~The Miles Family~

august review

2011-10-13T10:11:00.001-07:00

august went by in a flash. enzo is growing too fast. it's still really hot outside.
the day school began, we started looking for a house = more space!!
it was a whirlwind month. (on an editing note: smothiering should be smothering)

after school treat

2011-08-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

we were sitting around the table the day after school started. i made a hawaiian punch icee and we were comparing red tongues.

alex: mom, you're pretty. and he smiles at me.

me: (gush. how sweet is this kid?)

alex: i'm glad you married dad.

me: awww, thanks, alex.

and then in true alex form, cocks his head to one side and he continues:

and you laugh a lot. and you laugh at dad. and i think dad is even funnier because of you. cuz if he had married another wife, maybe she wouldn't laugh at him. and maybe he would be stressed more, and then we would all be more stressed, and probably not laugh.

and everything would be different. we would look different. well, for sure adam and bailey cuz they look most like you. they would probably look like the other mom. and for sure we would all not be as happy.

and with that, he smiled and went back to his red slushie.

my heart melted.

and "after school treat" took on a whole new meaning.

july at a glance

2011-08-24T10:40:00.001-07:00

re-emerging

2011-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

my computer finally just crashed. and died.

the same week my archaic phone did...

i'm finally up and running on both counts. (thanks dad and gar!!)

it's nice to be back.

now- time to catch up.

enzo's presence fills the inhabitants of our home with:

wonder

excitement

chatter

oohs

aahhs

and a little bit of arguing

over who gets to:

hold him

love on him

look at him (i'm serious)

kiss him

(help) bathe him

fetch for him

as alex put it:

"enzo has changed my life forever."

and at the hospital:

"i have a new hobby mom. newborn watching."

pics taken by cherie mask.

a package

2011-06-23T09:39:00.001-07:00

the mail brought us a small craft paper package tied with a bright green ribbon- straight from california.

its contents made me laugh out loud. then i got teary eyed.

my dear friend katie hand stitched a onesie for Enzo.

********************************************************************************************

on becoming a ragazzaccio.

the label in it's traditional form doesn't quite fit this sweet baby.

i could tell he had some feelings of his own, and i watched each reaction he had after i dressed him in his onesie.

discomfort with his new title:

some reflection:

and then some more:

throwing his hands up in an italian "oh!" seemed to do the trick:

next came inner peace:

and finally honor:

i am enzo. and i am a ragazzaccio.

*********************************************** the back story*************************

katie and i were companions in cento celle, on the outskirts of rome. you get used to the sounds of city life very quickly in italy. i had to ask about some of them, others i figured out.

1. a few honks of the horn, as the car would pass our intersection.

meaning: one step up from the "california roll". italians don't even pause at some stop signs, merely honk to let anyone else who may be passing that they are approaching & to take any necessary precautions.

2. the sound of a siren. not the same whirring sound of the US sirens.

meaning: emergency vehicles. the sound is just different.

3. the sound of yelling in any convo (i've said it before…)

meaning: it's 9 times out of 10 not a fight, merely a lively discussion about anything really. their last menu, or the outcome of a soccer game…

I lost count of the times I heard "Enzo" yelled by a boy or teenager calling his friend down from his apartment, or from down the street. Then they'd usually jump on their vespas and be off.

the name for these boys is a ragazzaccio.

ragazzo meaning boy.

accio meaning bad.

not to be derogatory, it's a term of endearment for me- so nostalgic. the term for me brings back the city life of rome. rome awakened a part of me i didn't know was asleep.

it brings memories of

loud discussion,

running to catch a bus,

an italian accent trying to pronounce our names,

the honks,

vespas,

walking down the street eating pizza in the rain

hearing the name Enzo

and like rome did for me, this sweet baby enzo has breathed new life into our family and awakened the part of us we didn't know was asleep.

we are complete. and that's a good feeling.

baby is here

2011-06-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

the house is quiet.

*baby is sleeping.

*i am ready for a shower.

*granny is running errands.

*the kids are at nana's having a swim party for bailey's b-day.

thank goodness for family. they have all been so much help.

************************

all went well. he is here. he is healthy. and he is perfect.

i feel so blessed.

photo: courtesy of nana miles

pillow love

2011-05-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

i am having serious thoughts about incorporating this pillow into my decor. such a fun, cute pattern!

maybe it's just fine to look at it on line.

in my reality, there would be grey smudges on it, or something would get spilled on it, or it would end up on the floor...

yes. i will just visit it on line.

did you know...?

2011-05-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

after overhearing the kids @ the dinner table last night (we were at nana's for a late mothers' day celebration)

garrett (in total surprise) says~

amy~ did you know that thursday is the last day of school?!

i wanted to say:

i had NO idea. how did it sneak up on us like that?

helllooo?!? what do you think i've been doing the past month or so? have you not heard a word i've said?

but i think i just gave him a blank stare.

i guess that kind of thing sneaks up on you when you are busy climbin' ladders, bringin' bacon and all that jazz. (Incredibles) it is the end of the month crunch.

2 weeks and 2 days left...

2011-05-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

i had miss b snap this picture last night since i am almost done and there is not one picture of my pregnant belly.

so in 2 more weeks i will

*only look 5 months pregnant instead of 8.5 months.

*trade swollen ankles for a swollen chest.

*have my mom HOME to help me!!

*hold a sweet little baby in my arms.

*have a house full of kids home for the summer

*trade (me) peeing through the night for feeding & changing (baby) through the night

*trade the discomfort of a huge belly for that of a c-section incision

*have a sweet little thing here in the home~ a someone for everyone in the family to ooh and ahh over, to cuddle & love, to squish & nuzzle, to watch and wonder.

i can't wait.

i keep getting the same question, you're still wearing heels?!?

and the answer is still yes.

i am pushing 5'2" for heaven's sake. heels are a must.

closet chaos to closet bliss

2011-05-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

(almost) not kidding, i was this close to developing an eye twitch because of the boys' closet. this was ONE month after i purged and re-organized it. i knew i needed bins that were ALL the same size or color, or it would never work. i measured the space, found the bins and was ready to purchase...

dang ikea was out of stock on the bins i needed to get the job done.

so i waited...

and waited...

and waited...

and finally monday am of last week i checked the stock, and they were in!! hallelujah.
quick trip to ikea.

here is the after.

alex's scout shirts are all that i hang up. (the boys church clothes are in my closet. i was tired of finding them wadded up on the floor~ often still on the hanger. and the "special school papers" and boys' treasures were over flowing the top shelf. now there is a place/bin for it all.

even the clothes the boys will grow into.

before & after

each boy has his own shelf with a row of bins.

a box for library books we will be borrowing this summer.

before & after

organized the boys school papers and treasures.

