Potato Sack Slides

Tara and Ian

Several weekends ago I went with a friend to a local corn maze. They had a huge potato sack slide. If you start getting weighed down by all the concerns in your life you need to find a really big slide and spend a half an hour climbing the steps and racing down.

I felt 7 again. It was awesome.

I raced up the steps as fast as the kids.

To keep them safe, of course...not to beat them to the top or anything.

I selflessly offered to help the little kids ride down the slide.

I challenged kids to see who got to the bottom first.

To keep things entertaining and not because I'm really really competitive
and I knew I would win since I'm longer and heavier.

It was the most fun I've had in ages.

Oh, and it was fun to watch the kids have a good time too.

Eric

Some things never change

Bowling is fun. I always have a good time when I go, but I'm always the worst player, always.

We took the family bowling Friday night (changing up the whole family movie night with family bowling night). I thought for sure when pitted against an 8 yr old, a 6 yr old, a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old I would smoke them.

Nope.

Scores:

Me: 64 (I'm proud of that so stop laughing...I've bowled 34 before so this is an improvement)
Tara: 68
Eric: 77
Ian/Amy: 84
Jared: too good to show his score

Next time I'm bowling on the bumper guard lane. Maybe then I'll beat Tara or if I allow myself to dream big...Ian and Amy.

Best quote of the night goes to Tara who said, "this is so much easier on the Wii."

Question

How much longer do you think we can fit the entire family on one couch for family movie night?

Carlsbad Caverns

We just took a day trip to Carlsbad Caverns. It was a wonderful day. Funny how just a simple change in scenery can create such a great family bonding experience.

We had a picnic together and the kids told me how awesome I was because they each got an individual pringles can AND a capri-sun. Yep, I rock.

Don't they look happy?

We took a hike to explore some mini-caves. I loved hearing the kids' exclamations about finding "fossils". At one point, Amy had so many rocks in her pockets that she gained about 10 pounds.

Exploring

"A straight plummet to certain death," was the phrase Tara uttered for about 20 minutes. She changed it up slightly by adding, "I wish we had stayed on the surface of the Earth."

I won't lie to you, after 2 1/2 hours of Kyra in the baby bjorn and an occasional sibling on the hip, I was wishing I had stayed on the surface of the earth too. It is amazing how tiring wrangling kids in a no touching area can be.

"It is getting dark, Ian," said Hannah.
"Don't worry Hannah. I have light up eyes." replied Ian.

We had a wonderful time. And a special thanks to Mark and Catherine for coming despite the tire blow-out.

Family Camp Out

Let me be honest, when Jared told me that the family would have to go on a camp out together so he could pass off his Woodbadge Merit Badge, I was less than thrilled.

However, after a really wonderful weekend I'm singing a new tune. I did learn/realize a few things from the trip:

1. Check the park schedule of events. Otherwise you might be camping during a Tejano Music Festival, in which case you can listen to Tejano Music at a volume level akin to a concert until 3am. (Except for that hour and a half where another camper decided to have their own version of battle of the bands and we enjoyed 80's rock dueling Tejano. Kumbia Kings beat out AC/DC in case you were wondering.)

2. You don't have to be at Kohl's for people to stare at you. I guess people don't see sights like this very often.

3. Kids will climb on anything (I didn't learn this as much as was reminded of it)

4. Being sticky is worth it if you are roasting marshmallows to make s'mores.

5. Boys LOVE fire. Seriously, they love it and are mesmerized by it.

6. My husband is awesome. (He let Amy sleep with him in his sleeping bag all night long. That is a serious sacrifice for Jared. He should get a medal or something.)

7. My kids love each other, and play well together especially without four walls around them.

8. We need a bigger tent (something about sleeping 7 people in a 5-6 man tent)

President George W Bush in Midland, Tx

When I heard that President Bush was making his post-presidential speech in Midland, I knew we needed to go. Regardless of personal political positioning, seeing a president is a big deal (to prove it school was let out early for the occasion).

I got a family pass and got a friend to watch Ian and Amy. I'll admit Tara and Eric were NOT excited to stand in the same place in a crowd of 30,000 people for 3 hours, but they will thank me when they are 30, right?

We got there at about 2pm and waited, and waited. We listened to a couple of country performers. The Gatlin Brothers, Rodney Adkins, and Lee Greenwood. It was the first time I had been to anything that resembled a concert...same thing for Tara and Eric. That part was fun.

Here is what the kids thought about waiting for 3 hours....

Kyra lets us know how she feels.

Eric passed the time by playing games on Jared's blackberry

It was really loud

Then the awesome stuff started to happen.

Helicopters circling the airspace.

Secret Service Men on the roof.


Air Force One flying over head (it was actually called Special Air Mission 28000 since he isn't the president anymore.)

on the approach

Pres Bush requested a fly over to see the size of the crowd.

Then we saw President and Laura Bush.



I enjoyed the conversational quality of President Bush's speach. It felt like he was talking with me in a grocery story checkout line, or foyer of a church...despite the other several thousand who were crammed around us.

I know this post is long, sorry I usually try and keep it short and sweet, but you don't have to read!

There were several quotes that struck me. I wanted to share why.

"I wouldn't be here without the unconditional love of my parents." I hope to be a parent who can provide this security and support to their children.

"Sometimes what I did was unpopular, but that's OK I always did what I thought was right." Honestly, what more can be added to that?

"I tried to make the hard decisions so future Presidents and Congresses wouldn't have to." Passing the buck is overrated.

I found myself surprisingly emotional during the rally. It was a powerful feeling to be surrounded by so many people who love their county, are proud to be Americans, and want support their leaders. I was reminded about how priviledged I am to live in this land and what the Book of Mormon says about this land being a choice land blessed by God.

I am thankful I got to share this day with my husband and most of my children...