Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Halloween 2016

Sam I am


Flame Trooper (not to be confused with Storm Trooper)

Pop Star

US Olympic Swimmer


Arizona State Fair 2016

The kids have been begging  me to take them to the state fair for year now.  Chuck said it was a bunch of drunken criminals in a dust bowl.  So he was not invited.  Although, it was an accurate representation of our society, it was not just a bunch of drunk criminals in a dust bowl.

I took the kids out of school a little early on a Friday and we went to the fair!  They rode a few rides which they loved. But they only played one game before they realized they were being ripped off. We watched a magic show (where we got to participate), a puppet show, pig races and a rodeo.  We also tried the deep fried Twinkie.  We spent a lot of money, but I was prepared for that.  It was a little warm, but the kids were very well behaved until just the last few minutes when Christian had a melt down.  We really had a good time. I'd take them again.







Hannah - Girl Scout Encampment Fall 2016







Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Fall Break 2016


We had a great Fall Break adventure this year.  We started out with an all-hands-on-deck Grand Canyon hike.  Friends, Alexander and Mandy, joined us for a day hike from the South Rim to Indian Gardens and back along the Bright Angel Trail.  After a rough start where the kids devolved into a hot mess before we even hit the trail, they pulled it together for a great day if you don't count the continuous fighting between Hannah and Christian over Mom.  We exceeded all expectations on the way down (2 hours 20 minutes) and back up (3 hours).  Weather was perfect.  Views were awesome.  And the bribe of a pedicure for Hannah and a Dr. Pepper for Christian got them to the top with little whining.  The campground had all of the charm of a freeway rest area, but everyone (except Rebekah) was too tired to care on Saturday night.  All-in-all, it was great fun.










The Boys continued on to southern Utah on Sunday while the girls went home with Alexander and Mandy.  Bryce Canyon was very cool.  Literally.  Nights were in the mid-20s and afternoons in the mid-40s.  We road bikes, hiked, and completed the Junior Ranger program.  We learned about bats, rocks, and stars, spending one evening looking through telescopes.  It was just the right mix of relaxing and interesting.  The North Rim of the Grand Canyon was a fun stop on our way home.  Again, the boys completed the Junior Ranger program and learned about California Condors.  But it was really cool with night temperatures into the mid-teens.  And very hard to watch the thermometer climb to 100 deg on the drive home! 











The girls planted flowers at the temple, got pedicures, went out to breakfast, went out to lunch, watched movies, etc.  Hannah had a sleep over with Willow and spent time with Cameron and Melody and Charity while Rebekah taught.  It was a very relaxing week.

*written by Chuck

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Operation Taking Back the Nights

I'm not sure what prompted me to do this; exhaustion, curiosity... but on Saturday night, I asked Chuck to switch sides of the bed with me.  For years (and years and years), I have gotten up with kids during the night.  I am quite sure I have journaled about it over the years, so I am not going to get into the history.  However, I will note that for the last four years or so, it has been Hannah and Christian that are my frequent night visitors.  But it wasn't until Cameron was about 7 that he finally gave up his nightly visits.
Back to Saturday night, Christian got up and went to my side of the bed only to find Chuck.  I'm not sure at what point Christian realized it is Chuck, but it did take Christian quite a while to wake Chuck up. Chuck attempted to take him back to bed, but Christian started to cry (I am not sleeping through this but I am waiting to see what happens), so Chuck sat with him on the couch.  In the mean time Hannah walked down the hall and ignored Chuck's demands of not going into the room.  She climbed in bed with me.  I thought it was Christian and that Chuck gave up.  However, after Chuck got Christian to go back to bed and he came back to get Hannah, who, started to cry, I said, "Christian, it's okay, you always go back to bed, I will walk with you."  It's not until we were walking down the hall that I realized it was Hannah not Christian.  She got back into bed and I laid down with her for a few minutes before I went back to bed.
This is a pretty typical night for me.  Maybe even with a visit or two less than normal.  In the morning Chuck says, "That is ridiculous.  Tonight I am starting Operation Taking Back the Nights." He told the kids that if they get up during the night, he is going to put them to work.  (Of course, Hannah freaked out about this, "Mommy, please don't let Daddy do that." ) So, Sunday night he slept on the floor in front of our hallway.  I told him he was being ridiculous and that I am going to sleep with him on the floor.  That did not persuade him to get back in the bed and I did not stay on the floor. Believe it or not, he did not know I had stepped over him to go back to the room.   There were no night time visitors that night.
On Monday night, there were no night time visitors.
On Tuesday night, Christian come into my room having walked around Chuck.  We stepped over Chuck and I took him back to his room.  He was complaining of growing pains, so I rubbed his legs for a bit.  A couple hours later he comes back, again walking around Chuck.  He was still complaining of growing pains, so I told him to tell Daddy that Mommy said to get him ibuprofen.  He did tell Chuck to get him ibuprofen and Chuck did get it for him and he went back to bed.  He didn't even have to pull the Mommy said card.  In the morning, I said to Chuck, "So the little one got past you?" He looked at me like I had to be joking.  I'm not sure why he was surprised by this, in all the years I have been getting up with the kids, there have been very few times he has woken up.  And most of those times were probably when I woke him up.  So he sad, "It's time to enter Phase 2," which meant closing the door to our room.
On Wednesday there were no visits attempted.
On Thursday, Christian attempted a visit, but it was before Chuck was asleep, so he was caught.  That same night, Christian got up to use the bathroom, he saw Chuck, said "humph" and went back to bed.  On Friday night, there were no visitors.  At this point, Hannah thinks it's great that Chuck is sleeping in the hallway.  He is closer to her and can better protect her.
On Saturday night Chuck slept in our bed and did not hear Christian come in.  And in the morning, he did not ask if I had any visitors during the night and I did not tell him.
Now it is Tuesday and I had no visitors Sunday or Monday night.  However, I'm not convinced that Operation Taking Back the Nights was successful.  We might need another few nights to tell.

