My Husband's Thing

Okay perverts...that is not what this blog is about. It is about the fact that I married a man who can spontaneously purchase (on ebay) a volkswagon "thing", and then tell me about it as it is getting shipped to our house. Gasp. Yes, well he did that a couple summers ago, and this car is
the car he has been dreaming about for decades. Tim has this strange VW obsession/fascination. The way in which he is a freak about VW's are numerous (the tattoo), the ownership of multiple volkswagon van's through the years, and the fact that we even got engaged in a VW. The VW thing was only made for about 2 years I think, 1973-74, and they are pretty dang funny looking. Tim happened to find a guy who spent about a year of his life and THOUSANDS of dollars restoring and modifying this car, only to sell it to us, so he could pay for his wedding. How do I feel about this car? Well it is cute, and really fun to ride around in, but highly impractical, and almost TOO nice. It stresses Tim out to actually own it because he has to constantly worry about it getting scratched, or dinged, or having some of the fancy stereo equipement stolen...aargh! So I put it up for sale, I don't know if it will sell, but I am trying because right now it is just a fancy ornament in our garage. I really want somebody hip, (translation: young and no kids) to purchase this car and drive it all over the place. Let's face it: the cool factor goes way down once you throw a couple car seats in it! I guess we will see if there are other spontaneous VW freaks out there willing to fork over some bucks for the "thing."

Kitties, Bunnies, and Bears...oh my!

As most of you know, we have a wildlife issue. I am a little disgruntled however, that the bear who has recently taken up residence in our neighborhood is NOT in my backyard. I don't understand it, I mean I have lots of things for a bear to eat...strawberries, kittens, bunnies, and small children. What does a girl have to do to get some bears around here? Actually on second thought, I don't even like cleaning up small dog poops, so maybe it is best if that bear stays down at the neighbors house. All joking aside, it really was hanging out at a neighbors house who lives near the creek. She woke up two mornings ago to see this bear eating her birdseed out of her birdfeeder in her backyard. I am not sure what will happen to this cute bear, but I am going to leave my smelly garbage out for a few days. Here beary, beary....

Growing Season

I have been obsessing lately about the importance eating and feeding my kids a more healthy whole food diet, growing my own garden, and teaching my kids to work past the point of comfort. Why? Well, I guess partly because I love growing a garden, partly because we are supposed to grow stuff if we can, partly because then we know exactly what we are eating, and finally because my kids are over-indulged. Don't get me wrong, they are great kids, not even terribly bratty, but they really have it pretty easy. I think it is so important for kids to learn to do work that is uncomfortable, and even difficult. (Remember working on the corn picker Jen?) It is a great life lesson I suppose, and they don't get many opportunities to do that.

So I was trying to talk Tim into buying me a farm, but I guess we don't have to now, since someone in my ward offered to let me plant a huge garden on their 10 acre farm. What a blessing! Truly an answer to my prayers. So 10 days ago we went and spent 4 hours planting everything I could think of.

A few strawberries, tomatoes, onions, peppers, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, peas, beans, cucumbers, corn, pumpkins, squash, cantalope, and watermelon. Yee ha. So I take the kids there a couple times a week, and we weed, and water, and check on our plants.

I am so excited about this. And being the ridiculous organizer/nerd that I am, I even laminated labels for each variety of plant so I will know which ones are the best tasting or best producing. I will keep you all posted on our progress as the summer goes along, and hopefully we will have an amazing harvest at the end of all this hard work. But don't worry it isn't all work and no play...

The Good, The Bad,...and the Ugly.

So I had a friend point out that lots of times, people only blog the great things that happen, or the highlights of their family, thus creating a standard of unrealistic perfection. I don't want to do that, so here are some of the "low lights" if you will of the last month or so.







First: Tim drove our minivan into the garage...not good. Okay, I will admit that we only have about 2 inches to spare on either side, but still...he cranked it good. Dented and ruined paint on two doors. Ya.

Second: Piper dropped a metal patio chair on her big toe. I didn't think it was that big of a deal until she cried ALL NIGHT, and the thing turned black. She probably broke the end of her toe, but there isn't a whole lot we could do, except carry her everywhere for a week. Then a week later her toenail came off...eewwww. It was gross. Josh really liked it though, and was carrying the toenail around for a few days, until it got "lost." Translation: I threw it away when he wasn't looking, because I think he might have started a really creepy collection with it.



