His second loose tooth came out exactly one week after the first! The following morning as he played a game of chess with Memo, I overheard a conversation regarding the tooth and the tooth fairy. Apparently when he woke up he had forgotten to check under his pillow. He was going to do it as soon as the game was over.
whew! that gave me just enough time to summon the fairy!
After the game he checked under the pillow and came back upstairs with a disappointed look on his face. I was confused. I had coughed up a dollar, it shouldn't have been disappointing.
"What's wrong, didn't she come?"
"Yes, she came. But all she brought was a dollar."
"What? How much did you expect her to bring?"
"My friend always gets real money."
"I assure you that is real."
"No. It's just paper. My friend gets the real coin kind. And she gets lots, like seven pennies!"
"We'll be sure to let the fairy know that in future a few coins would be preferred!"
(Paige offered to exchange the one paper money for the coins in her pocket. He was pleased.)
The adventures of Tuesday!!
 | |||
| Games. Games. Games. Monolpoly, Wii, Family Feud, Apples to Apples, Tetris competitions and more! |
 |
| Whittaker has a new best friend. |
 |
| We headed to the park for a picnic lunch. After we ate, some thought they'd try rolling down the hill. |
 |
| Some needed a lot more encouraging to roll down the hill. |
 |
| Some roll down the hill in style! |
 | |||
| We're a crowd. I love that although it's years sometimes between visits, they can pick up and hang out like they're best buds who see each other every day. They get along..... most of the time... I mean they are kids after all. |
 |
| Next we went swimming. Fun in the Sun. Whittaker loved splishing and splashing for over an hour and then we decided we had planned our swimming outing without sunscreen so we tucked him away inside the stroller. The rest of us fried! |
 |
| Miles had one private swimming lesson this summer. Now he has extreme confidence! He loves that he can swim with his head under the water now. I think a little form work is still needed. |
 |
| The big kids were too cool to stay in the kiddie pool for long so they took off to do tricks in the big pool! |
 |
| The big kids had fun diving. Sarah suddenly became a big kid.... tough for Mummy but cool for her. She even attempted diving off the high dive! |
 |
| We ended the day with Caleb's birthday dinner of Macaroni and Cheese, Greek Salad and chocolate cake with ice cream! Who needs to throw a party when you live with one?!! |
 |
| Some of the faces of our fun day! (Someone must have grabbed my camera in order for me to be in this!) |
See!
WHAT? (that's what he told Channa)
So ever since his brutal honesty, he comes over begrudgingly and hangs onto Channa's leg giving sideways glances my direction. I'm fine with that... as long as he's hanging onto her leg, he can't pinch, hit, kick or other wise maim anyone.... like pressing out their eyeballs. But eventually he does let go of her leg.
The other day, after letting go of her leg, I walked in the living room and found him laying over Whittaker.... he claimed he was doing push ups and that Whittaker liked it. I told him that squishing the baby wasn't ok.
He waited until he 'thought' I was out of earshot and then with exasperation and insistence in his voice he turned to his mother (who was in the living room on the computer throughout the entire scenario) and said,
"SEE!"
She replied with , "See what?"
"I told you she was mean to me."
I stifled my laugh. Then we chatted with him. What should I do if someone is squishing the baby?
His reply,
"You should get them in trouble!"
???
That's when we learned he wasn't 'squishing him', he was doing 'push ups'.
So I am still on the outs with Derek. He still doesn't want to be here without his mother. He continues to point out all the "See!" moments.
Last night at Caleb's birthday dinner, he reached over and pinched Cooper. I sent him from the table for a time out until he could appologize. He was furious. Searching for his mother to rescue him, to no avail. She was on the phone. He had to serve his time out. When he returned to apologize there was a misunderstanding cleared up.
I told him to apologize to his brother for pinching him and to show him a kinder behaviour like a hug or a pat on the back.
"I didn't pinch him! It was a monkey bite!"
At this point his mother returned from her phone call and,
"See! She did it again!"
Surprise!
While Caleb and Sarah were having a fun filled week visiting the Ranch, we at home were cooking up a few surprises for them here at home!
We were working fast and furious to finish them in time. Sometimes the thought simply must be what counts. There are only so many hours in the day. Fortunately, surprised they certainly were!
Since we moved into our new house three years ago, we've needed to replace the bedroom windows for the kids. They've had windows, but they were old metal framed windows that didn't slide well, didn't lock at all and didn't completely close. In other words they were drafty which meant, cold in the winter came right on in!
So surprise number 1, new bedroom windows.
Another thing that has been anticipated since we moved into our home was for Sarah's bedroom to be painted. I had painted her bedroom about six months before we sold the old house and she has wished for her new room to be painted in the same manner ever since.
So surprise number 2, I painted her bedroom... well... I got 75% finished with painting her bedroom. But I think the surprise element was at least still there.
Surprise number 3. We've been finding that the family room seating situation was lacking. Even when it is only ourselves we're squished together on the couch. The potato and kiwi (large beanbags) aren't holding up and instead of seating six each as they were advertised to do, we're finding they're a one man or a two snuggling couple seat. So, new seating was acquired to accommodate more in the family room. I had toyed with the idea of banana chairs but I don't have a lot of space and I don't like the fights that inevitably happen with chairs that rock back and forth in a small space with lots of children.
I happened to be at IKEA and saw the solution. They were even on sale! So we have 'beary' fun seating now! They have been comfortable, convenient and stack away nicely. Besides they're way cute! Sarah immediately added a pink bow.
Surprise number 4. This one required a little more patience since it wasn't immediately known when they returned home. It also was a test in surprise keeping for two young boys. They did well. As excited as they were to tell they kept it a surprise. As Caleb and Sarah were traveling home from their week in Wyoming, Paige and her crew were inching along through the mountains of Colorado on their way for an impromptu visit.
Paige was learning that road trips were not her idea of a good time. She was extremely curious why anyone would live in high mountainous areas far from civilization. She was wondering if the mountain pass would ever let her out into flat, non-winding roads ever again. She was wondering if there was a place she could stop for some rest. Just west of Grand Junction into the border of Utah, she found flat, straight roads, a place to stop and sleep, but no answer as to why people choose to live in high mountainous areas.
Just before breakfast the following morning, they arrived! Surprise was indeed the reaction! Paige is still looking for an alternate method of returning home... either by teletransport, floo powder, apparition (but the kids aren't old enough to use that), or in the form of an additional driver!
Surprise number 5 was on me! One shouldn't be surprised by anything when Paige is around. In addition Paige and her crew were some new fancy chickens. One for each child and a few spares. As always she is prepared with entertainment and gifts for all. Two boxes of shoes, clothes, toys, games and activities for all.
