When the Cat's Away...

Briton was out of town for work most of last week and this week. Things really let loose around here when he's gone (luff you, honey!). For example, I chew Bubble Yum; the dinner hour is undefined; and, the front door gets an up-do:Chartreuse! Ha!

Posting for Heather Because It's Her Birthday

Did you know my sister got run over by a truck? She was on her bike, at her peak training week for an Ironman, and then wham. When Rick called it was one of those moments when you feel like the world has cracked and will never heal. But Heather is tough and is not dead. I'm deeply grateful she's alive. Who else would I call while I'm driving around town?

Despite being broken up and bruised, she's traveling to the Ironman event and cheering Rick on. That's self-less: championing someone else when you'd so much like to be doing it yourself.

Rick's pretty cool. But Heather? She be my hero.

And since she is continually harassing, I mean, requesting, pictures - here's some more for her birthday:



Sonya and Talmage attending to a Halloween Costume in the works.


Syd in the Lego box sans Legos.

Syd and Jude on their impromptu Sunday promenade.


Hey, Hed. I'll post some more later - you know - the last import isn't uploading to the blog for some reason.

Future post: Everyone Should Have a Live-In Hilary. Or, "I Won't Let Her Go Until You Give Me Back My Boat."

Red Priest

We took in a show early this week.

Dazzling. Entertaining. Creative.

This baroque quartet swashbuckled onstage wearing pirate outfits. Periodically, their renditions of Bach masterpieces and such were punctuated with "Arrr's!" and "Shiver me timbers!" But they didn't even need such gimmicks to impress. If you ever hear of Red Priest coming to town, I highly recommend going out of your way to attend a concert.

Tom Sawyer?

Talmage has been on a real "job" kick lately. There's a job wheel in The Friend this month that we stuck on the wall and he's all about turning that wheel to see what job he has. Sometimes more than once a day. So I get a lot of mileage out of him. I'm also getting a lot of free labor out of his friends:



Love how Holly slaps that rag down.

St George Marathon. OCT 2.

The marathon was awesome! Many thanks to Briton's parents for coming down and watching the girls and also to Heidi for taking Talmage for the weekend. Without your support this would have been impossible.

We crossed the starting line approximately 7 minutes after the horn. This was due to my desire not to get run over by faster runners (approx. 7,000 of them) and both of our evacuation needs that kept us in the porta-potty line. This is the last I saw Briton until the finish line. Sorta romantic to start out together, though, huh?

Favorite sign I saw along the side of the road? "I'd rather be watching conference."

Time elapsed between Briton and my finishing times? 99 minutes (for my pride's sake, assume Briton runs a 2:06 marathon).

Some Race Highlights:
*beautiful sunrise glowing on red rock, a show that only Southern Utah can put on.
*BenGay knee and quad massages at aid stops,
*two timely bags of ice that allayed heat stroke (thanks for the tip, Hed) ... the high that day was 93 degrees.
*For Briton: Snow Canyon and seeing the balloon (or, rather, who it was attached to)
*the finish line. I got all sorts of choked up.
*as always, the spectators and musicians and conversation with other runners
*watching practically all of St. George hobbling around the next morning.
*realizing I wanted to do it again. This was a big deal because usually after a marathon, I hate running.

For more pics of the day/weekend activities, you can check out P&L's blog post here.

Roma Marathon 2011?

If I had $12,000 to spare, what a kick to run the Antarctica Marathon (for a glimpse into the lives of some adventurous folk, check out the profiles of last year's competitors)

Hanging Out

See Spot Run

Watch that cute finger.

Word of the Day: BLUNDER

I received this email two days ago:

Dear SAN DIEGO-CORONADO SHARKFEST swimmer,

Congratulations on your entry in the 2nd annual SAN DIEGO-CORONADO SHARKFEST SWIM, scheduled for Sunday, September 19, 2010. You will be swimming 1 mile across San Diego Harbor from the 5th Avenue Landing in San Diego to the foot of the Coronado Bridge on Coronado Island.

Shark fest? Me? In two days? I did not register for this event. However, the tone of the email was so commanding, I almost priced flights to San Dig.

