16 miles

Saturday we managed to do a little of each of our family member's favorite things--quite a feat with 6 different people. We started on bikes at Heyburn state park on the couerdealene bike trail. Eliza rode tandem with Tony and I pulled Max in the trailer. The boys did great, especially Cooper. We were all motivated by thoughts of ice cream in Harrison, which tasted so good after a hot ride. When we finished, we jumped on the boat and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and perfecting our dives from the bow of the boat. Cooper will be our best diver with his slim and graceful body, but Wilson gets high marks for gutsy backflips. Even Eliza and I got diving lessons from the rest of the family. Max entertained us with his lip-syncing and fancy dancing to Micheal Buble.

It would have been the perfect day had it not been for the very sad news from Dustin and Kimberly that their birth Mom made the selfish decision to keep her baby. We were heartbroken. The only comfort came from Corbin who said, "Don't worry Mommy, our new baby is coming soon." I can't imagine why Dustin and Kimberly are being tested this way. It is testing our whole family's faith.

For the first time all summer I thought to myself today that the kids need to be in school. Ironically Wilson said at dinner tonight that he wishes school were starting sooner and Cooper spent the afternoon purchasing school supplies at the pharmacy. It's a surprise every year that I could actually wish for the end of summer. In spite of those sentiments, tonight Tony and I went for a run and the beautiful, full harvest moon came up as bright as a lantern over the wheat fields. The smell was intoxicating and it felt like we could run forever. I love this time of year and there isn't a place on earth as beautiful as St John.

rollercoasters and diving boards

Maxwell, my son who has been highly cautious of the swimming pool and lake, announced on Tuesday, "Hey Mom watch me put my face underwater!" To my shock, he held his nose and dipped in. He then announced, "I'm ready to go off the diving board." He hesitated just minute then jumped into my arms. I was shocked but laughed my head off when he climbed out of the pool, walked directly to the lifegaurd, and requested a popsicle. He had been working up to this jump ever since the early June swimming lessons when all the other kids got popsicles for going off the diving board. I learned a lot about Max's personality from this experience. I must let him do things on his own time. He reminds me much of Cooper. 

 When I was putting Wilson to bed the other night he told me he'd had difficulty sleeping and the scriptures had been running over and over in his mind. He said two years ago he'd asked Heavenly Father if the church was true but he'd had no answer. While he was thinking about the scriptures he had feeling, "kind of like going on a roller coaster at Disneyland, only better." I've never heard the Holy Ghost described this way, but it was pretty accurate for an 11 year old boy. Less than 24 hours later he did a sneaky, peaky, dishonest thing that earned him the chance to work for the neighbor lady for a couple of hours in the blazing heat for free. As Grandma Chocolate used to say, "When he was good he was very very good, but when he was bad, he was horrid!" 

 I've survived another Enrichment event. This time we had a pool party and BBQ: chicken, tabboulah, greek salad and pita and hummus. People seemed to like it and it wasn't a very stressful meal. One week to the family reunion--We are getting excited

Cooper's dinosaur day

"I went to walking with dinosaur 's . I got a shirt. I got popcorn, candy, and soda. "

-Cooper

 Cooper had a unique experience at "Walking with Dinosaurs" with our friends the Delongs. He learned that T-Rex dinosaurs are the newest breed of dinosaurs. The lighting and effects were pretty amazing he said. He also learned that Mom T-rexs can roar loader than Dads because they are protecting their young. 

On Friday night Cam and Jill and family came and stayed the night like old times, only instead of being newlyweds they came with three kids! We had a yummy blueberry pancake breakfast together and then went to Rock lake for a few hours. It was beautiful on the lake. 

 Wilson turned 11 this week. His friend Jonah Hainsworth came for the day with his wakeboard-injured Dad. We had fun swimming and wakeboarding at Rock Lake. Wilson and Jonah practiced pellet gun and slingshot shooting all afternoon and made more than one hornet mad! 