(and two BIG empty boxes to store all of the summer games/books/puzzles i have stashed for the summer.)

they were so proud of the new organization & wanted to pose for the camera.

too cool.

production mode

2011-05-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

this past weekend was a quiet, productive, reflective one.

an it's all thanks to my husband.

gar took the boys on the father & son's campout and bailey had a friend's b-day slumber party. at first i was disappointed because i wanted to hang with my girl and have a girls' weekend.

then i thought twice about it and decided it would be fine to go it alone. ;)

it's funny what becomes "fun" when you are a mom...

*organized/purged the boys' closet & room- some more

*framed some quotes i had printed at cost-co

*garage saled some more books/puzzles/games for the kids' summer stash

*found a lovely, comfy, pretty rocker for my mommy/nursing corner (garage sale score)

*re-arranged my room to accommodate said rocker and reorganized a few things there

*had a girls lunch on saturday with miss bailey

*vacuumed, cleaned, etc...

now i just need to take pictures of everything...

the diamond fork

2011-05-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

it's the same every day:

the dinner table is set by alex. the dinner dishes are put out, and the kids start picking at the fruit before i get the other ones on. then comes the fight for the chair that holds the setting with the diamond fork.

pushing

words

tears

sweet victory for one

and bitter defeat for 2.

and so it goes every day. you'd think i'd have a system by now. as of today, i am starting a rotation as to who gets the diamond fork. hopefully no tears or yelling ensue. or maybe it's time for an economics lesson on the concept of scarcity and wants.

border and dots background from Spring Mix, here.

more summer box

2011-04-27T17:20:00.000-07:00

i can't get enough of this new paper pack (daily junque collection)

and the coordinating tags & bakers twine that go with it!! i had it sitting here in my stash, and it made great wrapping for all the little gifts i had for the summer box. the bonus is that it's all coordinating.

my faves are the lunch sacks i just stapled stuff to. so easy. so cute. the whole thing took an hour.

puttin' the smack down

2011-04-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

this is what mom always said when she was on a discipline kick or a chore kick. (and she didn't mean extra coins) basically it was whenever she wanted to take the reigns back from the six of us kids.

i've been there for a few months now.

last week i used a small wall by the garage door to hang:

scripture of the month

calendar

miles family rules and consequences (the kids had input here)

a summer schedule (very relaxed with blocks of time for certain activities.)

i started the summer closet with books, games, summer movie tickets- free popcorn shirt-$1 soda cups for harkins, bubbles, card games, etc. i still need to grab some things including the light brite a friend suggested. it's a good start.

in the laundry closet i hung:

Laundry : how to

Laundry Schedule

saturday I had alex read the how-to's to bailey while she did a load of wash.

then bailey read the next half to alex while he switched the laundry, added the dryer sheet, removed the lint, and started the dryer. i told them when the baby comes, it will be their responsibility to do the laundry while i recover. if they follow the schedule of 1 load of colors and 1 load of whites a day, they can stay on top of it.

they actually seemed to enjoy it. we'll see how long that lasts. but at lest they did it without a problem.

the family rules are going well. this is the first time i've bundled adam in with the "big kids" and held him to the same standard. i took his TV privilege away for a day last week when he hit alex for drinking the last of the o.j. the next morning he woke up and said,

hey! i have all my priviges!

and he's said it every morning since, even if they weren't taken away the day before.

easter morning

2011-04-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

today we are enjoying our family. our blessings. and the life of the Savior.

this is the best easter message.

dreaming of baby

2011-04-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

we are both almost asleep. out of the darkness-

gar says:

we're going to have a baby in the house. for the last time. the baby smell, his soft little neck. i'll bring him to you to nurse. it's weird knowing it's the last. every stage he goes through will be the last. i could tell he was excited and a little sad at the same time.

me:

yeah, it's strange knowing a chapter of our lives will be closed. done. and every experience will be the last. i'm getting really excited. and really nervous.

with each new baby it's the same. you wish for health of mind and body. you wonder who he will look like. what kind of disposition he will have.

then it was quiet.

i forget. did all my babies move this much? did they keep me awake kicking and flipping? did they kick at gar's back when i snuggled to him at night? i know alex infiltrated my ribs. and also flipped & got tangled while i was in labor- causing an emergency c-section.

i'm exhausted but the thoughts keep coming.

is there room for this baby? how can i squeeze more square footage out of this house? what more can i toss? how can the closets be more effective?

what are the kids going to do while i'm recovering from the c-section? will they fight and yell all day through the summer? how many activities can i prepare for them? i can make a few summer shelves in the hall closet. stocked with games, bubbles, chalk, movie tickets, a jar of ideas for activities (81 to be exact), board games, light brite, card games, etc... what else could fit?

i need to measure the boys closet for bins. it needs an overhaul that includes a shelf for baby. i need to make a list for ikea.

and then what about...

and that's usually when i fall asleep.

graphics: here and here.

2011-04-22T17:39:00.001-07:00

i've been busy wrapping little goodies for the kids. it's part of the summer closet i've started.

it's amazing what wrapping paper & a nice ribbon can do for a whoopee cushion or a can of silly string.

it was fun and therapeutic. i thought of my kids as i wrapped them. they will open them while i'm in the hospital with baby, and during my down time.

(aqua tag and banners found here.)

ETA: less than 7 weeks

2011-04-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

this is the first pregnancy where i feel like i don't have time to nest. yet baby's arrival is fast approaching, looming overhead.

we have been so busy.

swim carpool

preschool carpool

field trips

my calling

meetings

homework for kids

grocery shopping

laundry

cleaning

... and the list goes on.

by the time the night rolls around, i'm so tired, i want to roll into bed.

and i do- without executing my plans for baby's arrival.

i feel like time is slipping through my fingers. 7 weeks will go by fast.

being busy just comes with the territory, i guess. my family is older and has more to do. on the other hand, with the other pregnancies i couldn't ask a lot of them because they were young. i do have help now.

(graphic from the graphics fairy)

easter celebration

2011-04-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

we are getting excited about easter.

*the kids helped fill 500 easter eggs today for our community hunt. (over 2,000 for the hunt in total.)

*i am figuring out a back drop for the easter bunny pictures.

* tomorrow we are going to help distribute 800 invitations to our neighborhood. (for the invitations, i used this adorable retro image. found here. btw, everything is half off on this site, because it will be closed soon. i will miss it. i LOVED these images from last year's easter.)

