Accidents, Traffic Jams and Snacktime!
The trek from St. George to San Diego took 11 hours, thanks in large part to a couple of amazing traffic jams. Between Primm and Baker we went 15 miles in one hour to pass a semi truck that had fallen off a small ravine.
That wasn't the only accident we saw, either. After dinner at a Jack-in-the-Box somewhere in southern California, we saw what was arguably the worse accident. As near as we could tell, only one car was involved. It had left the freeway, severely bent a chain-link fence and flipped on it's roof. Several emergency vehicles were there. First responders were walking out of the field with a person strapped to a back board. I was very happy that it wasn't a body bag.
Why we got snarled up for another half and hour, we never did find out. Perhaps everyone just slammed on their brakes and slowed to a crawl for fun.
To pass this extraordinarily long day we listened to new, now favorite, album: Snacktime! by the Barenaked Ladies. To say that it is funny is a massive understatement. Some of the songs seemed like they were "written" when the band was goofing off. Some of them, it was obvious, had taken a lot of effort and creativity.
Two of our favorite songs were 7 8 9 and Crazy ABC's. The latter goes like this, "A is for aisle, B is for bdellium, C is for czar and if you see him would you mind telling him." You get the idea. If you have a road trip ahead of you, go get this one. It's sure to be a hit with the kiddies without driving the grown-ups crazy.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Vacation Day 1
It was later than it was supposed to be when we finally hit the road toward San Diego. As the evening turned dusk, I admired the desert scenery of southern Utah.
"Look, Wendell," I said as I gestured out the window. "I'm sure it's just water from sprinklers of some farmer watering his crops, but look at how beautiful that mist is rising above the field against the darkness of the mountains."
"Mmm," Wendell agreed. "It is pretty."
Moments later a pick-up truck rumbled by on a frontage road. In it's wake, the beautiful translucent cloud hung in the air.
"Ahh..." Wendell and I breathed in unison with the awe that one experiences watching fireworks, "duuust...."
"Look, Wendell," I said as I gestured out the window. "I'm sure it's just water from sprinklers of some farmer watering his crops, but look at how beautiful that mist is rising above the field against the darkness of the mountains."
"Mmm," Wendell agreed. "It is pretty."
Moments later a pick-up truck rumbled by on a frontage road. In it's wake, the beautiful translucent cloud hung in the air.
"Ahh..." Wendell and I breathed in unison with the awe that one experiences watching fireworks, "duuust...."
Friday, June 20, 2008
Summer Blogging
Last year, in the summer, I blogged a couple of times in June. Then I stopped and didn't come back until September. I vowed that this year would be different. I guess we won't know until July-August-September-ish.
But don't panic when I don't blog at all for the next week. We're going to San Diego to Sea World, the Wild Animal Park and Legoland. Plus the beach, of course.
We've never taken our kids on a vacation for this long. I'm nervous about it. Thankfully my folks will be meeting us there (we're driving, they're flying) for all the fun stuff.
Wish us luck and low gas prices.
But don't panic when I don't blog at all for the next week. We're going to San Diego to Sea World, the Wild Animal Park and Legoland. Plus the beach, of course.
We've never taken our kids on a vacation for this long. I'm nervous about it. Thankfully my folks will be meeting us there (we're driving, they're flying) for all the fun stuff.
Wish us luck and low gas prices.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Dad
When I was a kid, my father traveled a lot for work. By a lot I mean sometimes he was gone for three weeks out of a month. But when he was home, he was home.
I know when he came home from those trips that he was jet-lagged and worn out. I'm sure that there were a lot of things he might have loved to do to relax. Perhaps he would have watched more football games, become more proficient at golf or even gone hunting. But he didn't. Instead, every Saturday he'd give my mom a slip of paper for her to jot down what she needed done. He called it his "Honey Do" list. When he finished his list, he'd come back and ask her what else he could do.
Dad did all the yucky chores around the house too. He took out the garbage, scrubbed the tub and toilets and mowed the lawn. Then, every night, he sit and rub Mom's feet as they watched the news.
