These Weeks

The past few weeks in pictures:

Spring is upon us. 

Noble planted a little peach seedling in the corner of our garden a few years ago and has nurtured it even though I told him I wasn't sure it would produce anything. This spring for the first time it blossomed. It is beautiful.

I see this little tree as a metaphor for Noble's life. We have been trying to teach him a lot of things in his life about what is true, how to live and find joy. I hope like his peach seedling he will give place for those teachings and nourish them...and see them miraculously blossom and produce good fruit.

 Thank goodness for the two little boys who live at our house! They bring so much joy, and excitement, and wonder (and sometimes exhaustion). We all love them so much! I am forever grateful that Heavenly Father had two more in store for us.

Asleep in the same bunk.

Lunch time with Abner and  his buddy (the Kemp's youngest) and big sister.

Climbing the hammock in the warm April sun. 

Showing off his work from preschool.

One of the things I will sorely miss when my kids are all grown - little kids' soccer games. Here is Abner with his team. (Notice the kid with the pirate hat.)  While our other kids have ramped up slowly when it comes to sports, Abner is already a force to be reckoned with on the field. He scored a hat trick (3 goals) in his first game.........after he'd finished crying for half the game on the sidelines about not wanting to play (first-game-ever nerves).

 It is the sweetest thing in the world to still have a couple of kids who want to snuggle up and sleep.

 Our animals are fat and happy.

Literally, Pluto is fat from her winter of leisure (mostly spent in the house and garage, eating). With the weather warming up she is on the prowl on the easement once again...keeping the rodent population at bay.

River has made a miraculous transformation (coinciding with the acquisition of his new shock / vibration training collar). He is now able to roam with relative freedom around the house and yard, and behaves himself around little children and new people. He has learned that life is MUCH better when he's not constantly on a leash or in a kennel.

Nature appreciation

We had a couple of moon rises this past month that were sublime. Here is one I tried to capture with my phone.

A Near-Miss

Last night Noble had a run-in with the neighbor's dog line (like a zip line for dogs to exercise). It was dark and  he was running full-tilt across their yard. Next thing he knew he was thrown to the ground by the throat. Today his throat is swollen and his tongue too where he nearly bit it off. Ouch.

 More Reno With Roy

A few boulders had to be moved to finish the back patio. We had to transport them to a new home in the yard. This was Roy and Mike's genius solution to moving them. It was pretty effective.

The Vampire Room is officially gone! Demo day in the basement.

More demo. Roy rented an industrial sized tile remover and the boys went to work chipping up all the tile in the basement kitchen. Roy says that he found the one thing the previous owners did that was built right: the tile floor. Unfortunately for us. It was a bugger to remove. And it made a TON of dust. I hate that part.

Mike spent about 6 hours yesterday grinding / buffing the residual mortar left from the tile. What a mess. But we are now down to the bare concrete floor. Our plan is to make a finished concrete floor in the kitchen / soon-to-be game room.

Meanwhile Upstairs...

While the grunts worked away in the mud and the dust downstairs, Jessie was upstairs getting ready for prom. Thanks to Holly, who helped us line her dress. It was lovely. 

Jessie didn't get out of work scott-free though. She started her day pulling weeds. Her date told us later that in between morning and evening sessions of prom (ha ha - one of the things I love to hate about high school dances is the all day activities they plan with it) he was home pulling weeds as well. Our respect went up for this kid...or at least for his parents. 

Prom 2016

Meeting Up and Skipping Town

Last Saturday night Mike and I got together for dinner with this bunch. Good friends from high school days. Out of all the people in this photo, only 4 did not go to school with us. I sure love these guys. We laughed until we cried.

Mike had a weekend get away - just the two of us - to Bryce Canyon planned for my birthday. It's been a challenging week here at our house - and we almost didn't end up going. So glad we did. We stopped on our way south and spent time in the Payson Temple, getting some peace and clarity. Bryce was stunning this time of year with the melting snow, contrasting with the orange hoodoos. We enjoyed a couple of days with time to talk, be together and soak up the beauty all around  - it was so perfect. Thanks Mike!

Also, this trip was a big milestone for our family; the first time we have left our children overnight on their own (sort of - I had my sisters check in on them). The kids did an amazing job! Not only was the house still standing, but they had done their jobs, taken care of the animals, and managed to get along...all without Mom and Dad there to prod them along! We have great kids.

We'll Always Remember the Blue and the White...

It's sort of a weird phenomenon to have our kids growing up in the same place we grew up, going to the same high school that we went to. While each new milestone with our kids is uncharted territory, somehow everything seems vaguely familiar...

Jessie on her way to Bingham Ball with her friend, Danny.

