I could heartily wish this had not befallen

So . . . Hayden made a new friend yesterday, though the circumstances surrounding their meeting were less than ideal. The friend's name: Dr. Lee; he's an orthopedic surgeon. That's right, Hayden broke his left wrist--both bones--while snowboarding. As you can see from the x-ray, the radius was displaced, so I got to witness my first reduction (that's where the doctor pushes the bone back to its normal position). Hayden has no memory of the event, as he was enjoying a pharmaceutical cocktail of Fentanyl, Morphine and Versed at the time.

He's resting comfortably at home, sporting a temporary cast until the swelling goes down. He'll likely not have a permanent cast for a week or so. Dr. Lee did say Hayden should be okay to ski in about four weeks--with a cast on--if he's careful. I think he'll avoid snowboarding for the rest of this season. The doctor wants to keep a close eye on Hayden's arm, to make sure the bone doesn't move out of alignment, so he'll see him several times over the next month. Everyone else had an uneventful, if foreshortened, day at Targhee. Hayden got a helmet cam for Christmas, and one of the first things he did when we finally got home from the hospital was to check the memory stick to see if he'd recorded the wipe out that led to his broken wrist (no such luck). Stay tuned for periodic updates on his recovery, as well as Christmas pictures.

La vie est belle: j'ai fini avec mes examens

Je suis tres content. What? You say you didn't understand a thing I just said? Oh, that's right: you don't speak French . . . wait a second, neither do I. It must be all the delicious Swiss chocolate I've been consuming as a precautionary measure against psychological meltdown during finals week. It worked, too. I took my last final last Thursday. I don't know how well I did, and don't really care at this point. :o) Okay, that's a lie; I do care, it's just out of my control now. Update: I passed all my finals.

Today I delivered to my employer/professor what I believe to be the last of the papers/assignments that I will have to read/grade/review/cringe over until next semester. Actually, I enjoyed reading most of them, though it was sometimes painfully obvious that not all students are created equal in the writing department. The last batch of papers I read were the author portfolios for British Literature--the same class I took a year ago. It was interesting to see the varying levels of quality, as well as author choices. Two students chose Nathaniel Hawthorne, and one chose Robert Frost. Sadly, neither of these authors are BRITISH! Jane Austen was the top choice, with 20% of the students opting to spotlight the reigning queen of British Romanticism. (Go Jane!)

The boys have been revelling in their free time by spending large quantities of it in the pursuit of absolutely nothing, but I think we'll go skiing tomorrow. Parker went to the Christmas dance last Saturday, and had a good time, as you can see in this photo:


Oops! Clearly not Parker and his date. Hang on a sec . . . the picture was here a minute ago [sound of mouse clicks, fingers furiously typing]. Ah ha! Here it is:



Now that, my friends, is an attractive couple, yes? Parker looks nice in his new suit. Remember when he looked like this:


Who gave him permission to grow up? :o/

I did the majority of my Christmas shopping online this year, and everything has come save one package--its estimated delivery date is December 24th. I know that's cutting it close, but if it doesn't get here before Christmas, I'll just print a picture of the item to wrap up: "Here Hayden, this is what you'll eventually get--someday." :o)

I spoke in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. Fortunately, we have a bishop who is well aware of the craziness which is/has been my life this semester. He gave me a month to prepare, knowing full well what he was asking of me. I think it went well. It proved to be cathartic, forcing me to organize the thoughts and feelings that have been bouncing around in my head for the last year. I was asked by a friend if I'd post my talk here, but I think seven pages would be a bit much. Maybe I'll put it on my Weebly page instead, which can be linked from here.

Get a Life

That's what Hayden did on Thursday. He received his Life rank advancement and twelve merit badges at the Court of Honor. He tells me he's about 5 away from earning his Eagle.

Thanksgiving was bittersweet. We had so much fun over the break, but the absence of Paul's presence was very apparent. We spent an inordinate amount of time (Wednesday night, all day Thursday, Friday night) in Rigby, hanging out with everyone who came from Utah to spend time at Darla and Scott's house. I never counted how many of us there were, but it was a bunch. The food was delicious, and the conversation was stimulating. :o) The boys and I went skiing on Saturday at Grand Targhee. We were going to go on opening day, which was Friday, but everyone had trouble peeling the mattresses off their backs--late nights will do that. It's just as well--I talked to several people who did go on Friday. They said there were twenty-minute lines--not my idea of a good time. The snow was so-so, but everyone knows a bad day of skiing is better than a good day doing chores!

Parker is nearly finished with his night school courses. The boys all started their second trimester Monday. I've got three class days left in the semester, then finals. It's hard to believe. I went to the last TA seminar yesterday, and turned in a portfolio documenting the work I've done. Compiling it helped me to see how much I've accomplished this semester--no wonder I've been so busy! I finished my final research paper, my web page: an electronic portfolio of for my English class (it's linked on the sidebar for anyone who's interested) and I'm down to the last lesson for my online New Testament class.

