Return of the Camera

Our camera has magically returned, and I've been having a great time documenting some happenings locally. First, though, take a look at this:

I snapped this while turning right at the four-way blinking light in our little town. I just had to share the view as I drove down the road. We live in a postcard, a friend of mine likes to say. This backdrop of Pioneer Peak can't be beat, if you ask me. Honestly, with the long summer days here, I can't think of anyplace I'd rather live.Another postcard... This one of Byers Peak and Lazy Mountain, just to the North of the shot above. This is the view across our public library parking lot, the white building in the distance is currently the Borough offices. Used to be the city school, back in the day.Last Day of School

Well, school is out. Although the year seemed to fly past, and the kids had a wonderful experience there, I am always happy when I get to have the kids back home with me during the days. We were done on Friday, and the teachers went back one more day, Tuesday after Memorial Day.

For the last couple days of school, the kids participated in their grade Field Day. Always a highlight of Spring, it never disappoints. The teachers organize games and activities, we share a BBQ lunch, and the kids get to be outside all day. (As you can imagine, this works exceptionally well when the weather is good, otherwise, all bets are off!)

I was able to snap a couple photos of the fun... Here's Casey (Abby, tagging along, to the left) under the parachute during one of the parachute games. Casey and her friend, Katelyn, waiting for their turn at the 3-legged race.Girls vs. boys tug-of-war. Love their faces in this photo...Casey and Karee in the 3-legged race.Brian's field day was the next day. It was a little colder and windy, but the bigger kids are just that much more resilient in the cold weather. Here's a photo of Bri getting ready to play one of the parachute games. My favorite activity of the day was playing Sharks and Lifeguards. (Basic instructions: Everyone sits around the parachute with their legs straight under it and the edge of the fabric pulled up to their laps, like a big blanket. They make waves by wiggling their hands up and down. One player (the shark) is under the parachute, crawling around, grabbing unsuspecting players by the feet and dragging them under to join the sharks. There are two "lifeguards" walking around the outside of the circle, ready to spring into action upon hearing screams for help. They do their best to rescue the shark-bitten teammate by holding their arms and resisting the undertow. It is a little freaky to hear all the screaming, but provides just enough excitement to keep everyone focused. Also, it's kind of hilarious to watch. As in, I had to walk away so I could get my laughing in control. You should have seen the speedy attacks when the teachers took a turn being the shark! Those lifeguards never stood a chance. ) And, Abby was a sweet little tag-along for the entire week of field trips and all-day school events. She mastered the big, tall fire pole, and was proud of that accomplishment. As she should be.Memorial Day

Memorial Day happened to be one of the few days Chris was in town this month, so we packed it full of great fun. First thing in the morning, we hiked up the Butte. It was a gloriously sunny day, and it was cool to be up there before the crowds arrived. We ended up seeing lots of friends on top, and took the opportunity to take a few photos. Pioneer Peak is in the background.We had a picnic at Mom and Dad's house with friends and family. It was a hot, hot day, and the kids played in the pool, slip-n-slide, and squirt guns. I don't remember any days that warm when I was younger.
I love Abby's face in this picture.So, Casey got eaten alive by mosquitoes on Sunday afternoon and Monday. We did have repellent on her, but apparently she is just too sweet. She counted upwards of 50 bites that night, and could not sleep for all the itchiness. I think she has the same reaction to the bites that Trent does... They get all red and swollen (more than is common) and hurt. Poor girl!Tradition

A traditional Gooch end-of-the-school-year celebration includes a trip to the Go Karts. On the appointed day (Tuesday, after the teachers in the family were checked out of their classrooms) we headed over to the track. That morning, Brian had lined up each of his shoes, testing them to see which pair would make him tallest.

Would this be the year that he met the height requirement for driving his own vehicle?

Due in part to the tip-toes he was on, and the fact that he needs a haircut to tame his stick-up hair, plus the fact that he's growing and drinking milk and all that good stuff... He made it! Just barely.

The smile on his face speaks for itself, I'd say.
Brian in the lead, followed by Grandma and Abby, Chris and Casey.

Grandma and Abby.

Chris and Casey in the starting blocks.

Grandma and Abby getting ready to rock.

Grandpa, Chris and Abby get the "No Bumping" sign after a minor wreck that required assistance to untangle.

Chris and Casey passing Abby and me.

Grandpa and Grandma and 3 of their 4 grand kids. Looking forward to a great summer in the midnight sun.

Awesomeness

Still, no camera. It'll turn up, hopefully, when we open all those hastily packed boxes.

Awesome Adventures recently undertaken:

Chris is currently in Georgia with 15 students and two other adults. They'll be gone about a week. He called today to say they had arrived at their first (of 3) hotel, the kids were in the pool, and they had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. Funny, that sounds like how my day went. Not really. Still, I got to sleep in my own cozy bed last night, and he was pinched into one of those tiny airplane seats. He's only been away a day, so far, but we really miss him.

Sneaky Abby:

I woke up this morning to find Abby had snuck into my bed sometime in the night. I asked her how she got there, and she said that Daddy put her in the bed because she had a scary dream. I called her bluff, reminding her that Daddy wasn't home last night, and she admitted that she must have just tip-toed in herself.