I believe the next few days will hold a few more surprises for us all. Let the adventure begin!!
We were working fast and furious to finish them in time. Sometimes the thought simply must be what counts. There are only so many hours in the day. Fortunately, surprised they certainly were!
Since we moved into our new house three years ago, we've needed to replace the bedroom windows for the kids. They've had windows, but they were old metal framed windows that didn't slide well, didn't lock at all and didn't completely close. In other words they were drafty which meant, cold in the winter came right on in!
So surprise number 1, new bedroom windows.
Another thing that has been anticipated since we moved into our home was for Sarah's bedroom to be painted. I had painted her bedroom about six months before we sold the old house and she has wished for her new room to be painted in the same manner ever since.
So surprise number 2, I painted her bedroom... well... I got 75% finished with painting her bedroom. But I think the surprise element was at least still there.
Surprise number 3. We've been finding that the family room seating situation was lacking. Even when it is only ourselves we're squished together on the couch. The potato and kiwi (large beanbags) aren't holding up and instead of seating six each as they were advertised to do, we're finding they're a one man or a two snuggling couple seat. So, new seating was acquired to accommodate more in the family room. I had toyed with the idea of banana chairs but I don't have a lot of space and I don't like the fights that inevitably happen with chairs that rock back and forth in a small space with lots of children.
I happened to be at IKEA and saw the solution. They were even on sale! So we have 'beary' fun seating now! They have been comfortable, convenient and stack away nicely. Besides they're way cute! Sarah immediately added a pink bow.
 |
| I think they understood, 'poseable' differently. I have found them dancing and wrestling. |
Surprise number 4. This one required a little more patience since it wasn't immediately known when they returned home. It also was a test in surprise keeping for two young boys. They did well. As excited as they were to tell they kept it a surprise. As Caleb and Sarah were traveling home from their week in Wyoming, Paige and her crew were inching along through the mountains of Colorado on their way for an impromptu visit.
Paige was learning that road trips were not her idea of a good time. She was extremely curious why anyone would live in high mountainous areas far from civilization. She was wondering if the mountain pass would ever let her out into flat, non-winding roads ever again. She was wondering if there was a place she could stop for some rest. Just west of Grand Junction into the border of Utah, she found flat, straight roads, a place to stop and sleep, but no answer as to why people choose to live in high mountainous areas.
Just before breakfast the following morning, they arrived! Surprise was indeed the reaction! Paige is still looking for an alternate method of returning home... either by teletransport, floo powder, apparition (but the kids aren't old enough to use that), or in the form of an additional driver!
Surprise number 5 was on me! One shouldn't be surprised by anything when Paige is around. In addition Paige and her crew were some new fancy chickens. One for each child and a few spares. As always she is prepared with entertainment and gifts for all. Two boxes of shoes, clothes, toys, games and activities for all.
 |
| I had swept seconds before.... they went outside within minutes... apparently I'm no fun at all! |
I believe the next few days will hold a few more surprises for us all. Let the adventure begin!!
Volunteer
This photo says so much. Caleb is awesome. His shirt with the word 'volunteer' on the back might as well say 'greatest kid ever'. He's carrying multiple water bottles, so I can be hands free with the camera. He's carrying Whittaker so I can help the other kids enjoy the adventures. He sets an example in all that he does, says, wears and is.
Caleb gets up at 4 am every Friday morning and attends the temple with a Temple worker in our ward. They are there until noon. He is prompt to a fault, he is responsible, hard working, polite and compassionate. He is dependable and for a 15 year old boy, tidy!
He does his best in everything he tries. He gives things a try.
He is growing up way too fast!
Adventures must be contagious
After reading the travel log of our trip to Oregon, I must have made it sound so wonderful that it inspired Paige and the kids to pack up and take a road trip of their own!
They did just that. They packed up their things and headed north.. and west. I've been getting updates from them. They didn't start with an exact plan... or map and they're continuing in the same manner. She rarely knows what towns she is in, has passed or is headed toward.... she says she's just waiting until the voice in the GPS tells her to do something else. I on the other hand have mapquest pulled up on the screen and as I chat with them on the phone try to figure out the route they are traveling. It isn't exactly a common route. I'm sure it's a scenic one though.
Paige hasn't ever driven a road trip before.... and from the sounds of things... this may the last! I can't tell you how many times she's considered turning around and heading home since it would still be a shorter drive!
As of now... they've driven out of TX, into OK... up into KS and then west to CO... currently they are midway across CO. They're glad to be passed all the miles and miles of fields and slaughter yards. The red rocks are a nice new change of scenery.
I've heard fun chatter in the background so I think they're having a good time... and I've overheard a few mentions of a photo op, so perhaps we'll get to see some photos soon?!
They did just that. They packed up their things and headed north.. and west. I've been getting updates from them. They didn't start with an exact plan... or map and they're continuing in the same manner. She rarely knows what towns she is in, has passed or is headed toward.... she says she's just waiting until the voice in the GPS tells her to do something else. I on the other hand have mapquest pulled up on the screen and as I chat with them on the phone try to figure out the route they are traveling. It isn't exactly a common route. I'm sure it's a scenic one though.
Paige hasn't ever driven a road trip before.... and from the sounds of things... this may the last! I can't tell you how many times she's considered turning around and heading home since it would still be a shorter drive!
As of now... they've driven out of TX, into OK... up into KS and then west to CO... currently they are midway across CO. They're glad to be passed all the miles and miles of fields and slaughter yards. The red rocks are a nice new change of scenery.
I've heard fun chatter in the background so I think they're having a good time... and I've overheard a few mentions of a photo op, so perhaps we'll get to see some photos soon?!
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
The end.
The end indeed... whew... what a series of blogs just to say... we went on a little holiday. It was fun. We went to Oregon to visit some family and had an adventure along the way. We're back now.
Of course the end is just the beginning for our new set of adventures here at home. Life has a way of picking right back up when you return home form anywhere. While I've written 48 blogs about adventuring and reminiscing, we've done the laundry, replenished the groceries, been to 9 Dr. appt.'s, scouts, field trip day for Sarah, swimming lessons, painted three areas of the house, hosted a book club event, cleaned the house and returned to mundane dishes and day to day events.
Vacations aren't really over until the laundry is caught up again and the suitcases are tucked away until the next adventure calls for them.
Next vacation better be boring... takes longer to reminisce and document the adventures than it did to go on the vacation in the first place!
