breathe.

monday.

everyone up by 6, out the door at 7:15. coop to school then to the gym. home for a quick shower then off to tumbling class. straight to the grocery store. swear I will not grocery shop with these two during the lunch hour again. home for lunch and a failed attempt at naps. back in the car to get cooper, fall asleep on the way (them, not me). get coop in the car and head for home. get phone call reminding us that coop was scheduled for chess club after school. turn that car around, have him run in while we kill time in the car for a while then venture into the school. admire baby tortoises recently hatched at school, read in the library while chess finishes up. finally head home. music practice with cooper, then with senny. french dip sandwiches for dinner, jammies, reading and to bed.

tuesday.

D out the door sometime before 5 a.m. with running shoes on. beckham's happy face in mine at 5:40, all dressed and ready for the day. take coop out to school, seneca to preschool, bex and I go visiting teaching then to the bank. home to pick up library books then off to get senny. go from preschool to dry cleaners to senny's music class. drop her off and head for the library. return, find new books then back for seneca. home for a quick lunch then back in the car to get cooper. pick up pies on the way home. give freedom for one hour before we have to leave again. drop pie at home teacher's house (birthday), pick up kalle for music and take coop and kalle to music class. thank my lucky stars that kalle's mom will bring them home. swear when I pull in my garage that I'm not getting in the car again today. get dinner ready, pick up the house, eat, clean kitchen, celebrate when D walks in the door and takes over reading time. sit down for 10 minutes then get ready for book club girls to walk in the door.

tomorrow will be slower. please.

saturday bullets.

• personal record for Denten at the utah half ironman today, sub-5 hour time which is AWESOME!
• sweet crash for bro-in-law Drew at the same race.  he’s got some gnarly road rash but finished the race and did great.
• spent an hour at the gymnastics gym this afternoon with my kids.  trampolines, rings, bars, balance beams, ball pits, mats and ramps… it was a fantastic indoor playground.  Cooper moved from one apparatus to the next so quickly, he couldn’t decide where to spend his time!  The other half of the building is a skate park.  Beckham was fascinated with the skateboarders and has decided that is the class he would like to take.  Seneca is in it for the leotards. 
• finished my first book by Sarah Desser.  reminded me of Nicholas Sparks without all the sap.  I liked it.
• escaping tonight to see The Help with the girls.  Beckham asked where I was going.  to a movie.  what movie?  The Help.  Oh.  Later at dinner:  mom is going to see a movie about help.  like if you need help getting out of a tree, or if you’re stuck in the playhouse, or in a crocodile’s mouth… nice to know what situations he might need help with.
• pot stickers for dinner at coop’s request.  he definitely favors Asian flavors.  smart kid.
• outside temp yesterday was a record-breaking 117 degrees.  it didn’t feel super hot, but it sounds ludicrous. 

my hands: a comparison

Last week my hands were occupied practicing and perfecting figure-8 and bowline knots.  They threaded rope through harnesses and ATC devices.  They felt useful as they scanned rock faces searching for the best hand holds.  They protested when I had to take off my gloves and adhere to the cold rock slab early in the morning.  They warmed up with the friction of the belay rope sliding quickly between them.  They supported me as I used them to push my body toward a higher and more desirable position on the mountain.  They were grateful to cup a warm mug of cocoa at the lower saddle.   They packed gear carefully and assisted in rappelling.  They popped raw almonds into my mouth regularly and lifted cold, perfect water to my lips.  They clipped and unclipped carabineers.  They splashed perfectly clear water over my face at the Meadows.  The got dirty and felt strong.

This week my hands are occupied turning pages of story books.  They are cutting up fruit, spreading sandwiches and washing dishes. They are combing hair and brushing little teeth.  They are wiping up spills and folding laundry.  They are correcting pencil grip at the table and finger placement at the piano.  They are clutching a cup of ice each time I leave the house and are spending quality time with my steering wheel.  They are tickling cute little bodies and giving high-fives. 

