Duck Valley in Early June

We took a few days in early June and went fishing and camping with Michael's parents. It was an interesting experience. There was the usual fishing, smores, and walks in the sagebrush. There was also rain (lots of rain) and strong winds. One afternoon I was in the tent with Grace while she was napping. A storm moved through and I ended up holding up the tent from the inside as the wind bowed the entire side in. The storm moved past and the tent was none the worse for wear. Our poor dog hid in the van most of time; she was not fond of the rain.

I would like to say that the trip was just what we needed but it didn't seem to work out that way. My back was was tied in knots, the kids lost their good humor after the first day of rain, and Michael's patience began to wear thin with all the unhappy campers. I've decided I need to go fishing at Duck Valley when I am not pregnant. Grace seemed to be pretty happy but ended up with a monster diaper rash that we are still dealing with. The joys of vacation. The bright side is we were all very happy to get home.
Day 1 - Going fishing with Grandpa (in the rain). Both Ethan and Libby managed to catch one fish. They never did manage to eat any fish, though.

Day 2 -- The kids wanted to dig a hole so I sent them off into the sagebrush and told them they could dig as much as they wanted. Shortly thereafter Libby returned to camp and told me she was thirsty. She asked if she could drink from my water bottle and take it back with her. She told me she was so thirsty she would probably drink it all. A few minutes later I wandered back to check on the kids and was informed they were making a pond. Sneaky little bugger.

Grace spent most of the vacation eating and getting dirty. Her life was good.

Day 3 (our last) -- The kids were enthralled with this old fashioned water pump. We thought we would take a couple of pictures to commemorate it. Ethan looks ticked because he wanted to go first. Libby is about four seconds from screaming bloody murder after whacking herself in the head with the pump handle. Good times.

Family photo taken shortly before leaving. We wanted to be sure we would always remember every moment of joy this trip brought us.

Graduation

Oh the sheer joy. Michael is done with school! No more homework, group projects, or late nights at the library. Life is good.

All of the proud graduates. Michael got a bachelors in Information Technology Management. My brother Joseph got a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and my sister Becca got a Masters in History. Note that her diploma is twice the size of the males. Don't think she let them live it down either.

Birthdays

My blogging is a little behind, so I am trying once again to get caught up. May 13th was Michael's birthday and Grace turned one on the 14th. To make things a little crazier Michael (and my sister and my brother) graduated on May 15th. It was a crazy week. All my plans to make everything super da duper special fizzled out. It was all wonderful anyway. This was Grace's birthday cupcake. I was going to make a whole bunch for all of my nephews and nieces but like I said....things were crazy. I may have only made one, but I love this Cookie Monster cupcake. Grace didn't care what her cake looked like, but Cookie Monster has always been my favorite and I was the one making it, so....

This is a picture from the big Hawks birthday party/graduation party that we had after the graduation ceremony. Michael has a homemade ice cream cake (so easy and so good), Grace has her cupcake and my redheaded niece Isabelle (in the back) has her birthday cake that could also have doubled as a wedding cake. Everyone was happy.

For those of you who are wondering where the picture of Grace inhaling her cupcake is, I didn't manage to take one. It was crazy I tell you. I think a couple of her aunts got a picture though. Have no fear - she devoured her cupcake.

Grace in her birthday finery. Michael's sister bought her the dress. My sister made her a dozen of these headbands. They are so cute but Grace refuses to keep them on. To take this picture I had to plop it on her head and quickly snap the photo. As you can see she is already in the process on yanking it off her head. Don't worry - Libby is making sure they get used.

Grace's Favorite Game

I should really put a latch on this cupboard to keep Grace out. But we know that's probably not going to happen. The other kids eventually outgrew this phase. I'm sure Grace will be outgrowing it about the time the new baby starts up. Plus just look how happy she is. She is interested in her toys for about ten minutes but emptying the cupboards and drawers is a fun thing to do all day, every day.

A Random Rant

Yesterday I got a free American Baby magazine in the mail. I don't know how all these companies find out when you are expecting a baby, but they do. My mailbox has been inundated with formula coupons, baby supply catalogs, and coupons to local stores. As annoying as it can sometimes be, all the junk mail are not what inspire this rant. It is the blasted magazine.

It started before I even opened it. A cover headline proclaimed, "Sexy, YES, Sexy Maternity Swimsuits." I am frigging pregnant!  I am shaped liked a beached whale with stretch marks and a belly button that sticks out like a turkey timer. This is not sexy. It is bad enough that every woman's magazine in the world is telling me I have to be sexy but now I have to be sexy while I'm pregnant? I don't think so. Isn't sexy what got me in this mess in the first place?

They also had an article about "What nobody tells you about being a mom (but we will)". I was hoping for something good, like pooping during labor or getting hemorrhoids. Nope, they let me know that I wouldn't be getting any sleep and I might not love my baby on sight. Um, thanks. I didn't realize that babies woke up at night. I was sure that was just an old wives' tale.

My main hangup though was how much more difficult they make it sound to raise a baby. Having a baby is difficult enough without people telling you how you need an expensive new stroller, the must-haves in your diaper bag (if I put all that stuff in my bag I would never get it through the door) and all the dangers lurking around every corner. Among which were: never go down a slide with your baby on your lap because you might break her leg and never let a child under two climb anything taller then her on the playground. It is just too dangerous. Really, people? I've got enough valid hangups about safety and so does every other mother out there. Please don't add your made-up dangers.

I feel bad for all the first-time moms who got this magazine. At child number four I can scoff at this magazine, but when you are having your first, everything seems to be dangerous. Please American Baby and other such publications, quit making it harder than it already is.