Ross Week 2009

We are subscribers to the theory that "the family that plays together, stays together." So we play a lot. The past week has been chock full of fun for the Ross Family. We spent Wednesday at Seven Peaks with the entire Ross brood and even enjoyed an hour of the park all to ourselves before it opened! Hooray! On Thursday, we went faux camping in Grandma and Grandpa Ross's backyard. It rained the entire night, but we enjoyed tinfoil dinners, s'mores, and an outdoor movie before it started raining. And the kids were not faint of heart either, they slept outside all night despite the deluge.

On Friday morning we moved the "camp" into Grandma and Grandpa's garage to get out of the rain. We ate a huge breakfast and played games. No, we did not go inside. Because that would not have been the "cowboy way." On Friday afternoon, Dan hiked to Stewart Falls with the girls and Friday night was Fathers and Sons for Fisher and Dan. Saturday was a car wash with Jeffrey. And later, Dan and Wayne took the girls four-wheeling. And Sunday we topped it all off with an extended Ross Family dinner. Whew! It was loads of fun.

Good Friends, Good Fun

Some good snapshots from a BBQ we had last week. These are all of Dan's siblings (and spouses), plus the guy who should have been his brother, but by a strange twist of fate became his identical cousin. And then proceeded to marry my best friend. Kismet! (Can't guess who is an in-law or a sibling, play the game of matching noses!)

This is a random post, but it really is an excuse to experiment with photo collages. Much more efficient, I must admit.

Aunt Maridon's Pool

My Aunt Maridon's backyard is a welcome oasis during the summer months. The girls beg me to take them literally every day, and occasinally I relent. Maridon is so nice to let us impose on her. Not only does she have a fabulous, shaded pool, but she has a "candy store" that is always stocked with lots and lots of candy.

What Do You Think?

I happened upon my girls doing this this afternoon. I look at this picture and a certain phrase comes to mind. But it's not PC, so I won't say it. But given the matching white tank tops, lawn chairs, and eating snacks out of the bag, perhaps you can guess what it is. You have to love their innovation and imagination though. It makes it even better if you can imagine the High School musical soundtrack blaring in the background, which it was.

The Wasatch Back

Heaven knows I don't run. And I'm pretty sure that everybody else knows it too. I hate it from the very depths of my soul. And it is my sheer detest of it that gives me the deepest of respect for anyone who voluntarily runs. So, with the greatest reverence, I salute all of those who did the Wasatch Back this year. And all of those who have ever done it (which sadly amounts to everyone in my husband's family except me!)

Here are some pictures from this year's Wasatch Back. For those who don't know, it's a relay race through the Wasatch Mountains, starting in Logan and ending in Park City and typically lasts around 24 hours (at least for this team). It involves a lot of running, a little eating, very little sleeping, and some exhaustion-induced hilarity. Way to go Team Priceless. I'm proud of you guys!

Baby I'm Amazed

Note to Reader: You should softly hum Paul McCartney's song with me while you read this. Baby, I'm amazed at the way you love me all the time . . . Good, moving on.

Perhaps I've gained perspective, maturity, and experience with every child I've had. Perhaps, Quincy really is a "star" and completely deserving of her nickname. Perhaps, it is the very real possibility that she is our "icing on the cake" last child. But, for whatever reason, I am in love with my baby! (Can I say that?)

Quincy is truly delightful and I absolutely adore her. I can't begin to count how many times I kiss her every day, or how many times I find myself giggling over the seemingly insignificant things she does. It's ridiculous that an adult can be reduced to mush by something so small as the clapping of tiny hands.

Of course, I love all my children. And when I'm not completely frazzled by the pesky little "to do's" in our life, I just sit back in awe of my four kids and relish the precious moments we have as a little family. They are passing me by at an alarming pace. And more and more, I am realizing that this wonderful stage of innocent childhood, unabashed trust, and uninhibited love is fleeting.

The Bane of My Existence

This is the bane of my existence. This is the basement closet, both literally and figuratively. It is the receptacle of every undone project, loose photograph, incomplete pedigree chart, dusty yearbook, free floating memorabilia, and mediocre college paper. It is a complete mess and has haunted me for nearly four years. Even though the door has remained closed, just knowing that it exists cankers my soul. I'm sure in some psycho babble analysis it represents my reluctance to embrace my past, or sort out my life, or something akin to that. But this weekend, I confronted my demons and emptied the closet. I organized and categorized everything.

The process was cathartic and surprisingly sweet. I found a lot of things that conjured up wonderful memories. I found locks from each of my kids' hair. I found my 20th birthday card from Dan Heath, who is now passed on. I found a stack of birthday cards from my sweet Grandma Laynie penned in her signature scrawled penmanship. I found a Martina Navritilova autograph on a Delta airlines ticket stub. I found notes between my friends from our high school days. Then, there was the box of letters Dan wrote me from his mission, a journal containing my friends' predictions of each of our futures, high school dance pictures, concert ticket stubs, and valentines from a hysterically random mix of people.

