Job Posting

Position -  Construction drivers, operate vehicles involved in the construction industry, such as forklifts, dump trucks, cement mixer trucks, asphalt rollers, crew buses and fuel trucks.

Skills required - Must be 18 yrs and older with a valid state drivers license.   No experience neccessary.

Working conditions - Dirty. 

Benefits - You get to be adored, respected and idolized by every child born after the year 1997 who will scream and wave at you frantically as they pass by.  Even if you aren't operating your digger at the time they pass.  (you don't even have to be present to be admired for what you do)   Big white 12 passenger vans cars full of revering children will stop on the side of the road to watch you move dirt.   and will no less scream when they leave.

Pay - Who cares how much you make with those kinds of benefits.

This also applies to Garbage truck drivers, street cleaners, Firetrucks, ambulance, oh hell...anything with a siren on it not excluding tow trucks.   If it's got wheels.   you got benefits.
Just sayin'.

Stop and go driving...and slow down and slow down and point keep pointing until everyone is looking in the same direction, hurry before we pass it....THAT IS A BIG DIGGER !

This is what our lives have become on the open road.

A conversation between 3 1/2 year old friends.

Scene : 6pm Wednesday night, doorbell rings. Spencer and Cameron run to open it, revealing their friend Max from across the street.

Cameron : Hi Max.
Spencer : Max, we can't play.
Max : Hi.
Cameron : Yeah, we can't play. We're going to our grandma's for treats.
Spencer : Yeah, ah grandma's. We're leaving. Bye Max.
Max : I can come in and play still.
Spencer : no Max, we ah leaving.
Cam : yeah Max. we're leaving.
Spencer : Max, look at my eye, it's bleeding !
Cameron : yeah, look at my lip it's bleeding !
Spencer : Cameron scratched my face.
Cameron : Spencer kicked me.
Max : Hey look, a spider.
Spencer : Come on Max. Come in.
Cameron : yeah, come in.

and....scene.

Thing is. We were never going to grandma's house. Although coincidentally 2 minutes after this conversation grandma called on her way home from Great Grandma A's and is going to stop by.
The other thing is, Spencer and Cameron were in fact both bleeding from being scratched and kicked.

They are now pushing Max on an office chair through out my house screaming bloody murder. The babies just joined in for the hell of it.

When is it EVER wordless !

It's a bit like feeding the birds, only with much bigger teeth.

horse : "mmm, you look like a big orange carrot"

Ryan : "maaahhh-uuuum, he's lookin at me funny"

open, open, open, open, oh gawd oh gawd

aaaaah, oh gawd, aaaaaah

but he finally did it. He fed the horse. albeit,looking kinda like a horse.

and then we played and visited.....

Thank you Ratchel :), for letting us play at your SUPER nice, oh my holy mother of mary please don't touch that, or that, or that...house ! 

The kids are still talking about the horses, the dance room with the cool lights and the drinking fountain.

Sweet and Simple

We're in the car on our way to gymnastics.   Sydney says, "let's play a new game.  These are the rules.  I will think of a word and give you a clue.   Then, you have to guess the word.  ok.  The clue is, it's in your heart."
Me : "blood"
Syd : "no"
Me : "arteries"
Syd : "no"
Me : "valves"
Syd : "no mom.  it's IN your heart"
Me : "muscle ?"
Syd : "NO !"
Me : "I give up. What is it ?"
Syd : "Love mom.  Love is in your heart."
Simple and pure.

Syd is still having night terrors, just about every night.   Last night was no different.
They had been going on and off for maybe an hour.   
Cam appears at my bedside, 1/2 asleep and with the sweetest little voice says,  "mama, Sydney is calling you, she needs you"
Me : "I know buddy.  Thanks, I'll go see what she needs"
Cam : "ok"  and off he goes back to bed.   
I think had he been more awake he would have said, "MOM !  Sydney has only been screaming for you for the last HOUR.  Do you think you can go in there and take care of her already ?   I'm not transitioning in to a nice REM sleep with all of this screaming going on.   GEEZE !"
Or something like that.
I thought it was sweet that he was concerned about his sister enough to get up.   come in my room.  and tell me.   My little protector.

