I'm At a Loss

I think this might be a month where little is written but much is said. We don't have a lot of photo evidence but I know we mostly enjoyed the month of July.  The girls did a lot of playing outside which resulted in a lot of this...

 

The girls really, really wanted to sleep together in one room so for a few nap times and a few nights we let them.  Chris was able to capture one moment during nap time where Elizabeth joined Olivia on the floor.  Recently we've noticed Elizabeth take an interest in the well being of her sister - which is for the most part very sweet - unless of course Olivia wants nothing to do with it then it just turns into a big screaming match which is of course not so sweet.  

While we were in the back yard - I caught a great shot of the cat.  Ted seems to appear skinny in this shot but don't let his side profile shot fool you - he's still the fat cat that we love

We made some more fun homemade crafts - of course we cheated a little bit and went to the store for some crazy new play-doh.  It is almost like a foam.  If you leave it out it will harden like clay to form a forever creation or if you keep it in an air tight container it lasts for a long time.  The girls have been enjoying making all kinds of creations.  As picture below Elizabeth made a sculptured figure of Grandma Cathy and I helped Olivia make a copy of the dinosaur that came on the packaging.

 

I also made some more up-cycled items to add to our emergency kits. These are water proof match containers made from a canning jar, some matches and a swatch of sandpaper for the fire starter. I'm storing them in a bag with the fire starters we made last month and hopefully they turn out to work wonders.  This summer we've had a lot of fires in Utah, thankfully none of them close to our home, but it has placed a lot of fire restrictions so we haven't actually been able to test any of our items out yet.  Maybe once it gets to the cooler months I can give you an update.

Last month Olivia had a milestone.  Well this month it was Chris' turn - well sort of (and sorry I know that ends a sentence with a preposition but I can't think of any other way to word that). Chris drives a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel Truck and when I say he drives it I mean to imply that if he is driving somewhere that is the vehicle he prefers to travel in.  He doesn't really drive it all that much.  As proof exhibit A - we bought the vehicle brand new shortly after we returned to Utah from our stint living in Virginia - February 2005 I believe.  Chris just barely hit 50,000 miles which averages out to 7,142 miles per year.  The national average for miles driven per year is between 12-15,000.  Needless to say we are very grateful he just barely hit the big mark.

  

Toward the end of the month Chris headed to Wyoming for a trip to scout where he will be archery hunting for elk in Wyoming again this year.  Here is some of the scenery he was able to take in while hiking around on his own two feet. I've been told this trip was not quite as productive in the way of seeing elk but that there was quite a large amount of treacherous hiking.  It is a good thing I don't know what goes on when he is gone hunting.  Otherwise I'm not sure I'd ever let him go again.

The last weekend of the month we headed up to the mountains and went on an all day trip. We woke up early and headed for the hills. We rode the four wheeler and Chris practiced shooting his bow. The girls were able to play with other kids in the dirt and get messy. And the girls had a really great time and will not stop asking when we can go camping to the cabin again. Thankfully we had a nice place to get out of the on again off again weather at Chris' relatives cabin. I miss being in the mountains.  Not only is it on average twenty degrees cooler for the temperature it is just nice to get away from the real world and enjoy all that Heavenly Father has created.

We recently visited my Grandma Marge and while I was outside helping Olivia, Elizabeth was inside.  She stopped in the kitchen where Grandma was busy preparing a meal for everyone and said 'Grandma, you're skin is old - you are going to die soon.' Verbatim not made up. From the mouth of babes.  My poor Grandma I'm sure wasn't sure what to say but she was sure to point out later to Elizabeth that we all get older every day.

When were coming home from our late night camping trip we received a bit of bad news.  Apparently it is that time and season of life when the fourth generations of our families are getting old and their bodies are deciding not to go on anymore. My step-grandmother, Edythe Harada, passed away of a heart attack on July 28, 2012.  I've lost a grand parent every year for the past three years, seems like a new trend.  And I'd like to add that they all seem to pass away right before or after their birthday which is just odd.

Some of her obituary will teach you about her life - She was born August 3, 1925 in Eureka, Utah to Hikotaro and Toraye Hirase. She grew up in Chula Vista, California, was relocated during the war to Poston, Arizona and returned to Utah. She loved her family, friends, traveling, cooking, gardening, volunteering and arts and crafts.  She led the Agape sewing circle making quilts, clothing and toys for Primary Children's Hospital, African missions and church fundraisers.  

