Make-Believe Monday: Bakers in Aprons

Among the other crazy dress-ups we've collected the past few years, we had no aprons. Thinking that chefs and bakers should be basic among the make-believe options, I found online patterns to follow (apron and hat). They were easy to make (I did adjust the aprons to be a few inches narrower and the hats' bands a few inches shorter). I paired some Summertime prints I had on hand with bright ginghams. Sure, I could have gone more traditional and classy with white, but I think the final products below burst with character and cheer! Pretty cute!

The girls had seen me prepping to sew the aprons, but had no idea of the hats to match. They were very happy with how they turned out. Tyler, in contrast, was pretty upset when I didn't pull one out for him as well. He had to eventually settle on a pile of goldfish in a mixing bowl. Sorry, Bub, only two sets were made.

Excited to use the real pots and pans from the kitchen, nothing more was really needed. Easy enough. But, I did add blank recipe cards, to sneak writing in. Meg carefully listed ingredients. Paige detailed the pictures of what "Customer-Meg" ordered at her "Bakeshop."

Current grown-up List

Thought I'd record the current list I hear repeated from the girls. That "when I grow up I want to be" list that will change repeatedly before an occupation is finally selected. Seems to be a repeated conversation from the back-seat, lately. Along with the discussion that a girl can indeed do any and all jobs. And the affirmation that some people do want to drive garbage trucks.

Each's list is pretty telling of current interests. And constant personalities. We'll see what the future holds, but for now...(in the order told/ importance):

Meg:

a Mom,

a Vet,

a Doctor,

and a Dentist.

Paige:
a Firework Shooter,

a Rodeo Rider,
a Cheerleader,
a Swimming Teacher,
and a Doctor.

Ha. Yes, I suppose the world does need some firework shooters! Although, another job might be needed for the other 362 days of the year...

King of the Hill

I'm certain every child makes a complete mess of the diaper stash, at one time or another. Or countless times. That and unrolls every inch of the toilet paper roll. Here is Tyler's recent undoing. Diapers tossed around. His mess, however, was more a means to an end. Really, who wouldn't want the prime seat inside the Costco box?

He was a happy king of the hill for a moment...until something seemed more interesting out of the closet. Then, his "uh, uh" and hands raised above his head signaled the need to be lifted out of the cramped quarters.

Make-Believe Monday: Bug Hunters

The girls have shown great interest in the potato bugs outback. Truth is, we have to scoop out dozens of them each time we open the sandbox lid and want to play.

Adding some magnifying glasses was an easy way to extend "bug hunting" beyond the sandbox for a day. First, I dumped our collection of plastic bugs into our sensory buckets. A good way to explore camouflage. Some could hide easily. Others not so well.

Later, I handed each of the girls new "bug catching lockets." I picked them up cheaply at the local garden store. I'm sure something similar could be found at the dollarstore or in seasonal sections. Each "locket" had a magnifying glass built into the lid. Easy way to more closely examine the bug caught within!

With help, the girls caught small spiders, ants, and a beetle. When something was captured, they would excitedly show the other, then sit for a moment on a garden stone to watch it, then get concerned that it needed to be released back to its home. Hmm. Was it sincere concern for the critter, or the fact that an empty container means a new catch?

How easily bugs could be found among my lettuce leaves makes me a bit weary of a fresh salad. Repeated rinsing, for sure!

Visiting: Ogden Temple on Washington

Heading back home, we drove the downtown streets past the Ogden temple. A drive-by was all it could be. Currently under major renovations, it is surrounded by chainlink. The majority of the chainlink was filled with Christmas tinsel. Perhaps that was the economical route for coverage, but I would have hated being the one to string it vertically through the fencing.

We will likely go back when changes are anticipated to be done in 2012-2013. Maybe walk the kids through the open house. While the inside design is to stay similar, the outer appearance is to be very similar to the Draper temple. That will be a dramatic face-lift and update to the area! I had no idea those were the plans.

But, for now, we peered through our car windows. Meg got out and posed near a barricade, but then quickly hopped back in. "You are standing on the sidewalk of Washington Boulevard in Ogden, get back in the car," as Matt reasoned!