*anticipation is in the air. it' s fun to be a kid.

super hero day

2011-04-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

i'm asleep. at 6:45 i felt the presence of another human next to me. my eyes shot open and alex was sheepishly smiling down at me. standing next to my bed, he whispered

i scared you. it's super hero day. i wanna be super man. will you help me find something?

we went through the costume bin and he quickly realized superman involved tights.

change of plans.

how about clark kent? he asks

so i grabbed a suit his cousin had handed down, adam's underoo's shirt, a tie, and started looking for our 3-d glasses. after i remembered i'd thrown them out, we grabbed some of my old sun glasses and popped the lenses out. not the perfect shape, but they'll do.

tip for alex:
pull the shirt open when they judge so you give the full effect.

he ran home to tell me:

he won first place for the whole school! first place feels good.

he adds:

and mom- i pulled my shirt opened the whole time. (red ribbon here)

poor guy walked home from school in a dark suit and tie- in 90 degree weather. taking a few pictures was arduous- then he ripped it off. superman style.

just because

2011-04-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

i'm in love with these (scroll down) for spring. i wish they could be on my walls right now.

(better than looking at the crazy eyes on the post below)

April Fools Eve

2011-03-31T22:30:00.000-07:00

the kids and i spent a good 1/2 hour laughing our heads off at the jokes we could play tomorrow. at one point i was crying and couldn't breathe without snorting. i'm such a kid.

we were thinking of what we could give the kids' friends at school- and what funny saying we would attach to the little bag.

bailey wanted to give a piece of chocolate candy that was smashed with a hammer.

then i had an idea that involved inviting the kids' friends over for a party. i would frost the 2 layer cake i baked and when they were all gathered around the table, ready to partake, i would slam my fist down on the cake, ruining the whole thing. then we would scoop up and plate what was left.

alex wants to give the pb cookie dough i have in the fridge that's in logs, roll it in peanuts and chocolate chips and give it to his teacher. or a friend. i laughed along with him. it was part of the game. he won't get off that one. and he's ticked that i won't go through with it. he has all kinds of sayings to go with it.

it went on like that for a while. each kid would laugh hard, and then say, "no, no what about this one..." and then die laughing at their ingenuity. alex would start every idea with, "you know how tomorrow's april fools? and the stores will be full of all types of practical jokes?... " most of them were the same theme, with small tweaks. but they would still present it as a new idea and laugh their heads off.

adam's were especially good.

since dad was still at work, a lot of them involved pranking him.

we'll see what tomorrow brings.

smells like heaven

2011-03-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

i have said it before, and i'll say it again. an italian restaurant is behind our house a ways, and it kills me. this morning at 9 i walked outside to wait with adam for his carpool. as i waited, i smelled the delightful aromas. namely olive oil, onion, tomato & basil. (sometimes i smell peperoncino too, but not today).

they had started their sauce. i swear i feel like a smoker looks when i see them take the first drag. ** inhale**, and the world is right again. (i'm not sure it was ever wrong, but that's beside the point).

that smell just sends me. first, it transports me immediately to italy. i'm walking the streets in the am smelling the different lunches that are already simmering away. we play a guessing game as to what was cooking as we walked by.

second, i want to start cooking away at my house. anything really. just cook. or even bake.

darn this nesting thing. i'm off to bake fresh blueberry muffins and the best big fat chewy chocolate chip cookies. dinner prep can wait.

intuition- berlin sky

2011-03-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

it's been a long time coming. gar and ken finished their 3rd album and thanks to ken's hard, work, it's up and running.

i love garret's voice and could listen to it all day. i swear it's magic.

give it a listen here.

"berlin sky" and "last night" are my favorites, (and "truth". i love the part where gar sampled richard nixon's famous words... oh yeah, and "don't cry") but i dig all of 'em.

the kids have fun with it.

it's a favorite for loud listening while we do our saturday jobs around the house.

alex: hey mom, could you print out a picture for me so i can take it to school?

me: yeah, what do you want printed? and what's it for?

alex: i want one of the ones where dad's in germany on tour. i told the kids at school (& my teacher) i'd bring it today.

bailey was student of the week and chose to put pictures of gar singing on her poster. and she said her dad was a rock star. (i guess it's cooler to write that than 'my dad is director of sales for a software company, or he's an accountant, etc) as i was reading the letters each kid wrote to her, almost all of them asked questions about gar and if he was famous in germany. we had a good laugh over it.

adam just likes singing along and dancing to it.

at our home, gar most definitely is a rockstar!!

St. Patrick's Day~~ in reverse

2011-03-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

a day that ends with frappe's can never be a bad one.

i still remember the grey frosted dessert dishes i held to drink my first frappe. yum! as a kid the dishes seemed to make the drink more fancy. so today i served them in tall stemmed glasses.

before the frappe's we ate a dinner of green grapes and cabbage, potatoes, corn and ground beef. it was as irish as i could get, plus mom used to make it and it's called "easy cabbage dinner" at her house. garrett actually loves the stuff and had 3rds or 4ths, which is a never for him. and the table was still set from breakfast. (side note- adam is crazy sensitive to smells. he walked into the kitchen as i sauteed the shredded cabbage in the wok. he had his cute hand over his mouth and nose and yelled, "what you making?! i'm

gonna puke!" and started to cry. after

10 minutes we did settle him down. he didn't get a frappe unless he ate some potatoes and ground beef (turkey). we picked out the cabbage for him.)

earlier in the day, we dropped by our cousins' house and kim had quite the spread going. there were:

leprechaun games

shamrock deco's

green veggies with green dip

green rice krispie treats & RC treats made with Lucky Charms

rainbow cupcakes

pot o' gold jello

trampoline games of leprechaun tricks

green edamame eating contest (Bailey will never eat another soy bean as long as she lives. each participant gagged few times and some dry heaved. good times. it was the perfect thing for pre-teenage boys!!)

and lots of running and playing in the grass

it was a cool day!

St. Patrick's day during spring break makes it so much fun. it was a day the kids won't soon forget. and years from now they'll say, "member when you used to make frappe's?" "and kim would throw those parties?" like it was a regular occurrence.

St. Patty's Day Breakfast

2011-03-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

the day is off to a good start...

tabel decorated with green. check.

green colored food. check.

gold sprinkled here and there. check.

leprechaun & shamrock games. check.

happy kids. check.

happy mama. check.

we are off to the park toting green rice krispie treats...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

nesting

2011-03-15T09:48:00.001-07:00

12 weeks from tomorrow chick number 4 comes to our nest, so i'm adding feathers like crazy.

i remember when nesting meant painting a room for baby, choosing decorations, filing a closet with diapers, clothes and supplies, setting up a crib, changing station , and nursing station.

no such thing is happening here. there's not even a crib. both a girl room and a boy room have been established. a bassinet will stand next to my bed, a changing pad will top my dresser, we'll grab a package of diapers the night before i go to the hospital, and welcome baby when he comes. he will nap/sleep (undisturbed by siblings) the remainder of his infant days in a pack n play in my nice, quiet closet. when he's old enough the pack n play will be moved to the boys room and then he will use a trundle under the boys' bunk bed. done.

nesting this time around is two fold.

