No school like old school

There are all these places in Idaho that are areas, not towns. My area, Barton Flat, used to be a town, with a post office and school, but that was a looooong time ago. I actually used to visit with a 97 year old lady who grew up out here and rode her horse to school, but I'm not even sure where that was located. Now, the only things this Flat has is stunning views (8 of Idaho's 10 highest peaks dot the mountain range), sagebrush, cows, and wind. And because Jack Frost, that dirty cheat, has decided it's time for winter, wind has been plenty. It snows, but blows away before bedtime. Even I, who routinely goes a whole week without leaving the house, is getting some cabin fever. So the boys are going crazy cooped up all day. To distract Dax from all of the "educational" shows Netflix has to offer, we color and read a lot. And Rylee brought this gem home from Grandma Julie's house:

 This book is pure entertainment for Dax. If I would do it, he would love to hear all 288 pages of it in one sitting. Mom just doesn't have it in her to read aloud that long. This book is pretty special. On the front, Dax's daddy wrote his name in cursive, making it his own. Grandma and Grandpa Stephens gave Seth this book for his 5th birthday, April 5, 1983. (I was just over 3 months old, cradle robber)

 He stamped the inside cover with smiley faces and Mr. T. Dax likes that "mean man". Seth did too, he stamped that face on his mom's ivory piano keys. Apparently his mom didn't care for him much though.

 

This book has nursery rhymes, facts about animals, funny stories and silly pictures. Dax will wrap up in his blanket and listen and laugh. His blanket is another cool thing, one that was made for baby Seth. Grandma Julie saved it 27 years until her first grandchild was born, so they could have something of their dads. My amigos play with his old toys, too. I am overly sentimental and love this, already saving some of their clothes books and toys for their kids to play with. What of their mothers do they have to make a part of their lives? To cherish? To bring back memories? Nothing. Seth has a giant scrapbook of his life, I think I have 3 baby pictures total. That's what comes when you are born the 3rd girl in a row, and not the first child. In fact, the only thing my mom saved was my tattooed, pierced, and shaved barbies (my lucky nieces got those treasures) and some pretty dang awesome 90's dresses. Complete with poofy sleeves and pilgrim bib.Rylee will be styling those in just a few years.

A really good thing about blogging is that it helps me chronicle my family life, I can look back and remember so easily. And my gosh, are there some great things to remember. Like tonight, we finished reading the illustrated version of the Book of Mormon together, and it was quiz time. 

Seth: "Why did Joseph Smith have to translate? What language was it written in?"

Rylee: "Spanish."

Me: "Nephi built a what to get over the ocean?"

Dax: "A bridge!"

Being trapped inside with these kids all day is definitely a good thing.

Stuck inside

We had a grey dreary day, the kind of day where I just want to cuddle up on the couch, grab my kindle and read and sleep my time away. I just wish that my amigos had the same kind of lazy feelings as me... but their idea of a good time does not include mother sitting around. At least I still got to laze around in front of the fire, which is one of my favorite places in this new house, where I can practice my inner artist. Dax is a very detailed patron. My instructions always include horses, saddles (with the stirrups), daddy wearing boots and a hat, tractors, balers, hay bales, ropes, bulls, cows, guns, monsters. At least he's not picky about things being realistic. Then he'll spend the next 10 minutes coloring in my masterpieces. He definitely does those pictures credit.

My other favorite place in our house is the window seat. We color and read and look out at the antelope and sage brush. I actually set up our Christmas trees outside so I can trick myself into thinking there is life out there. That way I can know how windy it is outside. Most of the time the trees are tipped over on their sides, a good indicator of frozen iceberg gale. 

Speaking of windows, I made some cute little curtains for our bathroom. I'm really digging the geometric trellis prints out there, I would love it for wallpaper. Actually, I would love it for anything. So I pulled a Maria the governess (before she became Fraulein Von Trapp) and Scarlett O'Hara and used my curtains for clothing. There was just enough scrap left over to make an easy peasy lemon squeezy skirt for Rylee.

She can definitely wear this to sing, run through the hills, canoe, swing in trees, all the fun things the Von Trapp children did in their curtain clothes. I better not catch her trying to pick up wealthy men in this skirt, though.

