Summer Vacation - Part 1

Our Summer Vacation has been very busy, at least it seems like it. Mostly, it has been filled with getting one or more girls ready/packed for one such thing or another or completing online summer classes to ease the coming school year. McKenna seems to have had one week here and one week away all summer long. Adri, too, since the middle of June. Unfortunately for Katy, not me, I've enjoyed it, she has been home to deal with the only child syndrome. She hates it. We had to carefully plan and finagle some calendaring to fit in a time away all together. We found about 5 days that didn't interfere too terribly bad with other things. So, we went to the Oregon Coast. I love the coast - not for the weather but for the absolute beauty that is there.

We drove through the Columbia River Gorge and made only one stop in The Dalles for lunch. We ate at a place called Mama Jane's. It was fun and we had some good laughs. The drive through Portland was torturous. I hate traffic jams. And we seemed to have them for hours. Finally we made it to our little highway that would take us to Newport. The road was twisty and slow but gorgeous. The Oregon coast is so green and lush. You truly can't see the florets for the trees and bushes and ferns and flowers. 

At Newport we caught our first glimpse of the ocean. I LOVE the ocean. I could live on the ocean and never get tired of it. Just a few short miles got us to Waldport and our Cozy Cabin. It was the near perfect place to stay. It was a couple blocks from the beach with no view but you could hear it. We shopped for groceries and cooked most of our meals here. It had a place for everyone to sleep and two bathrooms so all us girls could get ready easily. Trent is so good to get in and out so the hair can get completed.

Since we got there a little late, the girls ran to the beach while Trent and I fixed dinner. They had fun. It is always cold on the coast and mostly always windy but it doesn't matter all that much.

  

The next morning, Trent and I (i was so excited to go and Trent got up early just to make me happy) walked down to the beach while the tide was out. There are no tide pools on this beach just miles of sand. However we found a starfish that had lost its way. It was mostly dead but Trent put it back in the water anyway. There were plenty of puddles and streams to jump over and we had a great time. 

Once we were all ready, we headed north to Newport. Our first stop was Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. I love lighthouses. They are always in the most beautiful spots. I never seem to capture them in pictures but they are fascinating. Yaquina Bay was actually a house with the lighthouse on the top floor. We took the tour and learned a few things - like we are tall now.

Then we went to the Devil's Punch Bowl. Way out in the distance, almost so far you couldn't see, we made out an orca swimming. That was fun-ish. The punch bowl wasn't too active but was interesting. In a high tide, the water fills in and swirls around. This time we just saw the bottom.

Then we went to another lighthouse called Yaquina Head because this one is awesome. It is more traditional and has these birds that make so much noise you can hear them, and smell them, for miles. There is also a cobble stone beach full of tide pools and harbor seals that is fun to see. We climbed down to it and walked, very difficult I might add, along it. 

In Depoe Bay we all bought something warm to wear and Kenna bought a kite. We are chowder at the Chowder Bowl. I love chowder. Then we went back to Waldport. Shopping is exhausting.

In Waldport, we went to "our" beach to play. McKenna flew her kite because the wind is always blowing and you can fly a kite always, except it might have been too windy. It got a bit tattered. Amazingly, we found that sea star again and so we figured it was a sign to take it home with us. Not the best decision we have ever made, in hindsight.

After dinner, because it was so windy and cloudy, we watched a movie and most of us fell asleep. It had been a great day but an exhausting day. The wind can really zap your energy.

Life is good - being with family is such a blessing. We missed Collin!

