American Pickers- the only show on the History Channel that doesn't put me to sleep
I love this show and chances are if you garage sale or bargain hunt, you will too! You can watch online episodes at history.com. A few weeks back I decided to resell some of the things I buy at garage sales to fund future excursions. Let's just say if I had a garage, I'd be making a lot of money. It's easy, fun, and helps me to buy a lot of things at no cost. Anyways, these guys have my dream job, except I'm not willing to go door to door looking for stuff. Especially when you encounter a gun to your face.
STEVE
Koolaid Slushies This was our dessert on Sunday. Steve saw a recipe on the Koolaid jar for making Koolaid slushies and I've been craving them everyday since. Next time we are going to do a cherry limeade one. Less calories than a milkshake with all the satisfaction of a cool, sweet drink on a hot day. Don't you love my pilsner glasses I recently bought at a garage sale? I didn't know they were beer glasses until Steve enlightened me, but they are so pretty! The cheapo glass set I bought at Walmart a year ago didn't make it that long, so I was looking for a higher quality replacement. I'll claim them as root beer glasses.
ROWAN
Swim lessons. He LOVES them. I think he either has a bit of a crush on his swim instructor or she reminds him of his Aunt Chandra (similar interaction styles). Regardless, this kid loves the pool.
NADIA
Wagon Races! One of the things I've been reselling is wagons. This one I passed along to a friend that was looking for one, but before we did so we had a wagon race with friends. She thought it was hilarious and loves watching this clip over and over again.
The last 2 days of our trip, we headed over to Utah to visit with both Steve's sister and my sister. The beauty of Utah is you can always get a couple visits with loved ones in there. Unfortunately, because it was a bit of a whirlwind trip, I didn't get many pictures. I seemed to have made an exception in the case of food though. I've been wanting for a while to try The Sweet Tooth Fairy bakery, which is known for great cupcakes. Rowan and I made a quick pit stop.
The Verdict? They were good, but my friend Julie makes better ones. I should have followed the clerk's suggestions perhaps, but all in all I'm glad we went.
When I went to visit my sister in Salt Lake, I suggested we go to Les Madelines and try out their Kouing-amans. These were featured on "The Best Salty Thing I've Ever Ate" on the Food Network and I really wanted to try them. Everything else featured on the show originated in New York, so I was excited to be so close to one of these places. Anyways, Vesta was willing to take me, so we loaded up the kids, did a quick stop to pick up the pastries and headed over to McDonalds so the kids could have some ice cream while I indulged myself. Vesta is on a no sugar diet, so she missed out. Rowan managed this shot. Not the greatest, but my sis and I haven't had a picture together in years.
The Verdict? Good. Really good. Would be phenomenal when they first come out of the oven. The caramelized exterior was a little too crunchy and they were NOT salty. But I was very happy in the end.
The kids liked their ice cream too.
The only shot I managed at Steve's sister's place was this one. Rowan was pushing Isabelle on her swing- super cute.
All in all, it was great visit. I did not miss Utah drivers, but I surprised myself by thinking it wouldn't be so bad to move back there. My good memories are overcoming the bad ones and it was fun to show Rowan where I used to go camping almost every weekend in the summer and where "mommy and daddy met". I still like living where ward members are very dependent on each other, but Utah has a lot to offer. We'll see where we end up in a year, but this state seems to be creeping off the "no way" list.
It's Father's Day. Instead of having attention lavished upon him, my husband got to take care of our kids while I spend the afternoon lying on the bathroom floor moaning and retching. And he didn't hold it against me- a true sign of a fantastic spouse. I'm not sure what to blame for my onslaught of nausea, (no, I am definitely not pregnant) but it really had poor timing. We still got to open presents- he got an angle grinder and some Soviet Leader nesting dolls just for fun that I had got at a garage sale the day before. But I wish the day could have been more about him. Steven is everything that I wanted that I never had. I'll never let my children forget how blessed they are to have him in their lives.
Speaking of great fathers... and great mothers...
I haven't blogged about our trip to Idaho yet! Despite setbacks with weather, (it was cold and raining most of the time we were there) and an unfortunate bout of stomach flu, we had a wonderful time. Let's just say that one day I hope to have a home as warm and comfortable as Steve's parents' home is. To see your kids absolutely saturated in love is a beautiful thing.
When the weather was agreeable, Nadia and Rowan were outside constantly. "A big backyard" has now replaced "laundry chute" as Rowan's top things he wants when we get a house. We readily agree with him.