Next on my list: reading research papers, more textbook work, and writing a talk. Yes, I got one of those calls from the Bishop a week or so ago. I'm just grateful he's given me so much time to prepare. I get to speak the Sunday after finals.

I am not making this up...

I took this picture Thursday--Thanksgiving Day--as we were driving to Rigby for dinner at Darla's house.

Remember everybody...

So eat lots of pie on Thursday!

Your wish is my command

I had a request for the Pumpkin Cake recipe, so here it is.

Pumpkin Cake

Step 1:
1 package yellow cake mix (reserve 1 cup)
1 egg
½ c melted, cooled butter
Combine and press into greased 9x13 pan.

Step 2:
1 lb. 13 oz. can pumpkin
1 ¼ tsp cinnamon
¾ tsp ginger
½ tsp cloves
½ c brown sugar
2 eggs
2/3 c milk
Mix and pour over top of cake mixture.

Step 3:
1 c reserved cake mix
¼ c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 T softened butter
Crumble and put on top of pumpkin layer.

Bake at 350⁰ for 45 – 50 minutes.

"One feast, one house, one mutual happiness." William Shakespeare

May I just say how much I dislike the way retailers skip from Halloween to Christmas as soon as November hits? What about Thanksgiving? The world could definitely benefit from a larger helping of thankfulness and gratitude. I love Thanksgiving, it's one of my favorite holidays. I love the freedom of spending the entire day with family doing whatever I feel like: talking and laughing and reminiscing and eating and playing games and not caring how late it is. I only wish I could spend the day with all my favorite people--family and friends. And that we could celebrate once a month instead of once a year. Though I suppose part of the magic comes from its rarity, so it's best to keep it the way it is.

I have the entire week of Thanksgiving off from school, but the boys only get half day Wednesday through the weekend. That means I have two and a half days to spend in pursuit of...whatever. I'm open to suggestions. I think I'll try and finish my online New Testament assignments so I won't have to worry about them as the semester winds down. I've one more research paper and a couple more projects to complete for my English classes. My editing projects are ongoing: I recently combined two drafts into one--verifying all sources used, and compiling the endnotes--of a lecture given by one of my professors at the Wooden O Symposium at the Utah Shakespeare Festival in August. The paper will be published in their annual academic journal. The cool part is that he's giving me credit in the article as Editorial Assistant. Parker asked if I'm going to have a book signing at the festival next summer. Very funny, but no. The textbook-writing project is moving forward, but won't be completed this semester, so I've been asked to continue working on it next semester as well. I registered last week. I'll be taking an art class (design and color for my Graphic Design cluster), a math class (pray for me: the last time I had math, Ronald Reagan was in the White House!), Literary Interpretation, Career Exploration (to help me decide what I want to be when I grow up), and another section of Special Projects (the textbook). I will also continue working as a TA. Speaking of working, yesterday I served as a proctor for a roomful of students taking the Praxis test (for education students) at the University. It wasn't very exciting, but the pay wasn't bad.

Parker is working hard to finish his night school assignments, as well as staying current with his day classes. He'll be joining Cameron and Hayden as an orthodontic patient in December.

Hayden is one merit badge closer to earning his Eagle. He finished the swimming merit badge over the weekend. He's also in the thick of what Cameron routinely describes as "the teen years." (This, too, shall pass. Please. In the meantime, heaven help us all).

Cameron had a rough week: he had four teeth pulled--two baby teeth, two permanent teeth--for his braces. After Thanksgiving, the orthodontist will hook onto the permanent teeth that are above the gums and begin pulling them into place. The permanent teeth had to come out to free up much needed space. Cameron recently conducted an interview with a man from France about cultural differences for a project for Challenge class (formerly known as Gifted and Talented). He did a great job; maybe he'll let you watch it the next time you're around.

Jacob has enjoyed having two senior Elementary Education students from BYU-I tutor him each Tuesday evening. He's excited to try out his new snowboard equipment when Targhee opens for the season.

Tyler, Brandi, and Chloe came for dinner tonight. Chloe showed off her newly-acquired skill: standing by herself (I'll get pictures next time). For dessert, I made Mom Carling's fabulous Pumpkin Cake, which we ate fresh from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top like a delicious iceberg of creamy goodness. Can I just say one word: Heaven! Ya know how there are some foods that elicit a sense of well-being, the feeling that all's right with the world--even if it isn't? This cake is one of them; eating it evokes an epicurean epiphany. The taste, the aroma, the texture all combine to become the culinary equivalent of Nirvana (the place, not the grunge band :o). Okay, maybe I got a little carried away with my description, but it is really, really good!