Mommy J, by Syd !!

It's uncanny really ! :)  hee hee

Let's face it Friday

Sleep oh sweet sleep !

I NEVER in a million years thought that my children would go to bed and fall asleep when the sun was still shining.   My kids were the kids that went to bed and fought sleep and finally were asleep by 11 pm.   They slept in and life was...well...whatever...I got to sleep in right ?
We changed things up a bit and set bed time earlier...with a better routine.
It worked.   Well Cam still had issues falling asleep but over all...they were doing it.
Syd.   Syd is her own little nightmare on a pillow.   If it isn't being scared it's terrors and mares and the works.
SO.  we changed it up AGAIN.  
I stopped giving the big boys naps.   I know, I know.  What about that time during the day, when it's quiet for at least 1-2 hours.  (sigh) 
I gave it up.
All of our problems were suddenly gone.
Just like that.
Cam....is asleep before Spencer and I don't know how that's possible.  
We could probably get them to sleep at 7 pm.  but it's so hard when we are eating and bathing and changing and hanging out together with Mommy J that 7:30 pm is just fine.   They actually ASK us if it's bed time.  NO WAY !  oh but yes.

I have been working with Syd on her worries and fears through some fantastic workbooks that a really neat person told me about (wink)
It's helped.   and I don't know if the boys going to bed so well has helped her...but my 3 older ones are now asleep by 8pm.  BY 8pm.  That means that some days.  it's even EARLIER.  OMG (gasp, hold breath, cover mouth)
It's true.

The babies are still works in progress.    Thing is.  We screwed the older 3 up in the beginning and look at where we are today with them.  SO, there's hope that we can eventually fix the babies too.
Nathan is a champ.   He will "normally" drink his milk, roll over with binky in mouth, wrap his arm around his baby and fall asleep.   Some nights he flips and flops.  talks himself down.  but within about 10 minutes...he will put himself to sleep.
Ryan.  my little snuggle bug.   He HAS to be touching you.  Even if it's a finger. he has to feel our skin next to his.   He sleeps with us...and through the night without a fuss...but he does still sleep with us.

SO.  our routine :
I read books in the boys room.  They all pile around and on me in the glider.
The boys jump in bed with sippy cups and binkys (yes, they still get binkys at bedtime...but, ONLY at bedtime...and in the car on 13 hour trips :)  Sound machine goes on and I walk away.
I then take Syd in to her room.  She reads a book to me, I read a book to her.  I turn on some music (she has had music since birth) and I walk away.

In the meantime.  J has been in our room laying on the bed, next to Ryan...so he can throw a leg over her or lay his head on her back while falling to sleep.  
Once asleep we party like it's 1999.  Ok.  we are too damn tired for any of that nonsense.  but this is when we have time to watch our netflix movies.  as we don't watch or follow any TV shows.   Although I hear about them all of the time and sometimes wish that I could.
note - as long as there isn't a Jazz game on :) 
Or we just talk, or.  we just.  go to bed.

SO.  sleep sweet sweet sleep.
I have to say, having my time at night, instead of sleeping in...is DIVINE !   The kids all get up around 7-7:30 am.   but I wouldn't trade it for the world for the time we have together at night.

Not rubbing it in.  Just giving those of you struggling some hope.
And for those of you out there who have kids that have slept through the night.  Don't take binky's.  Don't sleep with you.  I commend you.   and I stick my tongue out at you and then flip you off as you walk away.  all the while you are laughing at me, because you did it right and I did it all wrong :) ha ha
Oh well ! live and learn and one day it won't matter at all.

ME time !

