Clubhouse, Playhouse, Treehouse!

I don't know how many of you have seen the arbor in our backyard. It was built by the previous owners. They had a cute picnic table under it. But since we already have a patio off the downstairs and a deck off the upstairs, I was never sure why I needed another picnic table in the corner of my yard. So although the arbor was pretty, it wasn't all that functional. I just looked at it periodically and questioned it's value. (My backyard only has so much space.)

I mentioned this to my Dad and he said,

"Well, let's turn it into a clubhouse!"

So we did.

Since the roof was already built, and was about 10 feet high, we figured we had plenty of space for a two-story structure. So, we began by creating a floor in the middle.

Using 2x6 beams, we made a solid base and then placed trex decking across for a sliver-free floor. This took two days.

Although we tried to make the whole project as interesting and kid friendly as possible, Bryce did not believe the fact that all of this effort was really for him.

He felt like he'd been set aside with the lumber.

After we built the floor for the upper level, we built a railing that went all the way around. Each of these pickets had to be individually cut and drilled into place using a spacer so the distance between them would always be the same. This took two days.

After all the pickets were in place, we secured a handrail that went along the top. We also cut a hole in the side where we would build the ladder. This took another day.

This is the old floor that the previous owners put down under the arbor. We decided it needed to be redone to better fit the space and also to properly bury the water line that ran underneath.

I don't know if you've ever layed bricks before but it is the most tedious, patience-testing process imaginable. It took us all of one day just to relay this floor.

Here is Spencer on the new floor. We ran the bottom of the railing along the bricks and put two cans of cement in the front to hold the future handrail.

Rain Delay.

Grandpa also hung a swing for the kids to play on from our tree. This is looking sideways into my neighbor's yard. The arbor behind is not ours.

We put a sandbox in the back corner behind the clubhouse.

Grandpa built this ladder to fit perfectly in this spot.

It is nice and wide and perfectly slanted so both kids and adults can get on the upper level.

You can see the sandbox back behind the ladder. It is wedged between a 2x6 piece of trex and both my neighbor's fences. This is as far as I could possibly get it from my house and still be in my yard. I hoped this would curtail the sand from making it's way into my house.

My Dad said that is impossible.

Our last project was raising the original roof 10 inches higher. This gives the older kids plenty of head-space on the upper level. (The upper roof is 60 inches high and the lower level is 50 inches from the bricks to the ceiling.)

Finally, it's done!

We placed GrandMary's darling wicker furniture on the lower level. It is Chelsea's favorite little space. Carter likes the upper deck and Spencer is in heaven in the sandbox. Bryce still hasn't quite grasped the fact that he will get more use out of the clubhouse than anyone else. But at least he's not trapped in his carrier next to the lumber pile, so he's fine with it. Thanks Grandpa! It's the coolest clubhouse--playhouse--treehouse ever!

Pareidolia

Every so often, someone will see the form of the Virgin Mary in their mashed potatoes or the profile of Jay Leno in their peeling wallpaper. This is called Pareidolia. Well, this morning we had our own version of pareidolia (say that three times fast) over breakfast.

At some point while I was preparing lunches and Spencer was enjoying his bowl of Cap'n Crunch, he suddenly shouted, "I see Mickey Mouse!"

.

"You see Mickey Mouse, where?" I asked, looking around the kitchen.

"Right here!" He pointed to the counter.

Well, I have to say, as far as images in milk doplets go, it was certainly Mickey Mouse-esque. We took a photo for posterity and blogging purposes.

.

And also, to give you a little boost of faith.

School Daze

This is a picture of the first day of school. (Yes, it was a month ago.) Don't the kids look nice and clean and well groomed and ready for a new day?


You would never guess the amount of stress that goes into making this possible.

