August 09 Movie

So my kids may not really know who Santa is, and when they see him they may call him "Hoho," but they sure know their scripture stories!

SuperMom August

Okay, I'm running out of new, innovative ideas! We do the same old, but I've already blogged about all those. I don't know if I can last until December (my plan is to stop then). So feel free to send any suggestions my way!

Making Playdoh - we divided the white playdoh in three pieces to dye them red, yellow, & blue ...

... then we divided each color in half, and divided one of those halves one more time (so there are three balls of each color, one twice as big as the other two) ...

... then we set aside the bigger balls and let the kids combine the smaller balls - red with yellow, yellow with blue, and blue with red. The highlight was while Seara was mixing the red and yellow, and she announced, "Look! Red and yellow make orange!"

No-Cook Playdoh Recipe
1 c flour
1/2 c salt
2 T cream of tartar
2 T oil
1 c boiling water

Mix dry, then add wet. Stir to make playdoh, then knead in food coloring.

Making Key Chains - Get a couple plastic crab boxes from your local grocery store food court - I only got two so they just gave them to me for free - and cut out the flat center. I would get bigger boxes that the one pictured here. Punch out a hole in the corner - you'll need to do it pretty far in, and make the hole bigger than it would be with just one punch. Color with sharpies, bake on tin foil at 350* for 1-3 minutes. It will SHRINK.

thanks for this idea, Rebecca!

Making Apple Pie - The easy way. We picked the apples from my parent's apple tree. We peeled, cored, and sliced them with the Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer. We added the ingredients, and plopped them in a store-bought, ready-made crust. The nice part about doing it the easy way is that the kids practically made the entire pie by themselves!

Apple Pie
2/3 c sugar
1/4 c flour
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground nutmeg
dash of salt
6 c thinly sliced, peeled tart apples
2 T butter or margarine

Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir in apples. Pour into the pastry-line pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces and sprinkler over apples. Cover with the top crust, seal edges, and flute top. Bake 40-50 minutes at 425*. (I cover the edges with foil the entire time I cook the pie so that they don't over-cook.)

Since you asked ...

To the question: "What is up with you guys?"

I used to answer: "Sam just recently graduated with his Master's Degree, so we packed up all our stuff, left it in storage in Maryland, and we are staying with my parents on an extended vacation until we get a job."

But since I've finally accepted that this is no longer an extended vacation (which is bad because I only brought summer clothes with us - nothing else), I have come up with a new answer.

So to the new question: "How is the job hunt going?"

I now answer: "Really well! We are still looking for a permanent job, but Sam is doing a lot of freelance work, with the Friend Magazine and other places, so we're keeping our heads above water. Just waiting for our miracle!"

Just figured you might want to know.

Trendy

trendy \'tren-dē\, adjective: marked by ephemeral, superficial, or faddish appeal or taste

CONFESSION: I have an aversion to things that are trendy.

I do. If I think something is cool before it becomes trendy, fine. I just don't get giddy school-girl excited. (High pitched screaming really annoys.) But if I haven't discovered it before it hits the trendy point, I veer far, far away.

For example, Harry Potter. I refused to read it for about five years. Everyone was so ridiculously excited that I was completely repulsed. I only ever read them because my little brother Liam gave me his copy of the first book and told me I could borrow it. He was 9. I was a sucker. And I admit, I loved it. Within four months I was caught up on the series. My grades suffered that semester.

This aversion to the trendy would also explain why I utterly refuse to read the Twilight Series or get a Facebook account. Sorry guys, you love them so much I'm revolted. I'm dumb like that. (And in case you are worried, I don't think less of you for liking them. I also hate bananas, but I don't think less of you if you eat them. Plus, I was proven wrong with the whole Harry Potter thing. I know better than to pooh-pooh on people for liking things I don't.)

my parent's house

Anyway, all this is to say that I recently discovered that I am trendy. See, apparently living at your parents is the cool thing to do right now. Who knew? And yes, I finally bit the bullet and admitted to myself that we LIVE here. I've called this an 'extended vacation' long enough. It has been three months. We live here, dash it all.

So now I'm trendy. This is repulsive on so many levels. ;)

Crushing

It all started the week we moved in. We went to church on Sunday, and the next day during lunch a little boy in Seara's Primary class told his mom, "Mommy, there's a new girl in my Sunbeam class, and her name is Sisi, and she is so cute, and she has the cutest ponies."

A few weeks later, at the ward party, they had this conversation:
Coleman: Mommy, look! There's Sisi!
His Mom: Why don't you go ask her if she's going swimming?
Coleman: [blushing and shying away] No ...