My wife left me for the weekend.  Taking along with her my eldest.   Who I found out is also my eyes and ears.    I can't wait to have my little helper back home.  (they get home at around 9 pm tonight)

I have been watching my weight.   I'm a weight watcher.   you know.  a Weight Watcher.
oh whatever.  Any ways, it's been a first hard week.   As they always are.  EACH and EVERY time I have them.  ugh !
So I put it in my head that I was going to get a special treat night.   That no matter how many points, I was eating something yummy.   J and Syd were in Seattle living the high life of take-out food and dessert. (well this is what I told myself) so I too would fall off the wagon.
Saturday night a very OLD friend of mine :-) was going to come over to watch the Jazz game and have some beer.   PERFECT.  I saved all of my points that day so that I could drink WAY too much bud light wheat (which is the BEST store bought beer ever.  especially with fresh squeezed orange juice in it)
The kids were asleep and she came over.   The Jazz lost and I had a total of 2 beers and stayed up visiting WAY too late.
WHAT ? how responsible of me.  what about tearing in to that 12 pack and waking up with a headache.

Sunday the plan was to go to my moms for dinner.   PERFECT.   She'll SURELY have treats.   She's a grandma for hell sakes.  
note.  she too is Weight Watching.
SO.  no treats.  I wasn't going to end it this way.
I got home and had the boys asleep by 8:14 pm.  
I found a box of brownie mix and began preparing it.    I got another bottle of bud light wheat and used the remaining slice of orange from the night before to add a bit of zest.
I sat at the computer and caught up.    When the brownies were done I cut a large square and covered it with 2 scoops of cookies and cream ice-cream.   I grabbed my latest netflix movie and my beer and headed for the basement.
I couldn't for the life of me seem to get an uneven bite.   Each one was equally covered in melted ice-cream and hot chocolately goodness.  
The movie is another subtitled one.  It seemed ok, but Ryan started crying and at this point it was 11 pm so I decided to wait for the wife to finish it.

I went upstairs.  I took the pan of brownies.  closed my eyes.  held my breath.  placed it in the sink and turned the faucet on.
I just don't have the will power.  I knew that the boys would have nothing to do with them this morning.  Although thoughts of feeding them brownies for breakfast repeatedly crossed my mind.   In the end I knew that I would have eaten at least 2 more and considered the day a total loss, so why not blow it completely and eat the rest of the brownies for dinner.

Either way....such a good night.  SUCH a good treat.  and Me time.

Another big change for me is this.  I'm always sure that behind every closed door there is an escaped convict waiting to jump on me.  Waiting to attack.  behind every corner.  in the basement.  upstairs.  in the kids rooms, under their beds. 
I only do this when J's away.   You know, because THEY know that I'm all alone and although freakishly strong, still very vulnerable.
I hear things.  See things that aren't there.   Jump at every shadow. 
Last night I slowly opened the bathroom door in my bedroom.   It's pitch black because my room is also the babies room and they were sleeping soundly.   Normally I wait.   I think, they'll expect me to just walk in so that they can hit me over the head with an ax handle or hammer.   Well I'll wait and then they'll swing and miss and I'll have time to grab both babies and both boys and make it to the cops house next door.  mmm hmm. yip. that's the logic that goes through my head. 
Last night however....I just walked in.   I said, well...if it's my time to go...let it be quick.   I closed the door and to my surprise...there was no one behind the door or in the shower or crouching down on the toilet.
When I turned the light off and opened the door once again to an even darker pitch black room, because now my eyes have adjusted to the light, I was again certain there was an ax weilding murderer standing with arms up waiting for me to come out.   I just walked forward and found my way to the bed.  Walked right through the scary that wasn't there.
I laid down next to Ryan, who immediately rolled over flipping his right arm and leg over my body.   I snuggled in to his belly and smelled and kissed him...and fell asleep.   No fear of an intruder.   No listening for sounds.  Just sweet, immediate sleep.
It ended up to be the PERFECT night.
Even if I did get up at 3:15 am because Cam couldn't find his binky and Spencer peed out.
It was nice.  It was my calgon moment.  My exhale. 
And I did it, by myself.

