Bikes

On a Sunday afternoon our family particularly likes to wander the neighborhoods looking for moose, admiring flowerbeds and hoping to be invited to a bbq.  When I have my way, we walk.  When the boys get their way, we ride our bikes.  

One infamous Sunday in early July, we were just finishing our ride when Sport challenged Brandan to race him home.  I was pulling up the rear of our caravan, but I like a challenge.  Plus, I'm sort of stupid.  I came flying up from behind Brandan and Sport and announced my victory to Colt and Dash who were just dismounting in front of the house, by throwing my right hand into the air and raucously roaring.  Realizing that I was going too fast and needed to slow down, but not realizing that the correct method of doing this had nothing to do with the front brake located on the left handlebar, I gently squeezed that said lever.  Because no one uses the front brake (why does that even exist?!) it was sticky.  My slight pressure immediately seized the front tire and I accompanied the back of my bike through the air before bouncing across the asphalt road.  I am truly not exaggerating when I say my arc across the sky was long enough that I not only had time to hear the gasps of the neighbors whose attention I had caught by my victory shouts, but I also had time to register embarrassment before hitting the ground.  I thought for sure that my bike must have malfunctioned and loudly stated the fact while trying to gather myself off the road and get out of sight.  Unfortunately for me, my body's stress response is to black out.  You've heard of 'fight or flight'? That doesn't exist for me.  Some sort of baser instinct deep inside of me has determined that it is always in my best interest to play dead.  So, though I was desperate to escape the gawks of my neighbors who seemed to be having a block party we weren't invited to, I was prevented from making a clean get away by blacking out twice on the way to the back yard.  

When I finally made it to the back porch, I bawled.  First out of embarrassment and then because I HURT.  Everywhere.  My injuries were as follows: skinned knees, bruised thighs, hip bones, and pelvis (I think I hit the handle bars on my way over), skinned hands, a broken watch, cuts on my fingers, and a badly bruised and skinned elbow which I am convinced that I must have chipped since even now, nearly two months later, I still don't have full range motion without pain.  

Brandan was horrified for me and the kids were gravely concerned...for a while.  A short while.  Just after my accident, Colt sympathetically said, "Your wreck was scary.  And kind of funny."  And after just a few days, way before my ego or physical injuries had healed, Dash celebrated a win in a card game by looking expressively at me before shouting, "I win" and then pretending to crash into the ground.  I guess it serves me right for all the times I tell my kids to toughen up and slap an insufficient bandaide on their road rash before shooing them back out to play.   

It took me a month, by I did eventually get back on my bike.  And in the meantime, we compromised on our rambles.  While Brandan and I took turns pushing Tag in a stroller, the kids literally road circles around us on their bikes.

A family bike ride/walk.

Unwilling to be left out, Sis has taken to riding her "bike" on our trips.  On this particular day, she woke up grumpy from a nap, refused to get her hair combed, or put on pants.  Oh well.  I've already made a spectacle of myself to the neighbors.  What's a little indecent exposure?

The 4th of July 2015

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays.  Maybe that's because it was always a big deal while I was growing up.  Every year we headed to the hills or the canals or anywhere outdoors to celebrate and play.  And every year Mom made a ridiculously good picnic of BBQ.  Brandan and I have followed the Clayson family 4th of July tradition - minus the ridiculously good food, unless hotdogs, chips and Oreos count as ridiculously good.  Actually, yes, they do.

On the night of the 3rd, we met with some friends and what will be our neighbors in the new house for some pre-holiday fireworks.  The Dads in charge were nice/brave enough to let the kids help light some of the fireworks.

Fireworks at the Sweeps house on the 3rd

The morning of the 4th we went to the parade in Fort Bridger.  Sis had an upset tummy and was reluctant to get out of the stroller and Dash felt too old for chasing candy (who can outgrow that?!), but we ended up standing by two adorable little boys, one of which had a broken leg, and soon all the kids were gathering candy to share.  It made my heart so happy to see them slipping taffy into the bags of those two little guys.  Good way to start the day!

Tag and Sis at the start of the parade.

The lure of candy, sirens and other kids soon had all the kids at the edge of the road enjoying the strong smell of horse poo.

The last float in the parade was a fire truck that sprayed down any spectators willing to brave the water.

After the parade, we headed to the hills for a picnic, hike and a dip in the creek.

Sport, Colt and Dash playing in the creek.

Dad carrying Sis and Tag across the creek.

Sport and Colt

Tag got a free ride.

Snoozing in his do-rag.

Dash surfing the slippery rocks.

It wasn't a particularly hot day, especially in the hills, but who can resist playing in the water?

Sis playing in the creek.

Me and the boys.

I'm not exactly a picture of grace and poise while navigating the stream.  In fact, the boys were always worried about me when we crossed, saying things like - "How ya doing, Mom?" "Do you think you can make it across here?" even "You could just wait here ya know".

Not sure why Sport chose to make a mad face.  He loved the creek.  Sport is a little monkey and several times he would wander way up or down the creek and hang over the water from some fallen tree.

Sport and Colt gathered flowers for me along the way.  I stuck one in my hair and they were so impressed they took a picture.

