Weekend at Lees Ferry

Colorado River

Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River

Some people pay a lot of money to take mud baths...
my kids? they get it for free

squelch

hiking with Dr. Daddy in the Vermilion Cliffs

a delicate balancing act

this kid did some great rock climbing

In between this fun we kept about 40 undergraduate student plus faculty mostly well fed and hydrated. We went through 22 dozen eggs, 15 lbs of ground beef, 14 lbs of chicken, 12 lbs of pasta, 20 cups of rice, 18 loaves of bread, 5 lbs of green beans, 3 lbs of carrots, 2 lbs of mushrooms, 8 heads of lettuce, and MUCH MORE.

Mr. Tree Trunk

We have a Chinese professor visiting us. He was actually a post-doc with Dr. Daddy and has since returned to China and collaborates with Dr. Daddy from there. His name is Junsheng, which apparently, is a little hard for a two-year old English speaker to handle. Despite our best attempts to teach him "Dr. Junsheng", Eskil calls him "Mr. Tree Trunk".
It makes me giggle every time and makes Dr. Daddy think of Ents.

The Birds and the bees

Like dutiful parents we try to have "those" sorts of conversations with our kids in age appropriate ways and with vague attempts at keeping it like a normal conversation rather than an awkward talk with Mom and Dad. So the other night Eirena was talking about how her hair was getting longer and somehow that related to her being more feminine. Dr. Daddy took the opportunity to try to weave in a small biology lesson. The conversation went something like this:
Dr. Daddy: so what's the difference between boys and girls?
Eirena: boys wear pants and shorts and shirts and girls wear dresses.
Me: I wear pants, does that mean I'm a boy?
Eirena: no, but I only wear dresses
Dr. Daddy: so what's the difference between boys and girls?
Eirena: girls have nose rings and...
Me: you don't have a nose ring
Dr: Daddy: what do boys have that girls don't have?
Eirena: a penis!
Dr. Daddy: Right, and what do girls have?
Eirena: what's that thing where babies come from?
Me: uterus?
Eirena: yeah
Dr. Daddy: so, what's the difference between boys and girls?
Eirena: Girls have a uterus and boys don't paint their nails.

(hmmm, maybe we should stick with the highly structured talk with this child)

The Camping Trip That Almost Wasn't

Dr. Daddy had been wanting to go hiking and camping for quite a while. We were originally thinking of going to Big Bend Forest but the drive and the overwhelming reality of backpacking with three children (and carrying all their stuff) whittled the idea down to some where a little closer by. So we settled on Dinosaur Valley State Park. Being the weekend before Thanksgiving we thought we might have the park to ourselves.

Unfortunately, the week of the trip and especially the day before I got sick with a nasty cold that left me with three kinds of headaches all at the same time. We wondered whether or not we should go. But we forged on.

Saturday dawned and we looked at the weather report. Rain forecasted. Really? Here? It has been dry for months! We wondered whether or not we should go. But we forged on.

We drove through fascinating towns such as Crawford... yes, THE Crawford, home to the former President. As well as oddly named towns such as Eulogy and Fairy and Nix.
So we arrived at Dinosaur Valley State Park and as we approached the ranger station there was a nice little notice saying that the park was full. There was even a waiting list! We were really starting to wonder about our decision at this point, but figured that we might as well look at the famed dinosaur tracks and let the kids burn some energy while we were there.

there's nothing quite like chillin' on an old dinosaur footprint

So we saw the tracks and had the brilliant idea of calling a nearby park to see if we could camp there. No such luck, apparently other people are equally brilliant. At this point we were really quite seriously wondering if we should be heeding all the seeming signs point away from the choice to camp. But we're stubborn folks. So we called one more park and they actually had space. Well, it was a two hour drive from where we were, so we didn't get to stop at:

Dr. Daddy would appreciate it if you would please notice the giraffe included in with the dinosaur models

We thought it would be fun to stop in here, but we really had to drive on to get to the park before dark, so sadly all we got was a picture of Dr. Daddy next to the sign.

Finally we got to the park. It was about 8/10ths of a mile walk in. That night Eskil tumbled over Dr. Daddy and I all night long and stole our sleeping spots. Eirena woke up randomly at 5AM and thought it would be a good time to chat. And Eskil climbed all over Dr. Daddy and I (again).

The next day we went on a hike. It was supposed to be an easy 4.2 mile walk. Thanks to a couple of missed junctions and wrong turns, it ended up being more like a 7 mile hike. Eirena had done the 8/10ths of a mile walk to the parking lot and back with Dr. Daddy in the morning and then in the evening to get to our tent. So in all she walked close to 10 miles! Adisu and I walked about 8.5 and Eskil nearly 2 miles. Awesome. We were really impressed with how well they hiked.

sneaking water from his sister's Camelbak even though he has a cup right there

The park that we were at is known for the Gorman Falls. So we felt we ought to see them. It was a 3 mile walk round trip and well worth it.

In the end it was a good time and we're glad we ignored the ominous clouds and other things.
Dr. Daddy wanted to get a family picture. (After two days of camping and hiking.) Not quite how they shoot the models in an REI catalog... nor is it the "ideal" holiday family picture. But then... it is us.

weekend pictures

Friday picnic with the kids in our yard. The weather is finally nice enough to enjoy being outside!

Eskil found our swimming goggles and had to model them.

Saturday we went for a "hike" in a wildlife preserve. We didn't really hike (2 miles was the longest trail) and didn't see any wild life, but it was fun to get out and stretch our legs.

Eirena is really into picking flowers, weeds, feathers, ragweed.

On the last portion of our "hike" we let Eskil get out of the "Jack, Jack Pack" and walk. He was thrilled.

While Eskil toddled along, picking up rocks along the way, Adisu ran around to various landmarks while Eirena took up sword fighting.

