school, School, SCHOOL

It had been awhile, so we hit the road this weekend to spend some time with family.

Back at the campus where this guy and I met 15 years ago, Dad and the kids were given a VIP tour from retired professor, Grandpa.  I didn't get to go on the tour (I was shopping for a birthday outfit with Grandma--what fun!) but here's what it looked like from Kate's point of view...

Is this one of those famous mint brownies or a cougar tail?

Kaaaate, pick on someone your own size.

 Success in every way-- I got a new outfit and the kids got to see the ins and outs of BYU world.

 If our big fat Y logo wall sticker at home isn't enough to point them in the right academic direction, then hopefully the tour will.

 We made a few phone calls and had a great turnout of family join us for a Saturday afternoon hike.

 And well, we can't end without discussing the elephant in the room: It was the FIRST WEEK BACK TO SCHOOL.   Kate the great is a newbie at middle school this year--yay for lockers, lots of classes, and awkward times.   Brynn is in 4th and is happy with her teacher despite him seeming tired--well yeah, who wouldn't be tired after teaching for 36 years!   Adrie loves loves loves her new school class and like Matilda can't wait to discuss literature over a box of chocolates with her teacher, Miss Honey.

The little guy has one more year at home. He is a little weirded out by his sister friends suddenly leaving him all day. Until he's drafted into the Kindergarten playoffs next year, we'll enjoy many books and play-dough dates.
Phew! It was one happenin' week.

Dusty Bottoms

 This week we continued the tradition of going to the County Fair. Wahooo.   Kate entered the chocolate baking contest. She didn't win the $50 grand prize she was hoping for but I thought her triple layered mint chocolate bars were mmmazing!  

We saw giant zucchinis, beautiful handmade quilts, canned goods of every variety. The girls entered their own exhibits. Adrie was delighted to find that her poem about dinosaurs won a blue ribbon. Kate and Brynn entered art work and photography and got 2nd place ribbons.  Kate also entered a sugar cube sculpture which also got a blue ribbon.  

 Adventure seeker though I am, I was secretly hoping to get out of the Little Cowboy Rodeo this year. (so dang hot and muggy) but here we are!!!   This year Brynn was too big to do mutton bustin' and instead graduated to "steer riding. "  What is a steer?   I asked one of the many knowledgeable patrons in cowboy duds and I'm sure you're dying to know.  It's a young male cow that is fixed so it won't become a bull. They grow up to be pot roasts and hamburgers.  After Brynn saw a couple of kids get bucked off within 2 seconds and nearly trampled, she thought she'd pass on that adventure.

Only in a small town.

 She and Adrie joined hoards of little cowboys and girls for a chance at nabbing a blue ribbon of the money bull.  Brynn got herself a dollar and a dusty bottom. They also participated in a "boot" race.


For a new adventure, this weekend,  we headed out East for the Castle Valley pageant. 
 The locals here put on a good re-enactment of the settlement of the valley and the hardships and joys of pioneer life.  I think the early settlers of this place would have had to have even a greater sense of adventure than I to leave their homes and try to make a new life on what looks like the planet Mars.

 Before the sun set, we enjoyed some pioneer life activities like making rag rugs and riding in a horse drawn wagon.

The Wacky World of HealthCare

Today I am writing a claims appeal to my health insurance for the emergency room expenses I incurred while visiting my mom for the last time.  Today my mom would have celebrated her 76th birthday.

I have to explain to my insurance why not being able to breathe or move my legs and having my blood pressure soar then plummet then soar  again, was "life-threatening."   If they believe, like the bystanders who called 9-1-1, that it was, then the $6000+ medical bills, I incurred will be applied to a $4000 in-area deductible instead of a $6000 out-of-area deductible. Brother. That's the crazy world of healthcare we live in.

Do you know how much it costs for a nurse to hand you oral medications?   $87.00
My 10 minute ambulance ride? $1242
Once you enter an emergency room/ hospital there is no end to the outrageous overcharging!

It makes me wonder what happened to the real world?   For any other service( except funeral) I think you can get a pretty fair competitive trade for your dollar. Need an oil change? $20.  A haircut? $20.   Not in the medical world. It's like playing a game with monopoly money. Insurance companies HAVE monopoly money (deducted out of our paychecks each month) so they can join in on the game.   But for those of us  with no insurance or very high deductibles, (doesn't pay to work for the state, afterall)  there should be a  real people price tag.

Take Germany , for example. While traveling there, my friend's little girl got a "tick."  Nasty little buggar, they took her to the emergency room, where it was safely removed. They were presented a bill of $50 U.S. dollars.  $50 for an ER visit?? What American wouldn't be thrilled to see a 2 digit medical bill?!   That's so simple, so fair. It's enough to make you think twice about rushing to the ER but not so much that they would rather have risked "Black Forest fever" They paid it right then and there. Done deal. No insurance. No problem. That is the real world I'm talking about!  That is what prices should be.


If price gauging is because of the soaring costs of malpractice insurance then let's make laws against frivolous law suits.  If you go to a doctor, if you have a surgery, you assume the risks.   By all means, use Angie's List to make sure that particular doctor didn't have a history of removing the wrong kidney and then get on that gurney.

But here's something to consider... why can't we get rid of health insurance altogether?!!   If everything was reasonably priced, we wouldn't NEED health insurance, right?  We could unlock skyscrapers full of insurance agents and free them up for more rewarding careers like,  music educators in the schools? I'm just getting so excited here.

