A Monkey in the Sandbox

A mild winter meant that another child became enamored with the big sandbox in the backyard.  A pile of sand, an old dresser drawer, some fallen leaves, a few rocks, a bath at the end of a long play session outside and we had a happy monkey and a happy mummy. 

In God We Trust

I think sometimes we are asked to do things that are out of our comfort zones and we really should.  The following is one of those times.  I was approached about having the cub scouts perform a flag retirement ceremony in our neighbourhood.  This would be an official ceremony with respect and honor for a flag.  Why is this out of my comfort zone?  If you have to ask you don't know much about me!  

I struggle to find balance as a dual citizen.  I struggle with how to raise boys (and Sarah) as dual citizens with an active participation in an organization that gives so much time and honor to a flag.  I think I have finally, thanks to the following ceremony found a balance.  I would expect this same group of boys or any other group of Boy Scouts of America to show respect and honour to any other countrys' ceremony or rituals.  I did not say that they had to agree 100%, they do not have to pledge allegiance to another country to show respect or honour.  It's about being a citizen.  A good citizen, wherever you happen to be in the world. 

Respect and honour is something that is slowly seeping away from society.  It is sorely lacking in so many aspects of our lives.  For parents, for family, for opinions, for personal space, for ancestors, for elderly, for authority, for beliefs, for so much that deserves respect.  Respect has slowly become a rote response in 'yes ma'am or sir', has become a hand gesture or a specific stance one takes.  I believe that true respect is actually much more and comes from a deeper inner place.  One either has respect and honour within them or they don't, regardless of their words and actions. 

I could go on... but I won't ... I now step off my soap box to present what this small group of boys participated in on a cold, blustery Saturday in November as a way to honour a veteran's request.  A veteral living in our neighbourhood flies an enormous flag from his yard.  Time and weather have taken a toll on this flag and it was time to replace it with a new one.  Per US flag etiquette, flags must be retired in a correct manner and not simply tossed.  This is where the boys came in.  Scout groups are one of only a few authorized organizations permitted to perform the required ceremony. 

 First, prepare the fire. 

 Lower the old flag.  

Unhook it from the cords.  (trickier than it seemed)

There are actually a few different approved ceremonies, the one we chose consisted of cutting each strip of the flag while famous US quotes were read.  One quote per stripe.

FIRST STRIPE: The 13 stripes stand for the original 13 colonies which are:
Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey.
SECOND STRIPE: The white stands for purity
THIRD STRIPE: The red stands for courage
FOURTH STRIPE: "Give me liberty or give me death"
FIFTH STRIPE: "One if by land, two if the sea"
SIXTH STRIPE: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.
SEVENTH STRIPE: We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal. They are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
EIGHTH STRIPE; Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
NINTH STRIPE; Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or press.
TENTH STRIPE; "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth to this continent a new nation."
ELEVENTH STRIPE; "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
TWELFTH STRIPE; "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
THIRTEENTH STRIPE; "In God we trust."

"The Blue field or union is the point of honor, the upper corner of the
Flag's own right. The symbolism of the right hand goes far back in
antiquity when it was the weapon hand. Raising the right arm free of
any weapon meant peace. It became a salute, a way of giving praise and honor. The union is blue, representing the night sky with stars
forming a new and glorious constellation. There is one star for each
state in our union. It is said the point of honor of our flag was made
from the blue clock belonging to a captain in the Continental Army."

There was silence as the stars burned in the fire.  The ceremony for the old flag was complete.  

 In preparation for the flag retirement day, other flags in need of retiring had been collected.  None were as large as the first had been.  We only retired the large one in an official ceremonial fashion, the others would be folded correctly and retired in a reverent manner.  It was time to continue retiring.  Each boy had the opportunity to fold and retire a flag. 

 Part of the responsibility after folding and holding the flag while waiting for their turn at the fire was to stand by and be certain that the entire flag had burned and that fire safety was being observed.  They took their responsibility seriously even when the wind turned on them. 

