First Day of School…like, two months ago

Everything I do is late these days, especially blogging. My kids have been going strong in school for over 2 months now. They are surviving and thriving. Thank goodness.

I thought I post a few photo’s for memories sake. Better late than never.

The boys started 4th grade. They are in the same class again this year. I loved it so much last year that I thought I’d do it again. They complain about it a bit, but someone with more discerning eyes (mom) observes that they are closer than they have ever been as brothers. It’s fun to listen to them lay in bed at night, laughing and talking about their day at school. When they are in the same class they have lots more common ground on which to connect.

They got the new 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Hathaway. She is wonderful. I’m particularly grateful because she can understand some of Jeffrey’s learning challenges on a personal level. That’s always a nice things to have in a teacher. Jeffrey is making great progress and I’m very encouraged by how much help I’ve received from all the teachers. The most common question at our house is, “why to we have to go to school?” but I know that they really do enjoy it…for the most part.

I’ve already spent lots of time at the school and it’s fun to catch up with everyone. Odyssey is a pretty tight knit community and you get to know everyone pretty well. The book fair is coming up in a few days. It will be a long week for me, but the boys still think it’s pretty cool that their mom is in charge. They bring all their friends in to meet me (and to beg for books and trinkets).

As for the daughter…

…the start of this school year was a big mile stone for her. This is her first year at the high school!

To be honest, she has dealt with quite a bit of anxiety about starting high school and the first week or two was quite bumpy. There were lots of tears shed. I totally get it. It’s a big adjustment. Lots to take in. True to form though, she has settled in really well and is loving the experience.

She’s already met some new friends, made it on to the Shakespeare team, is accompanying on the piano for choir and seminary, and is enjoying her classes and the extra long lunch hour. The only thing she complains about is riding the bus. She is already begging for a car. Good thing we have another year before we have to worry about that. She’s studying for the written test so she can get her driving permit though. Somebody help us!

There are only a couple of kids Mary Kate’s age in our neighborhood and most of them go to other schools. Noah has been Mary Kate’s friend since she was five years old. It’s fitting that they went to the first day of school together.

They were too nervous (and probably too cool) to let me take pictures of them in front of the school before they went in, but I snapped this one without them knowing. That’s a big building I just left my baby to navigate.

All summer MK kept asking me why high school is better than Jr. High. I couldn’t even count all the reasons. Last weekend, she and her friends went to their first high school homecoming game. They were all jacked up on school spirit. My guess is they didn’t actually spend much time watching the game. I made this guess after flipping through the pictures on MK’s phone. Goofy selfies are abundant with the teenage set. There were also a few choice videos of she and her friends singing silly songs after sucking a few helium balloons empty. It doesn’t take much to entertain these people.

 

There is definitely more work required of Mike and I during the school year, but I love the structure and routine of it all. I love to see my kids working hard and striving towards good things. I’m always grateful we live in place were my kids can get a good education.

And it’s good to see them having fun too.

A Sure-Fire Cure for “Nature Deficit Disorder”

My sister-in-law, Laura is of the strong opinion that many of America’s children (and adults too) are caught in the terrible grip of a raging epidemic called “Nature Deficit Disorder.” When I first heard her pontificating about it, I thought it was a term that she just made up (being the passionate nature advocate that she is), but if you Google it, it’s a real thing!

After reading all about it, it makes perfect sense.

This summer it has been a constant battle to get my kids off the screens and out into nature. There is something about screens that reels kids in like a fish on a hook. I was fighting the good fight all summer. It was exhausting and I lost more than I won.

Then we went to Lake Powell for a week.

Deep in the heart of a isolated canyon, floating on a house boat, on a lake with a combined shore line longer than the Pacific coast; there was no phone service, no Internet, no TV, nothing; just an abundance of nature to assault all one’s senses.

Be gone Nature Deficit Disorder!

Once again, owing to the good graces and generosity of our friends, Greg and Heidi Johnson, we were able to spend 6 days on a house boat sucking the marrow out of life in one of the most incredible places on God’s green earth (although this place doesn’t boast much of that green color).

My kids were in heaven, my husband was in his ultimate happy place, I got a much needed chance to relax and get away from it all…it was a wonderful, incredible, rejuvenating vacation!

(Look, some green!)

With this incredible backdrop, my camera was click, click, clicking away…

 
A floating house with a water slide right out the back door…that’s kid heaven right there.

This dog was ready for safe water adventures…

…but this stuffed Tiger was not! Mary Kate’s friend (that she can’t stand to sleep without) took a tumble down the slide and into the lake one early morning…with no life jacket! Good thing stuffing floats and dries out quickly in high temperatures.

