This weekend saw us trekking up to sunny Capitol Reef National Park for a Yssel/Rogers family reunion (the Dutch contingent of Dan's family). Unfortunately, my computer is telling me that it can't detect my camera, so you'll have to wait on pictures until I can figure that out. In the meantime, you'll have to use your imagination.
We got up there just in time for dinner on Friday evening. Bubby and Poppy had kindly set our tents up for us--in the farthest corner of the campground, so we could put our kids to bed early without being disturbed by the other campers. This turned out to be a mixed blessing, as it also meant that we were also the farthest ones from the bathroom (a long, dark trek in the middle of the night).
We had a yummy dinner of taco salad and quesadillas, then the kids ran rampant for a while as parents set up tents and other sleeping accommodations (Jon's family slept on a mattress in the back of their van). Our kids got to bed later than usual--and were still the first ones in bed (by quite a long shot). I was feeling like an unfair mommy while I watched the other children run around with glow sticks--that is, until I saw how tired my kids were the next day and I was just glad they weren't any tireder. They were, of course, the first ones up the next morning, so we took them on a little walk until canyon light started spilling onto the campground and we deemed it safe to return.
We were on breakfast duty with Sarah: breakfast burritos with homemade salsa (courtesy of Dan and Bubby's garden), fruit, go-gurts (we still have a LOT of leftover go-gurts), etc. I meant to help more with breakfast than I actually did--somehow I volunteered to hold Maggie for a little while (she wasn't feeling well and so was more quiescent than usual) and she fell asleep on me, so I missed out on some of the set-up and clean up. (Sorry Sarah!)
The big activity of the day was a Poppy-guided hike to a waterfall (part of the Goosenecks trail). Of course, with nearly fifty people in our group, it took a long time to get everyone together, but we finally succeeded and embarked on our hike. The hike itself was pretty flat--but it also crossed the Fremont River (I think that's the one) several times. Poppy had warned us beforehand to wear shoes that could get wet, luckily. The kids were in heaven: even Evelyn was interested enough in walking in the water that she didn't once ask to be carried. On the way up, anyway. On the way back, I noticed that most of the kids avoided the water for the trail when possible. Evelyn wanted to be carried, and was tired enough at that point that she nearly fell asleep in my arms.
Our particular destination was a little waterfall--it was low enough that several of the braver souls (dads and older children, and some of the littler children--no moms, funnily enough!) actually slid down the waterfall into the pool below. The rest of the kids just enjoyed splashing, getting muddy, and building sand castles.
When we got back to camp, we had lunch and then lazed around until dinner time. I think there may have been a frisbee golf game involved, too, but I have to confess I wasn't paying enough attention. After dinner, I took a couple of the scout-aged boys (including Jake), Andrew, Katie, and Julie (another of the moms) on what was supposed to be a bird-walk for the birding merit badge (I am now an officially certified merit-badge counselor).
Here's what we saw: one bird (a robin), three or four bats, and five deer (including a doe and *three* fawns). Not much of a bird-walk, but the area near the campground was curiously devoid of birds, even at dusk, which should have been prime birding time. It started to get dark, and Andrew started to freak out, so we opted to cut across a nearby horse pasture instead of retracing our steps back to camp. I'm getting too old to clamber through wooden fences.
This morning we packed up camp and said lots of good-byes and returned back to our real lives. Tomorrow, a mountain of dirty laundry awaits me (and this doesn't include the two pair of socks I threw away--one Andrew's, one Evelyn's--as being impossible to salvage. That red-rock dirt doesn't come out of clothing easily). But for today, we're tired, but happy.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Homecoming
The biggest event(s) of the week were associated with the University Homecoming Celebrations. Friday was the opening of the new science building, and since Poppy (as Dean of the College of Sciences) was instrumental in the design and execution--and was conducting the ceremonies--we went. Dan spent most of his free time this past week trying to get things ready for the opening ceremony.
