The family that "screams" together

At risk of revealing the "dark side" of our family culture I'm posting this family theme song. While living here in Texas we discovered a favorite family pass time that was a little too accessible :)

"I Scream..." (please note that mine is the cone on the left)

"...U and U Scream..."

"...and U Scream..."

"...and U scream..."

"...and Dad Definitely 'SCREAMS"

"WE all Scream...... For Icecream"

Any excuse to celebrate found us at Braums.

And the favorites menu:

Mom- Cookies and Cream

Dad- Mint Chocolate Chip and Rocky Road

Lauren- Peanut Butter Cup

Dallin- Chocolat Chip Cookie Dough

Ben- Chocolate

Kate- Peppermint

Winding Down

This is our last week here in Texas- at least for awhile. We have

 had a lot of fun, but I'm looking forward to getting back home.  Frankly I'm feeling a little bored here.  I know that sounds crazy when you see all the things we've done and places we've been, but it's different here.  I've read every book we brought and a dozen we checked out of the library.  I've kept up with all my housework. I even taught primary.  I just feel like I lack a sense of purpose.  I miss the projects and homeschooling clubs. I miss having assignments and friends to do things with. I think I'm a little crazy. 

Here are some of the last photos from Waxahachie and Texas...

Getzendaner Park was one of our favorite hang-outs here. It's a beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature.

 

These photos were taken on Father's Day when we did our best to spoil Dad- before we left him alone in Texas for a month.

Twilight Camp

Dallin attended his first Cub Scout day camp, but here in Texas, day camp is held at night so they call it Twilight Camp.  It actually worked out really well because Rusty was able to join Dallin as a group leader.  Beause there aren't many boys his age in our ward Dallin's group was a mix of kids from all over.  It was a good introduction to Cub Scouts and got him really excited to work on his awards.  He finished his Bobcat requirements and is chipping away at his Wolf.  

I was hoping that Rusty would have time to blog the event, but he has been so busy with work and trying to put together his next assignment he hasn't had time.  Maybe he can add to and elaborate on my post when he's here in Texas by himself for a few weeks. :)

Den 1: The Antelopes  

(back row, l-r) Dalton, Daniel, Jack, Seth, 

(front row, l-r) Casan, Jonathan, Dallin, Wyatt

Here are some of the fun things they did:

Day 1: Modern Ballistics

Catapults, Horse Shoes, B-B Guns

The Group got together in a relay shooting tennis balls to each other from the catapults. They really learned how to work together. The horses shoes had the boys pair up and go head to head against another pair. Dallin and Jack are pretty coordinated but Wyatt and Seth were on a roll and nothing was stopping them. Dallin did hit the first "ringer" of the group - He was pretty stoked about that. The B-B guns were a lot of fun with a good emphsis on safety before any shooting took place. Dallin just started to get the hang of it by the time they had to end. I think I know what he (and his dad) would will look at for a future investment. Of course, Benjamin will be all over it as well.

Day 2: Water Games

Water Relays, Water Fight, Swimming!

Day 3: Primative Ballistics

Sling Shots, Archery (almost) and the Storm

Day 4: Field Games

Obstacle Course, Relays, Kickball

Day 5: Crafts

Homemade First & Fishing Kits, Edible Fires, Film Canister Constellations

Closing Ceremony

 

I really like the Cub Scout program so far.  It has been a great opportunity for Dallin to meet new friends, try new things, and feel good about his accomplishments.

IMAX and Turtle feeding

With our museum membership we got free tickets to see the IMAX movie so we took another trip to the Science/Children's Museum. The kids weren't so excited to watch the movie because they only show "science" movies.  We chose the coral reef movie over the Hurricane Katrina movie, but I was still worried about how the littles would do with their limited attention span. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  The kids were enthralled, if not a little afraid.  The huge dome shaped screen surrounded us and it really felt like we were moving at times.  My only complaint is that I'm really getting sick of the save the Earth message. Not that I don't believe in saving the Earth- we recycle, reuse and believe in conserving our resources- but it seems like lately every movie, tv show, book, class, etc we've read, watched, attended makes a point of telling us how rotten the human race is and how we are destroying everything.  My kids are starting to have a complex about everything we do or don't do. 

(Remember that I only believe in brainwashing if I'm doing it :)  

While we were waiting for our show we re-visited some of our favorite sites at the museum. 

Katie's favorite thing in a museum of fun and exciting things to do was the doll house. Small and simple! Dallin and Ben just like to dress up and be silly.

Cool mouth wall, but boring teeth exhibit- we skipped it last time so felt like we had to give it a quick go around.

After releasing our turtle we still had a lot of leftover turtle food so I let the kids feed the turtles- this time they were able feed themselves and the turtles. The snappers wouldn't eat the turtle food- I guess they only like peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches, but the sliders loved it and came right up to the kids.

Mom's mental issues

All last week I was being such a grumpy mom.  Usually I know why I'm being grumpy and it has to do with either sleep deprivation, over scheduling, or hormones.  However last week I couldn't figure it out.  I just felt like there was this gloomy cloud hovering over me I couldn't shake.  