I promptly emailed Keriann - recently moved to San Diego and asked if she was playing a trick on me.

She said no.

Briton said, "Check the credit card statement."

Which I promptly didn't.

The next day I received this email:

Dear Athletes,
I apologize if you received our previous San Diego-Corondao Entrant Newsletter email in error. It was accidentally sent to the wrong list. Please excuse our blunder. See you at the next race!

Best,
Enviro-Sports

I'll excuse the mixed pronouns and typo in the email for two reasons:

1) Ego: I enjoyed being addressed as an Athlete. Looking at this birthin' body o' three children, athlete would not be the first thing you would think of (Domestic Goddess? Yes. Athlete? No.).

2) Word choice: "blunder"

Disclaimer: Do not dismiss Enviro-Sports as an event organizer based on this email blunder or this post. We've run in their Muir Woods event and it was a sublime experience. Also, they started the event with everyone singing the national anthem. And first-place prize was a rubber chicken.

Mt Ranier

We met up with some friends on Labor Day weekend.


Longmire area. It used to be a natural springs resort. The springs still spring forth. We went on a little nature walk around the meadow.
Since we only had one day at Ranier, we then busted out another hike to some waterfalls before setting up camp.

I realize we don't have any pictures of the friends we were camping with, but they really were there and we had a lot of fun with them. They also cooked up some delicious dutch oven desserts.

Home, Home, on the Range.

Briton did it.

Our oven has been quite temper(ature)mental lately. The door alignment got out of whack so it requires some forceful jimmying to open. Briton, being the chivalrous chap that he is, had me step back one day this past week, so he could open the door for me as I was about to put in some cinnamon rolls (don't fret, dears ... they came from a can, left-over from camping).

He flexed his biceps (really) and started to jimmy that door. It wouldn't budge. So he jimmied harder. And lo, an earth-shattering, er, glass-shattering noise. Evidence above. He got all cut up about it (also see above). (No stitches required). I was not, however, cut up. I am over-joyed. Because this means new oven.

The story gets hotter, though. A couple days later I was heating up something on the stovetop (because that part still works). The crockpot was behind the pan. I went to turn on the crockpot and was like, "Dude! Where'd the knob go?" Then, I was like, "Heyyyy ... what's all this goopy black stuff?"

Today I called Crock-Pot. The original crock-pot guys. The website said there were no replacement knobs available and to call the company. So I did. The customer service guy double-checked about a replacement knob. Then he asked, "What happened to the original knob?"

"It melted," I said. (completely honestly, innocently, and with no ulterior motive).

"Well," said the guy, "your product is still under warranty. We'd like to send you a replacement crock-pot. Is white okay?"

This is the part where I fully disclose that deep, deep, deep (very deep) inside my soul a little voice spelled it out for me: "Robin. He thinks the crockpot melted the knob itself. Tell him this is not so. Tell him about that hot pan resting against the knob."

Then, this is the part where I tell you what happened next in the story.

I said, "Su-uuuure. White would be fine."

What would you have done?

P.S. I gave the guy glowing reviews on the short customer service survey that followed.

Deep In Tillamook Forest...

...a camping trip unfolds. We spent a couple days with these good folks. A collective pact determined we'd consume as much sugar as possible in a 24 hour period. It started with those giant marshmallows and only improved from there.

Grant (8 mo.), Hazel (3 mo.), and Clara (5 mo.). Not pictured: 40 other children. And Stephanie.

A lunch stop at the Forestry Center (cheesecake, cupcakes - a happy B-day nod to Dave) before heading to Tillamook for ... ice cream cones. Double scoop.
If you ever want a really relaxing, easy camping trip, go with these sisters. They will plan all the meals, fix them, reserve the campsites, sing prettily, take your kids hiking, make you laugh and tell some good stories. Wait? Is that more cheesecake in the foreground of that picture???

We parted company after the ice cream. Sufficiently carbo-loaded, it was now time for my scheduled long-run (Briton was smart and ran earlier that morning). The beach was beckoning but my spirit was saturated with simple sugars. It was a beautiful run. But very, very slow.

