You're Going to Make It After All

Well these pictures have absolutely nothing to do with my trip to Minneapolis, but I think you'd rather see my kids than Minneapolis. This moment of fun took place over a month ago when we were still experiencing fall. It's just about over now - there's not a leaf left in those trees and the day continues to grow shorter, and colder (sigh).

So the week before last I flew to Minneapolis to the National Conference of Families, wherein different family scholars present their latest research findings. Fortunately I was lucky to be counted as one of them. I presented a research poster with my major professor on a couple's therapy intervention (which I'll later do my dissertation on). Actually the trip itself was great, had I actually not had to attend the conference. Okay, okay I joke a little. It consists of sitting and listening to people speak of their research, some of it very interesting and some of it a little less so.

The city is a fairly nice one, though a little different than I expected. I suppose after seeing LA most downtowns don't seem as expansive or as menacing. They have a great public transit system, and I saw very little graffiti or trash on the streets. Throughout Minneapolis, are something called skyways - enclosed walkways from building to building, which make sense when the wind chill hits -30. I roomed with a fellow student who reminded me a younger version of myself. We often stayed up late talking, and took a trip out to Mall of America. Really the mall should probably be called the Mall of Northern Minneapolis. Though it was big, I was expecting something more dramatic based on it's name, like a waterfall or an island or something. Even the food court could've used more variety - or at least a hot dog on a stick.

At the conference I saw old friends and bumped up against a few BYU professors that I had admired during my undergrad; some of which actually remembered me. Probably one of my favorite parts was seeing the cathedral-like churches. The inside truly inspires a feeling of reverence. Flying buttresses that soar, jewel toned stain glass windows and acoustics that allow songs to rise up to heaven. It was evidence of the founders of this city's faith. Oh and I got to see a two story Target.

All and all it was a fun trip (and free thank you USU), but I definitely look forward to next year's conference in Orlando.

Seriously So Blessed

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/

Oh my gosh, this blog page is hilarious. If you are LDS, AND familiar with LDS culture, and have a certain kind of sense of humor, you will love it. My friend Jeremy told me about it and it has provided me with laugh out loud moments. I particularly thinking Julie will get a kick out of this.

Halloween 2010

It's hard to believe Halloween is already here again. I know for many kids this holiday can be of equal importance as Christmas - and some have argued, gasp, it's even better!?!

Well the idea of dressing up and getting free candy is kind of nice. Isaiah has quite the flair for coming up with costume ideas. This year - continuing on the Greek Mythology theme he has been smitten with as of late - he decided to be a "half dead Poseidon". Not quite sure what that is, but it only cost us a plastic triton and some blue hair dye (spoken like a father who thinks in terms of cost).

I should mention that here he is with his teacher, Mrs. Cox. She has continued what has been a long line of great teachers at his school. Permit me a little unsolicited bragging when I mention that at our last teacher conference she reported that Isaiah is one of her best students.

Malachi was a cowboy - which was a little easy since he was that last year. Again very little cost (think of the dad thing here) except a new plastic gun. He wanted to be Curious George but we were never able to find such a costume. I'm thinking we'll utilize the internet more next year.

Julianna was a kind of fairy as the girl section of the costume store is divided into two aisles - princess and fairy with maybe a few animals thrown in, to see if you're paying attention. The part of that section that was puzzling to me was the skanky costumes for little girls. Um, hello I don't plan on letting her wear this when she is 20 let alone 2 - so that's a bit of a Halloween mystery to me. Oh, I should add she wasn't able to wear her wings due to weather, so just imagine them.

The night of Halloween (done here on the 30th) was unfortunately kind of cold and drizzly. So we didn't go for very long, but still made out with a pretty good stash. It didn't take long for Malachi to want to go home. Even Isaiah didn't mind. Now I was good yesterday and only half one small almond joy and a half of a small kit kat. But today I had four small candy bars. I'm thinking maybe the candy fairy will come and throw all the candy away. Long live Christmas.

Corn and cousins

I grew up spending a lot of time with my cousins. We lived close together and saw each other frequently, particularly on Sundays and holidays. Living in Logan, my biggest regret is that as a family we do not get to see our other family members nearly as much as we would like. So what a great weekend to have Crystal and Kekoa over for the weekend and their little family! It's also a lesson on what it'd be like to have five kids. I think we could pull it off, but I think we'd leave the house less, as just getting five kids ready makes me too tired to do the thing we are getting ready for.

Well what we did get ready for was the pumpkin patch. And in all truth it went rather well. Crystal's oldest Roxy is by far the easiest child to photograph, she actually poses for it - a phenomenon I have yet to experience with my own offspring. Between the corn maze, the hay jump and the other activities, I think we created some good cousin memories that day.