Rusty was working late so that he could take Thursday off and I didn't really have a chance to talk with him much. Besides he has been pretty swamped with trying to make plans for our next job back East.  I felt bummed because I know that I wasn't being fair to my kids and hubby, but I just couldn't figure out how to get past it.  Luckily on Saturday night I was able to sneak away with Rusty for awhile and talk.  I told him how I felt and he reminded me that this was the anniversary week of when our son Colton had died.  It's amazing that I hadn't recognized it. Every year I have this same challenge, you'd think by know I would just see it coming.  Our minds are incredibly complex.  Just as our bodies can be scarred by significant trauma our minds can be scarred as well.  I've found that I can go about my business for only so long before my sub-concious mind insists on me dealing with the painful "issues" of life. 

Usually the anniversary of Colton's death is something I have to confront or I feel it- headaches, depression, anxiety, and overall grumpiness.  It's silly because it doesn't take much to fix it. Generally all I have to do is recognize and acknowledge it to get over it.  I'm so grateful to have a perceptive husband who helps me stay grounded. I don't know how I could have made it through all of lifes challenges without his patience and support.  

So you've been warned if it's the first week of June and I'm not being so pleasant just remind me that it is Colton's anniversary so I don't waste too much time in the dark and dreary wilderness. :)  

Six Flags Over Texas

Before we moved to Texas we decided to do some serious "persuasion" so that the kids would be supportive and excited for the experience (yeah I believe in brainwashing as long as I'm the one doing it).  In order to play it up we showed them a video of the nearest amusement park, Six Flags over Texas.  It worked. In fact for a long time Katie thought Six Flags WAS Texas. 

After all that anticipation we were finally able to visit Six Flags.  Rusty worked long days the rest of the week so that he could take Thursday off.  We went the last week before summer vacation and on a weekday because the one thing I hate about amusement parks is standing in line.

Unfortunately we decided not to bring our camera so that we wouldn't have to worry about juggling it while we rode rides so the kids probably won't "remember" the day.  Oh well it was a great day.  Nice weather, short lines and bland-overpriced food.  

We are entering a new phase of amusement park status- 3 of our 4 kids can ride almost every ride.  Another year or two and we will ALL be able to ride the fun stuff.  The kids were good sports and were willing to try most everything.  Lauren even went on the parachute tower- inspite of her fear of heights. 

We bought a couple of pictures of us on the log ride so when I get back home I'll scan them and add them to the post for posterity, but for now you'll just have to imagine a happy family having a good time at an amusement park :)

Nature Class

We've been attending a Nature Class for homeschoolers at Bear Creek Nature Preserve in Lancaster for the last several weeks.  We were hoping it would be a "hands-on" experience, but it's been a little more instruction than we intended.  This weeek however the kids were able to do more actual exploring. They used nets to dig specimins out of the pond and then examined them in little bug jars. 

We used this opportunity to set our little turtle free-  After looking at the cost of a cage and all the turtle's needs and realizing that turtles don't do much Dallin decided to give the turtle to Ben.  Ben has no way of paying for the things the turtle would need as it gets bigger (besides the fact that he isn't 8- which is the age I've set as old enough for a pet) so we decided to let him go before we went home.

As we had conflicts with the next couple of classes- this was our last one.

Cowgirls and Water Gardens

This week's field trip was supposed to be a ride on the mini train in Fort Worth, but when we got there it was closed for some reason.  So mom decided to punt and we used our museum membership to visit the Cowgirl museum.  The boys were not thrilled with the idea, but found a few things to amuse themselves.  

At the campfire and chuck wagon
Yee-ha! Cowgirl Lauren!
Luckily the science museum is closed for remodeling (or maybe unluckily because if it was open we could have gone there) so there was a section of the museum set up with activities that the kids enjoyed.  Dallin spent most of his time building. I should have taken a picture of this amazing structure being built by this older gentleman.  He must have spent days working on it.
Benny put his shopping skills to work.

Obviously the museum was a fairly quick visit.  We ate lunch at Trinity Park.  The squirrels and birds have learned that people food is better than whatever they can find so they came right up to us begging for samples.  

After lunch we went to the Water Garden in downtown Fort Worth.  There are 4 different "sculptures" (fountains) each demonstrating a different feeling.  They  are Quiet Water, Active Water, Air Water, and Mountain.  I think we liked the Active Water area best. 

Dallin wanted to jump down the platforms to the bottom, but I was a chicken and told him we would just enjoy it from above.

Wonders of God's Creation

There are days when I am simply amazed by the beautiful things in this world.  What a kind and loving Father in Heaven who created such a variety of plants, animals, and even insects for us to enjoy.  

Last Sunday evening we were a little late leaving Getzendaner Park and all around us we noticed little sparkles of light.  We had been reading the Fablehaven books and the kids said it looked like fairies.  Upon closer inspection we discovered hundreds of lightning bugs.  

When I was younger we used to visit my Great Grandparents who lived in Iowa and I remember collecting lightning bugs there, but when I asked our nature teacher she said they didn't have them here.  I was so delighted. It was like being a kid again.  We all ran through the park gathering the little bugs so we could study them at home.  

The next night we set them all free.  What a magical experience for all of us.  We live in such an amazing world!

Obviously pictures just can't do it justice, but the wonder on the kids faces says it all.