Wasabi Yucks

It had been a while since we had played the flour-game; so when one of my kids suggested we play it last Friday night, we did.  It's definitely fun!  Here is a video shot afterwards:

Awesome.

Last Day of School, 2014

(The markings on his face were done the previous night at a Cub Scout Pack Meeting.  Miles wanted to keep them on for school.  Whatever.  :)

Wiser, perhaps, but not necessarily a better speller . . .

I saw a cute and simple teacher-gift on Pinterest and so I had the kids make one for their teachers.  We stuffed them with some chocolate.

(To understand my title, check out Miles' - on the right.)

Post-library Syndrome

This is what happens when the kids come home from school and see that Lucy and I have been to the library and checked out new books:

Oldie

Wilson turned 12 last Saturday.  It was quite a busy day and so nothing was done to celebrate.  Wilson was highly offended.  So we promised to make it up to him on Monday night.  We took Wilson on a walk for our FHE and had cake.  Well, people had cake - Wilson had gross dog treats that he seemed to love.

 His cake.  Well, our cake to honor him.  :)

Not a super great picture, but I couldn't keep him from moving and licking up all the milk that Emmy had spilled. . .

A video:

Wilson is a great dog, really.  We're lucky we've had him for 12 years!

The Elder who started it all . . .

We were oh so privileged on Sunday afternoon to have Elder Koyle and Elder Merrill stop by our home.  They are both APs in Grand Junction and were passing through on official mission business.  :)  Both Elders served in our ward - but not at the same time.  They are super fantastic young men and we truly love them - some in probably a different way than others. . . :)  Elder Koyle was my girls' first missionary-crush.  Big-time.  Remember how Emmy was telling him why she loved him so?  "Go look in the mirror and you'll know."  Pure awesomeness.

When they came over the boys were all out doing some home-teaching.  So we chatted for quite a while on the porch.  Finally the boys came back.  Miles invited them for dinner and they accepted so it was a great evening.

What a bunch of handsome men surrounding two beautiful girls.  :)

Super Busy Saturday Morn!

Well we had a fun and busy morning today.  I started it off by running my 3rd Black Canyon Ascent.  It's a 6-mile, 2,000 elevation climb run.  I always liken it to childbirth:  it's painful, yet I keep doing it.  Although I'm done with childbirthing . . . so maybe I just need to run it once more to call it even.  :)

It's definitely one of the hardest runs/races I do.  It's all up-hill, quite up-hill, until mile 5.  Then there is some flat and a down-hill or 2, but still up-hills, too.  I'm happy with my time (74 minutes) - even though it's 2 minutes more than my last 2 years.  One thing, I guess, that I am proud of myself is that I actually run the entire thing.  Slow and steady, sure, but I don't walk.  Many people do and so I guess that is cool (I can't think of quite the right word I want to use) I don't.

I rode up with 3 other gals - all from school.  They are fun ladies and it was fun to be there with them.  My family drove up later and passed me around mile 5.5 or so - it's always so good to see them!  It's fun and I'm glad that Ben drags everyone out to cheer and support me.  :)

We hung out for a bit afterwards, but had to miss the awards and raffle drawings since we had soccer games to get to.

Emmy's and Jonas' last games were today.  Emmy's game was at 10:30 and Jonas' at 12.  We had a picnic lunch in between - oh, and I also drove home to get Jonas' shirt and change.  The games were fun to watch.  Emmy's team won it's first, only, and last game!  It was great and Emmy had a few almost-goals.  :)  Jonas' game was good, but I think that right now soccer is definitely not in Jonas' future.  That might change, but right now that's pretty much the case.  He still had a fun season, though, and I'm glad both kids tried it this season.

Then we came home and have been working in the back - expanding our chicken run area so that we have Happy Hens.  Jonas and I played a little badminton - well, just hitting the birdie back and forth to each other.  Our best volley was 9 - which we got a few times.  Our goal is 10 someday.  :)  Ben is still out working, but I was ready for a shower!  Anyways, a good day and here are some pics:

 Here I am finally running on some flat road!  Yippee!

Me and 3 of my kids running to the finish line.  Fun!