The jet skis certainly earn their keep at Lake Powell. We spent hours exploring the wide channels and narrow canyons. When that water is glass, there is almost nothing better than being out there on those jet skies.

 

We water skied and wake boarded (well some of us did, and others attempted to).

Jeffrey worked hard all summer so he could try water skiing at Lake Powell. Before we had a chance to give it a real try, he jammed his toe going down the water slide. His toe was black and blue. After that he couldn’t get his foot into the ski without terrible pain. On the very last day, just before we packed up to leave, he braved it out and got up on the skies. Jeffrey is one tough kid!

My kids all voted tubing as the favorite water activity of the week. I’ve never seen Jonathan laugh so hard or MK hang on so tightly. The kids have got much stronger stomachs than me. I took one tube ride and promptly threw up. Never again!

We hiked to, and explored Indian ruins, petroglyphs and all.

 

We climbed up and through cliffs and even jumped off one, or two…or ten.

For some down-time, we did puzzles and played games (even though it’s not technically a nature activity, I still count it because it’s not a SCREEN!)

We had time to read and read. (My face looked exactly like that when I read “The Glass Castle” a few summers ago)

We took great care to stay hydrated in the extreme heat. You’ve never seen so much ice and so many beverages in all you life! Jeffrey single handedly downed an entire case of Sprite, something he would only be allowed to do on vacation!

 
(Genius cup organization, don’t you think?)

Jonathan adamantly declared to me one day, “Mom, we’ve GOT to get us a Challenger 3 as soon as we get home!” I had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out he was referring to this nifty, inflatable raft. These three boys spent the majority of the trip having adventure after adventure on the Challenger 3. Maybe we will have to get one.

Smack in the middle of our week, we enjoyed the experience of a life time. There was a wonderful thunderstorm/downpour that day and we suddenly found ourselves in a world of waterfalls. Mike stopped counting at 25. Water cascading off the canyon walls and into the lake…fantastic!

When you’re living on a lake, what’s a little rain?

Better than the wonders of nature surrounding us, better than the rest and relaxation, better than the break from any kind of screen, was the company. Best people to vacation with, ever! Wow, what great friends we are blessed with!

______________________________________________

And this family.

My favorite aspect of all…being with them for 6 straight, uninterrupted days. At the end of the trip I desperately needed to shower, I was longing for clean clothes, air conditioning and soft mattress; but when it came time to pack up, I found myself extremely reluctant to leave. On the ride home, I found myself humming happily and realized I was pretty nearly perfectly happy.

Then I looked at my phone and counted 62 waiting text messages, 10 voice mails, and 103 unread emails.

Back to real life and more Nature Deficit Disorder, but for those 6 days…bliss.

*key words and phrases for memory’s sake…boating in the dark, fish in the swimming suit, Lake Powell theme song, coconut popsicles, kangaroo rat looting at night, boys who can’t stay put during sleep, sleeping under the stars, swimming in the rain, fish and Jeffrey’s snorkel mask, long chats with Heidi and Holly, games all night long, canyon exploring, Jonathan’s 35 foot plummet, Werewolf at night, yummy food, teenage screams while tubing, reading aloud to the crowd, midnight swims, best popcorn balls ever, gas runs with Heidi, Greg’s hard work, Maggie’s smiles, Five Crowns, Challenger 3, twin toots, baby frogs, hot hikes, Jeffrey’s toe and tenacity, slot canyon screams, cliff jumping, waterfalls in the rain, loud Marshall, sweet Holly, food science, SPRITE!

Where Did It Go?

Whew! Summer has flown by at break-neck speed! I find myself reeling and wondering where it all went. My memories of it are already starting to fade away as the craziness of another school year is upon us. I’m feeling bad that I didn’t record at least a little of our happenings as they were happening. Now I just have to rely on my memory, which isn’t what it used to be I”m afraid.

My overall feeling about this summer though, is contentment. Summer was good to us this year. It went quickly, but it was sweet and good and mostly relaxed. It felt like a break, and it was much needed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To kick off our summer, I turned 40! So far I’m having a pleasant experience with this age. There’s something about saying that I’m  40 that makes me feel calm. Have no idea why.

For my 40th birthday we took the kids to see “How to Train Your Dragon 2” on opening day. It was perfect to have a little birthday date with my favorite animated character, Hiccup. He’s much too young for me, but I can’t help myself.

To continue the birthday celebration (I like to drag June out as my birthday month) Mike and I went to the Lionel Richie concert with two of our favorites, Claudia and Henry. Talk about feeling my age! I truly felt 40 when I could sing every word to “Ballerina Girl.” I guess I officially go to concerts with the old people now, but I’m surprising okay with that.

