Ride, Audition, & Butterfly

I enjoyed my last bike ride this morning! The forecast said it was going to rain at 8, so I left early to be sure to get it in - woke up at 5:15 am, left at 5:30, and was at Corner Canyon before the Coyote Trail head gate opened. I left from the Coyote Trail Head and went up to BST to Ann's to Peakview to Ghost Falls. I think we're going to have this little girl's middle name be Ann, after Ann's trail, and after my mom if she's born on Tuesday (my mom's birthday). A view of the temple from Ann's - 

I did the quick Rush Trail from Canyon Hollow twice, cause it's so fun. It was a great ride. It never did rain, so I was in a hurry for nothing, but I'm glad it helped me get out quickly and start the day off in the mountains. I was back home before Corey and Abi left for her GMS audition. Corey said he heard that she did great in the audition, although he could tell she was lost and in over her head for the theory exam. The other people were writing down answers and Abi was at a loss just staring at the questions. 

They went out to Ihop after to celebrate all the hard work she had done preparing. 

After he got home, Corey took the little boys out to the Kangaroo Zoo again (Pleasant Grove this time) and they had fun. Corey is such a good dad to all of our children, big and little. And for me, today I've just been trying to getting stuff done before the baby comes next week! Abi found a butterfly in the back yard today, so that was fun.

She shared it with Daniel. 

It wasn't trying to fly at all and looked like it was struggling for some reason. We eventually left it in a tree, letting nature take it's course. We talked about monarchs, and I have hope that we'll find some eggs this year. We haven't had any caterpillars or butterflies the past 2 years. The last ones we had were two in 2019 and then another one that year. An article I read in January said that the numbers have increased in 2021, so I'm going to look more diligently this year. Numbers are still really low, but we're going to exercise faith. Our milkweed looks really good, so yeah, hopefully we'll have some monarch beauties this fall.

Biosphere Outing

I took Daniel and Peter to Thanksgiving Point today. We got there right when it opened, and they first went to play in the treehouse area. They were the only ones there and were a little worried that there were no other kids. 

Next we went to the Butterfly biosphere. Daniel was sad for a while when no butterflies landed on him. Soon one of the workers had one that she shared with us. It's wings were misshaped and I asked her about it, since we have experience with that, and she said yeah, he can't fly and this guys probably not going to live long. But it gave joy to a little 5 year old boy, so thank you butterfly!

I had a big blue one that kept flying and landing on my blue shirt, and a lady helped me get it off and Daniel was able to hold that one too. 

They didn't have any monarchs in their butterfly sanctuary or in their chrysalis hatching area. I hope the monarchs are ok! I miss the good ol' days when I found lots of eggs. We didn't have any this year. :(

It was discovered yesterday at Wesley's early morning practice that his skates are too big. Corey took him by Scheel's last night to try and find a pair that fit. They found out he was size 7, but instead of paying $250 for new skates, I'm glad that they waited while I looked in our bin of skates. We had a size 7. So I went and got those sharpened today for Wes so that he would be ready for practice after school. I also got him a sharpening punch card, aka I bought 10 sharpenings in bulk but at a discounted price, so next time Wes needs them sharpened it will be free on the punch card. They said it's good to get them sharpened after every 10 times on the ice. Good to know. They also do boot stretching at this little hockey shop, so that might be a good idea to get done for Wesley's skates too, but not today. Maybe after he gets a job to start helping pay for all this stuff.

I picked up Abi early from school again for her flute lesson today, and then I went and got Wes's skates sharpened, and then I snuck off to get in one more bike ride before the fall rains come, which should be starting tomorrow. I forgot my helmet but decided to go anyway. Sorry to the biking police if that is dangerous. I'd rather ride without a helmet than go back home to get it and not have time to come back. Started at Coyote Trailhead at 2:33, At Ann's east at 2:48, Peakview at 3:11, Ghost falls at 3:15, down then back up, second time down at 3:34. I really love Ghost falls, although it smelled really bad this time cause it started to rain and the dead leaves were stinky. I thought of how lovely Armstrong smelled of pine after the rains there. Well, I'm glad it was stinky, cause now I'm not sad about not being able to bike anymore. Ann's was nice. Pretty pink trees.

