Sunday, July 10, 2011

'Y'ike

 I am providing a treat to you all today by posting my pix in the x-large format. I'm feeling extra generous today.

Our summer is trucking right along. I really don't know what we do all day. If you asked Mitch he'd tell you all we do is chores. But then if you looked in our house you'd know that wasn't true. We have managed to play a lot with friends and cousins and neighbors. We are doing our month-long swim lessons right now taught by Hub. Noelle has mastered the cannonball. She is so proud of herself. She also is riding her bike without training wheels.  The boys play soccer and dodge ball in the basement (which is why we will never ever put pictures on the walls down there) and 4-square and other games together. But they also like to fight a lot. I keep on telling myself (and them) that they will be best friends one day. None of us can imagine that yet.

Our kids have reading charts where they pick their prizes and I assign how many reading hours it will take to 'earn' it.  This was done when I was growing up and I know many people have similar programs. Ethan had to read 8 hours to earn a hike to the Y. We ended up going on the 4th of July to celebrate our freedoms like being able to hike on steep trails in the heat of the day.

 We went with our cousins to the North. Notice how there is no kid under 7 in the picture. That is because my blessed sister had some foresight and volunteered to stay home with the wee ones.









                                                                  Photo evidence that we made it.
I have ruined all my street cred as an awesome hiker because I had to stop for a good rest not long before the top due to some fear of passing out. Don't know if it was the heat or my old lady-ness or what, but I had to let the whining youth pass me up before I continued on. I will have to re-establish my mountain goat status on another hike to Timp soon.
Anyway, Ethan has given up on the sweaty time-consuming rewards and is back to the much simpler ones like    that Godzilla flavored snow cone he wants!

8 comments:

cold cocoa said...

Holy new book blog. What the.

What flavor is Godzilla?

You really need to start with a hike you can handle, like up Peteetneet hill. My girls don't stop talking about how you were behind them and needed more breaks than even they did. I'm glad you're alive to tell about it though. Next time maybe you need a Red Bull and a bikini.

cold cocoa said...

Oh, and I like pictures big. You should do that every time. Now I want to.

LC said...

Love the big photos. Makes it feel like we climbed the Y too, without the sweat.

I like your summer reading program too with the quality time rewards. Good ideas!

No more fainting spells I hope!

Megz said...

Cold cocoa- yeah, when I tried to make my pictures big they got cut off so I had to switch templates. I thought the books showed off my literary background...
I know it was hard for your girls to see me in a weak moment. I had been their only female role model for so long it was hard to let them down.

The Allreds said...

hard to believe that "front...center" Zumba master needed a breather on a hike!!! you're still my hero! your background reminds me too much of school...I think you should have opted for the palm tree landscape! Leon looked like the conqueror of Y mountain! That's always a fun hike in the early morning hours...as long as you don't spot a rattlesnake!!! How many hours do I have to read to earn a snow cone? Does the Friend count!?!? : ) Happy Summertime. It was sooo great to spend time with your family!

stephanie said...

well being that you are such a laid back mom I am sure your summer has been super chill..

the Godzilla would have been enjoyable after the hike.

Sherie Christensen said...

I remember that hike, including the sore knees for tromping back down. I'm glad you made it and I'm sure it was just the heat, and maybe you didn't eat enough breakfast since we all know you're super in shape. Maybe if you had hip hopped up the mountain it would have seemed easier.

TisforTonya said...

I'm thinking that blessed sister was brilliant :)