Some Vacation Favorites--Part 1

Start from the bottom in chronological order...I hate blogger sometimes.

Home Humid Home

It hit us smack in the face somewhere in eastern Nebraska. The moisture, thick, wooly, and sticky hung in the air like a damp pair of old drapes covering the window to the east. "Welcome home", it chided..."we knew you'd be back"...thick sarcasm matching the thick atmosphere...it was becoming hard to breathe...

WE'RE HOME!!

We pulled into Tonica late last night after breaking down the night before in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was actually incredible timing. The battery light popped up on the dashboard literally minutes before pulling off the interstate into Lincoln and the engine only started smoking as we pulled into the driveway of the Holiday Inn Express. If we were going to break down somewhere on this trip, this was definitely the place to do it. The hotel was great, spacious room, a little kitchen area, an indoor pool and working spa, accomodating staff who let us check out at 3 pm instead of 11 am. They also shuttled Mark back and forth between the auto repair shop where the staff there were even better...got our van up on their repair deck first thing, diagnosed the problem, had the part in stock, replaced the part, changed the oil, and all before 2 pm. Like I said, as far as tragedy goes, we had it pretty easy. I kept thinking, what if this had happened in the middle of Wyoming? When there are no rest stops or towns worth a fig for miles and miles??? We were glad to be in Nebraska...only about 6 hours from home.

Rewind to the night before that which was spent in Rawlins, Wyoming...the most expensive hotel of the trip for wha??? They know they gotcha is what it is...where are you going to go, really?

The night before that was spent in Orem, Utah at the Casa de Day. The girls swam in fifty degree weather with their adventurous cousins, as the adults watched from the lookout tower of the GREAT SUNROOM...holy cow!! What a view!! We visited and ate oven-baked pizza, drank root beer, and remarked over and over again at how time flies, how quickly children grow, and where has the time gone?!? Earlier that day we were treated to a lunchtime barbeque with one of Mark's besties, Tony Mosier and his cute family in Highland, Utah. They have 5 kids now and they are cute, CUTE, CUTE!! Their youngest is a little blonde baldy named Millie who doesn't crawl, she scoots...on her bum using one arm and one leg like a little pirate with a wooden peg leg. She and Parker played on the floor and had us all crying with laughter and cooing over their deliciousness...seriously, you would have died at the cuteness levels in that household that day.

The night before that was spent in a Red Lion Hotel in downtown SLC. Dinner was shared at the Olive Garden right downtown with the Iman's...that's the family that belongs to one of my dearest roomates and companions of all time...Sister Diane Gerdy herself!! Her kids are adorable and got along with ours famously. We can't wait to see what happens another 10 years from now...possibly a love connection?!? That would be hilarious...can you imagine Diane and I as co-mother-in-laws? Too much!! Earlier that day a stop was made in one of the most beautiful places on earth...Malad, Idaho. We visited with Great Grandma for a bit, and soaked up some love and memories. We were both so moved after pulling away from the homestead...such history, such spirit, such love. We hope this isn't the last time we see her! What an amazing lady!!

The night before that was spent in Rigby, Maryn up sick most of the night...postponing our trip by a day. It was okay though, gave us some extra time to say even longer goodbyes to our family there. Regrettably though, we didn't take nearly enough pictures...I am still flogging myself daily in penance. AAGH!!

The trip in Rigby was incredible!! We got to do everything on our "to do" list, thanks to many family members. Thanks to Grandpa Brown for go-karts, trips to the Climbing Mountain park, rides on the 4-wheeler, babysitting Parker so we could go to West Yellowstone and see PlayMill again!! It was Beauty & the Beast this year...awesome!! Loved it!! Thanks also to Aunt Melanie and Aunt Shalee for babysitting the girls so Mark and I could escape to the Rexburg Temple for the afternoon. That was truly a treat!! We enjoyed meals out, FRY SAUCE!!, Heidi's Fudge, lots of play time with cousins (plenty of talking on swings and playing with Checkers the dog), talk time with sibs and in-laws, Mormon Bridge, and plenty of walks down memory lane. The time flew and we enjoyed every second of it. Sad that it's over so soon.

One of these days I'll download some pics to the old computer and get some posted for your viewing pleasure...but not today...I'm too busy sitting on my duff in sweatpants doing the millionth load of laundry for the day. I hope you understand.