They had a much larger crowd than anticipated--probably because they advertised a drawing for an iPad (for students only). Poppy did a great job conducting, and if a few of the speakers didn't do as good a job keeping their remarks short (Jake said afterward that the prayer was one of the longest he'd ever heard), most of the program went smoothly. The best parts were the flash mob (Poppy even danced for it a little bit) and the ribbon cutting. This was Dan's job--figuring out a flashy way to "cut" the ribbon without scissors. They came up with a method that involved treating cotton with some sort of chemical compound that ignited when water hit it. Dan ran several tests on the cotton before fine-tuning it to his satisfaction.
The only problem, though, is that it was sprinkling just before they were supposed to do the ribbon cutting. Since it was designed to ignite with water, this posed something of a problem. Dan and the other chemistry faculty member (Ty Redd) held the banner closed until just before the cutting so that it wouldn't accidentally light on fire. In any case, it worked perfectly--and Dan, Poppy, and J. Ty ended up with their pictures on the front page of the local paper.
Poppy was out late that night with various homecoming activities--the rest of us had dinner at the Pizza Factory and then the kids (including Sarah's kids, who came down for the festivities) played at our house while Bubby and Sarah got a quick tour of the new building, with Dan acting as tour guide.
Saturday was more hanging out with cousins and getting ready for the Homecoming parade. Dan went up the canyon with the Elder's Quorum to cut wood that morning, but the rest of us spent the morning at Bubby and Poppy's. That afternoon, Dan and the kids lined up with Poppy for the parade while Sarah, Bubby and I found a good vantage point to watch the parade.
I discovered that it's hard to take good pictures of moving targets. All the local grandkids (except Maggi) got to hand out candy with Poppy. I'm not sure what it was out their relatively simple "float" (a red wheelbarrow with a pendant) that so appealed to the parade judges--maybe it was the matching cheerleader outfits the girls wore--but they wound up with 3rd place.
Andrew really got into it. Even when he reached us (about 2/3 of the way through the parade route), he was still bouncing too and from the wheelbarrow throwing candy. I think he even got resigned to not getting his own candy (sort of).
This picture cracks me up--it's hard to see, but if you look in front of the white car, you can see Lydia running for all she's worth to catch up with the rest of the group.
This was Evelyn this morning (pre hair-combing) with the latest in hand and footwear.
There's not much to say about the rest of the week. I met with a maternal specialist on Monday who ran through a list of possibilities as to why we might be miscarrying. Now I have some tests to take and we'll see what happens. I do know, now, that I don't have lupus. That's good, right? (It was actually a little funny. I didn't think, when the doctor ordered the test, that it was much of a possibility or worry--until I talked to my mom and found out that my aunt has lupus, and they think my grandmother might have had it . . . It's funny how medical history has a way of coming out of the closet at unexpected times).
Evelyn gave me her cold at the beginning of the week, so the middle of the week is still a bit blurry for me. At least the weekend more than compensated for a somewhat miserable mid-week!
They had a much larger crowd than anticipated--probably because they advertised a drawing for an iPad (for students only). Poppy did a great job conducting, and if a few of the speakers didn't do as good a job keeping their remarks short (Jake said afterward that the prayer was one of the longest he'd ever heard), most of the program went smoothly. The best parts were the flash mob (Poppy even danced for it a little bit) and the ribbon cutting. This was Dan's job--figuring out a flashy way to "cut" the ribbon without scissors. They came up with a method that involved treating cotton with some sort of chemical compound that ignited when water hit it. Dan ran several tests on the cotton before fine-tuning it to his satisfaction.
The only problem, though, is that it was sprinkling just before they were supposed to do the ribbon cutting. Since it was designed to ignite with water, this posed something of a problem. Dan and the other chemistry faculty member (Ty Redd) held the banner closed until just before the cutting so that it wouldn't accidentally light on fire. In any case, it worked perfectly--and Dan, Poppy, and J. Ty ended up with their pictures on the front page of the local paper.
