Trains

We live in a town with a lot of railroad history.  This past week, Union Pacific celebrated 150 years here, and they held a little event to celebrate.  Several large passenger cars had been brought in, which we were able to go through.  We also visited the old train depot, which speaks volumes of history with old wooden, high-backed benches and the worn tiles on the floor from so much foot traffic.  

However, my children's favorite part by far, was riding on the model train, which was just their size.  Trust me, they whined the entire time they had to wait for their turn, but the all agreed that the 5 minute ride was well worth the wait.    

Pioneer Trek

I had the incredible experience recently to go on a pioneer trek with the youth in our ward.  I admit that I was dragging my feet a little to go, simply because of the time commitment involved.  I am so glad I made the sacrifice to be there. 
We drove about an hour from home to a small pioneer town called Chesterfield, Idaho.  Many of the original buildings still exist and it was fun to imagine what life would have been like for those who lived there back then.  We were driven from Chesterfield (representing Nauvoo) by an angry mob and we set off on the trek, pulling handcarts.  Our ward had 3 handcarts.  For the first 3ish miles, we were mostly on a gravel road, with various hills, but we just hiked and enjoyed visiting.  When it came time to turn off the main path and really begin the trail, all of our men and boys were called away to serve in the Mormon Battalion and the women (there were 12 of us) were left to pull the carts alone.  This was the narrowest, steepest, most rocky and rutted part of the trail, and with just 4 leaders and 8 girls pulling 3 handcarts, it was tough.  I think it really helped our girls to think about what those before us sacrificed to make it to the west.  Part way up the hill, the men in our group came as "angels" to help us push and pull our carts up the hill.  I was so impressed with our youth and their attitudes.  It was hard for me to imagine what the Saints gave up in order to cross the plains, but I imagine that their purpose drove them. 

I

 We treked for about 7 1/2 miles on the first day.  It was hot and hard, and even our teeth were brown from the dust by the time we made it to camp that evening.  I have never heard a group of people (about 150 of us total) be so quiet from exhaustion.  I think everyone just checked out for about 3 hours and tried to recover. 

 On the second day, as we treked back into Chesterfield (now the Salt Lake valley), we were asked to remove our shoes and to trek the remainder 1/4 mile into the valley in silence.  It was called the "reverence walk".  We had one young women who had sustained some serious blistering on day one, and for part of the second day, had to ride along our group in a truck, but she wanted to badly to walk in to "Salt Lake" on her own.  Regardless of her pain, she asked to get out of the truck and removed her shoes and silently walked into that valley with tears running down her cheeks.  What a great example she was to me, and to several others who knew her situation.  We do hard things!-and she was such a great example of that.  I think the pioneer message rang true in her heart maybe more than it did for the rest because she knew, even if only a little, of the "pains" some of the pioneers experienced, and yet, she pushed through. 

 

I truly  came home with a greater appreciation for what the pioneers experienced and sacrificed for me to have what I do.  And I am truly impressed with the youth of our ward.  

Baby

Meet our newest addition, set to arrive just in time for Thanksgiving.  They tell us they are 90% sure it is a girl.  That's right, I said GIRL!  After 3 boys, I'm not really sure whether to believe them or not.  Between Dave and my parents, there are 18 grandchildren; only 2 are girls.  Chad is most excited that it is a girl because, as he says, "we have sooo many boys!"

Dave likes the name London, but Tyler much prefers: London Bridge is Falling Down, Falling Down, Falling Down,  London Bridge is Falling Down, My Fair Lady.  I told him that might be a little long when I am calling her to dinner. 

 

Got any girl name ideas?  Send a few my way.   

We got off to a pretty slow start with our summer plan this year.  I had high hopes for a less structured weekly plan than last year, but I found that without the structure, we never got around to actually doing our plan.  So, after nearly three weeks of summer gone, the boys and I sat down and revamped our plan.  Last year, we gave each day of the week a name, representing a theme that we would focus on for that day: My Craft Monday, Tastee Tuesday, Wet Wednesday, Thinking Thursday and Field Trip Friday.  Chad had asked if he could help create the names of our days for this summer, and together, this is what we came up with: Make-It Monday (make a craft or treat together), Take-A-Trip Tuesday (go on a field trip somewhere), Wet Wednesday (sprinklers, Slip-n-Slide, water park or something WET!), Thinking Thursday (read-a-thons, visit the library, science experimenting), Friend Friday (have a friend over to play).  