Dad, Sissy and Tag in the water.

Tag dipping his toes in the water.

 Like a good Dad, Brandan got Tag out of his backpack to play in the water.  After a while I noticed a suspicious yellow stain spreading across Brand's shirt.  Sure enough, Tag had marked his territory. I pulled out the camera to take a picture right as Colt wandered by.  After the click of the camera, Colt quipped " Hashtag, fun on the 4th of July!" It was hilarious.

Little stink stain.
#Funonthe4thofJuly

Washing clothes like a pioneer.

On the hike home, the boys found a frog that we certainly mauled to near death before releasing back into the wild.

We decided to skip the crowds (this is a relative term) and watch the Lyman fireworks from the "roof" of our new house.  The roof is actually the main floor, but at the time it was the highest point of our house.  We snuggled in sleeping bags, watched the various fireworks, ate hotdogs and cookies, and finished the night of with an outdoor movie.

Rooftop picnic

June 2015

If summer followed the folklore "In like a lion, out like a lamb", I would say we could look forward to a relaxing few weeks.  June was full.  And fun.  And full.  Something tells me August is going to more of the same...

Tag doing his version of the family trick.  He has yet to stand up and balance on Brand's hands and the kids are starting to worry he may never learn.  I'm thinking he might be our smartest kid!

The library summer reading program had a Superhero theme.  Every time the kids dressed up for the story hour, their name was entered in the prize drawing.  We cleaned out the winnings -  3 out of 5 names drawn were Madsens!

 The boys did 3 weeks of swimming lessons in June.  Another successful year!

Dash at the pool.

Dash doing the backstroke.  His teacher told me he was one of the best swimmers in his class.

Dash jumping off the starting block.

Colt at the pool.

Colt back floating.  

 

More back floating.

Colt swimming.  Colt learned a lot this year.  We went back to the pool for Dash's birthday and Colt took a swim test to have clearance in different parts of the pool and he passed!

Sport waving from the side with his swim class.  Sport skipped a class level this year and so he was with a slightly older group of kids.  I think Sport did more swimming than any kid in class because he could never touch the bottom.  Any game they played or activity they did he swam while other kids walked along the bottom.

Sport jumping in the pool.

Sport back floating.

After lessons, the boys threw their towels and suits on the trampoline to dry.  One day Sport curled up in them and took a nap in the sunshine.  Swimming is exhausting!

While the boys swam, Sis and Tag and I spent our mornings at the nearby park.

A Fathers Day picture for Daddy!

Sport is a lover of all things nature.  He is always finding pretty flowers, rocks and sticks - and ugly bugs, spiders and reptiles.  At the new house he has found several frogs and a snake.  Here he is with his froggy friend.

Tag at 4 Months

Tag-a-long is an adored member of our family.  No one can remember what life was like before him and we don't care about it anyway.  That said, I can't believe he fast he is growing!

The center of attention.
This is how we eat all our meals.  Tag sits right in the middle of the table like a living center piece.  

Four month stats:

Height 23.5 inches (6th percentile)

Weight 12 lbs 3 oz (5th percentile 

Head 16.25 inches (24th percentile)

Love you, little peanut!!

Summer Employment

Summer is a time of relaxation, fun and WORK!

This year we decided to hire the boys to mow the grass at a dollar a week.  Brandan and I also volunteered them to cut the neighbors yard.  Then we felt bad so we pay them a dollar to mow her yard as well.  For those of you ready to quote child/labor laws, keep in mind that before my wage was raised to a quarter, I drove tractor for my dad for a pussy willow.

May 2015
Brandan instructs the boys in the finer arts of lawn mowing.

While the boys get lawn mowing lessons, Sissy plays with Jaron, the neighbor, on the trampoline.

May 2015
Tag is too cute for manual labor.

Earlier in the Spring, we planted seeds in a makeshift seed bed.  At the end of May we moved all the plants to the garden at the new house.  Brandan constructed a homemade green house out of plastic and trampoline frames.  Most of the plants made it into the green house, but some unlucky ones had to brave the elements.   After a month, the difference was incredible.

This little guy grew about 1/2 an inch in a month.

These guys fared much better!

Besides all the yard work, our other major source of work is obviously home building.  And for a nominal fee, or root beer, the kids will help out with that as well.

Pouring the footings.

A different angle.

Brandan also works for root beer.

The kids observing the progress.

Sissy stuck her hands in a puddle of spilled cement.

Colt helped smooth the concrete and his hands took a beating for his effort.

Sport finds his own odd jobs around the house.  One day I looked out the kitchen window to behold Sport standing on an outdoor table trimming branches off the tree with a handsaw.  At first I tried to pretend I hadn't noticed, then I recollected my duties as a mother and went out to take his picture.  Shortly after I snapped the shot below, Sport sprinted through the living room to the bathroom with a bloody finger.  He called out as he ran by - "Now I know why I'm not suppose to with the saw".  My plan all along...

Little lumberjack.

Along with yard work, house building, odd jobs and a chore chart, all the older kids take turns helping with baby Tag-a-long.  He is everyone's favorite job.

June 2015
Dash has been a big help with all his younger siblings this summer, but especially good with Tag.