A couple days after that he called me (Yes, HE, the four year-old, called. The kid must be crazy smart.) and asked if Sease could go to his house to play. Yeah, he's totally crushing on her. If that's not the cutest thing ever, I don't know what is.

Family Foto Flops

Every year we take family pictures. And ever year I re-learn the same lessons.

1) Looking at the camera is optional



2) Breaks are crucial



3) Expecting children to cooperate is futile



4) If children do look at the camera, one or both parents do not



5) Did I mention that breaks are crucial?


ps. All these shots are taken at my childhood home. The one that has now become my children's childhood home as well. I'm a sentimental sap, what can I say?

pps. We actually did get some good shots. I'll post them sometime. Maybe next week, maybe around Christmas. I make no guarantees. :)

Super Powers

illustration from here

My brother Ryan just announced to me that if he could have one super power he would want the power to squish things. Apparently this 'squishing power' is used in connection with perspective. "So if a bad guy is running towards you, and he's only an inch tall in your perspective [because he's far away], you could just reach up your hand and squish him between your thumb and index finger. Bye, bye bad guy!"

I didn't have to think long to come up with my desired super power. I chose it when I was about 12 years old. Remember that old Lois & Clark TV show? Did you see how fast Superman cleaned up his apartment when Lois Lane knocked on the door?! It was amazing!! He turned the whole place upside down in just a couple seconds. Yeah, I want that power.

Dishes: .05 seconds
Vacuuming: .18 seconds
Sweeping & Mopping: .07 seconds
Folding Laundry: .32 seconds

Wouldn't that be the dream!

Standing on the Corner

When Brigham Young sent a group to settle the Little Colorado River in 1876, they wrote that it was the most God-forsaken place on earth. But they stayed, and before they knew it Winslow, Arizona was a main hub of the railroad and a hot spot on Route 66. In fact, it was visited by the likes of ...

Charles Lindbergh,
Carole Lombard,
Gene Autry,
John Wayne,
Dorothy Lamour,
Franklin Roosevelt,
Harry Truman,
Shirley Temple,
Clark Gable,
Albert Einstein,
Jimmy Stewart,
Betty Grable,
Amelia Earhart,
Will Rogers,
Lionel Barrymore,
and dozens of others.

Then, in the 1970s, the town was bypassed when I-40 was built. And Winslow slowly slipped into oblivion. (Reminds you of the Pixar movie Cars, eh? It should. They studied Winslow and the surrounding cities to make the movie.) But the quaint little town with a population of 9,832 holds a special place in the hearts of the Ricks clan. Samuel was raised there, along side his grandparents and all of his aunts, uncles, and cousins on his mom's side. And every time we go we never lack things to do ...



Star Gazing - I (no joke) did not realize how many stars there were out there until I star gazed in Winslow. The observatory that discovered Pluto is near here, for heaven's sake! Add my father-in-law's mid-life crisis Jaguar convertible to star gaze from, and life couldn't get better.



The Root Beer Stand - home of the yummiest (and greasiest) chili cheese fries and taco tangles known to man. And of course, the root beer freezes. We simply cannot visit Winslow without getting one of those!



The Play House - Have I ever mentioned that Sam's artistic ability was inherited? His dad has some mad wood working skills. You should see the details on this play house he made! (Note also Elijah in the girl hat.)



Homolovi Ruins - Winslow is surrounded by Anasazi Indian ruins. And Sam, being the Winslow connoisseur that he is, knows just where to find the most secluded ones to watch the sunrise from.



Carriage Rides - You don't get this kind of treatment just anywhere!

Clear Creek - Not only does Clear Creek have shallow beds that are perfect for children, but it also has cliff jumping cliffs that are anywhere from 20 to 100 feet tall. The water is mild and the scenery is gorgeous. Big fan of this place!

Little Colorado River - You have to have a pretty broad definition of the word 'river' to call this thing a river. It's more of a mud pit than anything. And that's exactly what we love about it! To go to the river you need special 'River Clothes' (ie. clothing that can be ruined). I think the pictures speak for themselves. :)

before & after

people pay money for these kinds of mud baths!

Yeah, Winslow ROCKS.

Into the Woods

Remember this?

the Smithsonians present:
Into the Woods

ps. this movie is not for the faint of heart. It is 11 minutes long and takes about 4 minutes to load. But when you watch it, prepare to be amazed at our amazing acting abilities!

The day the General Authority laughed at me.

