Summer Vacation, Part last

We spent the first half of our trip in Farmington. Played Lagoon, which is becoming a tradition. Talmage rode the white roller coaster for the first time. A little too rickety for his liking. Clara was content watching the rides for the most part.  Miles loved driving the jeeps. Sydney is still a Bombora fan.   Didn't take the camera. But it really did happen.

I left the family in Farmington and flew to Spokane to cheer on Heather at her Ironman.   Here's her facebook link.  There are pictures and stuff about it on June 29, 2014.  And donate to United Athletics while you're at it.  Please.

https://www.facebook.com/heather.kartchner?hc_location=timeline

The Ironman.  Wow.  What an event to witness.   These are regular people who, for whatever reason, decide to do something pretty darn extraordinary.  Some of them over and over again ("It's a sickness," Heather says).   The dedication and determination to put in the 100's of hours of training and then putting it all together on this one day -- where they are GOING for 10+ hours.  "I'll just have a little marathon for dessert," they say, as they step off the bike, which was preceded by their little 2 mile appetizer dip in the lake.  The stories behind the athletes who cross the finish line have got to be poignant and amazing.  But I will always be mindful of the stories behind the ones who don't cross.  All that training for "naught" because the water was so choppy they couldn't finish the swim.  Or, like Heather, who had to watch from the sidelines as Rick finished the Ironman she was supposed to doing the first time. (click on her profile pic to read the "about me" write up).

I was with mom and dad and Heidi as Heather's tech support and personal cheering squad.  While Heather was gone biking for a long, long time; we volunteered at the Bike Special Needs at mile 63.  What a hoot!  One athlete stopped and pulled out a Subway sandwich, a big bag of chips and some coke.  "This is how I trained," she explained, as I searched for her red-and-white checkered tablecloth in her bag.  Another girl had 6 pieces of pizza.  Six!!!  Just in case.  We cleaned up with all the stuff they left behind that they were told would be "thrown away."  I came home with a nice pair of bike gloves, a brand new shirt, a barely-used windbreaker vest, a water bottle (Ironman brand!), lots of power bars and gu and stuff; and more CO2 cartridges and bike tires than you can shake a stick at. ($15,000 Ironman bike not included).  The trick to gleaning the goods, though, was to act like you were just "throwing away" what the athlete left behind, but really, you were slipping it into your growing bag of swag (quick! pop quiz!  what's the scientific definition?).  And then hiding it in the roadside bushes so the head volunteer guy didn't notice.
 
The second half of the trip was "up the canyon."  This is the last time we'll see Nathan and family for awhile, since they're about to move to Japan.   A good time was had by all.  Most the time.

Breakfast.

Since two of her grandkids sport the name ...

Pinning on Sydney's Pegasus wings.  "Don't stab me, Grandma!"

Parley and Talmage spent a lot of time working on this solar powered machine kit thing.

And a little drawing.

5 o'clock shadow.

Sweety-pie Clara.

Next up:  Up the Creek without a Paddle

Miles Post

4/8/14

He's asserting his independence.  One of his first phrases was: "I do". "I do" when he wants to try his hand at stuff.  Today it grew to "I do it."  He loves clipping himself into his car seat.  And then, "Did it!"

7/14
He's been motoring around the cul-de-sac on the plasma car.  If he could live outside, he would.  He sings along to household favorites - including, "Let it go".... which is hilarious coming from an almost-two-year old who isn't potty trained.  He's got "Twinkle, twinkle", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat,", "I'm a Child of God," and "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" down.

He gets a kick out of making us laugh.  Speaking of kicking ... if someone crosses his path, he's learned how to slug.

His attitude for prayer is to cover his eyes with the palms of his hands.  Or plain ignore the proceedings.

Miles, generally speaking, comes with a very happy nature and strong determination.  He's a cool, little dude.

Talmage turns 8

 Talmage had a fun birthday.  And I know it's not about me ... but, I want to add that I wasn't even stressed this time.  My favorite part is that he planned and help decorate everything - from the games to his cake.  And Lisa came over to drop something off morning of, so I kidnapped her and forced her to make the frosting for the cake and make it look more "Snitchy".  So, I didn't even have to worry about the cake.  See if you can guess the theme, if you haven't already.