The rain started to pick up on my second time down, so I hurried back to the car and did not do the rush loop twice. I got back to take Wes to hockey and Abi to her game. Another Tuesday in the books. 

Biosphere and Cold Pool

It's spring break for the Elementary kids. We did the Moab trip last week as our family spring break activity, so I was thinking I'd take it easy a little bit this week and we'd try to just go to Thanksgiving Point a few times. Today I delivered on that by taking them to the Butterfly Biosphere. Look at my bugs in a jar!

Over in the biosphere - 

This was as close as we got to a butterfly today - 

There were quite a few of these big blue ones. We didn't see any monarchs, sniff! I hope the Monarch butterfly population is ok. That would be so sad if they went extinct. I remember when I was a caterpillar farmer of those cute caterpillars!

And amazing chrysalis'...

Monarchs are beautiful. I hope we get some this year. 

Peter's favorite place at the Biosphere today was the Costa Rica Climber. The bigger kids liked that too and they explored up the stairs in the activities up in the canopy. Peter was content on the baby slide on the ground level.

After a fun day at the Butterfly Biosphere, we went to Federation rehearsal. Sophi and Natalie both practiced their songs with the pianist that they will be playing on Saturday. They took turns rehearsing and watching over their younger siblings who were coloring. 

They each did their songs 3 times. 

Here's Natalie's 

And Sophi's - 

That rehearsal was at the pianist's house, which was kinda half way downtown, so after that was done, we drove out to a store to look at a few machines that I had seen on the classifieds. The kids had fun exploring through the isles of appliances. 

It was almost as good as a corn maze! I decided to buy a set that was there, new in the box, a large capacity Samsung washer and dryer. 

I had looked and looked for good price but wasn't set on a particular brand. But after buying this, I found it at Home Depot for less expensive than what I had just paid. Oh well. Part of the selling point for me was that I could get it delivered tomorrow. So I called and am working on arranging that delivery and installation. It will be great to have a new washer and dryer! $1450 plus $110 for the delivery and installation and haul away of the old ones (goodbye and good riddance!) 

And final story from today. After we got home from the rehearsal and buying the washer and dryer, the kids went on a bike ride with Corey. It was really cold outside and their hands were freezing. Daniel came in and showed me his poor frozen hands, and to help him recover I held them against my warm torso. It made me gasp briefly at how frozen his fingers were. I just did one hand. And then he held up his other hand and let me know that that one was cold too. Yikes, ok!! Here we go - brace myself as I hold it next to my skin - brr! It was a sacrifice I was willing to make for my little boy. The kids were laughing that I was breathing hard. I said "I dare you to go jump in that pool in the backyard!" I had bought this blow up pool when I took Daniel with me to Costco. They wanted to put it up on Monday. Sure the sun was shining, but it was still freezing cold outside and I knew it was too cold for a pool, but I filled it up for them anyway. Well, this is what it looked like this morning:

So as I was gritting my teeth at Daniel's cold hands, I dared them to go jump in the pool so they could feel what cold is like too. Lily was like "I will!!!" and just like that we were all laughing and she ran over to the pool and with a 1 - 2 - 3 she jumped in!

Way to go Lil! I'm impressed! She's a little dare devil just like Ethan! I love it. Then she dared me or the kids did and I was like Allright, but I went and changed into my swimsuit, and Abi got wet with me (twice)...

It was very cold and refreshing, like the cool river in Costa Rica.

...then Sophi and Natalie did...

...and we spent the rest of the evening being crazy like that. 

Poor Natalie got pushed back head over heels by Abi, which was sad, which is why this video above ends abruptly, so that I could comfort Natalie as I scolded Abi. 

But Natalie took it well and she won the master prize for her being dunked twice. 

So it was fun and I'm sure will be something that the kids remember. Owen toying with the idea of jumping in... then he opted not to, funny kid. 

I was ok with getting wet and soaking up towels, because I knew that I had a new washer and dryer coming tomorrow so I'll be able to take care of all these dirty towels, yay!

