Can't a boy get any sleep around here?

Wuh?...Huh?...Me?

Yee-Haw, Biggie!

June 26, 2009

Camping, circa 1978

Lily's last day of school was May 29th, and Dan, being the genius daddy that he is, decided to kick off the summer with a camping trip up Pine Creek Canyon. (Lori, you nature lover, stop it right now. You know envy is one of the Big 10.)

Brian's parents bought an old (late 1960's vintage, I think) camper a couple of years ago in the hopes that their kids and grandkids would use it for some summer fun. Would you believe we were the first ones to take it camping? Dan has been eyeballing the camper since we moved here last August, but since the chainsaw injury was only two weeks after we arrived, we didn't get the chance to use it last fall.

As we were driving out of town with the unregistered camper hooked up to "Red", the old, very abused ranch truck, all 5 of us in the front with no seatbelts on, we passed the town cop and waved. Dan said, "Oh man, I'll bet we've got at least 30 violations!" Fortunately, there's an unspoken understanding in town that ranch trucks don't have to be licensed. Apparently stuff you're towing can slide by too, because the most recent registration on the camper was from 1978.

Once we got up Pine Creek and found a campsite, I started snooping around in the camper. I became giddy as I was overcome with nostalgia for the Dodge Van that we used to drive all over the country and camp in when I was a kid.

1980, at some KOA campsite with the Dodge Van and the orange pop-up tent for the boys. That's Becky (I think) just heading in from the camp pool.

Upon choosing our campsite, we quickly realized that we'd forgotten to get ice for the cooler. Luckily, Pine Creek is pretty close to town, only about 15 minutes from the Flying J. While Dan went back to town to get the ice, Lily and Amelia explored around a little bit and then settled in at the picnic table to try to carve arrowheads.

"See, Amelia? You hold it like this and then you whack it as hard as you can."

"Be careful to keep your other hand out of the way so you don't lose a digit."

"Oh, I get it. I hold the rock in one hand and just go at it as hard as I can? Brilliant!"

A little shameless product placement.

"You want some?"

Camping doesn't get much better than this: sliding down a dirt hill as fast as you can!

Mack loves to ride in the backpack.

Chillin' by the camper. Totally ghetto.

It didn't take long to get dirty and whiny. Maybe an hour, tops.

Amelia is on a total screeching kick lately. She just screams and scrunches her eyes up in a rage. I think she was mad because I wouldn't let her climb up the steep dirt trail behind Biggie. She'd climb up aways, then look back and start screaming once she saw how high she was and she wouldn't let Lily help her slide down. I must be getting old and lazy because I was tired of going up after her.

Lily's dirt goatee.

"I need bug spray on my neck."

"And right here on my chin."

Dan pointing out the finer details on how to build a good fire.

Doesn't he look hot in that honky hat?

Cutting potatoes for dinner. As I sat there, I smiled, thinking of my mom preparing dozens and dozens of meals at a picnic table.

I asked Lily to take my picture. She was much more interested in the hamburgers than she was in me.

So I made Dan take one where you could actually see my face.

June 1980, classic Garlitz family grubbin' at a campground near Limon, Colorado. My mom still has that green and white water jug. That's me on the right. I LOVED that shirt with the ribbon ties on the sleeves.

Amelia's favorite activity was washing the picnic table benches. Dan kept telling her to quit wasting the drinking water.

The two camp cooks.

Mmm... Me so hungee!

Lily's job was to entertain Mack while we were making dinner. She loves to do little cheers for him.

That's some good baby nibbles!

After dinner we played some Yahtzee, a classic from my camping youth.

Amelia had a hard time keeping her hands off the dice long enough for us to tally our score each time.

"See Daddy, that's a small straight!"

Is there any kid who doesn't like a campfire?

Lily's favorite part of the whole trip: roasting marshmallows.

"Oh, yeah! That's good!"

"Ucky Daddy, what's that black stuff?" Amateur, she doesn't appreciate the fine delicacy of charred marshmallows.

After making Dan take yet another picture, he said, "There you are, in the fiery flames of hell" to which I responded, "where you wish I was with my camera right now?" At one point Dan said, "I didn't realize we were on a photographic expedition. I thought we were camping." Yep, me and my camera are still annoying, even after 13 years of marriage!

Getting ready to bunk down for the night.

