Monkey Business

Upon waking this morning, it occurred to me that my poor little blog has been utterly abandoned by myself for quite awhile.  Deciding to poke around in here and stir up some ideas to write about (I even made a new "Idea Bank" for myself!), I realized that I had started a post around the middle of June, and then promptly forgot that I had written it down.  So, here is the first post of summer 2014:

Today was the first real day of summer vacation for the kids. Normally, I have mentally prepared myself for this day, but there has been a lot going on around here.  Actually, I only returned last night from my sis's big move day (well, not exactly THE big move day, but they have sold their big house and moved into the apartment they own in T. Falls to buy some time while they hunt for a house in Zoo Town).

As soon as I was driving back into town, Derrin was messaging me that he wanted his friend to be able to come over in the morning because it was the only way that his friend would be able to go to the movie later that day with Derrin and all of his pals.

It was fine with me, except for my plan of going to the gym this morning since I had missed my work out day yesterday.  It would mean leaving Derrin, his friend, and Kloe on their own for a little while.

Honestly, I don't worry too much.  They are all good kids, and they are getting old enough that a couple hours on their own is okay.  The problem is, they are also getting old enough that I need to worry about 'boy/girl' stuff now.  This is one of the issues any family with both sexes of kids is eventually going to face, especially when they are close in age.  I've talked to both my kids about it at one time or another.  'Tis the facts of life.  Unfortunately for them (if they ever do develop a crush on their sibling's friends), I have been there myself, and very much understand what can happen.

With that in mind, I pulled Derrin aside before taking off to the gym and gave him another 'lecture' about how he needs to look out for his sister (Someday I will give her the SAME lecture.  Fair play and all.) around other boys...  Even the nice boys... Even the nice friends.  The big rule is no boy/girl combination ever goes by themselves into private rooms.  Today, I told Derrin he gets to be the watch out for anything like that where his sister is concerned (and someday *once again* Kloe will be bestowed with the same honor for her brother).

After taking care of such 'business', I took off and went to the gym and didn't come back until noon.

When I did come back, all three kids were playing MineCraft, Kloe's very favorite game.  I'm pretty sure they were in a world she had created, which is always amusing because she totally has the upper hand on her brother.

As I watched her, I realized she is NOT in that teen zone yet.  She was still in her pj's, her hair was crazy, she was barking out orders to both boys about how to play the game, and as I walked toward her I sniffed and there was this onion.... aroma.

I asked her if she'd been in the chives again.  "Oh yeah Mom", she said,"and you know what you SHOULDN'T do?  Eat a whole purple chive flower.  Whoo!"  

My girl, if you ever read this, you made your momma laugh really hard today, just by being your adorable eleven year old self who just lives in the moment with crazy hair, chive breath, all while beating the boys at Minecraft. I couldn't adore you more:)

Eventually, we took off for the movie.  Today it was "The Fault in Our Stars", which in my opinion was a really great Chick Flick.  It was NOT, however, a movie I would have picked out to take 5 boys ages 15 and under to.  The only reason I could decipher for all of them wanting to go to this particular movie (because the fact that one of two of them, including Derrin, actually read the John Green book the movie was based on did not seem to curb ANY adolescent boy behavior during the movie) was the fact that there was a certain very cute 15 year old girl there (who shall remain anonymous) who had announced that she would like to see it.

The seating arrangement of our raucous group was this:

BOY:BOY
BOY:BOY:BOY:CUTE 15 YEAR OLD GIRL:KLOE:MYSELF

Notice how somehow I ended up clear on the far edge.  This created two issues for me:

 #1- I could not yell at, get the attention of, kick the back of the seats of, or flick the ears of any of the boys who chose to exhibit these behaviors during this emotionally charged movie: talking, throwing popcorn, and making fun of sobbers (and this movie had a lot of them).  We were THAT group.  The group women throughout the theater would recall to mind whenever this particular movie comes up in conversation.  We were The Ruiners of a Good Cry group; the most hated movie group of them all.

#2- Because of my close proximity to this group of monkeys and the fact that I was the only adult, I ended up looking like the adult monkey. 

I learned two lessons from this experience:

#1- Never, ever sit BY a group of silly boys during any movie (but especially a movie that causes icky uncomfortably weepy feelings that must be combated with militant mockery), and

#2- Instead, either choose the sit BEHIND said group for the aforementioned kicking of the back of the seats and flicking of ears, or even better, sit far far away where there is NO guilt by association attached to myself.

Eh, summer lessons, they begin early around here.

14 Years Together

"We were together.  I forget the rest".  Walt Whitman

This last weekend Derrick and I went out of town for our anniversary, as we try to do every year.  The last four years we have went to Whitefish for our anniversary, so this year we decided to shake it up and go to Spokane instead.

