The past two weeks since the family reunion with my side of the family have been really nice. Brandon is done with school until the fall so he's enjoying the time off. Three semesters in a row is not for the faint of heart so he's definitely earned a few weeks of relaxation. Or at least what passes for relaxation in our crazy family.
He has a part time job helping out with some things that his department needs done before school starts up again. He basically sets his own hours which means that he's free to help out as needed with the kids and other projects. And I am taking full advantage of that.
The first Monday after the reunion was kind of a blur. The kids had swimming lessons and other than that I don't remember anything that happened.
On Tuesday Brandon went with the kids to the Ross Park Pool here in Pocatello. They all had a great time. I had to work to make up for taking time off for my family reunion.
On Wednesday evening Brandon and I taught a cooking class at the LDS Demo kitchen. Each ward in our stake takes turns teaching a monthly class. Our ward has a culinary school graduate and they had her all lined up to teach the class, but then something came up. About two weeks before the class one of the RS presidency sisters texted me and asked me if I had any interest in teaching a class. I laughed to myself and told her that I didn't consider myself an expert. However Brandon was a good teacher and that we could put something together if she couldn't find anyone else. Then I told Brandon and he got all excited so I texted her back and said that we would be happy to do it.
Brandon and I decided to teach how to make four of our favorite 30 minute meals from scratch. We taught how to make easy crockpot white chili (my award winning chili from last years Halloween Chili cookoff), pizza, burritos, and spaghetti sauce.
I kind of thought that we'd have maybe 2 people show up, but really there were at least 20 women there and I think they all learned something from the class. Brandon and I had a great time showing some of our techniques. The kitchen had a mirror over the main cook area so people could see what we were doing. We also had people get up and make their own spaghetti sauce and pizza dough at the different cooking stations.
At the beginning of the class I shared the scripture Ether 12:27:
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
I talked about how up until 3 years ago I didn't enjoy cooking and I was afraid to try anything new. But I decided that I wanted to become a better cook and I gradually have improved and learned a lot of new recipes and I feel more confident as a cook. I said that the fact that I was helping teach this class was proof that weaknesses can turn into strengths.
Another thing that gave me confidence as I prepared for this class was an
Id10t (formerly Nerdist) Podcast with Howie Mandel. They talked about being authentic and about how 90% of success is just showing up. There is a lot of strong language in this podcast, but if you can handle that then this is a super great episode to listen to. I listened to it to and from the store while I was buying food for the class and it really helped me see that I didn't have to be an expert chef to teach this class. I just needed to be myself and show people that anyone can enjoy cooking.
Oh and I have to give a shout out to my friend Pam for watching the kids so Brandon and I could do the class together. She used to be Derrick's Primary Teacher but I didn't get to know her until one Sunday when we randomly sat by each other in Relief Society. She was great with the kids and I hope they were great with her.
As luck would have it I had another Relief Society Activity on Thursday night. In case you can't tell I LOVE Relief Society and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the activity side of it. Which is good because I've just been called to be the RS Meeting Coordinator for my ward. I'm super excited about this.
I've been on the Relief Society Meeting committee since about October of last year, and so I helped plan this activity. But I was excited to officially be in charge of it on Thursday.
The committee decided to take advantage of the fact that the City Creek Trailhead is right behind our church and plan a hike. We wanted lots of people to feel welcome so we made it a mother/daughter hike. That ended up being good for me because Brandon had his rock climbing class that night and so I had to bring all the kids with me anyway.
Everyone met at the church in a shady and grassy area behind the kitchen. We had about 25 ladies there and I told them all we'd hike for about 30 minutes and then come back for a devotional and refreshments. We provided water bottles for everyone and then we headed to the trail head and up the trail.
Charlotte and Lydia ended up hiking in a group with other ladies. I got stuck with slowpoke Veronica and Derrick. I actually enjoyed talking with Veronica as we hiked. She had lots of funny comments.
Derrick found and area to throw rocks into water and so we basically hung around there until I heard the main group of ladies coming back. As soon as I said it was time to turn around Derrick started running down the trail. He was out of sight within seconds.
Veronica and I followed as fast as we could. I hoped he wait for us at one of the bridges, but there was no trace of him, I hoped we find him at the trail head, but again no trace of him. I was starting to get worried. I figured Derrick had enough sense to go back to the church where he knew we were having dessert. But I also worried he would run across the street to the park. And of course I started to wonder if a stranger had lured Derrick to go with him.