Here is what Wilson had to say about his birthday: "It was very fun! I got a lot of cool stuff like a machine gun and I shot it at the bee's nest and made 100.000.000 bee's mad. All I wanted for my birthday party was for my "cousins" to come, but Jackson, Yuhua and Eli were at scout camp. Then Jonah called and said, "Hey, my Dad needs to work in Pullman, can I come over?" It was like Heavenly Father gave me a birthday present. It feels good to be 11."  

On Monday night we celebrated Grandma Rippy's 93 birthday. It was fun to see our cousins and Aunt Clara and Uncle Fred. Grandma is one of those wonderful people that is perpetually optimistic. We are grateful for her.

Mozart on a summer's night

Last night, as an early birthday gift, Becky Dickerson took me to Manito Park for the most wonderful evening of music. The temperature was perfect, we sat on the grass and had delicious treats from Lindmanns and enjoyed both classical and contemporary pieces by vocalists as well as instrumentalists. We even indulged in dinner at Twiggs and had salmon and Portebello mushroom sandwiches. It was wonderful to spend an evening feeling so pampered with a friend I enjoy so much.

Becky and I talked, among other things, about dignity. I'm going to explore that word and poll my friends and family as to what that word entails. I'm interested in how I can better maintain my dignity as well as preserving others dignity. I would like to read a book on "disciplining with dignity." I know dignity does not involve shame, sarcasm or raised voices all of which I am guilty. I think it involves charity, respect and peace. The Savior, as always, will be the best example for me to study.

Wilson stayed the night with Mom and Dad last night and was spoiled. My kids are very blessed to have good grandparents, particularly ones that actually like their company. Tony took his board exams today. He is tired, but feels fairly confident he passed.

We had a great cub scout hike through (literally in) the Palouse river yesterday. The weather was perfect and the kids had a ball laying in the green mucky water up to their necks. All went well until Wilson declared he had been attacked by a leech. Leeches really put a damper on fun, real or imagined.

I love this time of year when harvest starts. I love the smell of wheat and the buzz of electricity that runs through town.

New picture of Marcos arrived yesterday. These were his cutest one yet and I clearly discern a hint of mischief in those beautiful brown eyes. I don't know what is going on with his hair--it looks wild. I am destined, with one exception, to have kids with the world's most difficult hair. Marcos clearly belongs to us.

coeur d'alene 2007

There is no better place to spend a weekend of 100 degree temperatures than at a cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene. This weekend marked the 8th annual lake weekend with the Hughes and Hainsworths and like we say every year, it was our best year ever. I think half our fun is reminiscing about past years and remembering traumatic experiences that now seem charming and funny. 

We laughed our head off thinking of poor Betsy being mooned by Tony and walking in on a butt-naked Jason all on the same weekend. I remembered the year I slept half the night on the hammock on the dock with a screaming Cooper who had a terrible ear infection. 

We can't forget all of the injuries that Tony has sustained;  broken hand, perforated eardrum, fascial rope burn and the blessing it has been that they all happened to him and not one of the kids. None of those injuries ever stopped him from skiing, we note. Our only trauma this year was a very sick little Emma who literally stayed in bed and the bathroom the whole weekend. It broke your heart to look at her because she loves to be at the lake and in the water. We took the Black Squirell with us this year, and of course something broke. I was really proud of Tony because he and a yacht club employee were able to fix it. Tony is learning a lot about boat repair this year!

Both Friday and Saturday the adults had great ski time. Everyone but me was able to master the wakeskate; both Betsy and Andrea made it look like a piece of cake. I managed to clear my sinuses and provide several entertaining falls. One of the happiest parts of my weekend was watching the boys together. With Jackson as the ring-leader and Eli as designated comedian, the boys spent the whole weekend watching endless Indiana Jones movies, navigating wild tube rides and mastering the wake skate. I love the friendship that the boys have and the acceptance they feel with each other. We didn't hear one word of complaint or whining and Jonah especially, was the first to express gratitude. Anna, Lily and Eliza were thick as thieves and Cooper loved kayaking and giving rides to the little ones. This was John's first year at the lake. He loved the tube and was very brave in the water.  Max, not so brave in the water, but liked playing on the beach with the toys.