Love to all!!!

Like Bats Outta...

Sorry you've had to look at Maryn's bum for over a week. At least it's a cute bum. What is it about kids' bums??? They are so much cuter than adult bums. Butttttt (snicker, snicker), I digress...

Anyway, it has been a busy couple weeks. The last two weeks of school are ridiculous. The teachers are d-o-n-e, and so they plan all of their really good field trips for the last couple weeks. Both girls went to the Zoo, Avery got to take a picnic/hike to Matthiesen State park (with Mark acting as the room Mom), and both got to participate in Field Day, and an all school picnic. There was plenty to do! Throw in the fact that Avery's softball season is in full swing (there's another pun), and Girl Scouts wrapped up for the year as well. It was a GRANDE FINALE for the 2009-2010. And we are all glad to see it over. Some of us more than others.

So in lieu of the fact that none of us have any obligations or commitments here in our little crook of the Illinois Valley, we loaded up the Caravan and TOOK OFF...LIKE BATS OUTTA @!$%!!!!

We left on Monday morning...oops I mean Monday afternoon...we function on "Duggar time". :-) We finally got on the I-80 West (after only one trip back home to pick up all the forgotten items) around 2 pm. And we took advantage of the open roads and the napping 9 month old. We got pretty far before stopping for dinner in a little town resembling Tonica, called Avoca, Iowa. We ate at a little greasy spoon called "The Embers". Isn't that an inviting name for a restaurant? (snicker, snicker.)

We stopped around midnight at a Comfort Inn in Kearney, Nebraska. It was decent and we were too tired to notice anything to the contrary. We had the complimentary continental (what does that mean anyway?) breakfast the next morning and got back on the road...like bats outta Kearney!! Ha ha.

That evening, we stopped for dinner in Rawlins, Wyoming. A few hours later it was crunch time...do we stop just 4 hours shy of Rigby because a. baby is tired and cranky? b. it's bedtime and c. the tension in the caravan is rising??? The decision was made to press on...the goal? JUST GET THERE!!!

So we pulled into Grandma and Grandpa's driveway around 1 a.m. And we were so glad we did!! Feels like home away from home in so many ways. The girls have settled into their routine of playing 24/7...in the basement, in the backyard, with their cousins, etc. They made a list of things to do and on it, among many things, is my favorite entry made by Maryn and Brianna Brown (Dave and Mel's daughter). It says, "talk on the swings". I'm so glad they have this time...memories and relationships are being made and it's fun to watch. Even little Parker and her new baby girl cousin Naomi were playing with each other last night. Of course their version of "play" involved Parker grabbing her eyeballs, and Naomi just laying there defenseless...Parker resembling a line-backer and Naomi resembling a delicate little china doll. But hey, it was sweet to watch. One day they'll probably make a list that says "talk on the swings" too. That's what family vacations are all about.

Anyway, so we're on vay-cay in Rigby, Idaho...it may not sound exotic or exclusive but it feels great to us...home away from home, and exactly where we want to be right now.

Next week? We will be like bats outta Rigby!! We are heading south to Utah...Malad on Wednesday, SLC on Thursday, and Orem on Friday!! Stay tuned for updates!

Things That Grow and Change Over Time

1. Moles...and/or birthmarks.



When Maryn (i.e. the little 5 lb. chicken baby) was born, she had a tiny little freckle on the tip-top of her bum. It was cute and we affectionately considered it the birthmark that would help identify our baby amidst a sea of other little babies in the hospital nursery. Ours was the one with the freckle on her bum. Anyway, that little freckle has grown as Maryn has grown...they're tight like that. She actually named her bff birthmark, "bob"...as in "big bob, the mole"...Maryn's funny like that. What one does the other has to copy I guess. Anyway it has gotten pretty big. And just this year has become more unseemly...mostly for Maryn. Her friends were starting to notice it when she would reach high or bend over..."ewww!! what's THAT?!?", the evil little Tonican monsters would say in their whiny, impolite way. :-) Anyway, so as to not arm them with one more piece of verbal weaponry against our fragile little 9 year old, we took her to the Dermatoligist to see about getting it removed. He couldn't handle it in his office, so he referred us to an outpatient surgery center in Peoria!! This was becoming a bigger deal than we bargained for. We drove down there last week and as you can imagine Maryn was stressing/ freaking/ worrying/ stressing/ freaking out!! We went into the operating room, and it took 3 shots of the anesthetic for her bum to go numb. And you know how those shots are the worst part, right? Well, there was much crying and panicking, and more stressing and freaking out until the Doc was even able to remove anything. After all was said and done he left her with a stitched up scar that is now about 2 inches wide. It's big. But I think she's glad it's gone. We are waiting on biopsy results, but it should be fine...most congenital moles are I guess.