I decided the best thing to do was to go back to the church and see if he was there. If he wasn't there I could leave Veronica and then run over to the park. If he wasn't at the park then I'd have to call Brandon. Thankfully, we rounded the corner of the church and found Derrick happily dumping the water out of some of the extra water bottles. I was so happy to see him that I wasn't even that mad. (Though he did get a stern lecture about staying close to me.)
The rest of the evening went well. Robin, the RS counselor over my committee had made ice cream pie and it was just what everyone wanted on that hot evening. (We'd originally planned s'mores back when we couldn't comprehend hot summer evenings.) Then we had a sister give a talk about how mother's and daughters can help each other. And that was it.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this yet, but my parents have decided to move to Pocatello for at least the rest of the time we are here. During my lunch break on Friday I went to tour an apartment complex. They will basically double their living space for a lot less than they are currently paying in Utah. It should be a great situation for them. Here is a picture of their new kitchen.
We didn't have much planned for the weekend, but I wanted us to at least get out a little bit. Since the three older kids can ride bikes we decided to go on a family bike ride. Brandon rode his bike along with the older kids. Veronica rode her scooter, and I walked because I had a feeling that I should. I was right. Seconds after this picture was taken Veronica biffed it and fell off her scooter. And guess who was there to hold her hand and carry the scooter.
We had another good talk as we walked. She has such funny things to say. I love how she says words like Loobie for Movie. And her funny little phrases like "so much goodness." She always says, "when I get big like you, I want to ______." And then she'll name something I do like use sharp knives or donate plasma.
The other kids had a great time riding their bikes and went all the way down the bike path and back. I love this picture. Derrick is FAR in the front. It reminds me of the bike path in Texas and how he would always run way ahead of us when he was a toddler.
On Sunday the kids had a pioneer activity in Primary. The presidency had made the girls little aprons and scarves. The boys got hats but Derrick didn't want his. The boys made boats and the girls made rag dolls. They also made butter. It was a great day.
Here are the girls all together.
Charlotte loved her hat and apron so much that she wore it the next day at the ELC. She actually packed it with her clothes that she changed into after swimming lessons.
Going back to Sunday for a minute, here's a project the kids and I did. During the reunion I'd spilled the box of spoons on the floor. I didn't want to throw away the spoons that fell out, but I didn't want to put them back in either. I put them in a bag and took them home so we could do a project with them that I'd seen online.
First we used candles to melt the spoons.
Derrick loved this.
The idea was so make the spoons kind of bumpy.
Then we cut the handles off. And that's where we stopped. Eventually we'll hot glue them together and in theory they will look like lotus petals. I'll let you know how that goes.
Charlotte and Lydia have been playing with their barbies a lot lately. They watched an Anya and Elsya episode where they went camping so that's what they have been doing with their own Anya and Elsya. Here are the girls in their tent. Their sleeping bags are really socks.
Here are the parents in their sock sleeping bags.
This is the full campsite. Note the battery operated tea-light campfire.
This pipecleaner with a bead on it is really a tooth brush.
Here are the girls with the full campsite. The wagon is the car.
This is a fishing pole.
On Monday the kids made bottle rockets with the ISU physics department. Derrick loved making his rocket, but was afraid when they launched them.
On Tuesday the kids went to Downata Hot Springs in Downey. Brandon and Veronica were planning on going, but Veronica had been throwing up early on Tuesday morning so they stayed home since she was sick. Derrick loved the waterslides as usual.
In the evening we celebrated Pioneer day by making graham cracker covered wagons.
Here are Derrick's.
Charlotte's (still wearing her pioneer stuff I might add)
Lydia's
Veronica's
And all of them together.
Oh Charlotte's again.
And Derrick's. Obviously we were very proud of this activity.
Veronica's
Eating some of them.
On Wednesday I had Cub Scouts for the first time in a month. I'm always really annoyed by scouts until I actually go. The program drives me crazy, but I like the boys and I like my ward's approach to scouting. We aren't super uptight about it and everyone has a good time. I took Veronica with me and she had fun playing with a rope while the boys made paracord bracelets. Veronica made sure she had a turn when the boys practiced burning the end of a rope to keep it from fraying.
