Dang Angela and Her Ashes...

I don't read much these days. I think the last time I was reading-for pleasure-on a regular basis was when Kennedy and Julia were the only little Tatro children. I would read because I had always been a reader and got great pleasure from it. I would sit and devour a book, unable to put it down. Then at the end of the day I would look around me and my house would be a mess and my children would have been neglected all day, sent off to entertain themselves while I read my book. I would feel bad and tell myself that the next time I would just read a chapter at a time. I would just read when the baby was down for a nap, for just 1/2 an hour. Or maybe just when the kids were in bed. Turns out i didn't have the self-control for that. But I've been missing it terribly. I read a book back in May when I went to the beach and it felt so good to be between the covers again! So I've been thinking about giving myself another try. It's hard to get to the library, though. I mean, especially the adult section. Picture books, sure, but grown-up books? Historical fiction? (My fave genre). Not a chance. Well then a couple days ago Lincoln comes home from work with a stack of books his boss loaned him. In the pile was Angela's Ashes. Hey! I said. I should totally read this! Everyone else on the planet has. It's a sign. So I began. I've done pretty well so far with the whole not neglecting my kids thing. But I've been up late. Bawling my eyes out. Let me just say here that I rarely, if ever, cry when I'm watching a movie. But books. Books are another story altogether. I cry like a baby. I'm about half way through the book-No spoilers in the comments section please!!!-and I just want to finish it to end the pain. So if anyone has a good light read they'd like to recommend for when I'm done with this heart-wrencher, please let me know!

The Thunder Rolled...

I was trying to capture the fantastic storm clouds that rolled in one evening. These don't really do it justice, but you get the idea.



Jesse was feeling very cooperative one evening for a photo shoot. He kept saying, "Cheese!"


Following are more Wisconsin countryside photos. When Lincoln came home and saw the pictures I had taken it made him want to go out for a drive. So we loaded up the kids, bought thm Happy Meals and us some subs, and hit the road looking for great shots.






I love the Wisconsin River. It is deep, swift, and beautiful. We found this area with a great pull-off and boat launch. Lincoln intends to return here to fish on Saturday morning.

Another New Header Picture...

That's right. I loved the last picture but my husband pointed out that it didn't really match with my blog description. I knew that, but I really liked the picture from vacation. So I put it there for a while. I went out this afternoon for a drive with the kids, looking for the perfect shot to put up for my header. I wanted something that would really capture where we live. I'm not sure if this picture is perfect, but it's pretty good. Here are some more shots I took on my quest. A couple are blurry, but would have been great.

My Green Thumb...

I can grow weeds like nobody's business. Remember my grand plans for my garden this year? Remember how I wanted to do some canning and pickling? Well, I've adjusted my hopes and dreams. Now I'm just looking to harvest something- ANYTHING. Actually, my leaf lettuce is fantastic. In fact, as I was planting it, the wind blew seeds all over my garden so there are tufts of leaf lettuce all over the place. My tomato plants are coming along, though I ended up planting half as many as I had planned. See, I had started tomato plants myself, from wee little seeds. The last time I did this I had such a fantastic crop I had more than I knew what to do with. This time? Not a single one survived. So I had to go buy plants. They are fairly expensive. I did not like it. So, fewer plants. I planted 5 hills of cucumbers, hoping to get at least enough to try one batch of pickles. Three hills came up. The plants are still pretty small, though they are beginning to flower. I planted 3 pepper plants. I have one golfball size pepper so far. My onions are slowly coming. They are maybe 6 inches high and as thick as thick spaghetti. I planted one row of carrots for fun, for the kids. Kennedy, bless her heart, decided to help me out by weeding for me. She pulled up half the row of carrots, thinking they were weeds. Kennedy's cabbage she started at school seems to be doing pretty well. It has lots of big leaves, anyway. And then my beans. I really wanted beans. I wanted to can beans. I planted three poles of beans. Probably not enough to can, but whatever. They started to come up, one or two of them, and then died. Nothing else came up. So in a last ditch effort, I replanted beans just before we left on vacation. I sprayed for bugs first, ( I think it was cutworms that got 'em), and replanted 4 or 5 seeds at each pole, and several rows of bush beans where I had extra room, you know, where my tomatoes didn't get planted and my cucumbers didn't come up. I still have hope for the beans. They are coming on pretty well now. Maybe I can do one canner full?

I have learned a thing or two for next year. 1. Amend the soil. Manure, baby, it does wonders. 2. Plant earlier. 3. Start only tomatoes in the starter box. Or at least things that germinate at the same speed. 4. Build a higher fence.

The Destruction Continues...

OK, so Cheyenne (the dog) chewed the license plate off the front of Lincoln's car and she continues to gnaw her way out of her chain-link kennel. What in the name of all that is holy is her deal? Neglect? I know all you pet lovers out there are thinking it. But honestly, she has survived so long enduring neglect, why get all bent out of shape about it now? I think she's losing her marbles, personally. She's certainly helping me lose mine!