1. organize/purge= make room for baby

2. prepare food

i cleaned out all the hall closets, the laundry 'room', the master bed room and bailey's closet last week. and the kids' dressers.

where is the sense in a costco size package of toilet paper sitting in my hall in front of the "storage closet" because the storage closet is full of decorations, table cloths, and some food/living storage? now the tp is neatly stowed and the other crap has been banished. the past few days, i've been guilty of standing in front of the newly organized space admiring my handy work.

our community is having a yard sale saturday which is making it easier to purge. all the work is done for us, i just have to put the stuff out.

on to the cooking and baking. we finally got a deep freeze and i am happily filling it with dinners for when the baby comes and i am recovering in bed. last night's chili went in this morning. closer to the baby's arrival i will bake cornbread into muffins and freeze those to go with. lots of stuff to add. i just make double which leaves one dinner to eat and one to freeze.

oh yeah, # 3 would be the stock-piling of activities for the 3 kids to do while i'm recovering. any ideas?

on chocolates and love

2011-02-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

adam on chocolate~

adam takes a bite of a chocolate cupcake and slowly rolls his eyes up, as if to say: this is heaven.

me: hey adam, do you like chocolate?

adam: yes.

me: what does it say to you?

adam: it says, i love you, adam.

alex on brotherly love~

me (at the dinner table): guys, dad's going to be late tonight. he had a rough day at work. so we need to clean dinner up asap, sweep and mop before he gets home. and please be nice to each other.

adam: i could get in my underwear, you can get in your night gown, alex in his pj's and bailey in her pj's, and we could all hide in your bed. when dad comes in, we yell "happy new year!!" .

alex: adam, that's the dumbest thing i've ever heard.

me: alex, beee niiice.

alex: adam, that just might work.

* my friend aimee took this cute pic while she watched adam for my dr. appointment! it melts my heart.

valentines cookies

2011-02-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

for lunch i'd heated up some lentil soup i'd made a few days ago.

me: adam, do you want some?

adam: no. it's bisgusting.

me: adammm.

adam: i mean, it's gross.

me: silent, lifting an eyebrow.

adam: i mean, no thank you. mommy.

saturday mom came over and we made heart sugar cookies together. it was fun to apron-up and have some time to relax and bake together. Bailey rounded out the multi-generational bake-athon.

i remember my granny baking. and making fudge. a

nd making mints. and home-made ice cream. and all sorts of sweet delights. and her hands look just like mom's. (except they must have been shorter, since she was 4'9").

remember being just below counter height. i would reach my arm up on her washer/dryer and snag a few mints or whatever was laid there cooling or drying or waiting for consumption.

it was a perfect spot for her to un-pan her creations. because of the two entrances, it made for a butler's pantry for her, and a quick get-away for me.

we made great memories at my granny and grandpa's house. i hope that the few times we get together with mom and dad make just as sweet memories for my kids.

it's the little things.

utah weekend

2011-01-31T08:40:00.000-08:00

we had a great, quick weekend. it was kind of a blur.

it was filled with

yummy food,

the sweet tooth fairy,

talking, laughing,

creating (for me),

snowboarding (for G),

a HUGE cowboy-sized steak,

catching up with cousins, killer blender creations,

watching fantastic mr. fox with the fam, hanging with my sister,

and we even got some snow. (above pic was when we saw it snowing @ Rhonna's house- we raced home to see it- but the cyclonic snow cloud was gone as quick as it came. the boys got it at Sundance though!)

G about had a heart attack when on the way to the airport, he saw a buck just standing at someone's front door, we passed a bobcat out in a field, and to top it off, spotted a bald eagle perched on some bare tree branches. his heaven.

we went to see one of my favorite people of all time (aunt shirley) who is in the last months of life. she is gracious and patient and embodies unconditional love. it was hard to sit with her and talk. i cried most of the time. i will miss her so much. i have the greatest memories of staying at her house one summer. her home was in santaquinn, utah. it's a laid back, small, quiet town. she lived on a dirt road in the old bishop's store house. it was nice weather (you could actually spend time outside), we picked fresh berries and made berry pies, we made parched corn (homemade corn nuts), we walked to the school behind her house and saw a play, i drove to the public swimming pool with her niece that was my age, we had santaqueen's tasty shake/blizzards, i got to go down to her cellar and see all the bottled delights she stored, we went up Provo canyon and had a picnic, we even got to set off little fireworks (which was against the law, back home in AZ- too dry). it was a perfect week.

one winter we stayed at her house. we drove through a blizzard. i had never experienced snow and it was dark when we arrived. she had a bed ready for me with a bed-warmer (warmed, dry corn in a material sleeve) tucked under the covers at the foot of the bed. welcoming and cozy. we woke up to fresh, homemade orange rolls and her famous honey butter. heaven. she is always fun to talk to. she asks the right questions and is always interested in your response. she remembers details about your previous conversations, or when mom fills her in on your latest happenings. her laugh makes you feel like your'e home. everyone loves aunt shirley.

like G said, it really puts life into perspective when you talk with someone who is close to passing away. you re-think your priorities and what really matters. it seems silly to spend time or energy on trifles. you wonder if you've done enough. if you've loved enough, served enough, learned enough. i am so happy we got to see her and spend a few minutes talking.

to know him

2011-01-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

is to LOVE him. and i do.

i am dubbing this alex week, (check out the pic below).

here are the newest ALEXisms:

bailey: (ipod on- bruno mars, singing to earphones, doing the dishes after dinner)

'....Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman...'

alex: mom- we shouldn't have that song in our house. it talks about the

devil.

me: yeah, you're probly right. it's a clever way of saying that he thinks the girl should live in hell...

alex: oh. you mean an inference.

me: yeah... wait. what did you say?

alex: an inference. we learned about it in school today. it's when you draw a conclusion from the information you have.

me: you are one smart boy.

(laughing a little because i'm caught off guard. i kiss the top of his head and hug him.)

****************************************************************

me: when did you grow up so fast? i can't believe how big you are. it's crazy.

alex: mom, it's actually not that crazy. everyone turns one year older, every year.

