Tongue and Cheek

 A local history museum with friends.  Playtime. A peek into a simpler life yet one fraught with challenges and  intense work.  It makes the idea of a simpler time almost tongue and cheek.

Lunch at a playplace... almost unheard of.

An afternoon of games and chatter.  A girls jaunt to a jewelry making activity... just for fun... because...

An evening of more games, a birthday cake and a round of Apples to Apples to complete the evening.

A look back on the day doesn't do it justice.  It sounds like a great day of pure fun and relaxation and while we enjoyed the day immensely and it was fun and in some way relaxing it's much like the idea of a simpler time being tongue and cheek.  We had a day like this because we didn't concern ourselves with the regular mundane items that bog down the time constraints.  We didn't touch a math book, a spelling list or worry about music practice.  We didn't fuss over the entire chores list, just the urgent ones that involved animals or basic necessities.  We didn't even make our beds.  Also not mentioned in the above list are the other things we did do today.  The things that happen behind the scenes so that things can happen, the ones that are almost auto pilot, knee jerk reaction tasks.

-Up early for band practice
-Walk on the treadmill since we'd miss the neighbourhood walk later in the day
-Shower (a much needed event, but so often overlooked in the day to day grind)
-Run a load of laundry so there would be diapers later in the day for the baby
-Lament that regardless of the efforts at naked time and creams and powders, sweet Emerson still has a rash
-Start the soup for dinner in the crockpot since I'd be gone throughout the day
-Visit teach one of the neighbours
-Struggle to get both little boys to sleep at the same time after a fun morning so that the girls could sneak away
-Proof read a report for Miles scouts and go over the final requirements for a merit badge so he can meet with the counselor.
-Head to the store at the last minute before the photo desk closes to pick up the needed photographs for a school project due tomorrow
-Carry a book around all day in the diaper bag with the ridiculous notion that I might have a chance somewhere to read a few pages.
-Change countless diapers (actually I could count them if I felt like picking through the pail... but I don't particularly.  I'd wager approximately 8, with 6 of them poopy.)
-Remember thankfully to fill the tank before the final fumes ran out
-Book an appointment for Miles to have his required tetanus booster shot for school (which he is eagerly awaiting... both the shot and the beginning of the school year!)
-Dream of completing the organization of the office that was completely emptied and torn apart less than a week ago so we could switch from carpet to wood floors and then decide to paint while the room was empty and maybe put in the new windows before painting and then sort through all the ... STUFF... that had to be lugged out of the room and decide if it really was needed at all anymore and if perhaps, just maybe we could revamp the entire desk area for a new and improved office with incredible organization and efficiency which apparently will come at the cost of the dining room housing everything while the project grows into a dream plan.  .. Yes dream, because I really can't focus on what needs to be done in the office when I'm off having fun and relaxing .... (of course I'm not completely focused on having fun and relaxing because in reality, I'm dreaming of spending the day back in the office organizing and completing the project.)  Yes, it's a tongue and cheek world.
-Whip up a blog before bed so that a certain young nephew doesn't complain that I'm falling behind in my posts.
-Start another load of laundry to get a jump start on the next day
-Fall into bed wondering how could I have made life simpler and run more smoothly... (I can count on that one at the end of almost each day)

Birds of a Feather

Today was a breath of fresh air.  It's been a roller coaster spring, with freak snow storms and plunging temps.  Today we had places to go and people to see and the weather cooperated in good form.  We had a delightful day with Auntie Kathleen who is here for the week from South Africa.  We toured the bird aviary at Liberty Park and enjoyed a scrumptious picnic lunch.  Tracy Aviary we will be returning soon.  (I must!  I promised Cooper I would take him and I must return to have another discussion with the lovely flamingos and check up on the nesting swan.  The peacock kept following us around. I think he likes me!)

We have more fun things planned with Auntie Kathleen, but first we must rest from today.  Who knew walking around outside looking at exotic, rare and endangered birds would wipe us all out.  

How to lose 6 weeks

and love it! 

We returned from our trip to Texas and Mississippi and went on yet another adventure, searching this time for the ancestors... instead of the descendants.   The majority of this search is done from home.  Although the opportunity presented itself for us to go to the cemetery in Rawlins, WY... on the way.. hee hee hee... to Evanston from SLC so we could pick up Caleb from a scout camp.  Whittaker loved the freedom to run and meet all the people of the Rawlins Cemetery. 

I remember growing up that we visited plenty of cemeteries searching for other family names.  It seems right that I should pass it on.  Although, I do tend to talk to the headstones a lot.  It might leave an impression on Whittaker's young mind of my sanity... or lack thereof!  When I say 'talk', sometimes I mean, complete conversations, sometimes I am lecturing, sometimes simply pleading with a deceased member of the family to guide me to the information that I need.  I wouldn't continue with such behaviour except... IT WORKS!...  I sat between the graves of Patrick and Kate Byrnes, the great grandparents and told them that I knew who they were and I was so glad to have found them and most of their children and even her parents.  I simply had to know where their other daughter, Pat's grandmother, was, and what had happened to her.  I wanted the family to be reunited but couldn't make it happen without their assisstance... and umm, quickly please.. as it was we were already an hour late for picking up Caleb at camp.  Within just a few minutes of speaking to these individuals, we knew we had to leave and incredibly as we turned to return to the van, we stumbled upon the grave of Esther the daughter we simply coudn't find.  Overjoyed, my first reaction was to snap a photo and then yell out, "Thank you!  Now where is her husband?!" 

We didn't find him until the next day.  A thought came to us during our drive home of a resource that we hadn't tried yet.  Less than 24 hours after I spoke to Esther in the cemetery, we had found her husband amongst others.  