Amelia lasted about 5 minutes up in the bunkbed with Lily, until she wouldn't quit whining and settle down so we made up the bed over the table. After another 30 or 40 minutes of fidgeting and whining, she fell asleep but by 2am, Dan had switched spots with her because she woke up yelling and wouldn't stop. It didn't help that she was weaning from the binky.

Lily (old reliable) slept like a log and surprisingly, so did Mack. He must have liked being burrowed up tight in the cool mountain air.

While the little ones slept in, Dan and Lily went out and made some hot chocolate. Lily found a big tree limb and made a see-saw over a log. She begged me to ride the see-saw with her and I asked Dan to take pictures.

This is how he felt about it:

Nice.

For breakfast we used the leftover potatoes from dinner and mixed them with scrambled eggs. Lily really wanted to make her own fried egg so Dan supervised the campfire cooking.

Here's another little camper having breakfast:

July 1979, me grubbin' on some Froot Loops in Teton National Park.

Mack hung out in the backpack with me while I cleaned up breakfast and sent Daddy and the girls off for a little hike.

It didn't take long for the sun to bake us and send us clamoring for some shade. Amelia was in love with the little camp chair we borrowed from Keith and Lynette.

June 1980, Limon, Colorado KOA. Love the knees in those pants!

Amelia was super amused by the little sliding door on the camper. She kept opening it and peeking out and hollering to Lily.

"Biiii-deee. Where are you? Hi Biddie (Biggie)!"

After the morning hike we retired to the camper and the girls played on the bunkbed.

Man, I remember Becky and I used to have so much fun playing in the bunkbed of our Dodge Van. I think we used to ride up there while we were driving (back before seatbelts were all the rage) while the boys played board games at the table and we rocked out to Abba or John Denver or Neil Diamond. Good times!

Somehow Mack managed to stay asleep in the backpack while the girls wiggled and squealed up above him.

The bunkbed got old after a few minutes (or, more accurately, Dan and I got sick of the girls fighting) so we busted out the board games. Lily loves Sorry.

Still on my "expedition", having a little fun with the mirror.

Mack is in major "grab and chew everything in sight" mode and he especially likes to gnaw on his middle finger. Don't take it personally, it's not intended to be an obscene gesture.

The boys had a nap while the girls played some more Yahtzee. We also sat and read some Beverly Cleary, one of my favorite childhood authors (love that naughty Ramona!). At one point Lily started whining about going home and I said, "Are you kidding me? If we go home I have all kinds of chores I have to do. Out here when we're camping I can just sit and read and play games and hang out with you." That was the last I heard about going home.

The camper had a table that can be removed and placed flush with the seats to make a bed. Our Dodge Van had the same feature and we had so many fun times playing games and eating on that table. It even had some sweet cupholders in the corners, which could double for holding game pieces.

1982, Don and David ready for dinner, probably a pot of soup to go with the Club crackers.

The girls got a little restless and rowdy in the camper while the boys were trying to sleep, so we went out for a walk. Lily wanted to go exploring in the trees, but the evening before had proven that Amelia just isn't old enough for that: all she did was trip on sticks and whine about branches poking her. So Amelia and I just went walking up the road and looked at flowers and butterflies.

After awhile, I was ready to go back. I didn't want to get too far away from Lily and I figured Mack would be ready to eat soon. I told Amelia it was time to turn around and she threw a holy fit. One thing about Amelia is she is strong-willed and hard-headed. See the dirty look she's giving me?

She stomped off in determination. "I go up hill!" So I just turned around and started walking back and eventually she followed, but pronounced that she was too tired to walk and I had to carry her the rest of the way. Stinker!

The aftermath:

It was only a 15 or 20 minute drive back to our house, but every one of us (except the driver!) was totally zonked out by the time we got home.

It was a great time and we agreed that we wanted to try and go camping every week or 10 days this summer, but then it rained for 3 weeks straight. We haven't made it back up again, but maybe next week. Today we're going up the canyon to roast hot dogs and marshmallows for lunch with the Nates. It'll be good to get out in the sunshine, let the kids run wild, and eat some good camp food. If only God hadn't created mosquitos...

The only down side to camping in the wilderness is that now Amelia thinks it's OK to just drop her britches and pop a squat outside anytime she has to go pee. I've tried to explain that we only pee outside when we're camping, but alas, she has been seen peeing under the swingset at the park and right in Brian and Becca's backyard while we all watched the full moon from the dining room table.

Makes a mama proud.