Competitively priced services would mean most people could pay their own bill!

Call me idealistic, but I think eliminating malpractice suits and doing away with health insurance would make  America a swell place to break a leg.

Chasing Waterfalls

Just when I feel like I've finally figured out summer break, it's almost over!  Things to remember for next summer starting in JUNE

• Insist on a mid day reading time/siesta. It does a lot of good to make the kids take a little break from their friendsies and CHILL OUT for awhile. 
• While at it, let everyone know with a handy sign on the door that reads something like this "Quiet Time in session" (or for the non readers a frowny face) to keep the every ten minute doorbell interruptions at bay. There is something about the dinging and  knocking that makes everyone leap up from their otherwise restful activities and run to the door as if there's going to be a pot of free candy on the doorstep.  
• Explore Nature. This is the cheapest, easiest, way to gobble up lazy summer days and turn them into learning adventures that will be sure to have them pooped out tired for bed.

Today we tried just that! Here we are...in Hawaii... or at least the spray from the waterfall made it feel that way. 

We invited some neighbors to join us. See what we found along the trail? Yes, a cozy rustic cabin. I think it has potential. 

We also found a geo-cache treasure box! The kids opened it to find a toy car  which the younger two vowed to "share." We'll see how that goes. In it's place we left a note, a pencil, and.... a packet of daily vitamins?? (it was all we had?!)

 We passed signs that said "Bear Country" and what to do in case of lightning. (lay on the ground.) But we weren't scared. All we saw were a couple of squirrels and even more exciting a snake!   Little Bud declared "Yay! We're in the mountains. I can pee." and that he did right then and there all easy like cuz he's a boy.

Actually getting down to the waterfall pool was pretty treacherous but we did it and it made us feel like superheroes.

 The water shouldn't be this COLD in Hawaii???

At this point the kids were too tired to care, but there was a very cool little old mining historic site with old tools and outhouses and stuff. We'll have to come back another day with a picnic for more adventuring....

Tippy Canoes

Canoeing on Pioneer Day? Why not?! We drove to this quaint and rustic mountain park for some family adventure. No one fell in, although, the kids couldn't resist swimming after.

The hot attraction this summer has been the nearby canal. I drop them off at a certain point up-river.  They float down this lazy flow which is occasionally  interrupted by bridges (duck and cover) and a couple of "white water" rapids. When they get to our neighborhood they pull out and walk home, dripping and satisfied, and finish with a hot shower.

 Another Pioneer Day adventure-- Brandon played in and won the local singles tennis tournament!

Make Freedom Ring--Family Reunion

What do you get when you have a theme, 3-days packed full of fun, and 70 of your favorite people?
You guessed it. This year's reunion was better than ever. Highlights included: Sports day, Crossing streams through a beautiful canyon, Swimming, outdoor movie, BBQ's, and singing patriotic songs to the strumming of guitars.

I love watching people shine and this year I saw a lot of people sharing the best of themselves. Aunt Megz not only showing her line dance skills but being able to teach the rest of us lead-foots. Uncle L teaching us about freedom , Aunt T exercising her stage presence and helping us to memorize a scripture, My own BD, leading the adults in a discussion about managing time and priorities. Aunt M entertaining the kids with her new balloon twisting skills. Uncle DB taking us through his world travels to make us realize how blessed we are to live in a free country. Uncles J and DH interjecting throughout it all with comic relief.
Cousins being inclusive.

Everyone was quick to pitch in and help with dishes, dinners, or crying babies. The reunion was centered around the theme "My Country Tis of Thee." We all left feeling a little prouder to be an American and even happier to be part of our great big family.

This is what a stubbed-toe gets you

Getting Spoiled this Summer

July has been HOT and eventful. Here's the rundown

 Brandon and Adrie took part in a local patriotic musical. In this scene they are "thumbing their noses" at the British tax. Glenn Beck would be so proud.

 Children's parade down main street.

 Some blessed cloud-cover and the anticipation of treats at the Fourth of July Parade

Heavy Medal

 Brynn was IN the parade with her gymnastics team--showing off and doing dangerous tricks to make everyone want to sign up their kids for that kind of fun. Brynn is wearing her medals she earned from the Summer Games in June. She got a silver in all-around and a gold on vault.

 Suburbia does have its' benefits of constant playmates but if I ever want to see my kids I have to carve out some time. This week we went to for pampering and prettying at the local beauty college.   I got a facial while the girls had their hair and nails done.  Fabulous.

In other events, we got our "new to us" minivan.   While we were waiting for it to get fixed the dealership loaned us a ....why the heck not....2012 Honda CrossTour MSRP $37,000.   Confession: I've never been a car person, but I became one after this experience.  It was so dang fun to drive--super smooth handling--it was like I and the car became one in those 2 weeks--and we looked awesome!  Every time I'd get in the car I'd discover some new fun thing like--XM radio! back up camera! sunroof! navigation system!   Darn it, I miss you guys!  I was suddenly volunteering to drive everyone everywhere. Need me to take your kid to swim lessons? No prob!  It was a sad day when I had to turn in the keys to get my real car. How could a  bare bones minivan not feel a little frumpy by comparison? Those dealerships are the devil aren't they?!  Ah well, it's like Hawaii-- I can't live there but I enjoyed my CAR-cation while it lasted:)!

Happy summering....