The end indeed... whew... what a series of blogs just to say... we went on a little holiday. It was fun. We went to Oregon to visit some family and had an adventure along the way. We're back now.
Of course the end is just the beginning for our new set of adventures here at home. Life has a way of picking right back up when you return home form anywhere. While I've written 48 blogs about adventuring and reminiscing, we've done the laundry, replenished the groceries, been to 9 Dr. appt.'s, scouts, field trip day for Sarah, swimming lessons, painted three areas of the house, hosted a book club event, cleaned the house and returned to mundane dishes and day to day events.
Vacations aren't really over until the laundry is caught up again and the suitcases are tucked away until the next adventure calls for them.
Next vacation better be boring... takes longer to reminisce and document the adventures than it did to go on the vacation in the first place!
On the way home...
After our little excursion to Tigard to see Mum's old house we set off once again for home. I entered the new directions in the electronic GPS and promised not to change the voice or language again. First instruction, 'Turn east on Walnut Dr.'
Utter panic from Duncan. "I can't go!"
Stifling our laughter we reassured him that he would be safe in the car as we drove on Walnut Dr. Even if it was named for some walnut streets that were lining the street, we didn't think they would reach out and get him! (Nut allergy hysteria)
It was now 5 pm. We were headed straight for Portland and the worst time ever on a Friday afternoon.
We managed to reach the other side of Portland by 6:30. We had been stuck in completely stopped traffic both in a tunnel and on the top of a double layered long and overwhelming bridge over the Columbia river. As we approached the beginning of the bridge Derek informed us that a potty stop was required. Immediately! No such luck buddy. We offered him one of Whittaker's diapers but he wasn't impressed. We offered him the 'on standby, thank goodness we never needed it, motion sickness collection bucket'. He refused. Instead he took the opportunity on this extremely long and overwhelming without high sides bridge that traffic was not moving faster than a turtle crawl to begin screaming. This was possibly the worst tantrum of his life. Complete with blood curdling screams, threats of 'It's going to come out all over the van', and insults being flung at driver, navigator and anyone else that looked at him sideways. Apparently we were all in on this plot to not let him go potty. So, as we inched our way across the bridge in horrible traffic, in an unfamiliar city, we temporarily lost our hearing and our sanity!
The moment we reached the bridges end, we pulled off at an exit to use a gas station facility. (Guess who was NOT in any rush to get out of the van!!! errrgh)
All relieved, we returned, three wrong turns later to the freeway. The next one hundred fifty miles were calm and uneventful.
By nine o'clock, we knew that we wouldn't be making it home, let alone to a reasonable stopping spot so we began our discussion of where to rest for the night. Just ahead our answer. Memaloose rest area and campground! We loved the sound of the name. Unfortunately after a lovely rest at Memaloose rest area we had to continue since the campground was full. Rejuvenated we continued another hour. Just after passing our other favourite rest area location 'John Day Dam', we saw another sign for a campground. This location was not full.
We had brought a tent with us in case it would be helpful in our lodgings while in Oregon. (to alleviate congestion of 10 people arriving at one house) We hadn't needed to use it. Now it would seem we would have a chance. Caleb was excited. This was his new tent for scouts.
It was an idyllic little campsite. A large grassy area for tents, a playground, a small beach by the lake, shade trees and a tonne of wind.
We set up our tent.
We set up our 3 man tent.
Eight of us slept in the three man tent with a bunch of blankets. Whittaker and I slept in the van. (It wasn't comfortable)
At 4 am when I was sitting in Cooper's car seat nursing Whittaker, we watched as the deer came down into the campground and took what seemed to be a routine walk through of the campsite by way of every picnic table! They circled each table and then moved to the next. Once they'd finished circling the tables they bounded off for the beach area where they paused for a little drink and then leaped into the hills nearby. With the leaping picnic scrounging deer show over, Whittaker and I began to watch the fisherman put on a show of their own. As one by one people began to emerge from tents. Some to begin a pot of coffee, others to steal across to the potties and others who know wehre to go to find the fish that were biting. A fisherman's life is a calm one. Three fisherman each with a few bananas in one hand and a cup of steaming morning brew in the other headed to the wharf area. One man was fishing off the side of the wharf. He was standing with his line in the water, taking in the sunrise, when his wife showed up to chat. She was obviously talking and hand gesturing something about her conversation so he'd understand better. He wasn't nearly as relaxed until she left again and then he stood there quietly until there was an exciting tug. He caught a fish.
The wind had died down from the night before but as the sun came up, kissing the mountain sides with it's light and warmth, the wind returned in it's fury.
At this point I sneaked out of my spot in the van to take a potty break of my own and change Whittaker's britches. I tiptoed over to the tent to check on my traveling companions.
They were all nestled together asleep.....
Utter panic from Duncan. "I can't go!"
Stifling our laughter we reassured him that he would be safe in the car as we drove on Walnut Dr. Even if it was named for some walnut streets that were lining the street, we didn't think they would reach out and get him! (Nut allergy hysteria)
It was now 5 pm. We were headed straight for Portland and the worst time ever on a Friday afternoon.
We managed to reach the other side of Portland by 6:30. We had been stuck in completely stopped traffic both in a tunnel and on the top of a double layered long and overwhelming bridge over the Columbia river. As we approached the beginning of the bridge Derek informed us that a potty stop was required. Immediately! No such luck buddy. We offered him one of Whittaker's diapers but he wasn't impressed. We offered him the 'on standby, thank goodness we never needed it, motion sickness collection bucket'. He refused. Instead he took the opportunity on this extremely long and overwhelming without high sides bridge that traffic was not moving faster than a turtle crawl to begin screaming. This was possibly the worst tantrum of his life. Complete with blood curdling screams, threats of 'It's going to come out all over the van', and insults being flung at driver, navigator and anyone else that looked at him sideways. Apparently we were all in on this plot to not let him go potty. So, as we inched our way across the bridge in horrible traffic, in an unfamiliar city, we temporarily lost our hearing and our sanity!
The moment we reached the bridges end, we pulled off at an exit to use a gas station facility. (Guess who was NOT in any rush to get out of the van!!! errrgh)
All relieved, we returned, three wrong turns later to the freeway. The next one hundred fifty miles were calm and uneventful.
By nine o'clock, we knew that we wouldn't be making it home, let alone to a reasonable stopping spot so we began our discussion of where to rest for the night. Just ahead our answer. Memaloose rest area and campground! We loved the sound of the name. Unfortunately after a lovely rest at Memaloose rest area we had to continue since the campground was full. Rejuvenated we continued another hour. Just after passing our other favourite rest area location 'John Day Dam', we saw another sign for a campground. This location was not full.
