Today was the day.
Pippi finally wanted to join the biker club.
She ran upstairs to change her outfit for the ninth time today, and grabbed her tank top with her bike on it.
She got out Navy’s old princess bike, and with Micah’s help (and the help of the training wheels) she rode.
She rode and rode and rode.
And when there was the slightest uphill…she pushed through it and rode.
And when the biker gang almost knocked her over…she rode.
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Welcome Pippi Denison to the Denison Club of Bikers.
After Navy jammed her finger, she did as our family motto suggests….she solved her own problem.
Because there is nothing as cute as washi tape…she chose a heart motif to keep her fingers together to prevent further pain.
Navy started out a trend in our family. Recently, our kids give their prayers in some sort of accent. It may be a bit sacrilige…but when Navy started out in a British accent, it was just sweet. Dash’s accent is a bit more convoluted…but it still is okay. But when pippi tried to be like her big siblings, she broke out in a full blown Billy Goat accent. Nobody could keep it together…nobody. It was pure hysteria for three minutes.
And that is the end of our “prayers in accents” era.
If this isn’t a classic Scout story…
Scout was asked by the Hansens to be the greeter at the front gate for Sierra’s wedding. If the car was there to attend the wedding, Scout would welcome them, and then press in the code to open the gate. He happily said he would — especially because he was going to get paid to do it! He dressed up in his finest suit, and set himself up ten minutes early. While I was at the wedding, I got nothing but rave reviews about the greeter.
After a while, I went to check on him, and I saw a blue cup next to him. I thought it was a bit tacky for a random cup to be there, so I went to tell him to move it where nobody could see it. That is when I discovered the cash in the cup. Apparently, he sort of left it out in case anyone wanted to tip him. WHAT!?! I guess it started out with a couple of kids who thought he was doing a mighty fine job. They were so impressed, they tipped him. Once Scout got the idea of tips, he hinted at others to follow suit. By the end, I think he had about $45 in tips! When I figured out the whole “blue cup” thing…I about killed him! I told him that he better give it to me, and not make any mention of it to ANYONE! I confiscated the cup, and told him he could get it and his loot later.
Unfortunately for me, when I went back to the wedding party, Scout and his “tip cup” were all the rage. People thought it was awesome, and said they happily added to the cup. I just begged them to not tell the wedding coordinator — Angi!
Pippi introduced Blush to my expensive face mask. The first time, I thought it was cute and sweet. The second time, I told her it was too much for their skin. And the third, fourth and fifth times, I told them to stay out of my stuff.
Good thing they listened.
AS a last minute trip, I surprised Micah with a trip to Alaska!
We headed to the cutest seaside town…AKA the “Halibut Capital of the World”… Homer, Alaska.
And to say we had a great trip, is a complete understatement.
The first reason we went, was to fish. And what better to fish for, than Halibut and Salmon. We both caught each, which was awesome…since it was really early in the season for King Salmon. Micah was a pro, and caught so many fish, he was handing his pole off to others to reel up.
In the end, Micah caught his limit both days fishing, and I caught one under my limit…but reeled in a 34″ Link Cod as a bonus…so I got the same amount of fish.
We had the best captain and deckhand on each boat. They honestly made it all a blast. Especially when our second day we were taken to a “chicken hole” where we literally put our lines down, and pulled something up within minutes.
We ended up bringing home almost 60 pounds of filleted fish…not bad for a few days on the water.
Did I mention that the fresh fish we ate while we were there was the best “fresh caught” I have ever had! Especially the halibut fish and chips!
The next thing we went to Alaska for, was the scenery.
We saw a roaming bear, a bazillion moose and wild bald eagles by the dozens.
The beach of skipping rocks was rad!
Every single rock was a perfect skipper.
One of our favorite stops was the “Salty Dog”, where I decorated family dollar bills to help decorate the place.
Our cabin was spotless clean, and had a panoramic view of the glassy water.
And maybe the ultimate highligh of our trip, was when we met “Prospector John”, who let us put some of his dirt through a sluice box…and come out with a bunch of gold! CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE! He taught us the tricks of the trade, and had stories I could have listened to for hours!
The best one was where he told us, that he “knows of a place five days away on horseback, that has so much gold, it would make any man filthy rich.” Micah then said, “filthy”? Prospector John said, “FILTHY”!
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Alaska sits right behind Switzerland in the beautiful department. I picture just can’t capture its beauty. And the adventure of fishing, road tripping into midnight during the daylight, and discovering the last frontier was well worth the trip.
Would I go back?
That is what I ask myself to know if I really loved the place.
The answer is YES.
After an amazing primary program, and a quick drive to Megans…naturally Pippi went in to Auggies with her leis on while riding on her roller skates.
Good thing B was there to help her…because on my mother’s day…I literally don’t lift a finger!
And as the boys all made us an amazing Mother’s Day meal over the next three hours…I didn’t.
Not one finger!
Only a fork.
She might be a long way from my days of being Michaela Glory Labish…but Pippi is putting an honest effort into practicing her runway walk.
I taught her to stick out her pelvis while walking, to glide as she walked…but I did not teach her the wink she added at the end of the runway.
The jury is still out on that move.
We drove by the strawberry patch this afternoon, so I swung over for Dash and Pippi to pick berries. In the last couple of years we haven’t gone picking, they tightened their prices and their rules. Such as…only one adult could accompany them. Micah sat in the car from this lame rule! Meanwhile, I went with them, and told them to stuff their tummies for the prices we were paying!
They did a decent job, but nothing like if Navy and Scout were there with that challenge.
Looks like it is time for me to teach the youngsters the tricks of the trade!
Micah was sure Nonnie couldn’t do 10 sit ups.
Nonnie was sure she could.
CHALLENGE!
Nonnie prevailed…like a literal champ.
It was an impressive sight…and that comes from a girl who thinks her 79 year old mom can do anything.
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