The Moments that Make It All Worth It...

A conversation last night with Devon. He was fresh from the bath and snuggled into clean jammies:
Me: How'd you get so cute? You're the cutest boy ever. You and Jesse.
Devon, looking disappointed: I want it to be just me.
Me: Well, you're the cutest Devon. You're my favorite Devon ever.
Devon, grinning: And you're my favorite Mommy ever!
Me, smothering him in hugs and kisses: Ohh! Thank you!
Devon: Isn't that the best?



Yup it is. It is absolutely fantastic to be someone's favorite, especially a Mommy.

Crazy Lazy Days of Summer...

This morning was Kennedy's first day of basketball. At 9am. Let me just say here that I have been getting up at 9am since our return from Las Vegas. It takes time to adjust to the 2 hour time difference. Don't mock me. It does. It doesn't sound like a big difference, especially since we were only there a week, but it took its toll. We would stay up late partying the night away, or at least talking and drinking berry Fresca, and turn in at 12 or 1 in the morning. That translates to 2 or 3 in WI time. Then we'd sleep until 8 or 9 which would be 10 or 11. Are you following the math? Can I quit adding it up for you? Anyway, we managed to get out the door in time for Kennedy to get to practice by 9. Or maybe 5 after. Or so. But they hadn't started yet when we got there so regardless of the time she wasn't late. Right?
We also managed to fit in some pool time this afternoon. Irene has done great at the pool without a swim diaper. It's not a fun stage for me because I have to keep running her to the restroom. And is it just me or is everyone grossed out by pool restrooms? The floor is always wet- which obviously is from pool drips, but it still grosses me out. I have to tell myself the whole time I'm in there- "It's just pool water, it's just pool water." Then there are always clumps of soggy toilet paper on the floor because if it hits the floor and gets wet ain't nobody gonna touch it. And then there's the whole problem of wiping a wet bottom. How can I wipe her when she's so wet? The toilet paper sticks to her legs and tushy...AAck. So gross. And finally the colossal effort it takes to pull a wet swimsuit up her little body. I may run out tomorrow and buy a tankini for her to save the time and hassle. Seriously, it seems like by the time I get the whole process complete she's had time to work up some more pee and we start all over again. But YAY for her and no more diapers. In fact, now that she and Jesse aren't splitting a box of diapers anymore I was able to go back to size 3. Which means we not only save because there's only one bottom to diaper, we also get 10 more in the box for the SAME PRICE.
I ended my day with a trip to the grocery store and some Ben and Jerry's frozen yogurt. My work here is done. For today.

To My Loyal, Supportive Readers...

RENIE IS POTTY TRAINED!!!!!

One more to go.

The Vegas Leg...

Let's finish this story.

Tuesday was July 1st. We stayed at Jenn and Dawson's all day and enjoyed being able to just chill. The kids swam in the pool and Lincoln and Dawson went golfing in the afternoon. It was great to watch all the kids play happily together and enjoy one an other's company. That evening we cooked out and my cousin Jessica and her family came over to eat and swim with us. It was so fun to finally see her. Jess and I have always been close. We're the same age and incredibly cute- two peas in a pod!


We've traveled across the country together a few times and lived together in Salt Lake for a while. The last 5 trips I've made across the nation have involved her in some way- either I've traveled with her '94 and '95, or to her '00, '02, '08. It's always fun when we get together.

Tuesday night Lincoln and Dawson went to a midnight movie. It's an enduring tradition of theirs. Meanwhile Jenn and I try to stay up late talking but our eyelids get heavy and we give up and go to bed right about the time the guys are probably picking their seats at the show. We all have our traditions...

Wednesday we kept pretty close to home again, though Jenn and I ventured out on a shopping trip. I needed a new dress for a night on the town we had planned for Wednesday night. In the process Jenn convinced me to buy a new bra that I love! No more droopy boobs for me! Seriously, I NEVER buy myself bras. I just take hand-me-downs. I don't have much up top so it never seemed worth the money. But boy do I love this bra. AND it only cost me $7.50 on sale! Well worth it. Did I mention I love it?

Wednesday night we left our kids with Dawson's parents and went to the Rio to catch a show. It was fun to be out- just the adults, Me, Lincoln, Jenn, Dawson, Jess, and Erik.





We went to Tony and Tina's Wedding. It's a fun audience participation show. Basically it's just like going to a spicy Italian wedding. You get dinner at the reception, there's some dancing, some drama, lots of laughs, and the actors are all over the place all the time just like actual wedding party members. Admittedly, and as you would expect, some of the humor was a bit on the crude side. It wouldn't have bothered me as much if our table mates hadn't brought their kids with them. ("Hey! I think I got that one!" Oh good. Glad you have been exposed to that information! They were probably 12 and 15.) Anyway, we had a good time. Jess caught the bouquet and Dawson got to be the cowboy during YMCA.