Utah Temples to Tour:

•Bountiful
•Brigham City
•Draper
•Jordan River
•Logan
•Manti
•Monticello
•Mount Timpanogos
•Ogden
•Oquirrh Mountain
•Payson
•Provo
•St. George
•Salt Lake
•Vernal

birds, houses, and alot of grass

As Matt walked out to go fishing Friday night, he left saying two things: "thanks" and "Saturday is anything you want. Anything you want." So, once the kids were in bed, I started searching the Internet for possibilities. Kids would be with us. No fancy date. The kids were all pretty sunburned. No waterparks or extended hike. Perhaps a temple visit? I checked the areas we hadn't been. Ogden. That's be a close turn-around. Now, to double it up. What else is in the Ogden area? Google..."The Ogden Nature Center...a 152-acre nature preserve and education center open to the public year-round. Visitors enjoy 1.5 miles of walking trails, picnic area, tree houses, bird blinds and an exhibit of live birds of prey." Birds. Bird house contest on exhibit. Easy, marked trails. And FREE on Saturday's ALL SUMMER! Yep. Free being key, that would work!

We headed up in the afternoon. Easily exited I-15 and found it. The displayed birdhouses were a bit different than I'd expected. Less formal, I guess. Less state-fairish. They were simply hung along the pathway from the parking lot to the visitor's center. Some are permanent pieces, others were just entered as part of this year's contest. Seems pretty open-ended to do. Maybe we'll participate some time. We would have walked slower and taken in more details, had the mosquitoes not been out in mass.


The Best of Show: "A Bird's House is His Castle."

Another of the kids' favorites.

Then, of course, Tyler got up close and personal with the statue's frog.

He wished he could have gotten that close to one of the two wandering turkeys. For him, this trip solidified that a turkey says "gobble-gobble." Hearing it feet away, he stood on the path and mimicked back the feathered friend's noise.

After a quick walk-through of the gift shop, we headed out to see the birds of prey. This part of the place had very much of a Wheeler Farm/Aviary feel to it. Three buildings of birds that the kids could watch up close. Most of the birds brought in were injured, like the bald eagle that's wing had been shot in the wild. But, they still were pretty magnificent.

Then, we headed off on the trails. First highlight, the "Bear's Den." The kids (and Dad for moral support) were able to climb down in. Kind-of a shadowy picture, but for a short moment all four of them were in.

Next key stop, a lookout at a pond. Fun to climb! Low and high peeking holes! But, really nothing more to see than nasty, dirty water. That was a disappointment that required a fruit snack pitstop before continuing on.

And on we went. With paper map in hand and marked signs at crossing paths, one would think that it would be an easy trail to follow. Surprisingly it wasn't. As un-natural as it may be, a weed whacker/mower needs to go through and more clearly cut down the paths. That might cut down on the times we got off course and had to high-tail it across high-grassed fields to what looked like the right spot. Add to that the facts that Paige and I were in un-sporty flip-flops unsuited for poky weeds, this year's extra wet season creating muddy areas to cross, and Matt's allergy to grass kicking in full gear. Um. Not especially happy campers at that point of the hike, but to complete the full-circle, we continued on.

Thankfully, it wasn't that long. No more than a mile loop, really. Once back in the car, we b-lined it straight to a gas station for drinks, eye drops for Matt, and a sink to wash off in (a ghetto gas station that made us feel dirtier than before). I felt a bit bad for Matt. Quite bad. But in the back of my mind I also thought, "well, you told me we could do anything/I hope your time fishing on the lake was worth it/it really was a pretty area if it was less buggy and overgrown..."

I'd mark it as a place to visit. An easy hike walk with the kids and a secluded area with beautiful mountains as a backdrop. I'd just be sure to wear good shoes, take bug spray, and Benedryll if someone will react to grass allergens.

long reaction to a long fishing trip

This weekend has been a long, sleepless one. Hadn't planned it that way. But, when I come home at 5:00 Friday night to Matt's van in the driveway, him already showered, and a smile as he said "I just need a 'yes' or 'no'," something is obviously up. Turns out he wants to go fishing. Right then.

My initial reaction: "No way! Are you kidding me? You know how desperately a mom can be waiting from Friday's workday to end, right?!?" My second reaction, after a deep breathe: "I know you want to go, but the kids really need time with you." My third, final reaction: "Take the girls for a pizza and bring home a Redbox. That will get me 'til bedtime, and you can go."

