Vacation or Bust

After two years of weak-sauce camping (read . . . kids and Ryan in the back yard and me warm in my bed) we decided it was time for a serious car camping vacation. First we stopped at the temple right next to the strawberry patch.

 This was my first trip to Florida and I was expecting exotic fauna and tropical weather. I was not expecting a giant sandbox, but that's what we got. The kids loved it. It did make getting ready for church on Sunday tricky: straight from the shower to the car seat.

A couple weeks before our trip we showed the kids the old seminary video "Spiritual Crocodiles." I didn't have to worry about anyone getting too close to the water after that, especially after we also saw this sign. We loved that video, and Helen astutely pointed out that the kids in the movie looked just like me in our old family pictures. I was so cool in the 90s.

Hitting the trail again. Note the sand and enthusiastic marching.

 Some people like to catch butterflies in their insect nets. Some people like to catch pinecones. Those in the second group seem to be a lot more successful.

Here are the kids wading. I was posted as lookout for alligators. I felt grossly inadequate for an alligator attack. Hence they did not wade very long.

We got to go canoeing! It's so fun to have big kids. The park ranger thought we were a little silly paddling in what appeared to be a water lily farm, but we had a great time. I felt like I was on the African Queen.

Party time at the picnic table.

New favorite dessert,:s'mores made out of striped cookies. Maybe mom forgot the graham crackers. Maybe. No one was too upset this time.

Laurel Falls Hike

The kids have been out of school a lot for teacher development days and flu epidemics. We were all getting tired of being at home together (read - lots of squabbles and fighting). I decided that I would take them on an exploratory hike, to test a trail we have slated for the upcoming Johnson Family Reunion.  It starts out tame enough, as you see here - a little shallow water to throw sticks into.

 Then it gets more exciting, with sheer rock walls to climb between.

 Then there are the rocks to climb on. These slowed us down significantly because Carl couldn't just walk over them, he had to count to three once he climbed on each one and then jump off.

 Things started getting a little hairy here with the bridge 30 feet over the river moving along quickly below. Sorry, no picture of the river, I was trying to keep everyone on the correct side of the bridge.

 Happily we all made it to the other side safely. This was when we were walking along a trail with a 100 foot drop off to the left. Maybe it's not so bad in the summer when all the leaves are covering the fall.

 Here we are at the falls (notice the poses again). Where do they learn this stuff?

 I did forget to mention the 100 foot climb down to the falls and back up again. Carl did much better on the way up since he's been climbing up things since birth really, or maybe even before.

Columbia, South Carolina

A couple weeks ago we took the kids down to Columbia, South Carolina. I took the kids to some of the area parks while Ryan was at the temple. I am not sure where the older girls learned these poses.

 It was so beautiful down there with all the bushes in bloom. I could live in the south forever.

 Please draw your attention to the dried cicada shell on Carl's shirt. It was the "band-aid" we used when he fell down at the park. Worked like a charm.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

This was our big snowstorm of the year (knock on wood)! This great hill is the kids' school playground just down the street. Brilliant of us. 

 On MLK Day we went on a hike with the Finch's. I am not sure how anyone finds this trail, maybe you have to be a native and just find it by instinct. The kids and I got to practice praying while driving lost for 20 minutes. Thankfully the good Lord and a helpful government website got us there.

 Here we are patiently waiting for a pick-me-up, in other words, a sugary snack.

Life is so good with cousins. This was before they started playing ping-pong back and forth with their bodies. That was not a good time in their lives.

It must be my sprinter's instinct, but here we are at the end of the trail and it was the only time I was at the front of the pack.

Is this winter?

Carl was so excited to get involved in Grandpa's new giant dirt pile. This picture was taken before the three inches of clay/mud stuck to the bottom of his shoe.

Playing tug-of-war is super fun. It was my job to advise the kids on how to beat Craig, and lend a helping hand as they needed it.

I don't think we've even put the bikes away this year. Alice and Carl both graduated to bigger bikes. Then if that wasn't enough, they created a serious obstacle course. Carl is "ripping" some 2 by 4's on his saw horse "table saw" in the lower picture. He doesn't let the fact that he has to make his own cutting noises stop him from having a good time.

We got an order of beans and lentils. My helpers were very enthusiastic -- I think I've finally swept up the last of the mess.

Christmas & New Years Family Fun

I think that it's always a good time to make graham cracker gingerbread. Some people who will remain nameless, but wear striped green and white shirts, think they make great snacks. Hence, some buildings didn't make it above the foundation. 

 Ryan figured out how to fit everyone in our house for New Years dinner. We still have one more card table that we didn't use, so at least 4 more people are welcome next year.

 We were able to use those tables for crafting area beforehand. So much fun, so little time.

The First Noel

Happy Birthday Alice!!!

Alice chose to go to our local hardware superstore to build some frames for her daddy-daughter date. She was so excited that she got to go on her birthday no less. That girl knows how to wield a hammer with gusto. 

 I tried something new for Alice's birthday. I let her decorate her birthday cake by herself. Let's hear it for paintable, edible Frozen decorations. I merely watched, and tried to limit the finger-licking.

 We hosted a party for Ryan's work, and even though the food was delicious and the people were great, I am ashamed to admit that I only got a picture of our trash can. It's a little embarrassing, but what a festive trash can!

 Happy Birthday Alice, Ryan and Spencer!

Texas or Bust

Over Thanksgiving we went and visited the Johnson's in Texas. We had a great time gawking at the ducks and making faces at the fish. Carl can do an exceptionally good fish face, complete with gulping down bread sounds.

It's hard to get a good picture of lots of kids. It's even harder to get a good picture of kids facing the sun, nay impossible. 

Here we are enjoying an old trolley ride. 

It's so fun to be downtown on a sunny day!

We were so very excited to go to the Daiso store while we were in Dallas. The anticipation alone got us through the 14 hour drive the day before. It brought back good memories of the Daiso we used to shop at in Japan, where we'd find all of our dollar-store treasures. 

The star of this picture was actually intended to be the heron standing in waterfall. Sadly, he's hiding behind the railing.

We had a great time at the Johnson's! There has been talk among the kids of going back to the central market for more balloons.

The Kitchen is Finished!

It is so nice to have a deep double welded sink! Dish washing is such a pleasure now. We sing like Snow White while we clean because we're so happy. We've got a great marine edge so water just all flows right into the sink, despite our kids best efforts.

The wall below turned out to be my favorite. Our contractor was nervous that the cabinets were not all the same height. But had the cabinets all been the same height we would not have reached any of items in the cupboards without the use of stools, chairs or elephants. Our electrician loved it and said it looked like the Detroit skyline. 

Can anyone see where the chimney used to be beside the fridge? And the inspiration for the color scheme? The best orange clock ever made.

Happy Halloween! Happy Birthday Carl!

 This year the kids voted for Scarlet Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw, Fairy and Fireman. One of the great ironies of life became apparent: if I didn't have kids I would have finished those costumes in one afternoon, but without kids I would never have made them.

How do kids learn how to be zombies? I have no idea. Rest assured that Ryan and I don't wander around the house in zombie style, at least not before the kids go to bed.

Sometimes you get so excited for your costume that you wear it whenever you can. And here is Carl learning a little about fire safety. 

Carl turned three! Ryan and I are still amazed that he is alive and are happy to report that he is not as risky as he used to be, or maybe he is more sneaky about it.

A little know benefit of growing up is that once you're three, the voting volunteers are willing to give you no less than 5 stickers at the polls. Who did we vote for? Our lips are sealed.