A Perfectly Sensible Conversation

Today is Opposite Day (in case you didn't get the memo).
Gray asked me if it was Sunday. I said, "No."
Aiden: Remember, Mommy! Today is Opposite Day.
Me: Grayson doesn't get what opposite means, Aiden.
Aiden: Today is Opposite Day, Grayson. Do you know what that means? Liiiiike, what is the opposite of yes?
Grayson (thinking for a minute): No!
Aiden: What is the opposite of hammer?
Me: There is no opposite of hammer.
Grayson (about two seconds after I began my response): Screwdriver!
Aiden: What is the opposite of train?
Grayson (really enjoying this game now): Monster Truck!
Aiden: What is the opposite of Truck?
Grayson: Car!

At that point, I had to walk away. They were beginning to make too much sense.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Do you hear it? Do you hear Julie Andrews?

After about a week of ominous looking clouds threatening to soak us and yet little to no rain, it has happened! We got a good soaking Sunday evening and man did we love it! It was short, as monsoon rain is expected to be. But we made the most of it!

We went outside and many of the neighbors were already out there enjoying it. The kids grabbed plastic grocery bags for catching the runoff from the roof and out of the nice gutters. It was great. Then they'd spin around in circle as the water sprinkled out from holes in the bag, spraying anyone within range. I steered clear of the icky water.

Enough rain to get the gutters flowing well!

Gray felt the need to put on a jacket for some strange reason??

It was enough to pull me away from my reading for a few hours!

Which leads me to my next favorite thing...dramatic pause...FABLEHAVEN! I know, I'm always late to jump on these bandwagons. But really, that is the only way to go, because if I had to wait in between publishings I may have lost a grip. Anyhow, I LOVE this series! I had been hearing whisperings of these books when I should have heard yellings!

I'm just gonna say it at the risk of offending all the Harry Potter fans out there...it's way, w-w-w-w-aaaay better than Harry Potter (although there are a lot of similarities, I just enjoyed the plot twists a lot more and the writing...it could be the American in me). And...fairies, and demons, and dragons...OH MY!

So I finished the fourth book last night. I read and I read and I read, Bret put the children to bed, and I read! I read like the wind, Bullseye! I couldn't put the thing down yet again. I will tell ya, the first book was a bit difficult to read, rather anticlimactic...but I was forewarned, so I pushed through it...and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED, boy howdy! I was giddy with anticipation-giddy, I tell ya! And at one point and time I would have squealed like a school girl. But one glance at my slumbering husband forced me to contain myself. So I cracked my knuckles, bit my lip and I sallied forth!!! I finished it at 11 p.m. and couldn't get to sleep afterwards. The last time I looked at the clock it was 12:30 a.m. and I didn't fall asleep until well after that. I should have just started the last book! Blasted hindsight!

Do you get how much I love these books? If you haven't read them and you get the chance...DO IT! I would loan you mine but they're on loan to me from my very gracious nephew who I was informed is rather protective of them. And now I understand. Sarah, tell Carson thank you for me....thank you, thank you, thank you for these most awesomely awesome books!

That is all.

Carry on.

And now I'm hearing the Mesa High song.

And now you are too.

If you went there.

TWO!

Today is Mabel's birthday! But we already celebrated with a little party on Saturday. The theme was her first initial, "Mm". We had hoagie sandwiches (a must in the summer...I didn't have to cook anything!).

We played a little pin the "M" on Mabel and did a prize walk.

Then we sang to the birthday girl and had cupcakes and ice cream. Time to open presents! Let the mayhem begin! But first, Aunt Sarah can't stand to have Miss Mae's hair all disheveled. In my defense, she didn't start out looking homeless. Faith had it in two cute little pony tails, but Mabel ripped them out! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!

