goblin valley....

We have a new Halloween tradition.  Goblin Valley.  What better spot for a day trip before the spooky holiday to enjoy the last little bit of nice weather and hiking for the year?  This was my first time there and it was amazing.  Next year, we will have to camp and stay a little longer.

The kids went bananas.  They can run and climb and dig and jump and hide all day and never run out of new things to see. They loved it.

It was a beautiful day!

Here is a picture of me and Gene Simmons at Observation Point.

After a picnic lunch amongst the goblins, we on a little hike through Carmel Canyon that the kids loved.  It gives you a good view of the "Three Hoodoos" formation and ends with a miniature slot canyon.

 We ended the day in Green River where we picked out pumpkins for Halloween, stopped by the museum and I made a few awesome buys at the thrift store.   Of course, we stopped for burgers at Ray's Tavern.  You have to eat at Ray's...they have been on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, I think.  And even if Guy Fieri hasn't been to Ray's to spazz over their cheeseburgers and fries, I still love the place.  To cap off all the fun, Jacob opened the bathroom door for a stranger who wanted in while I was literally hovering and peeing for the entire Ray's dining area to see.  It's been a while since I've been so devastatingly embarrassed.  Good times.

Anyway, Goblin Valley is amazing and beautiful and it's a good, deserty place to go if you need a break from all the beautiful colored fall foliage along the Wasatch Front.

she is growing up...

 Baby Saren is growing up.  It's such a cliche, but my little girl growing up is amazing and fun and heartbreaking and tragic all at the same time.

She used to be so tiny, with (it's hard to believe) just a little bit of beautiful black hair.

This week Saren had her first REAL haircut so we could brush through her beautiful  hair with a few less tears.

 She used to look up at me with those wide baby eyes full of wonder...

Now, she stares me down menacingly over the barrel of her shotgun.  This may be my favorite picture EVER.

 We used to need duct tape to keep Saren's diapers on  her little body...

Now, we are done using duct tape, and Saren is done with diapers.

I love my little, sweet daughter.  If anyone knows how to stop time or even slow it down, let me know.

the tiny, imaginary, dental being paid us a visit...

Jacob lost his first tooth!  It hung on by a thread for days before a bread stick finally finished the job.  Jacob was so excited.  I didn't want to yank it out myself, because I remember my Dad PROMISING that he just wanted to feel how loose MY tooth was and that he wasn't going to pull.  But he did...and it hurt and my tooth still didn't come out.  I've always remembered that.  After that I couldn't trust Dad to wiggle my loose teeth ever again.  So Jacob was on his own, as far as I was concerned.

Here he is right after it came out.  He is so proud!  I love that I can still see the breadcrumbs on his face!

After home work and just before bed, Jacob went upstairs to play.  He set his tooth down for five seconds and, of course, Saren found it and threw it down the stairs.  I heard Jacob scream, "No!  My tooth!" but I assured him we would find it on the stairs and not to worry.  After twenty minutes I started to worry.  After an hour, I gave up!  We decided Jacob would have to write the tooth fairy a letter.  Jacob was a little bummed, and I overheard him telling his sister, "You're the meanest girl in my life!".   Here is what Jacob came up with.  The envelope instructions are the best part.

And the letter, concise and to the point..













The tooth fairy came and all was forgiven.

Our Jacob is so handsome and such a sweetheart.  He is a good boy and I love this kid like crazy.  It's hard to believe he is growing up so fast.  I'm going to miss those beautiful, tiny teeth but at least I'll always have his grin.

math

This four year old....

plus this...














plus Mom in the shower (sorry no picture)...

equals THIS!

As well as a lot of pain and a little wad of hair stuck in the drill.  Eddie was upset that he got caught.  I was a little sad for the reminder that it really isn't safe to shower anytime the kids are awake and Grandma lamented "He could have drilled a hole in his head!".  That's probably a stretch but it was still a scare.  His hair is already growing back, we dodged a bullet!

the dentist

I just want to preface this post by saying I am NOT a junkie.  Dave read this and was a little worried I seemed a little crazy.  This post is just an attempt to give my dentist friends an idea of what it is like from the other side of the dissecting forceps.

 I can smell the mask.  It reminds me of rubber cement.  I must look ridiculous but soon I won't care about that.  Here it comes, in a few minutes I will no longer be here.  I can't wait....Should I breathe deeper?  Bring it on...Ok, gross I feel sick.  I know that will go away.  I hope I just fall asleep.  Argh, the dentist.  Why do I ever eat candy?  Goodbye yellow light.  Good bye cowboy wallpaper border.  I'm closing my eyes now.

Background music softly playing...
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash...you tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
Cause what you don't understand is...


