Looking Back

Today I took the kids to the Healing Field display and was so touched as we walked around remembering September 11, 7 years ago. I know all of us can recall where we were and how we felt when we heard and saw the footage of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. I am so grateful for our country and for the freedoms that I took for granted. It is so important for me to take these opportunities to reflect so I am always appreciative. As we walked around the flags I watched other people, equally touched and choked up, and felt a unity towards all Americans, a respect for our current service men, and a reverence for those who have fallen as a sacrifice for our country. If you have a chance and are close by, you should definitely spend a few minutes walking through the Healing Field display. This flag has the names of all the people who passed away due to the terrorist act on Sept 11.


We have been chugging along the last couple of weeks, getting back into the swing of things. Grant started preschool and I am thinking he really likes it! He is a tough one to pull any info out of when he gets home, but he is always thrilled to go. That must be a good sign. This is him coming to the car after a hard days work of tracing the letter B. I just like the midstride action shot. Grant is still a garbage man in training. As we were praying the other night, I helped by saying a few phrases he could repeat. I said, "I am so grateful for my sister," He said, "Except when she is screaming ALL the time!" I said, "Bless the missionaries and help me to be good so I can be a missionary some day." Grant repeated verbatim, but as the prayer was finished he raced over to me, stuck his finger in my face and scolded me, "NO MOM. I am not a missionary. I am a garbage man." Now we are working on explaining how both of those ambitions can be realized!
Dave has been busy doing projects around the house. His dad was nice enough to come out and help us paint some rooms. One day while he was out here, we dropped Grandpa McArthur off at the temple. As we were pulling away, Grant said, "Aww...Grandpa is so cu-ute." So, it seems all of the family appreciated his visit!

Miss Katelee is a diva! She has begun dishing out her first dirty looks. I am now used to them, but she gave a long hard one to my friend the other day. She is a true girl...as I saw her walking around the house cuddling...no, not a baby doll...a loaf of bread. I could not get it out of her hands, she was kissing it, rocking it, adoring it. I know I am a carb lover...like mother like daughter I guess!!

Aloha!

We recently returned from our excursion to the Paradise known as Hawaii! Dave's work had their annual President's Club on the Big Island and then we extended a couple of days and spent some time on the sandy shores of Maui. It was Dave's first time to Hawaii and I had only been to Oahu before so we enjoyed exploring together. We stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa on the big Island where you have to ride a boat or hitch a ride on the monorail just to get around the resort because it is so huge. We went to his work banquets...where people tracked him down from across a crowded ballroom by following a waiter carrying glasses of milk, knowing that with an open bar, there are few people they know of that would order milk-sure enough it was their milk drinking Utah friend, David McArthur!
We went to church in Waimea, saw the Kona temple, explored Kona...
We went snorkeling where I swatted fish that I am sure were ready to attack...I am not too keen on the aquatic life, they make me a bit nervous. We went to a working cattle ranch and rode ATV's on the rolling hills overlooking the ocean. From the top you could see the other surrounding islands, it was awesome.
We drove all around the Big Island with our friends and saw waterfalls, the Waipi'o Valley and hiked to different views of the volcano. Apparently when our friends went before you could go right up to the flowing lava...this year, the volcano has a new steam vent and it is really unstable. The fumes are deadly and the crust is ready to fall into the ocean, so you can only see the lava from about a mile distance. We prefer not to fall into the waves to our deaths, so we decided to view the red from a safe view point!

I believe I am pondering the meaning of life here!

In Maui, we rented a car and they upgraded us to a convertible, so we cruised the island with the top down, venturing to Lahaina and relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Wailea.



Ahh...the sunsets, the luau, the fresh flowers, the pineapple, the tropical drinks...it was heavenly! We certainly missed our little ones and send a big thank you to Grandpa and Grandma McArthur for coming and staying with them. They took them all over: the zoo, aquarium, the park, the dinosaur museum, and with very little trouble from the mischief makers! Grandma said the secret of keeping my kids happy and good was to take them out all day, everyday! Sounds good to me-who wants to do my housework!? We thought about them often, especially when we saw other babies or garbage trucks passing by! (See previous posts about Grant's future in the sanitary arts). But, we knew they were in good hands!