Each morning I get up with the mistaken impression that I have plenty of time to get everyone ready for school. (Tyler leaves at 6:45am, the kids leave at 8:30.) You would think that at some point I would have enough foresight to prepare for battle instead of breakfast, but I'm a slow learner. It seems that regardless of how much prep I put in the night before, I am invariably in a cold sweat by 8:25am because I have spent the last hour and a half walking around saying:
"Practice your piano."
"Did you finish your reading?"
"Where is the practice spelling test we did last night?"
"Is that your third bowl of cereal? Leave enough milk for other people."
"No, that was sloppy, practice that song again."
"You can't wear that, it's dirty."
"There is a big wad of gel in your hair, go brush it out."
"Please don't leave your pajamas in a pile on the stairs."
"Did you make your bed?"
"Why did you take your pony tail out? It looked fine!"
"It's not my job to find your shoes."
"No, a bag of chips and a cookie does not qualify as a lunch."

On top of all this, Bryce is usually crying in the background because he has exceeded his "I will only sit in this swing for 15 minutes" mandate, and Spencer at some point yells at me from the bathroom, "Mom! Come wipe my bum!"

I know that an ounce of preparation beats a pound of perspiration, so I honestly try to make sure that everyone's homework is done and in the right folder the night before. But I swear "homework gnomes" come in the middle of the night and scatter everything. I also do regular laundry inspections to ensure everyone has clean clothes to wear. But, to a nine-year-old, "clean" is not as important as "favorite," so we spend many mornings discussing how many times per week one can wear the same shirt. We have also entered the realm of "it's my hair, I'll wear it how I like," which means too much gel for him and a crooked part for her.

Chelsea started piano in August, so I outlined a routine for morning piano practice, which I understood to be Carter: 7:30-7:45 am and Chelsea: 7:45-8:00am. But they see it more as: "If I'm sloppy and resistant and perpetually behind schedule, I may be able to avoid this completely." And, I won't even go into the "pack your own lunch" system that I thought was a great idea at the beginning of the year. That quickly disintegrated into the "Oh forget it, just buy school lunch today" system.

Perhaps I am disorganized, and perhaps my children make things as difficult as possible to avoid as much responsibility as possible. And maybe this is just the plight of the elementary school mother. It's probably a little of each. But somehow each morning we miraculously manage to get everyone dressed, combed, packed, fed, prayed over, hugged, and kissed goodbye. Then I collapse in a heap in the middle of the kitchen floor and wonder why I never have enough energy left to exercise.

But, aren't they cute?

Shoo Flu

The flu has visited us recently. Spencer and Chelsea got it while Tyler was in the Wind Rivers. Chelsea had it for four days. Spencer still has it (mildly). I got it last weekend and Tyler and Carter are now infected. This one's a doozy! Luckily Bryce has avoided it and so have my carpets. But I've about had enough -- it's been three weeks for heaven's sake!

I once again have renewed respect for morning sickness, chemotherapy patients and other chronically nauseated individuals.

I anticipate further blog posts once we are all well...

Reflections

We started school last week! I say "we," because unfortunately it's true. I've already had a great refresher on the suffix "-tion" (via this week's spelling list) and reviewed my multiplication tables. I'm also brushing up on the difference between "tens" and "ones." (I'm very proficient at the "tens" column, you'd be proud.)

Anyway, since we are in the mood of "back to school bonanza," I encouraged Carter to step up this year and participate in the Reflections Contest. He's never done it and since school is rather easy for him (just the way he likes it), I think he should stretch a little and do some extra credit (just the way I like it.)

This was met with ample resistance. At some point I said, "Photography is a category, you could do that. The theme this year is 'How I can make a difference.' You could go around and take pictures of people 'making a difference.'"

He looked at me with the same face you are making now.

I continued, "Well then, you could take pictures of yourself making a difference."

He responded, "How?"

"I don't know," I said. "Like doing nice things for people. Making a difference at school."

He rolled his eyes and said, "No, I mean, how am I supposed to take pictures of myself?"

I thought about this for a minute.

He began to walk away, so I simply stated, "I'm sure you could find some way to make a difference."

He shook his head and said, "I'm just not that kind of guy."