Dentist - "How do you feel about a rubber dam?"
Me - "Love em...".  The less firmly planted in reality I can be, and the less I have to concentrate on bothersome tasks like caring where my tongue is and not tasting stuff, the better.
Dentist - "How about a mouth prop?"
Me - "Yes please, I will probably fall asleep".  I explain this because I don't want the good doctor to take my general apathy to his conversation as over sedation, I am going to happily ease myself into a nitrous oxide induced nap.  Why?  I'm sitting down for more than five minutes, and I don't want to be around to hear what is going on in my mouth.  For me, that means sleep.  But don't turn down the gas because I am tired.  That just means it's working.

I saw the sign!  And it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign.  Life is demanding, without understanding.  I saw the sign!  And it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign.  No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong.   But where do you belong?

Dentist...Blah blah blah "...Frightmares..."
Overly excited dental assistant - "I'm going this year!"
Dentist...Blah blah blah"...an old Vincent Price movie"
Teenage dental assistant "Who is that?"
Dentist..."Are you old enough to remember Vincent Price, Melissa?"
Me "ehhhhsssshhh" while nodding.  No more questions please.  I am checking out.  If I close my eyes tighter will he know to stop talking to me?  I hope he doesn't have to use the slow drill.  That vibration makes me crazy...


Uptown, girl...You know I can't afford to buy her pearls, but maybe someday when my ship comes in, She'll understand the kind of guy I've been...and then I'll win.


Ignorant dental technician - "What IS the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek?"
Nerdy dentist - "Ha ha ha ha...That is a loaded question...blah blah blah...character development...blah blah blee... moral dilemna...blah blah blah...good verses evil...blah blah blah...the force....blah blah blah...really makes you think!".

Ain't Nobody gonna break a my stride...Nobody gonna slow me down.  Oh no!  I got to keep on moving!


Dentist, "Melissa, we are putting you on oxygen now.  We're all done!".
Me, calmly "Awww Kay" but inside screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Anything but oxygen!   I'll stay in this chair all day!  It was just getting good"!  If I breath deep I can get the last few drops of good stuff out of the tubing!  Nope, that's just waking me up.  Hello yellow light, hello cowboy wallpaper border.  Hello giant headache.

Now my favorite part, trying to stop at the reception desk without crashing into it.  Should I be driving yet?  I "smile", if you can call it that, while the receptionist makes small talk and I pay my bill.  Where is my Chapstick?  I would murder someone for some Burt's Bees right about now.  The receptionist asks if I would like to schedule my next check up now, but that's the last thing I want to think about so I tell her I'll call later.  I can't wait to get home for Dave to make fun me, for some Ibuprofen and some dinner through a straw.  Next time I get a babysitter I better be doing something fun.

John 3:16

I love football!  I love football season.  I love football weather.  I love football food.  I love watching games on TV.  I love going to football games even more.  I love Utes Football!  I grew up loving BYU football but don't judge me, I lived in Provo and it was the thing to do.  And BYU was pretty awesome back in the day.  I also loved Friday Night Lights and it is over.  But that's another story.

I had to write a post about  our own, Carbon High School Dino's.  This poor team.  They have lived through 3 seasons with one win.  That's right.  For TWO ENTIRE years, they never won.  I attended many of these games.  It was sad.  Carbon rarely scored, they were beat up, they were a mess.  Here is an example, a true example, but it gives you an idea of how things would usually go for the Dinos.  One game, Carbon tried to go into halftime avoiding the other team scoring one more TD, after a particularly brutal 30 minutes of play, by taking a knee on the last play of their possession.  They fumbled the snap, only to watch the opponent recover the ball and return it 65 yards for a touchdown with two seconds left on the clock.  Seriously, it was gut wrenching to watch.  The Carbon High Dino's actually made it on ESPN as the high school team in the nation with the longest losing streak!  Ouch!

And then last year, a ray of hope....one ugly victory over Monticello.   Maybe the momentum shifted, maybe it was the new coach, but the tides were turning.

Carbon opened up this season with a win over, you guessed it,  Monticello.  Yay!  Dave and I were out of town but were excited to hear the news.

The next week, our little family of five was there to watch Carbon beat ALA. Whhhhaaaaattttt?  2-0!  Good for Carbon.  Carbon hadn't won two games in a row in the last 11 years!

Last weekend, Dave went to the game and I showed up late at halftime with the kids.  As I walked toward the field, I glanced up at the scoreboard.   Is that...??  No....!!  Does it say...???....Could that say 30-something under Carbon???  Yes! Carbon was beating Ben Lomond 32 to 0!  It was unheard of.  I think that was more points than Carbon had scored in the last three seasons combined.  How is this happening?  It was amazing.  They went on to win 42 to 2!  And the best part, they actually looked good!  They made some field goals, they scored their extra points!  They made pass completions!  They ran plays!  They had good defensive stands.  They played with heart.  It is so fun to watch!  Those boys deserve some success and I, for one, am so excited for them.

Carbon is now ranked 69th in the State of Utah and 7527th in the nation!  We are moving up!

So, go CARBON!  It's a little hard for me to wear blue to a football game these days but I will do it for the Dino's.  I hope they have an awesome season!