While the business of my hands this week is significant beyond description,

Carmen’s Pinnacle

  please don’t tell me I’m crazy for missing it, just a little.

Thoughts I have had today

Wearing jeggings in 108 degree heat is not a good idea.  Even if you think you will be in air conditioning all day, the getting to and from is a little sweaty.

Beckham says, “ah, shucks.”  He also says, “shoot” sometimes, too.   We had a date this morning, visiting teaching and the library.  He was an excellent companion- I could get used to hanging out with just Bex, he’s easy and funny. 

Cooper has many talents, two of which are jump-roping and hula-hooping.  Seriously, the kid can hula hoop for an amazingly long time.  In P.E. he had some girls watching him jump rope and ask him how he did that.  He said they were jealous of him.  I wondered if that was his word or theirs.  He also has been giving me an education regarding fiction, non-fiction and fairy tales. 

Seneca has been learning skills at discovery club (preschool) that have come in handy around here… tools to use when she gets upset.  Today she came to my crying because Beckham had done something or other and I told her to use her big voice and go talk to him about it.  I could hear this calm, controlled conversation take place in the next room and was super grateful for the skills she is learning at club!

If asked directly if Coop likes school, he will often bring up his old school, but listening to him talk about the things he does and books he’s being exposed to, there is no doubt he is enjoying this experience.  And the homework coming home is awesome- seriously fun assignments that we can all participate in and are not a bunch of busy work or pointless worksheets.  The drive is long and waiting in the pick-up line is longer, and if it were a school I didn’t like, I could find all sorts of faults with the system, but it’s totally worth it for me. 

Here are a few books Cooper has introduced to us lately:

One by Kathryn Otoshi.  This is a great story about how one person can make a big difference.  Cooper was excited to share this one with us.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkel.  This one talks about the importance of one’s name.  There are some fun projects that are associated with this idea. 

Both Cooper and Seneca started music class last week and I wondered if it would be hard to find time to practice with both of them but it has been fun this week introducing new ideas and seeing them catch on quickly.  And poor Beckham, he’s doing it right along side them- he’ll be a pro when it’s actually his turn! 

I rolled my ankle on the first day of climbing school last week.  I was concerned that it would interfere with my climb, but after a day it felt fine.  It hurts again, however, and that is annoying.  I’m ready to get back to the gym and I should probably run a little before Bar Harbor next month, but it is as sore as it was when it happened.  I want to use it, but I’m afraid if I hurt it again it will take a long time to heal.  Oh, bother.  Let’s be honest- if this if the only I have to complain about today, life is pretty good. 

My Grand Adventure

I left on Sunday, kissing darling faces good-bye, leaving them in the care of Denten and his mom for the week.  If you define “vacation” as a chance to relax and unwind, then that is the wrong term for this excursion.  It was, however, beautiful, satisfying, exhilarating and left me changed, a little different from the person I was when I left home. 

Climbing School: Day 1

Isabel, me and Grace outside the Exum hut before leaving for our first day.  We crossed Jenny Lake to reach our climbing grounds for the day.  I spent these days with my cousins, Aunt Nanette and Uncle Jeff.  Couldn’t have asked for better company on this particular journey.

Nanette and Grace on top of our day one rappel.  Nanette on her way down.  The overhang was a little tricky to navigate.

By the time we had finished our climbing, waited out a hail storm, rappelled and descended the boulders, some were ready to be done for the day.  Our guide day one was Dave, who accompanied us on our Grand ascent. 

Isabel, Jeff, Nanette, AB and Grace at hidden falls after day one.  We spent the evening eating dinner next the entire cast of Modern Family, who was apparently in Jackson filming an episode on a dude ranch.  After a quick night, we were off again.

Climbing School:  Day Two

The climbing we did on day two was really fun for me.  We reviewed techniques I used in what seems like a previous life, back when I was in high school- stemming, mantling, practicing trusting our feet that they would stick to the rock… I loved all of it.  Isa took a fall on day two that was frustrating to her and gave a somber mood to our group for a bit, but Nat was our guide this day and he was fantastic in helping her shake it off and reinstilling the fact that he all the confidence in the world in all of us that we could do this. 

top of day two rappel.  AB, Iz and Nanette

After day two.  I felt confident and excited.  Can’t say I didn’t have a lot of butterflies in my stomach that night, however.

