Senioritis

I've got Senioritis. Collin's a senior and I'm quite sick about it. I have been heard saying, "I can't wait for that kid to be out on his own." But, seriously, I'm quite nervous about it and not ready for him to be making big grown up decisions. Sheesh. What's he going to do after he graduates? He's got a year after he graduates before he goes on a mission. Should he go to college for the year? Should he work? Should he do half and half? Has he even thought of these things? He's 17. I doubt it. Will he ever without me forcing him?

No matter, I love him. He is fun and brings a lot of joy (and torture [three younger sisters]) to family.

Life is Good - even with teenagers.

On Top of the World

Table Rock mountain is in the Teton Range. It rests at 11,106 feet above sea level. We would climb almost 4100 feet. It is quite a hike (strenuous in all the hiking books) with fantastic views of several mountains, including the Grand, and the valleys below. We hiked it Saturday as a family, not all willing or happy about it, either. But, if we made it to the top, some great lessons would be learned. And some fantastic memories would live on.

Making our way up the trail.

There are two trails up the mountain. One is less steep but longer and is called Huckleberry Trail. The other is about two miles shorter (still nine miles round trip) but extremely steep. It's called The Face and in 1.5 miles you climb 2100' in elevation. We went up The Face - because we could! Aunt Sus was with us and she coaxed the twins along every step of the way.

On top of the world and fairly happy about it.

We all made it. Collin arrived on top two hours before us. (He's lucky he didn't have hypothermia after that long wait.) Kenna got there about an hour before us. (She was so determined. Once she sets her mind on something she doesn't look back.) At the top I felt like crying. It was a great moment. The view was even better than I remembered.

Coming down - like a horse headed to the barn.

What we learned? We can do hard things. And, with family support we can accomplish great things. That is the best part of the hike.

Life is Good and absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

Good Bye Old Friend

Our family picture 2004 (The kids insisted that Cruiser be in the picture. I'm so grateful that he was.)

 Seven and a half years ago, our nephew (cousin) Greg called up and asked if we wanted a puppy. His two dogs had parented the cutest little golden fluffs of hair that have ever been seen. One of them was a runt and easily captured the heart of all Greg's family. They didn't want him to go. An easy solution was to give the little guy to us and then he would still be part of the family.


I don't remember really anticipating that we would get a dog anytime soon. We had a cat and that was enough for me. I had grown up in a family that was never allowed to have pets. I didn't know how to take care of a dog. But, how could you say no to that little guy or to that cute Greg? So, Cruiser entered our life. As he grew from puppy to full-grown Golden Retriever, we watched how he became more and more part of the family. He had more hair than a person could imagine. His tail wagged so hard that sometimes we thought he would break a person's leg. (You've heard that saying, "The tail that wags the dog." That was Cruiser.)  He spread out on the kitchen floor and made it almost impossible to cook a meal. He stood under the kitchen table at meal times (even when company was over) hoping for a morsel of "people food." He curled up next to you when you'd sit on the floor and want his belly rubbed. He slept with Collin for years when he was afraid to sleep alone. He lived in the house, just like the other kids, and thought he was a human. He easily befriended anyone, young and old, who visited the house, even those who didn't like dogs. When he went on walks he always allowed everyone to pet him. He gently took food from your hand and NEVER!!! growled at people. When Katy took him to school last year for a speech, calls of "Cruiser" were heard up and down the hallways from students and teachers.  I don't know if any other dog in the world has been more loved than him. In return, Cruiser loved his people even more.

Last summer, Cruiser experienced his first Grand Mal seizure. It was scary. The vet told us that it could be just a coincidence or it could be a sign of things to come. After a few changes in diet and a round of medication he didn't experience anymore for some time. Then it happened again. It didn't seem to be coincidence anymore. Recently the seizures became more violent and came more often. New meds just weren't helping. Until finally he was having so many that they were making him disoriented. A decision had to be made. So on Friday, August 13, we took him to the vet to be put to sleep. We said goodbye to possibly our dearest, most devoted friend and family member. Our hearts have been broken ever since.

I'm sure that within time we will stop crying and we will get a new dog to fill the space that Cruiser left in our home and in our family. But, no other dog will ever fill the space in our hearts that a large, hairy, lovable, kind Cruiser has occupied. We love him so and miss him even more.

Cruiser with Trent and my nephew Hunter on July 24th

Life is Good - even if your heart is weeping and tears are streaming!

Summer Weekend Vacation

Our family is changing. No longer do we have ample time to just do whatever - based upon mom and dad's schedule. Now, we are juggling 6 schedules. As soon as school ended we began searching for an open week for the family vacation. So many possibilities were out there - Seattle, Oregon Coast (again, we love that place), San Diego, San Francisco, etc. But, when we looked at all the weeks, there wasn't one single week that was open - NOT ONE!!! How could that be? No matter how we tried to maneuver the trip nothing worked out. So, there was only one option - a Weekend Vacation. We decided to stay close and do some things that we haven't done with the kids. We opted for West Yellowstone to Jackson. Playmill Theater, Yellowstone Park (we have done that but found some new places to explore), Bar J Wranglers, Alpine Slide, Jackson Hole Tram, and a ski lift. It all worked out to be an exciting and fun memory building time.

Across from the Playmill Theater. We saw Beauty and the Beast.

Adri and Trent sitting on a very cute bench in West Yellowstone.

Collin and Kenna at the top of a very large rock they have climbed.

Collin - 'nough said!

Adri, Katy and Kenna rock climbing.

Waiting in line. On your mark, get set, GO!!

Jackson Hole Tram. 2.4 miles up and 4600 feet in elevation. My ears were popping like crazy.

Posing at the top of the world. The Grand Teton is in the background.

Life is good and filled with memories!

