road trip, 2011

The kiddies and I are off, embarking on Road Trip 2011.  I have no idea how many miles we’ll cover, but we’ll hit three states, we’ll camp with cousins, welcome home Uncle Ben, attend an 80th birthday bash, spend endless time with grandparents and escape to McCall, pretending the rest of the world doesn’t exist.  We’re leaving D here to work very hard until he joins us for McCall week.  We have new music, movies, treats and games… I’m pretty sure this is going to be one big party! 

my 4th.

yard clean-up. house clean-up. last-minute errands. food prep. streamers lining the back porch. foil stars on the windows. 115 degrees. zero hesitation about jumping in the pool. 15 children. 10 adults. burgers complete with avocado, bacon and mushrooms. pasta salad. endless watermelon, strawberries and blueberries. grilled corn on the cob. hot dogs. D manning the grill. fizzy drinks. basketball in the pool. wandering adorable toddlers. dads flying down the slide. great conversation. new friends. fire pit by the pool. kids packed around the fire roasting marshmallows. gooey s'mores, sticky faces. wrinkly little swimming feet. sparklers lighting up little faces. catching glimpses of fireworks from the roof. kids collapsing in bed. quick backyard clean-up.

grateful for freedom, my family, friends and parties.

sunday

today’s lessons centered around desires.  we listed things we desire for ourselves and our children.  for me it all boiled down to obedience and the holy ghost.  my dad has often been heard saying that all blessings stem from obedience.  I believe that obedience to the laws of the gospel as well as the laws of the land and rules in the home bring lasting happiness.  I also desire for my children to recognize when they feel the spirit and have the opportunity to do so often.  if they have the ability to recognize the spirit in their lives, they will have access to direct revelation from their father in heaven regarding all things.  loved the thoughts I came away with today.

home teachers came today, or home teacher.  he comes and brings one or two daughters with him, whom my children adore.  he is a free spirit and an open-minded thinker and we have great discussions.  if there was a mold for the kind of person contained in our ward, this brother would be very outside the mold.  we love him.  we started our discussion with the parable of the talents and moved to the principle of agency.  we discussed the idea that one can teach proper principles, offer choices and then let those in his stewardship choose for themselves.  this is how our father in heaven parents.  this is how great earthly parents parent.  this is how denten attempts to work with his clients.  he offers potential solutions and choices, and while he may feel one is best, the client must make the choice and live with the outcome.  it can be difficult to parent this way as we want our children to make the right choices, but a few wrong ones with natural consequences will teach more than any punishment I could inflict.  I am in constant check knowing that the less I interfere in choices being made, the more they will learn on their own.

after time with my book, a nap,  and dinner, we played a few games for family night.  it is clear when playing ‘simon says’ that there may be legitimate reason behind my children not listening the first time!  it also appears that seneca has the best impulse control of our children after playing ‘red light, green light.’ 

senny and I talked today about a principle amy introduced me to a while ago that the happiest girls are the prettiest girls.  while there doesn’t need to be a lot of emphasis on being pretty, it is concept she understands.  grumpy, sour-puss girls are not as pretty as happy, friendly girls.  our beloved home teacher said today that seneca just has a magic light about her.  I agree, and I hope her true happiness and exuberance lasts her lifetime.

seems monsoon season is hitting full force tonight.  I must go rescue a few runaway patio cushions.  we’ll chalk this up to a pretty good sunday.

saturday.

floors are clean.  bathrooms are clean.  well, not mine, but the others.  patios and driveways were sprayed off, weeds were taken care of.  garbages were emptied.  groceries happened.  my book and I found a lounge chair by the pool today and embraced the 115 degrees.  denten said the pool felt like bath water.  I said, finally it’s not cold!  we waited while the wicked wind whipped debris into the pool, then we cleaned it and swam again.  cooper doesn’t like it when I beat him in races.  he does like teaching me new swim drills, though.  seneca will only back float with goggles on, although she does not swim with them otherwise.  she is lazy at free style  but is great at breast stroke arms.  beckham does an amazing watermelon roll off the diving board and has strong free style arms.  he also can back float all day long.  both littles can swim the length of the pool.  denten and coop played water basketball.  then the others wanted in.  I enjoyed my chair again then threw orange chicken in the oven for dinner.  outside showers made cleaning up for sunday quick and easy.  I escaped to look for frames while D handled bedtime.  he’s now finishing hanging the tv on the wall and moving around components.  we have a movie to watch but we’ll see if I can stay awake long enough for it to happen.  I love saturdays that are full of productivity and play. 

The White Girl’s Annual Pilgrimage to Tohatchi

When we headed to Utah a few weeks ago, Seneca kept asking if we were going to Grandma Bitsilly’s.  She was thrilled the time had finally come.  She was asleep as we pulled off the main road onto the long, dusty one that leads to Grandma’s property.  She woke up on the dirt road and exclaimed, “oh, is this Grandma Bitsilly’s town?!”  Not quite a town, but yes.  Two whole days of dirt, freedom and treats… they loved it.

Bitsilly children and spouses.  Dianna, Denten’s mother is in the purple.

Grandma and some of her posterity

Dancing.  Denten and I claimed the prize for the adults… hey, I used to ballroom dance!  and D has got moves most of you have never seen.  After watching us, Seneca and Beckham decided partnering was the way to go.  They were hilarious.

taking advantage of the wind that wouldn’t quit.  bubbles and flying kites.

LaShonda and Delphine

Elvis and JR

Seneca holding her own in musical chairs.  Rez baseball.

Barrel racing

Cousins Brendan and Olin

The wind was fierce.  made me even more grateful we were in a trailer and not a tent.  we had dust and dirt EVERYWHERE.  D and I escaped to the Gallup flea market Saturday morning and found a beautiful cradleboard.  I was excited about our purchase.  The fry bread was delicious, the entertainment entertaining and the culture rich and alive. 

Bitsilly Family fun run/walk 2011

This event has become an annual tradition at the reunion in an effort to emphasize staying active and healthy. Aunt Joey is the fun run marshal and has everyone designate whether they will be going one, two or three miles.  Some run, some walk, some do a combination of both.  There are prizes given in each category later during the family dinner.

Cooper finishing his one-mile run. 

Denten, with Elvis trying to catch him.  David and Vernel in the background.  D is the undefeated three-mile champion.  Elvis trains to beat him every year.  He was close!

Aunt Delphine and Uncle Leon.  Uncle Leon used to be a track star!

Cousins Tanya, Cody and Jordan

Miss Senny, with Beckham coming behind.  They were troopers at the two-mile distance!  Cousin Bryan was on the rescue-mobile, taking water out to those still on the course.

Uncle J.R.  (Guy Bitsilly, Jr.)  He claims the mile gets longer every year.  Cousin Olin.

Cooper and I went back out to meet the 3-mile walkers and raced to the finish line.  He’s fast, but I’ve still got some gas.

Harley, Aunt Joey, Dianna, Marvin

what?  I need a tan??