Provo’s Freedom Festival always hold a flag retirement ceremony. I thought this would be very educational for the boys to go see. I thought it would be a good FHE activity. I had them wear their scout uniforms (as did I and many others, even though they didn’t participate). June also came with her kids. Dave ended up having to do some work, so he wasn’t able to join us this time around.
It was a good opportunity to talk to my boys about respect, honor and service to our country. I had to keep explaining it over and over to Anthony. He kept asking why we were burning the flag. It is a rather difficult concept to grasp for a 7 year old.
Some Marines were also there and I made sure my boys noticed how well they dressed, and walked in formation. It was not too hot of an evening, but the heat from the fire at times was a bit much.
Scouts saluting the flagBenjamin showing his respect for the flag. Ryan did too, but it was getting kind of long.
While at the music store to pick up some music Benjamin saw some little violins hanging on the wall. We said with the most fasinating tone of voice, as if mesmerized by the sight, “Oh mom, I want to play one of those.” It’s been a month since then and I’ve now got him started with violin lessons with Meika. Fortunately the Lewis’ had a little violin that Amanda had outgrown, so we traded for a 1/2 size violin that has been in my closet that is a family violin. When James practices piano, Benjamin likes to get out the violin and practice. Still the basics, and he’s only 5, but still it is fun to see him do this!
Yesterday a whole slew of us went to Springville City Art Days, braving the rains and thunder. Each of the kids were allowed ONE ride (at $5 a ride)! Anthony, James, Savannah went on the Spaceship 2000. “That was the best ride!”
Coming off the ride - "That was so totally awesome!"
James went to a new dentist here in town. The dentist has some new procuedures that I’m much more in favor of than
Rubber Dam surrounding James tooth. The video goggles really helped to distract him.
traditional dentistry. Removing mercury-based amalgams is first and foremost, and then restoring the tooth to its normal state. (Using a porcelain-fiber composite filling.) James wasn’t quite sure about having the rubber/plastic dam surrounding the tooth. (Purpose of the rubber dam is while removing the amalgam with a drill, the mercury stays contained and is not splashing everywhere to be reabsorbed. Also , the porcelain-fiber composite filling requires the tooth to stay dry for a few minutes) Also, the use of Ozone to kill the remaining bacteria didn’t quite go over well with James. He accidentally inhaled it which caused a 20 minute coughing attack. For 3 cavities it took 2 1/2 hours!
One of natures wonders is right here in Utah County. Timpanogos Cave is 1 of 3 caves in the world that has a particular kind of calcium formation. I went once when I was a kid, but hadn’t been back since. (From that trip the only thing I remember was being scared, so my dad had me on his shoulders. And at one point in the cave his head got cut and required stitches.)
We went on Thursday with June and her kids. (Dave stayed at the office to get some work done.) Fortunately the day was beautiful (in the 70’s) with a bit of cloud cover. I had no idea that the climb was going to be that steep! When I pointed out to the kids that we were going to be hiking THAT mountain to get to a cave I said, “But we’re not going to the very top”. True, we didn’t get to the very tippy-top, but we certainly got darn near close to the top! I kept telling them over and over before we left, “You have to wear good, comfortable shoes. No cleats! And you HAVE to wear socks.”
Jacob loves being outside
We had a 1:00 tour appointment (when you are supposed to start hiking up). Me and my boys were late getting out the door because Benjamin couldn’t find his shoes. (The curse that is now mine since I always lost my shoes as a kid.) June had already got the tickets and the instructions so she filled us in as we quickly got to the trailhead. It takes most people 1 and 1/2 hours to hike to the top. So we had to hike quickly.
Taking a rest, but up against the rocks for safety!
But once we got started, it was quite the climb!! Extreme switchbacks. We had to stop and rest at every switchback plateau. Jess (15) kept saying over and over, “I hate switchbacks!” I was constantly reminding my boys that they needed to stay away from the edge, and to always walk next to the rocks. (And NO throwing rocks either!) Samuel (3) had a hard time remembering to stay away from the edge. Though there was always someone to remind him. Benjamin (5) was always right by my side (or hanging onto my diaper bag). Anthony and James were good troopers. And Jacob LOVED being outside and smiling at everybody that was coming down. The sling was great!