Not a great picture, but this shows the color of her dress better

The guys from the block.
These dudes aren't in high school yet, but their parents went to Bingham too. SoJo has a lot of "repeat customers" - people who grew up here & who have settled back here with their own kids...so we have a lot of shared history.  By the way, I love this picture. It will be a classic one day. 

Noble lettered in Cross Country at Bingham this last week.  (Deja vu.)
Noble with his friend Jacob Haynes and their coach (Coach Arbogast retired two years ago). A  little brag time: Noble was the only freshman boy to letter, and was awarded the freshman mvp plaque. He was born to run. Also, as Mike pointed out, he was recognized for wearing the best tie (Mike is taking credit for the fashion-forward gene).

So I took Noble on a history tour to the trophy case where still hangs the 1990 team cross country photo - my second year on the team and the year of their first state championship.  Good memories. 

Living full circle.

There is a Reason They Write Songs About Mondays

Some days you wonder if you should have just stayed in bed. I thought about journaling about my day Monday, but in my heightened emotional state Monday night, decided to give it some time. So now, from the wizened perspective of two days on, I will add the events of  Monday, 27 April to the Melton family historic record.

Monday dawned a cool spring morning. I coaxed the kids out of bed as usual for scripture reading and prayer where I had to continue prodding to keep them awake, after which, they filed off to get ready for school. I say that loosely. A few got dressed (& ran next door to their piano lesson), one started goofing off with his little brother, and one went back to bed. At 3 min to go-time (when the Expedition departs the garage) as I was raising my voice at one child to get his shoes on (for the 10th time), and encouraging 2 others to get their teeth brushed, and for someone to take the dog out. The one who went back to bed (Noble) wandered up the basement stairs to inquire what time it was. When I replied that we were leaving in 3 min he started a desperate negotiation to buy enough time to shower. I told him, "Too late. Skip the shower." Even though I knew very well that my 8th grade son would sooner sign away his long board than go to school (where there are girls to impress) without completing his full morning hygiene regimen (shower, hair dryer, teeth brush, mouth wash, deodorant, hair coiffing paste). In some unexplained time-bending phenomenon, he trotted out to the car as we loaded up 5 minutes later (we managed to give him 2 extra min) showered and fresh (but without breakfast).

After dropping the kids at school I pulled into the driveway and noticed the dog (that stupid dog!) standing there in my garden. The garden I had spent the ENTIRE day Friday cultivating and planting. He had dug up all my mounds, trampled all my seed beds, and topped it off by pooping in the peas. I stomped out in my pj's and tried to lure him out, to which he responded by growling his "I dare you" growl at me when I approached him. (I admit to repeating under my breath the words, "I hate that dog. I hate that dog...." again and again.) When I finally got him out of the garden and fixed the wire fence around the garden which I thought would keep him contained (my first mistake). I went in to get on with my day.

After dropping Abner off at preschool, I came home to do my exercise and clean up from breakfast. As I walked into the basement to get on the elliptical I was greeted by a giant mess, making it quickly apparent that certain children had shirked their weekend duties.  Then I walked into their bedrooms. Ugh....walking into my kids rooms is stress-inducing. A half eaten banana, empty dishes, dirty clothes on the floor, clutter...Before you ask, yes we DO have rules prohibiting all these things. (Last week in the boys room I found something extra special....ever heard of a trucker bomb? Yes...that. The suburban version. It's a good thing that I have learned to be suspicious when I see something out of the ordinary. I didn't need to open the container to confirm my suspicion. Later, when the culprit offered his excuse, it was pretty laughable. Ask me sometime. Oh, these boys.) I made a mental note (several) to talk with the guilty parties after school, and withhold allowance.

11:15 rolled around and I picked Abner up from preschool. Once home he started in on the raisins in the pantry. Every time I turned around I found him breaking into a new box of raisins. I kept shoeing him away, and he would return after a short time. Like a mosquito. I finally asked him to go play outside while I finished cleaning up. He asked if he could take a treat to the dog. I said yes. So Abner began rummaging through the pantry to get a dog treat himself. It wasn't long before he managed to knock a full quart jar of last year's applesauce off the shelf with a crash.
*sigh*
I came and took him by the hand, led him around the impact zone, handed him a dog treat, and expressed my frustration. I told him to GO OUTSIDE. So he did. I spent the next 10 minutes cleaning up broken glass and a quart of splattered applesauce off all surrounding surfaces.

