monarch caterpillar

Isn't this Monarch caterpillar beautiful.  My neighbors milkweed garden is full of them.
Its always amazing to me that I can revel in the incredible details of creatures as small as these.

Nostalgic

Brennen was feeling very nostalgic today.  He begged me to let him watch the home movie I made for last Thanksgiving.  After watching that 10 times he wanted to watch the Father's Day movie a made a few years ago.  He just kept hitting replay over and over again laughing each time.  Then he settled down with my blog book and fell asleep with it. I think this guy has an old soul.  I see more and more of my dad in him everyday.  The interesting thing is that my dad loved history.
At times like these I realize how important it is to have a journal. Journaling was something that I always knew I should do but hated doing it. Yet there it was, still hanging over my head taunting me.  I read my grandmothers and grandfathers journals just devouring them.  After I finished I thought, "I should be doing this."  But I never could get into the swing of things.
When we moved to California I needed a way to let my family know what was going on in our lives without making 100 phone calls.  (I have a large family) and I could never remember who I told what to, and I was always flooding their email with pictures. That is how this blog came to be.  As I look back on it, I am so grateful I did it.  Sometimes it nags at me chanting "update me, update me.  think of all the things you've done and it not written down.  Remember when so and so said that funny thing?  Your going to forget it."  So I begrudgingly steal the computer back from my children and try my best to add to it. Once I get going its enjoyable to me.  I can relive those special moments in time.
Now, I have family expecting me to record things and events.  Sometimes I think, "why don't you do it? Your experiencing it too.  When did I become the family historian?"  This is funny because really I have always hated history.  Now look who I've become.

Separation Anxiety

With all kids in school all day poor Peter is at a loss.  He has become the most moody he has ever been and needing to know where I am at ALL times.  I literally can't walk 3 feet with out him on my heels.  I think he is suffering from separation anxiety.  Now that his partner in crime (Brennen) is gone for what seems like an eternity to Peter, he is having a hard time functioning.  

I was getting really frustrated with this new behavior.  It is quite suffocating when you have to have someone ALWAYS right there. I am literally tripping over him.  If I don't want him clinging to me I have to explain in detail what I am doing or where I am going, even if its just in the basement.

The other day he watched me walk downstairs to put something away.  I decided to straighten up a little while I was down there and he freaked out.  He was screaming my name running all around upstairs and outside looking for me.  He didn't hear me yell that I was still downstairs.  When I came back up he was sobbing outside.  I finally taught him to look for my car in the garage.  Chances are if its still here, I'm still here.  Now that's the first thing he does when I am not in sight.

I realized this little guy needs some quality one on one time, and I had to think back of what I did when I just had one.  So we went to the park to enjoy these sweet moments of childhood that seem to go way too fast.  I need to remember that all too soon he will be gone as well and that I need to savor these moments.  The house can wait.  I need to play with my Peter Pie. 

Now if only he would let me go to the bathroom. . .    

State Fair 2013

I thought this was funny
Why yes I can drive a stick

a clever idea for a chess set

My boys thought this was So Cool.  They were sure it was a robot

It's that time again, the Utah State Fair.  Time for carnies, W.T's (white trash), junk food, arts and crafts, not to mention the animals.  The day we had planned for the fair, mother nature had a rain shower planned.  As we got closer to the fair grounds Scott asked, "well what do you think?"  I said "lets go for it.  It's going to rain but think it will only rain for a short while."  I came prepared.  I packed every one's jackets with the exception of Ellie's.  I accidentally packed 2 for Will and none for Ellie so I sacrificed mine.  I also packed the umbrella's, whats a little rain?  As soon as we got there we let the kids choose their rides.  We usually do this at the end but I was thinking, it is going to rain and they might not get the chance.  It was a good decision.  William really wanted to go on this boat ride but no one wanted to go with them.  Scott's tummy was feeling a little rumbling from the night before, Ellie didn't want to waste her tickets on that particular ride.  Brenny and Peter were too small to go, so I offered to go with him.  He was nervous but determined.  I am so glad I had my phone in my pocket to capture this moment.

Williams face just before the ride started

the boys ogled this kinex masterpiece

Immediately after the rides it started to rain, and I don't just mean sprinkle, it started to pour buckets.  We popped open the umbrella's and headed for the indoor activities.  I was secretly grateful.  My favorite part of the fair is seeing all the arts and crafts people have created.  I am not talking about the booths of things for sale, I am talking about the ones who entered their art to win.  Often times I don't get to see everything because the rest of the crew is board or anxious to do something else.  This year I got to see every last one of them, and the kids didn't mind either.  I think my favorite piece was an ocean landscape of mixed media.  I could definitely have purchased it to hang in my home.  As I walked through the photography I realized the most amazing pictures were of things God had already made amazing, someone was just lucky enough to capture it on film.  Or do we say memory card now?  Still it was appreciated.