The one commonality of our anniversaries throughout the years have been the monochromatic way the December sky decides to present itself.  As we headed out of town on Friday, it looked as though we were heading into the usual grey but happy weekend, but somewhere around the middle of Saturday, the clouds opened up and gave us blue skies.  They stuck around for the rest of our time out of town, and even now it is blue skies and sunny.

This was one of my personal favorite anniversary trips.  Our motel was really close to downtown Spokane, so we pretty much walked to most of the places we wanted to go throughout the weekend.  There was the usual shopping that goes along with a trip to Spokane, but we spent a lot of time walking, hanging out in our room (which was very nice), and going to some of the fun restaurants and pubs in downtown Spokane.

I love anniversary weekends.  We always make the effort to have that weekend to ourselves, and without fail we have the best discussions together of our year.

We talked about getting older, and our fears we have attached to it.  My fear (as I'm sure it is for a lot of people), is that of being devalued as a person by society.  Derrick's is mostly just the fear of being sickly or not being able to do what he once did.  Other than that, he's looking forward to being a cranky old man with no pressure from society to follow rules.  He's preparing for a reign of obnoxiousness :)  Getting old wouldn't be so bad as long as I could do it with him, because I know he will always see me as I really am.  Hopefully, though, we will never have to get old.

Of course (!) we talked about the kids.  Like most parents, we talk about them a lot.  You know how when you love someone, all conversations have a way of leading to that person?  That principle must apply to parents with their children.  Our hopes and dreams for them equal and surpass the hopes and dreams for ourselves.  The sum of our kid conversations are mostly how to keep them safe and sound but also give the tools and freedom to create happiness and dreams for themselves.  As they get older, we are seeing what a tricky road this may be.  We will just have to try our best, like our parents did for us.

We talked about our longstanding dream too, and decided it's time to make our trip to Europe a reality.  We saved for a trip we are going to take later this winter, and realized that if we are careful, saving for travel doesn't have to be crazy hard (as long as nothing too extreme happens in the meantime).  It might not be an immediate trip, but just knowing we are in the process of making it happen is a happy thought.

Fourteen years is a long time to be married.  We've had plenty of growing pains, and lots of wonderful times too.  We've been through a scary pregnancy and birth where Derrick almost lost both Derrin and me.  We've parented babies, toddlers, little kids, big kids and now teenagers together, with all of the struggles and joys that entails.  We've been through cancer in our family and the loss of a parent together.  We've battled depression and health issues together.  We've had the opportunity to travel to far away places we'd never been before together.  We've build a house and home together.  We've decorated the inside of our marriage with love.

Summer-y-est

So far this summer has been a busy one. We accidentally ended up at home this weekend, and it felt pretty good; it was the first one here in quite awhile.  So far July has been about slumber parties (for Kloe), riding motorcycles (for Derrin and Derrick), swimming lessons in T. Falls, and lots of time with friends and family.

Kloe's Summer 2012 Slumber Party

(June 30-July 1)

Kloe's room got it's usual overhaul (I just can't resist cleaning her room at least four times a year.  I accept this about myself finally) to prepare for her company.  Steph, Aiyana, and Bailey came over Friday night, and Stephy helped me hang lights and party things, and also drink quite a bit of coffee, and the girls played until the wee hours.  Kloe and I decorated her room too (somehow, no pictures were taken of that...) so they were able to sleep in high slumber party style. 

Sabrina, Darby, and Sara came the next day around two, and we ate cake, did projects, and the big girls talked while the little ones played (and we all took care of a baby bird the girls had found the day before and named "Pepper"... he was our guest of honor).

This is one of Sabrina's completely fabulous cakes she made for Kloe's slumber party.  Kloe couldn't really decide to go with an animal theme or beauty shop theme, so thus the poodle with the finger nail polish.

We did a cool tiedye project with permanent markers, cups, rubber bands, and rubbing alcohol.

...and, of course, a water balloon fight.

awww, cousins:)

Darby, Kloe, Aiyana, and Bailey

Guest of Slumber Party Honor, rescued baby bird "Pepper"

Darby holding the group's baby bird, "Pepper".  He was found by the girls on Friday night.  They kept him safe and warm, and we fed him warm squished cat food, as suggested by the wise folks on the Internet. 

Trying to put Pepper back in the nest didn't work out so well- he jumped back out into danger and had to be rescued by our animal squad again.

Unfortunately, despite all of their love and efforts, the girl's little birdy Pepper died July 4th.  Many tears were shed, and they made this tribute in his honor.