Third: Josh was riding his long board down the hill in front of our house and he did a back flop onto the road...ouch. Luckily he had his helmet on, so we saved his noggin, but his back and butt, were black and blue. I think he was a little nervous, and a lot sore, but he got back out there yesterday and I saw him cruising down the hill again. I don't think my nerves can take it.

So those are the big things I can think of....I am sure there is a lot more I could say. I could tell you how Piper had a 45 minute raving psychopathic meltdown yesterday because she couldn't find her bouncy ball. Or how my kids have to be coerced mightily everyday into doing their chores, or how I fed the kids grilled cheese (bad mom), for dinner. But the list goes on and on...it just our life. It isn't perfect but I still wouldn't trade it for anything.

Whip Cream Fight

Every year on the last day of school, we have a big ole whip cream fight in the backyard to celebrate the end of school and beginning of summer fun. Our first ever whip cream fight was on Tatym's last day of kindergarten, four years ago. Josh was barely four, Piper 1, and it didn't go over so well with them...wimps. Anyway, things have changed and now it is all out war! We always include our neighbor/(pretty much fourth child), Justin, and his mom comes to video and take pictures for us. The neighbors think we are nuts, but it's our thing. For any of you who are wondering if I have any tips about how to really do this, here you go:

1. Do it on a hot day...so you can hose everyone off after.

2. Remove any sharp, dangerous, or cumbersome items from the lawn so nobody gets hurt.

3. Wear swim suits, or clothes that can get kind of greasy...that stuff is a bit greasy.

4. Goggles for the little ones...you can see why.

5. Spray down into your hand and throw it, or all the gas gets forced out of the can, and you get no cream!

6. Don't try to take pictures and participate...I think I ruined a camera that way.

7. Don't attempt this when you are pregnant, and therefore the slowest, clumsiest person out there...might as well draw a target on your back.

8. Try not to get it up your nose, because you will smell it for DAYS.

9. Last but not least: Have Fun!!

We really are excited to be through another year of school. The kids all did great, and Tatym was even awarded a presidential award for scoring "advanced" in all areas of the ISAT test. The kids seem to really learn fast, and Josh can read amazingly well for first grade...(Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...etc.) Crazy. I am pretty sure they will be doing math that I can't do by next year. But for now...we will be at the pool.

Here are what our whip cream fights have looked like the last few years:

Wild Kingdom

It is wild kingdom around here.... between the baby bunnies living under our deck in the backyard, the stray wild kittens we were bottle feeding, and my kids....it is a zoo.

Luckily the kittens were only ours to bottle feed for 3 days, and then we adopted them out...however Mama cat (a wild one that loves to give birth at my house), showed up again 2 days ago with 2 more kittens....same litter. She is very smart and we have been unable to catch or trap her, but this is the second time she has left me kittens in about 4 months. Apparently cats are like rabbits. Which brings me to my other wildlife issue: Every few months we get a new batch of bunnies living in our backyard. Truth be told, I love them. They are so cute and they usually disappear shortly enough. We live in the foothills and not too many baby animals survive the coyotes, badgers, owls, and neighborhood dogs. So we enjoy them while they are here. The kids enjoy seeing how close they can get to the bunnies before they hop away.

So aside from the animals, the kids are keeping me busy. Tatym had her ninth birthday on April 23, and Josh had his 7th on May 18th, so we have been busy with birthdays. I haven't been feeling great, so it was nice that Grandpa and Grandma Dudley were here for Tatym's, and Grandma Francis was here for Josh's. Dairy Queen made the cakes...nothing fancy this year. But the kids had a great time and I am always amazed at how quickly the time goes.

I am definitely happy to be through the first trimester. I have managed to go 4 days now without throwing up...now that is something to celebrate.

Ode to Waterton

I love Waterton...I can't even explain how much I love Waterton. Being there makes me happy.

Maybe it is because that is where Tim and I met, where we first kissed, (okay it was all the same day...but?), and where we spent tons of time together before we got married. We even honeymooned in Waterton. Just saying Waterton makes my brain release tremendous amounts of endorphins.

Here are my top 10 reasons I love Waterton:

1. Love...it is "our place"

2. Hello...it is gorgeous. Some of the most incredible things I have ever seen have been things I have seen in or hiking around Waterton

3. It smells good all the time, (except when Glacier was burning...but even that is better than smog)

4. Bear's Hump: Where else can you get such a great pay off for such a short, though not effortless, hike?

5. Red Rock Canyon. It is so fun on a hot day to go play in the pools there.

6. Cameron Lake, Wall Lake, and and everything in between

7. Cameron Falls

8. Grizzly Bears... okay maybe that sounds crazy, but where else can you just drive around and see a mama bear with 2 cubs?