We had brought a tent with us in case it would be helpful in our lodgings while in Oregon. (to alleviate congestion of 10 people arriving at one house) We hadn't needed to use it. Now it would seem we would have a chance. Caleb was excited. This was his new tent for scouts.
It was an idyllic little campsite. A large grassy area for tents, a playground, a small beach by the lake, shade trees and a tonne of wind.
We set up our tent.
 |
| Derek really is working... the wind was blowing and he had to sit in the middle to keep the tent from blowing away while we pegged it. |
We set up our 3 man tent.
 |
| No, no, no.. not squished... just cozy! |
Eight of us slept in the three man tent with a bunch of blankets. Whittaker and I slept in the van. (It wasn't comfortable)
At 4 am when I was sitting in Cooper's car seat nursing Whittaker, we watched as the deer came down into the campground and took what seemed to be a routine walk through of the campsite by way of every picnic table! They circled each table and then moved to the next. Once they'd finished circling the tables they bounded off for the beach area where they paused for a little drink and then leaped into the hills nearby. With the leaping picnic scrounging deer show over, Whittaker and I began to watch the fisherman put on a show of their own. As one by one people began to emerge from tents. Some to begin a pot of coffee, others to steal across to the potties and others who know wehre to go to find the fish that were biting. A fisherman's life is a calm one. Three fisherman each with a few bananas in one hand and a cup of steaming morning brew in the other headed to the wharf area. One man was fishing off the side of the wharf. He was standing with his line in the water, taking in the sunrise, when his wife showed up to chat. She was obviously talking and hand gesturing something about her conversation so he'd understand better. He wasn't nearly as relaxed until she left again and then he stood there quietly until there was an exciting tug. He caught a fish.
The wind had died down from the night before but as the sun came up, kissing the mountain sides with it's light and warmth, the wind returned in it's fury.
At this point I sneaked out of my spot in the van to take a potty break of my own and change Whittaker's britches. I tiptoed over to the tent to check on my traveling companions.
They were all nestled together asleep.....
...... like 8 people in a 3 man tent.
Memaloose
'What's a mema?'
--That is. Isn't he cute?
'That's a squirrel'.
--It's probably related but look at the sign. Mema's on the loose park. There are so many of them loose in the park that they shortened the name to Memaloose Park.
'Really? Look there's another mema over there on the wall.'
They were extremely friendly. Especially one 'mema'. A hurt one. This poor thing had a maimed paw. There were lots of them on the loose.
We enjoyed Memaloose Park and will forevermore be on the look out for some cute mema's on the loose.
A quick excursion
After leaving the restaurant and driving towards Portland for about 15 minutes we saw the signs for Tigard, OR. Mum had lived here for a while when John and Jim were little. She had sent us the address for her old house if we happened to be in the neighbourhood and wanted to swing by for a lookie-loo.
Why not? We weren't getting a quick get away. The traffic was horrendous already anyway, it's not like we could avoid it, but we could have a quick excursion to fill some of the time.
I had asked Channa if the voice on the GPS unit could be changed. I should have chosen a less important time to goof off with the unit. I changed the language and the voice. Oh dear.... it gave some instructions in French but I didn't catch what the instructions were. Oh dear. My job as navigator assistant was in jeopardy. I was madly running through the menu and trying to switch it back to english and to the lovely lady's voice. Once we were back in business we had definitely gone off course. I had also simply typed in the city name and not the actual house address. We ended up in the center of town and then it told us we had reached our destination. I entered the house address while slinking deep into my seat with the glares of some of the passengers and a driver piercing through me.
At least it was a nice little town to be detoured in. And it was only a ten minute detour. Just think of it as a little bonus adventure!
Back in business, I redeemed myself with the navigation. The address Mum had given us didn't match up exactly. The numbers were off by one. So we questioned which house was it? The homes were all situated in a wooded area up on a hillside overlooking the valley. It was a lovely location with large lots and massive old growth trees all around. A sweet little curving road led up to the homes. Walking distance to a shopping district... although that probably wasn't there when Mum lived there.
This is the one we think is the house.
The driveways.... this one was especially steep.
The mailboxes. The street and the for sale sign... We were bummed there wasn't an info sheet.
The view from the area then
The view from the area today.
The house on the other side of the street that may have been there then.
The house at the end of the street as you turn to go up the hill from the same era.
No idea if we actually found the house or not... but we like little adventurous excursions.
Sweet Tomatoes
We got a late start to our departure day. We hung out at Diane's until it was time for lunch. We went to Sweet Tomatoes. Fitting I think. Four years earlier David Scott (I hear he just goes by David now) and his family came for a quick visit to SLC and we went to Sweet Tomatoes with them also. It was great fun, and very filling.
We had a full tank of gas, full bellies, fond memories, had already said our good byes at the farm and now had one more set of farewells to bid to our lovley hostess and her family. The boys aren't fans of being photographed so I did my best to do it on the sly.
It was now about three in the afternoon. We were getting a rather late start to our drive but a few hours behind us would be good and we didn't want to risk being caught in Portland rush hour if we left any later. So we were finally off, heading home after a great week's adventure.
Signs
 |
| It's difficult to read this sign but it says "congestion". Can you see any congestion? We had to assume that travelers were being warned about nasal congestion. Whittaker certainly had some. |
 |
| In reading this sign aloud, we got remarks from the children. Why did you swear about a day for Daddy? oops! |
 |
| That was a tough sign for us... because the proximity of the seaside gave us angst knowing how exciting that might be for one particular passenger. We stared at the sign with the wheels turning in our heads until a car pulled up behind us and we made the turn to the left. |
 |
| This sign was run for us. We had stayed in Pendleton. If you multiply the numbers next to John Day together you get John C.'s age on his next birthday. 'John Day' reminded us of the previous John Day Dam sign and we got another chuckle. The street sign... hmmm perhaps if we turned here we'd end up at Channa's house!? Railroad Crossing... it sure had... this was where we had stopped at our favourite pit stop and the train and blown it's whistle for us and the conductor had waved. This sign was like a little journal of our trip all in one spot. |
GPS returns.
The drive was anything but monotonous with eight children. We stopped for interesting sights, we snacked, we played games, we sang, we talked, some slept, we joked, we drove and drove. We had two GPS units on board, so we knew we wouldn't get lost. One GPS unit we plugged in as needed... the other was on whenever he was awake.