H2C and Solids

Briton ran Hood to Coast with a speedy Intel team: Quad Corps. That's a clever pun because Intel has quad core processors (whatever in the heck that means) but this was a corps of runners (quad muscles being key). And like all puns the humor dissipates with the explanation. So, uh ... moving on ... He had fun.

Next up: Clara. She's sixth months old already, folks. Time to mix things up a bit with a little rice cereal facial.

Another day this Tea Party was occurring in the Garden Room:
Tal and Syd have spent a lot of time playing together lately. I think it's because they share a room now. For the most part it's pretty cooperative. Talmage avoids the role of Mrs. Nesbitt by taking on manly tasks like maneuvering furniture and packing (they were about to leave on a trip to Africa).

A Heather-cane

You know how Heather & Rick live on the east coast. While everyone else was evacuating the Outer Banks, she and Rick left the comforts of their Virginia home to watch Hurricane Earl from the front row seats of their OB beach house. They live on the edge like that. A day or so before they drove south, though, Heather was brewing her own storm, as she is wont to do when she gets an idea.

"Robin!" she calls, one morning out of the blue, en route to the fabric store, "I'm making three dresses for Sydney." (Notice: not one. not two. but three).

"Robin!" she calls, that same day, later in the afternoon, en route to the post office, "What's your address again?" They were done. All of them. In one day!!! Including CHOOSING the fabric! A sewing storm. Below are the pictures of Sydney modeling said dresses. She wore the dragonfly dress all day long and discovered, as it turns out, that it also doubles as pajamas (i.e. she refused to take it off):

Fast Asleep (mmm. looks like Syd's hair got caught in a hurricane).

The next day the flower dress had its turn. All the fabrics and notions are super cute. It makes a girl giddy! (And for those who care: the stitching is precision itself):

My, my. How the spaghetti mug complements that rick-rack.
I love her shiny, happy eyes in these two photos. Like I said. Giddy.

The second video is the third dress, which also doubles as a soccer outfit. Anyway, thanks again, Aunt Heather! We love them.

Catching up, To Be Continued...

Next up: Family Reunion, July 2010.

Catfish 2

is the name of the swim level Talmage is working on at the SHARC. He's learned all sorts of skills these past 4 weeks, like back float, front and back glides, kicking and bobs.

Talmage is hesitant about submerging his face - his major obstacle to moving past the Catfish 2 level. That reservation aside, he loves swimming lessons and playing in/with water.

Today was the last day of class. All the kids got to go down the water slide:

with Tessa, his teacher.

They also got to try the diving board. I'm proud o' the T for walking the plank all by himself. After he stood at the end for a minute or so, an instructor joined him at the brink. Check out how he gets down:

International Living

Andrea, from the Madrid region, stayed with us for the past three weeks. She spent the days in language class with other teenagers and during the nights and weekends she spent her time with us and ... we partied. She brought into focus the World Cup, Uno Attack, the Spanish elements in Toy Story 3 and hamburgers.

Sunday evening at the Rose Garden

St. Paul RODEO

Chillin' in the bleachers on a chilly JULY evening with a sleepy chile.

We thought we'd show Andrea what some people like to do in America. After the buckin' broncos I think she was ready to go home. But she was a good sport to stick it out. We probably should have just gone to the mall.

July 4th (er, 3rd) PARADE
Clara and Andrea became great pals.

Please contrast Sydney's hairdo with this hairdo of a good friend's daughter.

Camping: Little Crater Lake

Little Crater Lake IS little. It's beauty lives up to it's namesake.
We also hiked over to Timothy Lake.

Karren bought us a bag of these marshmallows that were as big as your head (and mine, apparently).


It was cold. Later, we found out Andrea was terrified about going camping. But again, she was a good sport about it.

A Quick Gander in Seattle
Looking back, it was a good experience to host a foreign exchange student. We're happy our lives intersected and who knows, maybe one day we'll get to see her again in her neck of the woods. That would be a treat.

Airing Out Our Dirty Laundry

A retraction:

Sydney is not potty trained.

Last night was a low moment. And today it got lower.