Autumn smells alot like burnt paper towels

What do you get when you combine the following: a hungry nine-year-old, a microwave oven, and a distracted mother? At our house, they equal a Fahrenheit 451 re-enactment of sorts. Jacob decided to fix himself a sausage, egg, and cheese croissant. No problem, open the package, wrap the sandwich in a paper towel, pop it in the microwave for a few minutes, dinner is served. Except he entered two extra zeros to the cooking time, making it a big, smelly, burnt paper towel--but luckily no actual flames--stink up the house kind of problem. The scent should dissipate in a week or so. :o)

For some reason, I neglected to take pictures of Cameron and Jacob in their Halloween costumes. Perhaps I was too busy taking pictures of this little creature:



As much as I hate to admit it, boys, your days in the cuteness spotlight are over.


There's a new king, er, queen of the jungle. And her name is Chloe.

Ahhh...

That, my friends, is the sound of relief: midterm exams over (yes, I passed them all), research papers written, Parent-Teacher conferences attended, now I can rest--right after I start working on my next paper, create a PowerPoint presentation, read and evaluate two dozen research papers, proofread Chapter 2 of the textbook my professor is writing; read, grade, and record a bunch of generally mind-numbing discussion board posts for the online class, catch up on my reading assignment for New Testament, and attack the Everest-sized mountain which is my laundry. Thank goodness it's Hayden's night to cook!

The boys have been busy as well. Cameron got braces on Monday and is adjusting to that reality. Parker started night school--not because he's falling behind: he's taking U.S. Government and Economics so he will only have to go half day come January. Can you think what his motivation might be? I'll give you a hint:

Jacob wanted me to watch his Halloween program at school today, which was scheduled for the same time I had hoped to go running. Ever the creative problem-solver, I killed three birds with one stone: I ran to his school, watched the performance, then ran home. Exercise, check. Therapy, check. Demonstrate parental support, check. It snowed about an inch last night, but the sidewalks and roads were mostly clear. Though it was foggy, it wasn't too cold, and best of all, there was no wind. I meant to take a picture of the temple as I ran past--it looked so pretty in the fog--but I was running late, literally. Jacob's school is further from our home than I realized. Fortunately, they were also running late. I got there just as they were starting, my supermom status preserved once again. (Just don't ask Parker how many school programs I attended when he was in elementary school.)

Double, double toil and trouble

On Saturday afternoon, Cameron and I went to buy supplies for our pumpkin-carving family night activity on Monday. We found four really great pumpkins (no, not the Great Pumpkin! What kind of monsters do you take us for?!) By the time we got home, we had decided we couldn't wait to begin our masterpieces (when it comes to art, self-restraint is overrated). Jacob saw what we were up to and joined in.
We chose our designs, then started the messy job of gutting the gourds.
Ever wonder why pumpkin innards are so incredibly slimy? Maybe it's some kind of preservation-of-the-species defense mechanism. It sort of works, too. I would carve ten pumpkins each year if I could bypass that one task--yuck! So you see, there are nine pumpkins out there who owe their lives to my reluctance to get my hands dirty. You're welcome, little pumpkins, but remember: Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Can you say pie?

Two broken saw blades and twenty pounds of pumpkin slime later, we were finished. Jacob opted for a Star Wars theme. The pattern was a little more intricate, and required more time than he wanted to invest, so Darth Vader became a group project: a little Jacob, a little Parker, a little Mom. Voila! The finished product:



















Cameron chose a more traditional Halloween design,


















complete with personalized message:
















Mine, of course, is the one below, thus cementing my standing as the biggest Brit Lit nerd in the free world, a title I proudly lay claim to. Long live the bookworm!

Do as I bid you; shut doors after you ~William Shakespeare

You know those rocks in Death Valley that mysteriously move by themselves? I think the doors on my dish cupboard are related to them. It seems every time I walk through the kitchen, they're open, so I close them. The next time I come through, the doors are open again, so I close them again. I come back, they're open again. I close them again. Open. Close. Open. Close. The only logical explanation I can come up with is the Moving Rock Theory. It has something to do with magnetic fields and reverse polarities and things. So I'm pretty sure that's what's been going on in my kitchen. Unless I'm an unwitting participant in a secret Pavlovian experiment, but if that's the case, shouldn't I be getting some type of reward for shutting the cupboards? Chocolate, perhaps? Or maybe I'm the victim of an elaborate hidden camera practical joke. If so, I require a 70% share of the prize money if your video wins, whoever you are: I know a lawyer-in-training (Hi Matt). The final possibility is that my boys are purposely trying to drive me INSANE! But they would never do that: who would close the cupboard doors when I'm gone?

