Missing NoCal

As I sit in my quiet house with time to think about summer, I find myself missing last year.  We had such a phenomenal time in Humbolt County.   Moonstone beach, Fern Canyon, and Indian Beach are all beckoning me to return.

Summer is very different for us this year.  No long trip to anticipate.  No Trek to stress and prepare for.  Just busy days filled with chores, reading, gardening and trying to stay cool from the blazing sun.

Jaren is off at his second Scout Camp this week.  That boy is getting so grown up.  16 and driving.  Wanting to be his own person away from Mom and Dad.  Mom and Dad having a hard time letting go.  He is such a good good kid.  In the quiet, thoughts of him leaving in 2 years surface.  Have I taught him enough?  Is his testimony firm in the Savior?  Where will he serve?  Is he prepared to serve as close as Boise, ID?   2 years is going to FLY by.  Am I ready?

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

 On our "hike" up Bridal Veil Falls.

Another 4th Tradition that we look forward to every year.

 Family Photo:

My family is growing to fast!

 Getting to help put one of the balloons back in its bag!

 We look so festive!!

 My cuties!  

Cousins!! 

I've been on a blogging hiatus. Obviously since its been what, 7, 8 months since I last posted.  I decided to start back up again for many reasons.  The first and foremost is to document our life here at the Wood house.  My kids love looking back at what they did, what they said, and how crazy we all really are.  I've missed blogging and expressing the highs and lows of daily life.  So here goes kids, enjoy.

We had a very busy 4th of July weekend.  We woke up early on the 3rd, at 4:45am to make sure we made it to the Balloons in Provo by 6am launch.  We were on time and got a good seat.  Smokey the Bear balloon needed more room so we had to back up quite a bit.  We waited and waited and waited.  The balloons usually launch right at 6am.  I guess the weather was questionable.  Right before 7am some of the balloons started to fill up.  We had fun wandering around, like we always do, touching the balloons and getting lots of photos.  This is a tradition that my kids LOVE and miss it when we don't go.  This year was extra exciting.  The wind actually picked up and started collapsing many of the balloons.  A few of the baskets were getting carried away too.  You could see the panic in some of the peoples faces.  Some patrons were hysterical too, screams could be heard throughout.

 Here is one of the balloons trying to get quickly de-flated due to the wind.  

I love this photo.  Elsie, my niece is scared poop-less from a balloon that continues to sway over the top of us.  

Other things we did:  Swam at the reservoir.  Had so much fun running and diving into the frigid water.  Had even more fun playing on the random log.  Clambering to get on top for the chance to jump back into the water.  Cory, Sean, Brooke, Jaren, Isabel, Hannah and I had so much fun.  We finally got Kelli to come out for a minute.  Dawnia stayed close to shore, it was too cold for her. 

All of us in our hand made tie-dye shirts.

After the reservoir cleaned up and then went up the canyon.  The canyon was too hot to stay very long.  We did get a fun photo of everyone in their shirts.  We headed back down and had a bbq at Mike and Donna's.  

Beckham played in the 3 on 3 soccer tournament in the Freedom Festival.  His little team won.  

We played scum, ran to our neighborhood to watch a firework display that Rich and Cindy Smith put on.  Ran back to Mike and Donna's, had peach cobbler.  Try to track down the fireflies, but couldn't find them. 

We had a bbq lunch with Grandma Penny on July 5th.  Had fun working in the yard and visiting with Ryan, Michelle, Deric and Monica.  

It was back to Mike and Donna's for family dinner and family photos.  

By the end of it all I was completely exhausted.  I have nothing else to give right now.  I still get to teach the youth in church and sit with the 8 year olds in Primary.  I don't feel like doing anything for days.  But like they say, no rest for weary. 

Halloween at Fishbowl

Fishbowl, where my Dad works, started throwing a Halloween Party a few years ago. And as traditions go, it's gotten bigger and bigger with each passing year. My kids love it and ask when it is. My Dad looked Awesome in his Pirate Costume. The trick or treating was superb. Thanks to my Dad and fishbowl for entertaining us!

All smiles after loading on up on the "good" candy.

 

We are so Silly!

 

Mini Me Mouse

What a fun photo of them all!

 

Several years ago, I decided that I was being to serious with my kids and needed to let lose and shoe them that I can be silly and fun.  I didn't care how ridiculous I seemed to them.  I dance around the kitchen and try to laugh as often as I remember to.  Here I am in all my glory.  Crazy eyed and doubled chinned!!

