Attempting to Summit Mt.Naomi

Another thing on my to-do-before-i-leave-logan list was to hike to the top of Mt.Naomi, watch the sunset, then hike back down in the light of a full moon. Last Thursday was a full moon so Joe and I decided to attempt the feat with children. Things did not start out well. Lou had been a monster for the previous 48 hours, but we thought maybe he just needed some fresh mountain air? He didn't, he was still a monster. He normally loves riding in the ergo but about 100 meters from the parking lot we were forced to consider abandoning the dream. We pressed on, Lou eventually cried and fussed himself to sleep. As soon as he closed his eyes I became a hiking machine. I told Joe and Ari I would meet them somewhere up the trail after Lou woke up. I climbed as fast as I could. I made it through the second meadow and part way up the last big hill climb before he woke-up and needed to get out and move around. Isaac walked around collecting pine cones until Ari and Joe arrived. All was well for about 20 minutes, then Lou started falling apart again.

Photo: Lou not enjoying the ride.
Photo: Who wouldn't get mad if they had pine needles stuck in their chicken nugget?

We had to face the fact that we were not going to make it to the top. Besides, it was getting cold... So, why not take some family photos? Lou is screaming and it's cold, perfect timing? I gave Lou a sucker at one point, he cooperated for at least 1.5 minutes. I think the whole series of family photos is worth posting, I laughed as I flipped thought them.

Anyone who's ever tried to take a self portrait can see the dialog here. "Oh nice, I look fat". "Stupid coat". "Oops, didn't make it". "Nice butt K-So". "K-So! honestly". "Aaaa cameras tipping". "We need a new angle". "Yes, that's better". "Think we could get one without Lou screaming now". "Nope". "Let's just go".

Note Naomi peak behind us. So close. Relatively speaking.

We eventually gave up on that and started our decent. All in all it was still fun, Ari did great, he was so happy the whole time. Joe carried him up the steep hills in the pack that is much too small for him now, he also carried him most of the way down because it was so cold. A few more scenes from the hike down.

Was I disappointed we didn't make it? No. I knew I could convince Kim to come with me the following night to try again. Wink Wink.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Kids are Exhausting

Last time I went to the American West Heritage Center I was 33 weeks pregnant; dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced. I was walking around the center when at one point I felt Isaac drop. A lot. I literally hobbled out of there, Isaac was so low I couldn't sit in the car. It was hot and exhausting. But not NEAR as exhausting as when I took the kids last week. We were there from 11 - 4. Five hours of chasing (or carrying) Ari and Isaac all over the place. Up down up down, to the train, to the pirate ship, through the maze, back to the train, lets eat, lets swing, Isaac screaming, Ari's hot, need water, need nap, train, awake, get me down, pick me up, back to the pirate ship, up and down and up and down and up and down the slide, to the trail... Then finally Ari slid down the slide, he sat there for a few seconds, looked at me and said "Let's go, I'm tired". Thank You! I was so worn out, I started thinking that maybe I should have started having kids when I was 18 instead of 28. Olivia and I's 10 mile hike strait up to the top and spring hollow and back didn't even leave me that exhausted. We sure had fun though, had the place to ourselves and it cooled off nicely once the storm started to roll in. We can't wait to go back when "the little narn train" is running. With Dad of course.

Spring Hollow at Last

Guess who came to town? Godaunt Olivia! We (more specifically me) were so excited for her arrival I'm pretty sure I lost sleep. When she got caught in traffic on the way up, it was like Santa getting stuck in a snow storm. Finally she got here. We hiked, we got home late and sadly Ari didn't get to play with her (he really was pretty disappointed). I had selfishly hogged her all to myself, dragging her up mountains instead of allowing her to play trains in Ari's room. What kind of mother am I? Uuumm, I must be one who sits in Ari's room and plays a lot of trains...

Plan A was to kayak the Oneida Narrows, a section of the Bear River I never did while I lived here, an easy little section I want to do before I leave. Olivia was much obliged to join me. Unfortunately, after monitoring the flows it looked like it was going to be too low (dam controlled). Huge bummer, but it worked out fine. We went with Plan B which was to hike to the top of Spring Hollow (I've made several attempts and never made it); also something on my to-do-before-i-move list.

