This that and the other...

A few things that are neither here nor there, but are things that I wanted to mention...

*First, on Tuesday the UPS guy just brought me a new pair of Keens. I don't know why I like this brand of shoes so much, but it is now the 3rd pair I own, and they are fantastic. Here is the pair I got the other day... I don't think the picture does them justice, but they are really cute in real life! I have a pair of Keens that I got about 3 years ago and they look like they are brand new. I have worn them from Newport RI to San Francisco, CA and every place in between. When I am someday rich, I'll just have Keen send me a new pair of shoes every time they come out with a new design!

* Summer homework??? That's what Caitlin thought when she got the letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago and opened it. She signed up for Honors English this next year and the teacher has sent out quite an assignment. There is a list of vocabulary words a mile long, parts of speech questions, reading assignments, and the list goes on. To guarantee that these kids won't blow this off until the day before the first day of school, the teacher has promised a test on the second day of school and has said that you won't do well if you don't get started soon. After looking at the vocab words alone, I agree! After the initial shock of getting the homework, and the whining about how her teacher already must hate her, Caitlin has buckled down already and started the dreaded summer homework (welcome to the real world Caitlin!!!).

* Philip has decided that he wants to be a rock star. And when the schedule for summer school classes came out in March, he begged me to let him take the beginning guitar class that will ensure his success in his newly chosen career path. I finally relented, but with strings attached. I would let him take the guitar class provided that he would take the Intro to Jr High class along with it. Caitlin took it a couple of years ago and I thought it helped her feel a lot more comfortable getting started. He's three days into these classes now, and is fine with the Jr High class, but is loving his guitar class and thinks that he should get a guitar for his birthday now!

*Basil is growing everywhere I have planted it in my front yard - and more! I really really really love those tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella appetizers that are so popular lately, and decided to try my hand at growing basil. It's not to bad - even here in this hot climate if I make sure that there is shade they seem to do well. I even have renegade basil growing in a pot that I didn't plant it in, but am letting it grow anyway. How fun it is to run out and pluck a couple of leaves off and put it on my sandwich, pasta, or omelet. I haven't actually done my appetizer yet for fear that I'll eat the entire thing at once.

* Philip got a cool letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago inviting him to be on the jr high cross country team. The letter said that he had been noticed in elementary cross country and they really would like him to run with them this fall. They are having community runs on Tuesday nights this summer. We finally went to one this week after having been out of town so long, and I think he was happy to see all the other kids there. Lots of high school kids were there as well so I think it acts as inspiration to the younger kids. Now to buy him a decent pair of shoes.

* I have a love/hate relationship with chorizo. I love it, but hate that it's bad for you and kind of get a little grossed out if I think of all the animal parts it's probably made from. So, it's easier just to avoid it. Caitlin loves it a lot though, so when I was in Trader Joes yesterday, I thought of her. There was a package of Soy Chorizo! Who knew? It was only $2, so I figured it was worth the risk and brought it home. I made it for lunch and no one could tell that it wasn't the real thing. And, for once, I ate my chorizo and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Our annual Greer trip...

Has come and gone - here are some of the highlights...

First, last year Rik and I went on a drive and found this place to climb really close to Big Lake Lookout. This year, he made sure everyone took their climbing gear. We had a nice afternoon trying out the climbs. It was beautiful - lots of fat aspens! The favorite for the kids was the rappel that was in there - here are pictures of Caitlin and Rik rappeling.

And, every year, we come prepared with a "kid" project. I think this is becoming harder as they get older, because the boys don't really want to do traditional projects anymore. I bought a book called "Hello Cupcake" and it had all these great ideas for making cupcakes into fun objects by using mostly things that are easily found and that you don't have to be a master decorator to use. Philip chose to make the sharks (extras included twinkies, fruit roll ups, and choc cookies). Caitlin picked aliens (extras included donut holes, marshmallows, and twizzlers). Everyone was pretty eagar to help eat them as well! It worked out well as it was Grandma's birthday and there was no need to get a cake then! I don't know if she appreciated sharks and aliens (I personally liked the sunflowers or popcorn you could have made!), but that's what she got!

The kids love playing in the stream while we are there. Here are a couple of pictures from a couple of different places on the stream that we visited.



Oh - did I also mention the other things we did were eat too much, sleep a lot, and just enjoy the much cooler weather!

Our Araviapa Canyon trip...

So beautiful - one of the best kept secrets around here! Who knew there was so much water only an hour from our house?? There is no trail - only a stream to follow - you are in and out of it constantly. I told the kids how lucky they are - their mom let them walk in all this water and mud and didn't yell at them once! They only let in 50 people per day - permit only. We were quite lucky to get the permits we needed.

The canyon is 11 miles from end to end. I would have loved to have seen the whole thing, but with kids it just wasn't possible. Caitlin wasn't quite as dedicated to seeing the whole thing as the rest of us were! We did see an old homestead from the 1800s. Not much left, but very cool.

This is where we camped our first night. It doesn't look comfortable - but it was - thank goodness for Thermarest! It was nice sleeping along the stream - so peaceful. Though of course, the first night I woke up and saw a squirrel on Caitlin's backpack. My bright light scared him off! There was almost a full moon that night and it never did get very dark.

This is where we camped our second night - less rocky, more sandy. We used tents that second night because it was just a tad cold the night before without them.

I'm dying to go back!

Caitlin turns 14!

How can that be? May 31st was her birthday - and while she was a little disappointed that it landed on a Sunday (mostly because we didn't take her out to lunch like normal), she ended up with cinnamon rolls and rice krispie treats being given to her at church, so, I don't think it mattered that much in the long run!

She ended up with lots of clothes - mostly orange - but they all fit her personality perfectly! The shirt she is wearing in this picture Rik picked out for her and she loved it!

We had a nacho bar for her dinner - per her request - and an ice cream cake for dessert. Now, I'm going to make a public pleading here - I *need* the Betty Crocker ice cream cake pan. I have looked *everywhere* for it. I borrowed this one from a friend of mine (thanks Debbie!) and her daughter bought it for her last winter when Linens 'n Things was going out of business. It is nowhere to be found now. So, if you happen to see one - buy it - I'll reimburse you for it plus shipping and everything! Or at least direct me in which website has it! I can't believe how well this pan worked and how yummy the cake turned out!

Still, Caitlin 14? Sometimes I feel like I'm closer to 14 than I am - so how can I possibly have a daughter this age? And such a beautiful, fun daughter at that?

Happy birthday Caitlin!!!!

*Update*!!! Found the pan - thanks Leslie! I don't know how she did it, but apparently her Google skills are much better than mine! It's on the way to my doorstep as I type! Can I make an ice cream cake for you in thanks Leslie? :)