Of course, boys will be boys and they thought this was so totally cool.. They called it, 

"Merlin's hat engulfed in flames".

  With the retirement ceremony complete for all the old flags, it was now time to hang the new flag. 

 

This neighbourhood flag will stand as a reminder of so much more to this group of boys now.  It will hopefully remind them of the day they provided service, and a day they learned to show respect and honour.  Once the new flag was waving in the blustery day, our veteran shared some stories of his past and his sons who are also veterans, shared as well.  I read a poem, 'In Flander's Field', and we parted ways.  

Our veteran was so appreciative of the boys.  He came to each of their homes later in the day to give them a jar of ashes and a grommet from the flags to remember the day. 

Popsicle Bath

"This is what they call a popsicle.  You're supposed to sit in the bathtub with stickers on your forehead and lick it."

"You don't know what I'm talking about... ??  What's confusing you?  The name?  The bathtub?  The stickers on the forehead??  Ok, the stickers on the forehead was my idea, but it's still cool!"

 "You've had popsicles before?!!?  Lots of them?  Without being photographed naked in the bath?"

 "I will pretend I didn't hear that.  This is the first and likely only cherry red popsicle I will ever have and dang it, I'm going to enjoy every lick!!  Besides, what could be better than a frozen treat and a bath at the same time.  Trust me, throw in the stickers and it's a party!"

"slurp... slurp.... "

"Are you still here?  I thought we were moving on.  Go on.  Get your own popsicle, since you've had so many.  (I only got one because Mummy was cleaning out the freezer and I was helping!  I help out in any way I can!)"

Good things come to those who wait.

Duncan's birthday was the day after the assigned baptism date for the month of October.  It would have been the following week except that it was General Conference so they bumped it up a week.  This meant that he had to wait until the November baptism day.  So six long weeks passed.  He was so eager for November to arrive.

He shared his special day with a friend Michael.  In preparation for the big day, he lost all his front teeth and outgrew his church clothes.  He was excited to wear a new blazer for the big day, but couldn't be convinced to graduate to a necktie instead of a bow tie.  (Luckily I like him in his bow tie!)

On the morning of his baptism, we had our first snowfall of the winter.  (If only then we had known that it might be the only substantial snow all season)  I remember thinking that they needed a better baptism song.  The song that is often sung, "I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain, and ponder on the beauty of the earth made clean again."  It's lovely, but how about how pure and pristine the world is after a freshly fallen snow.  Or how it can remind us of the white baptismal clothing.  I'm just saying.. in a place where there is so often snow, a song about snow and baptism might be in order.  I'm simply not sure I could pen such a song.  I'd likely end up with so many verses with references to snow angels, and spring melting runoff and can you imagine the types of rhymes I'd come up with .... runoff --  stroganoff??  angels -- towels??   No, I think I'll steer clear of song writing.  Anyway, it was only one of many thoughts I had that day.

I also had thoughts about how grown up Duncan is, how fast the last eight years have gone by and how could I manage to slow down the next eight. I was thinking how delightful he is to have around, how often he is so serious and yet fun.  I was thinking of all the important events still yet to come in his life and that how nice it would be if they could all be as simple and sweet as this one was today.  I was thinking of the emergency early morning run to the store to grab some white underwear and how genuinely excited he was to get a whole package of underwear instead of just one pair; simple pleasures.  I was just generally thinking of how awesome he is.

With age comes wisdom... and white hair

You better be looking over your shoulder... old age is creeping up on you fast old man... 

Happy Birthday dear! :-)

(As long as you look old, I'll continue to look youthful.. Thanks for making me look young!)

Aquarium

Drawbacks to growing up in the desert;  no aquatic life to accidentally learn about.  I can't believe how much I just knew from visiting the beach all my life.  Just goofing off in tidal pools and finding starfish, jellyfish and teasing sea anemones was a marine education without a classroom. 

