This post is long overdue. I apologize to all of you that have been watching for this for a while now. I've had trouble gathering all the pics for this, so I'm just going with what I have at this moment.
The boys and I went to my family's ranch in Aripine, Az for the last two weeks of July this summer. (Ben couldn't get off work.) My mother's family holds a reunion every year, but this year, my cousin Nancy and I were in charge of planning.
The first few days were great. There were plenty of willing hands for set-up and cleaning, and things fell nicely into place. Aside from the stress that little kids usually encounter when away from home and father, all was well. Then the day before the reunion began, (Thursday) Sweety and I came down with a vicious summer cold.
I already told you about Friday. Blegh. Thankfully Smarty didn't have to be a part of all that. Uncle Joe helped Smarty through a hike. That also happened to be the first day of planned activities, and as more and more strange adults and noisy children piled up around my boys, they grew less and less thrilled to be on vacation and away from Dad.
By that evening, I was near death. (not really, just felt like it) So despite the fact that I was still nursing Sweety, I began to medicate. (I like to be in control of myself; medicine-head makes me crazy!) But Sweety was sick enough himself, he probably appreciated whatever medicine he was getting through my milk.
Due to illness and medicine, I was having a difficult time taking care of my stressed out kids and my responsibilities with reunion. But I'm so blessed. While I was useless, my parents, my brothers, and their girlfriends tended Smarty and Sweety. Jaime, Dave's girlfriend, who was sick herself, even let Smarty sleep in her room so that she could get up with him in the morning and let me sleep. My dear mother did the night-shift with Sweety for like a week so I could sleep. And everyone pitched in and took care of the reunion. Thanks all for your help!!
In spite of illness and hospital visits, it was so great to see my cousins and their families! It's amazing how their kids seam to grow so quickly! I'm so glad that we are all willing to trek up there to spend time together and renew our relationships.
By Sunday evening, most everyone had gone home. My parents, Russ, and the boys and I, stayed to get a few odd jobs done and clean everything up, and the week after the reunion saw Sweety and I gradually improve.
Another bit of drama came on Thursday when we were getting ready to take many stinky bags of trash to town. We loaded the trash, loaded Sweety, and I ran into the house to grab the diaper bag. In the meantime, Smarty locked and closed the doors of the van, with the keys in the ignition!!
It was a hot day, so we began searching feverishly for the spare set of keys. We spent 20 minutes or so looking, while Sweety screamed and sweat buckets. I can only guess what all that garbage, baking in the hot car, must have smelled like! It was about then that I finally reached my cracking point. I sat down on the floor and cried and said, "It's too much, it's too much! I can't take anymore!"
At that, my sweet mother picked up and hammer and ran out the door. Bless her heart, for being so willing to get my son out of that hot car! I caught her before any windows were damaged and suggested we ask my Dad and Russ what to do.
It wasn't until later that I realized what kind of a trip this had been for my mother. Obviously it was hard to watch my kids suffer, but my mom was watching her grandchildren and her daughter suffer. And where I had power to act and do what I could for my kids, she had to step back and watch me make decisions. I think that moment with the hammer held high in her hands was her breaking point too.
Thankfully, my dad and Russ were able to saw the hinges off a couple of windows, (that my husband later replaced for much less than the cost of a new window) and we were able to re-hydrate and calm Sweety down without further incident. Thanks Mom and Dad for gladly being willing to sacrifice your van for my precious little guy!
The last day in Az was our best day there. We went to beautiful Blacks Canyon Lake and spent the day enjoying the sunshine, messing around in the water, and feeding the squirrels.
Uncle Russ thrilled Smarty by swishing him through the water and throwing him up in the air and all kinds of other tricks.
While at Blacks, Smarty took the opportunity to get in some crucial training time on a skill he's trying to perfect. Smarty is a serious throw-er-of-rocks into water. It requires all his major body parts and an elaborate routine to accomplish this feet.
Here's my attempt to capture this important job:
Smarty told me, "I find the splash-est one!"
The wind-up
More wind-up. Obviously wind-up is very important.
Let 'er fly!
Emaciated little Sweety enjoyed dipping his toes in the lake for just a minute too.
(Does anyone know of a way to crop photos in Blogger?)
The next day we met Dad in Panguitch, Ut for his father's family reunion. Smarty was so glad to see his father! But Sweety had to punish Ben for a little while before he was willing to show how much he missed him too.
We stayed with Aunt Linda and Uncle Mont. They have a beautiful home where we always feel welcome and cared for. It was grand to visit with those we don't see so often. I would have enjoyed staying a little longer, but the emotional state of my little travelers made it necessary to cut that portion of our trip a little shorter than we'd planned.
While at the Howard reunion, Ben took the older boys for a hike to the top of Red Canyon. Here are some breath-taking views and some silly boys:
So strong you guys!
Boys will be boys
Despite the low points, it was a good trip, but we were all relieved when it was over. Here's hoping next year's is much less exiting!
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