Sledding at the Sinks

We finally found out where the "Sinks" are in Logan Canyon in February.

What a cool place....especially if you have teenagers who really want a good sledding hill....and a dare devil 9 year old.

There were snow mobile markers down the main part of the hill. Wouldn't you know it...it became a target without trying. I lost count as to how many times we had a close call with that thing. The first time the kids made a train, Jared being the heaviest was in the back with Victoria in the front. It was so funny because the added weight in the back proved the laws of physics with him sliding faster than Victoria. This meant that their train ended with Jared backwards, head to head with Victoria and Kaleb and Daphne split, holding onto eachother practically going down sideways. And then literally, wrapping themselves around the snowmobile marker.

 There are down sides to a long sledding hill. Like the long walk up, which really wasn't too bad if you were over the age of 10.

 It snowed almost the entire time we were there. We were getting a little concerned that we were going to have to dig the van out. The are where we parked was already pretty deep. I think the new tires on the van helped.

 Here comes Kirk...and his beard.......there he goes! When we got home he asked me to trim his beard. He didn't like how it felt when it blew in the wind. I was glad to see it shorter. I was starting to think that something was hiding in it.

 This is the sign that it is time to go...

 This moose was taking a rest by the side of the road just watching the cars go by. Long ago when we camped in Yellowstone, we kept watching for a moose. I just wanted to see a moose in the wild. Now that we see them often, I am still amazed at these animals. Whenever we drive anywhere, we are always on the lookout for wildlife.

Snow Day!

We had an official snow day. We usually don't get real snow days, where school is cancelled. Not when you homeschool. 

Today our co-op classes at Star Academy were cancelled due to the snow.

We were very sad to be missing all our friends, BUT.....

we had an awesome day watching it snow heavily and doing some sledding!

 I ventured out to see how the sledding was going and immediately thought of Calvin and Hobbes when I saw Victoria catch air on this little jump that they had made previously. They were very pleased to discover that it had iced over and was a little more solid than it had been before.

 I continuously missed the shot on Kaleb. He would get to the bottom and I would say...Uugh, I missed it again! I kept making him run back up to the top and try again. He would walk past me making eye contact with a little grin on his face. I think he was wondering if he should object to one more picture or not. He continued every time.

 Some guy backed his truck right up to the sled ramp that the kids have made. Thankfully, no one slid backwards into his tailgate.

My little daredevil.

 Victoria always makes it well known when she gets tired....dramatically.

 It still amazes me that we live here and how much we just love the snow! I love how it just piles up and covers everything. I don't necessarily like the patch of ice that forms under and around the tires of the van. I have to be careful getting in and out of the van. I almost slid under it one day. I am willing to put up with that. I love how invgorating the cold feels. It doesn't zap my energy.

It feels good!



Playmobil Zoo

We have a house full of creative kids.

And bored at the time too.....

Victoria hounded Jared with what she called an "awesome" idea of building a zoo. He finally gave in and took it far above her own expectations. A perk to having an almost 18 year old brother who still pays attention to you. I absolutely love that. He has a big heart for her.

So here is their creation, along with the help of Kaleb who got in on the adventure.

This was all sparked because we took the Christmas tree down. It was like this open, free space was beckoning to be filled.

 Every exhibit had a story. I think I liked the monkey exhibit the best. They looked like they had hijacked a helicopter.

 There were gift shops too...  and bamboo pencils....

 One of the people fell face first into Shamu's tank......yikes! He is literally in he splash zone.

 It was fun listening to them tell me about each place that they built and what the people were doing at each exhibit.

 Evey zoo needs a farm site and petting zoo.

 Getting the grand tour of this zoo was like taking a short trip in this cold weather we have been having. As a child, I know I would have been lost in here for days wandering through, playing with the animals.

And at the end of the day, I would probably have felt like this too. Laying on my back, watching the clouds go around in circles......



Collection Table

 We have a house full of collectors. I would often find rocks in the washing machine or pieces to a crushed matchbox car in a pocket. Like most kids, mine were always picking up fragments of nature to treasure. There is so much to see here that our nature table has literally grown.

Some have made its way back out from storage like the hummingbirds nest that a dear friend had given to us years ago. Or the snake skin that we found last fall. Most of it is new, like the robin's egg shell that we found and then half was eaten by our dog....off the window sill. Or the thistle flower that we saved with its pretty purple flower petals that went to seed and has managed to blow through the kitchen a few times. Or the curl of wood shavings that Kaleb shaved on a piece of wood while volunteering at American West Heritage Center while using vintage wood cutting tools. I love to see the treasures that are brought home. It reminds me of how incredible God's awesome creation is.

