the airplane oxygen mask rule: put your own on first

I'm really appreciating your comments to my questions the other day. This is the problem with blogging, it makes me want to be sitting on my porch talking with each of you instead of merely typing...but alas, this method spans the miles and schedules! My Aunt Karen wrote a great mom commentary on her blog that is worth reading. She's a few years ahead of me and I always admire her balance as a mom between being laid back where it matters and keeping what's most important most important. Not only that, her family is our "twin" family of boy/girl/boy/boy (I got a bonus boy) so I get a continual glimpse of what's around the corner for us. It is safe to assume that if we're headed their direction, we're in pretty good shape.

From time to time, I hear myself telling my younger sisters how much I love being 30-something because I feel more comfortable in my own skin, as a person, as a mom, and my general approach feels more relaxed in many ways even though life has gotten much busier with a changing family. I loved reading Karen's experience with her middleish mom friends, obviously those feelings increase with time and experience. Maybe the word I'm going for is wise? It makes me love this mom ride all the more because it's always moving forward.

As for the chaos and keeping our heads along the way? I'm gathering that the [seemingly simple] key is in the approach. There is so much we can do to recharge ourselves, physically, mentally, spiritually and it's logic. Just like we expect our kids (at whatever age) to have a 'tantrum' or two everyday and we learn how to handle it so it doesn't define the entire day, we KNOW there are times of day when our defenses are compromised, our fuses are short, and we feel beat up as moms. Maybe if we anticipate those moments, they're less likely to get the better of us. We take the chaos for what it is, power through, run away sometimes, try our best, remind ourselves that some days 'our best' will be delightful while other days 'our best' is something we'd prefer to erase, and then we regroup and start the next day anew. And that's an okay pattern.

The key there for me is the word anew. (Thanks Karen.) When I really think of starting each day anew, something dings in my head. Seems like it means forgiving myself for my shortcomings of the day before and patting myself on the back for what I did right, then taking time to arm myself spiritually for the day. I realize that a lot of my frustration comes because I feel clear and purposeful at the quiet moments of the day, only to have all that clarity fly out the window 45 minutes later when the chaos strikes. Probably I should be thankful that I can feel clear at any moment of the day and learn to expect that pattern. In fact, I should make sure to feel clear and purposeful at a quiet moment early in the day. Maybe the better I get at the "anew" part, the better I'll get at the chaos part.

So really, there's just one thing left to do with today's newfound clarity: make myself a little hat with a note hanging off the front where I can see it and remember. Don't make fun, I'm a visual person.

good question

Last night we were eating dinner and talking about the days events (Oquirrh Utah Temple Dedication, so special!), what was coming up this week, etc. when Brayden raised the random thought-provoking question, "Hey, where do you think we'll be in 10 years?" We all tilted our heads and started doing the math on how old each of us would be, what grades/stages people would be in...and quickly figured out that in 10 years, "we" will be a totally different scene! Brayden & Maddie off to college, Brayden a returned missionary already, and 3 priesthood age boys at home--ages 17, 13, and 12!--and suddenly, my time as a youngish mom seemed frighteningly fleeting.

Then the sudden realization--not a new one, but one I consistently manage to forget--that the things I most take for granted as a mom and even get irritated with having to do (20 minutes spent reading with Connor, helping Maddie with her endless list of book reports, test studying, student council hopes, Brayden stalling to talk with me at night before bed when I'm anxious to be alone, dropping everything to lay on the tramp and airplane watch with Fisher & Logan) are probably the most important, crucial, how could I possibly let any of it slip by things to do on my busy mom list. Really, the nuts and bolts of this whole operation we've got going on here. And, just like all of my other aha! mom moments, I'm left with two even better questions: (a) how can I be less irritable & impatient in order to make the most of my fleeting youngish momhood and (b) why can't things seem so clear & purposeful later in the day when it's raining nuts and bolts and I'm just plain exhausted from it all?

So...fellow moms, what are the secrets of keeping our heads on straight (more often than not) amid the chaos & stress & exhaustion of the thing we love most in this world? Answers please. Yes, I'm sure it's that simple. :)

...to "another"

One more "camp" to write about. This time, the "ward" campout. Why the overuse of quotations? Well, see for yourself:

Yep, that nearly captures everyone who was there. Three families to be precise--us, the bishop's family, and another family. We think the ward was punking us or something. Fisher simply refers to the experience as being "at the fire" which is probably more accurate since all we did was talk and make s'mores around the campfire. We had a great night! It was relaxing and personal and nobody had to put on a dog and pony show. Kind of nice for a change. :)

from one camp to another...

