Memorial Day In Antarctica.

Memorial weekend plans this year were looking pretty bleak.  Whiskeytown tradition has been put to bed for the last 3-4 years.  The beach has been my go to backup plan ever since, but I just wasn't able to make it happen. When Carter and his roommate Johnathon decided to take us up on the invite to come up I knew things had turned around.

 We went on a Wal Mart run for boat snacks where Garrett utterly failed the drivers test for those slow motion carts.  But the kid left his shoes at home, so we left him drive it anyway even though he kept bumping into stuff.

We were excited to get out on the lake even though the temps were MUCH cooler than we are used to for a memorial weekend.

The boys tried to warm up from just eating spicy chips, but it only helped their mouths and they werent cold to begin with.

 When Wes joined us about 2 hours into our trip he was making fun of all the shivering bodies on board trying to cover up as best as we could. He asked us why we were all acting like we were in Antarctica or something.

Well it probably had something to do with the fact that we'd been in the water surfing (Carter)

or trying to learn to surf (Johnathn) and had come to the realization that there was a massive storm heading our way and that the water was quickly becoming warmer than the air!

The storm ended up passing us by without a drop of rain but the wind came in strong!  As soon as we found some smooth water though everyone was itching to get in some wake boarding.  

We were all glad that we did.  Drew got higher up into the air than he had yet.

Garrett took on a challenge from Jeff with money on the line, of course, to clear the wake.  Eventually he did.  I don't know very many people as determined as that kid.

Wes was flipping like a mad man.

I loved getting shots of him at different positions of the flip

It doesn't even freak me out as much to watch him do it anymore.  But of course once I get comfortable is when he's ready to try the next big thing.

This was one of his first attempts at a front flip twist thing...I'm sure it has a name, but I don't remember it.  And then there was little old me.  Feeling a little rusty and knowing that nobody should ever go after Wes, but I did it anyway.

It's pretty dang pathetic what I've got going on here if you were to compare me to the boys, so lets just not.  Let's just remember instead that I gotta get my groove back.  But even then, I've got nothin on them.

These guys not only worked it out on the boards, but they looked good too!

Jared and Garrett opted to take advantage of the heater on the boat making its very first debut.  the vent even comes out of the wall and you can stretch it wherever you'd like.  These guys made a little fort under their towels. They were warm, but looked hilarious!

 Johnathan wasn't about that. He was cool enough to be cold.

 Brynne was a genius and walled off the cubby under the steering wheel with a towel.  There was a vent inside there that made her so toasty warm I was worried she might be too warm.  When Jared's lips were blue after learning to wakeboard, he and Garrett both got in there with Brynne.  We cracked up at their little feet sticking out.

 We were sooo ready for some hot food when we finally came in from the lake.  Chevy's hit the spot.  It usually does.  I LOVE their chips and salsa. I just wish I could remember not to eat so much of it that I don't need the food I ordered!

 Full and so tired, I thought we might loose Garrett there for a minute!

In spite of how crazy we were to be out on the lake in Antarctica, it was such a great weekend! Love these boys!

I'll Love You Forever

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living my baby you'll be"

Even though I know this story by heart I catch a sob in the back of my throat every single time I hear it. After watching Brynne perform in two short little plays her class stood together and read the story to all of the second grade parents. When the end of the story came and the little boy, who was now a man, scooped his sick old mother into his arms to sing to her, all of the students came to find their parents in the audience. Brynne climbed into my arms and sang to me. It was impossible to keep the tears at bay. It was just as bad as they sang to us a second time but now Brynne was in my dads arms singing to him. Love that story. Love that dad of mine. Love that girl. Forever. 

Seniors Round Deaux!

Another Friday, another day on the lake with these (mostly) seniors!

How could I say no to this kid?

Just look how happy he was to come play with all his friends again!

Connor soaked up some sunshine

And then he and Wes and Jasen channeled their inner Leonardo DiCaprio

Monkey see, monkey do

Dakota manned the flag

Until we got his theme song We Are Never Getting Back Together playing

then getting him up on the wake board was no joke.  He was determined!

I don't even claim to know exactly what was going on here, but I'm a little concerned!

cute boys

G-Wiz master of the duck face

still smiling while the sun was out

and before Kristie showed us that grin all full of Cheeto Puffs!

pulling stunts on the tubes

And then the wind picked up...

What started like this,

Ended like this! 

Filling in the Family Tree

Happy Isles~ Glacier Point~4 mile trail Sept 2011

For the last several years in early June and then in late summer I've gone on a trip to Yosemite for a full day of hiking with the same group of friends. 

Yosemite Point June 2011

My friend Kirsten took a job this last year that has had her working Monday thru Friday and we have had a hard time finding a time we could fit anything in.  I've missed it so much that we agreed even a little something was better than nothing.  

Yosemite Falls June 2010

Monday the two of us had a just a few hours that we could sneak away and settled on a hike close by.  It was later in the year than I had gone before and the weather has been hot.  In spite of the dry colorless grass and dusty trail it was beautiful.  The best part is always the company you're in anyway.  

Half Dome August 2010
As we talked about hiking in the heat, Kirsten commented that she'd prefer it to hiking in freezing cold. She mentioned that she had family members who were part of the famous Willie Handcart company that had a terrible time in the cold.  I did too!  I told her about my great great grandpa who was just 8 years old had one of his hands freeze but the other was saved because an older lady held his hand while they walked.  Kirsten looked at me in disbelief, "No way!! That was my great great grandpa! Wait, well maybe that happened a lot on the trail.  My ancestors name was James Heber Moulton." Now I looked at her in disbelief, "No way!  That's my great great grandpa too!" 