 After the arts the rain let up a bit and decided to try an infamous deep fried Twinkie.  This is the point where Peter had a meltdown. Apparently an outing is not complete with children until one has a meltdown.  It was all over the fact that he wanted to hold a twinkie himself but not eat it and not share it.  After trying to reason with him he threw it on the ground and I took him to time out. (this was the video I posted on facebook).  Once the meltdown subsided we checked out the animals.  Oh the animals, my kids wanted one of each one they saw including the cows. I have to admit I love the animals too.  I am happy to report that this year there was no mistaken identity of animal species.
As we walked the fair grounds I couldn't help but have flashbacks of when I came here with my dad.  Always wanting new knives or his sharpened and always trying out some fudge.  Such a silly thing but I remember those times like it was yesterday.
The last thing was checked out was the Wizard building.  There was lots of hands on activities for the kids and a bench for Scott to sit down and rest.  I think the thought of all the germs was too much for him.  The kids spent at least 20 minutes on the nail wall itself then we tried out the massive bubble wands.
I do have to say the grate thing about the rain is that it was just enough to drive off all the crazies and scantily clad crowd that is usually drawn to these kinds of things.  In actuality it only rained for an hour and during that time we just did the things inside the buildings.  It was really quite pleasant.

Comic Con/ Geek of the Week

Scott was very brave and took our kids to Comic Con with our brother-in-law and his boys.  I was secretly grateful I didn't have to go.  I love my nerdy herd but someone has to keep the nerd/ normal balance and apparently I have drawn that straw.  (I may have cheated on picking that straw.)  When the cousins came by to pick up everyone they were in costume so then my crew had to have costumes.  It was a mad dash to the dress ups but they each pulled something out that would work.  I will go as far as saying this entire post could be part of the Geek of the Week for the subject alone.

They said it was incredibly crowded.  But what do you expect where you go to an event in Utah where the kids are free.  There are bound to be thousands of them. I think it took them an hour just to get in.  The poor Comic Con people didn't realize how many nerds are in Utah and they WAY underestimated the masses of people.  

When I asked the kids what the coolest thing was they said the Incredible Hulk balloon man. Of all the things that is what stuck with them.  

Ellie my nerdiest of all commented to no one in particular in a slightly sarcastic tone, "look at all these crazy nerds here!"  To which my brother-in-law Jared answered, "Ellie, WE'RE here!"  . . . Bazinga.

There were lots of people in costumes and some were actually pretty cool. The boys drooled over the massive Lego city mentally taking notes for their next creation.  Scott and Ellie love the Lord of the Rings display, and everyone came home absolutely exhausted.

 Can I officially say it now? . . . What a bunch of Geeks.  But I still love them.

Back to School

Back to School.  Oh my I can't believe how big my children are getting.  William is now in the 4th grade.  The 4th grade! how did that happen.  Ellie is now in the 8th grade (one of my favorite grades growing up.)  It was my favorite because my best friend Kortnee and I were in almost all the same classes together.  Also all of our teacher decided to sit the students in alphabetical order so, Kortnee Wright and Jane Wright(no relation)  were never more than an arms length away.  IT was awesome!  

My little Brenny is in the 1st grade.  My babies are growing up.  I tried to walk them to school but they really didn't need me.  I followed anyway to guide them to their classes.  Williams reply was "I got this mom you don't need to take me." Ellie wouldn't even let me get out of the car.  I went to park and she said, "Mom, what are you doing?  just drop me off."

Brennen noticed I was feeling useless and had pity on me.  After thinking it over he allowed me to take him to his classroom  and say goodbye.  I was grateful for that. I didn't realize that I would feel this way.  I was thinking of all I could do with this extra time. With only Peter at home I am finding myself at a loss.  What AM I supposed to do with my days?  What is going to happen to me when Peter starts to go to school?  I've been a mom for so long I don't know what else to do.  

I think Peter is feeling it as well because all of the sudden he has this separation anxiety.  I went downstairs to put something away and he freaked out.  He must always have me in his sights or he is distraught. It's getting a little suffocating.  I must learn to enjoy this time together.

On the second day they just left out the door with a quick bye mom.  I realize I should feel proud that I am raising such independent children that can do things for themselves and are not afraid of the world.  It will just take some time getting use to.

Geek of the Week

Whew, It's getting harder and harder to get the computer to do updates on this blog.  Between 4 kids and my Hubby, it seems like its never free.  When it is free I am too busy to post.  Oh well such is life.
I am starting off with our Geek of the Week.  This Peter Pie I tell you sometimes I think he is the cutest thing other days I am ready for a break.  He is in the grumpy stage that is just frustrating.  He is also Mr. accessories.  Notice the watch.  This boy always wants to wear a watch, when he forgets it he throws a tantrum.
This particular day he was cute.  The cape is a bib from Joe's Crab Shack then he has the scooby doo roller skates complete with goggles.  But hey HE thinks he's cool.