Water Fun

Okay, which beach is better? Bear Lake or Corona Del Mar? Though they both have their perks, I have come to the conclusion that I like Bear Lake better. Particularly when you are taking kids with you. No big waves, the water is warmer, no broken glass, and you can pull right up to your spot. We had to go one last time the week before last - after that the water starts cooling down. We went after Isaiah got out of school on a weekday with some friends of ours and shared the beach with very few people.

When your kids are enjoying themselves the last thing they want to do is stop and look at you so you can take a picture. But that doesn't stop me from trying.

The second set of pictures were taken at my company picnic. They had a big slip and slide, and as you see from this photo the kids enjoy it - which unfortunately ruined Julianna's mascara.

Picture Tour of Yellowstone

Isaiah, "Dad this isn't that hot, I can stand in it". Dad, "Do you see the pictures posted everywhere??" "Does that boy look happy to you?" - as I pointed out the universal picture of an unhappy boy standing on a geyser.

Welcome to Yellowstone! Now, you should all send me a check, because I am saving you the cost of going to the most beautiful national park in the nation. We decided we would do one last vacation before Isaiah's school started. We left Sunday after church and camped two nights so Isaiah could be home Tuesday night for school to start on Wednesday.

Camping with three kids when the youngest are two and four is either an act of love or an act of insanity. I felt a little bipolar vacillating between the two, but when all is said and done this trip will be one for the great family vacation memories.

The first night was pretty funny. Upon arrival the ranger put the fear of bears into us explaining a single crumb dropped on the ground would spell imminent grizzly doom. Have you seen my house? The inside of our VCR has crumbs in it. Anyways, it was also cold, so at first Julianna wanted to share a sleeping bag with mommy, then Malachi wanted to join daddy, and Isaiah just didn't want to be left out. So picture this, the five of us on a single queen size inflatable mattress. We finally all quiet down for the night probably around 11 (not an easy feat) and then the absurdity of the situation hits me and I can't suppress laughing at the whole thing. Well you can picture the contagiousness of such a laugh. One by one they all fell like dominoes till we all couldn't stop laughing. Fortunately for the Canadians next to us we did. And the bear kept us warm.

Now I decided to not share every picture - there's close to 300, but here's a few of my favorites. This was actually our last stop - to what is called the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - to which I have no idea what the name is, maybe Grand Canyon Two. The picture here doesn't do it justice, but imagine something spectacular here.

Where Shelly is standing here is the bottom of a 3/4 mile hike in a 600 foot drop but it places you right at the edge of a massive waterfall - well worth the small hike even with a very happy two year old strapped to your back.

This shot was snapped on our way in. The park is huge and has various parts all miles apart. Each one is worth a visit. Honestly to do the park justice I would recommend three days.

This is called the Devil's thumb. The original settlers were going to go with the name Devil's Turd but changed their mind at the last minute.

Beautiful shot of my wife and little girl overlooking Yellowstone lake. When we were done playing at the lake Julianna and I had gone ahead and got back up the little incline to the car. A man approached me saying I better get my wife and boys back up because there was a bear heading that way. Once I got the news to Shelly you should've have seen how well she sprinted up, and the bear enjoyed Malachi - j/k they all got up in time. Fortunately, or unfortunately if you ask Isaiah, the bear went another way and we didn't get to see it.

Dear.

Geyser basin heat gets to you a little.

Plus sulfur stinks.

Wow, beautiful huh? The geyser/spring things here are amazing and the boys loved them. Malachi wanted to jump in but I was able to stop him.

Okay the first time you see a bison/buffalo (I never figured out the difference) it is pretty cool. They're kind of like cows but only bigger (but the brain is the same size). They go were they want and you just make way, this one being no exception. I must admit after a while I started to get a little impatient with them and would honk at them.

Family at the lake.

Post apocalyptic formation at Mammoth hot springs. What looks like a mountain off in the distance is actually a spring/rock formation only five feet away.

Ahh, my favorite story. So immediately Monday morning Isaiah wanted to go to the gift shop which is fine. Old Faithful was our first stop and we decided to go to the shop before seeing it. I overheard someone say that the geyser was about to go off, but I had this vague memory of it going off every 20 mins. Well it was a pretty vague memory because it's actually only 1 1/2 hours - we ended up catching the last sputtering, and had to be happy with that.

This is at the top of that hike mentioned above and our only full family shot.

Isaiah overlooking the waterfall - very intense I got dizzy being there.

This is where I like to look at it from.

A beautiful spot along the highway.

Isaiah called this steam, Malachi called this fire, and Julinna called this dragon. She might have been influenced by Isaiah's dragon book - the only reading material on the trip.

Close to our campsite. We stayed at Grant Village close to the lake.

Malachi has started a habit of chewing his shirt, I guess it's better than sucking his thumb.

Driving through Idaho, it's very vast with lots of farms - the kind of country that leads people to sin.

Well there you have it, every moment minus the bathroom stops. Those will be next time.