The Narrows, etc.

We took a trip to Utah in June this year, over Father's Day weekend.  I was thrilled it worked out for me and two of my sisters to hike the Narrows in Zion National Park with my dad while we were there.  We got a couple rooms at the Super 8 in Hurricane and stayed the night before so we could get a morning start.  The hike was spectacular!  The water (which you're in most of the time) was about knee deep and cold, but with the air temp in the 90s and the shade of the cliffs, it was perfect. I shouldn't have chosen yoga pants to hike in though, as they almost immediately got heavy and annoying. There are times when a girl should just get over the varicose and spider veins on her legs and wear short shorts, you know?

Dad and me (with rolled-up pants):

The rest of the group.  The sister in the middle found out she was pregnant with her first baby shortly after we returned.  Good thing she wasn't vomiting and extremely fatigued yet: 

Stopped for a snack in the shade:

We took so many pictures that I started encouraging ones with goofy faces to add variety:

We stopped at a cemetery in Rockville near Zion where my remarkable ancestor Jane Johnston Black is buried.  We also went to the Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore, Utah and saw her portrait:

  

Our drive from California to Utah with the kids was the best we've ever had.  Sister was entertained enough by electronics and her brothers that I didn't have to sit in the back with her.  I was feeling kind of smug and thought, "Look!  We can take vacations now!"  But the drive back proved me wrong.  Sister threw up all over herself about 2 hours in, I think from being motion sick.  We stopped at a bathroom in the Salt Flats and cleaned up the best we could. 

After lunch, 2nd Brother wouldn't stop making goofy noises and bugging Sister when we were trying to do a quiet hour.  We stopped the car and made him sit alone in the back, but he continued to be obnoxious and unbuckled his seat belt, so we stopped yet again, and he had a time out in the dirt while the rest of us sat in the car and Sister woke up from her too-short nap.  Blerg!  Dealing with him was one of the most frustrating parenting experiences I've ever had.      

To end on a happier note, here are the kids with their two great-grandmas and with Grandma and Grandpa:

Modern friendship

This is what 8-9 year old boys do as friends in 2014:

At least they are playing video games while physically in the same room with each other. A couple of months ago, 1st Brother played Minecraft with a friend online..and the friend lives ACROSS THE STREET ("We can each have our own big screen" was the explanation). That and it would have been hard to walk 40 steps to the other person's house, I guess.

Sometimes I decorate

My mom and grandma came to visit for Mother's Day, which motivated me to do something with our family room mantel that had been empty for two years.  I didn't just want to throw crap up there to have it done, I wanted it to be stuff I liked a lot and/or that meant something to me.  I was thrilled to find the antique Staffordshire dog figurine on eBay, just like the ones in old houses I like to walk through.  The orange pots match the chairs and mobile at my kitchen table (Ikea), I just liked those balls made of metal straps (Target), and I'm really lucky to have a friend who took pictures of our kids that are display-worthy.  And finally, I purchased a real toad skeleton to represent my love of the quirky and spooky.  Here's a closer view of my $50 purchase:

I got the skeleton from The Bone Room in Berkeley (insert joke here), which I happened upon after visiting a children's consignment place a couple of stores down.  

I had to walk through quickly while carrying my squirming toddler and sternly telling my 4-year-old not to touch anything, but I went back with 1st Brother and was able to spend more time fully taking in how awesome it is.  These are actual human skeletons that cost several thousand dollars:

 The fibulas by themselves were a little more affordable:

The teeth, claws and vertebrae of various animals were available for purchase too: 

I didn't end up with the bat skeleton I originally came back for. Ultimately my favorites were the pigeon and the toad; I haven't regretted my decision.

2nd Brother is 5

Here's our newest 5-year-old. The jokester expression captures his personality pretty well right now:

A few things about 2nd Brother this year:
     -He's a major talker (to me and others he's close to).  When there aren't words coming out of his mouth, he's making silly noises and faces that sometimes have me exclaiming under my breath
     -He often puts his clothes on backwards.  He's gone to preschool a couple times with shirt and shorts that have tags in the front without me realizing
     -He's very coordinated and athletic - great on his Ybike scooter, pretty remarkable throwing arm, good at swimming and diving for toys
     -He's really patient with his sister and likes to entertain her and the other ladies.  One day he told me about making some girls at preschool laugh by having a Tigger figurine take a taste from a toy honey pot and say, "Blech!"
     -He LOVES hanging with 1st Brother's friends.  They're generally inclusive but can tease, and it's heartbreaking to see him try to keep up or get their attention
     -Maybe it's because of his little brother status, but he's a lot more emotional than 1st Brother at this age.  He still has some decent fits and can have a defeatist attitude saying, "I don't know how to do that/where that is!" and run away to curl up on the couch when asked to do simple things.  At the same time, he can have spurts of being really helpful and sweet
     -He loves music and will ask me to turn it up in the car.  His favorite has been will.i.am and Britney Spears' "Scream and Shout" song.  He was humming the chorus to "Centerfold" while zipping around on his scooter one day, and another time I overheard him singing "He's John the Baptist" to the "Moves Like Jagger" chorus

We did a small party again this year with 3 friends who jumped for an hour at a trampoline place, then we went to a pizza place for lunch, Krispy Kreme donuts, and gifts.  Nana was in town, so that made things extra great.

Clifford's Visit

Clifford came to visit us from 2nd Brother's preschool class. He watched himself on TV:

Observed at swimming lessons (2nd Brother has been going once per week for about 5 months and is doing great!):

Played ball tag on the trampoline:

And attended 1st Brother's Cub Scout Pinewood Derby where his car took 4th overall and won many races. (I had told 1st Brother not to worry if his car wasn't very fast.  "It's our first year and we'll probably learn what we want to do differently next time," I said.  It's nice when you prep your kid for failure then are pleasantly surprised):  

Thanks for giving me a homework assignment, Clifford!

Two Baseballers

Both Brothers are playing baseball this year.  Baseball is big in our city, and even 2nd Brother gets an official uniform as a 4-year-old t-baller (cleats not pictured as they hadn't arrived thru eBay yet):

My husband and I had some lively conversations about 2nd Brother playing this year.  I think it's pointless to sign kids up for team sports until they're about 6.  Most don't have the coordination, concentration or desire to justify the hassle, and I was not thrilled about potentially having 2 games per Saturday on our calendar.  But my husband felt strongly and volunteered to coach, so I let it go.  2nd Brother can hit and throw pretty well, plus he stays on task during the combined practice and 3-inning game.  He doesn't wander off to play in the trees, cry, or refuse to bat, and he knows not to field his own hit and stay on a base when he gets there, which puts him ahead of the curve. 

1st Brother has had a great season.  I've legitimately enjoyed watching his games, and he's been getting some great hits batting right instead of left this year.  He's been involved in a double and triple play in the outfield, and it's exciting to see things clicking for him.  Overall he's still indifferent and has complained about practices a bit, but there have been times he says he really likes playing.  We'll probably let him decide if he wants to continue next year when he'll move up to kid pitch.         

Time to celebrate

National Safe Digging Month - yay, yay!