Sights of Summer...

The heat is on and so are the parties! We haven't posted much, and while you may be thinking to yourself that we are boring (which may be a little bit true for a couple of us) I can assure you there is never a dull moment with the Grant-man and our little "Pretty" aka Katelee. Here are some shots of our seasonal favorites from this year:

-->Nature walks in the mountains, not to be referred to as hikes, see previous posts to understand Grant's aversion to those adventures!

Walking sticks a must, of course! (That is not a snake Grant is holding!)

-->Park play, especially when fireworks are involved!

Here Dave, Katelee, and our nephew Jordan are gearing up for the big show!

My dad can't contain his excitement...I think he believes he gets to ride in the tiger train next! Here is another favorite: parades!

-->Swimming, well this is pre-swimming:


-->play dates with friends, especially when it involves getting dirty!

--> and bike riding is a big thrill...Grant is just learning to pedal his bike, I need to get a photo of that. This is just Katelee in a time-out for running into the road! Sorry baby! With half of the summer left, there's lots of fun ahead!

*Side note: I am aware that Katelee has a runny nose in nearly every picture, the girl has some serious drainage issues we are trying to sort out. Sorry if the boogers disgust you, try to ignore them and just take in her cuteness!

Family Fun

We recently ventured out to explore the beautiful Southern Utah Canyons- Cedar Breaks, Bryce Canyon, and Zion Canyon. It was an adventure with lots of driving and bonding time that allowed us to truly practice the virtues of patience and gratitude! Day one: Cedar Breaks. This picture is overlooking Cedar Breaks; Katelee is eating string cheese not rocks, although she is known to chomp on the latter. Dave and the kids enjoyed a bit of branch/sword play in the overlook parking lots. Grant is new to the whole road trip experience and didn't realize that you can't tell us you need to go potty when you are already going, but actually as a heads up. So, we maximized the learning opportunity and Dave taught him how convenient it is to be a boy when in need of relief. However, this method still needs some explanation because our dear little Grant decided to use his boyhood as we were at a visitor center. He walked out the doors, and dropped his drawers right up against the wall, I turned around to see an exposed 3 year old and a class full of rangers and students observing! Yes, there was a restroom inside, but it must be more convenient to just drop the britches when nature calls.


The next day we went to Bryce Canyon. Grant kept asking where it was and when we reached it he said, "This is it? I want to go inside." Dave and I marveled at the grandeur and decided to take a small hike with the kids. Grant's enthusiasm for the exercise went something like this, (over and over) "I don't like hikes. Nah, I don't like em." I think he secretly loved it! We took the Mossy Cave/Waterfall Hike, the kids loved the river and tossing pebbles in...or boulders if you are Dave. Finally we finished off with Zion and I believe Grant enjoyed riding the shuttle buses more than anything else we did. We are definitely looking forward to hitting up those national parks in the distant future when our kids want to walk around on the more strenuous explorations.

Alas, I almost forgot to mention that I received my first speeding ticket while on vacation! That officer of Cedar City was in a tricky spot and I can no longer say I have a clean driving record. Dave was laughing cuz I always give him a hard time about his driving, and of course, I get pulled over with him in the car! Grant was worried the entire rest of the trip and kept telling me I was going too fast, the police were going to get me.

All in all, we had a blast and loved spending the time together enjoying the awesome scenery! There were a few "I want to go home," moments from Grant, the most difficult time for our boy was when we pulled up to our house, as we returned home. Grant saw our garbage cans left out and let out a sob because the garbage man had come without him being here! Apparently trips aren't worth it if you miss garbage pick up day. The last couple of days all he has said was how he wants to go back to his hotel!! I think we can chalk the trip up as a success!

The Stance...

Many of you are familiar with the Grant pose of one (or two) hands on his hips, as if surveying the surrounding scene. He demands respect and authority throughout the day, and this pose comes so naturally for those motives! It is really cute. I thought I would share for those of you who live far away and don't get to see it. He frequently puts one hand on his hip and when I ask him if he could help me, he replies, "Hmmm...fink fink fink, I guess I could help a tiny bit. Yeah, okay mom."



Katelee's signature position is yet to be determined, although I could argue she is most likely to be seen pulling at my legs and crying, "UP?"