After the show we went to the Bellagio to see the fountains- my favorite thing to do in Vegas- and the flowers inside.



Aren't Lincoln and Erik cute in their matching outfits? They weren't as amused but they good-naturedly let me take a picture.


The hot chicas.


Thursday was our day to say good-bye to Jenn and Dawson and make the move over to Jess and Erik's house for the remainder of our stay. We met them not too far from Circus Circus and had lunch with them before going to the Adventuredome at Circus Circus. Adventuredome is an inside amusement park. We spent most of the day there running from ride to ride. The kids had a great time. It was the first time our big girls got to go on rides made for big kids. They loved it. Julia had no fear whatsoever. The only one Kennedy backed out on was The Inverter. Jess and I discovered we're getting old. That didn't stop us from riding everything, but it did leave us feeling lousy! Renie and Bridger and Devon really enjoyed the little kid rides. Most of them were pretty impressive for little tykes and they grinned and giggled through them all.




When we got back to Jess and Erik's everybody was pretty wiped out- bedtime is easy when they fall asleep instantly.

Friday was the Fourth of July. We took the kids to the rec center to swim for an hour or two. It was so hot we couldn't even walk across the light colored concrete surface without burning our feet. They have a huge kiddie splash pool there and 2 decent size water slides. The kids had fun cooling off for a while. After swimming Lincoln and Erik took the big kids shopping (our girls had money burning holes in their pockets) while Jess and I took the little ones home and started cooking. We had a yummy Fourth of July cookout and then took the kids to Sunset Station to see fireworks after dark.






When we came home the big kids played Wii until much too late and then we hit the hay.

Saturday morning was departure time. We loaded up and hit the road by about 8:30. We drove a couple hours before we had to stop for gas. We got out of the car and any thoughts that Jenn and Dawson and Jess and Erik had put in our heads about moving to Vegas instantly evaporated when we stepped out into the 20 degree cooler air with a nice breeze. Suddenly I could breathe again for the first time in days. So Las Vegas is fun to visit, but we'll never move there.





We ended up driving straight through on the way home- 27 hours. We decided we would like to move to Colorado, however, so maybe we;ll see you there!

So here's the recap-
Our kids are fantastic travelers.
Our friends and family are the best ever.
This country is absolutely beautiful. Traveling abroad sounds nice, but there's A LOT to see right here at home.
I love roadtrips.
Camping is the way to go.
Can't wait for next time.

Now- who's going to come visit us?!

The Saga Continues...

So Sunday morning we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of Belgian waffles at the Packs' and then loaded up our car for the next leg of the journey. We sat in the shade in the front yard at Chari's waiting for my friend Charlene to arrive from Salt Lake so we could drive to Bryce Canyon together. It was getting close to noon by the time she arrived and we had said our hellos and goodbyes and hopped in the car. I rode with Charlene in her car so we could catch up. We led the way and Lincoln will probably forever be irritated because she drove 90 mph the whole way. (That is not exaggeration for your benefit. She literally drove 90.) But we were able to spend a lot of time catching up after not being in contact for 8 years. We arrived in Bryce Canyon and met up with our dear friends the Whites. They had driven up from Las Vegas to camp with us that night. We spent a fantastic evening checking out the canyon,



cooking hot dogs and s'mores, and hanging out around the campfire.


The stars were magnificent and the company was perfect. Charlene left around 1am when we all decided to head for bed. Poor Charlene had hours to drive back to SLC, I still haven't talked to her to find out how it went. I feel bad but I am so grateful she was willing to make the drive. She's one of those friends that you never have awkward getting reacquainted time with. You just pick right up where you left off. Love you Char! Let's really keep in touch this time, K?


Monday morning we had a yummy breakfast of eggs and bacon cooked by our mountain men over the campfire. Jenn and Dawson claim to not be the camping types but they were great! Thanks for humoring us, guys, with "primitive" camping!


After breakfast we packed up camp and saw some more of the canyon. After a bit Devon didn't want to get out at the scenic view area. Lincoln told him he had to get out. When Devon asked why Lincoln told him it was because it's pretty and he needed to see it. Devon said, "But why Dad? It's just rocks on this side, rocks on the other side!" So between Devon refusing to get out of the car, Renie refusing to hold a hand (Hello! We're on the edge of a canyon!), and Jesse being tired, the three little ones did not enjoy the morning's explorations. The big girls were sufficiently impressed, however, and overall we had a nice time.

After we were done at Bryce we drove an hour or so to Zion National Park. This actually worked better with the kids because we didn't have to get in and out of the car. You're actually driving along the base of the rocks looking up. You don't have to park and walk to an overlook at all. Here are some shots from both parks.






We ate lunch in a little cafe in the park and then drove on to Las Vegas, arriving in the early evening. We spent the evening cooling off in Jenn and Dawson's pool. It was dang hot. We watched the thermometer in the car climb to 115 as we drove down toward Vegas.