Poppy was out late that night with various homecoming activities--the rest of us had dinner at the Pizza Factory and then the kids (including Sarah's kids, who came down for the festivities) played at our house while Bubby and Sarah got a quick tour of the new building, with Dan acting as tour guide.
Saturday was more hanging out with cousins and getting ready for the Homecoming parade. Dan went up the canyon with the Elder's Quorum to cut wood that morning, but the rest of us spent the morning at Bubby and Poppy's. That afternoon, Dan and the kids lined up with Poppy for the parade while Sarah, Bubby and I found a good vantage point to watch the parade.
I discovered that it's hard to take good pictures of moving targets. All the local grandkids (except Maggi) got to hand out candy with Poppy. I'm not sure what it was out their relatively simple "float" (a red wheelbarrow with a pendant) that so appealed to the parade judges--maybe it was the matching cheerleader outfits the girls wore--but they wound up with 3rd place.
Andrew really got into it. Even when he reached us (about 2/3 of the way through the parade route), he was still bouncing too and from the wheelbarrow throwing candy. I think he even got resigned to not getting his own candy (sort of).
This picture cracks me up--it's hard to see, but if you look in front of the white car, you can see Lydia running for all she's worth to catch up with the rest of the group.
This was Evelyn this morning (pre hair-combing) with the latest in hand and footwear.
There's not much to say about the rest of the week. I met with a maternal specialist on Monday who ran through a list of possibilities as to why we might be miscarrying. Now I have some tests to take and we'll see what happens. I do know, now, that I don't have lupus. That's good, right? (It was actually a little funny. I didn't think, when the doctor ordered the test, that it was much of a possibility or worry--until I talked to my mom and found out that my aunt has lupus, and they think my grandmother might have had it . . . It's funny how medical history has a way of coming out of the closet at unexpected times).
Evelyn gave me her cold at the beginning of the week, so the middle of the week is still a bit blurry for me. At least the weekend more than compensated for a somewhat miserable mid-week!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
On Parenting
(I should be grading now but I'm having a severe procrastination attack).
Evelyn said something the other day that I want to make sure we remember.
Tuesday, we were walking together to campus where Dan was going to watch her while I taught class. (She was sick or I would have asked one of the neighbors, since Bubby had a conflict that day). I was carrying her for a little while because we were running late and she's not exactly the fastest walker (short legs don't help).
She put her arms around my neck and said, "You need to carry me until I know the way."
I know what she meant: she wanted me to carry her until she recognized the way to go. But the spiritual implications of what she said hit me so hard that I almost stopped walking. This is what parents do, isn't it? We carry our children--we protect them, teach them, help them make decisions until they're old enough to make their own--until they know their own way.
Evelyn said something the other day that I want to make sure we remember.
Tuesday, we were walking together to campus where Dan was going to watch her while I taught class. (She was sick or I would have asked one of the neighbors, since Bubby had a conflict that day). I was carrying her for a little while because we were running late and she's not exactly the fastest walker (short legs don't help).
She put her arms around my neck and said, "You need to carry me until I know the way."
I know what she meant: she wanted me to carry her until she recognized the way to go. But the spiritual implications of what she said hit me so hard that I almost stopped walking. This is what parents do, isn't it? We carry our children--we protect them, teach them, help them make decisions until they're old enough to make their own--until they know their own way.
Correcting the Teacher
So, Andrew and I got to kindergarten a little early today, so I asked the teacher how he was doing. She told me that previously, she sat down to read with Andrew, to see what his reading level was. They stopped when Andrew got tired, not when he hit his limit (she thinks he may be higher), at level G (For context, by the end of Kindergarten, the teachers want students at level B. By the end of first grade, they should be at level I. The letters go in alphabetical order). Then she asked Andrew some questions to assess comprehension. Andrew got one of the questions wrong, so she wrote underneath the question, "didn't know." Andrew read her note and protested, "I do too know it" and then proceeded to explain the answer. Then he said, "Aren't you going to erase that I don't know the answer now?"
