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Not very many weeks left of summer vacation. It makes me sad to think that this time is slipping away. We've practically entertained ourselves to death. I'm not complaining, just wondering if we need to step it up and complete some worthwhile goals. One lovely experience the girls and I have had this summer is to volunteer at This is the Place Heritage Park. Once a week we dress in pioneer costumes and pretend to live that simple life. Not that the pioneers had a simple life. They had to raise the chicken and pluck it before it ever made it into a pot for soup. All their clothes were hand stitched and their livelihood was contingent on hard work and sacrifice. Our job is rather cushy. We give tours of the house we have been assigned - the Charles C. Rich home. When we're not busy doing that we can work on the rag rug loom and the girls can roam the village playing pioneer games, attend the one room school house and run free through the fields. It has been a magical time for the four of us. No electricity, lots of time sitting on the grass just talking and thinking about interesting subjects. This past week we worked hard on the loom. We have never actually finished a rug and there was just a small bit left. Olivia suggested we set a goal that we could not leave until the rug was done. A goal that seemed easier than it was when we started. Our time passed quickly and it was time to go home. The girls opted to stay and FINISH the goal. We all took turns weaving. It was a team effort. Even the other volunteer in our house chose to stay and cheer us on. As the last weave was made and the final knot put in place a sense of satisfaction filled that little house. This rug wasn't coming home with us. It belongs at the park. The girls just wanted to be able to say they actually made a rug for the little house. After a rather indulgent summer my heart was bursting just knowing that my kids knew how to set a goal together and reach it.
The last two days, weeks, months have been W I L D to say the least. I feel like I'm gulping for air every day. I guess you could say I'm sucking the marrow out of life, but then again maybe it's sucking the life out of me! Just for the record...
In the last two and 1/2 days I have... traveled the road to swim team 9 times, walked the dog 6 times, emptied the dishwasher 4 times, bid farewell to my husband who is en route to Japan, gone swimming with all of my kids, welcomed a long term house guest from France, volunteered at This Is The Place park with my girls, attended a family reunion barbecue, been entertained by 4 ridiculously funny kids and loving every minute (or at least I'm trying to).
In the last two and 1/2 weeks I have...sent one child to EFY (he LOVED it), sent another child to girls camp (she LOVED it too), spent one day & night at Heber Valley girls camp (as a leader of course!), been diagnosed with Swine Flu (FOR REAL), spent a week recovering (thank goodness for tamiflu medication), sent my boy off on another adventure scout camp in Zions National Park (is this boy having too much fun this summer?!), taken a three day vacation to the Oregon coast with my hubby (SO relaxing) & enjoyed the warm summer weather.
In the last two months I have...celebrated two children's birthdays, welcomed summer and the the end of the school year, celebrated both Grammie & Grandpa's 70th birthdays with amazing parties, spent hours with the Randall family when cousins were visiting from Mississippi, tried to support Taylor as he takes on a new & overwhelming job at work, went to youth conference in Goblin Valley with Spencer & Olivia, hiked Wild Horse Canyon, traveled to Europe with my little crew (we went back to France and stayed in our old house (sigh), visited friends and wandered around Paris, stopped in Brusselles for chocolate & spent a wonderful week in the Netherlands bike riding, touring Amsterdam, & eating vla while Taylor taught classes for a business school).
Life at our house seems to move at a very rapid pace. Today for instance we acquired two parakeets. As I sit here recording this event I'm wondering how did all of this happen in just one hour? Lilly has been asking for birds since Sunday. Every night she asks "have you thought about it yet?" to which I reply "not quite". She has been a bit too bossy lately and a little naughty in the obedience department. All week I've been pondering how to motivate and guide her strong willed heart. Just before dinner our friends showed up with two birds, a cage, food and supplies. They wondered if we would like to have some new pets? Who says inspiration doesn't come knocking at the door? We talked about it (for like 10 minutes), wrote up a contract for Lilly to be a first time listener and to work on being patient and voila two birds are now part of the Randall family petting zoo. We add this mix of Monet (blue) and Jacques (green) to our happy home complete with one puppy (just neutered today!) and one turtle. Would anyone like to buy a ticket? This place is going to the birds.
Side note on Charlie (the dog). As mentioned above he had the dreaded male surgery today. When I brought him home from the vet the kids were all quite concerned. Lilly asked why he had to have this surgery. I tried to give a little facts of life lesson in a very non-descript way. She looked at his battle wound and said, "so is that where he used to keep all his fertilizer?" What a crack-up!
We have a fun little tradition that takes place the day after the last day of school. It's KIDS DAY. You know how we celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day...well this just seems like the perfect day to celebrate kids. I let the kids sleep in and have the day off from chores and household responsibilities. They can take control of their own destiny on this day within reason. Everyone gets a few simple gifts. This year the kids each got a gift card to our favorite book shop "The Kings English", a bubble/water toy and a summer math workbook (they REALLY look forward to this one ;) I'm always amazed at the end of the school year how much my kids have grown in all aspects of life. Kids Day was the perfect way to celebrate each one!
Not very many weeks left of summer vacation. It makes me sad to think that this time is slipping away. We've practically entertained ourselves to death. I'm not complaining, just wondering if we need to step it up and complete some worthwhile goals. One lovely experience the girls and I have had this summer is to volunteer at This is the Place Heritage Park. Once a week we dress in pioneer costumes and pretend to live that simple life. Not that the pioneers had a simple life. They had to raise the chicken and pluck it before it ever made it into a pot for soup. All their clothes were hand stitched and their livelihood was contingent on hard work and sacrifice. Our job is rather cushy. We give tours of the house we have been assigned - the Charles C. Rich home. When we're not busy doing that we can work on the rag rug loom and the girls can roam the village playing pioneer games, attend the one room school house and run free through the fields. It has been a magical time for the four of us. No electricity, lots of time sitting on the grass just talking and thinking about interesting subjects. This past week we worked hard on the loom. We have never actually finished a rug and there was just a small bit left. Olivia suggested we set a goal that we could not leave until the rug was done. A goal that seemed easier than it was when we started. Our time passed quickly and it was time to go home. The girls opted to stay and FINISH the goal. We all took turns weaving. It was a team effort. Even the other volunteer in our house chose to stay and cheer us on. As the last weave was made and the final knot put in place a sense of satisfaction filled that little house. This rug wasn't coming home with us. It belongs at the park. The girls just wanted to be able to say they actually made a rug for the little house. After a rather indulgent summer my heart was bursting just knowing that my kids knew how to set a goal together and reach it.