Hmm, I think we are going to have a few projects this fall. One will be the Reflections contest, one will be helping Carter learn "what kind of guy" he is, and one will be a refresher on physics.

Story Time

The other day, Spencer pulled up a chair and
read Bryce his favorite Sandra Boynton story.

"Yellow pants, red pants, green pants, oops!"



"Spencer speak" translation: "I love you, Bryce."

Spidey Spence

We're all Spiderman.

All the time.

If you think the outfit is over the top,
you should hear his "Spiderman Song"
and see all his "Spiderman moves."

We are frequently subjected to both.

PB&J -- the right way, please!

Children prefer very simple tasting foods. I know this. I swear we keep Grandma Sycamore's bread company and the Skippy peanut butter factory in business. Quite frankly, I think Spencer would shrivel away to nothing if it weren't for the staying power of peanut butter and white bread. Now for me, sticky, hydrogenated peanut butter on white bread is barely on the fringe of acceptable food choices. I prefer Sycamore's Whole Wheat & Honey with Sunflower Seeds and Maranatha's organic smooth peanut butter. A sandwich such as this has delicious texture and just a hint of sweetness. It is also substantially healthier.

At 11am, when my sweet hobbits were requesting their third meal of the morning, I decided to see if they would like (okay, tolerate) a peanut butter sandwich with my sunflower bread (for continuity, I still used the Skippy --- shudder). I meticulously cut all the crusts off, cut the sandwhich in half the long way, and made sure that everything looked appropriate. I even cut up an apple (all traces of peel removed) and poured them some cranberry juice. I was thrilled with this healthy offering. I took it out to them on the deck, where they had decided to take their meal.

Chelsea eyed the bread suspiciously, "What is this?"

"It's your peanut butter sandwhich," I responded.

"What's the matter with it?" She asked.

"Nothing. Try it." I sat down casually next to her.

She took one small bite, apparently missing the sunflower seeds. "It's okay."

Spencer didn't eat. I had served his sandwhich on the red plate, instead of the green one. In response to this outrage, he was hiding under the chair chanting, "Green, green, green, green," until the plate magically changed color.

Chelsea took another bite and chewed for a minute. Suddenly her face contorted into what appeared to be a convulsion. She ran inside, leaned over the garbage and violently spit everything out of her mouth. She then got a drink, gargled, and spit into the sink.

When she came back out on the deck she looked at me with horror. "What is in that bread??!!"

I found her reaction to be so overly dramatic that I responded simply, "Cockroach legs."

"What?! Mom that's gross! Nobody eats cockroach legs!" She yelled.

"Oh, com'on, Chelsea. They're all dead. Cockroaches are great fiber."

Spencer stopped chanting "green, green, green" and climbed up on his chair to look at the bread instead of the plate.

"What?! I'm telling Carter!!" She stormed off and returned with Carter a minute later.

"Mom, tell him there are cockroach legs in the bread!"

I said nothing.

Carter looked at her sandwich and said, "No, Chelsea, I've had that bread before. It just has seeds in it or something."

"No, she said it was cockroach legs!" She pointed at me.

Carter asked me, "Mom, is it really cockroach legs?"

"Chelsea acted like it was," I said, eyeing her. "It's just sunflower seeds. But you acted like I was trying to poison you. Do you think I would feed you something bad?" I asked.

They all looked at me for a minute, pondering.

"Well, I wouldn't," I answered for them. "I want you to be healthy, so I gave you a healthy wheat bread with some seeds in it. They are delicious and they give it a little bit of a crunch. It's good," I said with a smile.

But, nobody was convinced. I went inside and made them all sandwiches on bleached white bread with sticky, hydrogenated peanut butter. At least this time, I got the plate colors right.