Friday's Funny home Fideo

Cameron is a comedian.    He is always trying new techniques in which to get us to laugh.
This is one that he has done a couple of times.   He usually doesn't put his arms in, however it helped with the melvin which is the funniest part.  The ending was not exactly what I was going for :)  but it works.
 
note :  his skin marks up so easily.   You can tickle his back and leave red marks.   In the video he has red splotchy marks all over him...he was not beat before or after this video.  I repeat.  These are not bruises.   :)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Words on Wednesday ? WHAT ?

You know me.  It's a rare moment when I'm able to stay quiet.

I listened with both ears at the comments about the seat belts.    When something strikes my senses I tend to do the right thing.    It was an anonymous comment : I hate to say it, but you are really making a mistake not putting your boys in carseats every single time they are in the car. First of all for safety. You will never forgive yourself if something happens, and it can happen so fast. As you know, the front seat just makes it worse as the airbags can open with even a minor accident and maim or kill them instantly. The other reason is that they need to know that carseats and seatbelts are essential every single time anyone is in the car. It must be second nature to them. You may not want to hear these things, but you must. You take such good care of your kids, why take such a foolish chance every day?

When I read the part that said, they need to know that car seats and seatbelts are essential every single time anyone is in the car.   That was what struck my senses.    Not so much the crashing part.    I put my children's lives at risk everyday.   I let my babies eat whole grapes, whole apples, hot dogs and popcorn.   I have my 3 1/2 year old in a bunk bed.   I let my children play in a 2 story playhouse.   I'm much more "flexible" than a lot of parents.   (I'm calling it flexible because it sounds much better than stupid...plus we don't say that word in our house)
If I see a car while driving them to school it's maybe 2 times a month.   It really is a quiet neighborhood....and yes, I'm already hearing the commenter's...it only takes one car.   No need.    I have come to my senses thanks to the words from an anonymous commenter.   I will be strapping my boys in because I want them to know the importance of putting a seatbelt on the second they get in a car.   When they are 17 and driving to school.  Which is only a couple of miles from our house.

ok, now....for wordless wednesday.

  

Tuesdays two cents

There are always going to be those people out there.   Mike Huckabee is no exception.  
That's all the time I'm going to give to that ignorant and hateful man.

I don't understand why restaurants bring out the kids food burning hot and place it right in front of the children.   Of course they say...don't touch...it's hot.   OK. that'll work.   I think that they should wait until the food is cooled down and then bring it out.  And yes, if that means waiting just a minute before you start my food...then so be it.  It's not like we don't have to wait for it to cool at the table...only now I'm dealing with 10 arms with 10 busy hands and the whining starts because everyone is hungry.

I heart restaurants who have fruit, cheerios and or crackers for the kids to snack on while we wait.   It makes all the difference in the world sometimes.   (and yes, I can pack these items myself....but it's sure a nice touch when it's offered)  Chick filet (we call it fill-et) has to be the most kid friendly fast food restaurant I've ever been to.   I love them.

I don't understand why they make bikini style underwear in leopard print for little girls in Syd's size.   SERIOUSLY.   They also have matching leopard print training bra's too.  
I'm sorry.  Those things are to make a person feel sexy.   Any child from the age of infancy to 18 (25 for my kids) should NOT be trying to feel sexy.   string bikini, low rise underwear on my daughter.   I just can't take it. (shaking head)

I took my boys to school today.   The house next to mine is the corner house and then about 5 houses down the street is where the school is.   I don't strap the boys in their car seats when I make that short drive.  I know I should.   Most accidents happen within a mile of your home.   trust me, J reminds me all of the time. (although I know if the roles were reversed, she would do the same thing)
ANY WAYS.  Today was no different.   I make them sit down in a seat while driving.  Usually it's squished together on the passenger seat.    A woman that I saw exiting the school with someone when I pulled into the parking lot watched me pull to the drop off and stop.   Both women sat and talked together while we waited and then she drove up in her unmarked car and approached me just after I passed the boys off to their teacher.
The woman who was wearing a tag around her neck that looked more like she was a conference member and not in law enforcement  held it out as she started, "mam, tell me you didn't have those boys unrestrained in the front seat of the vehicle?" 
me : "you mean in the parking lot ?"     acting slightly naive..good one.  that'll throw her off.
woman : "yes, this parking lot is not exempt from the law.    Are you a daycare provider ?"
me : aaaaaah, Baverly, riiiight, "no, they're mine."  I wanted to laugh out loud at the daycare comment.
woman : "please don't do that again."
me : "ok"