(I hope you picked up on my movie references to The Sound of Music and Gone With the Wind. If not, watch them! You'll be a better person for it!)

Plenty Busy

My 3 year old is turning into a slug. Not only is he slimy and sticky, he likes to lay around all day. He is shunning jeans and only wants to wear sweatpants. The same ones for three days straight. The only noises he makes are "Dora", "Diego", "Backyardigans". Those are marching orders meant for me to turn on his show. I've let this go on for a few days because it's cloudy and chilly, until I realized he sounds a lot like a depressed overweight girl. Sweatpants, TV, couch, tubs of frosting, all the signs. (except the frosting, I'm not that bad of a mom.) So today after putting sister on the school bus, I dressed the boys and we followed Dad down to the corrals. Seth is knee deep in baby calves again, and nothing can wake a boy up faster than poking a stick at some cow patties. (plus other grosser stuff)
The boys are loving life since Uncle Wes moved up to the Flats to help with calving. He comes over every day for lunch and keeps those monkeys entertained. I feel like one of those old cookies in cow camp firing up the stove everyday to feed the crew. Two guys aren't exactly a crew, but I haven't cooked this many consecutive meals ever. Because it's not like "here's a sandwich and chips". I feel bad for Wes being on his own and want him to have something substantial to eat every day. In the past Seth has had to live with  me thinking "well, I've made him oatmeal for breakfast, he can fend for himself at lunch." Or "maybe he's not too hungry today." Or "maybe he's fasting ".  Maybe that's why I don't blog or read blogs anymore, I'm too busy cooking and cleaning up the messes I make.

These pictures aren't of today, because Rylee is present in her skirt and leggings (so appropriate for corrals). This is typical of how things work, Dax and Rylee trying to help dad...

...while Peyton tries to do something crazy/naughty/messy. 

Seth is only at home for one to two hour intervals, then he's off to the barn again. I do my part, though. When he leaves at 4 in the morning I roll over to his side of the bed so it'll be warm we when he gets back. That's pure thoughtfulness. 90 calves down, 300 to go!

Muffins (of the studly variety)

One would think that living where I do, a very rural area, that my friends and company would be sort of limited. I have two fantastic things going for me. One, that my kids are stinking adorable. Seriously. And two, that between Seth and I we have13 siblings who really like their stinking adorable niece and nephews. Dax has a soul mate in one aunt (she predicted his birthday and time of birth) who has a great talent. Never did I dream, 9 years ago, when I met this 11 year old girl with mismatched socks that she would turn out to be such a photographer. She is amazing! Tayler always comes to visit around my kids birthdays for photo shoots, so I just wanted to show off a little for her.

Are you in love yet? Have you called your 1 to 3 year old daughters over to the computer so they can be smitten too? The dimples and eyelashes and chubby cheeks- wow, that's all I can say. My two boys are so different from each other, Peyton is pretty reckless while Dax is more deliberate. Peyton sticks close and Dax likes more independence. But they both like to wrestle and be macho, and destructive could be their last name. Pretty much, they're boys, just really really cute ones.

Shoes

Something pretty amazing happened to me yesterday. Peyton is finally growing big enough to fit into some of Dax's cute little shoes, including a pair of horsie moccasins. He tried them on in September but they were still way too big, so I thought I put them back in storage. Except I didn't, Peyton wore them trick or treating, which I completely forget. He found one of the little shoes last week and has been wearing it around the house looking for the other one. So I started looking for the other one, too, going through boxes and looking under beds. That shoe was a no show! Tired of searching I said a little prayer for some help in finding the other one, and that's when the miracle happened. It really is a miracle to me that Heavenly Father actually cares about something so trivial. At the end of church yesterday a lady came to me and said, "I know this is going to sound crazy, but are you missing a slipper with a horse on it?" I kind of freaked out saying over and over "are you serious? for reals?" She had found it on her yard at halloween and put it aside until 2 days ago when it popped into her mind that the shoe belonged to Dax, she'd seen him wear it 2 years before. That is so amazing to me! Peyton was pretty stoked, he loves his horsie shoes.

