Family Fun at the Cabin

Justin and I spent the weekend with family. We met up with his siblings and their families. We sat around by the fire and talked and laughed and ate. . . ate a lot.

The first day we were there we made dinner of Fried Chicken, potatoes, and for the health conscious, a green salad. For dessert we had a cream cheese sheet cake. It was delicious. We sat around and chatted and then played a the guessing game "What's Yours Like?" This game gets quite funny. For those concerned it is a family friendly game. I forgot to get my camera out to take pictures in the bustle of getting the dinner ready, but I did make up for it the rest of the time.

The Saturday we tried going to the pond for a little swimming, fishing, and some lunch. It didn't quite work out. We drove about 30 minutes to get there and due to the lack of snowfall this last winter there was very little water in the pond, and the bottom was pretty mucky.




We drove another 30 minutes back down the mountain to the reservoir.

This is where we found success. Justin brought his grill and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.

While Justin was doing that the nieces and nephews splashed in the water. It was fun to watch them play.

Lunch was ready and Justin and his sister, Melissa, organized the feeding frenzy.























We all enjoyed more a laid-back hour of more talking while the kiddos went swimming again.





















 Actually, the kids decided to play in the mud. Swimming lost its delight and a mud bath had all the allure.

 It was fun to watch the kids play in the mud.














After the reservoir we were all pretty beat and needed just to sit around and enjoy story-time with Matthew.

Darryl enjoying the stories of Matthew, or rather dosing off. :)

My refreshments were my water-bottle and my water-bottle. I don't go anywhere without it. I actually enjoyed the sunburn and raccoon eyes I had from being at the reservior.

Kevin armed with a diaper to handle the situation at hand.

Melissa was so tired after all the festivities of the afternoon that she needed to take a nap and Aussie was right next to her to enjoy the snooze.

Little niece was always dodging Justin. Finally he got a picture of her. I am just right behind her blocking her escape.

Melissa's youngest baby being watched by her Uncle Kevin. So Melissa could take a nap. He gave her his seal of assurance for her safety. She took a nap because we all were there making sure the seal stuck. But, on the upside, with the seal of assurance, Kevin had to clean up a poopy diaper. HA HA!

Dinner was a round of  Dutch Oven meals (2 kinds and DO dessert YUM). While Justin's sister, Cassie, and her husband, Aaron, prepared dinner, there was much talking and a game of  "cousin rules" badminton.

 

 When the sun went down and  seeing was a bit of a struggle outside. The kids went inside to play a vicious game of Go Fish.  I don't know who reigned victorious, but this was a legendary game.









  There also was a little play with some seriously impressive wax lips as well.

There also was a little play with some seriously impressive wax lips.


 Becky and I exchanged a doozie of a kiss.  I wanted to make sure the camera caught us.



The kids also went off on the Four Wheelers. Much fun was to be had. With story telling and eating and playing. Not a bad way to spend the weekend.

Olympic Pride and fears of traveling Abroad

Justin and I have been watching the Olympics. We are so proud of our country's athletes. Justin is talking about going to the games in 2020. He would like to get tickets to the less popular sporting events and make a scene cheering on the competitors. I would like to do that as well, but that would most likely involved leaving the country. I am a little trepidations about traveling abroad especially after seeing the movie Taken. Justin thinks I am being silly. I should be able to travel abroad with my big strong man and not worry about being stolen by human trafficking criminals. Yet, I still worry about it.

Going Public Again

I am a bit nervous about what I have decided to do. I have made my blog public again. I decided that its purpose was to help any birth parent who wanted to get to know us. They can't do that if it isn't public. I lost steam in writing since the scam attempt at the beginning of the year. I will try to do better. My posts won't be full of self pity about our lack of children but will be about us and what we are doing. I just wanted to make this blog available to those who might be interested in Justin and me to be potential parents. The next post will be tomorrow.

Summer So Good

So far summer has been relaxing. I have cleaned toilets and scrubbed baseboards. To some, this may not seem like a relaxing summer, but it is when those things are mostly neglected all school year. At least not seriously cleaned. I find great satisfaction in cleaning my home. I also enjoy not having to wake up at 5:30 to get ready for work.

I will be leaving Monday to go to Atlanta to be with my sister. She is having major surgery and I get to take care of her. It will be nice to visit with her and her family, but she will be in bed. Our activities will consist of watching movies and trying not to make her laugh. (That will, of course, be a struggle since I am a terribly hilarious person.)

I made it!

