Backpacking without Kids

For the first time in our marriage since we had our first child we spent a whole 24 hours childrenless.  My son has a had few sleepovers with grammy at great grandma's but the nan babe has stayed with us.  I never even left my son for the night until I went to the hospital to have Nan.  We had plans of a babymoon, but pre-term contractions canceled those. The point was we were without kids, it was quite nice.  We went backpacking without kids.  Up Mount Timp, all the way to the TOP.  

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

My body doesn't do well with altitude, if I hadn't lived the last 7 years in the mountain west, I don't think this hike would have been possible for me.  Although many people hike straight to the top without stopping, I don't think I would have been able to.  We hiked 4 or so hours, up to the tree line where there is a lake and meadow, I barely made it there, I got so dizzy near the end and found it challenging to keep my breathing regular.  Luckily about 20 minutes before our hike finished for the day, we saw these mountain goats, we saw at least a dozen and it was quite cool.  

So then we stopped for the night, and froze, it was cold and windy, luckily we had lots of layers, a tent and a sleeping bag. In the tent we were fine.  Like I said, without stopping and sleeping for the night I wouldn't have been able to make it up to the summit, my body needed to get acclimated to the higher altitude. We went to be bed early enough, and there was enough night hikers that we woke up and 4, to continue to top, without our packs.
It was weird I felt like we were traveling with a cult or something, like something out of Indiana Jones it was pitched black dark outside, and there were so many people hiking to the top that there was almost a constant line of flashlights all the way to the top.

We timed it perfectly and got to the very top at sunrise.

Ah, love,  Funny thing is, we were hiking Mt. Timp, we got married in Mt. Timp temple, and Labor day is always the mark of when I met Brent.  Although I think I met him actually the last week in August, so its past labor day, but none the less, I have now know Brent seven years. And finally after four and half years of being parents together we got to spend 24 hours without our kids. Yes, I realize all that up there is a stretch but whatever.

I can't believe I actually made it to the top, it is so STEEP!

I really don't plan on doing it again, its so steep, and although I had a fun time, it was actually quite miserable. The second day was much better. Just to the falls is a nice hike though. I personally don't like hiking beyond the tree line.  Its so rocky and barren.

But I'm glad I got to go backpacking with my Brent.

Told you no rest

After lunch and stuff, we left to go camping.  My parents own some property, which is undeveloped, and my husband decided it was high time to go camping there, not to mention he invited his previous mentioned sister and family. This is what we saw as we drove in the Valley the back way. 

All growing up, I heard the plan was for my parents to retire up here.  For the past few years that seems like a long shot, I was definitely not encouraging them to.  But then again I hadn't seen the property in the summer.  Its 7 acres, or something, I don't know.  And its great, not to mention their neighbors have been very nice, there is a rope swing, and a fire pit.  Needless to say, now I'll totally be encouraging them with their original retirement plans.  I figure the first day my dad retires, or the day after my little brother starts Texas medical school as a instate student, they should put their house for sale and start building.  A small three bedroom, two bath house, one story house, with an unfinished basement.  My mom would love camping out in her backyard with her grandkids while they came to visit.  And my dad might only set up the tents then go back inside and sleep on his nice comfortable bed. Then my mom and her grandkids would spent all day playing in the brook in the backyard.
Heres the pictures of our no rest fun. There is a nice creek/stream/raging river (I assume) after a heavy year of snowpack melting in the spring.  Which meant there was tons and tons of nice smooth rocks to play with.

But right now, its a great creek, J had a blast finding all the different places to cross it.

In case you were confused on the temperament of my second child, here is a reminder.  Yes, it person she makes more noise than a picture conveys. She also wasn't happy in the middle of the night, and did this plenty.

Luckily her daddy is far more patient than I could expect with her.

Yea!, the cousins arrived.

We are minimalist campers, so normally we don't have a campfire, but hey its about community right?  Anyway, camping with cousins seems like the perfect time for a campfire, plus it was cold.  Luckily my husband has been a scout master, he had those twigs all ablaze and roaring within minutes. Plus he now has the beard to prove it.

Look to my surprise someone took a picture of me! Hooray I was there.

Breakfast the next morning,

Some more river fun, everyone but the moms and the infant waded in what I would assume would be freezing water.

Like I said, nice neighbors who built a rope swing for my parents.

So ok, who is with me, does this look like a great place to go visit grammy?  Can we convince grandpa to leave his pool?  Aren't you ready mom and dad? The question is before or after the mission?

