National Parks: Part 2

After squeezing in a little time with family we were off on part two of our summer adventure: a 9 day road trip to California!

The long road ahead...

That's right - those are bullet holes.

Lehman Caves in Great Basin - it's amazing.  It was badly damaged before it became a National Park and I can only imagine what it must have been like when first discovered.

The road into Death Valley.  It's a beautiful place.  So big.

Badwater Basin.  Dad's contribution was pointing out that they were walking on salt and encouraging them to taste it - they loved it...apparently unconcerned about how many people had stepped on it before them.

Joshua Tree.  A total surprise - I thought it would be a dud but it is incredible.  If you get an opportunity to go you should - it's otherworldly.

Joshua Tree was a total hit with the kids - miles of boulders and canyons to scale?  Until, Naomi fell on one of the prickly bushes - she did not handle it well :)

A Little Family Time

We had a quick week to spend in Orem with Grandma and Grandpa Draper.  It was great fun - but definitely too short.  We decided that a quick camping trip was in order so we headed off to Payson Lakes.  It was beautiful - but cold!  When the kids left Elisabeth floating in the middle of the lake I had to do a quick swim for her - brrrr...I have definitely softened into a warm water kind of girl.

Grandpa getting the Airstream ready.  This is authentic...old-school style.

Grandpa teaching the kids how to fish...

The boys waiting for their catch...which they were sure would come...

National Parks: Part 1

Part of our big move included Andy and Talmage driving a car full of junk stuff we couldn't live without and Wicket (our dog) to Utah. Some of the highlights:

• Packing literally every inch of a 13 year-old Accord to see if it could make it through a 1600 mile road trip...it did make it but it will never be the same.
• Somehow carving out a space big enough for Wicket to sit on top of...he was able to enlarge his space to include Andy's head and neck at times.
• Apparently a stay at two of the ickiest hotels in America.  Andy says that it is good I wasn't there - yes, I agree.
• Stopping at 4 National Parks.
• A little frustration about the amount of time spent taking pictures (I hear you)
• Lots of great conversations and quality time for the boys.

All in all, I think it was a great experience for the two of them - I hope all of my kids get a chance like this.

 Pooped out.  He was such a trooper - it was a long trip and he didn't complain about anything...except the picture taking.

 I'm not exactly sure what this picture is of...but if I had been there this is the look I would have been giving Andy when he pulled out his camera for another round :)

 If you look you can see Wicket wedged into the back seat - this is how we roll.

Love this pic of the two boys.

A Point of Clarification

My sister-in-law overheard this conversation between Tal, Naomi and her son, Evan when we were in Utah.

(Driving past one of the areas where a wildfire was raging)

Evan: I bet a dragon lives up there on that mountain (of course, where there's fire there are usually dragons)
Tal: No, dragons live somewhere else - not on this earth.  Dragons live in Hell.
Naomi: We're moving to Hell...because we're moving around the world.

Hmmm.  First, where did Tal get the idea that dragons live in Hell?  Maybe 1st grade is full of theological discussions on this topic.

Second, no we are not moving to Hell.  In fact, we are here now and other than being as hot as Hades it's quite pleasant.

Just to clarify.

Housekeeping

Just to document that we did survive the end of the school year...

Naomi's last day of Kindergarten with Mrs. Steadman.  It was a great year!

Calvin celebrated his 4th birthday!  We decided to go all out with a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese (which of course I got no pictures of).  He, of course, got sick about half way through the party but apparently it was still a hit - he talks about it all the time :)

Beti got dragged through it all.  She was a trooper but some days were more desperate than others.

Beautiful girls at Naomi's dance recital!

Calvin and Carter hanging at Ikea.

Terrible picture but wonderful teacher.  What a blessing Mrs. Edson was for us this year! 

Best friends right before we said goodbye.

Tal also had his first piano recital and like a good mom I forgot my camera.  I did get it on video but the sound wasn't working so it was a total loss :(

Seriously.

On the way to the gym today...

Tal: Speed Limit 45 miles per hour. Slow down mom. Slow down! Slow Down!

Me: (Okay, starting to get irritated) Why Tal?

Tal: There's a sign that says slow down. You don't need to read the signs the rest of the way, I'll read them for you. 45 miles per hour. Crosswalk. One way. 45 miles per hour. 45 miles per hour. Stop. Lakeshore. Watch for standing water. Watch for ice on the bridge. Ice on the bridge. Ice on the BRIDGE! 45 miles per hour.

Naomi: Why do you keep saying 45 miles per hour?

Tal: Because its the best speed. Right mom?

Calvin: 45 miles per hour.

Naomi: Stop sign.

Talmage: One way. 45 miles per hour.

Calvin: Green Light. Red Light. Orange Light.

Our Modern Family Moment...

Last week after school Tal shared a new discovery with me.

Tal: Mom, I know why we're not supposed to point.

Me: Oh really? Why?

Tal: Because it means shit.

I laughed. I know I shouldn't have but it was really funny. Really, really funny. After I got it together, I explained to him that that is not what it means and explained a little about why we don't point and why we don't say that word. His response? Well, that's what all the kids in my class think it means. Nice. Really, nice.

It reminded me of another time last year. We were all sitting around watching a movie and out of nowhere...

Naomi: What the hell is that?

Andy and I: (dumbfounded silence and then...we laughed)

She did not like that at all. Apparently, an overly sensitive, highly emotional 5 year old girl does not appreciate being laughed at. But. It was funny.

I think the reason it is so funny is that my kids are clueless about cuss words so they just stick them into sentences randomly and completely nonchalantly. Good times. And funny. Really, really, funny.