Nadia plays a great game of fetch
I wish I would have gotten a video of when Steve and Grandpa tag teamed each with the kids. This video will make Nadia laugh everytime though.
The day after we arrived, it was Steven's birthday. We made the traditional cream puffs and got our wiggles out after being in the car for 2 days.
A few days later we headed out to Twin Falls to see the sights and do a little shopping. A friend of mine told me a while ago that her outdoorsy husband loves Idaho. I kind of gave her an incredulous look and said "really?" I get it now after seeing Twin Falls and remembering a previous excursion to the Shoshone Falls nearby. I've forgotten the raw beauty of nature after living in corn fields for the past seven years. It took my breath away. While we were there, we got to see some base jumpers going off the bridge. This video is of a guy who really knew what he was doing. A couple of others were not so smooth on their execution and I literally yelped several times. I used to think I would like to base jump...I'm not so sure anymore. I wonder if it would be as thrilling to do something like this in heaven when there's no risk involved. :)
On the rainy days, Rowan entertained himself with building forts and tying up Grandma and Grandpa's living room like a spider web with string. Give this kid a ball of yarn and he's entertained for a good hour. Sure, it will take you at least that long to get your house looking normal again, but I love his interest in building and creating. Plus the time I have to get other things done isn't so bad either.
Aunt Chandra dropped in for a few days before we left for Utah. Unfortunately she spent one of those days sick, either with our stomach flu germs or something else, but her and the kids still got in plenty of bonding time. Rowan has told me on several occasions that he misses Aunt Chandra. Perhaps it was the mutual interest in Scooby Doo computer games... (Sorry Chand, it was the only picture I had of you!)
Steve and his dad also got to get some shooting in one afternoon. One nice thing about driving is you can take back more than you came with, provided you have the space. Steve brought back 4 guns which we have locks on and are safely tucked away. I wouldn't call myself a gun enthusiast, but I like knowing that we have something we can use if we were ever in need of defending ourselves.
It was a great trip! Despite the travel involved, I came back refreshed and renewed. Life has been nonstop since we got back and some days we are literally going from activity to activity, but things are slowing down now. That is until Grandma Dorothy comes in a week and a half. Gotta love the summer!
Nadiaism: BATMAN!- my personal favorite cheese cracker tree bus meow neigh woof bye bye milk mine- I wish she hadn't learned this one so early NO- this means both yes and no which, as you can imagine, causes a lot of problems. NO WAY!- this is a definitive no uh oh quack quack choo choo ouch hi hat car vroom ooo ooo aaaa aaaa- monkey noise neeerom- airplane noise roar nose eye moo mwah- kissing noise and the list goes on. Needless to say, she's finally decided to talk! And have tantrums.
Rowanism
Me: Rowan are you going to help me clean up this mess? Rowan: Well...essentially...no.
Rowan: Mommy, when I grow up I hope that no one else wants to be Batman. Me: Oh yeah? Rowan: Yeah, I hope they want to be something normal...like a policeman or a firefighter. Because I'm the only one who should be Batman
Highest point on I-80 Hannibal, Illinois- birthplace of Mark Twain
This was as spontaneous of a trip as you can get when you have two kids. Discouraged by the price of plane tickets, we decided to drive out to Idaho, which is a 24 hour trip. We reasoned that since our family isn't getting any smaller and neither are plane ticket prices, this is probably going to become our necessary mode of transportation in the future.
Steve and I had made the trip once before when we moved out here and all I could remember was the heat (I had to drive the car with no air conditioning because Steve doesn't know how to drive stick) and the desire to never live in Wyoming. It took us 3 days to drive to Champaign from Utah and we stayed at KOA campgrounds on the way because we had so much stuff tied to the top of my car...and maybe because we were total cheapskates. By the end, I bought a bag of ice that I held and ate at the same time.
This time we were only driving one car making it a 2 day trip and our car had air conditioning, but I assumed with the addition of kids that they would cancel each other out. Nadia hates being in the car, even just to run errands, so I was justifiably concerned. Miraculously, she cried very little and the trip was much easier than I expected. I still never want to live in Wyoming though. The few interesting rock formations are not worth it.