Last night, around 10 p.m., we heard her calling out. Investigating the plea, Briton found Sydney standing undressed IN her top dresser drawer. His smeller told him there was more to the scene than met the eye. Sure enough, buried under the underwear were a couple logs. We went through each piece of clothing, pulling out the casualties. A third solo log leaned, camouflaged, against the base of the dresser.

Tonight, when recalling the event, Briton cajoled, "Come on, Robin. It's kind of funny."

Maybe I'll laugh about it later, but after today's numerous accidents (including several on the newly cleaned carpet) and after she put her poo in the potty (per our instructions last night) - except doing it by hand-delivering it to the commode - well - I gave up. Uncle, I cry.

She is in diapers again. Oh. And she's sleeping in the crib, with a binkie.

Advice anyone?

In the wee hours before 4

The inspiration.

Our attempt at replication:
That "4" is made out of rice krispy treats and marshmallow fondant (and a fistful of skewers for structural support). Pretty good for a couple of amateurs.

Happy Birthday, Talmage. You are the inspiration. [insert photo of Talmage. iPhoto is currently wigging out).

Would You Care for Some "T"?

Or Maybe a "P"?

The peas are lucking out this long, cool June. Can't say the same for the tomatoes. Meanwhile, we've been sowing some memories:

Memorial Day weekend camp out with the Wilde's and Everton's along the Rogue River (I mean, along I-5). We chose the Rogue for the white water rafting but ended up doing a jet boat excursion which was much more family friendly for our demographic. The rapids will have to wait 'til Clara is a little older. We enjoyed a walk along the river, though, a long-run along the fields, excellent company, and a place for the kids to run amok and hang from the strings of the hammock.

We started a new tradition for summer fun. Talmage and I brainstormed a million ideas of things to do and then put them on strips of paper inside a duck (not a real duck). At the beginning of the week he and Syd draw out 2 or 3 slips of paper and then we schedule that activity into the week. So far they have painted rocks....Caught red, uh, blue-handed...

(what can happen when a painting rock activity goes too long without parental supervision. Truth is, I actually like the handy look Talmage created here. I can see him thinking his artistic endeavor would improve the welcoming feel of our front porch. I felt sort of bad telling him we'd have to wash it off. ..."And don't do it again, kid, or I'll break your fingers.")

... Had a water balloon fight:

They really liked hucking the balloons onto the deck, rather than at each other. I don't get why two kids who enjoy tormenting each other on a regular basis weren't more into the "fight" part of water balloon fight. We'll have to work on that.


We went to the Zoo with Honey Jo and kids. Last week we had a backyard campout, which aborted after bedtime stories in the tent. But it was still fun to do. We also learned a magic trick - making a quarter disappear. I'd give you the link to how to do the trick, except maybe I'll do it for you one day and a real magician never tells how they do their tricks. The week ended with a most excellent day at the beach with the Farrer's and friends. Briton made a clam gun and was able to demolish some clams. Afterwards we heeded the signboards advertising the Scandinavian Festival in Astoria. We watched some traditional dancing, ate a smorgasbord, listened to a brass band that accompanied a cutely-rhymed epic poem, was reminded that Iceland is one of the Scandinavian countries (?), took Sydney to the bathroom 20 times (but hey, she didn't have one single accident the whole day!), and took the VERY scenic route home (202 and 47).

Oh, yeah. Sydney is potty trained. That was fun.

We bought a fifth of a cow. Betsy is in our deep-freeze, packaged in butcher paper into lumps of of ground beef, London Broil (we ate some of that tonight), tenderloin, roast, etc. Betsy was grass-fed and treated humanely.

Briton and I saw the new Karate Kid movie. We kept winking at each other whenever we saw something we'd been to when we were in China. It was very romantic.

This week Talmage turns four. He's been anticipating this birthday for a loooong time and has specific expectations. This is the first birthday party where I feel like I want to "make it count". So we're going all out. Friends, birthday games, a real cake. We're also hosting a high school student from the Madrid region for three weeks. She comes on Friday.

That's some of the stuff that is going on. Not many pictures. But look, you made it to the end!