Kid talk

I have some little pictures in a ziploc bag that were used for a recent sharing time at church.  The pictures show things that are good and bad for your body.  One of the pictures is supposed to be a box of cigarettes and the way one of my kids colored it, it looks more like a box of crayons.  Each of the pictures has a happy or sad face, depending on whether or not the item is good or bad for you.  Here is the conversation that took place when Kay and MJ were playing with the pictures:

Kay:  Crayons are bad for you?

Me:  Well, that's a picture of cigarettes, which are bad for you.  But I wouldn't eat crayons either.

Kay:  Oh.  Well, MJ eats crayons.


Kay:  Here MJ.  You get the bad stuff, I get the good stuff.

MJ had one of the good pictures and Kay tried taking from her.

Kay:  Here, give that to me MJ.

MJ:  No, it's mine.

Cool looking layered jello!

Sunday, July 2

We went over to my parents' house for dinner and this is the jello that I made and brought with me:

Here is the recipe for it:
Layered Jello

Oakcrest Camp - year 2

We got home from our trip late Thursday night, I had a CT scan on Friday, ward baptisms to attend on Saturday. and then M&M left for Oakcrest YW Camp on Monday, July 3 and was gone until Friday, July 7.  She was a little unsure if she wanted to go this year but I kind of pushed her and we found someone from the ward for her to room with - even though she had to stay in the Peanut-free cabin - which turned out not being too bad.  Here are some pictures from the camp:

Vancouver trip wrap-up

Wednesday, June 27

Lately when we have come to Grandma and Grandpa N's house we have brought a tent and sleeping bags with us so that the kids can sleep out in the backyard.  This time they got to test out how waterproof the tent is.  They got rained on pretty hard the first couple of nights that we were there.  Luckily the tent only leaked a few drops in a couple of places.  Kay tried sleeping in the tent the first night but ended up sleeping in the house with me, DH and MJ instead.

Other than the rain off and on, the weather was absolutely beautiful during our trip and it was not very fun to go back to Utah to the 90-100 degree temperatures that they were having!

Wednesday morning DH went to court with his dad to see him at work on a case.  The kids and I hung out at the house for a little bit and then I took the kids to the dollar store to pick out some treats and activities for the long ride home on Thursday.

Taking a much needed nap.

Then finally the weather cooperated enough that we were able to get the bouncy house out for the kids.   When we were planning on taking this trip, Kay was so excited because she remembered the bouncy house and wanted to play in it.  We were concerned that we might not be able to get it out at all this trip, but thankfully Kay got her wish!

Pool noodle wars

The only somewhat decent picture I got of Kay playing in the bouncy house.

Apparently engaged in some very stimulating conversation.

Tuesday in Vancouver - part 2

Tuesday, June 26

After we got back from the waterfalls it was almost dinner time and that was followed by a softball game that Grandpa N was playing in.  He is the picture for a rec team and we thought it would be fun to take the kids there to watch the game.  At first we were wondering if it would be rained out because it was pouring for a little while but then it cleared up.  It took us a little while to find the field where the game was being played on.  Then when we found it the kids (especially Kay) totally embarrassed Grandpa as they run up to the field where he is warming up pitching and they all yell, "Hi Grandpa!" and trying to get his attention and waving at him.  (Most of the men on his team and especially the opposing team were quite a bit younger than Grandpa.)  The younger kids got bored after watching for a little bit so I took them over to the playground not too far away and I was able to watch them and some of the game at the same time.

Tuesday in Vancouver - part 1

Tuesday, June 26

On Tuesday we decided to go on a drive to see some of the waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.  I had found a waterfall on the internet that had a little hike to get to it that I thought would be fun for our family to do.  So we headed over there and after stopping at a viewpoint overlooking the Columbia River, we made it to the parking lot for the hike to the waterfall and it was closed for construction!  So we continued on the road and stopped briefly at a couple of the other waterfalls instead.  (And for future note on our next visit to Vancouver we want to be sure and hike to the Upper Latourell Falls.)  DH and the kids (minus MJ who was asleep in the car) took a short hike up to one waterfall and then we stopped at Multnomah Falls.  On the way back to the car I noticed that they were selling some unique flavors of fudge just outside the gift shop so we bought a couple of flavors to share.  I think we tried a mint chocolate, orange sherbet and I think the third one was a peanut butter cup flavor.  They were all delicious and were a big hit with the kids.  We next stopped at Horsetail Falls and after taking a few pictures and we got our picnic lunch out of the car at ate lunch at a picnic table right next to the waterfall.  Then just as we were finishing up it started to rain lightly and by the time we made it to the cars and hit the road again it was pouring!

Overlook of the Columbia River

I'm not sure what Kay is doing in the picture here, but that is the story of our life lately with Kay and pictures!

It is soooo green there!!  This picture reminds me a little of the Redwood Trees in Northern California.

Family at Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Family at Horsetail Falls

The kids had a blast getting our some of their energy running around on these rocks and this hill at the Horsetail Falls. Apparently in warmer weather people are known to swim in the pool here below the falls.  Today was a pretty soggy and muddy day there - and a little on the cool side.

Picnic time!

Cool tree next to our picnic area.

Grandma N

Kid talk

A couple of days ago MJ and I were sitting on the couch and MJ kept saying something to M&M who was also in the room, but neither of us could understand what she was saying.  So after a couple of tries at trying to interpret what MJ was saying, M&M said to me quietly, "What is she saying?"  Then MJ turned to me and whispered, "What is she saying?"  M&M and I both thought it was hilarious!


This next story was told to me by a friend of one of Kay's primary teachers.  One Sunday our bishop was giving an object lesson for sharing time and he brought a small pebble for each of the kids to put in their shoe.  Then a couple of weeks later the bishop came into primary again for something and when Kay saw him she said to her teacher, "Isn't that the guy that made us put a rock in our shoe?"

Kay talk

When M&M first got her braces on, her teeth were really sore and it hurt to eat anything hard.  She was attending band camp and needed to take a lunch everyday so I bought some Pringles potato chips because they are very thin and not as hard to eat.  When I pulled them out of the pantry to give to M&M, Kay saw them and said, "Oooh, I want some sprinklers!"

MJ talk

MJ is learning a lot from her siblings, sometimes not good things though. These are common phrases I hear from her throughout the day:

Kay's rude.  (Although more often lately she will go around saying Luke's rude.)

Kay, stop that!

Momma, Kay hit me.


A couple of days ago MJ and I had this conversation:
MJ:  Mom, you're silly.
Me:  You're silly too MJ.
MJ:  You're goofy Mom.
Me:  Thanks MJ.
MJ:  Thanks Mama.

Monday in Vancouver

Monday, June 25

Today we finally made it to the Ape Caves.  We have been talking about going there the last few times we have been to Vancouver, but had never made it there.  In the morning DH and I ran to a hardware store to buy some headlamps and then after lunch we drove out there.  The Ape Caves are underground tunnels that were formed by lava - called lava tubes.  It was pitch black in the caves and it was nice to have some headlamps so we could have some hands free lights.  It was nice and cool in the caves so we layered up with sweatshirts and jackets.

We hiked the lower cave trail.

By the time we made it to the end of the cave and were on our way back up it, most of the kids were cold and tired and several of them were crying/whining...  We had MJ in our backpack carrier most of the time and then at one point Kay was being carried as well.