~o~

The last few weeks have been busy with Parent/Teacher conferences, midterm exams and research papers, Tyler's and Hayden's birthdays, the end of Potato Harvest, the beginning of night school (for Parker), a few sick kids here and there (thankfully no Swine flu, just bronchitis, 48 hour bug, tonsillitis/sore throat/cough/low grade fever) and all the other things that demand our attention. Today was my last fencing class. It turned out to be a whole lot of fun, and great exercise, as well. I'll miss it, but it will be good to have classes just two days a week. And I can get back on my normal running schedule, too. My instructor asked me if I'd like to teach her class for two weeks during Spring semester. I laughed and said, "Wouldn't that require some level of proficiency?" She assured me that I wouldn't have to teach any skills, just supervise the TAs and students. I told her I'd think about it.

Remember about a month when I told you about getting Lois Lowry's business card? Well, I put it to good use: I sent her two e-mails, both of which she responded to, sharing information that I used in my research paper. Sometimes it pays to be forward and presumptuous. :o)

Scents and Sensibility

It is a scientifically proven fact that our sense of smell is a powerful trigger for latent memories. One day last week, my morning run took me past a recently harvested potato field. The scent of freshly turned soil instantly transported me back to a white two-story home on Albany Avenue, where I was once again a seven-year-old girl with smiling eyes, playing in the yard. I remember those days with vivid clarity. It seems the only things I needed to be happy were my imagination and a partner to share the adventure. Most often, this was my younger sister, Deaun. We would spend hours creating our own world from sticks, rocks, and dirt, building tiny cities for the people we had fashioned from bundles of long summer grass. I'm sure we could have chosen a more sensible--and cleaner--way to spend our time, but when you're a kid, being sensible is not a priority.

I have to wonder--does the acquisition of sensibility necessarily have to displace the innocent joy of childhood? When we become adults, are we required to relinquish our carefree spirits as well? If you look at the faces of people waiting in line at the grocery store, the answer would seem to be a resounding YES! But, I believe this is contrary to the teachings of the Savior. Aren't we admonished to "become as little children?" President Thomas S. Monson has encouraged us to "find joy in the journey." Yes, life is difficult, at best. Much of what happens is beyond our control. Many of us have experienced trials that, if given the option ahead of time, we would not choose. But these same trials are often the source of our greatest personal growth. And we can bear them when we understand that we never have to carry our burden alone. We can learn to smile, in spite of our tears. If we make a conscious effort to find something to be joyful about on a daily basis, it will begin to show in our countenance. I am determined to take the prophet's advice. And perhaps, the next time you see me, you'll also see the seven-year-old with the smiling eyes looking back at you.

I'm going to bed, so choose your own title!

Yesterday, I went to the Children's/Young Adult Literature Conference at BYU-I with my friend Kareena--who, by the way, is 9 months pregnant. Every time she made a noise, I found myself looking over the make sure she wasn't going into labor. Good times! Actually, it was a great conference. Lois Lowry, two-time Newbery Award winning author of the Giver, among other books, was one of the keynote speakers. She was very entertaining. After the conference, I had her sign a couple of books for me. I mentioned that I would be writing a paper on examining grief through literature and asked if she'd mind me contacting her if I had any questions (I plan to reference several of her books in my paper). She was gracious enough to give me her business card with her email address and phone number on it.

Parker had one of those all-day dates leading up to the Homecoming Dance, so he wasn't around for most of the day. This left Hayden, Cameron and Jacob to fend for themselves; I was gone from 8 a.m. until nearly 5 p.m. Before I left, I made a bargain with the boys: if they promised to not kill each other, or damage the house in any way, I would take them to see the Disney movie G-Force later that evening--a promise I would come to regret. Don't get me wrong: it served its purpose as a powerful motivator for civil behavior--only one phone call the entire time I was gone, and then only to ask what time I'd be home. The flaw in my plan was the movie choice.

G-Force is about a crack team of highly-trained Special Ops FBI agents who happen to be...guinea pigs. Yup, you read that correctly. And not ordinary guinea pigs--guinea pigs capable of conversing with humans and operating sophisticated electronic equipment.


I'm as willing as the next guy to suspend disbelief when it comes to kid's films, but the dialogue was an endless stream of poorly-crafted one-liners, with little else to redeem it from contention as possibly the worst film of 2009. Simply put, it was painful. Fortunately, I fell asleep, missing a large chunk of the movie. The boys, on the other hand, loved it. Cameron asked if I would buy it when it comes out on DVD. I smiled and said nope. So he and Hayden are planning to pool their resources to make the purchase. Maybe [read hopefully] they'll change their minds.

Parker took this picture for his photography class. I think he did a great job.

Two

Saturday was a day of twos. We traveled two hundred miles in two states(alright, so it was really 199, but I'm going for a theme here, so work with me), saw two people from our ward in a totally unexpected place, rode ski lifts at two different resorts, and drove the Teton Pass two times, all of which added up to a bit too much togetherness for a bunch of boys who are growing too big to ride comfortably in Mom's too-small car.