Crimson Trail

I think my favorite thing about where we live is the hiking opportunities that are literally 5 minutes from our house. Okay, well maybe 10 min. I might be exaggerating. And it might be the seasons....it's so hard to decide. I'm not an indecisive person, there is just so many things to choose from, I can't decide. Each season brings something new.

 My other very favorite thing in the whole world is hiking next to water. I miss living next to the ocean so being able to be near moving water is so appealing and replenishing to me. Just the sound alone takes me out of stress and puts me in a place where I can handle just about anything. Well, some things. Whining really gets under my skin.

I am always so amazed at how healthy the lichen and mosses are here. And the variety of wild flowers is just amazing.  I have observed a pretty standard method of hiking with the kids. First of all, Kirk was already working in Texas so he wasn't with us. But it is almost the same each time. The boys in the front with the dogs....Sammy kept high tailing it down the side of the mountain after who knows what. So he was on the leash. Victoria running up ahead with the boys then resting until Daphne and I catch up with her. Then she would run up ahead once again. Her method is completly ineffective for preserving energy but she likes it that way. She's young, so she can climb up hill and chatter and not be out of breath like me if I were to do that. I am usually way behind with Daphne who has an incredible lack of depth perception. She just plugs away at it taking it at her pace which can drive me nuts at time. Alot of times, we hold hands to give her more secure footing and to quicken her pace...just a little. Plus it gives me time to take in the beautiful scenery and take pictures which I love to do. I would like to take better ones.....some day.The boys are patient with us, thankfully. Though I will ask them if they say this...or that...and NO, they hadn't seen a bit of it. I will stop them and make them come back to me to show them something that God has created in all his awesomeness. They say, Oh yeah, and then walk on. Someday I think they will appreciate the beauty in nature. They love being outside and the freedom of the trail as opposed to observing the details along the way.

 I tease Daphne about being last. She doesn't care, she is enjoying every step. She likes it in the back where it is quiet. Since the time she was just a little girl, she has always walked just behind me so she can follow and know where I am. I think now it is habit and easier for her to visually keep an eye on the family.

My boys, up ahead, with a tight rein on the doggies. Hmmm. I wonder why. Sometimes I think that the dogs...don't think. One would be crazy enough to fall off the edge and the other one would be dumb enough to follow. But we still love them with all our hearts!

 Not all of the wildflowers in early June had bloomed. I loved to see the stages that they were all in.

If you aren't familiar with the Crimson Trail it is high. The climb is steep with switch backs and then you hike along the China Wall in Logan Canyon. Victoria was claiming to say that she was scared. It was high, but the trail was wide. I had a hard time believing that she was scared as she is swinging this sunflower around and singing a made up song. Hmm. I didn't buy it but loved on her and encouraged her to calm her fears.She had enough and ran up ahead along this trail that she supposedly was scared on until she reached the boys and then cut in front of them so she was first on the trail.  As we were coming down, which I really think was harder than going up, some college girls were catching their breath under an enormous tree. The boys had already passed them, we could hear Henry whining like a girlie dog wanting to meet and greet them. They asked me if it got easier and was it worth it. I turned toward Victoria who is only 8 years old and looked back at them. Yes, it is worth it, and you can make it. It is beautiful up there. Just enjoy the journey.

Memorial Weekend

 When most people were having BBQ's, we were planting our garden. Kirk was on his way out of town for 3 weeks and we had a very limited amount of time to get certain things done. So, while the girls and I sold shirts at Gardener's Market, the guys of the family layed all the irrigation pipes and made the rows for planting.

 We got it all done in a few hours. The girls planted over 30 seedlings of tomatoes, broccoli and brussel sprouts. We barely had to give direction to the kids this year. They knew what they were doing. Which means that they are now experienced. It is so awesome to have young men and a young lady for children. I never knew they would become the beautiful people that they are now when they were little....except when they start to argue. Then my bubble bursts!

 Daphne, the farmer girl.

Jared got a significant "farmer tan" that day.

Gosh, the garden looks so nice without all the weeds that are going to pop up in this little dirt plot.

Monsters!

 During Spring break, Kaleb and Victoria sewed these adorable Monsters!

Victoria had help with hers(far right) and then she created one completely on her own for Kirk to take to work for his desk(middle).  They turned out so cute. Kaleb has always enjoyed sewing. I'm glad. But then again, I have always sewn with them sitting in my lap watching when they were babies.  I taught them that they can sit and watch but they can't touch. They always did. Or they would sit with my sewing pins with the yellow baubles on the end pushing them in and out of my pincushion. I am sure that I would have freaked people out if they had seen what they were doing. I was a PICU nurse at the time so really I knew the consequences that could have happened.  But honestly, that was the rule, if you want to sit in my lap while I run the sewing machine your hands have to be down. Even as a little baby they did. And the result is they all like to sew, well, Jared just doesn't remember loving to sit in my lap so he wouldn't agree that he can or likes to sew. 