They were unrestrained when I took them home....but I did make them sit in their seats.
I suppose burying a child is much harder than strapping one in a car seat for a few years.  for that 300 ft drive. (sigh)

My ever growing dunlaps is causing me to watch what I put into my mouth.   Not so much the watching part, but the what part.  (ugh)  I'm pretty sure it's ALL because of the nuva ring.  which I will no longer be using after this cycle.   not because of the weight...more because of the pulmonary embolism part.

My wife and daughter are flying to Seattle for the weekend to spend some time with J's sister and family.
It was kind of my idea.   I thought it would be fun for Syd....and this way we didn't need to worry about finding someone to sit for the kids.  I'd be here with them.
I'm TOTALLY second guessing my decision now.  
I suppose it's too late to take back my, what the hell was I thinking, original offer.

Movie Monday

Oh COME ON....I know you all look forward to these.  and if you don't, please tell me.   I promise I won't delete your comment.  I'll even send you something nice if you don't comment anonymously.  I certainly don't want to put you off listening to my reviews of movies if you don't want to read about them.   you know.  when I could be talking about me some more :)  
if you comment OH GOD NO...don't talk about you MORE.  I will delete your comment. 

Box Office Hits.

Clash of the Titans. 
Gods against Man.   one of whom is 1/2 man 1/2 God, but didn't want anything to do with the 1/2 god side of him and was the only one who could beat the gods.
Lots of special effects.

My opinion.  It was fine.   I'm not in to the whole monster in the sea thing.   Or blood turning in to gigantic man killing scorpions....but I did appreciate the special effects and the acting was good.   And I really liked the humor they added (I'm sure for people like me) with the 2 hunters.  They were funny.  There were a few funny parts actually.     

Hot tub time machine.
ok, so my mormon sister in law told me that this movie was as good as The Hangover (and just as trashy).   I loved The Hangover so I was up for it.  Even though the name, hot tub time machine, should have been my first real warning.
We went with a friend.   It was our 2nd movie of the night and she didn't plan on **movie hopping with us but at the last minute decided to give it a shot.   She made it about 15 minutes.   Which was 15 minutes that I had to sit next to her feeling extremely nervous everytime the f-word was said...which was every second of the first 15 minutes.  and the next 15 minutes.  and then there was the flash of tits and ass and I was a little relieved when she said she'd had enough and walked out.
We didn't last that much longer.    I kept thinking....they said it was hilarious, that it was super good.  

My opinion  it wasn't 
(I'm glad we didn't pay for it :)

And now, on to my movie reviews for the LBD's out there who need a pick me up.

Producing Adults
A movie about a psychiatrist who counsels infertile couples, who wants to have a baby.   A lesbian fertility doctor.  And the men around them.

My opinion.   It's subtitled. Finnish.  This is another one that I didn't care reading through.  It moves slow enough that you don't miss anything reading the subtitles, but with enough content to keep your attention.  Both the wife and I really liked this movie. 
It was cute, but not too cute.  Believable, as any of them are.  And just sensual enough to make it worth it.  :)

Steam
A very lifetimey kind of movie about three women who meet in a sauna.   Now don't get your minds going from that.  
One is an older recently widowed woman.  The next is a college beauty (and I only say beauty because she's super cute.  It does not describe her character at all) who has very controlling parents and the need to come out of the closet.  And last, a divorced mother dealing with the antics of her ex and his 20 something wife.
Alley Sheedy plays the divorced mother.   I like her.  She was in High Art (another lesbian movie) and was gay in it.   I always thought she was gay in real life...I heard she's not...but her mom's are.  :) ha ha

ok, enough about Alley.
My opinion.  Other than the whole lifetime movie network effects....it had some touching and real moments in it.   Watch it.  