["He's touching me!"]

The day trip from, er...home began as a simple trip to Grand Targhee to buy our passes for the coming ski season.

[audible cheering from the snowboard crowd]

It evolved into a gigantic loop through Jackson Hole and Swan Valley before eventually making it back to Rexburg. Sunday was Parker's eighteenth birthday--I know, I can hardly believe it either!



So this trek was kind of his party. We went to the places and did the things he wanted to do.

After we bought our passes at Targhee, we rode Dreamcatcher lift so Parker could take some pictures for his photography class. I'm just glad I had enough sense to grab a jacket; it was windy and cold!



I spent a grand total of five minutes at the top before riding the lift back down to the lodge with Cameron and Jacob--this time, armed with an enormous comforter provided by the lift operator for temperature-challenged people like me.

When Parker and Hayden came down the hill, we piled back into the car and drove over to Jackson Hole. We went to Snow King Resort, where we rode the alpine slide.



As I sped down the hill on a tiny sled, hoards of parka-wearing, cowbell-ringing fans cheered me on as I crossed the finish line in record time, taking the gold medal. Oh wait, that was someone else. Never mind. It was fun, though. We stopped at Pearl Street Bagels and loaded up on bagels and cream cheese--yum! If you've never tried them, you should. They have two locations in the Jackson Hole area to serve you, one in town and another in Wilson (they ought to give me free bagels for the free publicity I just provided, don't you think? Feel free to email them with that thought).

Then it was back over the Teton Pass, through Victor, and over the hill for square ice cream cones, a Swan Valley tradition. Believe it or not, that was my first time! The older boys have all been treated to the geometric delight several times; I don't know how I missed out. I guess you had to work with Paul somewhere in Swan Valley to rate the privilege, something I never did. It was there that we saw Gerald and Bryce Stucki; they were camping nearby. After we ate our cones--which, technically, were dinner--we headed home. The driveway never looked so good (well, probably after our trip to Nauvoo it looked better, but you get the picture).

In spite of all the complaints and close quarters, it was a good day. Parker proclaimed it his best birthday party ever. He's grown up a lot in the past two years because of the trials we've been through. I continue to be amazed by the things he's accomplished and the person he's becoming. He must get it from his dad. :o)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

It's hard to believe, but the boys go back to school on the 26Th, and Fall semester at BYU-I starts on September 10Th. Where did the summer go?!? And what do we have to show for our three months of freedom?

Parker has a farmer's tan--literally--and a bit more money in his bank account. Oh, and four fewer wisdom teeth. And shaggy hair (Please let me cut it!) Those of you who have Parker's cell phone number, feel free to send him a text message extolling the virtues of freshly-cut hair.

Hayden, Cameron and Jacob have improved their swimming skills.




(Darin, the phone works great under water. Thanks!)


I had to bribe Jacob with a new Transformer to get him to jump off the diving board, but he did it. Of course, he waited 'til the last ten minutes of the very last day of lessons to do it.

Jacob also played on a soccer team, though I don't know whether he can claim improved skills in that area--he made it to two practices and missed half the games--blame the multiple trips to Utah during July. At least he had fun.

Cameron spent his summer reading--a lot--and built some pretty amazing creations with Legos.

Hayden went to two scout camps, gained some leadership skills, and earned seven merit badges.

Hayden, Cameron and Jacob camped out in the backyard last night. They set up two tents--one for bodies and one for? I came home from visiting teaching this morning to discover this:


and this:

Those monkeys decided to erect every single tent we own!

Tyler, Brandi, and Chloe moved from Idaho Falls to Lyman (just south of Rexburg). Everyone is happy with that decision.


Chloe also spent time learning to sit.



And tip over.



With my bedroom project finished--the one BIG thing on my To Do list that I absolutely wanted to accomplish--I've moved on to the next task: reading my English textbooks for Fall and gathering sources for a research paper I'll be writing. I spoke with the head of the English department today while I was on campus to pick up a student employment form. After I told her a little about myself, she said, "This is the right place for you."

I recognize the incredible opportunity I'm being given to gain practical experience in my field. I am so excited to get started! I know--I'm a nerd, but I'm a grateful nerd. It continues to amaze me how everything has fallen into place, all the pieces coming together to form the ideal situation for me and the boys.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The monument company set Paul's headstone a week ago Friday. We all went to the cemetery after dinner the following Sunday to have a look. I think they did a nice job. It's a little painful to see his name in stone--makes his death very real. Though, every day and every night for the past seven months I've been reminded of how real it is. I'm grateful to know our separation isn't permanent. That would be unbearable.

On the road again...and again...and again...