The 5K Challenge

Back awhile ago, so long I don't remember when, our Stake Relief Society came up with this idea of a "Marathon to Moroni" meaning that we would run 26.whatever miles from St. Anthony to the Rexburg Temple. I thought to myself that is the craziest thing ever and only one maybe two people in our Stake are going to want to do that. But, then I learned that the marathon would be broken up into many different segments along the way. A friend of mine, in our Ward, said, "Robin, you are on my team." And in a moment of weakness, or stupidity, I said, "Yah, duh." But then I thought about how I can't even run from my door to the mailbox, let alone a "segment" of a marathon. Then, a long time passed, and I kind of forgot about it. When there is snow on the ground it is easy to forget about those things, 

Then came April and it was mentioned again and I had a choice to make, pull out with some excuse or get in shape to run. I decided to run. I started a Couch to 5k program with a friend. She was a dear to come with me at 5:00 a.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It was cold and it was very dark. But we did it and we were getting better. The program works on building strength and stamina in small increments. Usually, each week has one routine made up of timed running and walking segments. It starts off with alternating 60 seconds of running with 90 of walking and that was hard. There was no way I would be able to run 30 minutes. I was dying at 60 seconds. But we kept at it and got all the way to Week 3 when BAM!!! I broke my toe. Actually, it got broken. Sure it was just a little pinkie toe but it was a whole lot of big pain. For weeks I couldn't get a shoe on. So, I did nothing because I couldn't.

Finally I decided it was time to start again. I thought that we would start where we left off but NO I couldn't run three minutes. We had to start again, back to the beginning, as if we hadn't done a thing EVER!!! It was terribly frustrating and disappointing. I decided that the toe was probably just the excuse I was looking for and could now pull out quite easily. After all, the doctor said it could and probably would plague me all summer. But, I really needed to get in shape and this was a good goal to keep in mind. So, we started AGAIN! With an additional goal - The Pioneer Days Fun Run.

I had read about the dreaded Week 5 and wondered about it but I refused to look at it until we were there. Well, we are there and it is a KILLER. Day one makes a big leap and you have to jog for 5 minutes and then recovery walking  like 90 seconds, then repeat.  Day 2 makes you run 3/4 mile two times with a 1/2 mile walk stuck in the middle. That was a killer. Thought I would die. But, nothing quite prepared me for the shock of Day 3 - JOG 2 MILES NO WALKING. Seriously, it must have been an app mistake. I checked online and it wasn't. I didn't sleep very well last night thinking about it, and, my running partner was out of town. I was on my own. 

This morning I, reluctantly, put on my running shoes, which are very comfy and cute by the way, and biked to the track. It was pretty lonely over there. Just me and a hooting owl in a nearby tree. With great trepidation I started out. And I kept going, and going, and going. I was like the Energizer bunny on it's last bit of battery power - still doing its thing but not too quickly. Doesn't matter because I FINISHED TWO MILES without stopping. I came through it with a new sense of "Can Do!" And we will. And I am not even scared of the Fun Run now. I've got this!

Life is Good - and that is the longest/furthest I have ever run in my whole entire life.

On The Road (River) Again!

That's right. "On the road (river) again. Going places that I've always been." I was back in the kayak on Saturday. It has been a long time. Last summer, I didn't go one time. After getting Collin on his mission, I was a mess and couldn't get myself together enough to go. I really missed it and have been anxiously awaiting a moment to go this summer. Finally, on Saturday, I made it.

It has been sooooo not and our house seemed to be a sweat lodge. It was the perfect moment to go, but there was a problem. I couldn't find anyone to go with. After much begging, and texting, McKenna agreed to come and she brought her friend Tazie. Yay!!! So, we loaded up and off we went.

It was absolutely beautiful out there. The river was warm and there wasn't even the slightest hint of a breeze. That is a rare find here in East Idaho. We enjoyed our float, our conversations, and the beauty of the river. Awesome!!!

Within a couple minutes of pulling out of the river, a major wind storm came up. The glassy river was now a torrent of white capped waves. Now that is the East Idaho I've grown to know and tolerate. Glad we made it just in time. We'll be back out there again this week.

Life is good - and have I mentioned how much I love to kayak?