No rest for the wicked

I'm not sure about that title, but my dad called his bishop while I was at his house, and instead of quoting "no rest for the weary", he said no rest for the wicked. I guess that is me. Anyway, there is definitely no rest around here, did a mention the other day one of my other brothers texted my little brother to tell me to stop drinking so many red bulls. I don't drink enegry drinks, but he was commenting on my husband's and I's busy fun filled schedule. So I got back from Texas on Friday afternoon, by Saturday evening, the car was packed all the way up again, and we were driving two cars to the airport. My sister in law and her family were coming back, and needed a ride, we dropped off our car said hello, and sped off into the sunset. By the time we reached by brother in laws house, it was dark, and my oldest was asleep. 

The reason we were there? My nephew was getting the priesthood, and so we attended. I thought my nephew seemed pretty lucky, his father ordained him, in a circle, with both of his grandpas, and two of his uncles (his father's brothers). I thought it was neat. Anyway, the new deacon is the one holding his scriptures.

These two blonde beauties were all about holding their grandma's hand. Although they did not cooperate for the cute picture I was going to take.

Nan was so happy to be back with a grandma, she kept looking at her saying, ma, ma, Ma is the only word she says consitentently and while in Texas she realized grandma, ends with ma. So she now has three for four for five mas in her life.

Spiritual High

I feel like we are riding around a Spiritual High of late.  (Disclaimer, this doesn't not me, we have had fantastic dinners with homemade bread, this does not mean my kids haven't spent too much of the day crying, this does not mean life has resembled perfect at all.)
Recently we have had the opportunity to take J's little friend to Primary with us.  He has never been to primary/nursery before, or any church other than the last 45 minutes of sacrament meeting, for the last few months.  I feel so useful. It was great, and J and his friend looked so cute in their black pin striped slacks, white button up shirts, and different gray ties, I wish I would have had a camera to take a picture of them looking like mini missionaries. Which is what J was-- a missionary taking his friend to primary.  We are also going to start bringing another friend who hasn't attended primary regularly in almost a year.  Its great, although I'm worried about having responsibility over three active four years olds, and hope other teachers see the missionary spark, and don't frown at their extra work.
The first little boy in fact happened to be at our house playing on Monday night, so we did Family Home Evening with the little boy (sure we miss, but I try hard not to). (The little boy who has never really attended church.) We had J conduct, and he did a good job. We started with songs, and my wise husband suggested head shoulders knees and toes, because every child whether they have been to primary or not knows that song.  (Yes, we always sing three or four action songs for the opening song in family home evening, remember the audience.) When J said he wanted to say the prayer, his friend said I don't know how to pray, I said well ok, fold your arms, you know how to do that and J will say it.  Sure I might have said, we'll teach you, but J would have been mad.  There is time for everything right? Who knows, maybe I did it wrong, judge me if you must. Then we had our lesson, over the weekend J asked to have a Family Home Evening lesson on Labor Day Monday about being nice and not nice.  So we of course obliged, and the boys did an excellent job of telling us lots of not nice things. I asked why we need to be nice, J paused and said because Jesus wants us to.  Correct, the friend, looked blank, so after a few more examples of not throwing couches on people, I asked the friend if he knew who Jesus was?  He paused, then said, oh yes, I remembered, he's... and I was about to tell my husband to explain it to the little boy, when I found myself not needing his help, and explaining just enough to the little boy before he attention went back to not hitting people over the head.  (My husband served a mission and I did not, he seems better at explaining elementary religious concepts than me).  We finished up with treats, and not even a half hour had past. Family Home Evening was a success. 
The point of all this, is Missionary work has been thrusted upon me, and I'm grateful.  Apparently, we have been blessed, because we had a lost library book.  I really didn't want to pay for it, but I didn't know where in the world it could be I thought I returned them all.  I've already renewed it once, I figured the time had come to paid the pied piper, but first I was going to look through the bookcases.  In the middle of the first bookcase search, I said a prayer that I would find the book.  As I search the bookcase I thought I should look behind Js bed.  I didn't even recognize it as the spirit, but as I pulled out all sorts of small toys, I found the book!  Hooray, I made sure to tell J that I found the book as an answer to prayer.  But he soon forgot about the spiritual nature of the experience and was profoundly impressed that I could pick up the mattress and move it.  To each their own.  I've never had a primary experience like that before, it was cool, to have enough faith as a four year old.  You know?!  Hopefully, our other four year old neighborhood friends, want to keep coming to primary with us.