I decided to organize the boy's little shoe spot, and I realized the boys are really not hurting in the shoe department. Except when it comes to moccasins, because now the other one's location is a mystery. Really? I think this time I'll start with a prayer before I start looking.

On a roll I moved into Rylee's closet, where she has maybe a few too many shoes too. Um, in my defense, I bought most of them on sale. And her feet have stopped growing for a while so the old ones are still fitting.

And in my own defense the majority of these shoes were given to me. My mom, sisters, friends, they all know I have a thing about shoes and will wear almost anything. Some are pretty interesting, but I make them work and love love love them. I do love shoes. The more impractical the better.

And finally, Seth's side of the closet. (by the way, our closet is usually not this tidy) His boots make his collection the most expensive in our house. In fact, all of my, Dax's, Peyton's, and Ry's shoes don't cost as much as his. That's what happens when every pair of boots you own are $400 and up. That's why he's totally fine with any new purchase by me, because he knows I can never match him.

Unchanging

I am a very vivid dreamer. I dream crazy things and then remember them, thrilling Seth with my story.

"And then I was in this room, which was like my old high school, but not, because it didn't have lockers, but I knew that's what it was, because my Mr. McFarland was there, but he had a beard..."

Ok, interesting as that is, my dreams cause me to experience deja vu sometimes, where I know I've seen it or been there, only to remember that it was only a dream. Does this make me a visionary? Probably not, because it usually happens when I go to buy ice cream or something. But last night I took a picture, and when I did I thought to myself "I have taken this picture before." So I searched through my old folders and found out I'm not so wacky as I seem. I have taken this picture before, or at least one very similar.

Dec 2008

Jan 2012

Oh, I love it I love it! Dax woke up last night from a bad dream, which he's been doing a lot lately. And if my dreams are odd, then his are weird, because he cries and tells me he was fat and big. Or just sobs that he's a naughty boy. Last night he couldn't even talk about it, so Seth grabbed him and they fell asleep watching reruns of American Choppers. They are buddies, through and through. Seth isn't only my best friend, but our kids best friend too.

Proof: Dax and Seth have BFF boots. After Seth made his pair, he set a little leather aside for Dax. 3 years later Dax won't even put on any other pair of shoes, because he likes to match his dad. Seth promised to make each child their very own first pair of boots that is theirs to keep and not be a hand-me-down. Peyton won't be left out, because his dad just finished a pair of brown and yellow ones for himself that would look darling in mini size. In 2 years he'll have a pair of BFF boots too. It's great having a husband who's such a good boot maker. And daddy.

Break's Over

The alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, which can only mean one thing: Christmas break is done with. 12 days of sleeping in, eating whenever and whatever we want, and lots of playing. I loved the lack of structure to my life. Not like anything productive was ever done, but there was tons of memorable fun things that happened. We started out going to temple square in Salt Lake to see the Christmas lights. In all the years of living only 4 hours (or less) away neither Seth or I have ever been to see those beautiful lights. Although the best part of the trip for my amigos was swimming in the hotel's tiny pool.

The next weekend was Christmas eve with my family. This is one of the first times that long trip across the desert wasn't icy and slick. I'd just like to give global warming a big high 5, I'm loving the weather! In case you've never noticed my mentioning this before, I love spending time with my sisters more. We even got to skype with my missionary bro in Australia. Technology. Wow.

Then just last weekend we headed to Sun Valley to hit the slopes, but due to rainy and warmer than usual conditions we went bowling and swimming instead. The amigos liked that better anyways. I was dreading Monday because school was starting up again and my free reign of nothingness would be over.

Until I realized we had another day to do as we pleased. Luckily the ladies at church filled me in on the schedule. I was happier than Rylee about it. We took advantage of some more of this fantastic weather and went to the reservoir just up the road. Slowly more and more fishing shacks show up on the frozen water until there is a little village. The ice is more than 20 inches thick and the whole reservoir is frozen. Since it didn't snow while it froze the surface is smooth and black, and it looks like someone spilled glitter under the ice. It was amazing, but slick. Rylee fell down quite a few times (the boys were safe in a sled) and hurt her little bum, so we came home to some hot chocolate.

Christmas morning!

This holiday season has been such a relaxing family time for us. Back to the real world, back to the grind, but with some great memories to keep us happy.