Even those times when Mom fusses at Dad a bit, I think she knows just how lucky she is to have him. I know I was blessed to have him as a Dad. He's a great example of what a good husband should be.
I know when he came home from those trips that he was jet-lagged and worn out. I'm sure that there were a lot of things he might have loved to do to relax. Perhaps he would have watched more football games, become more proficient at golf or even gone hunting. But he didn't. Instead, every Saturday he'd give my mom a slip of paper for her to jot down what she needed done. He called it his "Honey Do" list. When he finished his list, he'd come back and ask her what else he could do.
Dad did all the yucky chores around the house too. He took out the garbage, scrubbed the tub and toilets and mowed the lawn. Then, every night, he sit and rub Mom's feet as they watched the news.
Even those times when Mom fusses at Dad a bit, I think she knows just how lucky she is to have him. I know I was blessed to have him as a Dad. He's a great example of what a good husband should be.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wii
Last fall I made the mistake of saying, "Maybe next summer we should buy a Wii."
"Really?" Wendell wondered. Our PS2 had sat unused for almost a year because I'm so anti video games. (In fact, I'm not even sure that it is a PS2...I just know that it's a Play Station.)
"Sure," I said, "there are so many sports related ones that actually require movement. I mean when Anson came home from the next door neighbors one day, he was drenched in sweat. How cool is that to get a work out and play video games?"
"They're kind of pricey," Wendell pointed out.
"I know. That's why I said next summer...when commissions are good. We'll have to see, but it would be cool to have."
It is technically not even summer yet (June 21 is coming, though) and Wendell has asked me three times over at least as many months to get a Wii. I don't mean to seem hypocritical, but we're just not ready to lay out that kind of cash on a toy. (BTW, we never bought the PS, Wendell won it at a company party.)
First, costs have gone up notably since last fall. Food is taking a larger portion of our budget. Period. Gas costs more and we have more kids including 2 in diapers.
Second, the winter was harder than I thought. Winter is not a fantastic time to sell cars. Commissions are always down. But this was Wendell's first year as finance manager and so there was no precedent, I didn't know how far the commissions would fall. Frankly, they fell farther than I thought. We tightened our belts and strategically used savings to get us through. By the time commissions picked up again, we had only a couple hundred dollars separating us from using money we set aside for a summer vacation, just to get by.
Having been through this winter, I now have a better feel of what to expect next year, but I need a lot more in liquid savings to keep us at a more even keel through the year.
Third, I had no idea last fall that we would be spending in excess of $2500 on dental procedures this spring and summer. Wendell just had a root canal and crown that I still have $700 to pay off. However, I also need some periodontal work done that will cost around $900.
There are also other things I put off doing this winter and spring that now need desperately to be done. Our cat, for example should have got his shots in March. I'd love to have him completely declawed so he doesn't snag our clothes. My piano needs tuning and I need carpets cleaned in the basement rooms we're moving the older kids into.
All of this takes priority over a Wii, regardless of the deal. I just don't think we're going to get all of that taken care of and have money lying around for a Wii.
So, what do you think? Am I being a responsible grown up or a stingy crumdgeon?
"Really?" Wendell wondered. Our PS2 had sat unused for almost a year because I'm so anti video games. (In fact, I'm not even sure that it is a PS2...I just know that it's a Play Station.)
"Sure," I said, "there are so many sports related ones that actually require movement. I mean when Anson came home from the next door neighbors one day, he was drenched in sweat. How cool is that to get a work out and play video games?"
"They're kind of pricey," Wendell pointed out.
"I know. That's why I said next summer...when commissions are good. We'll have to see, but it would be cool to have."
It is technically not even summer yet (June 21 is coming, though) and Wendell has asked me three times over at least as many months to get a Wii. I don't mean to seem hypocritical, but we're just not ready to lay out that kind of cash on a toy. (BTW, we never bought the PS, Wendell won it at a company party.)
First, costs have gone up notably since last fall. Food is taking a larger portion of our budget. Period. Gas costs more and we have more kids including 2 in diapers.