Waking Up in the City that Doesn't Sleep

This may come as a surprise to all of you (my two readers out there) but Trent and I went on a vacation to some place besides Chicago. We ventured past the Central time zone and survived! Last weekend we visited New York City. Check that off my bucket list.

We had planned to attend a Mets game right when we landed but due to Tropical Storm Andrea we were delayed and all games were canceled. That gave us time to introduce ourselves to the MTA subway system and New York style pizza. Chicago still wins the pizza contest, by the way. Since it was raining, no ... pouring, we decided we had better get umbrellas. They only helped a little. The wind was crazy and the water was deep on the sidewalks. Pretty much the only things that was dry were our heads. We had some great laughs as we watched umbrella parts blow along the sidewalks and float in puddles. Apparently, in New York, if your umbrella breaks you just drop it and continue moving.

Everything in New York is always moving. And NOTHING moves slowly. In fact, there are these signs everywhere:

I think they are serious. JUST KEEP MOVING PEOPLE! I guess with 9,000,000 people in the city there isn't really anywhere to just stand. Except, this place seemed to have some quiet, slow-paced patches. 

Central Park is a breath of fresh air. We biked around the perimeter of it. But, even the bike/running paths were like a freeway in Idaho (maybe Utah). It was busy and people were still moving FAST. Because of my broken toe, we didn't get to walk inside it. I feel bad about that but I loved our bike ride.

I loved the views from the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock). Once the storm passed, the view was beautiful and clear. I did learn something about myself while on these buildings. Architecture is not my thing. I would much rather stare at mountains, rivers, and wild flowers than a mega skyscraper. Trent, on the other hand, loves the city and the hustle and the bustle. I guess we should compromise and live somewhere in between the two - perhaps Portland or Denver. Even up here the crowd of tourists must keep moving. And down below, the streets are full of moving people. You can see them even at 84 stories in the air.

   

Times Square is a wonder. It is like the Las Vegas Strip on steroids. It is place of multi-sensory overload. The lights, the people, the sights, the PEOple, the smells, the PEOPLE, the movement, THE PEOPLE! I think it is something that everyone should experience. We did it during the day when it was just crowded. Then we experienced it after watching the Broadway play "Chicago" (does anyone else see the humor in that) at night. It was WAY WAY WAY more crowded then. We managed to swim our way through the crowd to a street vendor where we got a hotdog and went to a couple stores. The place is CRAZY!!! Would I go there again? Absolutely ... YES!!!

Another thing to cross off the bucket list ... Breakfast at Tiffany's. I love that movie. I love Audrey Hepburn and I LOVE THE WINDOWS AT TIFFANY'S. We packed our pastries at the hotel and took them to Tiffany's on 5th Avenue and I ate it there while Trent took pictures. I have always wanted to do that. We weren't exactly alone. On nearly each street corner were a hundred or so NY police officers. They were gathering for their patrol of the Puerto Rican Heritage Parade that would be coming down the street. They were expecting nearly 2 million people to watch the parade. Do you realize that is more people than live in ALL of Idaho? Crazy!!!

No trip to New York would be complete without a little American history. We went to the 9/11 Memorial Park which is a very special, reverent, and QUIET place. People slow down here to look, feel, and think. I like this place. I love the reflection pools and was touched by the names of all the people who lost their lives on that day. We also took a cruise out to the Statue of Liberty. Both Ellis Island and Liberty Island are closed due to damage from Super-storm Sandy and so you can only get close on the cruise. After having been disappointed (perhaps my expectations were too high) at Mount Rushmore, I had set myself up for just a little lady out there in the harbor. But, NO, Miss Liberty is AWESOME! She is beautiful and giant and a true symbol of America. She deserves to be because she is so great. I could have stared at her FOREVER!!!! I want to go back and visit her up close someday.

As recommended by my friend Don, we walked the Brooklyn Bridge. That was a lot of fun and quite a view. The bridge is under construction and so we saw a lot of nothing sometimes but when it was open then AWE!!! If I lived in New York I would walk that bridge everyday. Ok, probably not. Because if I lived in New York then I would have to work 24/7 just to afford some low-end apartment in Brooklyn.

