Might as well do something while I'm doing nothing.

I have been laying here in bed all day sick. Sick. It seems that stomach bug that the kids all had recently, and which I thought I had dodged, came back to bite me. During one of my many trips to the bathroom today I dizzily stepped onto the scale to assess my level of dehydration. I've lost 5 pounds and the day's not over yet. How do you like that? ugh. The kids have tried to step up (Mike had to work today). I felt sorry too, because today is a state holiday, Pioneer Day...and because of me they are stuck at home cooking, cleaning and babysitting the little ones. Sorry kids. I think I am on the up-swing, because I can stand up for more than 10 seconds without breaking into a dizzy sweat now. And I have slept as much as I can. Kind of random, but as I was laying here, mind wandering, I thought of a couple of recommendations I wanted to pass along. Over the weekend Mike took me down to BYU in Provo to see an exhibit I have been wanting to see for months. Loved it. He also took me to eat at this place he's been raving about, Mountain West Burrito. Kind of a hippie-ish dive in Provo with THE BEST Mexi food I have had in a long time. Fresh, organic...and some killer recipes. If you live around here, try it. You won't be disappointed. So there you have it, from my sick bed...my latest endorsements. Go for it. (Or if you're really desperate for something to do, come visit the sick here. I am lonely/bored just lying around like this. Actually, quarantine is probably still best. So, you're on your own for entertainment guys.)

Hiking with Friends

Albion Basin Saturday. I love this shot of Grace in the meadow.

Our friends, the Wheeler's, recently moved back up from southern California. We met them up the canyon yesterday AM for a hike. There was a bigger crowd than I have ever seen up there to see the wild flowers this weekend, but we avoided most of the crowd by just hiking up from Alta instead - an extra mile and a half. We saw the best wild flowers in the lower meadows anyway. The flowers weren't as prolific this year because of the drought, and Cecret Lake was really low - but all was still lovely.  It was a beautiful day. Great company. 

Mike, the story teller, weaving another tale under the ski lift.

While we didn't see as many wild flowers as at other times, we did see our share of wild life. Three moose, a deer and this sweet, pudgy marmot on the rocks.

Progress Report

Slowly, slowly we are chipping away at the hillock on our driveway. 

Noble and Tillman steadily move 10 wheel barrows every day into the back yard. Here they are with the neighbor boy who to our amazement shows up every day to help - even when they start at different times.  He's a really nice kid, and I know that Noble and Tillman are glad for the help, but we have a sneaking suspicion that he may have another motive...the occasional opportunity to talk to Jessie. 

I know. Tell me about it.

For comparison: 
The site 2 months ago on D-Day (demolition day).

As of yesterday.

Mike has rolled some retaining wall rocks into place (thanks to Tim for coming to help). And while Mike and I were gone for our anniversary, my mom got the boys started moving dirt. They've actually done quite a bit - mostly on their own. We'll make men out of the yet.
 Also notice the addition of the play set. FREE from my Aunt Ellen who was re-landscaping her place, and needed a new home for it. Score!

I think we will still need to call on friends and family again for a push to the finish...because at the pace we're going we will have a hill of dirt on our driveway for at least another year. Stay tuned.

Stuff kids do in summer

The Spy Club I started with my younger sibs way back in 1985, Victoria, Texas - has been reincarnated recently (my mother will be delighted to hear). I suggested it as imaginative play one day earlier in the summer when Grace said she was bored. She took that idea and RAN WITH IT. 

She has gone way above and beyond.

They've had a fund raiser (lemonade stand where they made BANK).

They've purchased accessories at the dollar store with said funds.

They have a secret hide out.

Grace checked out several books from the library on spy techniques for kids - which they all studied THOROUGHLY.

And today they printed club t-shirts, their own design, using freezer paper stenciling.

I found some COOL glittery green fabric paint. I love how they turned out.

Aren't they awesome?

Tillman and a buddy built a tent with deck chairs - taking cover today as the thunder storm came in.