Note: One such attempt at Spring Hollow is documented here, funny how in this post I never mentioned running down the trail with Ari on my back because a few miles up my "intuition" told me to get out of there FAST! I also have a photo of what appears to be fresh mountain lion sign from that hike... It was after that hike I started telling Joe I needed a gun and he bought be bear spray.

Aaaaanyway. I think Olivia summed up the hike better than I could on her blog so I'm going to do a little cutting and pasting. Oh, and the photos, those were courtesy of Olivia's blog as well. Without permission I might ad, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a lawsuit on my hands.

Four dogs, two inseparable friends, and ten miles. What’s not to love?

Lins as you may know, is moving on to bigger and better things. She’s bored with Logan. She’s seen it all. Well, she has now anyway… there was one hike on her list that she’s tried to do several times, and has been turned around for various reasons each time. Saturday was the day. I drove to Logan, she left the kids with Joe, and we hiked Spring Hollow To The Road. We thought it was maybe six miles. It was a few more than that…. and steeper than expected. We’re both entering Middle Age Territory now, so the hills are naturally getting steeper. But the miles, the hills, the labored breathing hardly mattered. I don’t think we ran out of things to talk about for five whole hours (note: this may have been because we were talking slowly, in order to be able to breathe between each word). Have I ever told you how much I love this lady?

Oh how I love a good friend. Can't wait for my next Olivia adventure.

Exploring with a One Year Old

Ari is at such a fun age to take exploring out in the bush. He and I could stay out all day. Me under a tree with a book and him near a stream with a stick. Ari loves to just sit and make believe. I think on this particular outing he was fishing trains out of the stream with his "shooker" thing. Looked like a stick to me but I assure you it was a shooker something or other (the names of his inventions are generally too long for me to remember). See, dosn't he look so content?

Isaac on the other hand is not at a fun age for exploring; unless you want him sitting in the middle of a stream covered in mud, walking though fresh cow poop or eating ants. Here he is pulling Joe all over trying to do everything we asked him not too; and of course getting really mad that Ari can play by the stream and he can't. Usually when we go up the canyon during the day without Joe Ari finds a cool spot to play while I chase Lou around. It's exhausting. I must be desperate for greenery? It also must be hard to be one.

Photos @ Bunchgrass in Logan Canyon

Our Pool of Many Uses

Looking through photos I see a theme. About every week we make a new hut out of the plastic swimming pool. I have photos of a few of these.

Photo 1: This hut took little effort to build. It was a mud skipper house for this cute little mud skipper.

Photo 2: We were out playing one afternoon and a storm started to roll in rather quickly. It got REALLY windy. Instead of running in the house we built a wind shelter. You can see Ari hunkered down keeping the pool from blowing away. I have great video footage of this but it recorded upside down so I will spare you having to hold your computer upside down to view it.

Photo 3: The space shuttle. This one is still in the backyard, but since it's been there for about 5 days now it's about time to build a new one.

We were going through the backyard the other day talking about what we want to sell or get rid of. Joe says "Were not taking the pool right"? Wrong! Ari and I have big plans for a mini Igloo this winter.

Good Tidings

I become obsessive compulsive about hiking this time of year. I can't get enough. Allow Mr. Muir to explain...

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

-John Muir

All About Isaac - One

I have this exact list for just about every year of my life, so far so does Ari and now we can start lists for Lou. I just realized however that I never posted Ari's one year list on my blog. I was going to post a link to it so that you could see just how different they were/are, it's rather comical. Glad that despite their differences they are such good friends.

Age: 1
Weight: 17 lbs 11 oz. (below 5% of avg)
Height: 28 1/3 inches (30% of avg)
Head: 18 inches (40% of avg)