On our last day, we stepped away from all the traditional touristy stuff and went to Highline Park. The park was built above ground utilizing the old rail lines in the meatpacking district. Someone with great vision turned this possible eyesore into a beautiful green spot. Once again, it was raining, but still the walk was enjoyable. 

I love museums and I was excited to go several in NYC. First we went to the Museum of Natural History. Mostly, I wanted to see it because I expected it to be just as exciting as "Night at the Museum" and guess what, it WASN'T that great. There is no Sacajawea or Teddy Roosevelt on his horse. There aren't any little village people building cities next to other village people with bows and arrows. The Easter Island head is just a plastic cast. Poor museum. I give it a thumbs down because of a fiction movie. I can't help it. I didn't like it. But, the MoMA is awesome because you come out of there thinking, "WHAT the HECK?" I am still giggling about some of the art in there. I am way too simple minded to appreciate its greatness. 

We quickly popped over to the Manhattan Temple, just so I could say I had been there. As you walk up from the subway, there it is. Moroni just standing there. Way different than any other temple I have been to. I slipped into the front door and took a *snap*. That was fun.

I absolutely loved our trip. We did so many things and came home exhausted. We did a lot more things than I have written about, too. We ate delicious dumplings at a dive in Chinatown. Walked thousands of miles. People watched at Columbus Square. Listened to thousands of different languages being spoken.  And we rode public transportation EVERYWHERE and it was so easy and cheap. Trent says all you need in New York is a metro card and smartphone. The system has to work in order to keep those nine million people moving, and not standing, because this city truly doesn't sleep. I can't wait to go again.

Life is good - and New York with Trent was great!!!

              

 

   

Just the Way You Are

When McKenna was a little girl she was the biggest tomboy around. She wore a ponytail everyday of the year. She never wore pink. She never wore lace or ruffles. She didn't dance. She didn't twirl. She hated dresses. She cried for hours at my sister's wedding reception, until we took the ruffle dress off. And no, there wasn't anything poking her. She just hated the frills. When other moms talked of their daughters doing Junior Miss when they were all "growed up" I definitely didn't include McKenna in that. What would her talent be? Shooting 3 pointers? reverse lay ups? serving a volleyball? blocking a shot? hitting in RBIs? solving a tough math problem? No, Junior Miss wasn't for her.

But then January arrived and a sign up sheet appeared in the office. McKenna's name was top of the list. What? When had my little tomboy turn into a girl? I was surprised but excited for her. For months McKenna has attended practices. She has studied up on current events. She learned to walk in high heels. She learned a very difficult piano piece. She learned to look poised and distinguished while sweating. She learned to smile when facing fears. She learned to talk to strangers and appear confident. And she learned to build the confidence of others. And after all the time, practice, and hard work, the time to shine arrived.

The Distinguished Young Women of South Fremont program was on April 20, 2013. Fourteen beautiful, and brave, young women radiated in a night themed "Just The Way You Are". It was wonderful. I admit, I shed many tears because they were all amazing. Here are a few pictures - very few because it was dark and they were moving - of McKenna's performance. The top picture is of the four soon-to-be-senior basketball players and their coaches. Next is of her during the final announcement. Third is her playing her piano piece, "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel. Fourth is during the opening number. The last one is of all the winners - Miriam Hollist (Spirit of DYW), McKenna (1st Runner-up), Emily Chelson (2014 DYW), and MaTazie Hobbs (2nd Runner-up). I think they were all tired of smiling.

We are so proud of her. She was thrilled. She received several scholarships due to her final placement and her winning one of two scholarships in Scholastic and Interview. She has grown up and definitely left her tomboy childhood behind. It comes out every once in awhile but a lady she has become.

Life is Good - and watching your children grow is a treasure!