Once we returned home, we essentially lived at the computer, searching census records and old documents to find ancestors connections... eating and sleeping became secondary in importance.  It's such an addictive and rewarding endeavor.  No matter where we were or what else was happening, our minds were whirling with names and dates and the desire to look up another record or find another person.  Reconnecting the families was like doing the most rewarding puzzle ever... only we had to go on a treasure hunt for each piece of the puzzle and we still don't know how many pieces there are in our puzzle. 

Six long weeks, flew past and when we looked up, the summer had vanished and it was time to wrap up the 24 / 7 adventure and back burner it to just cramming it into spare moments.  Our pedigree charted only showed a fraction of the information that we had discovered and all those still blank spaces just keep us chomping at the bit to keep going. 

The kids were tolerant of our obsession.  At times they requested that I teach them how to do genealogy, that way they could do stuff with us.  They lack the stamina at this point, but we encourage the desire! 

Top O' the morning to you all

Happy St. Patrick's day!!

We learned of Patrick's ancestry last year when we were finding out so much about his biological parents and he is Irish through and through!!

So last night I asked what he wanted to wear for St. Patrick's day. He replied, "I'm completely Irish, and my name is Patrick... what more do I need?"

Now, I do have slight angst. While learning of his ancestry, we learned that Patrick comes from a VERY long line of Irish Patrick's. As in, who wasn't a Patrick? So of my four sons, which one should I have change their name to Patrick?

Whittaker is simplest, he's too young to be too attached to his name, even if I am, and I always procrastinate sending off the birth certificate order form, so..... I haven't sent it in yet...... but if I add Patrick it's more than the mouthful that it already is! Patrick Whittaker Sterling Noble.... hmmm...
Of course Caleb is the first born and more likely to understand why... besides I often mistakenly call him Patrick.

November News

November is upon us so quickly it seems. Wasn't it summer just yesterday? Time to be more serious about bundling up for even quick trips outside. Time to get ready for the holidays and spend time together. Board games and hot cocoa! (in all that spare time we've got!!!)

This is one of the busier months for family celebrating! Birthdays, Anniversaries and Holidays!
BIRTHDAYS!
2nd - Joe (Pat's nephew -- 19 yrs.)
3rd - Channa (My sister -- I believe she said she was turning 29..)
4th - Audrey (Sparky's daughter, 6 yrs)
12th - Cooper (Channa's son, 6 yrs)
15th - Neal (Pat's nephew -- 19 yrs.)
17th - Grandpa BC (Channa's Father in-law.. jolly old elf)
24th - Hiroko (John's wife, ageless)
26th - Nova and Katie (Myself and Pat's biological younger sister, and we're both turning 26!!)
27th - Shawn (Eden's man! Sorry I missed him first time around!)

ANNIVERSARIES
1st - Paige and Carlos -- 15 years, 3 children, 3 homes, tornadoes, floods, fire, car accidents, 100's of kids (the goat kind), tortoises, flying squirrels, pigs, ducks, chickens, rabbits, peacocks, ponies, horses, cows, sheep, cats, dogs, parrots, and llamas later... let's just say... they've dealt with a lot of crap over the years! But remember... it makes great fertilizer... must be why they've had so much fun also!
9th - Mum and Dad, 40 years
19th - Mardy and Trent -- 5 years!

HOLIDAYS
3rd - US Elections day... make wise and enlightened choices... every voice matters!
11th - Remembrance Day.. think red poppies and Flanders fields!
26th - USA Thanksgiving... mmmm... bring on the Macaroni and Cheese!!... yup you read it correctly... Happy Birthday to me! We will have pie though!!

OF INTEREST
2nd - Cookie Monster's Birthday.... of interest, just this past weekend we were in a lively discussion regarding Cookie Monster and his supposed forced retirement from Sesame Street for his unhealthy eating habits. However, upon further investigation, it appears that he is still on the show and now he has a new segment entitled "Healthy Habits for Life", in which he teaches that cookies are a 'sometimes' food and tells children that he also likes fruits and eggplant! All because of childhood obesity in the US. Seriously, the fuzzy blue character who loved cookies was too blame!?! Come on! Kids are a lot brighter than they're giving them credit for! He also ate, "danishes, donuts, lettuce, apples, bananas, as well as normally inedible objects such as salt and pepper shakers, signs, napkins, pencils, typewriters, telephones, motorcycles, Peabody Awards, trucks, a safe, a VW Beetle, and the Letter of the Day." I think if he has as much influence over childrens' eating habits as they think... we should start locking up things like telephones and street signs!!

The song "'C' is for Cookie", is one of Sesame Streets most widely known songs. In 2004, Cookie Monster revealed that, before he ate his first cookie, he believes his name was Sid.

5th - Men Make Dinner Day - Of interest, the man of our house will be absent this year... we're taking applications for a substitute... samples of your cooking skills appreciated.. in advance!

6th - Nachos Day - Of interest... I wonder how many people will use the opportunity to say... "It's 'not yo' day!"... (umm... I know I will... my kids are already groaning)

14th - National Clean out your fridge day! Of interest, I never knew until now!! I think it's a grand idea! Starting the holidays out with a cleaned out fridge makes total sense! Here's the list of things recommended to do on this day!

• Take everything out
• Dispose of USO's (unidentified shriveled objects)ick
• Remove all the drawers and shelves
• Wash down and disinfect the walls, shelves and door
• Wash everything that goes back in.. the drawers, shelves etc.. and the outside of jars and bottles
• Vacuum the coils if your model has them (important for energy efficiency as well as cleaning!)
• Clean out underneath. If you can't move the fridge to do so use a broom handle with an old sock on the end!
• Admire a job well done!
  

27th - Black Friday.... of interest, is it a holiday or a phenomenon... stay tuned... I have a personal black Friday blog to come!!