****************************************************************

today at lunch i got a call from the school nurse who had alex in her office.

he had smacked into a tree. and hit hard.

i was there in a few minutes and walked in to see him with an ice pack, and looking like this:

he had been playing soccer. he blinked,

and when he opened his eyes, he'd run right into a tree.

ouch. this happened not 24 hours after a softball practice where a kid hit the ball and the ball slammed

right into alex's chin as he ran to 3rd base! the coach said he heard a huge POP like when you put your thump in your mouth for the "lollipop" song.

so we are watching him, icing it, and he's taking it easy. besides, our dr's office has nothing available till monday.

11:30- get a call from the nurse

11:33- pick up alex

11:37- pick up adam from his friend's house

11:45- go back to shcool to get alex's lunch from the lunch bin and give bailey alex's bike key

12:00 get alex a smoothie

12:15 drop adam off at a friend's house

12:25 go home. i ask alex what he wants for lunch. i offer baked ziti left overs ~ that he loved.

alex: i really want pizza

me: ok. i wish i would have known since the smoothies are right next door to the pizza place.

alex: mom, it's hard to tell someone what you want, when you don't even know yourself. i just started feeling like i want pizza, but i didn't think of it when we were out.

12:30- pick up pizza

12:32-

me: alex- can i run to the store to grab some ingredients for a drink i have to make for sunday? it's 5 things.

alex: um, mom, i just feel like i want to go home and relax. could you go and leave me at home while you go?

12:45 drop alex off. run to walmart.

1:30 get home, assess the situation. alex is doing fine. he's eaten half the pizza and found an ice cream sandwich in the freezer...

...and now i have 2 hours before i start making the rounds with the kids, and fly to utah for a quick visit with my seester and wonderful aunt who is very sick. i am so excited to see them. i am finally feeling well, and have begun to reclaim my life after months of sickness.

little boy blue

2011-01-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

I guess we're good at making boys! We were all surprised except for Adam. The rest of us were sorta quiet after the technician pointed out his 'business'. I thought I'd prepped myself for a boy. I guess after 11 years I just wanted all the pink and fluff and ruffles and a little sugar 'n' spice. I thought she would round out the family perfectly. But we are all excited for another little guy. What's not to love?

Now the talk around here is:

Bailey: Aiden. You have to name him Aiden.

Alex: Vance. (Bailey interjects- they'll make fun of him!) I know a Vance, and he's a strong kicker. Nobody makes fun of him.

and Adam's favorite:

Grinch.

With Vinzio being his second vote.

baby, whatcha gonna be?

2011-01-11T10:07:00.001-08:00

there has been a lot of talk about the gender of this little one. here are some classics:

alex: i want it to be a boy.

me: why?

alex: because i want bailey to be the only girl. hmm... maybe i want it to be a girl so bailey wont' attack me so much because she will be busy (with the girl).

adam: it's a boy or a girl. (declared with conviction).

bailey: on a scale from 1-10 it's gotta be a girl.

alex: brothers are the best.

adam: babies are so cute and little.

bailey: i want a baby sister. i want a baby sister. i want a baby sister.

bailey: can i change my vote? i want to be the only girl dad loves.

gar: i want girl bookends.

gar: ame, it's gotta be a girl because you've never been sicker.

amy: this pregnancy has kicked my butt. it has to be a girl... if it's not, i will just know i'm getting old and my body has said enough.

me: will you be sad if it's not what you'd expected.

general attitude:

we will take what we get and love it.

and hold it

and squeeze it

and smell it

and watch it

and bathe it

and feed it

and kiss it

and hug it

and wrap it

and sing to it

and rock it.

tomorrow i won't have to call it an "it" because we will know, boy or girl. either way, adam is right.

is it Christmas already?!

2010-12-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

is it really halloween already?

2010-10-29T03:57:00.000-07:00

adam had a halloween day at preschool. not really a party. i was on carpool and toted a ninja, a girl, a rockstar, rapunzel, tinker bell, and my emperor. i forgot my camera. what kind of a mom am i?

adam wanted to be batman but couldn't stand the layers. so he opted for the empo (emperor) from star wars instead. same costume as last year.

on the way home he told me he can't wait to scare little kids on halloween night. i'm not sure who he thinks he is. or what age he is... but i still laughed inside.

used this font.

half a dozen

2010-10-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

legs on an insect

feet in a fathom

days to create the world

feet under when you're buried

sides on a die or cube

the states of New England

leagues in a mile

picas (plural of pica; a printer's measurement) to an inch

years to a US senator's term

sides to a hexagon

lines in a Star of David

geese a-laying

miles family members

we are expecting child # 4 and couldn't be more happy, or more sick. well, me anyway... just wake me up in 6 weeks and i'll be fine.

*sixth chalk here

a new plan

2010-10-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

the six of us kids used to make quite the racket. we were a traveling circus.

now i know why my mother used to stand in the middle of the room, {noise and chaos rampant} raise both arms up and yell, "QUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIETTTT!!!" all while she shook her fists frantically in the air.

then we kids would laugh. but we were quiet~ for a few minutes.

i thought she'd lost it. now i know it was {partly} my fault that she had.

with half the brood my mother raised my house is ridiculously loud at times. (it's fun too, i just need balance). i need a new plan. it seems like my "programs" and incentives only last about 6 weeks and then it's time to switch it up. i need a new plan of attack~ a new bag of tricks.

what is currently making me want to pull a Carol:

*the noise. (clapping a rhythm, singing made-up songs at the top of one's lungs)

*the destruction. (how many times do i have to hide my scissors in a new place?!?)

*the murmuring. (but mom..., why don't we ever..., why do i have to..., she started it...)

*the jumping. (the rule of no jumping on the bed/couch has not penetrated 2 of the cute little skulls).

i feel myself thinking the same things mom would say to us kids. we all turn into our mothers.

it's time to play ring master and whip the kids into shape.

not literally.

halloween decor 2010

2010-10-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

i can't get enough of this paper. printed it & used it on **everything** in my house. flags, sewn round banner, mixed with the material (from the scrapbook store!!! goodbye etsy for purchasing great coordinating fabrics) banner, background for silhouettes, on lollies, you name it. i also love the halloween definitions paper and the printables. then the halloween font is what i used to print out the silhouettes and wording, and even the vinyl on the '31st' silver platter and the 'spooky' wall. i will use it for napkin rings on halloween morning too... among other things.

a favorite

2010-10-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

frame: here

embellishment: here

halloween is coming

2010-10-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

(this has been sitting in "draft" mode for 3 weeks. ugh. i am starting to pull stuff out, but still behind. always behind).

last year i was in to halloween haunting long before i am this year. feeling a little behind because i haven't decorated. the gears in my head are just starting to turn.

ideas so far:

house of 3

did you see the witch hat?!?

the kit you can print large on metallic?!

inspiration & webshow

oh yes~ and the pottery barn tree

i just found this pic of the kids last year and had a good laugh. if i could name the kids' costumes from last year, this would be it:

Vampiress * The Dark One * The {Pleased} Barefoot Midget.

i just wanna eat them up. so cute.

de colores

2010-09-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

adam: mom, i want a weegie.

me: a weegie?

adam: yes.

me: a squeegee?

adam: no. a wee*gie.

me: where did you hear it?

adam:

it's not it, it's HE!

it's mawio's brother.

me: ah, Luigi.

adam: yeah! i like a weegie.