Afraid

I'm afraid my babies are growing up..  I mean obviously, but can't they stay these ages forever.  But wouldn't it be fun if we're always running around like crazy, camping every weekend with our Red Subaru.  Life would be fabulous huh?  If that was the the case, except without the MBA.
I love the freedom of our apartment, but I'm having a hard taking J to school.  Its in the middle of a gorgeous old neighborhood, with lots of little kids.  Its farther east than my house, and I'm pretty sure if I found a house there, in my price range I would never leave.  Which is a new fear all in itself, if I bought I might never go explore the world.
Last month we resigned our lease.  It was a terrible experience, we have never lived anywhere for more than 14 months, and now we will stay here for 24.
But yet school ends for my husband next July, then the world is open to us.  So essentially we have no plans, so I had to set a plan.  I came up with it in the shower, the best place for plans.  Next fall, I'm enrolling in a night class for Spanish. I've taken lots of spanish over the years as a child, so hopefully I'll pick it up quick.  My husband has wanted me to take spanish again for a long time now. Now the tables will be turned, he'll put the kids to bed, and I'll go to class, although only one night a week.

A whole new blog post/ The Legacy

In my previous post, I ended with wanting my children as adults to think, deliberate and look back with no regrets.  

So that is more of what I discussed with a sister in law, what legacy we want to leave for our children. This is what I've been thinking about.

1. I want my children to love my religion number one.  I don't want them to come up with every excuse under the sun on why they didn't go to church on sunday, I want them to love to be there like me.  Or maybe just love to serve like my husband.
2. I want my children to love spending time with the family, to love being outdoors together
3. I want them to be confident readers no matter what it takes, and enjoy learning their whole lives.  You know that excitement all small kids have at learning new things, I don't want that to stop for them.
4. Obviously I already said I want them to live a life of no regrets.  But not a careless life, a life of confidence, a life where they are willing to step on a limb and try something hard, but worthwhile. I want them to be sure of who they are and what they want.  Even if the specifics change from time to time.
5. Once again, I want them to be independent I don't want them wards on anyone.  I want them to feel capable and independent, to their own various needs and capabilities.

So maybe the goals, and legacies completely overlap.  I'm really grateful I have a great husband, who picks up the slack I leave behind in parenting, its a lot of work.  And I couldn't do it without him, I couldn't have all these hopes and dreams, and goals for them if he wasn't wiling to be a step up for me.

Hopes and Dreams

After a conversation with my mom, my sister in law Danna, and lots of other various people at various times, I have been thinking about my hopes and dreams for my children.
Number one being, I hope that they decide to embrace the same religion I have.
But other than that I don't expect my children to live the same life as me. Ever since my pregnancy with Nan, I have thought wow one day my daughter will be in my position, with a baby in her belly.  What will life hold for her?  But overall that is not my greatest desire for her.  Sure if motherhood is in her path, that is super fantastic, but if she never becomes a mother in this life, thats fine too.
My number one hope for my children, is they have complete joy in their life.  In my opinion, joy can come when you are not happy, last year I was not happy, but I had plenty of extremely joyful moments.  Joy in my opinion, is embracing the fullness of my religion.  To fully believe, not to accidentally fall into it.  
My life is pathetic, overwhelming, taxing, and all of the above some-days, no ones life is perfect, but I love my beliefs, I love to go to church on Sunday, I sincerely hope one day they share the excitement. I couldn't deal with all the messy hands, thankless acts, and screaming everyday with out my religion.  I would have never made these choices without it.
Number two goal, for them to be independent.
Which is a scary goal for me, I might one day regret, I might one day miss a relationship with them, because they are independent.  But none the less that is what I want.  I find the greatest joy in my religion and family, but secondly I find it in being independent with my husband.  I don't think I'm independent from him, but at the same time I don't think I'm depend on him, I think we pick and choose what we should do, and together we are independent from the rest. I want my children to know the satisfaction of being independent.
And last I hope to teach my children to think, deliberate and look back with no regrets.  My husband and I truly try to live no regrets.  We make decisions, and then go on, we don't worry and fret with what might have been.  I want my children like that, I don't want them wishy washy, always wishing for what might have been, I want the confident, and daring.
But maybe that is more of a legacy than goal... that is a whole new blog post.