The Grand, day one:  up to the lower saddle

Nanette, Dad, Isabel, Jeff, Grace, AB at the trail head, ready to go!

we passed this sight shortly after we started hiking.  This was the destination.  It was such a majestic sight.

 

After many switchbacks, we turned to enter Garnet Canyon.  My dad told me that even though he has done this several times, this scenery still takes his breath away.  I had to stop several times to look around.  The Middle Teton was in front of with Nez Perce to the south, both huge and beautiful. 

Just after noon we reached the Meadows for lunch.  Nat caught up with us here and continued on.  From here, the trail got steep.  Really steep.  Nat was fantastic and took the next section super slow. 

This was at the top of the falls, where I drank the best water in the world.  It was cold and straight out of the mountain.  From here it was grunt work getting up to the lower saddle.  Steep ascents with a lot of loose rock took just about all I had in me.  The saddle was such a welcome sight!

This crazy man thought he needed a little bath when we arrived.  The water was cold to drink, but I started shivering just thinking about putting it on my body!  From the lower saddle, we could look east and see down toward Jackson where we started.  To the west we could see the entire Teton Valley in Idaho.  This was the inside of our hut on the saddle.  We went to bed about 8:30 and woke up just after 3:00 a.m.  Can’t say a lot of sleep occurred between those hours… but I was super grateful to be inside the hut as the wind outside made me think anything outside had been blown clear off the mountain.  It was crazy wind.  Made me wonder all night how I was going to climb in that madness.  Luckily it died a little by the time we took off.  We walked the first stretch by moonlight, keeping our headlamps off.  Nat warned us ahead of time that by the time we reached the black dike, our first stop, we would all feel like hell.  It helped knowing that I was feeling normal!  This was also the section that both of my sisters had lost their breakfast at one time or another- I was fortunate to avoid that situation.  There was a girl in the group ahead of us that reached this point and due to both asthma and fear had decided to turn around.  I wanted to cry for her- coming this far and having to go back was totally devastating.  Nat hustled us out of there quick lest any of us get any ideas about turning around.

I don’t know how many times my dad has done this climb, but enough that Nat didn’t want him to get bored, so he threw in a few extra pitches to keep him on his toes.  Isabel and I were on dad’s rope, so we were along for the ride!  We climbed this friction pitch called Carmen’s Pinnacle- it was a really fun climb and better done without looking over the edge as it was super exposed.  I found greater satisfaction in climbing this stuff than I ever anticipated.

After the last roped pitch, my dad took the lead and lead us up the last few climbs to the summit.  I got up there and didn’t quite know what to think.  Part of me wanted to celebrate that I was actually there, that my body and mind had worked together to get me to the top and yet I knew that coming down was going to be challenging so I couldn’t fully breathe relief yet.  I felt like I was in a dream-like state, wondering if it was real that I had actually done this.  Dad kept telling me to eat, I just wanted to look around and try to soak it all in.  We were so much higher than anything else around us, higher than all of the peaks that had looked so huge and intimidating from the valley floor.  I called Denten from the top and started feeling a little emotional.  I asked after if it was silly that I wanted to cry… Nanette looked at me and said, “I’ve been bawling over here for five minutes!”  I don’t know if it’s the feeling of accomplishing something that took so much physical effort on my part, conquering fears, or if it was the power of the view surrounding us- probably a combination of all, but it was powerful to me.

