Barney Ban takes nasty turn

After too many days of Kenny having a Barney fit, generally spitting and hitting if his favorite purple dino wasn't on the tv, we went on a Barney ban. I think it's because he didn't know what to do with himself he decided to learn to paint, finger paint that is. His works of art showed up in the backyard this afternoon. At first, it looked like mud... but at first whiff it was, sadly, poop. I change his pants four times this afternoon, not to mention the many gross hand washings. Jon said Kenny must have willed the poo to fill his diaper, "I must paint all the yard furniture." Later on, when I had thought he was done with his creations he took the honey bottle outside just to make the paint smell better. Megan reports that he did let her wash his hair without screaming in the bathtub this evening, coincidence? I think not.

Dirt Mountain

This is where the children spent hours digging in the dirt. We were given free wood... wood mountain.

I love to ride my bicycle

For a boy scout merit badge, Patrick rode a ten mile bicycle ride. He has some maintenance requirements and another 10 miler, two 15 milers, two 25 milers and (sweat, pant) a 50 miler. That gives dad and Patrick incentive to ride.

Go team

After Mike's ride to work he decided it was time to upgrade to a new bicycle. After he test drove the bike he bought he told the salesman to get me one too. The matching shirts were just a bonus.

Static

Have I ever mentioned how I love paper plates? Using them saves at least two loads in the dishwasher a day. Yes, it is my favorite Sunday dinner: tacos and burritos. (Stop complaining Jonathan.)

Bike to work day

Last week Mike sent me a forward of an e-mail that said Bike to Work day was next Wednesday. I sent back a comment of "very funny." He works at least 45 minutes by car, using mostly highway. So this morning I dropped him off at The Whole Foods in Cherry Creek and he rode off. I offered to drop him off at the bottom of the hill below Level 3 but he said, "very funny." He did call me later to tell me he made it to work on time.

As a stay at home mom, yes, I successfully made it to work ecologically too.

Dinner

The first Monroe Organic Farm delivery today! Peas, garlic, turnips and butter lettuce. Now most of it is stew in the crock pot.

Laundry happens

Megan said she was being drowned by laundry. It appears so.

New shoes

He loves his new shoes and couldn't wait to wear them to church.

Blue on the face

Kenny gave himself a marker makeover this morning.

Happy Birthday Megan

Officially a teenager, Happy 13th Birthday!

Tents

We had to take the tents down at five in the morning yesterday and they were wet with dew. This morning Mike and Patrick set up the tents in the back yard to dry off. Mary Jane has asked all day if she could sleep outside. I told she could. Kelly and Adam joined her.

Trek

Pushing the cart through the mud.
Madison
Danny
Base camp.
Kelsey with the baby.
Crossing the Sweetwater River. The run-off was so deep that this was the only place we crossed the river. Some young men re-enacted carrying young women across. The water was ice cold. We crossed the cart over too.
One of my grand-daughters, Kathryn, is holding the "baby" that Ma had on the first day. Our Pa, Danny, wanted to name the baby Francis. Good thing that the baby was a cabbage patch because Danny put the baby in his backpack and lost the pack for hours while we were putting up tents. On Tuesday night, a leader told us that the baby died of exposure. It would have stunk to have a baby while walking thousands of miles west.
We walked in mud most of the morning on Tuesday. It was easier to take off our shoes and throw them in the cart. I totally fell in to one of the puddles (with the camera). Every time I thought it was safe to put my tennis shoes back on we would come to mud again and I would have to rip them off.
Grandma and Grandpa Malm waiting to be assigned our fist handcart.
Our family: L-R: Lizzie, Kathryn, Madison, Kelsy (ma), Nate, Joel, Danny (pa), Brady.

For the last three days Mike, I and Jon went with the youth to do a pioneer trek. We rode 6 hours to Martin's Cove (an hour out of Rawlins, Wyoming). Mike and I were sorted into a family as grandparents with a ma and pa and six children. We were assigned a handcart and crossed the Oregon (aka California, Mormon and Pony Express) Trail.

Our family decided that our pioneer ancestors were total studs. We were immersed in the experience with histories, stories, re-enactments and camping. We had a great time and had a very choice family.

XXL Toothbrush

We were packing for the trek (which is Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week) and in a travel bag there was a tooth brush. It's great for the back teeth? Maybe Mike could use it as a hair brush?

Making dough

We made cookie dough with the Young Women this morning. This fundraiser will help Megan to go to girls camp.

Watermelon

Sweet!

I love Barney!

Hey Adam! Turn off Willy Wonka and put on Barney!

School has been out a half day and Jon set up Barney in Kenny's room. ( I had to take it out of there so he would go to sleep.)

Continuation

Patrick sings goodbye to Trails West.

People sometimes give us a bags of clothes. I put clothes that the kids will grow into these buckets. Periodically I'll go through them- send some to Good Will and most goes into the drawers. Adam was so happy to see he had a bunch of new shorts and t-shirts to wear.

Marshmallow maker

This is supposed to be a smore maker. It only burned the crackers. Patrick decided to fix only part of the smore in it. We met Nana and Papa over at Cherry Creek for dessert and cards.

Awards

And the Jon wins... Where are you Jon? A guy stood in front of me until I flashed this picture.

Jon is awarded a certificate for Math and Social Studies- goodbye middle school.
Patrick is recognized for music. Goodbye elementary school.

Garden

Here's this years June garden.

His song

On the way home in the car the other day, this silly song on the radio kept saying, "I'm a Womanizer, I'm a womanizer..." Everyone in the car turned and looked at Kenny. He then began to giggle.

Trained well

I came downstairs and Mary was sweeping. Kenny was tired from making a homemade foil sword.

Marshmallow Toast

We met my parents over at Cherry Creek for dinner and dessert on Monday night. Afterward we went and got some anti-itch medicine for all the mosquito bites!