How could he be a GPS unit when he had never before driven these roads? He didn't exactly navigate for us. He instead read us road signs and informed us of points of interest (any cell phone tower, train, bridge, any oncoming stampede of semi-trucks, wind turbines, you know those types of 'points of interest'). Any hoo, he also read road signs. He was persistent, much like a real GPS unit. When the GPS unit tells you "turn left ahead 3/4 mile... turn left ahead 1/2 mile... turn left ahead 300'... turn left ahead 100'" It doesn't stop telling you until you follow through with the action. GPS junior doesn't stop informing you of the messages from the road signs until you acknowledged that you'd heard him.
"Speed 50 miles, the speed is 50. You have to do speed 50. Mummy, it said speed 50."
Acknowledgment, "Thank you Derek."
After a while, it wasn't just Channa acknowledging. Everyone in chorus would reply, "Thank you Derek" Anything to stop him from his incessant informing.
This brought on Cooper's frustration with the scenario. So as we passed a speed limit sign, the process would go thus,
"Speed 65!"
In unison, "Thank you Derek"
"Stop thanking him like that! It's annoying me!"
Laughter from the front seats!
How could he be a GPS unit when he had never before driven these roads? He didn't exactly navigate for us. He instead read us road signs and informed us of points of interest (any cell phone tower, train, bridge, any oncoming stampede of semi-trucks, wind turbines, you know those types of 'points of interest'). Any hoo, he also read road signs. He was persistent, much like a real GPS unit. When the GPS unit tells you "turn left ahead 3/4 mile... turn left ahead 1/2 mile... turn left ahead 300'... turn left ahead 100'" It doesn't stop telling you until you follow through with the action. GPS junior doesn't stop informing you of the messages from the road signs until you acknowledged that you'd heard him.
"Speed 50 miles, the speed is 50. You have to do speed 50. Mummy, it said speed 50."
Acknowledgment, "Thank you Derek."
After a while, it wasn't just Channa acknowledging. Everyone in chorus would reply, "Thank you Derek" Anything to stop him from his incessant informing.
This brought on Cooper's frustration with the scenario. So as we passed a speed limit sign, the process would go thus,
"Speed 65!"
In unison, "Thank you Derek"
"Stop thanking him like that! It's annoying me!"
Laughter from the front seats!
 |
| Road signs are a lot bigger up close... bigger than GPS Jr. himself! |
Unexplained Phenomena
While at Nancy's, they had told us of this unexplained arbor phenomena. Yup, a funky tree growth. We watched for the landmarks they had told of and then there it was.
 |
| A perfectly round, green topiary type growth in the top of a towering tree. No one knows how, or why it grows as it does. |
 |
| It is just there, at the bend in the road. |
 |
| Perched in it's tree branches like an illustration out of a Dr. Seuss book. |
 |
| Perhaps it is just there to cause us to slow down and wonder, and marvel. |
Parting is such sweet sorrow
The end of a visit always comes too soon.
Once the hugs began... Jacob wanted in on the action. He even hugged Nancy goodbye.
We hugged, we waved and a few tears were shed. We knew we would have to return to visit again, it's so much easier to leave if it's see you next time rather than good bye.
And so with that, the big white van with it's eight children departed from the hilltop farm and history had been repeated. Tucked safely away were new memories, new friendships, and a special jar of 'hot cocoa paste a la Oneta'.
We hugged, we waved and a few tears were shed. We knew we would have to return to visit again, it's so much easier to leave if it's see you next time rather than good bye.
And so with that, the big white van with it's eight children departed from the hilltop farm and history had been repeated. Tucked safely away were new memories, new friendships, and a special jar of 'hot cocoa paste a la Oneta'.
Lost and Found
Time: Wednesday, 9:00 am
Place: Kemmerer, WY, Gas Station Parking Lot
Present: Aunt Tina, Grandpa Noble, Mummy, Caleb, Sarah, Miles, Duncan and Whittaker
Lost: First tooth!
That sucker was hanging by a thread... but hanging on tight! Good thing Tina is a professional tooth puller (not to be confused with a dentist)... an amateur might have broke into a sweat!
Time: July 2010
Place: Home, SLC
Present: Whittaker, Family, Cousins, Neighbourhood friends, Pets
Found: First teeth... yes plural! Within one week he found four teeth! (Cranky baby is finally gone and our happy go lucky guy is back!)
I think there is balance in the universe. Children are losing and getting teeth in an even give and take manner. Caleb is scheduled to have his wisdom teeth removed. Sarah lost her molars, Miles teeth are finally growing in so he won't be the toothless wonder any longer. Balance.
Eventually the following riddle will apply to them all and baby teeth will be a thing of the past. (insert huge longing for more childhood days sigh here!)
Thirty white horses upon a red hill,
Now they tramp, now they champ, now they stand still.
Stowaways!
For ten people traveling in a large van, we packed only the essentials. However differing views of essentials still left us packing a lot of stuff. Our trip home we were a little heavier. Our essentials plus a few stowaways we picked up along the way.
Generosity, Spoiling and Talent. Every time I turned around Diane had a little something for the kids to play with. She had some clothes for them, some frisbees, some rubber duckies and little car toys. But of all the things she had for the kids, the evening she offered them a stuffed beanie baby, will be well remembered. She had many too choose from. Channa and I did our best to guess which they would choose and then we called them one by one to choose their top two favourites so that we could be sure to give each one they wanted. I won't tell you which they chose... yet... perhaps looking them over you can match the beanie to the child who ultimately received it. There was one that was wanted by four children, and two of them when the saw it immediately commented on it and said, "(***)will really want that one, I won't pick it so they can have it!" We were so impressed by their thoughtfulness. The fourth was easily swayed by our excellent mind control efforts!
So how well can you match them up?
But where does the talent come in? Nancy had a handmade afghan for each of us!. Again we were called in to choose the one to our liking. Each had different colours and patterns. So lovely. No worries of anyone being cold on our drive home with these. They immediately went to each of their beds and have quickly become favourites to grab and wrap up in for a movie.
Generosity, Spoiling and Talent. Every time I turned around Diane had a little something for the kids to play with. She had some clothes for them, some frisbees, some rubber duckies and little car toys. But of all the things she had for the kids, the evening she offered them a stuffed beanie baby, will be well remembered. She had many too choose from. Channa and I did our best to guess which they would choose and then we called them one by one to choose their top two favourites so that we could be sure to give each one they wanted. I won't tell you which they chose... yet... perhaps looking them over you can match the beanie to the child who ultimately received it. There was one that was wanted by four children, and two of them when the saw it immediately commented on it and said, "(***)will really want that one, I won't pick it so they can have it!" We were so impressed by their thoughtfulness. The fourth was easily swayed by our excellent mind control efforts!