We had climbed the Exum Ridge going up as opposed to the Owen-Spaulding Route.  I was grateful for this for several reasons.  First, it had better climbing, more roped pitches that I really enjoyed.  Second, once the sun came up, I sat at my belay stations watching the mountains below me turn pink and then feel the sun wash over me.  That was a big deal, having sun and being on the opposite side of the peak from the wind.  Going down, we down-climbed the OS route and were in the shade and wind.  I was moving and working and therefore not really cold, but I was grateful I didn’t spend all morning on that side of the mountain.  Down-climbing was more work than I anticipated.  By this time my muscles were fatigued and I was moving slow trying to be careful.  I was so happy to see the rappel that would take us down 130 feet all at once.

I am a tiny little grey figure in the middle of the picture.

 

After we arrived back down to the lower saddle. 

Outside our hut.  G, AB, Nanette, Iz.  Me and Dad. 

Start at the top and count three major points down to the right.  It looks like a slab shooting up to the sky- this was Carmen’s Pinnacle, our bonus pitch.  I wanna do it again.

Looking back up toward the saddle, those loose rocks were maddening!  Nat and Dad were super patient with my slow, cautious pace. 

G and Nanette with the falls behind them.  It was fantastically gorgeous up there.

Thursday night at dinner with Mom and Dad.  We won’t talk about how much it hurt to come out of this kneeling position! 

I flew home Friday and somehow felt like I was carrying this big thing that only I could understand.  I was grateful my sisters had had this experience and were willing to celebrate my accomplishment, but even then, I think my experience was probably different from theirs.  My mom has had to sit through many dinners where the conversation centers around adventures that she probably doesn’t care to hear all the details about.  She warned me that no one would quite appreciate the experiences I had had and to not feel bad if no one “got it.”  I want to share this great thing with people, but I also want to keep it my own.  I think I went through withdrawals when I got home, feeling like I had this really wonderful thing that was a part of me now but I didn’t know how it fit into my regular life.  I didn’t want to let it go and have life return to normal like it never happened.  Katelyn said that it is somehow a spiritual experience, one that changes you and I would have to agree.  It was hard, both physically and mentally, but I loved it.  I loved the anticipation and the setting and the people and the sense of accomplishment that it gave me.  It was not a vacation in that I came home relaxed, I call it a “working vacation,” and it was fantastic.

I'm getting a blogger education tonight... apparently when you publish photos to blogger, they are also saved in a picasa web album and when it's full... you can't publish any more photos! working on a way to remedy that...

test

test post

the details that make up this house right now

1.  Beckham has decided nap time is not for him.  He’ll give me a few minutes in his room and then he’s done.  “Mom, I’m ready to come out and play quietly.”  He does not fall asleep easily during the day anymore which makes for a great bedtime but sometimes he gets a little grumpy in the late afternoon.  Seneca, however, is still a daily napper.  This makes for tricky schedules, but we roll with it.

2.  We have completed the first week at Zaharis, Cooper’s new school.  I’m certain I’m more excited about it than he is, but that’s ok.  He has been quick to report that recess is not as long  at this school as if that is a reason to transfer back.  Ha!  Starting over in a new building without any familiar faces isn’t easy, but I know he’ll get back to comfortable.  The best is that each day on the way home he has gone into great detail about whatever book was read to him that day.  I don’t say out loud that that is one of the reasons we made this move, but it sure makes me happy inside!  He has done his reading at home each day without any fight, sometimes choosing to do it in the massage chair and staying in there for an hour… whatever works, buddy!

3.  Let’s Play Music starts up again next week for Cooper and for the first time for Senny.  I still love this program and am grateful to have it so easily accessible.  Coop is going to be exposed to amazing things this last year and Seneca is more than ready to get going. 

4.  Preschool for Senny also starts next week at Discovery Club, which is where Cooper finished his last two months right after we moved here.  It is a fun, unique environment that Seneca will soak up.  I am excited for her, but bummed that I’ll be missing her first days.  Good thing Dad and Grandma will be here to take care of things.

5.  The car has been cleaned and laundry done in preparation for Grandma to arrive.  Dianna is coming to manage this house while I escape next week.  She has a few really busy days, I hope she’s up for it!  I’m grateful she’s willing and available to come jump into taking care of this crew.  The kids are excited to have her here.  I’m also grateful there is zero apprehension about me leaving, except that Beckham really wants to fly on an airplane with me.