Me and my good friend Patty.  Patty works at the school's health center and is Jonas' best-friends's mom.  She's pretty wonderful.

Emmy in the game!

Go, Emmy, go!

Emmy and her trophy.  She had a good season!

Oops, Jonas missed that one.  :)  Oh well.

He looks like he's concentrating hard - just not sure what about.  The soccer game?  Perhaps, but not likely . . . :)

The last game we always promise the kids a treat at the concession stands.  Lucy has been excited about the "last soccer game!" all week long.  This might have been her first cotton-candy experience.

The Last Hurrahs!

Well the kids are winding down their school year.  They have, including today, 3 1/2 days left of school.  So crazy!  There have been lots of field trips, park trips, etc. going on these past couple of weeks.

Just this week Miles had a field trip to a park - with many activities and stations all about water.  Miles also had a "wax museum" event one night.  Jonas went to Ridgway State Park and will go to the park today.  Emmy went to the park yesterday and got pizza for lunch.  I think they've all had their special root-beer float day at their school's library.  So it's been busy!

Here are a few pictures I've gotten this week:

Here is Jonas playing some water-relay at Ridgway.

Here you can see Lucy and Jonas playing a game of tag - prey and predator tag.  The predators wore orange flags and tried to get the yellow (rabbits) and black (mice) flags.

Lunch time with Ivan.  Patty - Ivan's mom - is hiding behind Ivan.  :)

Lovely Lucy.

Our little group that we took on a "hike."  It was pretty there!

Proof that Lucy still needs a nap - because this is what happens when she doesn't get her scheduled one.  :)

Miles at his grade's "wax museum."  Live wax museum.  :)  The kids all studied and researched some famous Coloradans.   He chose Daniel Cheeseman Oakes.  I'm not sure why?!  But the man was a business man and opened up the first sawmill in Denver, among other things.  The kids dressed up and then parents walked around - the kids would then tell a little about their characters.

Miles with his fellow classmate Mackie, aka Chipeta.  I think Miles is the shortest boy in his grade and Mackie the tallest girl - well, probably tallest overall!

Miles with another fellow classmate, John, aka John Elway.

Next week the kids go Monday, Tuesday (field day) and then their last day is a 1/2 day on Wednesday.  Wowzers.

Goodbye Parakeet Bearakeet

Well, sadly, Parakeet Bearakeet passed away while we were gone in Mesa Verde.  Ben noticed the bird's demise when he was putting the girls to bed on Friday night.  We told Miles a little bit later.  Miles was definitely very, very sad and teared up quite a bit.

Miles got Parakeet Bearakeet 4 1/2 years ago from Santa on Christmas day.  He was a chirpy and contented bird.  It's sad that he's gone - but especially just sad for Miles to lose his pet.

We had a little funeral for him in our backyard on Saturday afternoon:

Miles choose a good spot to bury him in our backyard.

 Miles was adamant that we didn't just bury his body in the ground without some type of casket-thing because Miles knew the body would decompose and then then "there wouldn't be anything left of him."  Very sweet.  So Miles found this jar and it was perfect.

A sad boy.

An even sadder girl.  Well I'm not sure if she was more sad, but she was definitely more emotional!  :)  Sweet girl.

Miles wanted to put Parakeet Bearakeet's bell in with him because he loved it so.

Filling up the grave.

Unfortunately, death is just part of life.  Miles planted some wildflower seeds near the "tombstone."

Mesa Verde

Miles' 4th grade class went on a field trip to Mesa Verde.  I decided to be a chaperon.  Frankly, I thought they would need me - but there were quite a lot of parents there!  Which was really good and helpful to the teachers.  I think there turned out to be about 45 kids and 15 adults (parents, 3 teachers, PE teacher, and principal).  My parents were kind enough to come out and watch my other kids for me while I was gone.

We left Thursday morning by about 9:15.  By the time we turned off at Ridgway we were in white-out snow conditions.  It was quite crazy.  And freezing!  And none of us had planned for snow-conditions.  I was getting a little worried.  We stopped at Telluride for a bathroom break and it was 30-something degrees and blizzard snow.  So cold.  Then we stopped at Dolores for a lunch and play break.  Again, it was freezing!