Jessica keeping Samuel safe during the tour
It tooks us nearly 2 hours to get to the top. (Just 1 1/2 miles, but very steep.) When we started the cave tour, we loved the cool 45 degree (F) temperature. But shortly into the tour Benjamin started to say, “I’m freezing!” And within minutes Samuel said, “I’m scared!” Since I was holding Jacob in my sling, I couldn’t hold him too. Cousin Jessica held Samuel’s hand and stayed with him for the tour. The formations were so interesting, and our tour guide was a junior high school science teacher, so he really catered to the young kids in the group. While showing us the long calcuim formed tubes, he said, “See these? They are hollow in the middle, just like a straw. So if you were to break off one of those and drink some soda through it, it would completely dissolve, just like your teeth.” I snickered and said, “Did you hear that boys?!” James wasn’t paying attention and said, “What? what’s so funny?” So I had to quickly explain it. But it was lost a bit in the retelling. I’m always telling my boys that soda is poison.
Halfway through the cave, a man came up to me and said, “This would be a great place to play some Baroque music.” It took me a few seconds to register, but it was James Rhodes. A professional violist that just played a Utah Baroque Ensemble gig with me in April. At the end of the tour he caught me up on his Chamber Music camp that he is holding for local students.
Nearing the end of the tour Jacob had enough and was exhausted. He starting crying and I couldn’t console him. Fortunately we hurried out of the cave and I was able to nurse him to sleep on a bench. Then we began the descent. (After explaining to the boys that they COULD NOT run down, complete with a story of a 3 year old boy that tripped and fell off the side and died. To which Anthony commented, “ouch”.)
On the way back down June and her kids (along with Sam) quickly steamed ahead because they had to get to a toilet. I took my sleeping baby Jacob (in comfy sling), James, Anthony and Benjamin at a bit of a slower pace. All the way down my boys asked, “tell me a story of when you were a kid”. It was a very good time to pass on childhood stories, mistakes that I made and learned from. We had a wonderful bonding time.
The amount of energy kids has constantly amazes me. Samuel nearly immediately fell asleep on the 45 minute drive home, but he woke up when we got home, and was awake until 11:00pm. I was ready to go to sleep at 8:30, but the kids were just as wired as ever. At 10:30 I was reading stories to Anthony and I asked through my own bleary eyes, “Aren’t you tired at all from the hike?'” He looked at me like I was crazy, “No.”
Three days later, my body is still a bit sore! The boys told a ranger, “if our dad came, he’d have a heart attack!” But that’s another story for another post.
Anthony, James, Benjamin: "Cool!"Now that's weird looking.Anthony thought this adventure was great!The boys thought this looked like a dinosaur tooth.Benjamin standing in front of a huge slide formation. "That would be fun to go on!"Savannah and Jess, Samuel and James
I will try to post things related to me specially more than general family events.
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While working on this site, I found a nice resource for header images (free). Go to http://www.freewebpageheaders.com and browse their database by category or use the search box.
Trying to 'crack the egg'. Samuel doesn't like this game.
During piano and violin lessons, the kids take turns going on the trampoline. There have been a few accidents. And for sanity’s sake, I should probably stop letting them do this while we come for lessons. But it has been a great bribe at the beginning.
While Savvy and Ryan have been visiting us, they also have come to lessons so they can also play on the tramp. Oh, and Ruxpin too, so he can see his half-brother, Sachmo. (Meika’s dog.)
At 7 months old, Jacob got his first dose of people food. Fresh green beans boiled and pureed. He didn’t quite know what to think of it. Every time he did the truly sour look, my camera missed the moment. He didn’t really get much down. Just a lot everywhere else. This is the first baby that I haven’t started at 6 months, and on rice cereal. I’ve been trying to track down something with his GI tract. I have found that through my breast milk he is allergic to: sugar, honey, wheat (gluten – any refined flours), AND dairy. Aside from learning how to eat differently, the nice thing for me is that my clothes are getting larger/body shrinking with this kind of diet! (Some days are MUCH harder than others to stay on the bandwagon.)
Anthony really wanted to wear his Tiger Scout uniform on his last day of school. Sure, Why Not? In Anthony’s last day of 1st grade, he got the “Bionicle Builder” Award because he was always talking about his Bionicle creations that he does at home. And even brought a few too to show his class.