(i wondered how he knew mario brothers. he'd watched cousins play it at kim's house.)

adam has been a coloring fool. the last 2 days, we've printed out so many pages we now have a stack the size of a full coloring book. he's really improving too.

now my quest for a table is really on. i don't want to pay a lot, but craigslist hasn't really been there for me the past few months. i'd like one of the pottery barn kids tables but i may just get the ikea one.

any suggestions? what do you use?

the one-armed bandit

2010-09-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

today is cowboy day at school. alex wanted to dress up.

so this morning we pulled together all things cowboy ~that we possess.

then alex added this beard because he thinks it's hilarious.

i'm with him.

spark~ felting

2010-09-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

the scarf felting class was a new concept for me.

we had this amazing teacher, emily~ from australia. her accent is heavenly.

she showed baskets of freshly shorn, hand dyed wool~ straight from the hillsides australia. she knows the lady who dyes it. (she says you can find it online). she showed us a felted bead necklace (that her 7-year-old daughter made!!) and lots of scarves she made herself.

we each got to choose a baggie of dyed wool and went back to our spot on the floor. she taught us to make a scarf (or headband), and beads. it's so soft to touch, there's nothing like it!!

1. pull it apart

2. wet it in a bowl of warm (soapy) water

3. arrange on your bubble wrap building the design of your choice

(or roll into beads in the color of your choice.)

the kicker:
as long as the edges of your design are touching, they will mat together in the felting process to make a scarf (or whatever you choose to make). how cool is that? shelle and i felt like it was magic~ almost too good to be true.

4. roll. put another layer of bubble wrap on top, then a towel and you roll it up together like a jelly roll. roll, roll, roll for 15 or 20 minutes.
there are other ways to do this, but this is the way we learned.

i really liked this video for beginner felters.

thank you to emily for sharing her talent with us. i want to do this with my kids. they would love the "soggy water" part (as emily says it). it's like playing with mud. but not as messy. :)

tea party ~ spark style

2010-09-24T17:16:00.001-07:00

what:

i was invited to help decorate a tea party for all 56 young women.

it was so much fun seeing the girls again, although i didn't get around to talk to all of them. i miss those girls!!

mood:

it was a fun night full of friends, visiting, homemade lemonade, bite sized delights, and low light to set the mood.

decor:

each table was set differently. we used white table cloths and then had a pop of color in the middle with different colored toppers. the ladies had tea pots for each table, and a tea cup and saucer for each girl. it was so cute. (thanks for the silver platters, mom!)

centerpieces:

i use these 4x6 photo stands for EVERYTHING. since i only have 4, my wonderful mother in law lent me her 4 as well. thanks connie!! each held 2 quotes~ so there is no 'back' to this centerpiece. i borrowed the darling lollies cherie made for an event she helped decorate. the perk, i lent her my linens and things for her party (the same linens i would use for this) so i knew they would match. score. and thanks cherie!

signage:

this couldn't have been any more fun!! i had monday morning to figure out signage. as i'm checking e-mail, my sister sends me the file she had created for the SPARK signs!! add this to the SPARK kit i got while attending spark, and i had the whole thing figured out. all her signs run vertical, so i just used the SPARK kit to make some (really quick) horizontal quotes that went with the theme. they all came from this talk. sent them to costco, and voila. (except i had a beef with the color they came out, but that's another story. wish i was close to persnickety's. i love their color!!!) the best part, both kits are for sale now!! i'm so happy. i was drooling over the SPARK signs the whole time, wishing i could use every. single. sign. what a party. i love it,rhonna! thx.

***since the lighting is rough in the church, oak cabinets fill a wall, oak doors fill another, and the chairs are burgundy, i followed suit and set up a small sampling outside my house. all in the name of trying to get a good photo.

circus birthday

2010-09-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

dilema:

what to do when you are scheduled to be out of town on your 4 year old's b-day. (besides cry)

husband's b-day is 3 days later.

solution:

celebrate both together, when you return.

*realize the banners from SPARK would go with the circus theme you were thinking of doing.

*ask for a couple delightful paper banners during SPARK clean-up & incorporate anywhere you possibly can. (on napkins- 4 and A for adam, streamers for balloons...)

(thanks, rhonna, you saved me. you sewed with love, i used with love. ;) )

*use the Target summer plates & napkins in my sideboard

*find on Etsy some vintage circus posters, purchase for $3 and print, print, print

*buy some mini hand bells from hobby lobby cuz adam says "they're just my size."

*use Home Goods gift card (thanks cherie!!) and buy striped cloth napkins on clearance

*grab kid's toys from the boys' room to sprinkle here and there

*blow up balloons

*grab the party hat and cupcakes from "party bin" in closet

*invite nana and papa for pizza and snow cones (thanks for the snow cone machine, kim!!)

*CELEBRATE!!

2nd on his birthday list that alex helped write: a big "A"

barnes and noble and a broken arm

2010-09-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

dear mom~

thanks for taking me to barnes & noble after we found out i broke my arm. and thanks for letting me get the lego set i really wanted. i didn't find a book i liked best. not today.

i'm glad you had pennies for the fountain. thanks for waiting while i took a few phone calls from concerned grandparents and others.

lunch was great. i liked going just the two of us. when we get home can we start to build my new lego house? there are 536 pieces, so let's hurry home, k?

~love alex

dear alex~

it was all a pleasure! (well, except for the part about the broken arm). you are such a good kid. you have the kindest heart, the smartest brain, and the sweetest way about you. one word that describes you perfectly is GENUINE.

mom and dad love you and think the world of you.

~love mom

PS we sure rocked the lego house, didn't we?!? it was a fun family project. thanks for choosing it.