Back: Kelsie, Amanda, Carson, Jackson, Mabel, Faith, Max Front: Gray, Lauren, Ressa, Aiden, Tyla, Conner, Tyler, Everett

Guymon Reunion 2010

On Sunday we returned from Bret's mom's family reunion. The weather was PERFECT. We had sunny warm mornings, then a storm would blow in and pound us with rain and the rest of the day would be perfectly cool. LOVED it...especially now as I prepare to brave 115 degree weather...ICK! Mabel and I flew into Salt Lake City on Thursday. Bret had already driven up the week before for his brother's wedding and more camping. Bret picked us up from the airport and we made the two hour drive to Hidden Springs Ranch in Altamont. The Ranch has a ginormous three story lodge. The place is perfect for a large gathering like ours...except for the drive and sleeping arrangements. Bret and I lucked out this year and got our own small room! The only drawback was it was next to the game room and quiet time wasn't until 11pm...it's a good thing my kids can sleep through ANYTHING!

Anywho, the lodge has a downstairs with all the community rooms, a community bathroom with about five showers and five stalls. Then, as mentioned, a game room with air hockey, ping pong, and foosball. The main floor has three different seating areas (all quite large), a large screen tv, a kitchen, and an extra bathroom. The upstairs has five individual rooms where Bret's parents and Aunts and Uncles stayed.

We made it in time for dinner the first day. It was raining as we were driving in, so it was chilly when we got there. We had time to eat, get settled into our room, and talk to all the cousins who were already there before we were exhausted.

Friday we did initiations. This is where the "Heap Big Tribe" as they call themselves welcome any new members into the family. This year Grayson (since we missed the last reunion) and Mabel were initiated. They told and acted out a story about an old Indian rite and then shared a little about Grandpa Guymon and presented the kids with a copy of the stories and a dollar from Grandpa Guymon. It was really cute.

We took the kids to feed the fish in the pond at the front of the cabin.

The front of the cabin.A boat ride on the pond.

Then it was time for the Rook tournament. Bret and I lost in the second round. The view from the back balcony...there's a large grassy area, then off to the left is a heated pool and jacuzzi.Another drawback...no baths, only showers. So we gave the little miss a bath in the kitchen sink. Mabel loved it. Every time we walked through the kitchen, Mabel would start taking off her pants and say, "Bath."That night we sat down for movie night and popcorn. We watched The Blind Side. Most everyone else I'm sure has seen this movie, but it was my first time. I'll have to watch it again, though, it was kind of hard to hear. But I really liked what I did see.There's a large barn about half a mile to a mile away from the main lodge. It's used as an activities center. We spent an hour climbing the big rock wall. Then went inside the barn where Bret played PIG with his dad and the kids kicked a ball around the court.

They also have a place for skeet shooting and a paint ball field. It really is a neat place! I just wish it weren't so far away!

Biggs Reunion 2010

Mabel, Grandma Chloe and I hit the open road Saturday morning. Destination: Pinedale, AZ. Mabel provided the musical entertainment from about Payson to Pinedale...

However, she serenaded us with quite a different sound on the way home...think Scream-O Band. I saved you the pain by not recording that one!

My Uncle Harold and Aunt Donna own a sizeable piece of land in Pinedale where they built their retirement home. So we all just camped out on his lawn!

Uncle Donald made some of his homemade salsa (cucumber and original...YUM!).

There were some horses on the back half of Uncle Harold's property. Mabel kept asking to go see the "horseats". I finally relented and took her back to the fence. We stood there for a while, the horses off in the distance. Then the horses (I assume they thought we had food because the other kids had been feeding them) started trotting over to us. Mabel took a step back as they began their approach. Then she took two more steps as they got closer. Then she took off running and screaming when she realized they were going to come right up to us! It was hilarious! She stopped when she got a good distance away. I pet the horses to show her it was alright, then she tentatively came back. But she would not come within more than six feet of the fence and she most definitely did NOT want to pet them.

This was my view for most of the first day...needy Miss Mae. "I hold you , Mommy."

I always have a good time with my dad's side of the family. I love to just sit and shoot the breeze with them. My Uncle Donald's sons and I could banter back and forth for hours...good times, good times.

I swiped some of cousin Brett's salt water taffy and played guess that taffy flavor by taste and appearnace. He gave me one and asked if I could guess what flavor it was, and of course, I got it right! It was cherry cola, by the way. He apparently has no knowledge of my special food powers!

Sunday Morning Uncles Donald and Harold made some yummy breakfast burritos! Andy, the vegetarian that he is, made cheese crisps, so I had some of those, too!