Red Castle, Uintah Mountains

For the last few months, Brayden's scout troop has been anticipating a week long high adventure trip. We have a group of experienced outdoors men for leaders and they've been steadily preparing the boys since the spring, having them pack in on three overnighters, take their 30 lb packs on hikes in our local river bottoms, and learn a little of what they'd be in for on a 6-day wilderness trip.

Overnighter to Jones Lake in June

Finally, last Monday, Aug 10, was the long-awaited day of departure and Brayden was geared up and anxious to go! His pack was 47 pounds upon weigh-in and they hiked in 9 miles before reaching their base camp near Red Castle Lake, altitude 10,800 feet.

Throughout the week they worked on merit badges in geology, astronomy, fishing, environmental science, and wilderness survival. They had devotionals every night and did the usual boy stuff, playing cards in the tent, goofing around, keeping eyes & ears out for wildlife...they saw moose, deer, coyote, and an enormous flock of sheep. It sounds like the whole week made a huge impression on Brayden.

Fishing was a HUGE part of the week. They fished at two different lakes while there--Upper Red Castle and Lower Red Castle. The boys have all become great fishermen and Brayden was proud to catch 25 fish. His favorites were a little guppie and another the size of his elbow to fingertips. Of the 50 pictures of fish he took at varying stages of catch to eat, we'll include these:

The thing he has talked most about is an experience they had as they were hiking out the last day. One of his leaders, a wilderness survival expert and rancher, had taken the horses out of camp early and was in the parking area waiting for the rest of the group. While waiting for the troop to catch up, he had a distinct impression to hike back to the trailhead. Strange, he thought, I know the troop won't be there yet, why would I need to go there?, but he followed the impression and returned to the trailhead. When he got there, he was met by a frantic woman who needed help. Her husband had been bucked off his horse and trampled in the chest. This leader was able to unhitch their trailer and take charge of their horses and dogs so she could take her husband to the hospital 3 hours away. The boys had come upon the scene and seen the injured man (big cowboy with chaps, according to Brayden) waiting at a table quietly until his vehicle reached him to pick him up. Brayden talked of how amazing this leader was because he just knew exactly what to do to help and did it without hesitation. The next day in Deacons Quorum, their leader was able to share the end of the story with them. As it turned out, the man had 6 broken ribs and a punctured lung, but was doing fine. He bore testimony to them that he knew it was a prompting specifically for him and how thankful that he was there to listen and obey.

More pics:

They had great weather all week until the last night when it rained and lightening-ed through the night. They woke up to freezing temperatures, broke camp and hiked out in hail and snow.

For us on the homefront, it was a surprisingly (and not surprisingly) a lonely week without him! We quickly realized how much influence he has around here. By Saturday night the whole family was anxious to see him--here was when he got home, a muddy sight for sore eyes:

We are so thankful to solid leaders!! It was a huge success and surely Brayden will remember it for years to come. He loved it.

While I Was Away...

In the 15 years that I've known Rick, I've managed to keep one terrifying fixture of his childhood OUT of our home and family. Then I went to girls camp.

The other night as I was downloading photos, I discovered this:

Looks harmless enough right?

Wait for it...

SURPRISE!

Hot Dog Surprise!!

Mashed potatos with cheese on top and hot dogs inside to surprise you.

I know I should simply be satisfied that my husband cooks while I'm gone, and I am...but this little surprise could have been kept on the down low. Blechh. Apparently, the kids loved it, not that they'll be having it again with me around. They didn't so much love another childhood staple creation that week, Shepherd's Pie. Can't say I blame them. Ranks up there with the infamous Galompkie my dad tried on us once when my mom wasn't around. Maybe it's a dad thing.

Eww, just saw the hot dog picture again. It's just wrong.

Still, I gotta say Rick did an awesome job while I was gone...did I mention I came home to a beautifully, peacefully clean house and 5 happy kids? He's the best, disturbing food and all. :)

Tutu Tutorial (say that five times fast!)

1. Gather grocery sacks, the more the better (I think mine had around 30).

2. Cut ribbon to waist sash length.

3. Fluff bags and thread handles onto ribbon.

4. Tie around waist.

5. Twirl (because you just can't help it.)

These were so silly & fluffy--I found myself thinking they had major halloween potential! It'd be free fluff to put under a costume skirt--poodle, tulle, other. Or you could just make one for twirling around your house! Who doesn't want to feel fluffy & dainty while they're cleaning?? The options are endless, really.