 

Chicken at Work

Funniest thing I saw all day!

Fall Photo Shoot

Over the summer I found the perfect spot to take photos of my kids. There's a pioneer cemetery that looks over the valley with the Mountains in the background. I LOVE the mountains where we live. In the last few months I have grown to love them even more. The weather here has been stunning to say the least. Yesterday I rounded the kids up and we took some photos. I love how they turned out, the background is just how I wanted it to be.

Hannah Edith 14 years old

Jaren Elijah, 16 & driving in a month!

Grace Evora 5 years

No longer a baby, but will always be my baby girl

Annika Patrice 12 years

Isabel Charlotte 12 years

Beckham Patrick 9 years

September 2013 was the busiest I've ever experienced.  Soccer, Reffing Soccer, Cross Country, Driver's Ed, Early morning Seminary and a few more carpools to add into that mix.  By the end of the month we were all hanging by a thread.  It sounds so cliche, but kids grow up so stinking fast!  And the older they get the quicker the time speeds by.  

The kids complained as we were driving to our destination, which was all of 2 minutes.  Why do we have to take photos, blah blah blah blah.  I told them because I'm the Mom and I want photos of you all!  I hate paying for school pictures and even though I'm not a profesh, at least I can document what they look like from year to year.  

Pioneer Trek Day 2: They LIED!!!

It was no secret to anyone that day two was going to be the Woman's pull. I had imagined it to be difficult. My imaginings didn't even touch the reality of how difficult it really was. We spent a long time arranging our hand cart to fit the water jugs and our many buckets. As we lined up in our Company a rider came up on his horse and called all the men off to war. They grabbed their buckets and took off a-walking. It seemed a bit chaotic and strange. My husband went off without kissing me, and my heart ached as I watched him walk away. Our Stake Trek consisted of about 700 people. The scene before me was quite emotional. The women literally watched hundreds of men walk away from us. As I watched the sea of men move away from us and up the trail, I felt some of my strength leave. I never realized how much strength Brent gave me just being by my side. I get emotional just thinking about it.

 The women had a devotional and they talked about doing hard things. Yes, we were about to engage in something Very Hard, difficult really. Luckily for our company we were third in line. My Anxiety grew as I watched other women begin their struggles up this daunting hill. I'm mad I didn't get any pictures! I sent both the camera and video recorder with Brent. The hand carts in front of us were slipping in the first few feet of this steep hill. As we awaited our turn, the cart in front of us began to slip back down the hill. Hannah(not my daughter) and I ran up to help them get going again. My heart pounding, and out of breath I raced back to my own cart realizing that I had just spent much of my own energy. Then it was time for us to go. I knew I was trekking with some strong girls. I am so grateful for those young women who I pulled, and pushed with up that hill. There was only 4 of us. Two in the front, and two in the back. I chose to push from the back, better for my own weary back. Along the trail, "Angels" were there to help us up some of the more difficult portions. I kept my head down knowing that tears were at the surface. As I was putting all my strength to push, a Brother came right up next to me and quietly said in my ear, "We are on your left, and on your right." Again, I get emotional as I recall this memory. I thought of all the "angels" that God has sent to me in my life. And there have been many. A little further up the hill(it was a long arduous trail with huge rocks and holes to complicate the climb), another Brother jumped right in front behind the cart. I once again had to hold back tears as his job of helping had finished and he leaned in to kiss his daughter. He was the Dad to one of the girls in our family, McKell. So sweet that I began to cry. I don't know what other women's pulls have looked like. But this one seemed to go on forever, testing the strength of my spirit as well as my physical body. Finally, as we came towards the top of the hill I spotted our hot pink bandanas, our MEN!! I literally had to hold back sobs as I saw the face of my husband and the boys of our family. I had to keep my head down as not to allow my emotions to get the best of me. Brent stayed behind to film the rest of our company come up the hill. When he finally caught up to me I let all my emotions out. I cried into his shoulder and told him, "If I never have to do that again, I will be just fine!". The women's pull was about 1.5 miles in length. I was exhausted. For me, it was more difficult to watch my husband walk away from me. Because some of my strength left with him, it made it that much more difficult to traverse that mountain.

This was only the beginning to a very very very long day.  We ended up trekking about 10 miles when they told us it would be between 7-8.  