Favorite Subject: Food
Favorite Song: “Despicable Me” by Pharrell
Favorite Albums: Anything we are listening too.
Favorite Videos: Has not yet sat still long enough
Favorite Books: All Jack Tickles’s pop ups, but he can’t be left alone with them or he destroys them within seconds. He has not sat still for many books yet, but he is starting to show interest in some of the touchy feely books. He doesn’t really like you to read them to him, but he likes to turn the pages and pretend he’s reading.
Favorite Person: Usually Mom, although he really likes Ari.
Favorite Game: Destroy Ari’s train track, chase Ari.
Favorite Place: Outside
Hobbies: Rolling off Moms bed and onto his.
Favorite Activities: Eating everything (including rocks, cherry pits and dirt), making messes, playing in dirt, playing outside, rides in the ergo baby carrier, tying to crawl into water, smearing food in his hair, taking books off the book shelf, climbing stuff.
Things That Really Bug Him: When he’s trying to “roomv” a car like Ari and it keeps tipping over. When Mom doesn’t let him crawl into rivers or eat her phone. When he can’t do the big kid things that Ari’s doing.
My Secret Wish: To be big like Ari.
My Best Friends: Ari, Mom, Dad
Favorite Food: Everything, especially tomatoes fresh from the vine.
Favorite Trip: He’s up for anything.
Things He's Not Too Fond Of: People wiping his nose or changing his diaper.
Goals: To be better at walking.
What He Wants to Be When He Grows Up: Professional motocross rider (this is Uncle Pauses prediction).
Current Nickname: Zib, Bib, Bib Toots, Zibber, Lou

First Words (in the order he learned them): “Rarrrr” (like a lion or bear), and we think he kind-of says “Mum” (Mom) and “Dap” (That)

Captain Hootie

Ari's current favorite thrift store find was this pirate sword. Not pictured here is the Zoro mask and cape he had on prior to this photo, pretty sure by the time I took this photo I was wearing the Zoro mask and cape. I called him Captain Arrrrri, but he preferred to be called Captain Hootie? Also note the sweet pirate ship we rigged up in the background. You could actually raise and slower the sail, quite possibly the finest "hut" structure I made all week.

NOW I'm an American

I got called to jury duty. Like everyone else who get's called to jury duty my first thought was "what! i don't have time for this crap!" Then you and about 30 other people show up to the courthouse on your day specified (all grumbling); they show you an early 90's video that makes you feel really guilty about ever feeling disgruntled over jury duty (their not asking you to fight in a war where you would likely die...people have already died for your right to do this...they are just asking for a few days of your time...). You are then led into the court room where they draw 16 names at random to sit in the jury box; they ask you all sorts of questions to determine if you would have any biases in the case. (NOTE: You can at this time get out of jury duty by saying something like "I think Chiropractors are hokey and I don't trust them" when they tell you one of the witnesses will be a Chiropractor. I know because someone tried this and it worked). They dismiss those that are not well suited, then the lawyers take turns crossing off names on a sheet of paper until there are 8 left. I was one of the 8. By the time it got to this point I was actually kind-of excited about the whole thing. Here are a few things I like about jury duty.

1. The constant supply of lifesavers and bottled water.
2. The way everyone is the court room has to stand up with you come in. Like your the Queen of Sheba.
3. The nervous pressure to take in all the facts and to catch the small innuendos.
4. I got to hear things like "I object", "may I approach the witness", "all rise", and all other manner of Law and Order lingo.
5. Sometimes lawyers say things that make you think "do they honestly think I was born yesterday?" When that happens you feel like your brain is still functioning.
6. You can easily pick out the carefully crafted testimony from a spontaneous one.
7. Pretty sure I made about $60 off this whole thing.
8. I got wear a badge that says "JURY" so people knew not to talk to me.
9. We were escorted around by a bailiff, WITH a gun.
10. I loved the way 8 totally random individuals could get along so well.
11. I learned all about the health benefits of cod liver oil, liver, coconut oil and how bad sunscreen is for you. This had nothing to do with the trial...
12...which brings me to this next point. There was quite a bit of down time. I read a lot, chatted a lot and had long lunch breaks.
13. Cell phones were not allowed the courthouse. We actually had to talk to each other for lack of alternative entertainment. Not a single jury member was fixated on their phone!
14. No phone = No one can ask you to do anything. For TWO days.
15. I went to lunch by myself.
16. Learned all sorts of things about the justice system I'd never really thought about.
17. When we were deliberating we all agreed instantly but took an hour and a half making sure, combing over everything like we were FBI agents.
18. For a full 48 hours I knew about something Joe didn't. No matter what form of torture he subjected me to, I would not betray my oath of silence.
19. For a moment, I felt powerful.
20. In Logan they only have 1 case a month that actually gets tried by a jury. This makes me cool.

