July 31, 2022

Ode to the 90's

Grace wanted to make a friendship bracelet, but was struggling with the directions. She asked if I knew any patterns. The only method I remembered is from the 90s and the one we used to put wraps in our hair.

Grace took to it easily and started churning out bracelets. 

Libby questioned how it would work in hair. I started a wrap in her hair and she was off. By the end of the day she had three wraps and by the next day all of her friends were sporting them as well. 

The 90's are back and taking over my house.

Summertime

Summer feels like a time to slow down and appreciate the little moments. So here you go. Here are some of the little moments of joy. 

Libby's perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich, while camping.

The fireworks at the park.

Perfect sunsets along the river,

where just a little shift in the light changes the whole scene.

Proud birds posing for photos.

The lily pads in the park finally blooming.

Little kids saying, "Pwease, Aunt Katie".

And enough fresh raspberries for everyone to enjoy (although there are never any left over for jam).

Not Quite a Teen

Despite my protestations, Sam decided to have another birthday. He turned 12 and is ready for junior high. He loves computer games, books, and gloating he is now taller than me. 

This year he wanted a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, topped with wafer cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries. That I can do! I can't make sugar icing roses or fondant animals, but I can pile things on a cake with the best of them. He was happy.

My co-worker brought in zucchini to work and suggested I take one home to give Sam for his birthday. Just what every 12 year old wants in his life!!

We are all getting a little older.

Lock picking set,

Harry Potter Legos, and a Banksy print. He was a well satisfied pre-teen. Currently all of my locks are still in working order, but only time will tell.
 

June 30, 2022

Heading Home

Alternate title: A Journey in Forceful Expulsions from the Human Body

Sunday afternoon we packed up and headed home. Sam rode with Krys and Mom for the first few hours, to give us a little more elbow room in the van. We drove to Salt Lake with minimal stops and delays. Once near Salt Lake City, though, we did make a pit stop at IKEA. We decided to do a little bit of shopping, and pick up food from the food court on our way out. 

The kids weren't feeling the adventure of IKEA. Then the food court was entirely out of pizza and almost out of hotdogs. It was a rough stop. Ethan also started feeling sick to his stomach. Everyone was turning grumpy and tired, which I assumed was from a lot of travel in a short time span.


Sam wanted to travel in the van the rest of the way home. Krys was looking for a second driver, so Michael took off with all the kids, and I drove off with Mom and Krys. Then things in the van got real, real fast. Michael was pulling off at every freeway exit for the teenagers to make mad bathroom dashes. The trash can in the van caught more than just an occasional dirty napkin. It was a symphony of stomach and bowel rebellion.

Meanwhile, Krys, mom, and I were traveling in blissful ignorance. By the time I learned the van passengers had a stomach bug, food poisoning, or possibly the plague, there was nothing I could do. I just kept driving my plague-free vehicle down the freeway. Michael kept visiting all the bathrooms of Utah and Idaho. I think I got the better end of the deal. 

I made it to Boise shortly after midnight, and found myself locked out of the house. I rested in the hammock until the rest of the family limped into town, almost an hour later. There was a mad rush to the bathroom and shower and then everyone collapsed for the night. Vacation was well and truly over.

June 29, 2022

Talent Show

Chicken Fried

Saturday night we had a family talent show. Ethan, Libby, Colista (friend), Ellie (cousin), and Aria (cousins friend) joined in song to close the show. As they sang several other people joined them and everyone else started singing and dancing along. While the video is dark and the sound is abysmal, the experience was one of those rare sweet idyllic moments that life occasionally hands out. 

I can't seem to embed the video, so just click on the words Chicken Fried above and it will take you to the private YouTube video.