Camping...

We went camping. The honest use-matches, tin-foil dinner, bumpy ground tent camping reminiscent of YW camps of old. Yup, that would be us. I figure it is a great way for us to see this great state that we live in. And it is! This campground was GORGEOUS, right on the beach. We were blessed with no rain.....a few sprinkles (Oregon kisses really) on Saturday morning and that's it. We arranged the tarps overhead and underhead (Thanks Lavinia!) and thanks to my ingenious inclusion of rope in the supplies (plus the "Bacon-saving twine" Kent found left behind on a tree over yonder) we had ourselves a splendid 'ole set up. It was the kids first time tent camping. (ya,ya I know!) It is so much fun to just lay together and fall asleep and laugh absurdly at nothing and everything. We played Guess Who approx. 35 times. Bella spontaneously bore her little testimony around the fire about how Heavenly Father loves her and everyone. I love my family! I am so grateful to have these memories. Bella's favorite was the fire; Harry's was peeing outside (as usual).

I was feeling pretty good/well prepared after night #1. I mean yes, I forgot a tablecloth, but come on..... where's the "rough" in "roughin' it" if you don't forget a thing or two, right? Anyway, I am feeling pretty good AND THEN, "George Jetson" backed in next door and with the "beep,beep, beep" of his lifted 2015 cherry-red-Chevy-truck his entire campsite burst to life. No joke! They backed in. We said Hi as we walked to the playground. Came back a short 15 minutes later and VOILA! Their entire Hilton version camp site was in full swing boasting a hearty fire, meal half way prepared, tent set up, firewood chopped and propane tiffany lantern(which attaches to the propane stove) lit up lovingly, while the golden retriever dozed in the warmth and they played cards! People like this shouldn't camp in public areas, it makes people like me glare unwillingly.

Quote of the evening: After I put out the fire for the 15th time trying to get the tin-foil dinners done, our neighbors went for a walk. And Kent said "I'm glad our neighbors didn't see you do that, otherwise I would be really embarrassed." For the record, my fire came back and kicked everyones butt, and mine did it "al naturale" w/o gas! Take that George!

So list of things to get for my 72 hour kit/camping kit:

41 tarps

firewood

bowls

marshmallow roasters

tablecloth

ax
duck tape

....and one of those buttons that the George Jetson people used to acheive their perfection. Anyone know where I can get one of those?

P.S. After perusal of this blog, lest people think me shallow, I would like to say that the people to the other side of us were also excellent and admirable campers (and climbers and hikers and students and...etc. from Canada) however I felt no grudges toward their fondue night...none. It was just that one neighbor with the truck. 'Nuf said...

Zoo...

I was as astonished as the next person when my husband woke up before me a couple of Saturday's ago ready and rearing to be at the Zoo on the day they started their summer hours. He wanted to be there at 8:00a .m. We made it by 9:00....close enough. Riding the horses. I love this principle. "Here-ride this-and -leave-the real-animals alone." I tried applying the same tactic to tea sets and somehow they still always want to play with the real thing. Go-figure.

Um, disclaimer, my baby girl has dressed herself since she was 2 years old. No amount of coaxing, begging, pleading, persuading, bargaining and out-right bribery will make her change her choice of fashion. Some things are worth it and this battle just isn't worth it to me. (Sigh), oh well, I adore her.....just....what's the word.....Sense of Selfness. She is just her and I never want to change it. But the above is a representation of said stubbornness. How cute is my little fashion-ista?!!

Driving the tractor at the zoo. How cute is he?!!

Daddy took (and loves) this picture. It was while she was watching the Walruses (or whatever they are ) underground.

The preceding was also a pictorial representation of the only sunny day we had in months. It was here and gone.....a beautiful,warm, dry 48 hours that took place about 2 weeks ago. Just wanted to capture it for ya.

Tracks....

Harry running on the path at our house.

A couple of fun things we did the past couple days:

A walk to the railroad. Just around the corner from our abode is a railroad. (hey, that rhymes.) Anyway, it's close enough that the kids can walk with us w/o a stroller. And they have so much fun.

Clues. Another new game involves an old magnifying glass (best 50 cents ever!) and the kids going around outside looking for "clues" or "tracks". It could be a hole in an otherwise perfect leaf ("how did it get there?") or a track in the mud ("are racoons my pet?") or a really pretty flower ("mom, why do skunks stink?")Now, I am not sure exactly what these objects are pointing toward, what they are clues of. But oh well! We had a great time and it can occupy their tender, sweet, beautiful minds for quite a long time. In fact, when Harry's preschool was at our house this week, this was the activity of choice, lasting for about 35 minutes. (Can you believe that?!) It was really fun to watch them all work together. Not one kid was left out or unengaged. Now that is amazing!

Saturday Snakes...

Ladies and gentlemen, there is a rite-of-passage that I feel a pressing need to share. I have officially shrieked my first shriek upon being introduced to my little girl's pet snake that she caught in the garden, whose name is Sasha. Now if that isn't a rite-of-passage I don't know what is.

Friday morning, I was blissfully unaware of all creepy crawly creatures residing in our small corner of the world. Now I am on entirely too intimate of terms with this snake who slept in the garage. Bella wanted her on the bed with her. I won that battle, by darn. The same snake was also up on it's hind......tail thing with his head (Bella says it's a boy) touching the lid looking at me as I made my sleepy way out to the garage to collect a couple of things for breakfast making. I made Kent get out of bed, to tame the wild thing "IT IS STARING AT ME!" For all of you brave things, with no issues with reptiles, I would like to state for the record that I have the same problem with anything that has beady eyes and maintains uncomfortably lengthy eye contact. Just wanted to put that out there.

In the end, the snake was released out into the wild to regain it's composure and eat. The kids have caught two a day since then. Bless their hearts.......

See it's huge!!

All in all a good Saturday. Next time we will try to go snake-less for a complete breath of fresh air.

Happy Mother's Day....

"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this." -Neal A. Maxwell

"Before you were conceived...I wanted you. Before you were born.....I loved you. Before you were here an hour, I would die for you. This is the miracle of life." - Maureen Hawkins

I am so grateful to be a mother! I have learned more about my Heavenly Father and my relationship to Him, and also about my loving Savior, through being a mother then I think I could have learned any other way. It is the most humbling, demanding, rewarding, hardest job in the world but the greatest job ever! Having your heart walk around outside your body is often, well, 'heart-wrenching'.

Happy Mother's day to all out there! A day of rejoicing for the sacred calling of "mom"!

Love,

Me