Pioneers arrive in SLC, Nov. 30, 1856

The Saints arrived on a Sunday 152 yrs ago today. It is so fitting that today is the Sabbath Day and I will be thinking of them.

Larry and I were lucky enough to be chosen as a Ma and Pa to go on the Martin Cove's Trek this past summer. We attended monthly training meetings (4hrs long each) starting back in February. It took a lot of preparation, both physically and spiritually. I really wanted to go this year because Tierra would be going also. This opportunity only comes every 4 yrs. and there are rumors that the church may stop going to the actual Martin's Cove and Rocky Ridge sites because of the cost. The buses alone to transport all the youth and leaders to Wyoming was $27,000. But our prophet knows how significant this Trek is for the youth and how it has changed many lives.

We were "blessed" with 7 kids not including our doll baby. Alexis, Elise, Lisa, Ryan, Josh, Jordan and Camille.

Me, 2 of our boys and Larry pulling our hand cart.

2 of our daughters and our baby girl that had to be carried all the way.

I didn't get any pictures of us on the buses, but I felt that was the funnest time and the place our family bonded most since we spent almost 6 hours on them each way. We met our kids for the first time as we loaded up on a July morning at 5am. We played lots of get to know you games and one activity was to decorate and name our baby doll. We chose Sha-nae-nae. We also made our family flag and voted on our family name which was The Covenites and our motto was"Choose to Remember" (CTR).

Here is Tierra pushing her cart with her family and stopping for a water break. She didn't wear her bonnet much and got burned on one side of her face and her lips and nose got blistered. Kids!

Tierra and Larry. We were always glad to see our "real" child and know she was OK.

We either had to pull up front or push from behind. It helped to have our wagon loaded properly. We had 2, 5 gallon jugs for water and gatorade, and all 9 of our buckets full of our personal belongings. Plus one crate for snacks and supplies to load and make balance. We were lucky because we didn't have to take our sleeping bags. The team in charge of food, rode to camp and took all the tarps and sleeping bags for us.

Tierra at camp with her family.
We met up with Shae. We were divided into 4 colored groups. I was in the green (thus the headband) and Tierra was in the blue. Shae and Tierra sharing their stories and looking at their sore feet.
The women had to do a "Woman's pull". We had to pull our carts up a steep hill by ourselves. My daughters and I tied our aprons around our necks for a cape, so we could be "Super Woman" and have the strength. It was very spiritual (after we got our capes on). The men and boys were at the top of the hill watching. They were touched and many were crying, wanting to help their families.
Our cart coming up the steep hill. Some girls went down after they were done to help others, but we didn't want help. We wanted to know what it felt like to do it ourselves and remember the true women pioneers who lost their husbands and struggled on their own.

Larry and I at camp that evening. I only had a disposable camra because the dust might ruin our good camras, so the pictures aren't that great.

Tierra, Kiersten and Emily. We spread our sleeping bags out on tarps to sleep. This is what camped looked like at 6am when the siren went off for us to get up and come get our breakfast. We had it easy compared to the pioneers. Most meals were made for us and it was good food.

Tierra and I ready for another day of Trekking. This day we would go to Martin's Cove then return back to this same camp for a total of 17 miles!

Ryan, Josh and myself pulling and singing pioneer songs. Each family took turns being the leader, thus the red, white and blue flag. Then we'd move to the back for rotation.
Periodically, we would have a water and potty break at these outhouses along the trail. We stopped often to drink from our waterbottles, but many trekkers still got dehydrated.

Me and my boys giving the gang sign for South Weber, I think. he he

Larry and his 3 sons.
Martin's Cove looked like a slight mound of grass up against the mountains to the left and a little behind Larry from this view point.

I thought we had arrived at Martin's Cove when we came here, but this is Dan's Cove. This was before you reach Martin's Cove. We had a devotional and it was so hard not to fall asleep in the shade.

Camille and I. Going up and around to Martin's Cove took a toll on Camille. She was exhausted and her feet were sore and blistered. I had to link arms with her to keep her going. She was a real trooper.

Our family, (minus one son and one daughter) at the dedication plaque coming out of Martin's Cove.

Crossing at the Sweet Water. It was very sacred here, and there was no talking. Many Pioneers lost their lives from exposure after crossing this river.