After forever, we made it to Mesa Verde.  We got out and started getting a few directions and instructions.  Then it started hailing on us!  We all ran inside to the visitor's center.  We walked around there, checking out the exhibits and such, then headed back on the bus to go on a hike.  We actually had decent weather (not warm, but not snowing or hailing, so we were happy!).  The hike was fine.  Nothing too exciting, really.

We finished up that day by doing some singing activities at an amphitheater and then heading back down to Cortez.  We stayed there at an elementary school in their gymnasium.  We got to the school, unloaded our gear, then went and played tag in the field (I was still freezing.).  The kids looked like they had a lot of fun.  Then we had pizza for dinner, more playing for the kids on the playground, then in to the gym.  There were a few other activities for the kids that evening and then around 10 pm lights were finally off.

Girls slept on one side of the gym, boys on the other.  It went pretty well - there was not much talking among the kids.  But just lots of noises - moving, shifting around, coughing (mostly fake I'm sure), etc.  I slept like I did when I camp:  waking up every 2 hours trying to find a more comfortable position.  :)  We were awakened at 5:45am to Olaf singing about summer-time.  :)

Friday morning we packed up, ate breakfast, and headed back to Mesa Verde.  Our first stop was the Spruce Tree house.  We divided in to 2 groups and my group roamed the little museum.  Then we got to hike down to the dwelling.  It was cool.  Miles loved it - especially going down in to a kiva.

We came back and then went to Cliff Palace.  We again divided in to 2 groups - one group stayed at Cliff Palace and the other went to Balcony House.  Unfortunately, Miles and I were in the group at Cliff Palace.  (I was "over" 4 kids, Miles being one of them.)  Cliff Palace was cool, but the tour guide wasn't super friendly, didn't seem to like kids, and didn't really leave any time for exploring the area.  Kind of lame, but still it was cool to see.  Then we waited for our bus to come back with lunch and to take us to Balcony House.  But there was a mix-up/miscommunication and our group ended up waiting for 1 1/2 hours until our bus came back.  The poor kids were starving, but did well and just played, sang songs, etc.  The other group finally made it in the bus and our kids got to eat.  But our group had missed our scheduled tour for the Balcony House and so were weren't able to do that one - which is the cool one with huge ladders to climb, caves/tunnels to crawl in, etc.  Bummer.  So while the other group did Cliff Palace we went on the bus and drove to a few quick get-out spots.

Then back to pick up the other group and head back home.  Mind you, there were about 15 bathroom breaks taken on this trip - which, with so many people, would end up taking 30 minutes.  We headed out about an hour late, and so arrived back in Montrose at 8:15.  Jonas was on his bike with Grandma Dixie there, too.  We walked home, got some dinner, talked about our trip, hugged the girls, saw the awesome home-improvement project Ben had started for my Mother's Day gift, etc.

I think the 4th graders had fun.  But it was also a lot of sitting on the bus, listening to rangers, etc.  I think it needed a little more hands-on activities.  But, overall, it was a good field trip.  I'm glad I got to go.

Here are some pictures.  I had given my camera to Miles and let him take whatever pictures he wanted to.  He got lots of weird shots, but that's Miles for ya.  I won't post most of them here, don't worry.  :)  I think I'll have them all printed out and he can put them in a little scrapbook.  Anyways, here are some:

Miles' good friend Malachi on the bus ride over.

Snowy, snowy!

 

A picture of a rock Miles liked on our hike.

Malachi and Miles enjoying some snacks after the hike.

 Playing a crazy game of tag where everybody is it.  Last one standing is the winner!

Another picture of tag.

 

 A not-so-good picture of Miles, but shows he sleeping arrangement.  :)

Breakfast time!

Spruce Tree House.

Miles standing next to a kiva.

Miles liked to poke his camera through the holes and take pictures.

Down inside the kiva.

Cliff Palace.  The largest dwelling at Mesa Verde.

More Cliff Palace.

The only picture of me.  :)  Miles was inside the bus - I was holding off for as long as I could.  :)

The 4th grade group and their teachers!