6.  Ready or not, the Grand Teton and I are having a date next week.  I am excited and ready to go.  Well, almost ready… still need to clean bathrooms and get a few things packed. 

7.  This house has been bustling this week with various appointments.  We have a new pest control company and so far they are winners.  Locals?  I have a referral for you… they have rid this property of all ants, scorpions and all other creepy things.  We also have had several wood people in here giving me their opinions and bids on our potential flooring projects.  I keep sharing details with Denten and he says, “you’re talking ‘wood’ and I have no idea what you’re saying.”  I have had a crash course this week in terminology, cuts, stains, sealants, grades and the like.  We’ll see if we can get this project moving before I forget it all.

8.  Sleep.  Does one ever feel ‘caught up?’  Dent got up 30 minutes earlier than usual yesterday to get a longer run in.  The alarm went off at 4:00 and last night we were discussing who had the advantage:  the dad who sleeps soundly through the night, albeit a shorter one, or the mom who stays in bed until 5:45 but gets up twice or three times during the night with various children.  I don’t know who wins, but I know that sleep is a very valuable commodity for everyone.

First Grade… and a new school

This is my way-too-big first-grader.  Who had a pretty good day at a brand-new school.  A school I have prayed about and wanted for him so badly and thought impossible as the waiting list was long and not moving.  Monday I got a phone call letting me know there was a spot for him.  We went right over to get him registered and that night went to meet his new teacher and take a look around the school.  He was a little apprehensive seeing as this is not where he thought he would be all summer.  This was not the familiar, the one with friends… but I took it as a good sign Monday evening when he didn’t want to leave.  He wanted to “just keep walking, explore a little more.”  This school has an amazing energy about it, I didn’t blame him for wanting to just be there.  This school requires sacrifice for most in our family.  It’s a further drive, more time in the car for the littles, more gas, more strategic planning on my part to get everyone where they need to on time.  And if this experience turns out how I believe it will, it will be completely worth it.  I was so grateful for the feelings I have had this week as compared to how I felt this time last year.  The sinking feeling in my stomach has not been present, the feeling of dread about where I am sending my little boy for 6.5 hours a day… gone.  I am so excited for him and the great environment he gets to be a part of.  

But he’s still getting too big too fast.  We walked in to meet his teacher and she said, “you’re really tall for a first-grader!”  He just smiled.  I love this kid like mad and hope with everything I have that he has an amazing school year.  We’re off to a good start seeing as he spent 45 minutes with his book right after school.

And just for Gram… look!  the tooth finally came out!! 

sunday.

I found myself back in primary today, singing away. 

I love our home teacher.  I think I’ve mentioned that before.  My kids love him too, and his daughters, who he brings with him when he comes.  He’s the most consistent home teacher we’ve had since we moved to Arizona, and I think this is the first time he’s ever visited his assigned family regularly.  Glad it’s working out for us both.

Had a killer nap today.  I laid down in the den and didn’t wake up until after 5:00.  Had no idea it was that late, it was like a coma nap, the kind where somewhere in your consciousness you know you should wake up but there are powers beyond your control holding you down.  After sleeping so deeply for so long I should not be so tired right now, but I am.

I presented Denten with a Hell’s Kitchen scenario today for dinner.  Here are your ingredients, make it fabulous.  He delivered.  Scallops, turkey bacon, zucchini and pasta… it came together great and was delicious.  Love when he’s in the kitchen. 