So how well can you match them up?
 |
| Paul the Walrus, Snip the cat, Pugsly the pug, Canyon the cougar, Almond the bear, Scaly the komodo dragon, Hiss the snake. Only two were renamed by their new owners.... one for allergy reasons, the other for affiliation purposes! Almond became Berry Oso, Canyon became... wait for it.... BYU! |
But where does the talent come in? Nancy had a handmade afghan for each of us!. Again we were called in to choose the one to our liking. Each had different colours and patterns. So lovely. No worries of anyone being cold on our drive home with these. They immediately went to each of their beds and have quickly become favourites to grab and wrap up in for a movie.
Anticipation
Six years, nine months, twenty four days, thirteen hours, forty-one minutes and a few seconds of waiting...
Tomorrow will surely be the big day!
Yes... the first tooth!
He's so excited... and Auntie Tina gets to have the honors of giving it the last tug!
Because she likes to, that's why!
The kids are always excited if the tooth is loose enough when there's a chance that Auntie Tina can do the last tug. The second tooth is just days behind it....
Who is this blonde beauty?
She is sporting her fashionable glasses and her new retainer.
The Secret to a Magnetic Personality
According to wisegeek.com,
Swallowing a magnet will automatically give you a magnetic personality. It will also require two hospitals, and six hours of waiting to determine that you should just go home and wait until it leaves the system. Also you will become the brunt of many a magnetic joke. Asked if, 'you can determine magnetic north?', if you 'are positive about things?', if anything or one is 'stuck on you'? and many other painfully funny jokes.
I don't think that is what the Dr.'s were referring about when they said, "If you experience any pain, come back."
He didn't intend to swallow the magnet. He is 11 yrs. after all. It was an unfortunate accident. His age certainly made it easier to determine things at the hospital. He was able to assure them that there was only one magnet. He was able to determine the size was about 3/4" in diameter and roughtly 2" long. He was also able to accurately describe any pain. He was also able to understand where it was when they said, "It has reached the intestines." And unfortunately he completely understands what it meant when they said, "You'll have to wait for it to pass through the system."
"You mean I have to ....?"
"Yup!"
The secret to a magnetic personality is having that great story to talk about... one day... later when it's funny... and not so imminently daunting.
"Some people seem to exude a palpable sense of self-confidence and positive energy. Others may be instinctively drawn to such persons because of a nearly indefinable quality known as a magnetic personality. A person blessed, or in some cases cursed, with a magnetic personality may not be the most physically attractive or best dressed in the room, but his or her personality and natural charisma makes him or her more compelling to be around."Unfortunately, there are some people who don't read wisegeek.com and so therefore had to take it upon themselves to learn about magnetic personalities in their own way.
Swallowing a magnet will automatically give you a magnetic personality. It will also require two hospitals, and six hours of waiting to determine that you should just go home and wait until it leaves the system. Also you will become the brunt of many a magnetic joke. Asked if, 'you can determine magnetic north?', if you 'are positive about things?', if anything or one is 'stuck on you'? and many other painfully funny jokes.
I don't think that is what the Dr.'s were referring about when they said, "If you experience any pain, come back."
He didn't intend to swallow the magnet. He is 11 yrs. after all. It was an unfortunate accident. His age certainly made it easier to determine things at the hospital. He was able to assure them that there was only one magnet. He was able to determine the size was about 3/4" in diameter and roughtly 2" long. He was also able to accurately describe any pain. He was also able to understand where it was when they said, "It has reached the intestines." And unfortunately he completely understands what it meant when they said, "You'll have to wait for it to pass through the system."
"You mean I have to ....?"
"Yup!"
The secret to a magnetic personality is having that great story to talk about... one day... later when it's funny... and not so imminently daunting.
Variety is the Spice of Life
I've noticed that people don't tend to read or write blogs as much on the weekends as they do during the week. This baffles me a bit.
My life is such that one day runs into the next and I frequently have to check the calendar to remind myself what day it actually is. A Thursday could be very like a Tuesday and a Wednesday much like a Saturday. The only exception I have is Sunday. In my ponderings I began to wonder if I attend church on Sunday's just so that I have a day during the week that is slightly different from the rest. Happy are the days of errands or field trips also.
Each day begins the same way. Wake with the baby at 6am (and Miles). Nurse while checking my email, my facebook and my google reader. Feed the baby his morning banana while I make breakfast for everyone else. Over the hour or so between 6 and 7:30 the other sleepy heads begin to emerge and I begin ordering them to get dressed, make their beds and generally do all the chores. (that's what they say!)
After breakfast, there are dishes and a kitchen tidy. Then we begin the day for real. Reading, piano practice, flute practice, writing, flashcards, diaper changes, laundry, sweeping, gardening, watering, lunch, more dishes, more cleaning, more reading, more diapers. more nursing, more laundry, friends over, more snacks, more dishes, more cleaning, dinner, more dishes, more cleaning, reading, teeth, prayers and kids bedtime, an effort to exercise in some way, nurse baby again, check my email, facebook, google reader, attempt to blog about something witty or worth remembering, then fall into bed exhausted and ready to do it all over again the next day.
So, if the days are all the same for me, I assumed they were for others as well and yet I see a definite trend in blogging circles, both writers and readers, to take the weekend off. Do they take it off from cooking and cleaning as well? If so, how? Please share the secret. I'm totally on board!
In reality though.. I've been pondering this monotony that is life and trying to find out why people don't go completely insane. But then I realized. There is a comfort in continuity. In knowing what will come next. The mornings that I stray from the pattern and go outside to weed with Miles at 6 am, instead of getting my computer fix, I've witnessed the other kids become bewildered. Duncan especially. He comes upstairs and can't figure out why no one is home and there isn't any breakfast. He's sat down and cried before because he thought we'd left him behind. Fortunately he now searches a little more... and we leave him a note... usually.
Life is a repetitive cycle. Not just in day in and day out living, but in the pattern of birth and life and death and in the pattern of peace and unrest. Perhaps I've been reading too much history lately, perhaps I've been getting too little sleep but I think I like the comfort of monotony. I live in a pretty nice little circular pattern that I created for myself. There is comfort in it. I wouldn't want someone elses circular pattern... it wouldn't be as comforting... it might be downright miserable. So now I do my day to day tasks that never seem to change or diminish with a happier feeling and somehow they no longer bother me. I actually enjoyed doing the dishes yesterday.