9. Marquis Hole...if you don't know where it is, I'm not telling

10. Tiger ice cream from the Big Scoop...and here I must digress and express my complete and utter disappointment with the change in recipe of all the tiger ice cream in Canada. As you know we can't get it here, and it was a serious highlight of my summer...and now the ice cream makers have changed it and it is not so tasty. Oh the horror...but there is always maple walnut....

Excuses, Excuses...

Okay, so Jen keeps harassing me about updating my blog, and I really want to, and I am trying...but I have a couple things working against me here. I know you all aren't interested in my excuses, but I think they are pretty good ones, so here it goes:

1. How on earth do you get all the photos and posts and everything to look so good? I am asking all you bloggers out there, because mine never really works out how I want it too. So in other words...I am an easily frustrated perfectionist who doesn't want to blog until I know how to do it so it actually looks impressive. (too much pride...I know)

2. Anytime I sit down at the computer, I see the stack of bills here, and it makes me realize I am neglecting my duties as domestic goddess, and I would rather just avoid the computer at all until those bills are paid, and the house is cleaned, etc. etc. (lame, I know)

3. I am sick as a dog right now, and have been for about a month...that's right: I am pregnant.

After about 2 years of trying, and 2 miscarriages...hooray we are pregnant again! Okay it is still early to be making this announcement, but based on how bad I feel, things are going well. I am about 10 weeks, so hopefully we will have a new little person to blog about come thanksgiving.

So I don't know if any or all of those excuses work for you...but I am doing my best! I have high hopes of becoming a blogging sensation in another month or so, when I able to sit here for more than 20 minutes without tossing my cookies.

P.S. The pictures don't really have anything to do with anything, other than to remind me that feeling like this is all worth it in the end.

Sweet Reunions

I have been thinking about how great reunions are. Not just big planned family reunions, but simple, sweet, and even daily reunions. There is nothing cuter than watching the kids run to the back door to greet Tim when he comes home from work. Tim just returned from 4 days of golf in Bandon, Oregon, and the kids couldn't get enough of him last night. He was pretty much stranded on the couch with kids all over him for about an hour.


Because both of our families pretty much live far away, it is exciting to be reunited with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents as often as we can manage. But the sweetest reunion I have witnessed in a long time, was my kids reuniting with Grandpa and Grandma Dudley, after they returned from their 18 month mission. I took several photos of the kids running into their arms, and it was truly a moment of pure joy for everyone.


It is so nice to know that no matter how far apart we are, and for how long...our reunions with family and those we love, will always be sweet, and it will always feel like no time has passed since our last meeting.

Spring Break!!

So even though I wanted to head south to Vegas, we ended up heading North to Canada for Spring Break. Grandpa and Grandma Dudley just got back from their mission to Cambodia, so it was great to see them again, and the kids loved spending time with them in Raymond. Piper loves the horses the most I think. She was always asking to go see the horses and ride the horses, and it didn't matter how cold it was...and it was cold.

What's new Feb 2008

Hi Everybody,
Angie convinced me this is the way to keep in touch and let everyone in on what we are doing, so I am giving it a shot.
Piper is 4 now...how did 4 years go so quick? She is hilarious still, and thoroughly enjoyed her rock -n- roll birthday party. She pretty much had the whole idea for the party, and we just tried to keep up with all her big plans, which included, pink hair, guitar birthday cake, and a pinata.
I just signed her up for a class, she does 15 min. ballet, 15 min. tap, and 30 min of gymnastics. She pretty much loves it, and harrasses me everyday to take her, even though it is a once a week deal.
Josh is in wrestling now, and loves it. Who'd a thought? He is a wiry, strong, little dude, and he loves the two leg takedown, and half nelson. He had his first practice tourny last weekend, and did great. I am aesthetically opposed to singlets and cauliflower ear, so he wears under armor, and hopefully he isn't spending enough time wrestling to mess up his ears quite yet...but if it gets to that point, then I will have to invest in headgear.

Tatym is still Irish Dancing, and has many performances upcoming. March is sort of the mother of all months for Irish Dancing with St. Patricks Day and all that. She is progressing really well, and is now doing hard shoe, as well as soft shoe. I took her to Riverdance last month and she came away very inspired to keep dancing.
Tim and I are plugging along, doing what we do. I redecorated Josh's room, from Surfer theme to sports...he loves it. It is a constant battle to keep clean clothes on the kids, and keep Tim off of guitar hero...don't even get me started. Hope all is well with you