No sooner had I finished the applesauce clean up, than Abner casually walked through the garage door and announced that the dog was out. "Out? What do you mean, 'out'?!" I deduced from my hasty 30 second conversation with my 3 year old that Abner had opened the driveway gate and River had made his escape. I ran out and started calling for River. Nothing. I asked Abner where he went. He was a little bit vague, but pointed down the road. I grabbed my keys and ordered Abner into the car, and I called Mike. (Again, the words: I hate that dog. I hate that dog....) Mike apologized, but there wasn't much he could do.  We drove around the block, asked a neighbor to keep an eye out, at which point I was ready to surrender River to his fate. When we got back I decided to look more thoroughly in the next door neighbor's back yard. As I walked toward the back corner of their yard I saw River's hairy head pop up and look at me. Caught! I tied River up in the house and got back to the normal demands of the day (trying to get up to speed after missing my Young Women's leadership and class presidency meetings the day before for my parent's mission farewell, attempting to set up last minute visiting teaching visits, finishing plans for Tuesday's YW activity, laundry, etc.).

The usual time for Jessie's arrival from school came and went. Sometimes she checks in and asks to stay after for different things, but I hadn't heard anything from her. I finally tried calling her and she texted back that she had stayed to study for the upcoming AP examination. I made another mental note to talk to her about communicating better with me ahead of time.

Meanwhile, Abner ate about 500 more raisins.

On the way home from the Montessori school I brought up my concerns about the disastrous state of the basement and bedrooms. Groans from the kids. This continued after we got home which led me to get even more frustrated and tense and stern with the kids, right in the middle of which Jessie decided to call for a ride home. Under the circumstances I was short with her over the phone, then apologized and explained some of the contributing frustrations of my day. She was already offended when I picked her up for taking my frustration out on her over the phone. I immediately took that bate and got all up in her face for not letting me know she would be late coming home from school. To which she responded that she HAD told me last week sometime (I vaguely remember this), by informing me (in passing) that there would be an AP study group meeting alternately A days one week and B days the next. What? I CANNOT keep track of which days are A or B days and I CANNOT be expected remember all her MANY commitments. I require frequent communication. I explained all this to her, and told her how important it was, especially on a day like that one where I had stuff coming at me left and right.... but she just got more angry and sassy. I tried to stay calm, but I am pretty sure I had a little bit of talk-show-head-swagger ("oh no you di'n't") going on as I told her she was out of line.

After that I cried. First, not the last, time that day.

Meanwhile, Abner ate 200 more raisins.

I picked up my shopping list and got ready to head to the grocery store, but not before pleading with Noble to PLEASE help out while I was gone, and to set an example of positive attitude for everyone (noting that Jess was still sulking around). And I went to the grocery store with red eyes.

We had dinner sans Mike (he was teaching a Monday night Econ class) where I proposed that we all help with some much-needed weeding in the yard after our meal. More sour attitudes. But I had anticipated this, and while at the store picked up coconut Sobes to offer to anyone who would help me. And thus my crew was assembled.

As we headed into the yard Tillman ran to tell me that he thought Abner might have thrown up in the hallway. I told him to go find out for sure. After a more thorough investigation, the verdict was not throw up but diarrhea in the hallway. So I left the weeds to the kids and went in to take care of Abner. Just as I feared: too many raisins. After cleaning Abner up in the shower, we returned to the weeding where we actually made some good progress (most satisfying part of the day so far).

At this point I was running out of stamina and made a deal with Noble and Tillman that they could watch an episode of Top Gear if they would do the dishes and clean the kitchen. They eagerly agreed, and I sat down for a moment of much needed repose. But when I walked out to check on them I found the kitchen still a mess and that my kitchen crew had completely dropped the ball - each blaming the other. Fed up, I took over and did the dishes, and after a not-so-harmonious family prayer, sent EVERYONE to bed without discussion (except Jessie who had more homework to do).

Later, I split the little boys up and sent Sully to go to sleep in my bed because they were wrestling instead of sleeping.

With the dishes done, and totally worn out, I sat down on the couch. I had a headache.

Later when Mike got home, he came over to condole with me about my day. I was so tired I soon got up to go to bed, picking things up as I went. I walked into the bathroom, eyes half -closed with exhaustion and sat down to use the bathroom, only to discover to my despair that Sully had gotten out of our bed, used my bathroom (half-asleep I am sure) and peed all over the toilet seat. The one I was sitting on.

I cried. Again. (Mike says I screamed. That was probably true.) That was the last straw. I cried as I turned the shower on and washed myself.  Mike was a sympathetic spouse and came to clean the bathroom while I cried myself out of the shower and into bed. Where I slept SOUNDLY.

My consolation is that Tuesday was a great day. Luck will always change. You just have to wait long enough.

Bryce and Grand Back to Back

We decided when the kids had some time off from school this Fall we wanted to visit Bryce Canyon. I also really wanted to take them to the Grand Canyon, but we weren't sure that we'd be able to fit both. Luckily, it all worked out. It was awesome. 