I suppose my children will have a better grasp of desert life than I did growing up and it will even out over their lifetime.  We do have a new aquarium here in the desert to visit finally.  I even saw some creatures that I hadn't seen growing up and learned a few things... not much.. but a few things.  I certainly never touched stingrays before.  Touching the stingrays was definitely the highlight for the kids.  We returned one more time before leaving the aquarium for a last visit before we headed home. 

Shenanigans

I wasn't going to bother posting about our annual cub scout caroling to the retirement centers.  I had snapped a couple pictures on my phone and they weren't too great but I did notice a few things just as I was about to delete them....

First of all... they are Christmas songs.... I think we'll work on them sooner so we don't have papers in our faces and we can look at the audience.  Secondly... I'd like to know what was going on in the back row between the older boys...  Caleb is looking deeply into Jimmy's eyes while singing.  Lastly, I think we should come up with a way to line up the shorter boys in the front and remind the boys that they are allowed to SMILE!! 

That's all.. I'm sure they'll put me in charge of the Christmas activities next year with all my suggestions. 

Santa's Lap

This year we made no attempt to locate a Santa to sit upon, but at the cub scout Christmas Party he made an appearance. Those who wanted to, waited in line to make their Santa requests.  Not everyone felt the need.  

Derek had a lengthy and detailed list.  Santa didn't seem to know what he was talking about but Derek was unfazed. 

 Kenzie got to the front of the line and realized she really didn't have any requests.  She simply wanted the M&M's and candy cane he was handing out.  We learned something about this particular Santa.  He liked to tease.   Kenzie caught on and changed her request from, "anything is fine", to "I'd sure like some M&M's". 

Fortunately Kenzie clued Duncan in and he asked for the candy straight away. 

Whittaker didn't even care about sitting on his lap.  Sarah convinced him to stand in the line for some candy.  His pants got all hiked up when he lifted him up and after giving him a tough time about not asking for the candy, he didn't let him get right down, Santa asked him more questions, "What would you like for Christmas?"... I think his facial expressions say it all Santa... "I want off your lap strange man!" 

It wasn't until after Christmas morning that he began to think that the Santa business might be ok. 

To each his own...

This is how Whittaker likes to spend a cold winter's evening.  He loves that the foot spa makes his duckies fall over.  Yes... you do have to be in your underwear for a foot spa with duckies.... He won't have it any other way!

Runway Time

In a house running amuck with boys, it is always a delight when Sarah manages to convince her brothers.. and her pseudo brothers, the cousins, to indulge her in a few moments of fashion design modeling.

Yes... Patrick is out of town again!!

Miss Daisy returned to us with his her escort Miles(a very serious fellow), to model a lovely ballgown.  Miss Daisy is modeling this years light ballgown with empire waist, embellished with lace and feather trim.

A newcomer to our runway was Miss Dorothy.  HeShe dismissed her escort, Cooper(a very excited fellow), in favor of soaking in the entire limelight him herself.

Miss Dorothy is modeling the latest fashions in drop waisted trumpet dresses, complete with full bustle. 

Miss Milly is a runway favourite.  She is modeling a couture gown in a fitted bodice with mermaid styling, paired with a tutu inspired shawl.

All Fashions for this years bridal line were provided by Sarah, of Sarita Fashions!

Christmas 2011

Christmas this year was delightfully simple and almost completely relaxed! 

We informed the kids it would be a one gift Christmas and that their gifts to each other needed to be personal and homemade.  The weeks leading up to Christmas were secretive and fun.  I loved their creative ideas for each other and how excited they became about the giving instead of the 'getting'! 

On Christmas day, we had family,

we had food.... lots of food!!

and we had even more fun!  (I took very few photos, but I did think to take some photos of the evidence that a good time had been had... including not taking photos of everyone enjoying the homemade Christmas poppers!)