Pearl Harbor

Corey got tickets for us to visit the USS Arizona Memorial at 8:30 this morning. We woke up and got ready and were running late and there was traffic on the freeway that made us more late and it was a bit frazzling and Mel called but I couldn't do a video call with her cause then I couldn't see the map and Corey dropped us off so we could check in while he parked and we barely made it to Pearl Harbor (with 1 minute to spare for Joseph to run our bags back to the car since no luggage was allowed and he ran and he quickly caught up to us) and we walked right on to the ferry as it was ready to depart. Phew! We need to stop cutting things so close and needing "It's a miracle we made it" stories (like Natalie's visa, see last pic).

Face masks on everyone except Peter. I'm impressed Daniel can see over his...

Wonderful service men

Hyrum's silhouette as we come to the Memorial.

Lily looking at the map showing how the Arizona looked originally, and how it looks now in the water below us.

Abi and Joseph looking at a display that wasn't there when Corey and I came in 2016 - it shows when divers placed the final urn of one of the Arizona's survivors with the ship after he passed away in December last year.

We saw a turtle and lots of fish in the water below. To me that seemed like a sign of hope for the world. After all the mess we make along the way life goes on - ours and that of this planet.

Sweet Peter was making noise. He is adorable. 

I appreciated Wesley holding him.

Inside the temple of names with the tree of life sculpture letting light shine in. 

Corey sharing a teaching moment with the kids. 

Wes and Peter in the quiet space. 

There is a very sacred feeling at the memorial, similar to the temple, where we think of sacrifice, of life, death, and where we gain an Eternal Perspective of the life we want to live, and the legacy we will leave. Corey showing the kids the oil that is still leaking into the harbor.

The Seal - "Heraldry!" Stephen Spykerman (see the Pilgrim Hypothesis)

More insights from Corey - 

"MAY GOD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON THEM AND GRANT THEM PEACE"

After 30 minutes, Daniel was done, so lucky for him it was time to go.

We got to go on another boat ride, the little boys liked that. Then we walked along the walk of remembrance, I really liked that this time again.

Corey and the little boys got ahead of us, but we caught up to them at the museum.

It was great to be there with the kids. (You have a lot of kids, Corey!)

Then we went to Wendy's for some survival food, fries for everyone. Inside the party bus - Wes and Hyrum are kinda hiding.

We counted incorrectly by accident and forgot to get a burger for Joseph. He was very nice about it and we're making it up to him with food later. We went by Costco and stocked up big time, we called Mel back, oh, and I saw a MONARCH BUTTERFLY at the Wendy's drive through! I tried to get a photo, I was really thinking it would come land on me or that I'd be able to grab it, but no, it flew away. But I'm so happy I saw one. I didn't know Hawaii had Monarchs! So that is great, gives me hope for their species after a monarch-less summer at home and especially after all the California fires, so that was a happy moment. We should have food to last us until Monday. I need to make lots of fruit smoothies. 

So it's just been lots of pool time today - at the Lagoon pool and the Nai'a pool. We go from a reservation at one pool, then take a 30 min break, and head to the next pool. Daniel was very patiently holding up his arm for his wristband, reaching up so high, cute boy.

At the Lagoon pool tonight, Peter overcame his fear of the bubbling fountain. Here he is pointing at it, saying "Scare..."

And Lily helping him learn he has power over the water - 

And just like that, he overcame his fear. He can now go up to it and touch it and step on it.

But when he's back on the beach, he'll still look over at it from a distance and says "Scare..." We buried Peter in the sand today. He liked that.

Owen and Daniel did their usual jumping. Daniel is so cute and friendly too, he'll go up to kids and strike up conversations. He swam over to a little girl "Hi! I like your hair!"

Hyrum/Sophi and Abi/Natalie had a chicken fight in the Lagoon Pool that was paused and then resumed when we went to our 5pm pool reservation back at Naia.

Fight fight fight!

Chicken fight all night. 

Lily holding Peter.

After our night of fun, walking back to the room... Daniel, can you see over that mask?

Time for bed, and then another day of swimming tomorrow.