Congratulations to Henry. As of last Sunday we now address him as Bishop Astwood. :-)

-----------------------------------------------------

After I turned 40, my girl turned 15. When it comes to people growing older, this birthday gave me much more of a jolt than my own.

She’s 15, people!

 

This is how I found her most of the summer…texting. That phone is never too far from where she is. Staying connected to her friends is as important to her as breathing oxygen, maybe more so. I totally remember being like that at her age. I’m just super grateful that she has good friends to stay connected with. I know how good they are because they have spent LARGE amounts of their summer at our house. We’ve had pizza and watermelon, s’mores, and night games more times than I can count and I wouldn’t want it any other way. These kids are great; a bit noisy, but great.

Another fun memory of summer, for me at least, was watching all three seasons of Sherlock with MK. It was indulgent of us, but if you can’t be indulgent during the summer, when can you? I’ve converted MK to the show, which was my goal, because now I have someone to wait impatiently with until the next season in 2016. I’m in the process of getting her addicted to Downton Abbey too. I’m such a good mother.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

In June, we said goodbye to my Uncle Brad and Aunt Rosie who were sent to be mission president and mission mom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. What a beautiful day that Sunday was. We miss them dearly, but love getting the emails updating us on the great missionary work that is being done in PA. I feel incredibly blessed to have such a close relationship with Brad and Rosie and their family. They are all such a blessing to us.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Now for these two boys of mine…

They got their “geek” on this summer. They begged us to buy them fanny packs to store their Pokémon cards, chap stick, coins, rocks (and who knows what else) in while they rode their bikes and scooters around the neighborhood. Mary Kate seemed really concerned about the nerd factor inherent in those packs, but I loved it! I thought it was really practical of them. They were, in very fact, all over the place this summer; and a person needs their stuff handy!

 

As soon as school got out, we bought a pass to the newly built Museum of Natural Curiosity thinking surely we would get plenty of use out of a season pass with a whole summer ahead of us. Each time we tried to go back after that, the line to get in was clear out the door and down the street. It seems everyone else had the same summer entertainment idea. We haven’t been back since.

But no worries, we occupied ourselves with plenty of other summer fun...

One highlight: We went and had traditional strawberries and cream at the city’s summer celebration. Jeffrey eagerly rode any ride available while we spent the rest of the time talking Jonathan into riding even the least threatening ride. He finally agreed, only on condition that Jeffrey ride with him. Tragically, Jonathan’s first ride of the evening turned out to Jeffrey’s last after he came off the ride looking green-faced and searching for the nearest trash can. Motion sickness! That evening was the first time I have ever seen Jeffrey turn down treats. He spent the rest of the night like this…

Oh, I know that feeling well.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Since it’s summer time and I’m married to Michael Dickey, we spent plenty of time in the great outdoors. Personally, I could stay in my air conditioned house all summer out of the hot sun, but I’m glad Mike encourages (read: forces) me outdoors. We truly live on a gorgeous planet and it would be a shame to miss it’s summer splendor, even if it means there might be some sweat involved.

We bonded with our bikes, hiked mountain trails, spent time on the lake (even on Mayfly day which it was nothing short of a biblical plague, yikes!), took walks, went swimming, sat around camp fires, and soaked in all of that lovely nature.

Our annual trip to the city fireworks. Highlight of this year’s event: When the sprinklers came on just as the fireworks were starting. Some city employee really dropped the ball on that one. Hilarious!

Our local lake: only a five minute drive from our house. Lots’ of carp (and those Mayflies), but it’s so close so we deal.

 

One weekend, Mike and Brandon decided it would be jolly fun to take four kids backpacking into the wilderness. This is were I draw the line when it comes to outdoor participation. If the outing consists of hauling your sleeping arrangements in on your back, I’m out.

The kids loved it though. They got to eat pop tarts for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What kid wouldn’t love that?

p.s. I loved the peace and quiet being home alone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you have family that lives out of town, summer is the time for extended visits and always a good excuse to get together and do the reunion thing, of sorts. This year the Dickey’s gathered up American Fork canyon during the hottest part of the summer, naturally. We took refuge from the heat by heading up to even higher elevations. It really was cooler…and cousin-fun friendly.

 
This photo wins first prize as our favorite snapshot of summer, all because Lilly knows how to get the job done when it comes to that nose!

We lived summer to it’s fullest, indeed we did. We fit in a little of everything and we were together as a family a whole bunch, which was my favorite aspect of all…that and sleeping in most days. I’m certainly going to miss that!

Overall, summer was good to us. I’m feeling blessed and grateful for the good times, the nice break from a heavy schedule, lovely time with family and the beauty of it all.