They say variety is the spice of life. I agree. Spices are added to comfort foods. Oregano to spaghetti sauce. Cayenne to shrimp creole. Cinnamon to apple pie. In proportion, it doesn't take much spice to add variety to the recipe of life. A quick jaunt to the park for an hour and the week has improved. A family camping trip in the summer and memories are made for a lifetime. And just as too much spice can ruin an otherwise tasty dish, too much play and not enough day to day monotony, makes cranky kids and a frazzled mummy.
My life is such that one day runs into the next and I frequently have to check the calendar to remind myself what day it actually is. A Thursday could be very like a Tuesday and a Wednesday much like a Saturday. The only exception I have is Sunday. In my ponderings I began to wonder if I attend church on Sunday's just so that I have a day during the week that is slightly different from the rest. Happy are the days of errands or field trips also.
Each day begins the same way. Wake with the baby at 6am (and Miles). Nurse while checking my email, my facebook and my google reader. Feed the baby his morning banana while I make breakfast for everyone else. Over the hour or so between 6 and 7:30 the other sleepy heads begin to emerge and I begin ordering them to get dressed, make their beds and generally do all the chores. (that's what they say!)
After breakfast, there are dishes and a kitchen tidy. Then we begin the day for real. Reading, piano practice, flute practice, writing, flashcards, diaper changes, laundry, sweeping, gardening, watering, lunch, more dishes, more cleaning, more reading, more diapers. more nursing, more laundry, friends over, more snacks, more dishes, more cleaning, dinner, more dishes, more cleaning, reading, teeth, prayers and kids bedtime, an effort to exercise in some way, nurse baby again, check my email, facebook, google reader, attempt to blog about something witty or worth remembering, then fall into bed exhausted and ready to do it all over again the next day.
So, if the days are all the same for me, I assumed they were for others as well and yet I see a definite trend in blogging circles, both writers and readers, to take the weekend off. Do they take it off from cooking and cleaning as well? If so, how? Please share the secret. I'm totally on board!
In reality though.. I've been pondering this monotony that is life and trying to find out why people don't go completely insane. But then I realized. There is a comfort in continuity. In knowing what will come next. The mornings that I stray from the pattern and go outside to weed with Miles at 6 am, instead of getting my computer fix, I've witnessed the other kids become bewildered. Duncan especially. He comes upstairs and can't figure out why no one is home and there isn't any breakfast. He's sat down and cried before because he thought we'd left him behind. Fortunately he now searches a little more... and we leave him a note... usually.
Life is a repetitive cycle. Not just in day in and day out living, but in the pattern of birth and life and death and in the pattern of peace and unrest. Perhaps I've been reading too much history lately, perhaps I've been getting too little sleep but I think I like the comfort of monotony. I live in a pretty nice little circular pattern that I created for myself. There is comfort in it. I wouldn't want someone elses circular pattern... it wouldn't be as comforting... it might be downright miserable. So now I do my day to day tasks that never seem to change or diminish with a happier feeling and somehow they no longer bother me. I actually enjoyed doing the dishes yesterday.
They say variety is the spice of life. I agree. Spices are added to comfort foods. Oregano to spaghetti sauce. Cayenne to shrimp creole. Cinnamon to apple pie. In proportion, it doesn't take much spice to add variety to the recipe of life. A quick jaunt to the park for an hour and the week has improved. A family camping trip in the summer and memories are made for a lifetime. And just as too much spice can ruin an otherwise tasty dish, too much play and not enough day to day monotony, makes cranky kids and a frazzled mummy.
Blood Curdling Screams
Blood curdling screams elicit a quick response. Well they used to. I've decided that since none of the children in my care in the last 16 years have required emergency room visits out of urgency, I'm no longer responding to the screams of panic with quite the same adrenaline rush that I have in the past.
Last night two blood curdling screams reached my ears. They came from downstairs. I hightailed it down the stairs and missed a step sending myself head over heels into the wall at the bottom.
Ouch.
This is where I encountered the screamers.
Screamer number one was my favourite.
"Help me!! Please, someone find my eyeballs!"
This was said in complete earnestness with his hands held tightly over his face while he cried out in pain.
Screamer number two, was quickly becoming the perpetrator of the eyeball issue. At least in my eyes.
"I didn't do it on purpose! I didn't know that's where his eyeballs were."
I ignored screamer number two for the moment and tried to assure screamer number one that his eyeballs were still in tact and in his eye sockets where they belonged. I pried his hands away and asked if he could see me.
"Yes, but I can't find my eyeballs." (said in a very panicked and scared voice)
Reassured that he could see fine, I convinced him that he could see me because he still had his eyeballs.
Finally the penny dropped and he was happy that all was well with his eyes and he was ready to go on his merry way.
I turned to screamer number two.
'Why are you still screaming?'
"I don't want to be in trouble."
Pushing on his brother's eyeballs was not a good way to stay out of trouble, so, I asked which trouble he'd like to be in. A time out or let his brother push on his eyeballs?
Screamer number one interjected, "But I don't want to push his eyeballs. Can you do it?"
I consented to push on the eyeballs on his behalf and made the offer again. Time out, or let me push on your eyeballs.
A full tantrum ensued. He chose time out. (what a surprise!) I retrieved the timer. He stomped and he growled but I wouldn't start it until he went upstairs to the time out corner quietly because ... baby was asleep. Worst punishment of all was not being able to spend his time out minutes screaming at me.
The part of screamer number one was played by Cooper and the part of screamer number two was played by Derek.
Ok.. maybe I will continue to respond to the blood curdling screams... but I'm not falling down the stairs for non falling out eyeballs anymore!
Last night two blood curdling screams reached my ears. They came from downstairs. I hightailed it down the stairs and missed a step sending myself head over heels into the wall at the bottom.
Ouch.
This is where I encountered the screamers.
Screamer number one was my favourite.
"Help me!! Please, someone find my eyeballs!"
This was said in complete earnestness with his hands held tightly over his face while he cried out in pain.
Screamer number two, was quickly becoming the perpetrator of the eyeball issue. At least in my eyes.
"I didn't do it on purpose! I didn't know that's where his eyeballs were."
I ignored screamer number two for the moment and tried to assure screamer number one that his eyeballs were still in tact and in his eye sockets where they belonged. I pried his hands away and asked if he could see me.
"Yes, but I can't find my eyeballs." (said in a very panicked and scared voice)
Reassured that he could see fine, I convinced him that he could see me because he still had his eyeballs.
Finally the penny dropped and he was happy that all was well with his eyes and he was ready to go on his merry way.
I turned to screamer number two.
'Why are you still screaming?'
"I don't want to be in trouble."
Pushing on his brother's eyeballs was not a good way to stay out of trouble, so, I asked which trouble he'd like to be in. A time out or let his brother push on his eyeballs?