Second, the winter was harder than I thought. Winter is not a fantastic time to sell cars. Commissions are always down. But this was Wendell's first year as finance manager and so there was no precedent, I didn't know how far the commissions would fall. Frankly, they fell farther than I thought. We tightened our belts and strategically used savings to get us through. By the time commissions picked up again, we had only a couple hundred dollars separating us from using money we set aside for a summer vacation, just to get by.
Having been through this winter, I now have a better feel of what to expect next year, but I need a lot more in liquid savings to keep us at a more even keel through the year.
Third, I had no idea last fall that we would be spending in excess of $2500 on dental procedures this spring and summer. Wendell just had a root canal and crown that I still have $700 to pay off. However, I also need some periodontal work done that will cost around $900.
There are also other things I put off doing this winter and spring that now need desperately to be done. Our cat, for example should have got his shots in March. I'd love to have him completely declawed so he doesn't snag our clothes. My piano needs tuning and I need carpets cleaned in the basement rooms we're moving the older kids into.
All of this takes priority over a Wii, regardless of the deal. I just don't think we're going to get all of that taken care of and have money lying around for a Wii.
So, what do you think? Am I being a responsible grown up or a stingy crumdgeon?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
11 Squared
Today, June 11th, is my 11th wedding anniversary. Wendell's working late shift today, so we went to breakfast instead of dinner. As we sat, we mused over the past 11 years. We joked how the restaurant where we got engaged is now a law office. Our first apartment is now a parking lot and our second apartment was transformed from student family housing to single housing despite the miniature playgrounds that dot the grounds surrounding the complex.
"If you could go back, not know what you know today, would you want to?" I asked Wendell. I already knew my answer. He paused and thought, longer than I expected.
"No," he finally responded. "I wouldn't want to."
"Me either." I feel almost as strongly about not wanting to relive my 20's as I do about not wanting to relive my teens. Those were tough times. I'm so much more sure of myself now.
As we drove away after breakfast, I joked, "Here's to five good years."
Either Wendell is going deaf or he just chose to ignore me. But I have to admit, those first 6 years were...brutal. Sometimes it amazes me that we made it through. We had so many challenges so early in our marriage, but perhaps everyone does.
At one point, I was done. Done. When I daydreamed, I would look up divorce attorneys and try to image my life without Wendell. But the picture wasn't much prettier.
I'm a natural worrier and I would often sit and picture emergency scenarios and what I would do. One scenario I played over and over in my head was Emma, then a toddler, running out into the road. A car was coming. I had just enough time to rush into the road and push Emma to safety, but my life would be lost in the process. There was never any hesitation, in my head, about giving up my life to save my child.
Then it struck me one day, if I was willing to die for my child then could I also be willing to live? Even if it meant sticking through what I felt like was a loveless marriage? It was the ultimate sacrifice: living. I could stick it out, I thought until the youngest graduated from high school, then I could be free.
So we pressed forward and a weird thing happened. I fell in love with my husband all over again. When I was no longer looking for how everything was going wrong, I started noticing where it was going right. Our communication improved (thanks in part to marriage therapy) and we were working together as a team.
My love for Wendell became more intense and important. Not in the infatuated way when we dated, but in a meaningful way. Today I love Wendell infinitely more than when we married. He is my rock and my confidant. I can be goofy and corny and sick and stupid and he still loves me. And vice versa. It's just how a marriage should be and I look forward to an eternity of growing together.
"If you could go back, not know what you know today, would you want to?" I asked Wendell. I already knew my answer. He paused and thought, longer than I expected.
"No," he finally responded. "I wouldn't want to."
"Me either." I feel almost as strongly about not wanting to relive my 20's as I do about not wanting to relive my teens. Those were tough times. I'm so much more sure of myself now.
As we drove away after breakfast, I joked, "Here's to five good years."
Either Wendell is going deaf or he just chose to ignore me. But I have to admit, those first 6 years were...brutal. Sometimes it amazes me that we made it through. We had so many challenges so early in our marriage, but perhaps everyone does.
At one point, I was done. Done. When I daydreamed, I would look up divorce attorneys and try to image my life without Wendell. But the picture wasn't much prettier.