Nevada Falls June 2012

Here is an excerpt  telling of our grandpa's experience

"Coming over Rocky Ridge a kindly old woman, in order to relieve his

mother, held Heber Moulton's hand as he trailed behind the handcart, with

rope around his waist. This kindly act saved his right hand, but his

left hand, being exposed to the sub-zero weather, was frozen. The flesh

dropped off his fingers to the first joint. When they reached Salt Lake

City, it was necessary to saw off the blackened bones, and of course,

there was no ether or such to give him during the operation."

Half Dome September 2012

After we both made phone calls to our mothers we discovered that our great grandmothers were sisters.  Ida Mae Moulton Gardener  (Heber's 8th child) my great grandmother, and Euphemia Lucretia Moulton Smith (Hebers 2nd child) and Kirsten's great grandmother were sisters.  

My mom remembers going to "Aunt Lula's" house in Heber when she was young.  Lula being short for Lucretia.  Small little world.  After years of friendship, its crazy to realize we're actually family.  

When I set out to go hiking I can always count on it filling my bucket, but I never expected it to fill in my family tree! Lucky me.

** I took not one single picture on our hike Monday so I scrounged up pictures from the last few years of hikes we have done together.

Whirlwind

The end of the school year is always kind of a zoo.  I'm just catching my breath between Birthday season, YW Camp preparations, 2-3 nights a week of baseball, and usually a dance showcase and a piano recital when all the the daily parties and awards and special schedules start at school.  My day started with working out from 6-7:30, home to drive Garrett to school, do Brynnes hair, make a few beds and soaking some whites in bleach, take out the trash and then racing out the door to the elementary school awards ceremony for Brynne.  And yes for those of you who caught it, I still hadn't showered. While there I sat on the back row with empty seats on either side of me.  A couple came and sat next to me for just a few minutes and then left claiming they had seen family elsewhere in the cafeteria.  I think its cause I stink, but who's to know? I was back home by 10am at which time I get text messages from Wes and Drew.  Drew needs me to make a double batch of brownies for his class party and deliver them ASAP.  I was glad he texted because I needed to let him know that I had his backpack and permission slips delivered to the office since he forgot them when he rode his skateboard to school.  Wes needs money to buy a yearbook ASAP so they don't sell out before he gets one.  We went through this early yesterday morning with Brynne and Drew.  Should have been more on the ball in the begining of the year when I was already filling out a plethora of papers and information and purchased it then, but of course that might have been too easy.  So here we are doing the last minute scramble, so  yes I'll bring him the money. Oh and while I'm at it how would I feel about picking up a rotisserie chicken to drop off to him for lunch? Seriously? Whatever. I feel fabulous about bringing you chicken son. the brownies are baking and I think I should be able to go to the store (for the chicken) deliver brownies and money and a chicken and still make it to my ortho appt at 11:30.  I'm hoping to also get the laundry switched too.  Im meeting a friend at 1 picking up kids at 2:45, having someone else pick up the ones at 3:15 and then shopping for cowgirl boots for Brynne before heading out to graduation at Buchanan tonight.  The rest of my week looks kinda like today. A few of the highlights are the play Brynne is doing in her class on Wednesday, Thursday sending one kid to wild waters, two others to school and the last one with some friends to the lake but home in time for a piano rehearsal at 4:30 and recital at 7.  Friday Brynne is doing her  dance recital routine at her school talent show, we're getting a visit from Nan, and heading out to the lake once the kids are done with school at 1.  I have been averaging 3-4 hours of sleep for the last few days. I can do this, but by Saturday I'm thinking I'll need a nap. Wish me luck!

Birthday Season 2013 is a Wrap!

Wednesday May 22 Drew turned 12.  His birthday marks the end of the Bohn Birthday season. 7 weeks with 6 birthdays...

Drews big day was spent with his two side kicks Tyson and Jeffrey.

They are total clowns together!

They spent a couple of hours at Boomers and then we made a trip to SBI to pick up a new long board for Drew.  

Aside from the Panda Express lunch Delivery, Drew also requested Tokoyo Steakhouse for dinner with the family.

Both of my parents were home and came with us.

This of course meant Brynne was attached to my dad most of the night.

I loved just watching these guys joking around with each other.  I feel so lucky to have kids who get along with each other as well as they do.  

Drew and Garrett both ordered Shirley Temples.  I think it was just to get the cherries.  After our yummy dinner Drew got to go to his first activity with the Deacons.  He loved it!

Like Garrett and Jeff, Drew opted for strawberry shortcake in stead of a traditional birthday cake. Who could say no to that, or to that face?  Love that kid.

Drew's birthday is always right near memorial weekend when all of his friends are out of town and because we have so many birthdays before his and school is out and all the camps begin right after, its hard to find a good time for a party.  Last year he kept changing his mind on when to have it because of friends out of town, and in the end it never happened. So this year he decided to just have it with whoever was here.  This was his crew.  

Good thing Lindsay has plenty of spunk because she ended up being the only girl! She totally held her own with these guys and they all had a great time.  After a trip out on the boat they watched a movie on the big screen at the park next door to my parents house.  When the sprinklers came on about halfway through it gave everyone a big surprise, and the movie was moved indoors.  Drew kept telling me what a great birthday he had had. I was elated.  Birthday season 2013 was a wrap!