Anyway, I wasn't extremely close with her - in fact I haven't seen her for over 10 years and Chris never did get to meet her in person.  But a loss is a loss and it's hard to contemplate just what this life is all about sometimes. I know that I am the person that I am today in part because of her and the influence she had on me as a result of the person she raised to be my step-father, Dave. Edythe was always kind and accepting of me and I remember she taught me how to fold paper origami and she always had a treat for me when ever I visited her home.  She always seemed to be happy which is how I will remember her. 

Death - it teaches us many things. Mostly it teaches us about the importance of life and how precious every day we have is and that family truly is the only lasting thing.  I'm grateful to know that death is a part of a bigger plan. I don't think death is the end, just another step in a progression.  This knowledge gives me relief from grief and sorrow and helps points me toward a greater goal. And hopefully it teaches me and helps me to become a better person.

I Don't Like the Heat

June was a happening month. All kinds of activities at the Wheeler household.  We started off with a whole lot of this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was starting to get very warm outside and we pretty much spent any time outside in the water. Including the dog.  At first Moose didn't know what to do with the sprinkler but after Elizabeth showed him it was just a little bit of water he was all over it, mostly getting a drink but also running through it.  We spent a lot of time at the local, free splash pad or water playground. Anything that is free is great but this place is even better because it's within my five-mile allowed traveling radius and it keeps the girls cool.  We usually stay for at least two hours when we go.

The girls and I were super busy making top secret crafts and gifts for that special holiday this month - Father's Day.  We made cute cards and homemade gifts that cost little or nothing (as a reminder for future reference we didn't purchase fancy and/or expensive gifts this year because it is a 'hunting year' and therefore all of our saved funds are going towards an excursion later in the year to hopefully yield high rewards...aka the elk hunt). Here are some of our creations:

Chalk art creation, made to look like the girls are holding the items in the picture

That is the girls holding two signs made of cardboard cut outs that say We Love Dad

 Front of a card that is meant to look like an Apple iPad or iPhone

And the back of the card including the iDad logo for the holiday to boot

The girls were very cooperative in helping participate to make all of the gifts.  They also traced their hands and made heart shaped cards and helped pick out new work out clothes for dad at the store.

Olivia had a milestone this month - she had her first hair cut. Yes you read that correctly - the poor child is over three years old and she hasn't had a hair cut.  While the photos might not look like much she did get a lot of hair cut off.  We are trying to keep some of her curl and help all her crazy layers grow out beautifully so we didn't do a big whack off like we did with Elizabeth.  But she was super excited and a big thanks to our neighbor who made it even possible.  As part of the routine she had to hold a comb under her chin to help keep things nice and even. We have before and after...and then during of course - she was super excited!

 

We made some fun crafts at home also, including a round bird feeder with gelatin and bird seed and some fire starters made out of a cardboard egg carton, dryer lint and melted wax.  We plan to take the the fire starters with us when we go camping and also keep some in our emergency supplies.  We are trying to do a lot of up-cycling at our house as part of recycling and doing good for the Earth.

 

The girls made some more crafts including hand painted bird feeders - and I even let them do most of the painting themselves.  The girls picked out the colors and I helped them get started but they did the rest for the most part.  Little did I realize that our outfits matched the bird houses - perfect photo opportunity.  We decided to put some leftover yarn in them and hang them in the tree in the front yard.  Slowly but surely the birds are pulling yarn out for their nests.  Hopefully they aren't too disappointed that there isn't any food in there. And I even planted some flowers in the front yard that were a gift for mother's day from my Grandma Marge and Chris' mom. And they are both still alive.

 

 

 

At the end of the month I was able to take a much needed trip with some friends to southern Utah where we explored the wonders of Zions National Park including lots of hiking and Snow Canyon State Park including some cave exploring (I did not go in the caves as I was too scared I'd get stuck). The heat was pretty unbearable but we powered through and survived, even though I didn't think I would. Here are some of the photos capturing the adventures of Marge, Melissa and Rachelle - aka the blue shoes group. Poor Melissa bought this fabulous new shoes on sale and decided to share her good fortune with the rest of us.  Well the rest of us thought it would be hilarious to get the same exact shoes - man was she confused at first.