School is out for the summer, and I am on day two of my summer vacation. It already feels like it is flying by. I am taking the opportunity to do those jobs around the house that get neglected for the most part during the school year. Right now you could eat off my bathroom floor. I wouldn't recommend it, but you could if you had to. I love being at home and playing the domestic house wife. However, I am no expert, but it might get old after awhile. I need to get back to the jobs on my list for today, but I thought I would take the opportunity to write a quick entry.

Not sure what the trial is

Lately things have been troubling. Not so horrible that on the surface they don't seem superficial. Work has been a bit on the frustrating side because, no matter what I do for my students, it isn't enough for the parents. I sincerely try to prepare them for all of their work before I grade it, but it is never enough. The message rings loud and clear. I am NOT doing a good enough job. For a year I have been causing needless suffering for these poor students who have to be brought up to the level of an honors student rather than being at an honors level when I get them. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around that. If it is an honors class, shouldn't they be prepared for the rigor and able to read at a certain level? But, alas, EAR WAX!

So English has clearly been an issue. The second issue with work is my improv team. The team hasn't been performing at their former level of excellence. They seem to have forgotten the fundamentals. I let my team captain run the practices, but there hasn't been any real improvement in performance. I took over a workshop and I cannot tell you the disrespect I received from members of my team. What coach would put up with back talk and ridicule? I hate having to correct insubordinate behavior. It is unpleasant and makes me feel angry and like a failure. I know that part of the fault is my own in letting the team captain have too much control over the practices. I can sit here and make excuses as to why I did, but I won't. It was a mistake, and one that will not be repeated in the future. I will take control of the team again, it will be a solid performing team without one or two strong players with egos and the rest willing to be a team.

I have realized that I have someone willing to inspire and help me. These things that trouble me, as insignificant as they may seem on the surface, if they matter to me, they matter to my Father in Heaven. I can ask for help. I often forget to ask for help with my day-to-day things. I should. Everyone should. I don't have to ask for help with things like what type of toothbrush I should buy, but that may be a decision for which someone else may need divine inspiration. It may seem like I am over simplifying this, but I am sincere. If it matters to us, it matters to Him. I have been troubled about my job for awhile, and just asking for assistance to help me know what to do and do what I need to do to make things right is enough to make my burdens easier to bare. Things are coming to mind, my attitude is changing, my mood is brighter. It is within my power to change my circumstances. All I have to do is ask for that help. I will not ask that they be changed for me. Faith without works is DEAD!

Moab Day 6 and Final Day on the trail: MOAB RIM

Well, today started off BIG SATURDAY for the Jeep Safari. We lined up at 8:00 and were the sixth jeep in line. It promised to be a great great great day on the trail. Justin and I got there so early we decided to walk over to McDonald's for a hot chocolate and McGriddle. We were back in plenty of time to to get back in our jeep and leave at 9:00. Although it was a gorgeous day, it was breezy cold. Our trail was Moab Rim the 2nd hardest trail in Moab. Justin had never driven this trail before so he was really looking forward to it. Last year he missed it because he was sick the day they had signed up to run it. We made it to the air down at the trail head. Everything is just perfect. The first obstacle approaches Justin is ahead of Gerry, his dad, and I am taking the pictures for this obstacle known as Devil's Crack.

The trail leader is spotting everyone through it beautifully. Justin makes it no problem. Gerry has his turn, and he is struggling just a bit.

 He his last try to get over the crack there is a loud snap of metal. Gerry has broken his axle. Justin is willing to pull out of the line and take Gerry back to town, but Gerry insists that Justin continue with the trail. Gerry backs down the Rim to the trail head and Justin jumps back into the line.

 The end of the line I might add. So much for being in the front. At least there were only 22 jeeps signed up for the trail. The day was a fun trail ride. There was a spot on the trail that was a bit tippy and I thought we were going to roll, but Justin is an amazing driver and made it through.

As traditional on Big Saturday, we had dinner at the beautiful Sunset Grill that is up on the mountain side. I look forward to that every year. Nothing like Fillet Mignon. It is a bitter sweet night. Good food, a fun trail, but tomorrow we have to leave Riverside Oasis and go home to the real world.

Well finally I got to run the Moab Rim trail.  I have been looking forward to driving this one since I first rode it with my Dad way back in 1989.  Back then it ripped up the guts to the rear differential of my dad's Jeep and we had to leave the trail early.  My dad has since been back and conquered the trail a few years ago, but I always wanted to take it on myself.  This trail is tough!  But it was fun too.  The best part about being in Moab is being with my family as we have a good time.  We will be back next year and I cannot wait!