SPARK = therapy

2010-09-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

spark was amazing. everything about it made my heart sing. the weekend was therapeutic in many ways.

for some reason, when we sisters get together there's a lot of this going on.

i'm not even sure why we laugh so hard. we stand there for a picture and start amusing ourselves. soon we can't stop laughing. but i love me a good belly laugh, and i guess they do too, so it continues. kinda weird.

outlook

2010-09-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

saturday we had a conversation with our daughter after we took the family to see a movie.

it started, how did you like the movie?

the gist:

daughter told us parents everything that happened during the movie experience. all negative.

1. loud person next to her

2. missing a part cuz she had to walk with alex to the bathroom. (i give her that.)

3. alex dropped the popcorn

4. loud person next to her

5- 25. i don't remember.

garrett and i exchange a 'what the heck?' glance.

garret said something to make her laugh really hard. he has perfect timing with stuff like that.

me:

that's lame. i'm sorry. life is easier if you focus on the positive.

she said:

but all the things i said were true.

me:

they are true.

we told her that there will ALWAYS be negative things that happen. every single day. at every single event. at every single thing she has looked forward to, or dreamed about, or planned.

you have to look at things a different way, and find the positive. look at it from a different angle.

so it's a nice reminder to me on another level. the same is true when looking around at others and their lives. the grass is always greener... we tend to see others' positives (and our negatives). but everyone has their yellow and brown patches.

*i took these 2 pictures (of the same 2 dishes) after i went to the cupboard for a bowl and found this bowl and plate. the sentence "the kids did the dishes." came to my mind, with a low, disgusted tone. then immediately i thought, "the kids did the dishes" this time with a thankful tone. they are actually at the age where they do help out. i remember many days, weeks, years... where i had no help from them on that level. at least now they are contributing where they can. we can always work on 'technique'. 'will' is what matters most to me.

SPARK no. 2

2010-09-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

can't wait. i'm giddy. i was on the fence for a bit, not knowing if i could swing it, but SPARK no. 2, here i come!

with special thanks to my wonderful sil charisse who needed my services at the perfect time. i was able to buy my plane ticket.

and i can't wait to see mindy gledhill live. i'm in love with her tunes and her voice.

watch her cool new video here.

feeling happy and thankful to fill my bucket and kindle my spark. it keeps me going all year long. and i get to go with my sister shelle. and since rhonna is (one of the 3 ladies) putting the event on, it will be a fun sisters weekend! i wish everyone was going.

hittin' the books

2010-09-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

adam came to me the other night and said

mom, homework is books.

and then he smiled and raised his eyebrows like he had let me in on a little-known secret.

he took my hand and we walked in to his room to look at his full bookshelves. he showed me his favorites.

the other morning i was getting ready for the day. adam was standing next to me looking in the mirror. he mumbled something under his breath. as my arm raised mid-tease, i realized he was practicing being a punk. i caught the last part of what he was saying. yeah, das what i fought. holding back laughter i had a little talk with him about saying nice words and making friends.

today at the dr's office we waited and waited and waited. after a while adam whispered in my ear:

when the dr. comes in~ i'm taking him down.

happy birthday papes!!

2010-08-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

Dad 101

All you really need to know about dad.

this is a pretty easy course since 3 words can describe this man.

remember these three and you've aced this class.

1. Teach

2. Serve

3. Love

You can find some more info here.

Rhonna's birthday tribute to dad.

good. now you're ready to read on.

***********************************

Dad 202 - "classic dad"

there are different layers to this man. let's dig a little deeper.

("hugs, kisses, and tickles" ... and popsicles)

1. doing funny things for the benefit of kids/grandkids

you haven't lived till you've seen dad do the 'curly shuffle'. so dad. (the spirit of #1 is what inspired me to do this with adam.)

2. find ways to make things fun for the kids/grandkids

dad's been known to give out candy or one dollar bills in this case. when we were little, dad decided to take lava rock out of the front yard. we threw each piece into the garbage. dad said we should try to make a little game out of it and try to make a basket each time. then we got popsicles.

3. he's just got that look

when dad received a piece of news that wasn't pleasing he would stop whatever it was that he was doing. his face would go very somber and he would just look straight ahead. (classic dad would be eating a piece of plain ww bread while he got the news. each of us kids can do a pretty mean impression of this one).

4. dad likes the water. pool, water parks, beach, lake, spa, Pool

dad took us kids swimming. he takes the grandkids swimming. we all have done 'doo-tee-doo and love it. the pool is where dad's phrase was coined. "one more, no more". (as an adult, i totally get the power of that phrase with kids. thanks dad, it's pure gold.)

Waterparks

dad loves six flags and water, so this is a match made in heaven for him.

i still remember dad going down the 8 story bonsai slide when we stayed in palm springs. i wish i'd had a camera for that one. jeff, are you with me?

Beach

dad likes to just hang out on the beach. talk, eat, swim a bit. (totally my style)

Lake

dad likes to look at Lake Atitlan and enjoy the picturesque quality. other lakes are cool too.

Spa

"i'm gong to the spa" is a phrase i heard a million times growing up. i imagined that he was going to a big jacuzzi and wondered what you do there. sounded kinda boring. spa= the gym. but to dad it was the spa, cuz that's what ended his work out each time; at times it was the main course. now he goes and sits, reads, makes friends with whoever is there, and just enjoys the warm water. and of course he has his black berry in case someone has an emergency or needs to get a hold of him.

to know the man is to love the man.

join me next year for dad 302.

Onodonno's

2010-08-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

adam is always asking to go to:

derick queen

tropical smoovie

chucky cheese its

and let's not forget onodonno's (ah-nuh-dah-nowls).

just last week he asked:

mom, is it onodonno's or mcdonald's?

it's mcdonalds.

but it's okay if you wanna say it your way.

later that week we drove by mcdonald's and the kids teased him.

adam says:

i don't say onodonno's any more. mom learned me that it's mickdonalds.

In honor of adam, here are pics of * 'the fanciest mcdonald's in the world' in antigua, guatemala.

*source of info: dad ;)

seasons

2010-08-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

i like change.

i've been thinking lately that change is a blessing.

it breathes life into the everyday.

seasons of life~ i'm thankful for them.

for a few reasons.

1. it reminds me to embrace the 'now'. it won't be here again.

2. it helps me realize i can't do everything all the time. there's a time and a season for everything, right?

right now mine happens to be young children, and all that comes with them.