And it looks like we've taken in another sad creature for rehabilitation. Noble and company brought home this dove with a broken wing this afternoon. And even though the last time we tried to save a bird, it didn't go so well, I couldn't say no. It currently lives in Jupiter's travel kennel in the garage - which Noble and his friends redecorated nicely. Noble scavenged some bird feed from somewhere in our garage. Last time I looked in she seemed to be loving her little resort vacation. We'll see if she recovers or not.

They have dubbed her "DEN" - an acronym using the first letters of their names. It is written on the top of the kennel.

Pluto strolling past uninterested.

Summer is kids with freedom. And that's magic.

15 years with Mike

7/11/1997

7/11/2012

15 years of highs and lows. More highs than lows. 

He is my very best friend. 

And I think he is even MORE handsome now than the day we got married.

This year we decided to DO something for our anniversary (usually we're lucky to even get out). So we planned a quick get away to Park City - the city of romance. (I don't know that it has that reputation in the broader population, but since that is where we spent our honeymoon as youngsters, that is what it is to us.) We had a hot tub on our balcony and a view of the Olympic Ski Jump. So, after dinner out with Mike, I commemorated the day by soakin' it up in a hot tub with my soul-mate (ala Uncle Rico).

 The next morning we went out for a lovely run, then french toast breakfast at Kneaders, shopping at the outlets, an hour and a half massage, and FREE SLURPEE's at the Sev in Park City. It's so nice of 7/11 to observe our anniversary like that every year. So if you didn't get your free Slurpee this time, there's always next year.

Mike's anniversary card to me this year:

He's romantic like that. Here's to 15 more years, and then 15 more, and after that - another 15...

I LOVE Mitch-darling.
I could not have chosen better. 

Broken digit.

I KNEW it.

I fell in the kitchen a week ago (that is a funny story - having to do with some new super cute shoes I was trying out), grasping for the bar stool as I went down. My iPad survived the impact thanks to the Hammerhead case, but as soon as I landed on my hands and knees the solid wood bar stool came down too, smashing my hand like no body's business. Holy smokes that hurt. I actually felt nauseous and faint as I got up cradling my hand. I laid down on the couch. It was just me and the little boys - so I asked Sully to go get the ice pack out of the freezer for me. The gashes looked nasty, and my middle finger was swelling up. I wondered if it was broken.  It didn't really hurt much after the initial impact - it felt kind of like I'd jammed it playing basketball or something. It was weak and tender. After 4 days of that, and talking to my dad who spooked me with his hook-finger story (his middle finger is permanently curled after he broke it in a similar way, waited too long to have it looked at, and the tendon subsequently shortened), I decided I should get an x-ray.
I went on Saturday. It took them FOREVER. But the Dr. finally pronounced it NOT broken. They also said they were sending it out to radiology to make sure. Today the Dr.'s office called me back to report that the radiologist looked at it and reversed the call on the field. It IS broken.
Anyway, I just have to keep it immobile for 3 weeks, taped to my ring finger.
And I am more careful walking.

The last shall be first.

Our last (Abner) had his first birthday yesterday...our last FIRST-birthday bash. That phase of our life is officially past. Like so many other phases that have already passed during this first year of his life... Our last first-year. It was a busy day...(like all the rest, right?) Jessie had a horse show in the evening so we had to start the partying early to make it possible for her and my parents to come. My sisters came with their families and Sean too. We missed our oldest boys, and Mike's parents.
I made some yuh-ummy coconut cupcakes. We all sang to him. He stared at us in that sweet, confused way that 1 year-old's do when a crowd is singing to them. So cute. 

With that, my baby moved out of infancy and on toward toddler-hood. And I wished my motherhood-to -little-babies goodbye. (sniff)

He was such a tidy cake eater. He politely scooped the cake into his mouth with one fist, leaving the other in his lap. When he finished the cake, he licked the plate clean. No smashed cake all over his face. We were all very impressed with his manners. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET ABNER!

Last but not least, Jessie (our first) did so well at her show yesterday evening! Her two-handed horse (a term for a young newly trained horse), is turning into a first rate competitor. I will update you later on the rest of the weekend's competition. We're off to watch her.