Then we were able to wade across ourselves. (Tierra second girl back.) The water felt so good on our feet. We wish we were able to let loose and have a water fight, but not on sacred ground. Back at camp. My family too tired to even set up camp. We shared a camp station with the Poffs.
My feet and hips ?? were killing me. I didn't have any blisters though.

Day 3. Heading down the final stretch.

Veil Crossing. This plaque represents the people who were thought to have had their work done, but hadn't and weren't discovered until 1992. They had been waiting over 100 years to have their temple work done.

The crevice in these mountains is Devils Gate.
Larry washing out our wagon after a long dusty journey.

We had a couple missionary from our ward serving there at the time. They gave a devotional one night at camp.
I have a testimony of the pioneers and their sacrifice. I'm grateful I was able to experience just a taste of where they walked and to read and hear of their tragedies and triumphs. I read "The Price We Paid" before going on Trek. It is one of my favorite books now!

We have had wonderful weather this fall. But those pioneers were caught in early winter storms out on the plains of Wyoming with no shelter or food. I know I don't have the faith they had, but I'm learning through them.

Happy Thanksgiving from....

To yours!

Indian Pow Wow

Today Parks had an Indian Pow Wow party in his Kindergarten class. We had 4 centers. This one he painted a clay pot they had made last week and then they got to look at books in this Tee-pee. They also made a sand drawing, and a "buck-skin" map with hieroglyphics. I was over the Indian Fry bread center. The kids flattened out their own piece of dough. I deep fried them and they ate them with honey butter and cranberry juice.
Logan loves to come to Skrappers class. Mrs. Farr is so nice and lets him play with all her toys. Logan had a few other class siblings to play with today, but he'd rather hang out with Parks most of the time.
They have been very busy making these Indian faces, "buck-skin" vests, drums, shakers, necklaces and headbands during the past week.
They chose their own Indian name. Parks made up "Wild Turkey". A few of the fun names I saw in class were...Spaz, Soaring Eagle, Jumping Turtle, and Dancing Lily. Notice they even have a place on their vest to carry their Papoose's. Parks didn't have time to finish his.
Tomorrow is another fun day, they are having a "Pilgrim party" with all the Thanksgiving fixings. Then they will be out for 5 days for the holiday!

7's tag

7 Things I do:

• open the wrong end of a prepackaged ziplocked bag of food 99% of the time!
• pop my knuckles, wrist, neck and hips (i'm going to have arthritis)
• wax my bikini area
• floss my teeth in bed
• deal cards left handed
• lay on the trampoline to get warm in the summer when my house is too cold (especially after church)
• cut my kids hair (Tierra says I trap her in the bathroom and try to trim her bangs)

7 Things I can't do:

• drive the speed limit
• speak in public without getting hot and flushed
• cut my husbands or my kids' toenails past the age of 8 (eww), it's not "I can't" it's "I won't"
• walk away from a restraunt table without taking one last drink of my water
• squash a spider without screaming
• have regular FHE and family prayer
• take a bath

7 Things I always say:

• Do you have to go potty, Logan?
• Tierra, Noel needs food.
• Get your shoes on.
• Stop playing ball in the house!
• 'sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy'
• winner, winner chicken dinner
• freakin'

7 Things I always eat:

• peanut butter on my pancakes and vinegar on my broccoli
• onions
• quesadilla with Redhot
• Kipper snacks
• lately I crave celery and peanut butter
• chicken souvlaki plate at Crown Burger
• 'yard of beef stick' during Christmas holiday
  
  7 people I tag:


• Tammy
• Diana H
• Jodi S
• Jen Lee
• Debbie A
• Jeni P
• Nadia (hello?)
  

EDWARD, EDward, edward...

Tierra and I went to see Twilight last night with friends and most people I talk to seem to be disappointed. I however was not! I LOVED IT. I'm usually one that does pick movies apart that were made from books, like Harry Potter, and get disappointed at the left out scenes. Maybe I just don't remember the book that much because the movie was all I expected and more. I loved the feeling Edward gave me. ha ha I want to feel safe and protected by him like Bella is. I was disappointed when they chose Robert Pattinson for Edward...but not anymore. And I will watch Cedric Digory in a new light. I really liked Carlisle ... I didn't know Jennie Garth was married to him. Yum. And Emmett too. I liked Jacob in the movie, but not in the book. Whiney, possessive. But I think he should be a lot taller in the movie. I just never understood why Bella liked him so much as a friend and would hurt Edward over him!