Of course he supported my third reaction. Problem was, when there was no Redbox to be found I was left with crying kids as he peeled out of the driveway. Luckily, bedtime wasn't too bad. Tyler went right down. The girls froze in their beds in hopes that I'd return and start a new chapter book. I realized that my Friday Night's entertainment was to be "Stuart Little," but it wasn't too bad.

I spent the next bit looking up something to do the following day as a family (following post about Ogden). I finished a book that was overdue at the library. I climbed in bed and tossed and turned (I don't sleep well when Matt's gone). Finally, I fell asleep.

But, come one-thirty, Carl's wet dog nose woke me up. He was anxious. I let him out. Checked the driveway thinking Matt's approaching truck may have alerted him. Nope. No truck. I stumbled to the clock (no contacts in equals no sense of time). After one?!? How in the world did a fishing trip that started at five last this long? Normal? No, I don't think that's completely normal. I pick up the phone and call Matt's cell. Two attempts. No answer. Really not normal now.

My I'm-home-alone-my-husband's-on-some-unknown-water mind kicks in. Where did he go? I had no idea, he hadn't left detailed plans because he didn't know when he left. When was he supposed to be back? He didn't tell me that either. I realize. Bad communication. But, I think on both our ends, the uncommunicated was that he'd be gone for a bit and be back around 10ish. Latest.

My mind begins racing through how I can get a hold of him. I don't have his boss's (who he's with) cell number. I don't really want to call the on-call guy and get the whole company of men involved. I don't really want to call the cops and get all of search and rescue involved. What would I tell them anyways? He went to some water somewhere... But really, I bet the boss is home sleeping comfortably in his bed and Matt got lost on the drive home. That is if the boss made it home. Perhaps something happened to both at the water and the boss just doesn't have wife that freaks out so easily.

I try Matt's phone one more time. By now it is well after two.

Three rings in he picks up. Nonchalantly as if everything is great he answers. His "hello" sounds like some punk in the middle of a frat house. Things are fine. He's on his way now from Willard. Go to bed.

Right. Just go to bed.

I hung up. Cried. Mostly tears of relief. But, mixed with tears of exhausted bottom-of-the-totum-pole emotions too! Are you kidding? No thought to call. No reason to worry when I have no clue where you are in the middle of the night. No explanation for the kids when they wake up in a while and ask where Daddy is. Ugh.

Of course I don't go to bed. Instead, while my mind continues racing, I debate putting out an empathy call out on Facebook. Facebook - that sounding wall when other opinions and responses are wanted from the virtual void. I type "Dear fisherMAN, if you race out by 6 PM, neglect telling anyone what body of water your body is at, avoid two phonecalls at 2 AM when your wife jerks awake and realizes you're still gone somewhere on Utah's highwaters, then FINALLY nonchalantly pick up...your wife WILL have freaked out and visualized the worst..." I click off and attempt to lay in bed.

He rolls in well after three! He climbs in bed smelling of fish. I head to the couch. When Tyler wakes up in the morning with a stinking diaper, I plop him in bed with Matt. I head back to the couch. It is Saturday now. That "day to do anything I want."

I get up not long after. Get breakfast going. Check in on the computer. Replies on Facebook give the repeated impression that the night before's lack of checking in is very much a "man thing." His place in the doghouse or on restriction would be understandable. My "overreaction" was perhaps normal (I do realize that there were countless others who just shook their head and thought I was crazy/am crazy to think any of this is worth putting in print).

Although my middle of the night reaction still seems not normal or understandable to Matt. (Insert differences in Men and Woman. Insert bachelor freedom verses family man. Insert stubbornness on both our ends.)

Took most of Saturday morning and a trip I took solo to the Farmer's Market to calm down a bit. Took some voiced opinions at church this next day to perhaps validate both sides. Took Father's Day to slow down and verbalize the need for him to be here. My reality: I was scared about you being gone. What in the world would I do if you were gone? Perhaps it was a scare I needed to remember to not take for granted what I have.

His realization (perhaps a bit forced by my loud repetition): You have a family at home that just wants the assurance of knowing where you are. That's all. Call home. Then go and continue having a great time. We realize your need to get out. Just realize, too, that you're a loved family man who has kids questioning your whereabouts (alright, I realize they're asleep and oblivious to all of this "fight" we're having...but at least assure your wife you're returning). That's all. :)

Oh, and Happy Father's Day! We are grateful you are home with us. Grateful that the late night turned into nothing more dramatic than a wife reacting to a late night.