 

Monday, Tyler had a birthday party during our craft time, but Chad and I created a rain stick.  We used a wrapping paper tube and accordion folded strips of cardstock and placed them inside the tube (to slow the drop of the "rain").  We covered one end with construction paper and decorated the outside.  Then, we filled it with dry, split peas and rice, and covered the other end with paper.  When you turn it, the rice and peas drop to the other end, being slowed by the papers inside, and it sounds like it is raining.  These were really fun, and simple.  

Our trip this Tuesday wasn't much, just a trip to a different park for lunch than we normally go to (mostly because mom needed to run errands south of town so that made a good excuse).  We'll have to try a little harder next week. 

Of course there was water on Wet Wednesday, but we also had to try out these bubble snakes I've been seeing all over Pinterest.  I figured it fit best on a day when we would already be outside and getting wet. 

They had fun with them, but a word of caution for the younger ones-Tyler kept forgetting to take his mouth off the bottle before taking a breath, so he kept getting large gulps of bubbles down his throat.  Not fun.  He finally gave up and decided that mom should blow the bubbles and he'd just watch.  But overall, still a fun activity.  (Just go to Pinterest and search "bubble snake" and you'll find the "how to" on these.) 

So, last summer, Thinking Thursday was the least favorite day for my boys, but since we added in some science experimenting, the boys jumped on it.  I intend to throw together a few read-a-thons throughout the summer, but this week, we made Ooblek (about a 2:1 ratio of cornstarch and water).  Seriously, this stuff was so fun for my boys!  They played for a good hour.  If you haven't played with this before, it acts as a solid when you try to move it or mold it, but at rest, it is a liquid.  Every house the boys build built would instantly melt.  And, it is a super easy clean up.  

And since it's Friday, I guess were in for a day of friends (probably my least favorite day).  Have a great weekend! 

Summer Moments

Summer is well under way around here.  In fact, we're nearly a month into it.  That scares me a little, because I want so badly to relish every moment and linger here a little longer. 

Chad and Tyler worked together this summer to earn a "big ticket item" from our Summer Store.  Last year, I think Tyler spent each ticket as he earned it.  It has been fun to watch them work together to achieve a common goal.  They earned 100 tickets to earn this Wii game.  Then, we found out, it is only a one player game.  Ah, well, they have done pretty well taking turns. 

 

As my children think that going to the park each day  is dire to their survival, Greyson has been indulging in his favorite activity-swinging.  I think this boy could spend his entire day going "higher" and "higher".  It is a battle every time I have to get him out, but he sure is happy when he's swinging. 

Chad was blessed by the generosity of his cousin and he was given a new bike.  His has been getting too small for his current bike, but the 20" bikes were too big.  When my nephew earned a new bike at school for perfect attendance, Chad got this awesome bike passed down to him.  He is so excited and we feel so blessed to have family so giving. 

 

Camping

 We went on our first camping trip of the summer.  There is a great little campground near our home that I grew up going to.  It takes only about 45 minutes to get there and it has become one of our "go to" places for a quick weekend trip.

Greyson looking at a bug

 Greyson and I took a walk, just the two of us, to a scenic look out. He found EVERY bug , dandelion, you name it.  It was so fun to feel his excitement for nature. 

 

 When Greyson and I got back to camp, Tyler wanted to go on the hike, so I returned to the lookout with the two of them. 

 Chad and Tyler spent nearly their entire time at the fire pit.  They wanted a fire from sun up to sun down. 

 

As a little girl, my dad would always make us "stick trails" when we were camping.  He'd take sticks, rocks, pine cones, or whatever else was lying around and use them to create a trail of arrows to lead us on a nature walk.  Sometimes, there would even be a surprise at the end.  

 I made one for the boys to follow. 

 

Then, Chad made a few of his own for the rest of us to follow.  It sure kept him busy for a bit.  It is fun to share with my children some of the activities that were part of my childhood.  

 And, of course, we did a bit of relaxing too.  Happy summer! 

Baby's first 5K

Saturday, I completed my first 5K with this pregenancy.  I felt a little lame only committing to a 5 but I have just been taking running a day at a time with this pregenancy, so 5 is all I did.  This was a great course; about 50% uphill which still made it feel like a challenge. 

Not the greatest picture, but my kiddos and Dave came to cheer me on as I crossed the finish line.