If you're happy, notify your face

I have been a total crank-pot (not to be confused with crack-pot) lately. I've been tired and irritable, short with the kids, not very attentive to Dan and mostly just in survival mode each day while I daydream about running away from home. I wasn't aware of just how crusty I'd become until Dan pointed out that I seemed to have a bad day everyday.

Dan and I are participating in the Marriage and Family Relations Sunday School class right now and last week there was a quote from Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “From the moment of birth into mortality to the time we are married in the temple, everything we have in the whole gospel system is to prepare and qualify us to enter that holy order of matrimony which makes us husband and wife in this life and in the world to come. … There is nothing in this world as important as the creation and perfection of family units.”

It really made me stop and think: this is it. This is the life I always wanted. There is no, "I'll be happy when XYZ happens". I have a good marriage, good kids, I get to be a stay-at-home mom, I live in a great community, so what do I have to be so bitter about? The answer is nothing. I have absolutely nothing to be chronically cranky about. It's just become a habit.

So I've decided to stop being a bitter beer face and embrace the goodness of my life. Try to keep a healthy perspective when Amelia whines incessantly, Lily rolls her eyes at me, or Dan gets irritated with me (Mack's still young enough that he can do no wrong).

When I figure out a good way to do that, I'll let you know. I'm going to start with positive thinking and affirmations. Any other suggestions?

Oh, and I reserve the right to regress and whine on my blog at any time.

Love Unconditional

An infant cannot offend.
He seeks only that which he needs.
He loves, he forgives,
He knows only your comfort and smile.
You cannot disappoint him
And like man's best friend
He keeps his grandest expressions for you.

Some guys have all the luck

Why is it that boys seem to get the best eyelashes?

He's Official

Mackay finally got a name and a blessing yesterday. Mackay Filson Richardson is now officially on the records of the church and received his first priesthood blessing from his father.

My sister-in-law Lora loaned me the blessing outfit, which was worn by Mack's cousin Alexander last year.

As we did with our girls, we opted for a smaller, more private gathering for the blessing rather than the traditional blessing of the baby in sacrament meeting at church. We invited a few friends and family members and blessed Mackay at Brian and Becca's house next door.

Dan gave Mack a wonderful blessing. He blessed him that in his heart and in his mind, he would understand his place on this earth, that he is a son of Heavenly Father. Mack was blessed to understand that his parents love him; that his mind will be sharp and his body strong. He was blessed that he will be able to understand good influences from bad influences and have the strength of character and understanding to choose good influences. And finally, he was blessed that his parents would try to understand him and help him find his place in this world.

In reflecting on the blessings Dan has given each of our children, they have all been brief and to the point, without flowery language (with the exception of Amelia being blessed with the gift of dissertation -umm, discernment- during the time Dan was writing his graduate thesis. :) He has not talked about specific events in their lives like missions or marriage or parenthood. Rather, he has blessed them with strong character traits, healthy bodies, strong intellects, and lots of love from their parents. These fundamental blessings, along with the gospel, will hopefully lead each of our children to happiness.

Love my boy, and love my husband for being worthy to bless our children.

Mom's Job Description

I'm tired.

I love my kiddos, but I am just exhausted. I've been feeling overworked, underaccomplished, and while I know I'm putting forth a lot of effort, there's very little to show for it at the end of each day. I always feel better when I look at pictures of my kids, so even though the kitchen needs a major crisis cleaning before my mom comes tomorrow, I'm going to stop and blog for a minute.

Paddy, my mother-in-law, sent this to me on Mother's Day and I thought it summed up my life pretty accurately.

MOM - JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION :

• Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Ma

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
• Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
• Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities.
• Travel expenses not reimbursed.
• Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The rest of your life.
• Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.00.
• Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
• Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
• Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
• Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
• Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
• Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
• Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
• Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
• Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
• Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

• Virtually none.
• Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

• None required unfortunately.
• On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

• Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
• A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
• When you die, you give them whatever is left.
• The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

• While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Mother's Day 2009

"Uh-Goo"

Apparently I'm on a real video kick lately.

Here is one of Mack making his favorite sound, complete with phlegm rumbling in his throat. He must be practicing up to go on a mission to the Netherlands. Have you heard Dutch spoken? It sounds like you either have a hairball or are getting ready to hock a loogie. Take a listen here (especially "volg de veg" and "verkeerslichten").

Typical

This is a very good representation of the chaos at our house and the multi-tasking skills required to pay attention to three kids at once.