Happy Birthday America!

This was perhaps one of the most memorable July 4th's our little family has had.

The day started with a garage sale that we hosted as a family.  Friday we sorted, labeled, and organized for much of the day.  We spent the first six hours of our Saturday morning manning the garage sale, right Robyn (keeper of the petty cash)!?

It was certainly a team effort as we learned and taught how to bargain, negotiate, and sell!  Anything we didn't sell we donated to a local Goodwill.  While our garage still isn't completely cleaned out, we are a step closer!  

For lunch we BBQ'd with a family who had just moved into the ward.  While I have no pictures of that great feast we enjoyed grilled chicken, steak, ribs, and even shrimp!  There was no shortage of food or appetites!

Then is was off to my brother's house where we enjoyed some traditional partying, complete with fun eyewear:

Roman Candles and sparklers.

 But of course the highlight of the day were the grand fireworks.  My brother can set up an awesome firework display that the whole family can certainly enjoyed!

Music:  Alex Boye's "Calling America" and "American Symphony" from Mr. Holland's Opus

When working in the garage sale we had to practice moral behavior by being honest in promoting certain objects and asking a fair price for them (my middle son had a hard time learning that principle).

We were uplifted and inspired by the new friendships we made and the opportunity to celebrate the birth of our country in a simple way.  As a family we could enjoy the art of salesmanship, the cooking and consumption of good food, and pyrotechnics as a family.  All of us were able to enjoy the time we spent together--sometimes that's not an easy thing to do!

Not to mention, it was great being home by 11pm this year.

WRA, REL200, Post #9

The Power of Reunions

There is no doubt the wholesome family recreation that we experienced these past few days spending time with my sister and her family visiting from Boise, ID were the best of times . . .  despite some physical ailments. 

 As a family we:

Went boating, inaguarating the "Hot Dog."

Played lots of games 

(namely "Wolf and Sheep", Monopoly, The Great Dalmuti, etc.)

Wolf and Sheep

Playing The Great Dalmuti

BINGO!

Went swimming. . . and swam some more

Enjoyed lots of company, food, and conversation.

Finally, it's a tradition to have a talent show!

A Talent Show is the easiest way for everyone in the family to show off whatever talent they have and there is no limit to what that talent can be!  If you aren't including talent shows as a tradition in your family gatherings, you should start right now to include them.

Demonstration of playing the Snare Drum

"It's Your Fault" from Into the Woods

We reminiscenced some and shared our dislike for cockroaches (pretty common in this home ;-) -- even killing a few throughout the reunion.

We finally got to take some updated family photos.  

This photo is just of the grandkids with their Gold grandparents.

But, quite honestly I also experienced the power of prayer and the Holy Ghost as we strived to be considerate and loving towards grandpa (my father) who is slowly recovering from medical ailments.  It was nothing short of incredible to witness the priesthood in action as our priesthood holders in the family gave him a blessing.

One of the criteria for wholesome family activities is for family members to grow closer to our Heavenly Father.  Being with our father during this time of healing allowed us to be more chartible and loving towards him, exemplifying more Christlike attitudes and behaviors.  Because he is immobile, he spent much of his time in bed.  Probably my greatest moment this weekend was when I first arrived in the home on a Sunday afternoon and spent some time with him and my siblings at his bedside just talking about anything and everything.  While there with him, I knew that they loved me.  I thought about how wonderful it is that I will be with them forever and that knowledge--that hope--continues to help me through these troubling times as my father recovers.

Being together as a whole family these past few days gave us opportunities to demonstrate just about all the purposes of wholesome recreational activities.

WRA, REL200, Post 8

Homemade bread, kettle corn, cards, movies . . . oh my!

This week was filled with both spontaneous and planned family activities.  

First up, I was in the baking mood.  While this is our favorite bread recipe I don't make it as often as I should.  It's not labor intensive, I just haven't made it a habit to make it regularly.  But, with the help of my daughter (who always seems the most interested in doing everything together), we kneaded out a batch of it.  It gave me the opportunity to teach some baking skills to a six-year old and I learned that I still can't divide bread dough into two perfect halves!  That's one skill I haven't mastered yet ;-P  In fact, my daughter said the loaf on the right looks like it has a "disease."  Thanks, sweetheart!  But, no matter how uneven the loaves are, they are still delicious! 

We spent Friday evening at my sister's house where we swam in the pool and enjoyed dinner together--all ten of us!  For treat we gorged on popcorn and kettle corn made by my talented brother-in-law.  We taught them how to play the card game Fluxx.  If I recall, the aforementioned brother-in-law won all but one round of that game.