A of F #12:

Some of my favorite laws in my favorite states:

Utah
• Birds have the right of way on all highways. (Solution: swerve!)
• Daylight must be visible between partners on a dance floor.
• It is illegal to fish from horseback.
• When a person reaches the age of 50, he/she can then marry their cousin.
• It is considered an offense to hunt whales. (Where exactly, does one hunt whales in Utah?)
• It is illegal not to drink milk.
• It is illegal to detonate any nuclear weapon. You can have them, but you just can't detonate them.
• Women may not swear. (Except on miniature golf courses. See California.)
• No one may walk down the street carrying a paper bag containing a violin.
• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BAFT) bans the word "refreshing" to describe any alcohol beverage.
• Pharmacists may not sell gunpowder to cure headaches.

California
• Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.
• A regulation in San Francisco makes it unlawful to use underwear to wipe off cars in a car wash.
• You are not permitted to wear cowboy boots unless you already own at least two cows.
• Santa Monica: You may not play percussion instruments on the beach.
• In California you may not set a mouse trap without a hunting license.
• In California, selling a gold piece without tooth marks in it is considered forgery.
• San Diego: The owners of houses with Christmas lights on them past February 2, may be fined up to $250.
• Long Beach: It is illegal to curse on a miniature golf course.
• It is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at one time. (However, this is not illegal in Cedar City, Utah.)

And my personal favorite:

• San Francisco: Persons classified as "ugly" may not walk down any street. (This means you, sheep.)

Happiness IQ

10 (or so) Ways to Improve your Happiness
(according to Time magazine)

#1. Count your blessings
Experimental psychologists discovered that people who counted their blessings three times per week reported greater life satisfaction than those who did it less than three times, irregularly, or not at all. Additionally, those who regularly contemplated people in their lives who had been kind to them reported higher levels of happiness.

#2. Hear the music
Music activates the part of the brain that triggers happiness. Enjoying one's favorite music has also been shown to relax the body and reduce anxiety levels.

#3. Hug
Hugging releases endorphins that reduce pain and can induce euphoria. It is the perfect way to show affection and improve close relationships.

#4. Nurture your spirituality
Survey after survey shows that people with strong religious faith — of any religion or denomination — are happier than those who are irreligious. David Myers, a social psychologist at Michigan's Hope College, says that faith provides social support, a sense of purpose and a reason to focus beyond the self, all of which help root people in their communities.

#5. Move your body
Physical motion can provide a rush of good energy that can lift a mood, be it anxiety or mild depression, and it's a good way to keep healthy. So do a dance, go for a walk, hike up a hill, or just engage in some high-intensity vacuuming!

#6. Laugh big
Laughter, like so many other endorphin-triggers, helps to reduce certain stress hormones and strengthens your immune system. Additionally, people are 30 times more likely to laugh in groups than alone and, not surprisingly, laughter is associated with helping to develop person-to-person connections.

#7. Do something nice for someone else
Small or big, directed at friends or strangers, random acts of kindness make the person performing the kind act happier when they're grouped together, according to Sonja Lyubomirsky, an experimental psychologist at UC Riverside. Doing a considerate thing for another person five times in one day made the doer happier than if they had spread out those five acts over one week.

#8. Seek positive emotion
Happiness can lead to success, rather than the other way around. Happy individuals are predisposed to seek out new opportunities and set new goals. A team of psychologists concluded that while previous research assumed that happiness stemmed from success and accomplishment, happiness is often a result of positive emotions, regardless of life status or situation.

#9. Identify with your heritage
Appreciating one's culture creates and strengthens bonds with others who share that culture and also allows one to identify and appreciate cultural difference. A recent study showed that adolescents of Mexican and Chinese ethnicity maintained feelings of happiness despite daily stress when they had a strong sense of cultural identity.

#10. Play the part of an optimist
Optimism is a learned skill and there are a variety of ways to acquire it, says psychologist Mary Ann Troiani, co-author of Spontaneous Optimism. Through her research, Troiani has come up with three things that you can do to enhance your sense of optimism. First, straighten out your body before your emotions by keeping a straight body posture, taking big steps and walking quickly with your shoulders back and your head up. "People who are pessimistic walk slowly with small steps and their head down," she says. Second, change your tone of voice so that it is cheerful and full of energy. Third, use upbeat or happier words, such as "challenge" rather than "problem," or think of "opportunities" rather than "losses." "Positive thoughts and behavior have a positive impact on the brain's biochemistry," she says. "[They] boost your serotonin levels and signal that you're happy. Your brain will catch up to you." Troiani reminds us: it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to really change a habit.