I was grinning the whole movie. There could have been more dialogue between Edward and Bella, but that is how Bella was in the book, which drove me crazy about her. I am nothing like Bella. So I couldn't relate to her in the book, but I liked her in the movie. I can't wait another year or 2 for the second one! aagghh I was hoping to dream about the movie, but no such luck!

I am Thankful for...

I am thankful for blogs!...because they give me great ideas. I loved the post by Amy about having each one of your family members name something they are thankful for each night at dinner.
We started that and the kids can never name just one thing. (I just haven't had the ambition like Amy to write them down and make a chain out of them, maybe next year.) Hudson surprised me by saying really meaningful, deep thought answers, I thought for sure he would start out with sports or games and then work to the more important things after he heard Larry and I say ours. But all of his answers have been about health, family and friends. The first night he said he was thankful he had a mom and dad that cared about him and took care of him. It makes me feel good to know that he realizes we do care and that he appreciates all the things we do for all our children.
Sometimes they take things for granted until they see those less fortunate either on TV or read about them in a book. Then we took the Hyers idea of making Thankful Placemats for family home evening. We eat our dinner on them every night. They might get messy, but they keep us focused on being Thankful while we are filling our bellies with good food.
Larry's Placemat. You can't see it, but the word family is made out of stick figures for each one of us in black pen.
Just a few things I'm thankful for....living in the USA, sunshine, palm trees, holidays, my home, my eyesight, a living prophet, temples, my husband and children, food, music, and a healthy body. (not necessarily in that order)

Tierra's placemat. The boys thought it was funny she only drew food. She is thankful for more than food, but she was literally thinking of a "dinner" placemat and of course she likes drawing. While making these we reflected back to when she was between the age of about 8 and 11 she used to always come home from church and go to her room and work for hours making crafts for her aunts, uncles, grandma, grandpa and cousins to take up to Sunday dinner. She'd pass out bookmarks, or little books, or pictures she'd drawn of them. She spent a lot of time and effort making sure no one was left out. I think her uncle David appreciated them the most.

Hudson is thankful for a healthy body, being smart, school, loving parents, friends cause without them he'd be lonely and sports.

Parks is thankful for his trampoline and that he can jump, his good handwriting, that he can see, and that he can play basketball, for "Halloween and Christmas and stuff like that" and water. (the square things were his attempt at drawing a tramp. so I showed him how and then he drew the black circle with the springs coming out.) And he was so proud that he knew how to spell "See" by himself. It was one of his first words he learned to read I think.

Logan said he was thankful for trampolines and his "writing hands" copying Parks of course. He is also thankful for Dawsons house and Dawson, for footballs, basketballs, baseballs and bats and tigers and "awesome dudes", meaning his action figures and every toy he plays with.

I'm thankful for friends sharing their ideas with me and teaching my kids new and wonderful things.

*Monday Memories* 11-17-08

This week was SEP conferences and I'm sure everyone hates early out as much as I do.

I'm not posting this to brag, I just want to remember the funny things my kids say. After all, it is only elementary school, and it's not real hard to get all "4's". Don't let Hudson hear me saying that. And don't get me wrong, I am very proud of him, but he's been patting himself on the back pretty loud and hard.

Hudson's report card was setting out on the counter for a few days and once I caught him looking at it "again" and he said, "I just love looking at all these fours". Oh brother. He's always done well in school, but this year he really has been conscious about it. I'm glad he cares about succeeding in school, but he has never been so demanding on rewards. I guess it's the age. His usual reward for anything well done is a Chocolate Molten Lava Cake from Chili's. Well that wasn't good enough this time, he wanted a new PS2 game. So Larry got him one. Street football. I'm sure so he could play it himself.

Hudsons cousin Madison sat by him on the bus ride home when he got his report card. After he told her he got all 4's she remarked "that's because you are older". He replied "it gets harder every year ya know". ha ha I laughed pretty hard and forgot to tell Tiffany about it.