Boys Camping/Moto/Stars Wars Trip to Avery

(June 28-July 1)

The same weekend as our slumber party, the dads took Derrin and Cameron to Avery Idaho for some fishing, motorcycle riding, and even a little Star Wars watching (Cameron had never seen it, so it was a right of passage viewing). Reports from all indicate a great time was had, and there is a high probability we we all get to go to Avery for camping eventually.

Steve, camp cook extrordinare.

Self-Portrait, Derrick and a little friend.

Aw, they are so stinking cute!  Watching the Dads fish here.

Cam, going through the long tunnel.

They rode a lot of miles this day (60 miles total).  Derrick said the boys were completely wore out and ready to go home by the end, which is saying a lot- don't think I have ever seen them actually ready to stop riding before.

Chef Steve, making it a sea food night.  I'm having him cator our next slumber party- we just had burgers! :)

That Sunday night, Steve took the boys to T. Falls (he was dropping Derrin off at Steph's, while his fam was staying at a friend's cabin there), and Steph took all the girls back to T. Falls.  Swimming lessons started that Monday, and all the kids were able to be in lessons together again (including Cameron, Darby, Aiyana, Colton, Bailey, Carter, Derrin and Kloe).  I had to work Monday and Tuesday, so I didn't get to join the group until Wednesday (July 4th).  Steph is renting a little house right on the river in T. Falls- such a pretty place, full of peacefulness AND children- an interesting combo. 

I know this will be the week I remember as the highlight of this summer.  It had all of the elements of happy memories- playing with our friends and family, constantly playing in the water, and perfect weather for playing in the water (it was in the 90's the whole time).  I know this will be a week I will wish I could zip back to over and over. 

Summer in T. Falls, 2012

(July 2-July 14)

Nae, Bean and Kloe at Steph's house

View from Steph's back deck (addicted to morning coffee out there with that view).

Steph's cute little house.

Burying One's cousin is SO fun:)

Kloe practicing her diving skills.  Sabrina took these swimming pics.  I had pics of Derrin too (he was in an earlier class before Sabrina and her kiddies would come), but my memory card was out of my camera for those (bad bad brain of mine).  :(  Colton and Heidi were at lessons too, but my pics of them also were on my non-existant memory card:'(

She made Level 3 this year!!!  :))) 

Derrin and Phil being pulled by Steve out on the river.

Our feast with the kiddies, out on the back deck of the cabin.  We spent a lot of time playing out on the river here too.

A trip up Grave's Creek to see the waterfall with the kids.

Our group (minus me, cuz I'm the pic taker)- Sabrina, Cameron, Derrin, Kloe, Chantil, Aiyana, Steph (holding Indi), Darby

My babies and me

Princess Stephy-Poo

Cousins

My boy

My boy and me:)

Now we are back home, back to real life.  We loved the last couple of weeks, but it does feel good to be back home in our own beds and our routines.  So glad we have more summer to look forward to and enjoy.

Summer Has Arrived

We had a great time at the district convention last weekend. It was more stressful actually GETTING there because it was so much earlier in the summer than usual (meaning the kids weren't out of school yet, and I had less time to gather needed items), but once we were there it was good. Well, after discovering all of Derrin's suits had been left at home, taking ten minutes to hyperventilate, and then resolving the issue with some clothes Derrick found at Walmart (he found clothes the right size AND 50% off, whatta guy!), THEN everything was all good:) 

The assembly itself was AWESOME. Every single talk had something so needed in it, and the drama was great. It's going to be hard to not talk about it with my family (they aren't going until the middle of August).

 

The kids had a great time at the swimming pool there (of course). There were quite a few from our hall who stayed there too, so there were lots of kids to play with. The parents all tried to be troopers in the chlorine chaos, but there was a lot of internal rocking in the corner of the mind (well for me anyways) to deal with the huge amount of people crammed in there. Kids don't care about that stuff though- they were just thrilled there was a pool and even more thrilled that there were water slides (I know, fancy).

 We went to the Lewis and Clark Taverns with some of the other families on Monday.

  It was a lot better than I expected. Derrin and Kloe seemed to really enjoy it, although Kloe was very concerned about the dangers of traipsing through caves with BATS everywhere. She asked our tour guide quite a few questions about her bat concerns, and although was happy to learn that bats can't give you pneumonia (not sure where she heard that), she was less happy to learn that they CAN infect you with rabies if they bite you. But, after seeing several of the little brown bats clinging harmlessly to the walls, she relaxed and had a good time.

 

And now summer is really here. It is beautiful out there for the first time in quite a few days, and we are enjoying the sunshine. Hopefully, the sun decides to stick around for awhile!! The kids are going to hang out with Steph and Aiyana this weekend, and they are super excited about that. And after that... well, just lots of summer stuff. I am sure I will be writing about some of it:)