Adventurous kids – Page 43 – Letters from Home

My Day with Timothy

I got to spend the day with Timothy and four of his friends at This is the Place Heritage Park for a school field trip. Timothy is a good kid, laid-back and fun. These boys were adorable.

I am still not “over” being in Utah. I get so excited about seeing temples and monuments and churches everywhere. I kept waiting for the guides at the park to mention something about religion, but they didn’t. I suppose they aren’t allowed to talk about that with school groups. However, it’s impossible to tell the complete story of the Mormon pioneers without mentioning their faith. The pioneer journey wasn’t just a big trip. They were hunted because of their religion. They were motivated by their faith. They were led by someone with priesthood keys to organize such a trek. My ancestors rode with them. Some of my ancestors walked. They did it because they were being obedient to a prophet.

Despite religion not being mentioned, there was a feeling about the place, similar to the feeling at a national cemetery or memorial. As I looked up the green canyon where the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, I felt it. When the 10-year old boys circled around the statue of Bodil Mortensen from the Willie Handcart Company and discovered that she died at age 10 and was their height, I felt it. As they lined up to pull handcarts, I felt the familiar swell of admiration and respect for the handcart pioneers.

It was a beautiful day, sunny and breezy and the canyon was so green. I bought the boys some candy and let them run. What a sweet day.

Prom & a Birthday

It was a weekend of lovely moments. Mark’s 7th birthday came and we celebrated with a trip to the dinosaur museum, a treasure hunt, and strawberry shortcake. We love our red boy whose enthusiastic oohs and aaahs at the dinosaur museum reminded us how great it is to discover something new.

Lovely Paige went to the school prom. She had a lot of compliments on the hairstyle that her aunt Susan created.

Thanks for all of the help, Susan!

Prom, a birthday, a trip to the cabin, and hosting a ward party at our house have taken all of our energy. I have a few regrets about the weekend, and one is that we didn’t get pictures of the beautiful homemade decorations and homemade ice cream bar that we made under a charming tent in our yard.

I sewed 30 feet of bunting in reds and blues to drape around the tent. There were blossoms from the yard in red and cream bud vases; there were red and blue dishes of chocolate, mixed berries, cookies, and nuts, arranged on a red and white gingham tablecloth. There was a candy machine with a jar of coins for the children to use. There were happy neighbors who stopped by to enjoy the festivities.

I’m not trying to write a design and lifestyle blog, so these lovely details will need to live in your imagination and my memory.

As Richard and I waited up for Paige to return from her date, he composed and performed his own lyrics to the song Bring ~~Him~~ Her Home to keep me smiling.

It’s a lovely life.

Mother Daughter Tea Party

This was the tea party Paige and I attended on Saturday for her ballet studio. It was an Alice in Wonderland themed party and it was full of beautiful mothers and daughters dressed up in their Sunday best, eating dainty finger sandwiches and petit fours. Paige danced. I have never seen a more elaborately decorated party. Mothers decorated each table differently. Many of the delights had little signs which read, “Eat me” and potions bottles with corks read, “Drink me”. There was the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, cards and hats aplenty.

I watch the little ballerinas and their mothers and it doesn’t seem like Paige should be one of the older girls. However, she has danced for eleven years. Eleven years. This is quite an accomplishment and we’re proud of her. Her last big recital will be in June. She’ll always dance, but not as many nights a week. It’s the end of an era.

First Grade Zoo Trip

Dear Mark,

When I was in first grade, I came to this same zoo for a field trip. I had such a good time that I wasn’t paying attention to my class loading the bus to go home and was almost left behind! On the way home that day, I counted all of the red cars on the freeway. You counted red cars, too. I think you counted 130 red cars between the zoo and your school.

I had a great time with you at the zoo, Mark. I liked the elephants, too. I thought the bird house wasn’t as smelly as it used to be. The little monkeys were my favorite. Do you remember the funny things we heard from kids as they looked at the animals?

Including, “It doesn’t get any better than this!”

and, “Sometimes when I get knocked out, I don’t remember how I got hurt.”

and our favorite, “Wow, bats are real?!!”

I enjoyed our picnic with granola and fruit drinks at Sugarhouse Park. I loved watching you run with all of the friends you have made in your class this year. I thought that you were a really fast runner. Thanks for letting me come with you.

Love,

Mom

P.S. I love your elephant picture and your bright orange hair.

Weekend Adventure

We had a few adventures this weekend. Richard and Daniel went camping with the scouts at the sand dunes. I always love to see pictures of what the kids do when they are away.

Timothy the Baseball Player

Timothy is winding up his baseball season. He’s great! He is a great catcher and pitcher. He is also a consistent hitter. It’s fun to see him play so well.

I like our city baseball league so much more than our previous league. Here the coaches have been kid-centered and the competition is much less intense. They play to win, but I haven’t seen the coaches’ egos getting in the way. We’ve seen terrible behavior from coaches over the years. I appreciate a coach who cheers his kids no matter what. It’s just a better way to do things. The coaches here allow the kids to grow without so much negativity. I am really glad he’s had a chance to play here.

Life Scout

My good friend in Sahuarita introduced me to this ribbon to keep a mother’s Scouting pins. I think it is a great idea and I enjoy the memories when I see the little Bobcat pin, his Arrow of Light, and others. (I’m missing the First Class pin.) There is only one rank left for Daniel: Eagle. He’s considering several ideas for his project and he’s working on the BIG 3 required merit badges that take 3 months to complete.

Here is Daniel receiving his Life rank last week. I love the looks on the leaders’ faces. I’m grateful for what Scouting teaches Daniel. I am thankful for men who take so much time to be with the boys and for their families who faithfully send them off to camp each month.

Richard and I find that a common theme in our conversation lately is milestones completed. Soon Daniel won’t be going on campouts each month. Timothy completed his final Pinewood Derby. Paige is driving. College, high school, and big decisions are coming. I hope that they have enjoyed childhood. I love watching them grow, even though it means that they don’t need me as much anymore. The process of the children gaining independence doesn’t allow me to be a constant spectator, but I am here, perhaps less involved on a physical level, but more involved on a spiritual level. I’m praying for them all day long.

Timothy’s Last Pinewood Derby

Timothy and Richard created a masterpiece for their last Pinewood Derby together.

Timothy won most of his races and received an award for the excellent styling of his car.

Richard gets one year off and then Mark will be in Cub Scouts. Just three more cars to go!

Danger Zone

If you’re going to live in Northern Utah, you have to embrace winter. (You may have to wait after you push “play” for the video to download)

Klondike Derby

Images by Matthew Pettey

Daniel has some great Boy Scout leaders. I’m always happy to see photos of what Daniel does when he goes camping. These photos were taken in January at the Klondike Derby. The weather, which had been so bitter cold, decided to warm up to the 30’s for this camp, for which the mothers were very thankful. Evidently, Daniel wasn’t very cold. I don’t see him wearing a coat in any of these pictures.

I don’t have a good scout vocabulary for trying to comment on these photos, but I hear that Daniel did a good job lashing these poles together.