Over the last few weeks, I have spent more time traveling the stretch of I-15 between Rexburg and Salt Lake than any person in their right mind ought to. I’m not complaining--okay, just a little, but only about the day I got home from Cedar City at 4:00 p.m. then headed back to Salt Lake at 4:30 p.m. To say that we’ve been busy would be a gross understatement. I’ll start at the beginning of our whirlwind travel adventures. (If you’re prone to motion sickness, now would be a great time to grab the Dramamine).

In preparation for serving a mission in a little over a year, Parker needs to have his wisdom teeth extracted. We learned of a clinical trial being conducted in Salt Lake City, where Parker could have his teeth removed--free of charge--by a qualified oral surgeon. Following surgery, he would be given one dose of either an experimental pain medication (combination Tylenol/Advil), an FDA-approved pain medicine, or a placebo drug. He would spend the night at the clinic so they could observe him; then when he went home, he would be required to keep a journal for the following week, recording what, if any, side effects he experienced, as well as tracking the medicines he took (Lortab and Ibuprofen for pain, Amoxicillin to prevent any infection). This sounded like a good deal to Parker--especially when they mentioned he would be paid several hundred dollars for participating.

And so, the travels began. Parker had to go to the clinic for a preliminary interview. Trip number one. He was approved to participate in the study and was scheduled for surgery on a Thursday. We decided to go down early and spend Wednesday at Lagoon. Trip number two. We had a great time at the amusement park. I rode most of the scary roller coasters




with the boys--unless spinning was involved. In my opinion, spinning rides are an open invitation to become sick in a very public arena. No thank you.
Jacob rode the Spider



with the older boys, quickly curing him of any further desire to ride the others--until we talked him into riding the Bat



at the end of the day. I told the boys we needed to leave by eight-thirty that night, as we had to drive to Riverton, where we would spend the night at Danette’s home. They were ready to leave an hour before that, tired, but having satisfied their amusement park needs for the year.

Thursday morning, we drove to the clinic; Parker had to check in at 6:00 a.m. The nurses took care of all the prep work--inserting an IV, taking vital signs, asking questions to make sure he still qualified--then took him into surgery at 8:00 a.m. I took a nap in his assigned room while I waited. The nurse came in at 8:30 to tell me all went well, that he was in recovery and they’d be bringing him to his room in a few minutes. They let me stay for about five minutes after that, so I could see that Parker was okay, then kicked me out. I went back to Danette’s and spent the day with her family and the other boys. I picked Parker up Friday morning around 8:00 a.m. and we drove home.

I spent Saturday doing laundry and repacking to go with Darla to Cedar City to the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Trip number three. Hayden would be at scout camp for the entire week, and Parker would be at home, recuperating. Cameron and Jacob would spend Sunday night with Grandpa and Grandma Carling, then Monday and Tuesday night in Syracuse with the Wilhelmsen cousins. Darla and I would pick them up on Wednesday afternoon on our way home.

Parker’s follow-up appointment at the clinic was scheduled for Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m., the day after I was supposed to get home from Cedar City. I told him to find out if he had to have a parent with him for the appointment, and if not, to find someone to drive to Utah with so I wouldn’t have to make a quick turn around trip. He texted me on Monday with the news that I had to go with him. I called Cathy on Tuesday and arranged for the boys to stay an extra night with her family. As I mentioned before, I got home Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., emptied the dirty clothes from my bag, threw in some clean ones, and was back in the car and on the road by 4:30 p.m. Trip number four. We spent the night at Danette’s, went to Parker’s 8:00 a.m. appointment, picked Cameron and Jacob up from Cathy’s, then headed for home: Cameron and Jacob were starting swimming lessons that afternoon, followed by Jacob's soccer game.

Whew! Now that the travel drama is out of the way, I’ll tell you about the fun part--which, as we all know, means Shakespeare. Darla and I began planning this trip last year, on the drive home from Cedar City. We went to her ward's sacrament meeting on Sunday morning, then headed for Utah. After leaving the boys with the grandparents, we drove south, stopping for a tour of Cove Fort on the way. We stayed that night at the Majestic View Lodge



in Springdale, Utah, which borders Zion National Park. Beautiful room, great location, fabulous views.



We opted not to go to the matinee performance on Monday--the play didn’t sound like one we wanted to see: it wasn’t written by Shakespeare, but Noel Coward. Instead, we hiked part of the Narrows in Zion Canyon, as well as the trail to Lower, Middle and Upper Emerald Pools. Hiking in the Virgin River, in water up to our thighs at times, felt refreshing.



The other hike, not so much--it was 108° when we got back to the car. On the Emerald Pools Trail we barely escaped being struck by a falling rock. It wasn’t big--maybe the size of a baseball--but it would have left a nasty mark just the same.