Parks' teacher said he has the best handwriting in his class and he is very meticulous in his work. He takes after Tierra in that department of coloring and crafts. Parks told me once that he takes a long time to do his work because everyone else just scribbles. ha ha I've volunteered and seen their beautiful art work, so if he is finishing last, I think it's because he gets easily distracted watching them.

I do enjoy going to talk to the teachers, and volunteering at the bookfair during conference week.

Tierra also did well for her first term in 9th grade. This year counts for HS credit so it is a relief that she is understanding and enjoying school. She's always struggled with math in Jr. high, but she got the best grade in math this term. She's working extra hard to get on the High Honor roll this term earn a cell phone for Christmas! I guess it is not uncommon for kids to fail classes because I got an automated call from the school asking any 9th graders who need English, Math, Science or Geography credit to call for make-up classes. Oh dear. I think school is harder now for our kids than it was when I was in school. That or the way they teach them are more confusing. They are always changing terms. We now have classes in the elementary school to teach us parents the terms they use to help our children. Like "borrowing" is now "regrouping." The hardest thing is going to be no longer calling a diamond shape a diamond. Parks has already learned it as a rhombus. ???? What the heck? Let's start calling our dog's canine's (which is still not the full scientific name) or people, homosapiens. Sorry I'm starting to ramble now.

I like good grades because we get all the coupons for free kids meals to many different restraunts. We took the family out to eat at Red Robin Friday night and Tierra pointed out that she was a "big girl" now and didn't want anything off the kids menu. Hudson got 2 free refills on his Mac-n-cheese and fries! He kept wanting to order a corn dog, but the waitress was so nice and kept offering another refill. Larry and I were embarrased. He is such a bottomless pit. When we got home at 9pm, Hudson was still hungry and needed a bowl of cereal to go to bed on! Where does he put it all?

Logan also had some funny sayings this week. While I was volunteering in Parks' class, Logan was drawing and said "look mom, this is fancy pants" pointing to an object he had drawn. Where do they come up with this stuff?

I get frustrated with Logan because he is old enough to undress himself, but he cries and says he can't and wants me to and tugs on his sleeve like he is really trying. So while I was helping him I mumbled to myself "why can't you get dressed like other 3 year olds?" and Logan said "because I have 2 arms". ha ha I guess I haven't noticed all his "one armed" friends.

Logan had his 3 yr. old well check-up and all my kids got their flu shots. Logan got 2 shots in his leg and didn't cry. The rest got one shot in their arm. Hud didn't even flinch. Tierra's arm ached all day and she couldn't raise her arm, Parks cried like a newborn for about an hour after. I had to give him medi to make him feel better about it.

After Logan was measured and weighed by the nurse, we were in the room waiting for the Dr. and I was silently reading the "101 praises" for you children poster on the wall. One said "you belong" I thought that sounded funny and said it outloud, "you belong". Logan said "that's because I'm gonna be this tall" reaching his hand up as high as he could.

Logan keeps bringing up that he'll be able to ride the bus with Skrapper when he turns 5. He is very much obsessed with Dawson lately. He asks at least every 2 hours if he is going to Dawson's house or if Dawson is coming over. He throws a fit when it is time to come home from there, while Dawson goes home like a nice boy. I just think they are sooo cute! I've never had any of my kids have such a close friend at 3 yrs. old. When they see each other, they get the biggest grin on their faces.

Here they are being crazy and eating their lunch on the table.

Playing on D-bone's new swing set.

I've always wanted to start the tradition of having a Halloween theme dinner with a Halloween menu of gruesome foods to eat. I always run out of time. But this year, after Halloween was over and things died down a little, I still really wanted to do it. So last week for FHE I quickly made up a menu and decorated for the dinner. I had Tierra mark the boxes for what they each wanted to order. They didn't know what they were getting. Parks ordered everything because he liked the names of them. Tierra on the other hand didn't order a "Snake's Tongue" for example which was a fork to eat her "Zombie Veins" (spaghetti) with. Or any "Cat's Blood" for spaghetti sauce. I was merciful and let her add to her order after I brought everything else out.

I was the witchy waitress with long black hair and tatoo arms.

Hudson and Parks loved it so much they made up gruesome names for their candy they got trick-or-treating and we all had to order some. It was a lot of fun and the kids had a great time. I will definately plan ahead next year and do it during October.