© Sun Advocate. All rights reserved.

preschool

 Preschool is back in session.  As with all things involving Eddie, flexibility is key.  He brushed past all his new school clothes in the closet and picked this polo shirt, explaining to me "Red is much better".  It has something to do with Gryffindor, I think???  When I tried to give Eddie his new, bigger backpack, he said, "That's not my backpack!" and found his old one from last year.  It's easier, with Eddie, to let him be the boss over the little things.

 He "posed" in his typical perpetual motion fashion for a few shots by the front door...

And Eddie, kind of sweetly, asked to take a picture with me...

Saren, was not so agreeable, and made Eddie cry when she wouldn't stand next to him for a picture.  That girl!

Eddie seemed a little nervous on the drive to school, but after hanging up his backpack and sitting down with the other kids to color, he said, "See ya!" without even looking up at me.  I think he is going to be just fine. 

first grader...

summer recap...a really long one

Today is the LAST day of summer vacation (this post took me longer to write than I thought). Let me start over, yesterday was the LAST day of summer vacation. Here is what we did, or at least, what I can remember of our lazy days of summer.

Soccer Camp... It was a great camp and Jacob was given the Respect Award. I cried a little over that because, if he can't respect me, at least has the love for some strangers from Europe. Eddie had a blast and still goes around the house repeating "Crabby, crabby...let's get snappy!" from his favorite camp game. Eddie refused to participate the last day of camp because of a bad hair day. Seriously, I tried for two hours to convince him his hair wasn't crazy. Eddie said, "I don't want my coach to see me like this!".

Baseball...Pee wee coach pitch and T-ball. Never has three innings lasted so long. The boys loved it! Eddie knows which hand the mitt goes on now, most of the time. He played an entire game with one hand on his boy parts, running the bases and all. The whole city was laughing at me. Saren is ready for her turn to play and earn a treat.

Lots of swimming...lessons, wave pool, helper pool, the pirate pool, the slip and slide in the backyard, the sprinklers, the lake. We swam everywhere. The laundry was epic.

Bear Lake...Family Reunion...Bingham style. There was lots of swearing, inappropriate humor and witty banter combined with football and volleyball on the beach, boating and eating ridiculously good food. It was fun! And apparently I have no pictures.

Scofield Reservoir...Fishing, friends, boating, pina colada Starbursts.

Idaho Falls...Stopped to see Uncle Lee and Aunt Elaine, the Idaho Falls Temple, play in the park and to see the Body World exhibit. It was worth the admission just to put a healthy fear of smoking in my kids heads'. I'm not sure they were ready for the crosscut penis dissection, but they seemed too oblivious to be traumatized.

Bear World...Where else can you see Grizzly bears in the.......wild? (Ok, more specifically in a sparsely vegetated parking lot with corrugated metal tubes for shelter). These days, Bear World is also home to carnival rides which are awesome. The cubs were adorable, the petting zoo was fun and watching people pay $25.00 to throw powdered donuts at some of God's most beautiful, powerful creatures broke my heart a little, just like last time.

Eddie and Saren kill me in this next one.

West Yellowstone, Montana...We stayed in this little cabin. I was too scared to jog for fear of being eaten by a bear. Saren helped us shop for food and Jacob slept with a rifle at night for protection.

Yellowstone National Park...What is the one vacation destination you do not want to forget your expensive DSLR Camera? Yellowstone. All these pictures courtesy of Dave's iPhone. Even our nice camera can't do this amazing place justice, it was so beautiful!

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center... Jacob loved hiding food for the bears, and then watching them find it! It was a fun place for kids. Eddie peed in the playground before I could stop him. These are the things that stand out in my memory.

Here are a few of our great friends who made this trip so much fun.

(By the way, I'm not short, these ladies are all over 6 feet tall)!

Also happening this summer...

I tried unsuccessfully to potty train Saren...Here she is with her diaper duct taped in place when she refused to go in the potty or wear a diaper!

Jacob kissed a girl... and he liked it. This girl. I'm not writing this because I'm proud, just to document it for his future teasing. I heard him bragging about it to a friend, otherwise I'm not sure I ever would have known. They were watching "Princess and the Frog" at the time. Sorry Mark and Jill.

Grand Junction, Colorado...We visited some of our cute cousins, went on this cool hike and ate ice cream which Eddie famously described by saying "Too bad it's cold!"

The Living Planet Aquarium...This is fun, but remind me to wait until the real one is finished!

And also, please don't submit this photo to fail blog.

The Hogle Zoo...I can still smell the fun. Here are a couple of pics of us with animals that are not at all real.

Fishing...The boys both caught their first fish by themselves and quickly afterwards caught the fishing bug.

Lagoon...Which the kids call "Magoon" or "Da Goon". They loved it. I have pictures somewhere.

Going to a couple dozen playgrounds...

Play dates with lots of friends...

And riding a LOT of bikes. I know this because I parked them back in the garage several times a day for the last three months.

Dave and I are going to miss spending all our time with these three little maniacs.