Screamer number one interjected, "But I don't want to push his eyeballs. Can you do it?"
I consented to push on the eyeballs on his behalf and made the offer again. Time out, or let me push on your eyeballs.
A full tantrum ensued. He chose time out. (what a surprise!) I retrieved the timer. He stomped and he growled but I wouldn't start it until he went upstairs to the time out corner quietly because ... baby was asleep. Worst punishment of all was not being able to spend his time out minutes screaming at me.
The part of screamer number one was played by Cooper and the part of screamer number two was played by Derek.
Ok.. maybe I will continue to respond to the blood curdling screams... but I'm not falling down the stairs for non falling out eyeballs anymore!
Forties File Friday -- Poll #3
Haven't had a Forties File Friday Poll in quite some time...
What chores do you like?
Which chore would you have someone else do if you had the choice?
How do you like your eggs?
Red grapes or green grapes?
Do you prefer a standard or an automatic automobile?
Do you have a favourite season?
Throw pillows on a sofa, useful, annoying or purely decorative?
Favourite classic (pre 1970's) Disney princess; Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty?
What chores do you like?
Which chore would you have someone else do if you had the choice?
How do you like your eggs?
Red grapes or green grapes?
Do you prefer a standard or an automatic automobile?
Do you have a favourite season?
Throw pillows on a sofa, useful, annoying or purely decorative?
Favourite classic (pre 1970's) Disney princess; Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty?
The Sensitivity of a Brick
Late last night, I cried out in shock that an ear wig had bitten me.
Patrick who was in the same room replied, "They don't bite. It might have pinched you though."
Wrong answer dude! You were supposed to hunt the sucker down and do away with him! Defend my poor leg from it's recent injustice... be the knight in armour against biting insects at late hours.
I told him that.
He laughed.
As he climbed into bed last night, he reached over to give me a kiss goodnight. I quickly pulled away and said, "You better not touch me. I'm probably infested with horrible earwig diseases! They weren't vanquished by a knight coming by to avenge my poor leg!"
He laughed again.
Then he reached over again. "Maybe I should take a little bite of you. You might taste really good and that's why the earwig couldn't resist a little nibble."
His attempt at flattery wasn't any good since he inadvertently admitted that the little bug BIT me!
Patrick who was in the same room replied, "They don't bite. It might have pinched you though."
Wrong answer dude! You were supposed to hunt the sucker down and do away with him! Defend my poor leg from it's recent injustice... be the knight in armour against biting insects at late hours.
I told him that.
He laughed.
As he climbed into bed last night, he reached over to give me a kiss goodnight. I quickly pulled away and said, "You better not touch me. I'm probably infested with horrible earwig diseases! They weren't vanquished by a knight coming by to avenge my poor leg!"
He laughed again.
Then he reached over again. "Maybe I should take a little bite of you. You might taste really good and that's why the earwig couldn't resist a little nibble."
His attempt at flattery wasn't any good since he inadvertently admitted that the little bug BIT me!
Stops along the way.
Of all the places that we stopped as we traveled to Portland in our youth, Yard Birds was one that will always be remembered. Why? Was it that we loved to shop? No. Was it that we couldn't stop anywhere else to stretch our legs from our long drive? No. Was it the allure of the strange looking black birds? Well? Was it the fact that we could choose any flavour of ice cream we wanted whenever we stopped? DEFINITELY!
Well for me that was the reason. But then I have an ice cream obsession. It's ok. I'll seek help if it goes beyond obsession.
Before we left for our trip, I googled yard birds. Since traveling as a child I didn't recall exact cartographic locations, I didn't know if a yard birds would be along our route or not. If it was, I was planning to take the kids for an ice cream cone.
My googling turned up a lot of interesting trivia and information. Locations were only part of the information I gleaned. The most devastating was; Yard birds has gone out of business.
No returning for a reminiscing stroll through the store.
No searching for the big bird to signal that the store was coming on the next exit.
No ice cream.
I did however see this mailbox in Vernonia and it made me think of Yard Birds all over again.
Yard Birds was a great store for forty years. 1950-1990 It began as an army surplus store and grew to be a little bit of everything store. There were many locations throughout the state of Washington. Chehalis is the one we frequented. It was also the flagship location.
The tell tale bird was a 'misshapen, gawky cartoon bird with hunched shoulders, gloved yellow claw hands, and a large beak' . Each store had it's own version of the bird. Each were decidedly different. One was large enough to be an airplane hanger for one of the store owners.
A janitor for 30 years for Yard Birds, 'Rich', grew attached to the birds over the years. It had been his job to retrieve the birds from some strange locations when local pranksters would make off with one of the smaller birds. When the store went out of business, he received permission to haul away the birds. He now has a collection of many of the stores 20 birds. One of the larger ones burned down along with the store in the 90's.
Well for me that was the reason. But then I have an ice cream obsession. It's ok. I'll seek help if it goes beyond obsession.
Before we left for our trip, I googled yard birds. Since traveling as a child I didn't recall exact cartographic locations, I didn't know if a yard birds would be along our route or not. If it was, I was planning to take the kids for an ice cream cone.
My googling turned up a lot of interesting trivia and information. Locations were only part of the information I gleaned. The most devastating was; Yard birds has gone out of business.
No returning for a reminiscing stroll through the store.
No searching for the big bird to signal that the store was coming on the next exit.
No ice cream.
I did however see this mailbox in Vernonia and it made me think of Yard Birds all over again.
Yard Birds was a great store for forty years. 1950-1990 It began as an army surplus store and grew to be a little bit of everything store. There were many locations throughout the state of Washington. Chehalis is the one we frequented. It was also the flagship location.
The tell tale bird was a 'misshapen, gawky cartoon bird with hunched shoulders, gloved yellow claw hands, and a large beak' . Each store had it's own version of the bird. Each were decidedly different. One was large enough to be an airplane hanger for one of the store owners.
A janitor for 30 years for Yard Birds, 'Rich', grew attached to the birds over the years. It had been his job to retrieve the birds from some strange locations when local pranksters would make off with one of the smaller birds. When the store went out of business, he received permission to haul away the birds. He now has a collection of many of the stores 20 birds. One of the larger ones burned down along with the store in the 90's.
My research also turned up these two tid-bits. I shopped at yard birds T-shirts are available. The property, including the Yard Birds store is for sale. A paltry $4 million.
Something for Everyone
There is 5 months between the two. I love their little legs!
Only 1 pound difference between them.
Christian was very generous to share his toys and his floor space with Whittaker.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)