the cruise

So we decided cruising is for us. We had our first taste and want to do another. We had very nice couples at our dinner table and great waiters. We caught a couple shows every night and the comedians on the ship were amazing. One was scheduled for 30 min and ended up staying on stage for almost an hour and a half, he was having fun with the crowd and he was good. There was some unfortunate excitement - the U.S. Coast Guard had to fly a helicopter out and air lift someone to the main land for medical treatment. It was rather neat to see them maneuvering in and reassuring we live in a country that can protect you that way, although it was sad for the passenger. Paul and I were separated at that point and he was on the highest deck and was able to see a pod of dolphins swimming off the side of the boat as well. I wish I'd seen them. I think in the entire time we've been married I have a handful of pictures where Paul is actually smiling. He was smiling in almost all the pictures they took. The best one I wouldn't have been able to frame his head was too close to the top, but I came home with three of them.

lost tooth

Nathan lost his fifth tooth yesterday. I hadn't realized he had one so loose, he says it wasn't as loose as the others had been. He bit into an orange, must have just hit it right. The little poser requested me take pictures of him in various poses holding the tooth and then just grinning a toothless grin. He was directing me from the other side of the camera of what shots to take - definitely my kid. At least they will be scrapbook worthy. We have extended family in town as well and were able to have dinner with them last night. It's always nice seeing family. Never get to see them enough. Paul and I are going to take a little break without kids for our tenth anniversary. It doesn't seem like we've been married that long. We're going on our first cruise. I'm excited! I'll tell you all about it when we get back

Payson Lakes

We went camping with a group of friends to Payson Lakes area. We try and hit this every year because the viewing of the Perseid's is so good. We saw a few shooting stars this year. Not as many as last year, but the company was great. This is most of our group on what we thought was going to be a hike to Devils Kitchen, which is touted as a mini Bryce - it was, and it was mini. We thought it was a couple miles. I think it took the kids less than 3 minutes to complete the "hike". Andrew held Sammy's hand most of the way.

This is Devils Kitchen - or mini Bryce.Holly was in our truck and her and Paul laughed at this poor cow we passed on the way there with the branches and leaves stuck to his head until someone in the parking lot mentioned he was also limping, then they wanted to rescue it but we didn't see it on the way back. She also taught us how to play "hey cow", which involved unrolling your window and yelling until cows look at you - she scored three. Must have been hard growing up in Iowa :)Here is Paul still making fun of the poor cow with his rendition of leaves sticking out his ears. Since the hike didn't turn out so well we headed to the lakes themselves and walked around it. Andrew begged to play in the water and then to get in with no clothes so they wouldn't get wet. I thought it was pretty logical. Sam insisted she needed to also so this is one of the blackmail pictures of her skinny dipping with boys her mom wanted for when she is in high school.

Paul and I went to dinner last night, just the two of us and then watched a movie "He's just not that into you". It was really cute, reminded me a bit of Singles and Some Kind of Wonderful mixed together. It was really disorienting to wake up to a quiet house this morning. Tomorrow we leave for Payson Lakes. We've camped there every year the last few years to see the Perseid meteor shower. It's a wonderful place to view it, from a high mountain plateau far away from city lights. It peaked last night but you can usually still see meteors for a few days before and after. I hope it's not too late. I love seeing them! The first time we camped in this campground I was pregnant with Nathan and it was on the way up to the spot that we decided on his name.

sing, sing a song

We went to a little outdoor concert at the library last night. It was put on by a music school. The kids were really good. One of the singers was only eleven. The vocals were off a little (not tune wise, but tone). The only down fall is when they announce the next song as "this next song is Pinball Wizard, um, I don't know who sings it".

Which reminds me of a funny last week. At the derby they played the National Anthem. I was singing and Andrew looked at me and said "you know this song?" Uh, yeah.

fun weekend

We started off our weekend the red neck way and went to a demolition derby. It was my first one ever. It was FUN! I wouldn't mind driving in one of them. Like bumper cars only real live. I'm so glad we went, not only was it fun, but the announcer said they are getting scarce because there are so few cars out there built like they used to that they can use for derbies. We continued it with our first (and last) yard sale. We made a whopping $17.00 between the two of us. But the object wasn't so much to make money, we gave away a lot of stuff. I just hate seeing something in great shape that someone else could use end up taking up space in the land fill - that whole recycle concept. Paul and I had three boxes of cassette tapes between us that are perfectly good - we just don't have a player and don't know anyone who does anymore. We met a neighbor from down the street with two kids that took them all. Boy, was he excited too. It just made all of us feel good. And they have two kids. A three year little girl and an adorable seven week old baby. We exchanged info as well so we can get together again. Then we headed to a brand new craft fair downtown Craft Lake City. It was really just like a very small arts festival. Then we went to Park City and spent the night at a friends house with another family. That was a lot of fun having an adult slumber party -well we had the kids, we didn't slumber so much. Andrew came upstairs early Sunday and said we were the only parents still in bed so we got up to find we weren't, then of course we didn't see Andrew for an hour because he went to play in another room. After breakfast we went on a bike ride (I think the fawn trail?), came back and had sandwiches and let the kids play in the cooled down hot tub. I actually got to sit on the balcony by the little brook and almost fell asleep in the chair it was so relaxing. Andrew is a little trooper on the bike. He rode with the adults early in the morning to the bike shop to rent trail-a bikes for the two little kids prior to going on the big ride with all of us. Our ride was a little over four miles and he kept up the whole time. One of our friends mentioned he might be the next Lance Armstrong and joked he was going to start training him - a least I think it was a joke.

awesomous

Apparently "awesomous" is a word. The kids have been taking turns going to the golf course with their Jaja and hitting balls. Andrew likes the country club, actually they both do. But last week Andrew said he liked it "because it's fun and has good food". We are talking Andrew here. Tonight he said he's looking forward to the "treaty awesomous thingy" - Uh - yeah, whatever that is. I didn't realize he spoke "teenager" yet.

I also asked him a couple nights ago what he wanted to be when he grew up - he said a tank. I shouldn't be surprised. He'd actually make a pretty good one considering he's human.

We had a new family with four kids move into the duplex across the street. One little boy is a year younger than Andrew, then I think four girls-all a bit older. But it will be nice having more kids on the block.

We're headed to a demolition derby tonight, I've never been to one. Should fascinate the boys.

I don't know

Close your eyes (well open them so you can finish reading) and imagine Bill Cosby's skit "Bill Cosby as himself" remember the part where he is asking his children why they did something and you get that chin to the chest, eyes to the floor whiny "I don't know". It's usually when they are in trouble and know it. Last weekend we had bacon with breakfast. Nice deli cut black pepper bacon. Andrew wanted 'more' so Dad gave up two of the nicest pieces because their not spoiled or anything. Andrew dawdled at eating (I know unbelievable) and eventually asked if he could eat on the deck. We thought it was weird but Paul said yes. Awhile later I went out to get his plate and something in the pine tree caught my eye. I went in and asked Andrew, "Is that your bacon in the pine tree?" "Yes", "How did get there", "I threw it", as Pauls eyes are about to pop out I asked why......"I don't know"But really I'm just curious, what on earth made that thought pop into your little brain?