We felt like we were traveling in Europe: most of our fellow hikers spoke French, German, or Italian. Except, of course, for the lone party of rule-breakers who had trouble reading the sign posted beside the pool at the end of the trail. It said “No Swimming.” They were Americans.

After our hikes, we drove the short distance from Zion to Cedar City, checked into our hotel--another nice place--showered, had dinner at Costa Vida (think Bajio) and went to see The Comedy of Errors. This play was a joy to watch, lighthearted and a lot of fun. The actors had great comic timing. Incidentally, for the second year running, we had seats that were adjacent to those of BYU-I English professors.

On Tuesday morning we went to an informal question and answer session conducted by the director of the literary seminars. This gives festival attendees an opportunity to discuss the play they watched the previous night. It was interesting to hear others’ opinions and insights. After the seminar, we took the scenic drive up Kolob Canyon; it was pretty spectacular.



Back in Cedar City, we grabbed a quick bite of lunch, then went to The Secret Garden. I’m almost ashamed to admit I’ve never read this classic children’s story, let alone seen any of the film versions. It was a musical, and very well-staged. There were several parts that made me cry--the story line hit rather close to home. But I managed to regain my composure before the house lights came up.

We went back to the hotel to rest a little, and so Darla could continue working on plans for her stake Youth Conference. We ate dinner at the Pastry Pub, one of the best restaurants in Cedar City. They serve great salads and sandwiches. And we actually had dessert this time--which is what it was recommended for in the first place. May I take a moment to express my undying devotion to the maker of this delicious bit of culinary perfection:


Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake. Yum!

Following dinner, we made our way to the outdoor theater for the culminating event of our stay in southern Utah: Henry V. This play holds a special place in my heart: it's the one I chose for my final project for the Shakespeare class I took my first semester back to school. I love the story of redemption, how a once-rowdy young man becomes a powerful leader of a nation. One of my favorite parts of the play comes when the vastly-outnumbered English have just defeated the French army. Henry takes no credit for the victory. He tells his men that they won because God fought on their side. Reminds me a little of the stripling warriors story in the Book of Mormon.

As we were walking to this final play, we passed a stand that held flyers advertising the plays for next season. Though the past two years have been the DeLynn and Darla Trip, when we saw the schedule for 2010, we knew we had to make it a Parker Girls Event. Here are the reasons:

Much Ado About Nothing
Macbeth
Merchant of Venice
Great Expectations
The Thirty-Nine Steps
And last, but not even-in-your-wildest-dreams least, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE! Look out, Cedar City, we’re on our way!

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Hard to believe that eleven years ago Monday, I was in the hospital giving birth to a beautiful little boy who would grow to become an endlessly curious, budding scientist and engineer named Cameron. I remember telling the doctor after the delivery that I felt so good, I thought I could run a marathon! I guess more than a decade late and only half the distance is close enough. Thanks for hanging out with us Cam!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

My financial advisor called this morning to say that their company was sponsoring the Idaho Falls Chukars baseball game tonight, and offered me free tickets, as well as an invitation to a barbecue before the game. Not one to pass up an opportunity to not cook dinner--this would make two nights so far this week, with two more to come--I gladly accepted. And I thought it would be fun for the boys to watch a professional baseball team in action, albeit minor league.

Dinner was great--what is it about food cooked outdoors that makes it taste so good?I had a cheeseburger with double cheese, Hayden and Cameron had hot dogs, and Jacob, a hot dog bun--yeah, just the bun. There was also fresh vegetables, potato salad, chips, water or pop, and Fat Boy ice cream sandwiches for dessert--really, a pretty decent meal, especially for the price (free).

After we finished eating, we made our way into the stadium to find a seat (general admission tickets get you bleacher seats, but at least there’s a back on the bench). We sat on the side near the dugout of the visiting team, the Helena Brewers, in order to have the sun at our backs instead of in our eyes. Next time we go--if there is a next time--I’ll likely pay the extra five bucks for reserved seating. We saw a grandma and a middle-aged man threatening each other over the fairness of saving a whole row of seats. I was sure there’d be a fist fight before the end of the night; and I’m pretty confident that the grandma would have won.

I brought a book to read while we waited for the game to begin, though, with all the distractions, I didn’t do much reading. Ironically, its title would prove to be an apt description of the game: The Comedy of Errors. Without going into all the painful details, I’ll just say the Chukars were outgunned.

We left before the fourth inning--for several reasons:

Number One: Seated immediately behind us was a hoard of minimally-supervised (you guessed it, they were with Grandma Ali) eight-year-old boys at a birthday party, all of whom were hopped up on snow cones and cotton candy, which, when taken in combination, disables the volume control in juvenile males.

Number Two: I got tired of fielding requests for the aforementioned snow cones and cotton candy from my own sons. “You already had dessert” isn’t a legitimate reason when you’re a boy between the ages of nine and thirteen. It really stinks to have a stingy and sensible mom when you’re at the ballpark.