He had noticed me before. How could he not? The member of the First Quorum of the 70 had recently moved in kitty-corner to us and had quickly became a permanent fixture on the sacrament meeting stand. Looking down on the congregation it would be impossible to miss the constant wrestling that happens on our bench. He had even flashed me a few understanding smiles. And then last Sunday it all came to a head.

We were asked to stand, and remain standing, as we and many others received callings to serve. If there weren't so many people being called it might not have been a problem, but there were a good dozen of us and it was taking a long time. There we stood, Samuel holding Elijah, and I holding Enoch. I'm not sure how it happened, but the next thing I knew Enoch had a fist knotted and tangled in the hair of the woman sitting in front of me. I tried to look as poised and normal as possible as I struggled to untangle the hair with my left hand, raise my arm for sustainings with my right hand, and whisper urgent apologies to the woman who was having her beautiful Sunday 'do quickly destroyed. In the midst of my predicament I looked up to the stand. There he sat, looking down on my situation, stomach bouncing and face beaming, in a quiet chuckle.

Well, at least someone benefited from my plight.

Must Do Utah: Canyonlands & Arches

Please tell me you have been to Arches National Park before. I mean, how can you be from Utah and NOT have gone to Arches?! It's on the license plate, for heaven's sake! Go. You won't regret it. My favorite part is actually just driving in - the cliffs are gigantically high and absolutely amazing. And they have some great kid friendly hikes.

Getting this family picture was quite the adventure. Random Photographer #1 hopped all over, taking half a dozen pictures at all different angles, acting as if we were on the red carpet. None of the pictures were in focus. Random Photographer (RP) #2 took a fine picture of Sam and I ... but cut off all three kids' heads. We really need a photographer to follow us everywhere we go. Except not the annoying paparazzi kind. I got enough of that with RP #1.

See Delicate Arch in the background?

Just 30-45 minutes from Arches is Canyonlands National Park. I'd actually never been there before. (Don't worry, I already repented.) It's a new favorite. Not only was it 30 degrees cooler than Arches (phew), but it was also waaaaaay less crowded. Contrary to the pictures of the canyons, it is actually really green. And so beautiful. In fact, we're moving here next week.

click to see the amazing panorama

Every time I see the picture below I think, "I want three!" because it looks like three fingers.

WHEN (not if) we go again, here's what we'll do:

Day 1: drive to Canyonlands National Park (4 hours from SLC). See the sites. Pick a camping spot, and spend the night.
Day 2: drive to Arches National Park (45 min). See the sites. Drive home (4 hours).


Oh, and you know how dogs mark their territory? Apparently both Sease & Lije have been taking notes. And both marked Canyonlands as their territory. Need I say more?

Attn: Samuel Ricks

Dear Samuel,

I'm so glad you're home from your male-bonding trip in the Uintas! I whined about you being gone (did you see that post?) but even I didn't anticipate how hard it would be on me to have you away. That is until I went from feeling a-okay to blowing up at the kids in about .5 seconds on Tuesday afternoon. How is it that I can honestly think I'm fine one second and break down the next? I don't get it. It must be a girl thing. I will admit, though, that I didn't mind having all that extra space in the bed. Do you think they make beds wider than Kings? Because I want one. Not that I don't like you. I just don't particularly love the magnetic attraction your body has to my side of the bed.


My dad emailed me a bunch of pictures, so I'm including some of them. Have you seen these? My brothers raved about what a good sport you were. Apparently they were surprised that you not only went along with, but actually contributed to, The Cave Man Games. I was not. Did you keep score? I heard that the events were the Caber Toss, Stone Skipping, Skeet Shooting, Log Smashing, Cup Folding, Rock Climbing, and Target Throwing. Pray tell, explain how on earth you did those! Oh, I also heard about your Cave Man names. My dad and brothers were Olug, Tug, Rug, Lug, so that would make Sug?


I'm impressed with the cliff jumping pictures I saw. Until then the whole trip looked tempting to me. But I have to pin myself against the wall on staircases that let you look down more than one flight and I practically wet my pants going off the high dive, so the whole cliff jumping thing was not at all tempting. When I saw the videos I kept expecting one of you to bounce off a rock or land on each other and break a neck. Since when did I become such a paranoid mom?


Liam also mentioned that you amazingly buff cave men had a secret fear of bears. Like you scouted an area half a dozen times before you were willing to relieve yourself. I laughed at that. Wimpy boys. You can jump off 30 and 40 foot cliffs into ice water, but your afraid of a little bear? Okay, big bear. Whatever. ;)


Anyway, I'm glad you're home. I love you,

Janae

ps. I can't believe that you picked all those wild flowers and pressed them in your journal for me. That is so romantic. I don't deserve you.