So, the closet is conquered. I can now move on to my next obstacle. TBA

Happy Father's Day

I'm a day late and a dollar short as usual, but it's the thought that counts, right? Happy Father's Day to my father. He is a cryptic fellow to most, but because we are cut from the same cloth, I get him. And I appreciate him more everyday.

While at first glance he may seem intimidating, those who know him best all admit he is one of the sweetest men they know. He is sincere and heartfelt, but brutally honest. He is aloof and stoic, but genuinely friendly and endearingly tender. He has strong opinions and deep convictions, but is supportive and concerned. He doesn't believe in niceties or pretense, but admires and respects anyone willing to earn it. He is a man's man, but suprisingly feminist. He is incredibly intelligent, but witty and funny. He is not effusive or gregarious, but consistent and constant.

I love my dad for always being a champion for my cause, whatever it may be. He has taught me the value of work, education, and sincerity. He is an amazing grandpa, and it has truly been one of the sweetest experiences of my life to witness the bond he has with my children, particularly Fisher. Happy Father's Day, Dad.

Wednesdays with Tiffany

For the past several summers, we spend a designated day of the week with Auntie Tiffany. Typically, she helps me take the kids to Seven Peaks, which is such a heaven-sent blessing! I discovered that Seven Peaks with Fisher and Quincy is nearly impossible. Anyway, this Wednesday was windy, rainy, and cold, so we spent a fun day visiting the Bean Museum, visiting the Provo Cemetery, and making homemade cinnamon rolls.

Fisher loves animals and spent his time at the museum shouting loudly at "Tee Tee" (aka Tiffany) to see all the different animals. She convinced him that the water buffalo was daddy. She also taught him to say "peacock" and "moose."

The girls loved the new cell phone feature at the museum to learn more about each animal. Quincy, as always, is just happy to go along for the ride. She thought this hippopotomas was particularly interesting.

This week was my Grandma Laynie's birthday, so we visited her headstone and took her flowers. I love that you can look at his headstone and instantly know the reason behind two of my kids' names. You may also note that my Papa Ace (still living) celebrated his ninetieth birthday last week. We had a BBQ with him and the kids helped him blow out the candles.

Aunties

God didn't bless me with biological sisters, but he was kind enough to give me Megan and Tiffany. Besides being two of my bestest friends, they are "aunties" to my kids. Which basically mean they are the fun ones to whom I will always pale in comparison. They're the "go to" people when it comes to making cookies, getting piggy back rides, or going on fun adventures. They get my kids completely revved up. They feed them amazing amounts of sugar, play Polly Pockets with them, and teach them obnoxious phrases. It's wonderful.

They also fill the sisterly requirement of tormenting my husband with extra loud conversations, endless relationship analyses, and constant teasing. Thank goodness for them-- they keep Dan humble!

P.S. Megan and Tiffany are both single if anyone is interested! he he he

Destination: Rupert, ID

Who would have ever thought that Rupert, ID was a destination vacation? Well, it is. It is a child's wonderland, especially for a two-year old boy. Our kids absolutely loved our Memorial Day Weekend trek to Idaho. It was a great family vacation for all of us, and especially wonderful for Dan and I to watch our kids have so much fun. It reminded me what the real purpose of vacations is, to get away from life for a while and gain perspective.

Fisher has an obsession with tractors, so my brother, Farmer Jameson, was nice enough to take my kids on a ride on the biggest tractor my uncle owns. They had a blast!

And, let's face it, the only real criteria in a fun kids' vacation is a pool. Lucky for us, my aunt and uncle recently added an indoor pool to their house. Hooray! Guess where we spent most of our time?

Cannonball!


I was completely dreading the three hour drive to Rupert and the sleeping situation with Quincy. But, I've said it before, Quincy is a star and, true to form, she shone! She barely fussed in the car and slept beautifully all three nights. She had a grand time. It was her first vacation and her first night in a house other than her own!

The cow says "Moo!"

Here we are on a tour of Uncle Paul's dairy. The smell was a little overwhelming and Taylor got sprayed by something other than milk, but a good time was had by all!

In Memory

We went out of town for the Memorial Day weekend, but we couldn't leave without visiting our beloved Dan's headstone first. Here are my kids at the East Lawn Cemetery. It was an evening visit after baths (note the wet hair and PJ's), but it was lovely and serene. On Memorial Day every year, we visit Dan Heath and Great Grandparents Brinton at the East Lawn Cemetery. And then we visit the entire Taylor and Fisher clan at the Provo Cemetery, most especially my beloved Grandma Laynie.

I have fond memories of my Grandma Laynie taking me to the Provo Cemetery every year on Memorial Day and walking me up and down the rows and rows of family members' headstones. She carried a mason jar in her hand and carefully watered all the plants on each headstone, trimmed the surrounding weeds and lovingly brushed the grass clippings from their names. Her arthritic, bony fingers would point out each name as she would tell me each of their stories. These were her people and she was so proud of her heritage. She embodied the spirit of family history and genealogy. And she somewhat lit the fire in me. I get a little choked up every time a visit a loved one's headstone now. I know they're not there, and yet it provides an opportunity to reflect on their life and what they meant to me.