 

  

 

 

 

   

 

I had a really great time even though we were out hiking in the middle of summer in southern Utah in the over 100 degree weather. The first day we hiked a few trails in Zions, including the narrows which is about a mile of paved trail and then the trail becomes the river bed. The water kept us cool and we had a great view at lunch.  The next day we hiked in Snow Canyon which was not quite as cool - there is lava rock their which makes the underground tunnels and caves. Melissa and Rachelle adventured down into the tunnels and deep into the caves themselves. Once you get inside the open up quite a bit but again I was too chicken to test them out. A big thank you to Chris for watching the girls and allowing me to go away for awhile.  We drove in the Prius and made it all the way there (over 300 miles) on one take of gas - that was pretty awesome!!

I'm Back in the Saddle Again

Early in the month of May we had two festive outings.  We went to a Baby Animals Day sponsored by a local university.  There were all kinds of baby animals to see and touch and listen to and there were also a few small rides and attractions like at a carnival including a climbing wall.

 

 

Next we made our semi-annual visit to the dentist.  This was Olivia's first time for an actual cleaning and she did really well.  The dentist has televisions in the ceiling so the girls just pop in head phones and half the time don't even realize we are at the dentist.  Elizabeth had a small cavity so she experienced a little extra time in 'the chair'. The dentist is close to our home so anytime we drive by we make sure to make a big deal about how exciting and fun it is to go to the dentist.  Here are the victims.

 

We were able to celebrate Mother's Day this month.  Always a time honored tradition in our home - make mother her favorite breakfast.  At this point Chris still does all of the work but in a few years I'm sure the girls will be able to help him make eggs in a nest - I rarely have it any other time of the year so it makes it extra special.  I was treated this year with some beautiful tulips and some chocolates from Cavanaugh's and my favorite present - a day at the spa - which has yet to be redeemed but will not be wasted.  The girls and I made flowers out of cupcake liners for their grandmas and I was able to spend the afternoon with my grandma Grandma Marge (my namesake) making a traditional Italian pasta from potatoes - gnocchi. It was a very nice and relaxing day. I'm very grateful to be a mom and to have a great mother and grandmother. Even though it's the hardest job you'll ever have I guess it is really worth it.

 

 

 

Elizabeth was able to have a lot of lasts this moth.  Her last Tuesday at preschool.  Her last Thursday at preschool.  Her last day of field trip of preschool.  We went to a local farm and were able to again enjoy some baby animals.  Elizabeth also graduated from preschool.  She loved her teacher Mrs. Rogers and enjoyed getting to spend time with all of her preschool friends.  She can still name each of them. What a difference a year can make - here is Elizabeth in 2011 at the end of her first year and then here she is again this year. She looks humongous!

  

 

 

 

 During the month I took a few random pictures of the girls sleeping.  I guess mostly because I realize that soon they won't be napping anymore and soon they won't be little anymore.  They both sleep in the strangest positions sometimes (a lot like their father).  Also they are obsessed with horses at the moment and often times you'll find them doing this...

 

At the end of the month we did one of our favorite things - go camping.  It was our first trip of the year as a family in the trailer over Memorial Day weekend.  We went in the mountains and in May in the mountains in Utah you can still except cool temperatures.  Thankfully we were prepared and the girls were really great even though it snowed most of the time we were there.  We did go on some four wheeler rides and the girls live to go super fast.

 

 

   

Overall we had a really great month.  We spent time together as a family just the four of us and we spent a lot of time with our extended family as well.  We love to live close by so many of the people that we love.  We are very blessed.  For future generations to behold I give you the Caputo Cousins. I love this picture because you can totally see the kids' personalities. I also love the bricks. This may be the future site of our next family photo. Riley - age 2. Olivia - age 3. Parker - age 4. Elizabeth - age 5.

And if you thought we had been to the 'farm' enough in one month - well you were wrong.  We ended the month with a visit to Mele Farms - my aunt and uncle have a plethora of animals (to say the least) and most recently added baby goats for my cousin Daisy's birthday.  They are pretty darn cute and won't get super big. The girls really enjoyed getting to meet the goats.  Olivia was even able to get some fresh eggs from the chickens and we came home and had eggs for dinner - picky Elizabeth even ate some too. It has been very interesting to see the girls learn all about things that they don't encounter in every day life - maybe we'll move to the middle of no where and start to farm - as long as their is satellite internet we'll be just fine.