3. i love the seasons~ summer, fall, spring, winter.

two weeks before school started i resisted

the turning of a new leaf. (pic found here) i'd be losing my kids to public school. and a schedule was on it's way. no more lazy summer days, swimming, reading marathons, home 'movie theater', camping trips, and popsicles. then, 2 days before school began, i started to feel new life breathed into me and i felt it was time for me and the kids to turn this new page. i craved structure. i felt ready and happy. and thankful for change.

the kids were excited to meet teachers, see friends, have recess, and bailey was excited to wear her new clothes. adam even got school supplies since he starts joy school tomorrow.

i'm feeling sad that my baby is not a baby.

i'm missing his rounder cheeks,

his smaller frame that fit perfectly in my lap after a bath.

his baby babbling and all the snuggling.

i have to remember it's given way to

*more meaningful conversations.

*a growing relationship

*songs he makes up like, "my momma loves me, my momma loves me" while he smiles up at me.

*a capable little guy who's ready to read and learn.

and grow.

i guess there is a little bit of mourning inside me as this season changes. i have to remind myself not to mourn so much that i miss what's good about it, what i'll never get back.

just breathe.
and repeat, 'i like change, i'm thankful for seasons'.

school is here

2010-08-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

the first day is upon us , and the mood is a little mixed. bailey is up at 5:50. she showers then wakes up her brother.

still a little mixed… he doesn't want to ride his bike to school today. maybe tomorrow.

his faces make me laugh. always the joker.

and bailey is off on her bike while i drive alex.

adam is just trying to figure out which undies to wear.

guatemala day 6

2010-08-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

it's 4 am and the alarm goes off.

today we bus to a small airport where we take a small plane over the jungles, then a small bus takes us to tikal. it's a national park in the peten jungle (forest of kings).

we were split into two groups. garrett and i got the 'big' plane. it sat 33. the others took the 12 passenger plane. the morning was beautiful and clear. it was crazy to fly out of guat city and to realize we really were in the highlands. buildings spread over the mountains, trees covered the ravines. after a minute or two the colorful buildings were fewer and fewer until it looked like we were flying over a sea of broccoli. truly. thick, green, bulbous trees carpeted the ground.

as we neared tikal, the street signs started. first was a snake, then a big thick, cat-looking thing. what's that i ask dad? jaguar crossing. ah. we pass a few more animal signs (turkey, coati, elk…) but i am not really paying attention. i'm watching the vegetation closely. wouldn't that be cool to see one? i'm listening to the bus driver talk to dad who translates to all on the bus. in 20 years, our driver has only seen 5 jaguars. not to worry. they may cross this road out here, but closer in- at the actual park, they stay away during during daylight due to human presence.

after a good dousing of bug spray, we start our trek.

interestingly enough, we come up to a massive ceiba tree. its branches are over run with epiphytes and it looks like a hairy tarantula to me. i guess these arial plants provide homes for countless insects, frogs and snakes. toucans and capuchin monkeys live there too. the ceiba is the focal point to an ecological system.

we stop and laugh at the monkey sign.

we see a few monkeys. well, we hear them before we see them. they were loud and it looked like they were having fun swinging from branch to branch. at one point, one of the monkeys reached out its arms to the other like he was helping the other across. then they started to slap each other. the binoculars came in handy.

the path was so covered with trees that the sun never came all the way through, which was nice considering the heat and humidity. very indiana jones. minus the poisonous darts and gold statue.

through the trees we spot the top of temple I.

we are so close. as we make our way off the path, our view is widened immensely- no trees cover this clearing.

the grand plaza is surrounded by stelae and altars, ceremonial buildings, residential and administrative palaces, and a ball court.

at each end of the plaza stand the temple of the great jaguar and the temple II, or temple of the masks (my family's personal favorite).

these are the huge pyramids, or temples you see in pictures. the type that kinda get your heart racing. awe-inspiring, massive, ancient, pyramids. people actually built these. a people that was an advanced civilization. can you believe these structures stand today?

gar felt the need to pose. my laugh echoed through the acropolis.

mayan ruins are evidence of a long lasting, cultural tradition. the monuments paid tribute to the rulers of the past, and inscriptions inside talk of dynasties and conquests, alliance and raids. ten square miles of central tikal have been mapped revealing over 4,000 structures identified to date. the national park is just over 142,000 acres and only about 30 % is excavated. this is what the jungle can do if the temple is not maintained. we saw guys with machetes cutting the grass growing on some steps of one of the temples as we approached. how's that for maintenance?

dad tells a story of a people warring with their arch enemy. while the captain is off fighting an uprising occurs in his land, the people fighting amongst themselves. they split into two groups. one felt they had the right to rule while the others wanted a free land. the captain returns, puts to death the rebels, and calls for them to hoist a common flag upon their towers and in their cities. he returns to war thinking he's resolved the problem only to learn they have overthrown the government. the captain again returns, crushes the rebellion and restores power. eventually over time, those who have royal blood win out, and it becomes a place ruled by the dynasties.

the place is alive with these stories. i would love to have seen it during its rise, its height, and its fall. it fascinates me.

we continued deeper into the jungle, on to the ultimate view. we came to a small clearing. trees were still overhead.

the ground was covered with a thin layer of green moss. dad told stories.

a native man stood by a tree and handled a huge, thick, black scorpion. when i heard the commotion from our fellow travelers i walked over. he had it by the tail, so he said he was safe. he also said if it does sting you, it will make your tongue go numb. i imagine a lot more than your tongue will be numb if that thing got you.

garrett was more impressed with the man's awesome chest hair than he was with the scorpion itself.

we walk on. the jungle was a sea of smells. one tree we kept passing smelled exactly like ramen noodles. another one was peppercorn which was very strong. sweet smells came now and then. at one point, the husbands of the soelberg sisters facilitated an all spice experience for the group. jason jumped up to grab a branch, then kirk and neil held it steady and low while others grabbed leaves. it smelled just like pumpkin pie with a clean, fresh smell to it. dreamy. i thought 'all spice' was a bunch of spices all mixed together. who knew it was a single spice?

we continued to pass these long vines that would surround the trees. we wondered if you could really swing on them, tarzan style. garrett volunteered to be the guinea pig.

it was hilarious to watch him swing, but at the end he slammed into the tree- and got bark debris in his eye. lame. i didn't see that coming.

finally we come to the ultimate temple with the amazing view.

the original steps are crumbling so they have built a wooden staircase to the top.

it's quite the climb. the view is absolutely amazing. garrett felt like quite the explorer/conquerer.

the walk back to the bus was really fast. maybe because it was more of a run. it started to rain (which felt fantastic). at first we just heard it. it was really loud above, with only small trickles coming down to us. when we got to places that were less covered, it poured down on us. i felt like i was caught in flash-flood rains. no wonder the roads wash out. luckily the ground was mostly limestone instead of the dark dirt. we had white sand-like stuff all over our lower legs. i was happy it wasn't mud. there's nothing like getting caught in a downpour.