www.micahandlindsey.com

I planted my garden yesterday, and felt so fulfilled by the end of the night.  There is something in me that loves a good day of hard work with my hands.  Interesting that I got to this place based on my past…..
When I was younger, my brother-in-law Bryan lived with our family for a bit while he was working.  My mom and dad always commented on what a hard worker Bryan was, so I asked him one day how he was such a hard worker.  He told me that when he was younger, he REALLY wanted to understand the meaning of hard work.  So in an attempt to do that, he spent an entire summer digging ditches.  (Now I don’t remember what the ditches were for, or if he was getting paid…I just remember he was digging ditches all summer.)  He said that after that summer, he DEFINITELY knew the meaning of hard work.

Fast forward ten or so years, when I was home between years at college.  I was sleeping in a bit, not getting much accomplished, etc.  I thought back to Bryan’s wise words, and decided I needed to learn the meaning of hard work.  I knew of some strawberry fields down the freeway a bit, and got on some grubbies and headed down the road.  When I got to the fields, I was driving all around the dirt looking for someone to talk to.  Everyone, meaning all of the workers, were just irritated that the dust from my car was engulfing them.  I finally saw a big white truck driving pretty quickly in my direction.  He drove right up next to me so we were window to window.  The guy seemed a little irritated and asked me what I wanted.  I then proceeded to go into an entire 5 minute story abut how I really wanted to grasp the idea of working hard….and how I really believed that hard work is how you get places in life etc. etc.  I then offered to help him out and pick strawberries for a few days.

First of all, the guy looked at me with an indescribable expression.  He said, “Hey Lady….you either get a job or don’t.” (I think he was referring to the “few days” I wanted to pick.)  I nicely explained that I had plans that weekend but for these few days, it was completely volunteer work…and if I was compensated that probably would defeat the purpose.  He had the same expression and said, “you are crazy, who sent you out here?”  I told him I came by myself, and I really did want to pick. (I think he thought I was a spy!)  Then he abruptly stopped our conversation and gave me directions back to the freeway.  I then proceeded to beg him to let me work there for free.  I told him I had nothing to do for the next three days, and what a great experience it would be for me. I also tried to butter him up by telling him I would have him to thank for my excellence in hard work, for the rest of my life!  He summed it up with, “drive slow when you get off my fields!”  I somberly drove home.
When I went home to tell my mom what happened, I thought she would have been SO proud of me and my attempt at learning this important concept.  As I was telling her, she just looked at me with big eyes, sighed and said,…..”You’re an idiot!”

On the flip….
I think that my love must be innate.  It just must be in my blood…directly from my dad.  But I’ll admit that our beginning was a little shakey.  It started with a little Disney song named Zippity Do Dah.  My dad, who grew up on a farm and loved him a morning full of work,  would come whistling Zippity Do Dah almost every Saturday morning as I grew up.  At the time, I despised the song because it meant we had to get up and work.  I was actually known to fake sick (never flew) or hide quite often when I heard the song.  Too bad my dad was no dummy, and whistled until he found me.  Once he got to me  (or any other kid), he gave us about five minutes to get up, dressed and outside for a few hours of weed pulling, painting, planting, building, or the worst — cleaning out the garage!  If we didn’t show up or “accidentally” fell back asleep, we got surprised by some water or our feet being slapped. (Not in an abusive sort of way.)  Once we were all on board, we were usually grumbling about how tired we were, and how nobody else we knew was up and working every Saturday. We would always hope nobody came over during our work hours, because without hesitation, my dad would put them straight to work with us.  Talk about embarrassing!

So in summary — I definitely think my dad did more for my love than the tyrant in the field.  And….I do blame Mr. White Truck for my mediocre college effort.  I was still pulling good grades because luckily I was innately smart….but can you imagine the possibilities, had he let me pick?!