That's all folks.  Until next time.

**movie hopping -  To look at the scheduled movies before hand.  Time them perfectly so that you can pay for one and then once back in the theater waiting area, walk in to the next movie.  FOR FREE !!! (they do NOT make this easy with the times...trust me)
Now....this was Saturday night, but the theater wasn't busy at all.  Imagine our surprise when a woman comes and tells us that we are sitting in her assigned seats.   There were like 10 people in the WHOLE ENTIRE THEATER.    :) ha ha   "oh shoot, really ?  oh my goodness, we must have had our seats wrong. Isn't this row J.  Oh it's I.  darn it. we are so sorry." seriously...what are the chances really.
I'm certain this is not legal.   But I'm not sure if my Aunt Karma cares so I'm ok with it.  AND, we've only done it twice.   No harm in that....right ?

 





 

Redirecting

Redirecting for me is like wiping your ass right in the middle of big ol' shit.      You accomplish nothing, and now you've got shit all over the place.

If I've learned anything from all of the reading and research I do, it's that as a parent you must learn to redirect.    And according to Positive parenting you keep redirecting over and over until it works.  
If I did this.  I wouldn't have time to wipe my own ass.  literally.  because this would have to be the full time job of 3 very talented multi tasking people.   

Example.
Cameron has a train.   Spencer wants the train.  Spencer cries and cries and pleads for the train.  His crying escalates to a full on arm cut off wail and he is now following Cameron, who is moving from room to room because he can't play with all of the noise, throwing himself over whatever piece of furniture happens to be close.   Enter mom.
I ask both boys if there is some way we can come to a middle ground.  no.  ok.   Spencer, lets go find another train, as there are 4 other trains that are almost exactly the same as that one and the only reason you want it is because Cam has it.   No.  ok.   Would you like to go play cars until Cam is done playing with that train ?  NO.   Would you like to color ?  NO.  Would you like to run in the middle of the road with your mouth open catching bits of candy falling from the sky ?  NO !  the fit gets louder and is now too close to me.

I leave the situation to let Spencer calm down a little.   He keeps following Cam around who is now REALLY over his screaming and turns and clocks Spencer in the head with said train.    Now Spencer is screaming so loud only dogs can hear it...and me...and Cam...and now Cam's in trouble.  

Now I know you are saying....why didn't you remove Spencer from Cam.   Well that works ALMOST as well as redirecting him does.    He won't stop.    I've even held him and tried soothing him explaining softly that I understand how much he wants to play with the train.   He just yells and thrashes around on my lap.    You aren't suppose to lock them in their room.   it's "POSITIVE"  remember.   

Now, Cam is a pretty good sport and more than not he will eventually give in to the howls of his brother.  but damn man...it's a long road getting there.  and I hate that Cam ends up hitting and getting in trouble and then we start with the whole....how do you put 2 kids in time out at the same time and OMG I want a drink.

That was scene one.  Two is better and really has more to do with the shit getting spread around.

Ok, same same...Cam has it...spencer wants it.   Spencer will you play with this this this this or this ?...NO! ok, how about you help me vacuum ?  ok.  WTF.  ok.  ok.   here, make sure you don't suck up anything with a tag on it or that you put on your feet.

Enter Cam whose now disgarded the train to the floor with (adding now)Syd close on his heels.   I want to vacuum, I want to vacuum.   I asked Spencer to do it, go play.   NO. I want to vacuum.  Why does Spencer get to vacuum ?  I want to vacuum I want to vacuum....(continued, more winey each time it's repeated)
This is when the other two start throwing fits.    That's when Syd and Cam place themselves in front of the vacuum so that Spencer can no longer use the hose to suck up the same piece of carpet he's been sucking since this whole thing started.  Syd takes the vacuum away from Spencer because she's bigger.  Which then gets Cam mad at Syd for taking it away so he hits Syd who's already being yelled at for taking the hose.  She then hits Cam back, usually harder, which then gets him crying.  Now all 3 kids are screaming at the top of their lungs and I'm still trying to come up with something to redirect Sydney and Cameron with.