The thing I didn't like about jury duty is that I had to be a part of a decision that was going to disappoint someone. When the verdict was read I couldn't look at anyone, I was so nervous I almost passed out. Then it was over. And we all went our separate ways. I'm going to wonder about those people the rest of my life... Do you think it's appropriate to invite the Defendant to be my friend on facebook;)?

Disertating Visitors

A portion if my family came to Logan for an extended weekend so that they could be at Joe's defense. It was a wonderful chaos or food, shopping and walks. Strange how lonely it always feels after family leaves. Also strange that it was their last visit to Logan to see us...:(

100% Lou

Just in case I never get around to posting cute photos from Lou's 1 Year Old photo shoot I have to at least post these ones. They made me laugh. It's all Lou. You may have to click on photo 2 and make it bigger to get the fill magnitude of what Lou was trying to tell me about this blasted photo shoot... Love this kid.

Dr. Joe

I remember before Ari was born Joe and I saying "Wow, when your done with School this kids going to be almost 5!" At the time it seemed like an eternity. Then we blinked. And it was over. And no, Ari's not almost 5, Joe finished a year ahead of schedule. The thing about Joe is that when he puts his mind to doing something, be it making his own Native American style running sandals, sewing his own gear, building his own bike, trying to discover lost treasure, marrying me, attempting to find big foot, getting a PhD... he does it.

In his introduction by his professor he shared some noteworthy stats about Joe: While pursuing his degree he taught lecture and lab courses (including honors labs), did lab prep, published 21 papers, and wrote and received 3 grants. What he failed to mention was that he also had 2 children and lived through Ari and I chanting "stay home Dad" in the mornings along with me calling at about 3:00 everyday asking him if maybe he wanted to come home early; which he did do on occasion. I for one am not ready for Joe to be out of school. Joe worked hard, but because of his student like schedule we also got to play hard. It's been so fun.

I'm right proud.

Photo at the top: Joe in the hot seat. Some of you will recognize this scene. Photo 2, Slide 1 of the Defense.

Caves vs Beetle Larva

Over Labor Day weekend Joe and I thought it would be fun to take the kids up to the Paris Ice Caves in Idaho. We had been sick all week, and were still sick, but I really needed/wanted to get out of our germ infested house. Ari had never been in a real cave, nor had he really gotten to use his new headlamp for anything other than reading. I thought Ari would love it; like maybe today was the day he would outgrow his timidness and follow in the adventurous spirit of his mother. I was wrong.

He liked the big open part of the cave, the part with the boardwalk and lots of light; but Joe and I wanted to explore a small somewhat lesser known offshoot. I knew Ari would be apprehensive, he always is when trying something new, and it's dark, so you can't blame the kid. The pool of blood at the mouth of the small opening didn't help put Ari's mind at ease. Someone had literally cracked their head open a few minutes before we got there. I took this as a great opportunity to explain safety procedures, Ari took it as a bad omen. He wined almost the entire time we were in the cave (except for when a bat swooped by our heads, he liked that part); it was scaaaary, it was daaaaark, it was cooooold, it was weeeet, he wanted to go back to the vaaaan... We could hear visitors above us wondering what that small whimpering sound was coming from the cave. We tried our best to make the cave really cool, he wasn't having it, our patience started wearing out so we decided it was time to go. (side note: Isaac loved it).

After leaving the cave we drove down a dirt road until we found the perfect spot to have lunch under a tree near some cattle. Ari found a beetle larvae and laid on the pic-nic sheet for a long time watching it slowly make it's way across the ground. Question after question for his Dad about beetle larva. This was the highlight of the trip for him, he was far more content just sitting in the sun watching this fat little brown thing inch across the dirt than he had been the entire time we were at the caves.

He's his Dads child.

Redneck Horse Swing

This is what happens when you want to get your son a horse swing but they are too expensive and your married to Joe. Bam! Horse swing for $4.

Second Longest Ride Home EVER

I've made the trip home to and from STG to Logan a million times. The only other trip longer than last week was in 2005 when I took some cold medicine in Roy, and by the time I was nearing Fillmore I thought I was a claymation figure from Wallace and Grommet and my car was a hoover craft flying down I-15. I got a hotel in Fillmore.

Fast forward 5 years and to the second longest trip home. Last week.