Last night for family night, I decided to make it a little more formal.  We usually go on a walk, kick a ball around, or eat a treat together.  But I now think Scout is old enough to learn some real deal lessons.  So last night’s topic was manners.  He already knows that please and thank you are words he should use, but the regularity isn’t there.  So we went through a little lesson, and then played a game with a ball.  If he wanted it, he had to ask please, and once he got it, he had to thank us.  And when he said both of these, the rule was to look in the person’s eyes who he was talking to.  He was pretty good at the game, and since last night he has been using his polite words more.  In fact, I have definitely heard “mine” (the most obnoxious word in the English language) a ton less.  Things only turned south when the end of family night was upon us and Scout was getting pretty exhausted.  He started throwing Navy’s burp cloth at us (thank goodness it was only that), and when he would hit us with it, he would proudly look in our eyes and say “thank you”!  It’s a good start.

I had a dream…..blah blah blah.  When I realized that we never got our Easter photos done before church when we were clean and pressed, I made do with what we looked like on our way home from church. But forgot to get a self portrait…..if you need to know, I was in a yellow shirt and a beautiful white flowy skirt — one of the two I have worn to church every week for over a year.

Last night at 10:45 - midnight, Micah, Scout, Jason, Bree & Kelsi went to watch the grunion run.  Poor little Scout was exhausted, but finally woke up for the main event.  It was amazing to see, and can now be marked off my list of what to do with Scout before he leaves home!

My Uncle Ray and Aunt Valerie invited our family out to their new ranch in Utah for spring break.  My mom questioned them several times (knowing that the small handful of people who could go….still totaled 22), and they kept insisting that they were thrilled for us to come.  So we made the trek, and happened upon NeverNeverLand — Country Style!

Before I go into all of the great things we were able to do, I first have to give a shout out to my aunt and uncle and cousin Ryan, who totally made the trip.  They have to be the most gracious and welcoming people I have ever been around.  The food was completely gourmet, and in plenty — including snacks. (Which is really hard to do for a huge group!)  The toys were constantly gassed up, the horses were saddled, the guns were loaded….and the list goes on.  Talk about a total BLAST!

Here are the saints — Aunt Val and Uncle Ray!

And here is my new favorite cousin Ryan.  I only got a back shot, but he is a total cowboy (and helicopter pilot to boot)!  This guy shared everything he owned…including his very own bedroom, as he slept in the man cave!

Amongst the many activities of the week…..the guys voted shooting guns their favorite.

Although, when I asked Micah what he would repeat…he said he could go out on the back hoe and dig holes and trenches all day long, and B totally agreed with him.  Ryan taught anyone who wanted, how to operate this tractor.  It was really complicated, and I have a total respect.  Especially for my own brother Ryan who claims he is the best Back Hoe operator around.  If so — PROPS!

Here is Micah operating.

The kids, on the other hand, voted for motorcycle riding as their #1.  I grew up on quads, and totally have the itch to make it a regular trip again.  However, I might have to go it alone since Micah wrecked from the top of a ridge during his first ride ever.  I will have to give him some leeway though.  The poor guy has never been on a quad, and he was in some decently rough terrain.  No biggie — it is all fixable. (hopefully!)  But I seriously want to get back out to Glamis ASAP.  Here we are on the quad as it heads down to the shop.

Scout and I were on a serious joyride!

Their three horses were obviously a total hit with everyone.  Tristen and I went on a “fast ride” until I screamed, “I want to go home!”  Tristen was mad I cut the ride short, but life is easy when you are on “the best horse” Tristen!  Next time I get Sam!  Here are Scout and Nonnie enjoying an afternoon ride on Trigger.

Horseshoes was a total hit.  The guys had battles, but obviously the “real” cowboy Ryan won!

Uncle Ray and Ryan have these insane remote controlled cars that everyone played with.  In fact, Ryan (with the back hoe) made a sweet track across from his house to race them.  They take racing fuel, and probably get upwards of 80 mph.  They were the coolest things you have ever seen.  Ryan was showing off some serious moves as he jumped Tristen, Scout and Spanky with his car.