 Here, they are working on Aunt Marge,  the subject of a bean-bag throw into her open mouth.

Love the concentration.

 Clara, getting in on the action.

 The Golden Snitch.

 The driveway still bears the scars of the Killing the Basilisk game. They lit those black discs that turn into snakes.  And stink bombs.   8 year-olds and matches.  Genius, right?

 Battle of Hogwarts.  They went through 900 water balloons in seconds.

 Basilisk pinata and the Sword of Gryffindor.

"Wait!  That venomous snake looks suspiciously like a Winco Guitar Pinata.  I won't have it!"

Here's the thing -- Talmage was very particular about each activity relating to Harry Potter somehow.  Syd is busily planning her next birthday party on a theme of "Mushrooms" (e.g. "#2. Pin the mushroom in the mushroom pach; #4. Mushroom decrashins") The enumerated list is on the fridge for a daily reminder.   Her birthday is in January.  Where did they learn to be thematically correct, is my question.

Back to T's birthday. ..... Blowing out the candles.   It's official.

 "What do you wish for [friend], with a bump on the head?"

 "Everything is awesome."  Gifts from the grandparents.

 A riddle for the parental gift:  "WE BE KIN". 

Happy Birthday, Talmage.  We love you.

Blend Tec: they claim it purees nails.

That may be true.  But it does not puree spoons.  I tried and it's like a bomb went off inside the jar and blew those two holes.   A good trick to play on terrorists would be to replace the gunpowder in their ammo with spinach ... and spoons.

Also, that plate on the stove looks like a huge fried egg.

"Snag" is the scientific word for "dead tree standing"

 This is a guided nature walk in the local park, hosted by the library.  Theme:  woodpeckers. Woodpeckers like snags.  Is how the title relates.

 Once you know what to look for, you see signs of woodpecker shennanigans everywhere.   Did I mention the guide was 7 years old?  That kid in brown knows his stuff.

 Since school got out, there have been some late nights goofing off after hours.

This particular night,  "after they should have been in bed", they were jazzed about dressing up Miles.  Clara softens the manly look with a baby-pendant necklace.  Had to snag a picture.

"I Know a Name ..."

Back in the day, they would have been quivers.

Happy Father's Day.

Let Summer Begin

First day of Second Grade with all the supplies.

Last Day with Running Club swag on necklace.

First Day of Kindergarten

Last Day with Mrs. Weber, teacher extraordinaire.

"See ya next year."

"I'll be back [in 2017]."

 [Clara finished a distinguished year with her Joy School friends.  She declined to have her photo taken on her auspicious graduation day.]

Kicks and Jacks

Airshow Weekend

 

(Syd has strep)

Where's Miles?

Wake up call.

When I was little, my mom would waltz into our room and bust out singing the Cougar Fight Song to wake us up. My mother's daughter, I've used that trick. And then I realized I had another effective method in Miles.

There's one more week of school, and Talmage will not be subject to the Miles Attack at 6:37 a.m. anymore.

April showers bring ...

Deadlines.

It's time to decide this one's fate:  Joyschool at home or send her out into the hard world of knocks with the Busy Bees Preschool.  Which will it be?

Laying down on the job

At the Bookshelves

Miles likes balancing on this chair -- he'll pull himself up onto the armrests and nibble his way through the books.  When he's done with a given copy, he'll then huck it on the floor.  Repeat.

Brought to you by iPhoto archives:

 Calvary Lutheran Preschool field trip to Portland Aquarium.

 Treasure hunt for FHE.  One clue read: "Talmage:  What can be said, our doll has no ....?"

 The kids knew right where to go.  And so, now you have an inside peek at my version of Interior Decor for Children.  Vintage-Spooky.  (I believe the head is under the bed).

 A warm spat before the May rains.

 The First/Second grade play:  "Too Much Noise".

Those are baby spiders.