Holy Cow! Does Everyone Lose Their Mind When I'm Out of Town?

I spent last week at Edufest - a Gifted and Talented Conference at Boise State University. Its a conference for people who teach and associate with GT kids, not GT people. That is why I was invited! It was a full week and I'm sure the family enjoyed having me away. But, I began to wonder what in the world was happening at home when I got a text from McKenna while I was attending a banquet. At the time the text came, all the kids were with Gma and Gpa Grant swimming. Here is the text:

Kenna: I JUST GOT A PUPPY!
Me:  No you don't!
Kenna:  Yes I do too!
Me.  Not really! I'm going to cry.
Kenna:  For serious! Its so cute!
Me:  Did Dad let you?
Kenna:  He doesn't know yet!
Me:  You can't have a puppy! Where did you get it?
Kenna:  At Golden Corral.
Me:  what? What the heck is a golden corral?
Kenna:  The restaurant duh! Some guy just gave it to me.
Me:  Honey you can't have it. Is it real?
Kenna:  It is real. Its in the car with me and I'm NOT giving it back.
Me:  What did Grandma (the voice of reason, by the way) say?
Kenna:  She didn't care. She thinks that its cute!

In the mean time, I text Trent and let him know about the Dog. I get a text back from him that says, "If my parents have let her get a dog, they are dead!"

Me:  What kind is it?
Kenna:  Yellow!
Me:  Big or Little?
Kenna:  Really little!
Me:  What do you think your dad will say?
Kenna:  He will probably just laugh?
Me:  Really. I'm not laughing,.
Kenna:  I am! 

I'm thinking, "Yah you're laughing because I'm here and you're there and there isn't anything that I can do to stop this dog from coming to my house."

Me:  "Well, I am not happy!
Kenna:  Sorry!
Me:  Are you sure of what you are doing? I'm about to throw up. None of us have time to take care of a puppy. Besides we have Cruiser (our dog who has begun having grand mal seizures regularly) is stressing me out and school is about to start.
Kenna: I promise that this puppy needs no are at all!
Me:  All puppies need care and I am FREAKIN' out!!!!!
Kenna:  This one doesn't!
Me:  You are kidding huh! Please say yes!!!!!
Kenna:  No I have a dog.
Me:  I'M GOING TO NOT BE VERY HAPPY!!!! GRRRRRR!!!
Kenna:  Do you want me to call you and explain it?
Me:  NO!!!! I just want it to go away. Dad says that if this is real then Grandma and Grandpa are dead.
Kenna:  Fine! Ya know what? I will just pop it!! '( Haha!
Me:  Whew!!! I love you again.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH  Good joke!!!

Life is Good when you don't have a new puppy to deal with.

Summer River Swimming Begins

July's weather has been fairly favorable for those who like to swim - but not for those who like to kayak. The wind is always blowing. Some  Every summer is like that here in Eastern Idaho, its just that some are worse than others. This is a down right blustery one. It makes for a grumpy me. I am nearly sick of the sound of rustling leaves. I'm tired of having to fetch the pool cover from the bottom of the pool because the wind has again blown it off. And I'm down right perturbed that I haven't been able to kayak. That's what I'm supposed to do in the summer. And, I bet the river has missed me.

But, windy days are still good for swimming, if you are swimming in a well protected hole of the river. Lucky for us we have such a place. (I am amazed thankful that not so many people know about "our" place however we do share it with our friends from time to time.) Each year the kids get more and more brave and so they try new things - like Collin's flip with a twist off the highest rocks into the water. Or, McKenna's forward dive off the rocks for the first time. Adri started jumping off the highest "dive" and Katy jumping into the rapids to float down. We have taken a million pictures - just because we love this place so much.

McKenna said yesterday, "When I'm older and I come to visit with my kids, we are definitely going to come swimming here. I LOVE this place." Actually we all LOVE this place. Just another reason why living in this very small town, and enjoying what it's surrounding have to offer, is almost heavenly.

Life is Good especially when you have free swimming with lots of benefits.

Family, Fun, and Freedom

My favorite thing about the 4th of July is spending time with family and having the freedom to do whatever we want. This is a great country and I'm so grateful for that freedom. We've pretty much reserved this holiday for family - no friends, no work, no nothing just family. We had a great time together. It started on Friday with the kids and me heading to Idaho Falls to do a little shopping. Collin thought he was going to die. Girls take way too long to shop. Just to torture him we went to another store. We just kept laughing and laughing. He did, too. Then we met Trent and Tracie on the river for a picnic lunch. The river is beautiful. We enjoyed feeding a squirrel. In a very scientific experiment, we found that squirrels (at least this one) prefer Doritos over whole wheat bread and lettuce. Sorry Aunt Tracie!

Saturday we went to the annual 4th Ward Scout Breakfast. Apparently this is quite a tradition and since we were recently moved into the 4th Ward it will now be part of our Independence Day celebrating. All the kids were involved in the preparation of this - because the YW are always having to help the Scouts. Why is that? j/k Then it was off to the "stupid" Rexburg parade. Seriously, this is a terribly lame parade. I vow from this moment to never attend it again. But, it was fun to be with my family. Afterward we enjoyed a barbecue at my parent's home. That is always fun. But, the highlight of the day was the first ever Grant Family Backyard Pool Belly Flop Contest. Holy cow we were laughing. The pictures don't seem to do it justice. Next year everyone is invited!!! You'll want to be part of this for sure.

 

After church on Sunday we made a spontaneous decision to go to Yellowstone Park. It was the perfect day. It is so green up there right now. More good laughs and good memories. Another thing to be thankful for - Teddy Roosevelt who what the forethought to preserve that beautiful area so we can enjoy now, many years later. I can't imagine summer without it.

Life is Good.