I didn't get a picture of me in MY tutu! So here's this one. Note the Albertsons bags. Noisier, flatter, no red & white color scheme...definitely go with Target.

Rocky Mountain High

Last week was STAKE GIRLS CAMP!!!

It was SO GREAT! And phew we had to work for it! We faced almost comical obstacles just getting the stake to camp this year, like we were informed 2 weeks before camp that there was NO water at our campground, frantically searched for a solution for our group of nearly 300 and after finding one to squeeze into, got the disheartening news (1 week before camp) that it suddenly had contaminated water not to mention a tick infestation. Not happy news.

Ticks were enough of a concern that we made witty badges for what we fully expected to become a large club for those who had tick "encounters." We also had everyone play a dramatic yet educational game of "Tick: Fact or Fiction?" on the drive to camp so they could learn how to protect themselves from these nasty little grossies.

But I digress.

Happily, thankfully, our water was cleansed and drinkable 3 days before camp and the dry weather leading up to camp solved the tick problem for us! Cue singing choirs. (We only awarded 4 badges, 2 of which were for girls who found a wild tick named Rodney and captured him in a baggie. Huge relief considering the girls camp 2 weeks before us had many, many "encounters" and a confirmed disease as a result. Blessed we were.)

Even though our hurdles continued at camp (rain, sickness, sleeping in a tent with no floor--who chooses this??), it was a SUPER week. I wondered if I'd feel displaced not being there with my home ward, but I discovered that it was totally natural to roam around to all 9 wards all week and I found at least 7 new homes! Pretty good, right? So many good women & girls to associate with and refreshing and easy to be with them in a casual setting. We were silly, we were spiritual, and I loved being there. I didn't love sleeping in a tent without a floor, but I really loved being there.

Our theme was 'I'm a Believer!' and each ward was assigned a YW value and a fairytale as their theme within the theme...

Stake committee at the picturesque amphitheatre with guest speaker Mrs. Utah (who was EXCELLENT!) on evening #1.

That night we dressed up in grocery bag tutus and danced around with jingling wands--but we have no pictures of us twirling on stage!? If you're a twirler like me, you would love these tutus! (Use Target bags for ultimate fluff & quietness.)

Morning devotionals were at the equally picturesque pavilion.

Wow, lookin' good here, but MUST share my favorite camp gift, a green thumbs up (or down, as the case may be) pen. It expresses my happiness so effortlessly. In this case we were happy to have trenched our floorless tent in a downpour and rescued MOST of our stuff from getting soaked.

Evening #2 was skit night--we were tiny-stepping, fluttery, high-voiced value fairies in sort-of muddy D.I. prom dresses with our jeans on underneath.

I was the faith fairy. Pictures don't really capture our dainty fairy essences...so believable.

Speaking of fairies, here's the cuter, cowboy version back home.

Our fearless presidency--love these women!!

Incognito girls from my very favorite ward delivering the love bucket.

I'm confident enough to let you see what I looked like by morning #3. Not good, McGee. But a classic camping mugshot.

Dancing kings on night #3--we invited the visiting bishops and stake president to do our "I'm a Believer" macarena with us.

Guest singer/speaker Nancy Hansen from our stake setting the tone for individual ward testimony meetings later on. Outdoor music, always a good thing.

This metallic guy looks like a robot but he was, in fact, a REAL cricket. The size on your screen is probably smaller than his actual size. Some said it was a famous mormon cricket. If so, I have new respect for the miracle of the seagulls story because I can't. imagine. seeing more than one of these at once and having hoards of them attacking me & my food. He was ENORMOUS. Tangerine sized with armor. Holy cow.

Boondoggle. It's like riding a bike. And a good way to make new friends.

More women to love. Even the snoring one. I'm not pointing any fingers but WOW.

Sunrise devotional on the last morning. Doesn't it look so dramatic? I think so too. I missed the whole thing because after a two hideously restless nights (courtesy of our champion snorer & floorless tent,) I took half a sleeping pill, plugged in some donated earplugs, and zonked out for 5 blissful hours. My tentmates (who knew exactly where I was) didn't see me in my bed, assumed I was already up, but couldn't find me anywhere else in camp. Apparently I sleep really flat when I'm that tired. Intrigue.

Inside the infamous tent. Happy to be bidding it adieu.

Also inside our tent: more nature than was welcome. There are no words for the heebie jeebie factor.

The image I'm choosing to take with me. Love it, love it, LOVED IT!!!

HOORAY for girls camp! Hooray for my own indoor bed and being done with camp overload! Hooray for my YW calling! It's humbling and busy and exhilarating and I really enjoy it.