Making the kettle corn

Dealing the hands for Fluxx

On Saturday, we took in our annual tradition of starting every summer off with a trip to the movies to see the greatest Disney/Pixar movie for the season.  This year it was . . . 

I cannot even begin to explain why this movie hit the spot for each one of us.  Just like the emotions we meet, I felt all of them throughout the movie (okay, maybe not Anger so much).  And any movie that can influence all my emotions is a good movie in my book!

I think the greatest thing this movie did was introduce a whole new selection of one-liners that we were quoting the next day all during our Father's Day dinner.  I will admit that some family mealtimes can be dull and lacking in meaningful conversation, but our interaction using scenes from Inside Out created a mealtime circus!  That silliness was top notch and much-needed!

A picture with Peanuts while we wait for Inside Out

I do not think that these activities require an explantion as to why they can be categorized as wholesome family recreational activities because I think it's obvious.  There was an element of "every good thing" in the activities that we chose.  They did an excellent job of growing relationships (being with cousins), developing skill (making bread, swimming, playing a new game), and fostering creativity (do you know how cousins play together).   Time spent with extended family certainly enriches our lives.

Inside Out uplifted and inspired our family.    It provided an opportunity to explain a very important gospel principle to our children:  there must be opposition in all things.  We experience sadness so we can feel joy.  In order for us to taste the sweet, we must taste the bitter.  The climax of the movie comes when Joy realizes that Sadness must be experienced if Joy was to be felt in its fullnes by the main character.  We learn of the importance of opposition and how vital it is that we have it in our mortal lives.  We recognize this as a part of our Heavenly Father's plan.  It was an opportunity for us to understand another aspect of that Plan.  And the more we understand, the closer we can become to our Heavenly Father--another characteristic that wholesome family recreational activities can exemplify.  

These past few days provided great reminders of what matters in life.  I'm glad that we were spontaneous and included my sister's family in our plans.  I'm grateful that we braved the horrid city traffic to see a movie that inspired and demonstrated a valuable part of what it means to be human--a child of God.  And we enjoyed it all together, as a family.

WRA, REL200, Post 7

Lycra Tube Activity

I was intriqued by this particular activity when I ran across a video in my FAML400 class on how to use this activity to demonstrate the Family Systems theory.  I thought how great it would be if we used it at a family gathering (which we have a lot of).  I searched online for how to purchase a lycra tube only to find out that they cost around $150 for one 5-yard tube.  I did not want to pay that amount.   Instead, I spent a fraction of that, purchased some lycra fabric and made my own tubes.

For FHE last week, my immediate family took it outside to try it out.  We were able to play it using family stories (like, what happens when one leaves to go on a mission, etc.).  The goal was to keep the tube up by keeping the pattern going as people exited or entered the system we created.  I did not get video of our immediate family trying this new activity out during FHE last week.  But, I did get video of when extended family joined us later in the week.   What you see it just a snippet of all that we tried.  We were the most successful in this video.

I have to say, we're still learning the best way to have the optimum experience with the lycra tube.  After looking at this video and other videos, I've compiled a list of things we need to try doing next time to make it even better!

Why would I consider this a wholesome recreational activity?  For starters, we were all learning something new and we certainly had to work together to make it happen.  Communication was very essential!  It "involved the mind and fostered creativity" in how we could accomplish the task at hand.

I hope that we can try this activity again in the near future after making some adjustments.

I can also report that we participated in our own bi-weekly family council this past week.  Lately they've become more intense as conflicts get a bit more serious.  Our regular family councils exemplify all of what needs to be included in family activities.  Perhaps councils are not considered recreational, but they sure bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and help us practice valuable communication and problem-solving skills, which requires thought and creativity most of the time.

WRA, REL200, Post 6

Inks Lake and Enchanted Rock

Keeping with our annual tradition of camping over Spring Break, this year we headed to the "other side" of Austin to Inks Lake and Enchanted Rock State Parks.  And, this time the whole Texas clan came along.

Trying out our new hammocks.

Going fishing...don't confuse that with catching fish.

 Beginning our ascent to the top of Enchanted Rock.

Still going ...

Robyn loved every bit of it!

Still going up to the summit.

At the top!  

Just love this picture of my mother and us three sisters.  We were trying to get a group picture and the wind wasn't cooperating!

On the other side is a cluster of caves (who knows how many there really are...we didn't explore all the crevices). 

I hiked down into one of them and couldn't get out becaue of the people blocking the entrance.   So, I waited...this is me looking up out of one of the crevices.  Jaren tried to convince me to climb up but we decided that I was too short to reach the hand or foot holds.