Happy Sunday to you.  ‘Night.

one big long paragraph about our adventures at the gap.

so it’s friday.  that’s good news, except that it means that school starts next week.  I’m keeping my opinion about that to myself around here because he’s ready to go back and I’m not!  we’ve filled our last full week of summer with play dates here and away, swimming, swimming, swimming, a trip to the splash park, lots of time at the gym and some down time with movies.  oh, and school shopping.  that was an adventure.  Dent has been gone for three days to Supai so I figured what the heck, let’s hit the mall and take advantage of gap’s major discounts this week.  I got some killer deals on darling stuff for these crazies, but holy smokes, heaven bless the gap and all within.  first we pick out clothes with coop, then he needs to try them on- all while I’m trying to keep the littles out of the clothes racks gently reminding that this is not really the place for hide-and-seek.  Coop’s growing too fast and I need to grab new sizes.  we finally have a few things that will be great for him and it’s the Lady’s turn.  “Oh, mom!  This is soooo beautiful!”  said while her hands are flung to her chest and her voice is broadway quality.  gosh darn that gap and all their sparkles and ruffles.  it’s all “soooo beautiful!!”  although I’ll admit that skinny jeans on a little 4-year-old bottom are  completely darling.  we whittled down her “have to have” pile and moved on to Bexie, which was really just for good measure as he doesn’t need a whole lot.  he picked a great shirt off of the sale rack and we were good to go.  until we were walking out and coop found shoes.  shoot, we weren’t going to get shoes here!  but when all discounts bring them down to $8, you betcha, go get the shoes.  then we did actually move on to an actual shoe store and the boys were granted new kicks.  turns out beckham has an opinion on the color of his shoes that just happens to surface after they have been paid for.  no problem, let’s do a quick exchange and all is well.  after all the madness (oh, wait, it’s not over) I decided that I shouldn’t care how much the train ride was, it should just happen.  so it did and I looked away as I paid $3 a kid.  good grief.  and then we went back to the gap (we had to give them time to recover) because I needed a turn.  not a big one, just a few things… I was grateful the store was fairly empty but even still, it is not appropriate for these hooligans I own to chase each other around clothes racks, darting in and out and squealing at each other.  see, heaven bless gap.  sit.  right there.  now, stay.  do these pants look great?  “oh, mom… I really like those!”  “those ones are not great, mom.”  thanks for the honesty, let’s get out of here once and for all.  I get to the check-out counter (for like the third time) and the new-on-duty guy asks, “so, how’s your thursday?”  hi, can you see and hear anything past this counter?  those are mine.  I’m great, how are you?  crazy person.  then we were done.  really, truly.  until we walked through nordstrom on the way to the car.  darn those frilly dresses they put right on the aisle… “ah!  mom, look at this!”  while fluffing it around in her hands.  “it would be so wonderful to wear this one, mom!”  I’m sure it would, but I’m all done with my shopping today!  and then she sees the jewelry counter across the way.  I swear everyone on the floor heard the gasp.  “It’s so beautiful mom!  look, it’s sparkly! there is sooo much beautiful jewelry!”  she even had her brothers glued to the glass case.  where did she come from?!  eventually we did actually make it out the door and to the car and home.  there was a point along the way where I remembered that I had already picked out a few things online and that  that would have been much easier than the escapade we just had, but we needed to try things on!  and it was fun.  right?  it was fun?  yes.  and timed just right that we pulled in just in time for bed.  imagine that. 

to remember.

I’ve been putting this off, for a few reasons.  Frankly, I enjoyed my time away, away from my real life and away from this little blogosphere.  It was kind of like I was hiding from everything and I loved it.  I apologize if I ignored your phone calls and emails, but I was “out.” 

But, alas, I am back and trying to embrace it.  So, here is by far the longest post I’ve ever created…recap of the road trip that was… many, many miles covered and more importantly, many great memories made.

Like this one.  We spent our first night in Kanab before trekking to southeastern Utah the next day for the Banks reunion.  We stopped at Moqui Cave.  Not worth your time, in case you’re wondering, but we were on a road trip!  Me and three little people, so we stopped for things like caves and milk shakes.  The kids thought it was awesome until they actually had to go in the dark cavern.  They didn’t want to, but I paid for it, gosh darn it, we were going in!

We drove through gorgeous country, from red rock canyons into white moonstone-like valleys, up into desert country covered with sage and finally into thick pines and forest.  I was impressed all over again with the geography Utah has to offer.  We camped somewhere over there for a few days with the Banks clan, who, luckily I happen to enjoy.