Sledding with Star Academy

 The very end of February brought more snow.

Perfect timing to expend some energy and spend time outside.

Most of us met after classes and spent 3 hours sledding.

It was great to be outside in the crisp air.

While I hung out chatting with the other mothers the kids completely exhausted themselves.

It was awesome!

PE

 We had PE, Homeschool style today.

It warmed up to a beautiful 39 degrees today. I never thought I would say such a thing. But now it is true.  We spent the afternoon at Gibbons Park sledding.

Definately a great way to get in some winter exercise. 

After an hour and a half, Victoria plopped down in the snow and asked if she could put her PJ's on when we get home. that is usually how I know she is tired and has had enough.

Victoria slid right off the edge and onto the side walk....oops.

I am so thankful that my ever growing children enjoy being with eachother.

With the storm this past week that kept us home for several days was driving them to get on eachothers nerves....and mine too.  I didn't think I could stand another day listening to them argue about the most ridiculous things that I have ever heard. And with Kirk gone for week 1 of 4, I felt like it would be an eternity before I have another adult home to have a complete thought with and not become sucked in to the crazy conversations.

This was a great way to expend the energy.  They had a pretty good snowball fight, which I felt was getting a little out of hand, even though there was plenty of laughter. I have learned to yank Victoria out of the way and out of the line of fire of the big kids. It isn't fun being hit with a snowball that my oldest son pelts me with.  He hasn't learned to go easy on his mom yet....hmmm maybe that is more intentional than I think. Either way, they all agreed that they had a great time together and were pleased to be out. The boys coached Victoria on how to slide without flipping over or off her sled. She actually listened to them. It was good to see them play together, no matter how old they may be. 

It was a great day.

Our First Snow!

We set out Friday for Ogden, just an hour away.

Kirk had a resume for some freelance that he wanted to give an architectural firm.

We only made it a mile from our destination when the van completely quit.

Somehow we made it to the shoulder......an extremely narrow one, and called our insurance company for a tow.  I had to laugh when the young man on the other end asked if I had any passengers with me.

Yes, there are 6 of us ..........and.........two dogs!

The guy said Oookaayyy, I might need to call you a taxi as well.

Well, the tow truck was just big enough for us and the two dogs to cram into the cab.  We were all practically sitting on top of eachother.

In the mean time I had called my dear ol' Dad for a diagnosis. 

My hands were a little trembly due to the spot that we were stopped at.  There were huge trucks whizzing past us shaking the van.  I was really nervous but didn't want the kids to pick up on it.

Really, I just wanted to burst into tears but decided to just "suck it up" instead.

So when I heard my Dad's voice I nearly lost it.  I was a little choked but managed to keept it together.

Everything ended up being fine.  We were towed to "Kirk's Auto Care".  Can't beat a name like that.

It was a dirty air flow sensor from the ding dong at Jiffy Lube who didn't seat the air filter properly in Sept!

These were honest guys with a family fun business.

What a relief!

On the way back over the hill from Ogden to Logan, it poured rain.

Then it completely switched.  It was a more silent rain and Victoria said it looked like we were on Space Mountain at Disneyland.  In pitch black we were driving into a snow flurry.  The way the flakes were coming at us, and the way the headlights hit the flakes, it was like we were in a tunnel of lights.

It was really cool but was making me car sick!  Uugh!

Right about then my cousin Kathy called to say it was snowing at her house in Malad.

I had to tell her that we weren't home and that we were driving thru the pass and that it was snowing!

We are loving the weather.

We woke to 2 inches of snow this morning and the boys and Victoria have been outside for the past 3 hours playing in it with the young girl next door, Emily.  They seem to be having a blast and haven't called it quits yet even though I am sure they will come in drenched.

The dogs were estatic when they saw the snow.

They loved ice cubes when we lived in Phoenix.

I think they saw each flake of snow as an ice cube. They spent all their time eating snow this morning. It was pretty funny to watch. 

I just heard that Victoria found a piece of cardboard and is trying to slide on the front lawn.

We are definately from Arizona.

I wonder if it is obvious?

Victoria was out before the sun was shining through.

 They used up all the snow in our yard so they continued their snow ball fight with Emily next door, who is 12, in her yard.  Last I saw they were busy in the front yards and

Victoria was in the back of Kirk's truck getting handfulls to throw. 

She may be 7 but can hold her own with the older kids.

It makes me so happy that they are able to safely spend so much time outside just playing with a neighbor.

Things are different here, and I am so thankful that we followed the Spirit with this move.