Number Three: Honestly, we were just plain bored! When we left, the Brewers were up by seven runs and the Chukars were scoreless, apparently incapable of even getting a man on base, and oblivious to the concept of defense (okay, that last part isn’t entirely true. They did make a triple play, but that was the only exciting thing they did).

Had I paid for the tickets, I might have toughed it out, but the seats were pretty hard, and Cameron did need get to bed at a reasonable hour if he was going to get up in time for Day Camp in the morning, and it was already eight-thirty and only the third inning. And so, personal comfort and logic overruled fortitude and perseverance.

In the end, the Chukars lived up to their name--they chucked the ball past the third baseman, they chucked the ball over the head of the catcher, they chucked their chance of winning that particular game (I hope I don’t wake up in the morning to the news that the Chukars made a miraculous fourth inning rally and pulled off a stunning upset over the Brewers, 36-7, because then I’d have to eat my words--and I’m still full from dinner).

“Happiness is not a destination. It is a journey, pure and simple.” ~ Ivory Soap wrapper

Friday was Jacob’s last day of summer school, and I decided to treat him to a smoothie as a reward for working hard. “I’ve got a surprise,” was all I had told him. We drove east down Main Street, and pulled into a parking space in front of Jamba Juice. I glanced over at Jacob, expecting to see him smiling. His response was not what I had anticipated. In a voice that couldn’t mask his obvious disappointment, he said, “Oh. I thought we were going to test drive a Solstice.” (Ever since he had seen the first Transformers movie, he’d been begging me to take him for a ride in Pontiac’s very cool sports car). We had driven past Erickson Pontiac on the way to Jamba Juice, but I never imagined Jacob would think that was where we were headed.

Following an impulse to make a nine-year-old boy happy--and not knowing whether they actually had a Solstice--I put the car in reverse and drove to the Pontiac dealership. There, on a raised platform for all the world to admire, was a shiny, red convertible--a top-of-the-line, turbo-charged, six-cylinder, leather-trimmed, fully loaded Solstice. Jacob was beaming in anticipation. We walked into the showroom and approached the first salesman we saw. I explained to him that I was on a date with this young man and all he wanted was to have a ride in the car parked out front. He said that could be arranged. He got the key and a dealer plate, and asked if we’d like the top up or down. Jacob and I looked at each other, then said, “Down!” We wanted the full wind-in-our-hair experience.

The salesman carefully drove the car down the ramp to the parking lot, then turned it over to us for a few brief moments of what can best be described as unbridled driving euphoria (I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my parents for not owning any automatic transmission cars when I was learning to drive, otherwise this story would have a very sad ending--the Solstice had a five speed manual transmission). As we pulled out of the parking lot and into traffic, my ears were filled with the sound of joyous giggles--Jacob’s, and mine. We drove along country roads to our home where we could show the car to Hayden and Cameron, then took Highway 20 back to the dealership. As we headed north, I was tempted to turn our short joy ride into a longer road trip to Yellowstone--or maybe even Canada. But we reluctantly returned the Solstice to its rightful owner, got in our rather-tame-by-comparison Hyundai, and drove back to Jamba Juice, where we reveled in the memory of our excursion over postponed smoothies.

The drive had been exhilarating, and the look of pure pleasure on Jacob’s face was priceless. But what I loved most was when he turned to me and said, “Thanks, Mom. You made my dream come true.”

At Last...

After being in the works for months, my bedroom remodel is finally complete. I'd like to thank the following people/businesses who made it all possible:

Tyler, Parker, and Hayden - Heavy Lifting (I doubt I'll get them to move my bed and dresser again--ever. At least not without an industrial-sized crane.)

Carol - Painting Assistance (I ignored your advice, does that make me a bad person?)

Cameron and Jacob - Furniture Rearranging (Little boys with strong muscles!)

All my family and friends - Moral Support
R.C. Willey and Pier 1 Imports - Fabulous Furniture
Kohl's - Great Bedding

I think the final product was well worth the effort.





This is a close-up shot of the faux finish on the walls.



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Cam, Jake and I went to Hayden's Cedar Badge Scout Leadership Training graduation on Saturday at Treasure Mountain Scout Camp, near Grand Targhee. He had a great time, made new friends, and came home mostly in one piece--all in all, a successful week! He went to a movie with Parker later that afternoon, though I don't know how much he actually saw. He admitted to falling asleep part way through it. A week of camping tends to have that effect on thirteen-year-old boys.

Troop Washington - Hayden's troop



Hayden and Reiker. They were assigned to different troops, so they didn't get to spend much time together.



Getting ready to haul his gear back to the car--which was parked about a quarter of a mile away. I was a considerate mom and carried his backpack for him--I've got the bruises on my hip bones to prove it.