 Splashing in Spring Creek back at Inks Lake

All the cousins with Grandma!

 To anybody wondering of young children can hike Enchanted Rock.  Yes, they can.  Though, some may come down looking like this:

 Yes, she slept pretty much during the whole descent.

I've gone mental...

With some of this:

Wood Badge 13-2 here I come.  I was a participant on Course 1023 back in 2010.  This year, I'm on staff as a Troop Guide.  I'm very much a greenie at this voluntary assignment (yep, I know...I'm a little crazy).  It's a whole new experience, I tell ya.  But worth it for all the life lessons.

And more of this:

Yep, I went back to school this year.  Obviously, I'm not on campus at BYU-I in Rexburg.  I started their online Pathway program about seven weeks ago en route to finish my BA.  

Oh my...it has changed my life!  

 And LOTS of this:

Still my favorite part...being surrounded by this particular support group.  

Someone once asked me how I was juggling everything.  Well, my brain hurts all the time.  I haven't exercised it like this in years.  Other than that, it's not all that stressful since we significantly downsized the amount of extracurricular stuff we had going on.  I have to admit that life is just getting better and better each and everyday.

  

I've been pretty terrible at posting on my blog.  Life was busy before...now--just as busy. 

Happy Hallowen

This is just a quick post with the Fort costumes.  The kids will pretty much come up with the idea themselves and then I go to work creating whatever it is they want to be.  I'm always amazed at how the costume they choose really does represent each one of them.  Heck, I amazed myself for being able to take their ideas and make it a wearable costume.  This was lot of work, some stress and some the-house-is-falling-apart feelings BUT it was also a lot of fun!

Scarlet Macaw

Robyn's favorite toy right now is a big Scarlet Macaw puppet and her stuffed puppy.  She really wanted me to combine these two favorite animals and make a "puppy with feathers"...ummm...that put an interesting picture in my head.  I convinced her to choose just one.  I probably spent the longest on hers.  Certainly made the biggest mess cutting out all those feathers (and her running around the house with all my scraps).  It didn't turn out at all like I had originally imagined it.  

Nope--it turned out much better!  

Luke, Son of Hermes

Hunter's was probably the easiest to create.  He's totally into this book series.  I love that he always chooses to be a less popular character.  Sometimes you have to think outside of the box a bit before you guess it right.  Though it was simple, I love how the winged shoes turned out!  (And yes, they fit me too!)

Robin Hood

Aidan's really into archery right now so he just wanted any character that uses a bow and arrow. So glad he went with this instead of some modern superhero.  This one was lots of fun to put together (quite the understatement).  It was my first attempt to sew a cloak (or anything for that matter) without a pattern.  It was such a good experience, I made two more (keep reading) and whipped up the rest of his costume.  It's a great feeling when your 11-yr. old declares, "It's the best costume ever."  Better than CLU or Hiccup? (Did I even blog about last year's costumes?)

And then there's my other half.  I made a mighty cloak for him.  Versatile enough for him to turn it into whatever character he wanted.  I think he turned it into a "Rogue Jedi" which is very fitting for him.  They were having a Halloween party at work so he sent me this photo this morning.  For the record--I've never made him a costume until now.  It was certainly an adventure...

But of course, there's no photo of my costume.  I made myself a white cloak.  I made Aidan's first for his costume--it was so much fun and such a hit that mine and Jaren's followed.  So, again, I was pretty amazed with myself.

Our pumpkin carvings...nothing too crazy but we love how they turned out.  We surrounded our trunk with hanging ghosts to match.  Probably the most we've ever done for the Ward Trunk or Treat.  So, we deserve a pat on the back for that, I think.

Have A Safe and Happy Halloween!

Reality Check

Most people set their new year's resolutions at the first of the year. In our family, it seems that we set new goals at the beginning of the school year because let's face it...in the summer you're too busy having so much fun with hectic schedules, vacations and eating whenever or wherever. Did I mention the "vacation" part? You're either more or less active than you normally are when it's not Summer break. I think I'm finally over Summer vacation.

We're about a month into school and I have to say: Oh. My. Goodness. We're trying so hard to change some really bad habits around here and find solutions for some--challenges--that we've been faced with. And we wanted to add some new habits. Good habits. Heaven knows we don't need any new bad habits.

1. Physical activity. Notice I didn't say exercise. Use that word in a sentence and everyone starts to murmur...yep, even me. I thought I could initiate this as a mom (go on family bike rides, take a walk, etc). Apparently, those activities aren't "cool" enough. Our ideas of physical activity don't match. So, I introduced The President's Challenge to help us out.

