Trips

My best accessory right now is the diaper bag. I seem to be going all over the place. My little boys are doing great to keep up with the family run-a-round; meals are a little sporadic; I've had fun and not quite lost my mind yet.

Utah - I left for Utah last Friday. The trip was a perfect celebration of birthday-ness, shopping, talking and I even had 2 full nights of sleep. It was the first time that I left my little Hyrum behind. Just me out on my own. The day started with many mini adventures. I didn't even get out of town before the birthday celebrations began, by the side of the road, as I met a friend in the drizzling Rexburg weather for a dose of birthday luvin'. I then traveled on: relaxing to an hour and a half massage (ooohh, so nice!); my cell phone dying and me with no charger; a brief detour through Pocatello to pick up pictures that I had sent there by e-mail; memory lane through Pocatello as I scanned all the new shops on old familiar roads hoping for a Radio Shack; a sudden realization that I hadn't eaten in 5 hours which resulted in a brief stop to feed the stomach and starve the headache. Once I got my cell phone charged I was able to check messages, which included 3 singing birthday-grams, and enjoyed 3 phone conversations with family members. It was the best trip ever from Pocatello to Arimo! You all made the day a fantastic one - Thank You! And the weekend was equally wonderful.

Fire Station - Nathan, Hyrum and I forged through the windy, rainy, blustery Monday weather for a field trip with the Mom and Me group to the Rexburg Fire Station. Nathan was in awe with the big trucks, flashing lights and 'real' fire jacket.

The Repair Man made a quick trip to our house. I stuck towels in the dryer Monday night around 10 pm and at 5:30 am the dryer was still running. Luckily it was a quick fix. Not so grand was the $263 it cost to fix it, darn heating element and timer! Maybe I shouldn't have spent so much in Utah . . . nahh, I'm glad it happened after my trip.

Justin's Veteran's Day Program was impressive. I was a bit frazzled getting there because of the repair man/dryer delay and trying to get the boys there during nap time but it was worth it. I'm always in awe (and near tears) when these kids belt out the songs they have worked so hard on. How do they teach them so many songs in such a short time and have them sing it so perfectly for performance time? The patriotic themes always get to me and having so many family members serving in the military tugs at my emotions even more.

Cub Scout Field Trip to the Standard Journal - an interesting, learning experience. I could have stayed longer if the 5 rambunctious 9 year olds had been having as much fun as I was. Some days their attention spans seem to match that of my 2 year old. I did enjoy rummaging through the newspaper archives with the boys to read about the Teton Flood, World War II, old ads, and compare the prices of homes, food and clothing then and now. I also really love the old musty smell of preserved paper in a basement. I'm a little weird that way. The 'old' smell translates to my brain that it is worth looking into.

My errand trip into town this week was packed tight. Once again the little boys were very patient. Bribing and singing really help. Here's a copy of my list:

Optometrist for contact cleaner

Jewelry Stands to Terra

Post Office - stamps, boxes

Credit Union $$$

Ace Hardware - thermometers

Distribution Center - Conference Ensign

Library - late book

Shaw's - scout stuff

Adams' - scout stuff

Broulims

Title Company

Nature's Nook - agave nectar

And 4 other things that I decided could wait because the boys really wanted out of the Yukon/Carseat Prison.

I took a trip down memory lane

as I watched my teenagers leave essays and projects until the last possible minute to do them, then stay up all night brainstorming. I can't really be upset about it, I've been there, and I understand the insanity. Sometimes the best work is done after midnight.

Derek did a really great book report box complete with pictures, 10 questions to ask the class, 10 vocab words, 5 items to 'show and tell' for his presentation, and a summary of characters, setting, conflict, climax and resolution. After he practiced his presentation on me I actually wanted to read the book.

Levi has a major biology test coming up and the two of us have spent nearly 2 hours studying just the vocabulary. I think I'll be spending quite a bit more time with Levi through next week because the school changed the policy and now he has to take the finals in every class. Since we seem to learn, memorize and study the same way we make a good pair. It also helps me to realize that he really is studying and if the grade comes in less than what we hope for it isn't from lack of full effort.

Trips I didn't take include gymnastics, dance, mutual and older scouts. Lucky me, I have Levi as a willing chauffeur.