#11. Hang a picture of a grinning ape on your fridge.
This one is my personal addition to the list. I find it provides immediate results.

Beach Boys

Last night we went to the Beach Boys concert at Tuacahn.

I think Tyler and I were the youngest ones there. I spent the 20 minutes before the concert thinking of alternate band names, like: "Geriatrics Unite!" or "The Grateful [we're not] Dead," "Lipitor Lovers" or even, "The Osteoarthritic Band."

Although there was no mosh pit or crowd surfing, it really was fun. I've never been a big fan of the Beach Boys, not that I dislike them, just that given the choice, I'd probably listen to something else. But I'd have to say I was converted. It was nice to sit in a clean, outdoor theater and listen to upbeat, non-offensive music. I didn't worry once about the lyrics, or what the people sitting next to me were doing (on one side: 6-month old with parents, on other side: family with four kids, everywhere else: retirees). At one point we all raised our lit cel phones and there were even beach balls hit around the crowd for a few minutes. (I tell ya-- we know how to party).

It was a fun date. Thanks for the good idea, Tyler!

Backyard Photos

We took some pictures today of Bryce in the backyard.

Isn't he darling?

Those cheeks need a kiss!
Excuse me for a sec...

At Grandma Evelyn's

We took a partial-family vacation this last week. (Tyler had to work.) The kids and I went with my parents to Grandma Evelyn's for Grandpa's 80th birthday party. When we got there, Carter looked around and asked, "Is this Evelyn's garden?" (He's never been there before.) I said, "Yes!" It was somewhat surreal to take my children to a place that is synonymous with my childhood. They saw Grandpa Vardis's root cellar that he dug out of the ground. They played in the golden delicious apple tree (that I swear used to be much taller), walked through the grape vines, swung in the tree swing, and watched Grandpa irrigate the lawn. It was fun for them and very nostalgic for me.

Here is a picture of us by the tree swing.

We had fun at the reunion.
It was in Grandma Evelyn's yard.

A camera duel with Uncle Richard.
There were several camera duels over the weekend.
We have lots of pictures of people taking pictures of people.

Some of the cook cousins in Grandma's apple tree.

The truth is revealed...

NOOOOO!!!

It's true. After years of battles between Harry and Voldemort and Lucius and Sirius and Ron and Hermionie, a winner has been determined.

And...


it's...


me!


Let me explain.

Today was Tyler's only (real) day off this month. And, like many of you, he is within a few hundred pages of the end of Harry Potter VII. However, despite the intense desire (even need perhaps) to finally know the ending of the ten year saga, I got him to spend the day with me. We went on a date! We saw a completely brainless movie (yeah! I needed brainless) and went to dinner without any children (thanks Mom & Dad). We laughed and talked and enjoyed some much needed time together. It was wonderful.

So, I guess that just goes to show that after 12 years of marriage, I am still more interesting than Dumbledore, more powerful than Voldemort, more captivating than Harry.

That's true love.

(He is now downstairs finishing the book.)

Dobby Duty

Tonight we had the kids unload the dishwasher after dinner.

Carter said, "Why do we have to do this job?"

Tyler answered, "Because you are the house elves, that's why we had you. Ha, ha, ha!"

Carter responded, "Well, at least I won't have to be the house elf forever. When I grow up I'll just get a wife."

Hmmm... I suspect my boys need some more good 'husband-in-training' exercises, like scrubbing toilets, unloading the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, and other Dobby duties. And from now on, no more free socks.

Get A Blog!

My top 10 reasons the following 10 people should
"Get a blog!"