Live in Chef

Quite accidentally we stumbled upon a new favourite cooking show!! It is no longer on the air, but thanks to Netflix, we've been able to watch many episodes.  (There are over 100)  The show is called, 'The Take Home Chef'.  The premise is that this hunky and incredibly talented Australian chef and his camera crew, approach you in the grocery store and speaking in his fabulous Aussie accent, he offers to help you shop, pay for your groceries, and come home with you to prepare a deluxe, gourmet, three course meal for you and anyone you normally cook for!!  His name is Curtis Stone and he has become a friend of the family.  (through the screen, that is)  His concoctions are delish looking and they don't appear.. typically... to be too difficult to try.  Thankfully, I have a few live in chef wannabe's.  This was Miles favourite dessert that we simply had to make.

Is your mouth watering yet???

Another favourite that we can NOT get enough of is his brussel sprouts.  Yes... everyone is hooked on sauteed brussel sprouts.  Don't get me started on his butternut squash soup!  There are so many recipes queued up for us to try and just not enough meal times in the day! 

 Go ahead, I know you want to take a bite.  It just melts in your mouth and makes you want it every day! 

A graveyard of sorts....

Oddly enough, over the last two decades, I've managed to accumulate a few things.  Even I was surprised by the collection of carseats that I had amassed.  Between the two cars, and the multitude of children I've taxied about, the above photo doesn't even show all the seats we've owned.  At one point I did have SEVEN strapped in my van at the same time!!!! Some have made their way to other children before their expiration, while still three are strapped into the vehicle on the driveway.  I really find it frustrating that these ones are all expired, no longer capable of protecting children... according to some obscure rule stating that car seats can only last 5 years.  Of course they are made of the type of plastic NOT recyclable here in the state of Utah.  There must be a way to reuse them... planters? camp stools?  time out torture devices?  mock airplane emergency evacuation procedure seats? 

I'm at a loss....

Rip Stickin' it.

Christmas this year brought the two boys ripsticks.  A ripstick is like a combination between a skateboard and a roller blade.  Christmas was on a Sunday morning, but as soon as Miles was ready for church, he was strapping on his knee and elbow pads and taking a spin through the house. 

Their skills have improved very quickly and they have created games to play with the other neighbourhood kids.  They play frisbee, soccer and tag on the ripsticks.  Whittaker sat on one and pinched his fingers so he gave up on any ripstick fun, he's sticking to his tricycle.  I also sat on it once.  I fell off instantly and gave up my ripstick career. 

However, Kenzie was excited to give the ripsticks a try.  She stuck with it for hours.  She managed to learn some turns and a few moves before falling to the ground and landing on her wrist with a crack.  Her ripstick career ended unpleasantly.  Although the Dr. said it was fractured, the x-rays revealed nothing.  Her painful wrist didn't care about x-ray results so she wore the wrist brace and iced her wrist for 3 weeks.  At her follow up appt. the pain was still there.  She has been banished from any further ripstick activities. 

Thanks to the extremely mild winter weather, the boys have had plenty of time to perfect the skills and have even learned a few ballroom dance moves 'a la ripstick'.

Confusion

Sometimes I think the signs to guide us through life are merely 'suggestions', we still need to ultimately guide our own paths.
I for one will be taking a new route to Whittaker's new toddler class for a while.  Besides the bewildering signs, the construction workers holding the stop and slow signs, were standing next to each other and both were waving to me.   

It's Potty Time

 Is it just me or does he appear to be enjoying the potty training?

It has been a longer process than I prefer.  Miles is still our three day potty training champ, but Whittaker has definitely been the most pleasant to train.  He smiles so sweetly and claps and sings his successes, and looks so sorrowful for his accidents. 

He's also very proud of his new big boy Thomas the Train underwear... so proud, he'd rather not cover it up with clothes!!

We came across an application for my cell phone called potty time that is put out by the same people that do the signing time video series that Whittaker loves.  He is hooked.  He calls after each potty try and checks in with his 'friend Rachel' who cheers on his successes and encourages him after an accident.  She sings him a song, reads him a story and there are fun matching games and a reward chart all for encouraging him to go potty! 

If we had only taught him to speak first.... he never sits on the potty that he doesn't have success, but he isn't vocal enough to tell us that he needs to go and he definitely doesn't like to leave his play activities to make a pit stop at my suggestion.  But he's totally okay with bringing the potty to the play area!