Up a Size

One thing Matt and I want to accomplish this Summer is teaching the girls to ride a bike. Really ride. Not just balance on a bike that's too small. Not just rely on training wheels. Matt doesn't want to have "some nerdy kids who can't ride a bike because their parents failed them."

The girls had small 12 inch two-wheelers all of last year. As their legs have grown longer, watching them make circles on our small patio has begun looking something like a clown on an exaggeratedly small bike.

While they can ride, they can't really ride. Not independently. It seems like other kids at similar ages have the skill down (not that I'm comparing, it is just something I want my kids to get confident with). And, it seems like I learned much younger. But, I think that is because my house faced West and had a flat sidewalk out front that I could ride corner to corner on. Repeatedly. I blame the girls' lack of bike balance on the fact that we have a cracked up driveway that either dumps into a busy thru-street or drops off the edge into the neighbor's grass. And the sidewalk has enough of a slope going down that they pick up too much unwanted speed. Not really a prime practicing place. Matt doesn't think we can blame it just on that. He blames lack of time put into it.

So, to help the out-grown bike situation, we made use of the local thrift store. We picked up two bikes (and a helmet) that are in good condition. They are just the next step up. Maybe 16 inch tires? Still nothing overwhelmingly huge. New air in the tires and elbow grease on the frame, they will work great for this year! The girls are ecstatic about their new rides - to the point of Paige including, "Please don't ever let me change my bike again. I love my new bike so much!" in our dinner prayer!

To help out with the location and time, we're determined to make use of local tracks, parking lots, and other sidewalks. Making the time is the key.

After bikes were cleaned to go, we loaded them into the truck (yes, Matt, a definite benefit of having an open truck bed) and headed up the 1800 South, Tuesday night. The girls were off! Training wheels are still attached, but won't be for long.

Tyler started out keen with the "being pushed" stage. I am certain by the end of the season he'll have the peddling down.

There was some reverting in bike size...

But, Paige's switch in bikes was a kind gesture to accommodate little brother's interest in the two-wheeler...

The race is on...

The race to be first around the track. The race to master the two-wheeler. The race to successfully get out this Summer rather than crash in front of the TV.

The mechanical zoo views

We headed up to the zoo on Saturday, to put our first-time annual pass to good use. I quickly realized that having an annual zoo pass has two great perks. First, the dad might be the one initiating the trip, knowing that no additional price needs to be paid (Matt was the one to say, "Let's go!"). And second, you can bypass the ridiculously long ticket line and head straight through the gates. Being a perfectly sunny Summer day, the entrance was crowded! Would have taken over 45 minutes to just enter. No exaggeration. We are not crowd people. So, having no payment and being able to immediately go in certainly were bonuses this time!

Once in, we began making our rounds. Near the elephants, a foreign family asked if we'd take their picture. Once done, we I asked them to return the favor.

It was while posing in front the huge/live/amazing elephant, that I realized that the kids were far more interested in the nonliving/mechanical/water-spraying "creatures" at the zoo. Sure, we stood and watched a jumping monkey reach through his cage to grab leaves, we got an up-close view of a rhino's horn, we laughed at the countless prairie dogs chasing, and we pointed out our favorite giraffes. But, really, Paige's insistence on watching an over-sized elephant spray the next visitor summed up where the kids' attention was this trip.

I guess you can't blame them for having their attention diverted when there is a moving train, displayed dinosaurs, dinosaur "bones" to dig, park slides, and the race to the carousel's perfect inanimate animal. With such a collection of painted metal, who really needs live creatures that move? Not these three it seemed.

Admittedly, I also enjoyed what I saw when my back was to the cages: The lady who, unknowingly, stood in the direct line of a dinosaur's water spray! The grandma who insisted on holding up the train's departure while getting her camera to work. The lady teetering backwards on her carousel animal while akwardly posing for a perfect picture. The couple trying unsuccessfully to calm down their old boys who were screaming about the dinosaurs. Yes. I'm a people watcher. And, although people are more animated than metal, I guess that isn't what one's goes to see at the zoo. Or is it?

Nah, it didn't really matter to me that the kids weren't taking in every movement at every cage. It quickly became obvious that there is the third perk to having an annual pass: There was no pressure to hit every possible corner. What wasn't especially interesting this time, might be next. What was too busy or far away, could be explored another day. When "done" we could be "done!"

When we go again, I'm sure something completely different will become the focus of the day.