So for all of you contemplating a similar trip the benefits of driving versus flying are as follows: -no weight requirements on luggage -you can pull over when the kids are fussy -less stressful than going through the airport -CHEAPER -you spend a lot of time alone with your thoughts, which for me was a nice change of pace -family bonding- you may think this is a crazy thing to say. When it came time to head back home after our vacation was over, I was sighing about the long trip ahead of us. Steve turned and looked at me and said "Well, I'm excited about spending the next 12 hours with you." Sweet of him and a good reminder for me to look on the bright side. So much of life depends upon perspective- an area I obviously have need of improvement.
When I was a kid, we drove everywhere. The only time I flew was during a trip to Mexico, but otherwise the majority of my family vacations were accomplished by driving somewhere. My mom's business also keep us traveling quite a bit, to the point that I was home schooled one year while I traveled around Western Canada with her. It was so nostalgic for me to be doing the same thing with my own children. I'm sure it's not for everyone, but this trip was a happy memory for me.
The "alone with my thoughts" part. Yes, I took pictures while driving, but can you seriously blame me for wanting to capture this moment? I should have taken more- Nadia screaming her head off, the kids were just laughing at silly stuff, Rowan playing "I spy with my little eye", etc.
It was interesting to reflect on what the Saints went through on their trek across the country. This was especially helpful to remember when I was tired of driving. Hannibal, Illinois was our first rest stop and one of my favorites. To think of the pioneers crossing the Mississippi nearby, along with so many other treacherous areas that we passed, was humbling to say the least.
I have to say, I'm still in shock that she didn't run right into the fountain.
I'm in the midst of reading the journals of Lewis and Clark, which was really cool to see some of the same terrain that they traveled along. I find myself conflicted reading that book. Part of me is annoyed at the arrogance of these men calling on the natives to respect their "new Old Father" or however they put it. On the other hand, the Indians were so savage and unorganized. They lived to fight and steal from one another, without much progression or desire to improve their livelihood. Anyways, an interesting read if you are up for it.
Grandpa Luke came out for a short visit while attending to some business in Chicago. We were reminded how much we missed Steve's folks that we decided to take a road trip to see them in Idaho a few days after he left. Sadly, I only got one video while he was here, but it sums up the trip well. Watching old school Batman and getting tickled by Nadia- what more could you want?
We also hit up some garage sales and stocked up on power tools, which is something I haven't bought much of in the past. I think I'm going to buy more of them now though.
In other news, Rowan started swim lessons today and did great! His instructor is excellent with the kids and Rowan warmed up pretty quickly. They got to blast off like rockets and fly like Superman, which definitely appealed to him. Then they got to jump into the water and Rowan was so proud that he hit the bottom. This is the first time I've enrolled him in a class where he doesn't know anyone and I'm pleasantly surprised.
Also, Steven found out that he got the grant he applied for a while back which will supply all the funding he needs for his dissertation! We were starting to feel like we hadn't gotten it because the time had past when they should have contacted us. As it turns out, instead of sending a letter notifying him that it had been approved, we noticed a large sum deposited to our checking account. A happy surprise anyways- it's been a good day.
Rowanism
Rowan: Mom, what do you want to be when I don't need you anymore? Me: *speechless* Rowan: You know...like when I become a Daddy...and Batman... Me: *now laughing* Rowan: I know! You can be Batgirl and help me! And Daddy can be Robin. And Nadia will be Batbaby. Me: Sounds like a plan Rowan.
What's that? It's June? And I only posted once in May? Good grief I have a lot of catching up to do.
Before May ended we got a chance to go to a local event called Touch-A-Truck hosted by the park district. We've never been able to go before because we usually are on vacation during that time. Essentially think of every vehicle of interest to boys and you have a pretty good idea of what was there to explore and look at. Rowan was into it at first and then had a couple bad experiences with kids budding in front of him. After a while he started to shy away when it came to his turn to get behind the wheel of the trucks. The final straw came when we had stood in line for 15 minutes to get into the bounce house and once it was Rowan's turn he wouldn't go. We left for home, hot and frustrated, while Rowan cried. It was pretty heart-breaking. As we were about to get home, Steve took pity on him so they dropped Nadia and I off and went back to the park. Rowan did a 180 and went to every truck in the place. I know it may sound like a little thing, but I was so proud of Rowan for facing his fears and Steven for wanting to help Rowan rather than just being frustrated with him. He understood where Rowan was coming from and decided to spend the day helping him instead of going back to work. I'm starting to come to terms that Rowan will always need a warming up period when he's put into new and sometimes intimidating situations. He's always been a cautious child and that has more often proved to be a good thing rather than a bad thing. I truly love everything about that kid.
I'm so grateful for a husband who continually turns bad experiences into good ones.