Scout was a tiny bit afraid of the shenanigans…..especially when Seth had the controls.

The kids colored Easter eggs and had a hunt.  Megan brought a ton of eggs to hide, and Val hard boiled the eggs to color.  The kids were in total heaven — especially when they got a shiny egg that carried the always-popular cash!

Here is Scout coloring his eggs. (His chin is a big mess from a fall the day before.)

Here are the kids ready to run.

Here is Scout on the hunt.

And here is the Easter egg the Chloe made especially for Scout…full of personally de-shelled pistachios — his favorite! Too bad Skills found it on the hunt.

My favorite picture of the trip was after Scout’s shower when he ran in to where everyone was, and really wanted to take a look at his favorite horses, so he climbed right up.

It snowed the week before, but our weather was great minus a little wind the second day.  The first day was warm enough that Scout had his shirt off half of the day.  Chloe was trying to help him figure out how to “run in the sprinklers”.  He didn’t quite get it, but loved the part where you lay on the warm cement afterward.

Here is Navy…doing what she did best!  Nonnie had her on the porch, while they both watched all of the commotion.

Scout tried his first Twinkies.  I forgot how nasty those things are!

The whole trip was great.  But honestly…even without all of the toys…being with my family is my ultimate vacation.  Just laughing and talking and teasing, do it for me.  It was so fun to have Seth’s family there, along with the Brockbanks +B, the Clifford girls, my mini family, Belly, and mostly my mom!  The only unfortunate part was that everyone wasn’t there.  Next time!  And the most amazing thing of all, was that Uncle Ray and Aunt Val invited us back.  Little do they know that we already figured out that his would be an annual thing!

Last night when I wished upon a star, I was hoping for my babies to sleep in again.  Navy made it to 7:15 this morning!!! And Scout is still sleeping. I only hope he makes it to 10:30, like he did yesterday.  And now…..we are all heading out to Vegas and Utah tomorrow.  Just in time to disrupt this sweet pattern.

April Fools day is always funny when Tristen is involved. Beyond pulling out all of the stops for her Kindergartners, she stopped by our house to provide a little destruction. Some of the classics were when she put BenGay all over the toilet and got Calin and Trilby.  She put salt on Micah and my mom’s toothbrushes.  She had the nastiest smelling spray (and I mean NASTY) that made it’s way onto Calin, and other places that haven’t been discovered yet.  She bought some pen to write a cute little message on my car.  So Scout, Calin, and Skills got her back for me by Saran Wrapping her car.

But the best two stories of the day were when Tristen got the same pen and wrote on her friend’s car, “I’m single” (alongside the girl’s real phone number), and some other silly stuff.  When Tristen never got a reaction, she thought she was getting fooled because the girl was clueless.  Apparently, Tristen did the wrong car!  How classic is that!

The other good story from the day was when I hid Scout’s nasty diaper in Calin’s school bag.  She didn’t find it until this morning when Trilby and the girls got in their car and couldn’t understand why it smelled so bad.  They even stopped to get a car freshener.  They still never figured it out until Calin was with her friends, and was digging in her bag.  Classic!

The cutest little girl in the world has hit a few milestones worth noting.  As of 2 1/2 months:

–She slept for 9 1/2 hours straight last night, from 9pm until 6:30 this morning!

–She is getting great at sticking her tongue out after I do.

–She sings along with me.

–She talks non stop — a true girl.

MOST IMPRESSIVELY — She watches me raise my hand and copies me.  I kid you not!  My mom thought it was just her being spastic, but she will be as calm as can be, and I will raise my hand a few times in a row.  After observing, she then raises her hand.  Micah will totally vouch.  It is so cute.

And on a Scout side note

–Not only is he totally using sentences, but he is becoming quite the phone guy.  He always wants to call B, and when he gets her, he holds the phone, walks around and has a fairly decent conversation.  At least it isn’t only “yes” and “no”.