First of all let me start by saying siblings don't let siblings take cold medicine, even if their spouse assures them it will be "ok". Thursday night in STG my siblings and I had a pool party at my parents house (my parents were out of town, so apparently it was a pretty wild party;). I was coming down with what I thought was a bad case of allergies, so Joe rummaged through my Moms medicine cabinet and brought out what he claims was benadryl. I was desperate to feel better, and since I hadn't taken medicine for a year or so I thought maybe my body had changed, maybe I could take cold medicine? I don't really remember the party after that. Seriously. I don't really even remember anyone leaving.

I remember bits of that night. Isaac woke up about every 20-30 minutes to moan and cry (he was really sick too), I tried to comfort him in my psychotic stopper. Not totally sure what all went on, I woke up with Lou upstairs once, that was weird. Morning came too early. I tried to focus on packing but felt like I slipped in and out of mental consciousness all morning. I was so sick and tired. We somehow managed to get on the road after about 3 hours of packing. Isaac thankfully fell asleep in his car seat before we even pulled out of the driveway, but woke up when we stopped at my brothers (15 minutes later) to drop off the truck Joe had borrowed for the week. I was devastated, I was so tried and needed him to sleep so I could.

The kids were crabby so I was sitting in the back seat in between them. Isaac finally fell asleep again 1/2 way to Cedar. Yea! No. For some reason at that precise moment Ari decided to reach across my face and start poking him. I asked him to stop, his bad behavior persisted. I tried quietly begging and pleading and batting his hand away but he insisted on being a pest. He finally succeeded in waking up Lou, a decision he immediately regretted. I smacked him on the head and yelled "why did you do that, I told you not to touch him", then I stated crying and yelling "can't you see I'm tired and need to go to sleep". I was SOOO tired and drugged I lost control of myself. As soon as I started crying Ari started crying, then Isaac joined in the sob fest, not only was Ari bawling he also started hitting me and frantically yelling "grown-ups don't cry, your not suppose to cry, stop it Mom". I just cried and cried, I tried to shied myself from a temporally insane 3 year old and kept muttering something like "I'm so tired".

Joe pulled the van over, took Ari and his booster seat out of the back and put him up in the passenger seat. I was crying and mumbling something about not putting Ari there because the air bag would cut his head off. Joe assured me it would be ok (I think he felt Ari's life was in greater danger if he left him sitting next to me).

In Fillmore Joe took the kids to the playground at Maverick and I tried to nap in the van. Not sure how long we were there or if I ever fell asleep, but I felt slightly better afterward.

We didn't stop in Brianhead to mountain bike, or in Lehi as planned, I just wanted to go home. The medicine wore off about 24 hours later so I was able to get some sleep that night and felt much better (mentally) the next day when we drove back down to Lehi for Joe's parents farewell.

So now you have all been reminded. Friends don't let me take cold medicine; even if Joe says it's ok.

Welcome Eddie

While in St.G last week I also got to meet my newest nephew. Eddie. I also got to take a few photos. My siblings produce incredibly cute children.

A Bunch of Kids in Cedar City

We've been spending one week each month in St.G. Joe's been going down for work (doing a nocturnal wasp study), so we also use that time to go to our vacation home (aka my parents house). We swim in the pool, stay up late, eat lots of sugar, play with toys and cousins and run around crazy. It's great.

This past visit we took a day and went up to Cedar to see my Grandparents. I snapped a few photos of the kids doing the sorts of things I use to love doing when we would visit as kids. Playing in the tunnel of trees and racing boats down the ditch. Kid heaven.

I was also impressed at how many car seats I was able to cram in the Suburban. After 1/2 hour of hard labor we were all in. Not in the photo, three adults in the front seat.

Look Who Turned ONE!

When Ari turned 1 he didn't want to touch his cake and get all messy. Isaac on the other hand was much obliged. PS You have to click on photo 3 and blow it up, it's incredibly cute.

Lou had a pretty low key B-Day. Ari kept asking when all the people were going to come over, so I felt kind of bad for not planning more of a production. I knew Isaac wouldn't care, but I never thought Ari might have party ideas. Guess I should have consulted him sooner? He did have fun helping me decorate the yard and wrap his present. Pretty sure Ari was just as excited for Lou's BDay as he would have been for his own, he was just slightly mortified by the fact that Isaac was making a mess...