tired and zonks out accordingly.
I got a cute picture of Am coloring on her own the other day. She was very focused and enjoying herself.
The family enjoys frequent Lego parties in the theater.
Our trial camp out in the backyard was an adventure! Am wasn't too impressed with her sleeping conditions and actually fell off her mattress in the night onto David's face. Poor guy!
It was late when we fell asleep and the sun was up for an early awakening. Mg and Tm enjoyed watching A Bug's Life before knocking out.
One of David's old friends posted an old-school picture of David at this friend's birthday party. Mg was able to immediately identify her dad. Can you?
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Where's the reset button on this thing?
When a computer or electrical device has a glitch, one often presses the reset button to correct the issue. If anyone can tell us where that button is on children that would be helpful.
Mg runs during swim lessons, kicks during dance, and dances during soccer. I think we need to hit reset.
Mg runs during swim lessons, kicks during dance, and dances during soccer. I think we need to hit reset.