Grandma and Grandpa Banks.   lawn golf.   Katelyn and Bode

Coop perfecting his lawn golf.   Grace, Lindsay, Tess and Anne.  Senny and Mary

the crew making boats.  the final products.

all ready to sail their boats down the stream.

cousins.   sisters.   more cousins.  

My great-aunt Marge turned 90 this year and you don’t have a birthday in Peaks Circle without a big sha-bang!  Here is Marge with my family and with her brothers, Joe and Ben (grandpa).  I love Marge to pieces.  She’s always had a thing for my husband… who can blame her, really.

Ben returned home from his mission to a houseful of family who couldn’t wait to see him. 

It took Boogs all of 2.7 hours to shed his suit and find his real skin again.  His sisters were the fortunate beneficiaries of his first outing.  Unfortunately Wilhelmina (the jeep) had a little trouble.  She was rebuilt while Ben was away and needed a few kinks worked out.  We were really good at looking at the engine and absolutely useless in figuring out the problem.  We still had a great time and decided none of us could remember  the last time when just the four of us were together, without any husbands, children or parents. 

I am climbing a big mountain in a couple of weeks and my dad made sure I did as much hiking as possible while we were in Utah to get ready.  Between dinners, hikes and jeep excursions, I was up one canyon or another every day that week.  I decided that I most definitely did not appreciate the wonder or proximity of the cottonwood canyons when I lived in Utah.  Nanette and Jeff are climbing the Grand with us and were regular hiking partners.

While I spent a few fancy-free days in SLC, my children enjoyed some solid time with their Grandma and Grandpa Robinson and Uncle Drew.  There was bowling, movies, swimming, endless games of Uno and Sorry and trips to the museum.  I think it’s safe to say they didn’t miss me any more than I missed them!

Once Dent had joined us in Utah, we packed up and headed to McCall.

Uncle Boogs is good for so many things…

as is Bode.  things like squishing and kissing and talking in ridiculous voices.  the hunts on the lake.

Bex and Grandpa doing watermelon rolls off the dock.

first water-ski experience… it was a total hit.  Beckham would have ridden around the whole lake every time if there weren’t two little girls in the boat waiting patiently for their turn. 

exploring old miner’s houses on a jeep trip with Ben. 

many hours were spent just like this.  my body is just down the dock, splayed out on a towel with my face in a book.

singing while skiing was Seneca’s M.O. and both girlies decided skiing in skirts is the only way to go.

and napping in the boat became regular activity.

heaven bless Gram (maybe?) for indulging and feeding the “princess” in these girls.  I’m pretty sure they were never in the cabin long without donning some sort of princess attire.  Gram made them new skirts and then presented them with these ridiculous sparkly shoes.  Another word about Senny and Tess.  They were a pair this trip.  They had their hair done the same way.  They traded and wore each other’s jammies.  They both exhibited over-the-top exuberance for everything… the drama was impressive.  It was imperative that they sit by each other for each and every meal.  The cousin love was abundant.

wandering down the trail at Brundage.

Dad and I at the bottom, then top of Brundage.  Normal people that hike up to the top of the resort most likely take a trail.  If you have ever hiked with my dad, you’ll know that bush-whacking is a part of the experience.  We got out of site of the rangers at the bottom and then headed straight up.  Well, there was weaving, but there was no trail.  We navigated streams, fallen trees and thick foliage in our attempt to reach the top of the chair lift.  While these excursions can be mildly grueling, he’s good at distracting me with pretty good conversation.  I love those times with my dad.

and just in case you thought maybe the water was warm this year… seems there’s a rumor that the reason the Banks girls swear is because they learned to ski in McCall.

this is Andrew.  he came with Lindsay.  we all love him.

there is photographic proof that all of the other skiers in this family continue to improve, but you know by now that there are about 500 ski pictures and I just can’t do it right now.

Shore Lodge for lunch.  mmmmm.  fish tacos.

all the crazies I love the most… except for the guy working on the self-timer.