Monte Cristo

Back in June when Mike's bro's were in town we went hiking at Monte Cristo Peak. The peak itself is sort of scramble terrain and we had the kids, so we just went to the saddle below the peak with views of Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons - and had lunch. It was a beautiful, clear day, a little bit chilly. 

Yesterday I was looking through my pictures, and found these. That outing must have fallen between the blogging cracks, but the pictures were cool ...so here they are. 

We need to get out for some more of this soon. Especially because it is SO HOT down in the valley.

Summertime Miscellanea

(I've been uninspired about keeping up with the blog, which probably means I need to make more of an effort, update, move the furniture, etc.)

 Big news this week: Double-A (Abner) has made major strides (literally) toward bipedalism. I think he prefers it to crawling so he's pretty motivated when he embarks across the open floor, unsupported. He's up to about 5 or 6 steps! Hooray Abner!


Abner the biped from Angie Melton on Vimeo.

Sully turned 4 years old on Friday. I can't believe it!

 Last year on his birthday we were anxiously awaiting Abner's grand entrance. The time has FLOWN by. Sully has made some big changes this year. Potty training (a really big milestone...and one that seems so distant now), preschool and outgrowing a lot of clothes. He's gotten too big for his britches in the figurative sense too. In other words, he's a lot more opinionated, and happy to let you know about it. His personality has also grown bigger - which is saying something for Sully. Yesterday as he sat down for a snack he announced, "Let's get this party started!" Oh Sully.

On his birthday he had breakfast in bed (french toast and fruit and juice). Big hit. I was busy during the day getting the older boys packed up for their trip to Michigan with their grandparents the next day. In the evening we had the chance to gather with almost all of the Sullivan cousins at my uncle's house in Sandy. My grandma was also there with my great-aunt, Patsy. We took a group photo, hugged & caught up.
So rare to see all those cousins. 
 After that we headed back to SoJo for Sully's birthday dinner / present opening. Mike's parents and mine came to celebrate with us.

Here, with his SNAKE CAKE.

 Saturday morning (and I mean early morning - like 4AM) the older boys got themselves up and ready to fly out to Michigan with Mike's parents, where they will be living it up for 10 days with their Melton cousins. I was/am a little homesick for them, but I have to admit things are a lot more docile around here. Mike also pointed out that their room will not look like a bomb went off in it for 10 whole days! But the really important thing is that they are making awesome memories. Thank you grandma and grandpa Melton! 


Last week the kids and I kept ourselves busy trying to fit in some quality bonding time together before the boys left. Library, lunch out, an outing to the pool (some of us got a little toasted) and to see the Utah Symphony in the park. The lineup included John Williams (Star Wars and Indiana Jones!), Sousa, and the 1812 Overture with canon fire. That was fun!

Mike, on the other hand, kept himself busy all week trying to wrap up month-end, which was hard because they had him scheduled for so many meetings, off-sites, and interviewing. So we didn't see him much this week. But he and I did manage a date to Red Butte Garden on Monday to see Wilco in concert. (That was kind of work-related too, since Fidelity gave us the tickets. But I'm not complaining; we had an AWESOME table with center-stage view.)  

I've been trying to keep the grass alive in this drought/heat-wave and watching fires burn in the foothills around us while I do it. It's so dry and hot. (I am SO GRATEFUL our A/C is working again. BELIEVE ME, I am.) We had a special fast at church this weekend that rain will come and for the safety of the firefighters. We're keeping those prayers going.


Once the boys get back from MI it will be pretty non-stop summer camps and stuff through July. One kid going one way, one another. Jessie won't see Noble or Tillman for more than two weeks. And then they'll go their separate ways again. It's one of those things with growing kids. You start to feel like the front door is a revolving door. I wish their lives were as family-centered as they were when they were younger. I miss that. But I know this is how it goes. They are starting to stretch those wings. I just didn't know it would come so fast. This is the part of life when I have to start inventing creative ways to keep the family unit tight. 


I've got one or two ideas. But I'm open for suggestions too.

Viva la vida!