A new love language

Dr. Daddy sent me (and Eirena) away to visit my family (some of whom I hadn't seen in 3 years) last week. We had a great time seeing new nieces, picking blackberries, and more blackberries and going on a ferry ride. And drinking coffee from the first Starbucks store. To say thank you to Dr. Daddy for taking time off work to watch the boys, I stopped at one of our favorite stores and got him some treats from there.
I think perhaps we should consider treats from Trader Joe's as a new love language.

Goose Island

The crew went to Goose Island State Park on Monday. Our campsite was just off the beach in a shady, grassy area. The swimming beach was a short drive into the town. We went there pretty much as soon as we got camp set up. The kids jumped right on in. So did the dog. Being the Gulf coast, it was shallow for quiet a ways and very warm. Eskil had a permanent grin on his face and loved digging his hands into the sandy-mud. Eirena and Adisu had fun splashing and Uc got her first chance to swim in the ocean. (She was a little freaked out by the tiny waves but otherwise had fun.)
Some friends from Houston met us at the park and brought a canoe with them. In the evening two adults and four children- their three and Eirena- (all had life vests on) went out into the canoe. The wind and current were strong and just as they had managed to turn the canoe back to shore a wave came and tipped them over. Everyone got thoroughly soaked. The children were rather unimpressed and didn't let the adults forget that they "let" the canoe tip over.

The next day we went back to the beach in the morning and then fishing in the afternoon. There were assurances that one need not go out into the canoe to fish. Eirena was highly relieved because she really wanted to fish and really didn't want to go back into the canoe. Eirena caught 2 small fish. Adisu didn't catch any. Later that night Dr. Daddy used one of Eirena's fish as bait for catching his bigger catfish.



A lot of fun, a lot of sun and drinking copious amounts of water. And now we're home.
(And we're still hearing about the canoe tipping over. )

multiculturalism

Dr. Daddy on explaining to me that he would be the only non-Chinese/Chinese-American on his latest research project in China: I'm the only gringo in the group.

Anatomy

Dr. Daddy has been working on anatomy with Eirena. She usually knows all the major bones of her body. last night during Bible reading Dr. Daddy was going over the catechism with her.
The question was "have you a soul as well as a body?"
The answer of course, is "yes, I have a soul that can never die".
Dr. Daddy then added, "what else do you have besides a soul?"
Eirena responded, "A shoulder blade".

Well, I'm glad we have that settled.

scary hairy

I have been trying to decide what to do with my hair. Grow it longer? Cut it short? A style even? Dr. Daddy's opinion about length or style was noncommittal. His opinion about color though? Green. Bright green. Or maybe black. Or violet. And the scary thing is, he's serious.
So one fine day I loaded a program that takes a picture of you and shows what you would look like with various hairstyles based on different models and individuals. First problem, no picture of me. Dr. Daddy rectified that with taking possibly the.worst. picture. of me, ever. I've had better passport photos! So just to lighten things up as I started I chose a style that was flaming orange hair in a bit of a haystack look. And oh dear, I discovered that I look like Ron Weasley. Not cute little Ginny, Ron. I think it something to do with the eyes. Dr. Daddy and I noticed it at the same time and burst out laughing.
After trying quite a few things I finally gave up. Just for fun, I loaded a picture of me with dreads. Dr. Daddy loved it. And now thinks I should do dreads. (If I won't dye my hair green or purple.) Unfortunately for him, dreads take a lot of work (in the beginning) and my current hair style is "combed". So dreads are out. (And here my parents sigh in relief.)
So I still haven't decided what to do with my hair (if anything) but I am becoming more and more convinced that Dr. Daddy is trying to do his own hair crises/experimentation through me.
And no, I am not going to post that horrible picture of me!

Spring Break

Following our usual tradition of camping for Spring Break, we got in touch with some of our friends who used to go with us on our traditional Spring Break backpacking trips. The addition of six children between the two families has cramped the 40-mile 4 day hikes a bit, but we still had fun camping together.
We intended to camp and then do short hikes/walks at a nearby State park. But the line to enter the park was about 1/2 mile of vehicles long (where we were and only getting longer). There are distinct disadvantages to the ENTIRE state having Spring Break at the same time!
Anyway, we decided to scratch that idea and find a different adventure. We drove to a different park that was much less crowded.

We had a nice walk along the river.

tromped over logs

and some of us got wet.

While we were driving over there Dr. Daddy and I saw this sign on the side of the road. We knew we had to stop and take a picture on the way back. We amused ourselves with the possible scenarios.

Unfortunately none of our scenarios were correct although I would say they were far more creative.

The following day we went to another State park and had a short walk over the rocks around the river.

Eskil and his friend are only 2 weeks apart.

Eskil loved riding in the "jack-jack pack" (alluding to The Incredibles).

Fun times were had by all. (And now for the monstrous task of clean up and storing all the camping gear again. And then I'll be ready for the real break to begin!)

Silly Eirena

Me to Dr. Daddy: did you ever eat salt with your oranges?
Dr. Daddy: no, I'm not weird like that
Eirena to Dr. Daddy: are you kidding me?

love that girl!

St. Nicholas Day

Our family celebrates St. Nicholas Day on the 6th of December. That is when we have our stocking presents. Here are some pictures from last night:

Eskil got to go first

No one can resist a Matthew Van Fleet book!

Next up, Adisu

He's working on one of his Perler bead projects today

Then it was Eirena's turn

both older kids got gold coins to represent the gold in the stocking
Eirena made the connection immediately

modeling the socks she got in her stocking

you know he's a geologist when...
he's happy to get coal in his stocking
(anthracite has cool looking crystals)

Eirena was quite happy to help Dr. Daddy get his See's candy out of his stocking

Happy St. Nicholas Day!