The first evening there we took a short hike to the Queen Victoria's Garden via the Sunrise Point trail. 

Thor's Hammer on the trail to Queen's Garden.

The evening light was so beautiful.

After our hike we decided to go to dinner at the highly recommended Bryce Canyon Pines. We know we have a big family, but we were reminded in a big way of how unconventional that is. We ended up having to wait an hour an a half for an 8-person table, and then the entire time we ate, all the European tourists seated around us stared continuously. I had to smile.

The kids were extraordinarily well behaved considering we didn't get to eat until 9:00 PM.

We stayed that night at the Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, a sister hotel to Ruby's Inn at the park entrance. We'll stay there again.

One of our favorite hikes in Bryce was the short double trail called Moss Cave. One spur of the trail heads off to a really cool window formation. The kids would have spent all day playing there if we'd let them.

We left Bryce late in the afternoon after seeing more of the park. We headed south to St. George along THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF HIGHWAY I HAVE EVER TRAVELED. The part of highway 89 that runs down through Hatch along the Sevier River, then cutting west on highway 14 to Duck Creek and past Cedar Breaks. Heaven must look like that.

We spent that night at Mike's parents' house in Washington. The next morning we struck out for the North Rim with Mike's dad coming along for the adventure.

I don't think I have ever been on that road before. It was eerie driving through Springdale and Colorado City. Those places are just unsettling.

We stopped in at Jacob Lake before we entered the park and Grandpa bought one of their famous cookies for each of us. If you go to the North Rim, I definitely recommend a cookie from the Jacob Lake Gift Shop.

 The Grand Canyon in the fall is extra spectacular. The scope of it boggles the mind.

 Mike strategically sent me away so he could  take this picture. I almost break out in a sweat still just looking at it. I was so jittery with the kids all day whenever a ledge was in sight - even with a hand rail and chain link. I don't handle cliffs very well.

On the way out of the park we had to stop to let a large herd of buffalo cross the road.

We drove back to St. George that night thoroughly awed by the wonders of nature and God's power.

 We spent the next day kicking around St. George. We visited Judd's Store, an old mercantile store that now serves soups, sandwiches, ice cream and a wonderful array of sodas.

Sipping my Leninade

On Sunday we went to church with Mike's mom and dad and then got back on the road for home. We got back late -- but fully refreshed.

So glad to have been able to spend a week away from it all, enjoying the people I love most and unwinding in nature.

Dolphins and Dogs in Training

In August Grace, Tillman and Sully did a session of swimming lessons at Debbie's Dolphins swim school. It's a small back-yard pool operation...the kind of thing I've been looking for since the Shinsels retired and we could no longer take from them. I had heard lots of good things about how effective she is, as well as a warning about what a tough-mother she can be. It was all true. She definitely runs a tight ship --- with both kids and parents. But at the end of the session my kids had made really great progress and loved to swim more than ever. We'll be going back next year.

This week Mike's wildest dreams came true. His new Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy arrived from Idaho. We named him River (finally breaking away from the planetary themed pet names). I could have done without a dog for a while, but Mike has a soft spot for dogs. He convinced me with his argument that the little boys needed a dog to grow up with like the older kids had. I made a list of required traits: a dog that doesn't shed, smaller than a Lab (and not as loud),  gentle with kids and new people (knowing that the entire neighborhood would consider him their dog), and Mike wanted a hunting dog. He did his research, settled on this breed, and found a breeder in Idaho with a new litter.

We realized that while we have owned dogs in our lives, neither of us has experience in raising a dog from such a young age (8 weeks). We've been reading a lot, and watching YouTube.

How goes the training? River cried a lot the first night. But Mike was Johnny-on-the-Spot, springing out of bed whenever he heard River crying in the night, rushing him outside to relieve himself. I joked that Mike was better about getting up at night with the puppy than he had been at getting up with our babies. He admitted it -- but said, in his defense, there was not much he could do to meet our babies' needs, which was a good point.

 River sleeps a lot. Like all babies.

Since our backyard is not fenced, and he's too young for the shock collar, we can't just turn him loose outside. So, for now we are working on house-training. He spends almost all his inside time in a pen, and then we take him outside whenever he shows signs of having to use the bathroom. He's learning. And as with my potty training of Sully and Abner, I am grateful that this house is mostly tile and laminate flooring. It makes things less stressful.

And someday he'll look something like this... pretty cool.

So, while I didn't initiate the search for a new dog, and the puppy training can be frustrating, I am excited for this new addition. It's different having a puppy around. They are so fun and filled with wonder and curiousity, it makes everything fresh. I miss Jupiter, but it's really nice to start again. I smile when I think about what Jupiter would think of this new little guy. I wish they could have met.