On Thursday I met up with the kids at the park for lunch. The teachers always put sun screen on the kids, and they try to make it as fun as possible. Here's Lydia's "war paint."
And here is Charlotte's.
Thursday evening Brandon had his last rock climbing class. It was a billion degrees in our house, even in the normally cool basement so I decided we weren't going to stick around home. The kids helped with their dishes jobs and their laundry jobs and then we went on a walk to the park. On the way there we went by a little rose garden. The girls had brought their Barbies so they stopped to inspect everything.
Here's Veronica.
Derrick in his preferred habitat.
Elsya wanted to show me this leaf.
Another part of our walk took us by a bunch of lavender. It was full of bees.
Lydia wanted me to take a picture of the "car."
This part of the path is so cool. It runs by City Creek and shaded by cottonwoods.
Then we made it to the sunny part of the bike path which runs along the Portneuf.
And finally we made it to the park. Charlotte and Lydia played with their barbies the whole time. Veronica showed off her rock climbing skills.
Derrick spent a long time playing with the drinking fountain. Then he would get a mouth full of water and come spit it on me and Veronica. Then Veronica would run to the drinking fountain and get her own mouthful. They took turns doing this for a while. I was fine with this because 1. My hat got most of the water, and 2. Any game that involves the kids running while I sit still is fine with me.
Here's Anna and Elsa sitting and talking while Anya and Elsya play.
Then we walked home on a different trail. This one took us by sage brush. I love how varied the landscape is within just a few blocks.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love Pocatello? If we could stay here I would love to live in Old Town forever.
We are so lucky to live here right now.
On Friday morning we took some time to water the garden. Ignore my dead potted plants and check out those pumpkins. Derrick had a little lesson on Pumpkins last year and so he is thrilled to see them growing this year.
All the kids love to point out new flowers.
Our sunflowers are also doing well, I just wish more of them had sprouted. Note to self, plant them indoors first so the birds don't eat the seeds.
The corn is also doing surprisingly well.
And here's the whole view. This was exactly one year to the day since we had first found this house. A year ago this patio was covered with 4 foot weeds growing out of every crack and the garden had even more weeds. But we've tamed it pretty well in the last year.
Lydia found a moth that landed on her finger.
On Friday evening we decided it was a perfect time to camp in our backyard. But since it was too hot to do that right after work we decided to go on a hike. Brandon looked up trails and found one near Scout Mountain that looked nice.
Most of the kids were excited to go, but Lydia took her turn filling the roll of the "child who doesn't want to go and whines loudly about it." Within 10 minutes she made sure to fill the roll of the "child who changes her mind and says they LOVE hiking so much."
Here's a little stream.
All the kids hiking.
Some more hiking. We didn't really have a destination in mind, but we had fun just walking and talking. Being outside relaxes me and I love doing things like this after a whole week cooped up in an office.
The view on the way down was really pretty.
Back at home we put up the tent and then I made oven s'mores. Our area of Pocatello is under a burn ban and it was too hot to worry about a fire. Plus I kind of prefer oven s'mores since they are way less hassle.
Everyone enjoyed eating them.
By this time it was late which meant I was getting pretty done with little children. (I have a quota of how many times I can hear "Mommy" during a single day.) So bed time probably wasn't as magical as it could have been. Brandon helped the kids lay down and I read them from My Side of the Mountain. (We read it in the RV last year and reading it makes us all a little homesick for the woods.)
Derrick fell asleep first followed by Veronica and then the twins. We knew it wouldn't rain so we slept with the rain fly off. It was fun to see the stars.
Around 3:30 I woke up cold and uncomfortable. I had to go to the bathroom and I told Brandon that I wasn't coming back. It's hard to sleep in a tent when you have a kind size pillow top mattress within a 100 feet.
Saturday was another laid back day. I went through some clothes my friend Melissa had given me for Derrick. There was a spider man costume included. Veronica claimed that immediately and wore it the rest of the day. She loves her super heros.
These past two weeks haven't been anything epic, but they sure have been fun.
And guess what? We still have nearly a month left of summer vacation. In Alabama school started in early August so I keep thinking that's what's going to happen again, but no, school doesn't start until nearly the end of August. I'm glad we have this time to relax and enjoy our home.
