A String of Pearls

I'm back from Flagstaff after a wonderful week of "Sisters, Friends and Cousins." Many, many thanks to Brooke Thomas and Liza for their generosity and planning. We had great accomodations in a wonderful setting and countless opportunities for making lasting memories. Our only regret was the absence of Heather and the Reed kids. Will was not feeling well and, very unfortunately for Heather, is also boycotting sleep, which would have made him a difficult travelling companion. Next time, though, for sure...

Here are a few photos and pearls of wisdom I have gleaned from the experience:

Pearl #1...Sixteen kids are a lot of kids. Because they outnumbered the adults 2 to 1, it was like herding feral cats. The matching shirts were a brilliant idea for coping with the problem--kudos to Liza!

Pearl #2...Even a hot tub needs a lifeguard/cruise director. The night that Clare and I were in charge we hosted an evening of "hot tub charades." Ammon was the clear winner with his mystifying personification of a "swimming tarantula."

Pearl #3...Kids are great at making friends.

Pearl #4...Sisters also make great friends!

Pearl #5...It truly is a Grand Canyon.















Pearl #6...Artistic styles vary widely.















Pearl #7...A popsicle is an exceptionally fine way to end a walk in the woods on a hot day.

Pearl #8...My best friends are family.

We're Taking the Party on the Road

We've had a great three week run with the Clements, but all good things must come to an end, right? WRONG!!!! Tomorrow Clare and I are caravanning with Liza and the kids (Jeremy flew home last Tuesday to get back to work) and we are moving the party to Flagstaff for the Reed Women, Friends and Cousins Retreat. We will be swimming, playing games, relaxing, eating, talking and touring the Grand Canyon until Friday with our group of eight women and sixteen kids. Look out, Flagstaff!

Antidote for Summer Heat

Two of my favorite ways to survive 106 degree summer days...

ice cream at the Marketplace and hanging out at the beach.

You can have Paris in the springtime...I'll take Santa Barbara in the summer!!!

Texas Comes to Us

After my last four posts you are probably asking yourself, "How much fun is one person entitled to, for pete's sake???" But just when you start thinking that I have probably met (and exceeded) my fun quota, THERE'S MORE! As you can see by the time stamp on this post, I have to blog in the middle of the night because I am just too darn busy having a good time.

We are enjoying a splendid visit from Liza, Jeremy and the kids. The highlight has been Riley's baptism on Sunday. Riley is a very sweet girl, with a very tender and sensitive spirit. It was a joy to participate in her baptism...and she looked like an angel:

Today, the Texas cousins and hometown cousins hung out together along with Liza, Heather, Clare and me. We went to CALM (California Living Museum) where we visited the animals and picnicked, then we went over to Carl and Heather's house for swimming.

Liza would want you to know that Morgan started out the day with a very tidy pony tail.

Well, I'd better get to bed and re-charge my batteries. Tomorrow it' s pizza at the Marketplace followed by the movie, "Up."

Road Trip Report: Water

In Bakersfield, we take a certain pride in the stoic manner with which we greet our robust summer weather. "110 degrees in the shade? No biggie--it's a DRY heat." Sarah would no doubt agree that the residents of St. George face similar weather with equal bravado. And yet we both took a beat-down from the San Antonio weather. As proof of the hardship we faced on zoo day, I took a picture of the temperature gauge on Emily's stroller:

The thing you need to know is that it was NOT a dry heat. The humidity was 40% and higher. Apparently, people who live there get accustomed to it, but Sarah and I really suffered. My body became a separate climate zone--rain forest. Small children standing under me were at risk of drowning in sweaty flash floods. It was not a pretty picture. Hence, you will see no pictures of me. And this is why water became such an important element in much of what we did.

Tuesday was our day in Brackenridge Park. In the morning, we visited the Japanese Tea Gardens which are very beautiful. They were built in an old limestone quarry and feature many levels of steps (more sweating), bridges, overlooks and several water features. After a picnic lunch, we did the zoo. I swear, that entire facility is built on an incline. I don't know how they did it--a feat of engineering madness. The steepest part was the path to Africa. At one point I thought I would have to stay and just become one of the permanent residents. Then we found the hippo exhibit...underground...air conditioned. We grew VERY attached to the hippos. We couldn't ignore the other animals so, armed with snow cones and popsicles, we made the rounds. Does she look hot to you? What IS the penalty for cooking children?The San Antonio Zoo is ranked as one of the top ten zoos in the country. It's a very nice zoo, but what sets them apart for me is that they have THEIR OWN BEACH!!! At the end of a summer visit, you don't have to get into the car with children who are super glue sticky from sweat and melting sugary treats; you can let them play in the man-made river, shower them off in the outside shower, then get them re-dressed in the air conditioned kids' building. It was like finding an ice machine in hell! On Friday, we packed another picnic and headed over to Guadalupe River State Park, which is only about twenty minutes from Emily and Eric's house. The river is wide and shallow, with beach on one side and limestone cliffs on the other. There are lots of trees and shade which made for a very pleasant afternoon watching the kids play in the water.

Of course, the biggest reason for our trip to San Antonio was to attend Abby's baptism, which was held on Saturday, June 20th. It was a beautiful, spiritual occasion. Abby is such a good girl and we are very proud of her for choosing to be baptized. She is setting a wonderful example for her sisters (and for one of her uncles.)It was a great trip. Emily and Eric are fine hosts and Sarah, Ashton and Alvie are fine travelling companions. It was good to go and good to get home and find all well here (Thank you, Aubrey!)