Funny kid. I think his teacher is a little unsure what to do with him for reading, but she said he seems to enjoy everything, so we won't worry about it until he gets obviously bored.
Funny kid. I think his teacher is a little unsure what to do with him for reading, but she said he seems to enjoy everything, so we won't worry about it until he gets obviously bored.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Because I don't want to grade papers
I'm going to paste this picture that Holly Tippetts (a member of my parents ward and a much loved biology teacher at the junior high school) took at the recent Grandview Celebration that the kids and I went to over labor day weekend.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9.11.11
Given what day today is, I feel like I ought to post just a little about 9/11. I remember, of course, where I was when I found out what was happening. I had just started grad school at Penn State; I was in the cubicles and another instructor came in to tell me what had happened. It sounded so unbelievable at first. I also remember feeling strange because for me the event was a national tragedy, but for so many of my classmates (many of them from the northeast) the tragedy was also personal. I had never been to NYC and had no personal connections to the city. Still, like everyone else, I mourned for what had happened. And so I want to take this moment to commemorate the 10 year anniversary. (Commemorate=remember with).
This isn't a very articulate response. There are much better responses. Like here. Or here.
***
I promised pictures about preschool and Kindergarten. Here they are. Andrew started Kindergarten on Tuesday, August 30. Evelyn started preschool on Monday, the 29th. (Kindergarten started late because of all the registration/assessment stuff beforehand). Andrew's teacher is Ms. Ekker. Evelyn's teacher is a Mrs. Greenhalgh. Andrew's favorite things about kindergarten (so far) are recess, snacks, and art time. (Good thing he could go to school to enjoy things we also do at home!).
The main highlight of our week was a brief visit from my mom. She came down on Wednesday and we went to see The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn. It was my first time there. We also took Evelyn, who was mesmerized by the performances but broke down when the play was over (no big surprise there, since she was 4 hours past bedtime at that point). The play was amazing, though. Some clever costuming and great special effects (Including a waterfall on stage on which they broadcast images) added to the undersea effect of the story.
While my mom was here, she helped me can some of the peaches from our backyard. Last year, late frosts killed off most of the fruit on our trees. This year, we were pleased with a booming crop of peaches and plums. (And there are still a few more peaches on the tree).
I was especially pleased with the plum jam, since I managed to do it all by myself and unlike my previous two attempts at making jam, the jam actually set and the sugar stayed dissolved. (I made this a couple of weeks ago, but am just now posting pictures of it).
Other than that, this week has been busy as Dan and I have been trying to catch up from being out of town this last weekend. We hope all our readers are well.
This isn't a very articulate response. There are much better responses. Like here. Or here.
***
I promised pictures about preschool and Kindergarten. Here they are. Andrew started Kindergarten on Tuesday, August 30. Evelyn started preschool on Monday, the 29th. (Kindergarten started late because of all the registration/assessment stuff beforehand). Andrew's teacher is Ms. Ekker. Evelyn's teacher is a Mrs. Greenhalgh. Andrew's favorite things about kindergarten (so far) are recess, snacks, and art time. (Good thing he could go to school to enjoy things we also do at home!).
The main highlight of our week was a brief visit from my mom. She came down on Wednesday and we went to see The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn. It was my first time there. We also took Evelyn, who was mesmerized by the performances but broke down when the play was over (no big surprise there, since she was 4 hours past bedtime at that point). The play was amazing, though. Some clever costuming and great special effects (Including a waterfall on stage on which they broadcast images) added to the undersea effect of the story.While my mom was here, she helped me can some of the peaches from our backyard. Last year, late frosts killed off most of the fruit on our trees. This year, we were pleased with a booming crop of peaches and plums. (And there are still a few more peaches on the tree).