Update - one month later:

Operation Taking Back the Nights was not successful.  After many nights in the hall and several catches, Chuck eventually made his way back into the bedroom.  (I think it was because he was too tired to make his bed in the hallway some nights and not feeling well a couple others.) But when things got bad again, he moved back into the hallway.  No one got past him, but there were some dirty looks given before the culprit (usually Christian) went back to bed.  Last night Christian was up at 4am.  It's been a while since Hannah has gotten up.  I do get a good nights sleep when Chuck is in the hall, but I don't think it's a solution.  I think we just have to weather the storm.

Update - end of the year (several months later)

I still have frequent night visitors.  I have really tried to stop giving up my bed though and always take the kid back to his/her room. Chuck tried to get involved for a while, but he just makes things worse.  So I told him to go back to not knowing what is going on during the night.  And it would appear as if he has done just that.  For more than a week, lil C decided to share the room with H. That made her very happy because she didn't have to sleep alone.  It also made big C happy because he got to sleep alone. However, it was short lived.  Lil C eventually made his way back to his room.  And I am back to getting up with whoever at night.


H didn't like the trundle bed being out all day, but she eventually got tired of pulling it out each night, so they decided to go with the floor.


Wednesday, August 3, 2016

First Day of School 2016

6th, 4th and 1st grade 





Summer Swimming

For the second year, Cameron and Hannah swam on the Dobson Dolphins Swim Team.  Christian didn't want to join swim team, but he is a great swimmer and did take some semi-private lessons.  In addition to swim team practice, we spent a lot of time swimming over the summer.  We even took the kids to SunSplash and despite our low expectations, we had a great time!





Hannah;s fastest times: Free; 54:32; Back: 1:06:88; Breast: 1:03:46; Fly: 59:21
Hannah's favorite stroke: Butterfly
Cameron's fastest times:  Free 43:12; Back: 53:27; Breast; 58:53; Fly: 1:06:33
Cameron's favorite stroke: Free


Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Summer Backpacking 2016

Few in number but mighty in spirit, Derek, Regan, Pyper, Chuck, Cameron, Hannah, and Christian backpacked up to Weminuche Pass on the Continental Divide, north of Pagosa Springs, CO.  They had a turbo-boost from Jonathan, Darien, Annie, Ellie, and Sarah who met them near the trailhead and hiked in to the first night’s camping spot.  The week started out rainy and muddy and finished up sunny and dry.  Highlights included awesome scenery, watching Cameron hang food bags, 4th of July sparklers, teeter-totter at Camp 3, Cameron and Hannah playing together, killer view of The Window and Rio Grande Pyramid from “The Wart,” and cozy cool nights in sleeping bags.  Lowlights included a ridiculous number of flies, forest devastation from bark beetles, and readjustment to city life afterward.  Everyone returned safe and healthy and said at least one time during the trip that they were really glad they came.












* post written by Chuck