My kids love to track and tally everything and get rewarded in the end. So, this program works for them. I love it when Aidan says to me, "But mom we have to go because I need 30 more minutes of physical activity!" I especially like how this program includes "housework" as one of their approved physical activities. So, I don't feel like I have to get out there and run a marathon everyday. Now I look at my kids (and my hubby) and watch their endurance level go through the roof! They have way more points than me while I'm "dying" over here trying to keep up with them.

Also, for the first time EVER we've let the kids (and us parents) pick at least one physical activity to be involved in outside of school/home. This was a HUGE decision for me because many of these programs take us away from home way too much. And the last thing I want is a crazy schedule just to get us to and from. But, we did find some programs that were a healthy balance for us.

2. Emergency Preparedness. We're still working on making this more family oriented. I go through phases of really focusing on this. We can make it through a hurricane. But, with the current drought situation Hunter asked me "Mom, if we had no water coming into the house would we be okay?" I panicked for a moment. So, I inventoried our water storage for the first time ever and realized we were WAY short of what we should have. Course, that led me to inventory everything. I found out one thing: we have PLENTY of peanut butter! This is definitely a work in progress...

3. Meals. This one kind of goes with #1. For a while there I was making some yummy, healthy meals every night. I thought I was in heaven. Then I realized we had a problem: I was the only one eating them and it was exhausting work for me! It was clear I needed to re evaluate this goal. You can't just change your family's eating habits overnight. Not that ours were bad--but we could be better. I'm trying better to let the children have more input on what we eat and I'm learning how to "sneak" the good stuff in. I've added A LOT of new recipes to my meal planning to get us out of the rut of eating the same things too often. I'm buying ingredients that I've never bought before (ex. liquid smoke?)! One thing I've started doing is finding those things that my family loves that's store bought and trying to make it from scratch at home. Yeah, it's a bit more work but it ALWAYS tastes better!

4. Ready for an upgrade. If I post it here for the whole world to see maybe it will actually become a reality. This home has been great for us and I feel ridiculous saying this (especially when you think about how small homes used to be with more people in them) but we're ready to move to a bigger home. Not to mention, Jaren's job (that he started back in March) requires a much longer commute than before. So, we'd like to live closer to his work. But, can't move unless we sell the home we're in. Obviously, this requires LOTS of preparation and it's just not happening fast enough for us. On the top of our list: backyard landscaping, replacement of floors and repairing some walls that I decided to start ripping the wallpaper from. Again--long sigh. I will have to face this idea that I probably can't accomplish these tasks on my own. Anyone up for helping? The thought of having to hire professionals...

We pray that maybe there's someone out there who wants our home just the way it is!

But, like the title of this blog: Reality Check!!

Favorite Places, Part 2

From the cold, windy Oregon coast to the dry deserts of Utah...

I know I visited here as a child--6th grade as I recall. Right now, the Visitor's Center for Dinosaur National Monument is closed for renovations until October. I was in the mood for some hiking, so it was fine that there was no Visitor's Center to see all the dinosaur bones along the side of a hill.

We took a bus ride up into the Dinosaur National Monument Area and took the "Fossil Discovery" hike. Not sure how long the hike was--only that there wasn't a single bit of shade. What do you expect when you're hiking in East Utah?

Right off the bat, Hunter took off to be right up front with the Ranger asking all sorts of questions and being very attentive.

I started behind (way behind) and hiked alongside Robyn who was moving at a comfortable, let's-touch-every-rock, kind of pace.

She was a good, little hiker.

The Ranger would constantly ask Robyn questions to which she always enthusiastically replied "YEAH!" (See picture below--you can see the ranger's feet in the upper left corner of the photo) Even though she had no clue...

While the Discovery Trail was an adventure, my favorite part of the day was when we ventured off the beaten path (literally) and drove into the canyon. For a moment there we thought we were lost as we followed the map given to us by the ranger. But, we eventually came to a place called Josie's Cabin.

An oasis in the middle of the desert. Lots of shade trees and picnic tables--perfect for a picnic lunch.

Learning the story of Josie Bassett Morris is quite intriguing! You could take some short hikes into Box Canyon if you wanted while relaxing here and wandering around this old homestead complete with a four room cabin, a chicken coop (pictured), a cellar and livestock (okay, there aren't any livestock here anymore).

So, if you're venturing through this part of Utah I recommend picnicking at Josie's Cabin--a bit off the beaten path but you won't regret it. If you appreciate the desert, the drive is quite scenic.