I was especially pleased with the plum jam, since I managed to do it all by myself and unlike my previous two attempts at making jam, the jam actually set and the sugar stayed dissolved. (I made this a couple of weeks ago, but am just now posting pictures of it).
Other than that, this week has been busy as Dan and I have been trying to catch up from being out of town this last weekend. We hope all our readers are well.
Monday, September 05, 2011
We're late this week
For good reason. We were out of town for the weekend. Dan intrepidly led (well, helped lead) a group of students on a geology field trip down to California (including Death Valley and Yosemite). Since Dan was gone, I took the kids up to see my family, where we witnessed Jacob's baptism (the first baptism on our side. Enoch announced, after Jacob emerged from the water, "Jacob was baptimatized!" Then, "that was short"). We hung out at the Tolleys home for a while after that, then back to my parents where Evelyn took a much-needed nap. After she woke up, I took the kids to a Grandview Hill celebration. I was grateful for the free food, which meant I didn't have to prepare dinner. Andrew was mostly interested in seeing how many cheap prizes he could score. Evelyn was just happy to be there. I think we all had fun.
Sunday we went to visit Sarah and her gang. (I love having so many cousins around). And this morning, my mom and I went shopping (shocking, I know), then the kids played with Jacob, Emi, and Enoch one last time before we drove home to a happy reunion with their dad. The one good thing about brief separations like this is that it really gives you a chance to remember why you like each other! I kept thinking that having Dan gone was sort of like missing a finger--it doesn't keep you from working and moving on with life, but every time you think about it, it hurts.
As for the rest of our week--well, Andrew started kindergarten (pictures to come next time, since I'm too lazy to go find the camera in my suitcase) and Evelyn started preschool. I think Andrew likes kindergarten, although after the first day he asked if he had to go back the next day.
Last week was also a crazy soccer week, with two games in one week. The first game didn't go so well (and we had a vivid demonstration of Andrew's hyper-competitiveness). His team lost, and Andrew cried. The other parents were all solicitous, asking if he'd been hurt, was he okay, and we had to say, "he's fine. He's just upset that he lost." The only good thing about this is that Andrew is getting opportunities to learn how to deal with his competitiveness before he's old enough that it really matters. In another year or two, crying because his team loses will definitely NOT be acceptable (not that it is now, but at least he won't get made fun of for crying). Any other parents out there have good tips on helping competitive children learn to accept losing? The second game, Andrew scored a goal and his team won, so of course he was much happier.
And there you have it. Our late post. Hope everyone out there had a lovely labor day weekend!
Sunday we went to visit Sarah and her gang. (I love having so many cousins around). And this morning, my mom and I went shopping (shocking, I know), then the kids played with Jacob, Emi, and Enoch one last time before we drove home to a happy reunion with their dad. The one good thing about brief separations like this is that it really gives you a chance to remember why you like each other! I kept thinking that having Dan gone was sort of like missing a finger--it doesn't keep you from working and moving on with life, but every time you think about it, it hurts.
As for the rest of our week--well, Andrew started kindergarten (pictures to come next time, since I'm too lazy to go find the camera in my suitcase) and Evelyn started preschool. I think Andrew likes kindergarten, although after the first day he asked if he had to go back the next day.
Last week was also a crazy soccer week, with two games in one week. The first game didn't go so well (and we had a vivid demonstration of Andrew's hyper-competitiveness). His team lost, and Andrew cried. The other parents were all solicitous, asking if he'd been hurt, was he okay, and we had to say, "he's fine. He's just upset that he lost." The only good thing about this is that Andrew is getting opportunities to learn how to deal with his competitiveness before he's old enough that it really matters. In another year or two, crying because his team loses will definitely NOT be acceptable (not that it is now, but at least he won't get made fun of for crying). Any other parents out there have good tips on helping competitive children learn to accept losing? The second game, Andrew scored a goal and his team won, so of course he was much happier.
And there you have it. Our late post. Hope everyone out there had a lovely labor day weekend!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)