In the meantime both babies are watching and have now learned to hit...so they walk over and start hitting whoever is closer and not being held back by me, you know...not to be left out.   Which usually leads to a shove from the hittee..and now the baby that has fallen to the floor from being pushed is screaming with his arms up needing me to pick him up...but my arms are too busy pointing, lifting, holding and just "redirecting" that I need like 6 more arms to accomplish any of it successfully.  8 if I want to pick my nose or scratch my ass.

(sigh)

I guess what I'm saying is that.....I'm still searching.

This is a little something we picked up on our trip to Zions Canyon.  
We are going to hang it in our trailer.  :)
Fitting aye ?

Ward Campout

I wrote this post like 1500 times on the road trip home while listening to Barbara Streisand, Olivia Newton John, The Judds and awesome hits of the 80's on my ipod.  I had an idea of the pictures I was able to capture and prayed that they would turn out.  I put witty quotations next to pictures of my children and made the trip sound hard but worth it.

Fast forward to today.   I wouldn't allow myself on the computer until all of my shit in the house was done.     It's still not done.   and this post isn't going to be witty or sound worth it.  but it was fun and I'm glad we went.

We went camping with our neighbors to Zions National Park.   We called it the ward campout because all of the neighbors that go, happen to be in the ward.  (it was not the ward campout)  We've been invited before and were just too nervous to go.    J finally said this year, let's just go.    I asked her if we could invite some friends (a little like needing someone to go to the bathroom in the bar with you)
She said, "no, this will force us to hang out with people that we don't know"
Good concept. (still nervous though)

Everyone was so welcoming and friendly.   We were lucky that the group of people going were all close neighbors in relation to our house.   We knew all of them.  and knew, knew 1/2 of them.

We hiked.   The teenage boys carried our babies for us because OH MY GOD is that hard.  
Are you kidding me.  I had one strapped on for a matter of minutes and was already feeling spasms between my shoulder blades.
I did end up carrying Ryan for the last half because he was NOT having it and nobody could stand the crying any more.    I suppose the accoustics in the mountains didn't help.
Or in the campground.  during dinner.  at night.  in the morning.  midday.  right after naps.
He didn't feel good.  Both babies noses didn't stop and they sound super congested.  What did I expect to happen.

It was cold enough that we spent more time in our trailer than I would have liked.   And even with a DVD player and TV, Bolt is only good 3 times and then you had better have something else to do.
The crying and fighting and non baby proofed trailer had me frazzled by day 2.    
The kids managed to break 3 different things on the trailer.   One being the stove door. 
The babies would pull it open and then would climb on it to reach stuff on the counter/stove top.    And sometimes because they liked it when we screamed, "NO, GET DOWN !!" for the 10 thousandth time.

We ended up not having a spot for the last night and I'm glad we came home a day early.   I think under different circumstances (the weather, not being right by a river) it would have been a more relaxing trip for me.

Here are some pictures.  

We lost out little camera.  J has this thing with me taking my Cannon.   She doesn't want it to get hurt or lost...which I get...but these were important pictures to capture.  It's Zions man.

We stopped at Wally's in Cedar city and bought a 39.00 camera. a 17.00 card. and 5.00 AAA batteries.

I suppose, you get what you paid for, which is exactly what happened.

I (heart) these boys !!!

I only hope that my boys grow up as nice as they are.

A bunch of kids were climbing up this rock, so when my kids headed up I thought, no big deal.  The worst that could happen is they could slide down a little rough.

Once Syd was on top I made the mistake of asking what was on the other side.   One of the guys said, it's pretty much a drop off.   I immediately started calling for my kids to return to the ground.  oh holy shit.

There was a playground at camp.

and also that one really sweet moment

I also didn't set the time/date on the camera.   I also don't know how to set the time/date on the camera or how to get the damn time/date off of the bottom of my pictures.  URGH!

I'm not sure if they'll invite us again.  but if they do.  we're TOTALLY going.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.