2. Parker Faye



Parker is not only crawling all over creation, she is now pulling herself up on things. The most dramatic moment was when we went into her room to get her up from a nap and she had pulled her self up on the edge of her crib and was about ready to dive out head first. We had to lower the mattress that day...another milestone on the way out of infant/newborn-ness...sigh. It's going so fast. I've loved this year, but I must say, it goes so quickly. Sigh...(this time a little heavier, and more melancholy).

3. Avery lost her first tooth!



Because Avery is literally almost as tall as both of her Grandma's at this point, we tend to forget that she is only 7. Avery got her teeth late as a baby. Not until 10 months I think. She gummed everything like an old man who lost his dentures. Because the teeth came in late, they are now late in falling out. She has had a loose one on the bottom for a few months now, and it finally popped out while she was at school. She brought it home in a ziploc...a bloodly stump of white. Lucky for her the tooth fairy was on her tippy-toes and delivered on time...she had been waiting for this milestone for a long time!! "Maybe this little tooth will go to your baby sister" is what the note from the Fairy said to Miss Avery. Maybe indeed.

Pretty Little May

I remember when I was a kid, I learned a song in choir...it was called "June is busting out all over" or something like that. It left quite an impression on me cause every March I start singing it and don't stop until June.

It goes like this:

March came in like a lion, a whippin' up the waters in the bay.
Then April sighed, and stepped aside;
and along came pretty little May.
June was full of promises, but she didn't keep 'em quick enough for some.
And a crowd of doubtin' Thomas's was predictin' that the summer'd never come!!
But it's comin' by gum, I can feel it come;
I can feel it in the wind,
I can see it in the sun,
LOOK AROUND, LOOK AROUND, LOOK AROUND!!!!
Oh June is bustin' out ALL OVER!!
All over the meadows and the hills.
Buds are bustin' out of bushes, and the rompin' river pushes,
every little wheel that wheels beside the mill.
Because it's JUNE!!
June, June, June!
Just because it's JUNE, (pause) JUNE, (pause) JUUUUUNNNNNE!!!!!!!

Impressive, eh? That's my uncanny memory for weird stuff in full force y'all...it is a force to be reckoned with at times!!

ANYWAY, the reason I bring it up is cause I'm in love with "pretty little May" right now. Isn't it gorgeous outside?!? April was just as lovely, I must say. And I wanted to post some scrumptious pictures of Spring!! 2010!! So I can look back and remember...and, as ever, for your viewing pleasure.

SING!!

Maryn has been participating in the Illinois Valley Youth Choir since school began. It is a group of 3rd-5th graders from all over the area. They have to audition and once accepted, they have weekly rehearsals for the culminating "Spring Show"!! This past weekend was the much anticipated show, and Maryn did great!! I could tell she was singing her little heart out and really enjoying the fruits of her labors (all those rehearsals and lyric memorization!!).

I was impressed with the whole thing and happy that Maryn could be a part of it. And (knock on wood) this is finally something she has tried this year that she is excited to do again next year! (Unlike the soccer debacle of '09!) Even Avery wants to audition next year as well!! Maybe we're onto something for these girls?!?



(Maryn is far left, two heads up from the piano.)



(Do you remember that YouTube video where those preschoolers are singing and the kid sneezes and white snot covers his face and is hanging off of him...the camera person zooms in on the little girl standing next to him, and this is her exact expression...Maryn's face in reaction to the girl next to her...I think she was afraid she was going to puke or something...HA!!)

All My "FantaSEAS" Came True!!

We went to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for my birthday. It was awesome!! The show called "Fantasea" was definitely the highlight. It included a beluga whale and baby, dolphins, penguins, hawks, and a sea lion. Very exciting.



Other highlights included lunch over looking Lake Michigan...eating real, fancy food with cloth napkins again...:-)!!!



The whole day was a great memory maker for our little family...something we will always remember...that in and of itself was a great birthday treat!