10. Blogging keeps you at the "top" of the information mountain.

9. You can do it from anywhere -- like while you are in the O.R., right Dr. Nelson?

8. It is easy. Like Jessica said, "Well, if you can do it..."

7. When you "chatter" about yourselves, we don't have to "chatter" about you.

6. Truth is always stranger than fiction. Or in other words:
three-year-olds provide the best blogging material available.

5. You can post your own photos & no one knows they've been doctored!

4. It makes it so your friends can stay in contact with you at 2am when they have insomnia.

3. It makes it so you can stay in contact with your friends at 2am when you have insomnia.

2. It makes it so I don't have to use the phone.

1. It's kind of like a bog, but it smells better.

My top 10 people who need a blog:

Suzanne Liddle
(No one can make me laugh harder than you.
Remember your quip about husbands not having
"object permanence?")

Clint & Sarah Cresap
(You took blog pictures while you were here, right?)

David and Emily Cook
(Document that belly -- I want proof! I want updates!)

Amber Thompson
(Really, what's your excuse? Have Ethan host it!)

Mike and Michelle Stevenson
(I like to get your comments,
but I'd also like to give some too...)

Cami and Aric Ellis
(Consider it "Marley therapy.")

Tagged...

Thanks for the tag Gina!

Here's way too much information about me:

Four jobs I've had:
1) Snelgrove's Ice Cream (1991)
2) Gary Free Real Estate Appraisal office (1993)
3) Crystal Canyon (1997)
4) Motherhood (1998-forever!!)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Ruprekt, eat your applesauce)
2) Groundhog Day (Romantic poetry, what a waste of time!)
3) Mr. Mom (38, 39, whatever it takes...)
4) Family videos (Wow, I used to be tan and skinny.)

Four places I've lived:
1) Sandy, Utah
2) Rexburg, Idaho
3) Los Angeles, California
4) Beautiful Southern Utah

Four favorite TV shows:
1) HGTV: Designed to Sell (Tyler hates it)
2) HGTV: Design on a Dime (Tyler hates it)
3) The Office (Tyler likes it)
4) The Muppet Show (Tyler is it)

Four places I've been:
1) New Orleans
2) Hawaii
3) Yellowstone
4) Seattle

Four favorite foods:
1) Taco Salad
2) A fresh, juicy nectarine
3) Mu Gu Gai Pan
4) Homemade chicken noodle soup (with homemade noodles)

Four websites I visit daily:
1) My blog
2) Deseret News
3) Carter's blog
4) Tyler's blog

Four places I'd rather be:
1) At the cabin with my family
2) Waterskiing with my family
3) At the beach with my family
4) Getting a massage without my family

Four blog buddies I want to tag:
1) Jessica Ellis
2) Tyler Nelson
3) Chelsea bug
4) The Cresaps -- HA! Now you have to create a blog!!

Me too!!

Chelsea was tired to being left out.
So she has created a blog also. Her address is:
www.mychelseabug.blogspot.com.
Check it out!

Random

Somehow life with kids is an adventure, even when there's nothing really going on.


Yesterday we gave Bryce a bath. I just love when they are finally umbilic-less. Everything was going pretty well until he pooped all over the counter and himself (not pictured). The task then went from just bathing baby to washing self, baby, counter, baby tub, my clothes, the front of the cabinets and the floor.

Spencer decided to wear his tiger costume at dinner.

Tyler declined the invitation to wear the tiger costume, but he agreed to pose for a picture. Terrr-i-fic!

We played the game Apples to Apples after dinner, and apparently you do not have to be able to read to win. Spencer won hands down. Of course, it doesn't really matter what the adjective is, nothing beats golf-ball-sized hail.

Happy Birthday, etc.

Yesterday we celebrated Tyler's birthday. (Quiz: how old?) We went hiking in the morning with Grandma and Grandpa and then caught a movie (Ratatouille -- I give it a B) and had dunch at Texas Road House. It was a full day of lots of fun.


We are blessed to live in a free nation with liberties and opportunities. We are also blessed to have such a great Dad/Husband in our lives.

Happy Birthday, Tyler. We love you!