Right after the women's pull we sat down had lunch.  We checked our feet and off we went again.  At this point we were on the top of the Mountain.  Just as we were crossing the ridge a Thuderstorm accompanied by Lightening and Rain pounded us.  The trail became muddy and the tires of the cart quickly became caked with mud, as well as our shoes!  This made walking so much more difficult.

In normal circumstances I would be in heaven.  I LOVE lightening and thunder.  But not when it's right over my head.  At one point I was between carts trying to get some mud off my shoe, and instantaneously lightening struck right above my head and thunder clapped in my ear.  I threw myself into a crouching position and covered my ears while I heard other people around me let out cries of fear.  I think I even swore. That part is a little blurry.  The part that isn't blurry is the real fear I heard in Bishop Hansbrows voice as he yelled at us to keep going, that we needed to get off the ridge.  At that moment I realized that we were in a dangerous situation.  We trekked in mud for nearly two miles.  We were told that there would be port-a-potties every 2 miles.  They purposely moved it off the ridge to keep us going.  It was MISERABLE.  And this was right after the Women's Pull!!!

  

Brent jumped in to help the boys pull.

The mud complicated everything!

Mud on my shoes!

View from the Top of the World

A few of families from our Company.

Still thinking their in a race. 

Wildflowers!

The wildflowers were stunning.  There was pink, purple, blue, yellow and white.  I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Ephraim Canyon.

McKell, Whitney and Hannah

The only reason we made it through the Women's Pull

Our Family

After trekking 2 miles in the mud, we went an additional 6 miles.  The second half was far more enjoyable.  It was an easy down hill.  The scenery was spectacular and walking side by side with my husband was powerful.  When we finally got to camp I was spent.  My body ached from head to toe.  I just wanted to lay down and sleep for a week.  But our adventure wasn't over.  After dinner we participated in Square dancing.  I thought, "there is no way I can get this body of mine to move another inch!".   Brent and I went out anyway and boy did we have fun.  We danced and danced until it was dark.  And I've never had so much fun dancing with my Husband.  I still can't get over that I could dance after all that we'd been through this day.  

As I went to bed I lathered up in Deep Blue and took some ibuprofen.  I just knew I was going to be sore in the morning.  How was I going to manage to go another day?  

Trek; Stand Ye In Holy Places: Day One

Back in February Brent and I were asked to be Ma and Pa's for this summer's Stake Trek. I pretty much begged Brent to have us be a part of such an amazing experience.  He wasn't so sure, in fact, he really didn't want to go.  He knew how hard it was going to be.  I just knew I wanted to be apart of it.  After every Ma and Pa meeting I got more and more nervous and kept telling myself, "What did I get myself into."  I'm glad I insisted, it was just an amazing experience.  Difficult, but worth everything that was put into it.

Hannah, Jaren and Brent.

Still all smiles

Heritage Ward

We had about 45 youth from our Ward alone participate.

Brent announced the other Sunday that we have 110 youth in our Ward. 

The Views from Ephraim Canyon were Breath Taking!!

The Hand Carts.

We opted not to take one of these.  

They weighed about 75lbs heavier then the other ones.

Selfie

My Handsome Pioneer

I'm not sure what I would have done without him.

Nate and Jaren.

We played Missionary Tag while we waited for everyone to get up the Canyon.

And we're OFF!!

All the kids in the Stake were split up.  Each Company had 5 families.  Each family had between 7-9 kids.  In the beginning it was awkward to get to know each other.  Everyone was quiet and shy and not sure they wanted to be where they were.  I know that there was a lot of time spent on splitting up the families just so.  Brent and I were grateful for the youth that were placed in our care.  They were good, hard, strong workers.  We heard hardly any complaining.  They literally put their shoulders to the wheel and pushed along!

Our Family

Brian, Whitney, Hannah, Matthew, Makel, Ashton, and Eric

The boys pulled for the first part of the trail.  I thought it was hard to keep up with them.  Then the girls took over.  You'd think they had something to prove.  We had to pick up our pace even more just to keep up with them.

The Trail:

You have no idea how NOISY they were!

Brent kept assuring me that the kids wouldn't be going very fast.  Well, he was wrong wrong wrong.  We pretty much were in a race the whole first day.  A few of us had to stop to go to the bathroom. Our family didn't wait for us and it took us about 30-45 minutes to catch back up to them.  It was a bit chaotic that first day.  But the kids had fun and it wasn't too difficult.  Although I went to bed with sore feet and a sore back, I woke up in the morning ready to tackle the next day.  We had no idea how hard day 2 was going to be!