We played a game called ASAP, where you flip a category card, and a letter card and you have to be the first to name something in that category that starts with that letter. I made my own rule, they had to come up with the funniest answer. Whoever made me laugh the hardest won. Andy won. Although, Lynda was a close second when the category was boys' names and the letter was 'U' with her response of Ungus. What the????! So we renamed Shanon's son, Cisco. Andy and I called him Ungus for the remainder of the day...Maybe you had to be there??

And you know me, I've always got to get a close up of Mabel (in Gray's absence)and her messy faces!I played some Five Crowns with Kelly, Bailey, and Emily. I picked Kelly's brain for the good places to go yard selling. Lynda sat back and offered advice to Bailey. Codey, Tyler, and Madison were inside playing John's game (Generals of the Revolution) which is a highly complicated game. Lynda was helping Bailey play Five Crowns. Emily, Bailey, and Madison are sisters, by the way. Anywho, Emily made the comment that Madison (the younger of the three sisters) was inside playing Generals, while Bailey was outside struggling to grasp the concept of Five Crowns (a much simpler game). I nearly busted a gut! After I got done getting the crap kicked out of me at Five Crowns, we moved on to Mexican Train. Mom and Kathy joined in. I continued to get the crap kicked out of me! Well, Bailey lost, but I didn't do much better.

The kids enjoyed the zipline Uncle Harold has in his front yard (purchased by Kelly at a yard sale I might add). You can barely see Marissa in this picture zooming on down, with Ungus watching. Codey got a nice little burn along the side of his neck from it and he said someone else got a burn under their chin...I wasn't about to try the thing myself.

I would have had more pics, but Mabel's songs took up a good portion of my memory stick. But good times all around!

Rowley Reunion 2010

This past weekend we attended the Rowley reunion in Monticello, Utah. The weather was perfect. The bugs and fish were biting. My kids were complete messes once again.

We were up on Blue Mountain which is a gorgeous mountain. We camped just near a little lake. While Gray went golfing with Bret, Aiden was busy catching a fish with Grandma Yellow (Rowley). I wasn't there, so no pics. I was in the tent napping with Mabel after another long night! We played some cards and some folks shot some guns. We ate great food (why does food always taste better when you're camping? Maybe that's why I enjoy camping...it's all coming back to me now!) We threw the old horse shoes and rode quads (well I didn't, but Bret and the kids did...I have a slight aversion to riding these things...not that I've never ridden one, just I usually choose not to).

This is Bret and his partner, Melanie. They made it a little further in the tournament than my partner and I did.

Here's Aiden. He's enjoying the horseshoe tournament...and having his picture taken. And check out that mountain behind him! Didn't I tell you this mountain was gorgeousity!

This is my horseshoe partner, Hayden. We lost both of our games. The first game I carried him (not very well...I think we got five points) and the second game he carried me (with TWO ringers I might add!). Poor kid could have won if he'd had a decent partner!

Folks just lined up to get a peek at this tournament!Who is that masked man?!
This is Amanda. Amanda loves Mabel. And we love Amanda because she takes care of Mabel...when Mabel will let her.

Gray and one set of twins dirtying it up!
The kids waiting for someone to take pity on them and give 'em a ride!Gramma Yellow and Miss Mess!Miss Mae and Gray sitting on the air mattress from the outside of the tent. That's innovative!

The last night we were there we all sat around the campfire and Bret, his brothers, and their cousins shared memories of their grandparents, some funny, some sentimental. This is Uncle John, Hayden, and Uncle Sam, starting the fireside.

This mountain has more deer on it than I think I have ever seen. You can't drive up or down it without seeing a deer. We snapped this one on our way out. It's really fuzzy, but you can see the doe on the right hand side with it's little fawn jumping behind it.

And for the first time we spotted a bear as we were leaving. He was just sitting there a little ways off the road. I had my camera packed in my purse. By the time I got it out and turned on, Bret said, "Hurry, hand me the camera!" and spooked the bear and he took off. Yeeeeah, so no pictures of Winnie the Pooh this time!

One reunion down, two more to go!