Adventures With Stuffed Animals:

Abby often makes her way to our bed during the night. It's quite endearing, even if she is all elbows and knees and kicks off the blankets. When she arrives, she always brings a "snuggle buddy" for each person in the bed, and distributes the stuffed animals to us before making her way under the covers. Chris is good about getting her resettled in her own bed, since I am notorious for sleeping through pretty much everything.

In Which I Run Through The Neighborhood In Flip-Flops:

Tonight, I was working to get dinner on the table, and the kids were in the road in front of our house, riding bikes. We live in a quiet area that makes it fine for them to be out there, but I do like to keep an eye on what's up. Anyway, Casey (recently training-wheel-free) ran in to ask if she and Bri could ride to the park (that's about 2 blocks away) and back. I reminded her of the usual rules: Stick together, don't talk to strangers, and don't get off your bikes. She ran back out, and I continued my work in the house. About 10 seconds later, I thought: WHAT ABOUT ABBY? If the big kids were off to the park, there is no way Abby would have voluntarily just stayed behind. I grabbed my flip-flops and dashed to the end of the driveway just in time to see Abby's little helmet bobbing down the road, around the corner, and just out of sight. She was in hot pursuit of Bri and Casey. I took off as fast as my flips could flop, past some neighbors of questionable character who were out lounging on their lawn, yelling for Casey and Brian and Abby to stop. The wind was blowing the wrong way, though, so my shouts were not heard. Or, perhaps, ignored? Just as the kids were back in my field of view, I saw Casey's front tire take a sharp turn, and she end-o'ed into the gravel. Helmet in place, and her jeans protecting her knees, she got up, crying, and with a road-rashed elbow. Brian instantly turned his bike around and shouted to her that he'd go get Mom. Well, Mom was there in a flash, as I'd been trotting after them like a tag-along for some time now. By the time we made it home, the girls both had tear-stained cheeks: Casey for her bleeding arm, and Abby for me not letting her go to the park by herself. Such a mean mom, not to send her 4-year-old gallivanting off to the park by the highway. Tsk, tsk.

Birthday Gifting According To Abby:

Earlier today I was talking with Abby and mentioned that since Daddy was going to be out of town on my birthday, she and I would have to celebrate together somehow. She was concerned that she wouldn't have a present to give me at the party, but then came up with this brilliant idea, declaring, "Mom, you buy the present, give it to me, and then forget about it so you can be surprised." Hey, I kinda like that idea! :)

School Is Almost Out:

(photo from last day of school, last year)

The end of school is just days away. I am so looking forward to having the kids to myself again. I love their teachers, their school, and the exciting learning opportunities they have there, but I really miss having them around. They are just so dang fun. Plus, having to do homework each night has been a little stressful for me this year... In the summer, we can just read and play and get dirty and adventure together. The stuff of life, you know?

Sorry about all the random awesomeness in this post. Perhaps this download is what Chris would be subjected to if he were here tonight. Since he's not, you are welcome to it.

On tap for the next few days: Chick Flix galore, Cub Scouts, a craft show at the Palmer depot, a couple field trips with the kids, and sun, sun, sun. I love this time of year.

Scandal, Revisted:

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Remember the SCANDAL from this post? Well, I was talking to a friend/client today about some stuff, and she happened to mention the big "buzz" going on in the little shopping mall featured in my post. She (the friend) was unsure if I was the person responsible, but she told me all about how a certain shop owner who shares the mall with the BRA SHOP is in a bit of a tizzy about the vulgar, in-your-face bluntness of those giant letters. See, I told you there would be an uproar. A tempest in a tea-cup, I'd say. Or, a Tempest in a D-Cup, for you scandalous friends of mine. Ha.

7 + 10 = 1

7 kids (my three, plus four "borrowed" kids)

+

10 different playgrounds

=

1 Super Fun Day


On Monday, the kids had a day off of school for teacher in-service. It had been a gloriously sunny weekend, so I knew we'd have to do something special to keep the kids active and protect from boredom.

So, I borrowed an idea from Grandma Swensen, and we went Park Hoppin'.

At 10 AM we all piled in the van (yay for 8 seat belts!) with our picnic lunches, water bottles, Spring-weight jackets, and plenty of hand sanitizer. Brian got to ride in the front passenger seat (shotgun), always a rare treat. Being the only boy amongst all those girls, I thought he deserved it.

We went to 10 different playgrounds, spread throughout the Valley. Some we found at school yards, others are city parks in the area. We'd roll up to the parking lot, open the doors, and rush for the new play equipment. I'd brought a whistle, so at my signal the kids all piled back into their seats. The shortest stay at any park was about 10 minutes. We stayed at the Wonderland park for about an hour.

Seven hours later, at about 5 PM, we finally made it home. The kids slept like stones that night.

With all the switching locations, no one place became too routine. The kids loved trying out all the varieties of slides, climbing equipment, swings, and teeter-totters. I loved being an observer to their new discoveries and watching them play and explore.

It was just a great day.