I'm a natural worrier and I would often sit and picture emergency scenarios and what I would do. One scenario I played over and over in my head was Emma, then a toddler, running out into the road. A car was coming. I had just enough time to rush into the road and push Emma to safety, but my life would be lost in the process. There was never any hesitation, in my head, about giving up my life to save my child.
Then it struck me one day, if I was willing to die for my child then could I also be willing to live? Even if it meant sticking through what I felt like was a loveless marriage? It was the ultimate sacrifice: living. I could stick it out, I thought until the youngest graduated from high school, then I could be free.
So we pressed forward and a weird thing happened. I fell in love with my husband all over again. When I was no longer looking for how everything was going wrong, I started noticing where it was going right. Our communication improved (thanks in part to marriage therapy) and we were working together as a team.
My love for Wendell became more intense and important. Not in the infatuated way when we dated, but in a meaningful way. Today I love Wendell infinitely more than when we married. He is my rock and my confidant. I can be goofy and corny and sick and stupid and he still loves me. And vice versa. It's just how a marriage should be and I look forward to an eternity of growing together.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Girls Day
So Nancy and I finally met up for a girls only play date. We made appointments at the Clinique counter at Dillards and got our make up done. Don't we look cute?
Nancy
Me
After we had our new cute looks (these pictures don't do us justice in the yellow store lights...we looked awesome), we did some shopping. I had bought a skirt recently that I loved, but owned nothing that matched or coordinated with it. At Dillards we found a great top to go with my skirt, which I promptly wore on Sunday.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Good News
Beck gained! He was 14 lbs 9 oz or thereabouts. Even though he fell in % from 8 to 6.25, the doc isn't worried. Whew! Now, back to my regularly scheduled weight loss...I hope. :)
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Dear Emma
My darling 9-year-old Emma,
I love you. You are such a help and a joy to me. I love how you help me with Annika, even though it's not always fun. I appreciate how patient you are with her as you teach her to unload the silverware or play with her outside, so I can feed Beck without Annika tearing the house apart.
You are such a wonderful help with the boys, too. I love how you organize fun games and activities. They look up to you and I'm so proud that you are such a good example.
You are a hard worker and I really admire that. I had to work hard in school and on the piano, too. These things didn't always come easy to me, but what mattered was not how easy it was, but how hard I worked. I think you and I are alike that way. I love how you are so respectful of your teachers both at school and at church.
I love your laugh. Every time I hear it, it makes me smile and I want to laugh, too.
I love that you are my oldest girl. You and I have a special bond because of that. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when He sent to our family first.
This is going to be a great summer. I'm looking forward to all the fun we will have together learning, playing, vacationing, and relaxing.
Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for being close to Heavenly Father, for being spiritual and being someone that your younger brothers and sister can follow and I know they will choose the right.
I love you just the way you are. You aren't perfect; neither am I. It is good that we love each other anyway. Never forget that I love you just the way you are.
Love,
Mom
I love you. You are such a help and a joy to me. I love how you help me with Annika, even though it's not always fun. I appreciate how patient you are with her as you teach her to unload the silverware or play with her outside, so I can feed Beck without Annika tearing the house apart.
You are such a wonderful help with the boys, too. I love how you organize fun games and activities. They look up to you and I'm so proud that you are such a good example.
You are a hard worker and I really admire that. I had to work hard in school and on the piano, too. These things didn't always come easy to me, but what mattered was not how easy it was, but how hard I worked. I think you and I are alike that way. I love how you are so respectful of your teachers both at school and at church.
I love your laugh. Every time I hear it, it makes me smile and I want to laugh, too.
I love that you are my oldest girl. You and I have a special bond because of that. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when He sent to our family first.
This is going to be a great summer. I'm looking forward to all the fun we will have together learning, playing, vacationing, and relaxing.
Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for being close to Heavenly Father, for being spiritual and being someone that your younger brothers and sister can follow and I know they will choose the right.
I love you just the way you are. You aren't perfect; neither am I. It is good that we love each other anyway. Never forget that I love you just the way you are.
Love,
Mom
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