On Friday night the adults went for dessert at the hotel and a walk on the boardwalk. The desserts were fabulous, but of course we go for the conversation and time alone. We really missed James most this night; he wasn't able to come on this trip. What we have learned from our trips together is that we have the most fun when we keep things simple (food, clothes, activites) and focus on making memories. I am very lucky to have friends who not only show me up on the wakeskate, but also on showing patience to their families . I learn so much from both the lemon sisters.

I really fell in love with Tony this weekend again (for the millionth time) as I watched him driving a boat full of kids in the hot sun for 2 hours and loving it. I love that he plays so hard. I must get that man a bimini top for the boat so he doesn't get sun stroke.

Other good news of the weekend was that Evalie was born on Saturday July 14th. She has long lashes, chubby cheeks and several very cute chins. I can't believe my baby brother is a Dad! Stacey had to have a C-section after pushing for 2 hours, but she looks great and everyone is healthy. Also, Tony's Mom and Dad were set apart as missionaries today. They will be running the Deseret Industries in St George. They will be amazing and we are very proud of them.

We have another wonderful week of hot weather and Wilson turns 11 on Tuesday. As always, the only thing that could be bettter in our lives would be a certain small Guatemalan boy home safe. We are back in PGN and can begin counting down 8 weeks again. Better luck this time.

Fourth of july

This week has officially felt like summer. For starters the weather has been hot, hot, hot. We had the most wonderful camping trip on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We stayed at Boyer Park with the Workman family. As with all great camping trips, we had great dutch oven food. The Workmans wowed us with a chicken curry and pineapple upside down cake. We wowed them with a very fattening, cheesy, meat-filled concoction called "Splazana", as well as blackberry apple cobbler. Mom and Dad came on Tuesday and stayed in the marina hotel. That night we all went for a boat ride and discovered "the dunes" on the river. We had so much fun jumping and sliding like penguins in the soft sand. Oakley was hilarious when he headed face first down a steep dune and stopped at the bottom spitting a mouthful of sand. I'm glad Mom and Dad were there to make that memory.

On Wednesday we started our day at the ward flag raising ceremony and pancake breakfast. It was really early, but a great way to remember what day it was. Tony had to go straight to the hospital for call, so I relied heavily on other people to help with my kids and the boat, so that everyone at the lake could have tube and boat rides. Mado was there. She has been in the US for almost a year and I loved seeing her relaxed and enjoying the lake with her kids. Our new friends from Columbia were there as well and they had a great time on the tube. Several ward members were also there and I'm glad we could share the boat.

Wilson spent a large portion of his time caring for several baby birds that a mother had kicked out of the nest. The boys fished them out of the water and then made them comfortable in a donut box. They bought worms from the marina and hand fed them for hours. Wilson was so grateful that Heavenly father trusted him to take care of those baby birds. We will all probably get some avian flu, but it was worth it to see Wilson so tender. Both Cooper and Wilson got up on the wakeboard and skiis. Max even requested tube rides and Tony and I both had great skiis. I'm feeling much more confident driving the boat and just need to conquer backing the trailer into the lake. At the end of the day, I'd never seen my kids so tired, and I was equally exhausted. We went to have dinner with Tony at the hospital, cleaned up and headed for the Endicott fireworks display. Everyone but Max loved it. He covered his ears and closed his eyes for the whole show. It was a beautiful holiday and we were very grateful to have a boat. 

I must be doing something right. Wilson said he feels like crying when I make him clean the toilet with a toothbrush because he feels like a slave. I answered with a resounding, "YES!"

Last night for our date, Tony and I rode our bikes up Steptoe Butte. The view was breathtaking and the ride was good and hard, but not impossible. I thought coming down was stressful, but Tony loved it. He wished he didn't have to brake for cars and deer.

Tonight we went to Rock Lake with the Dickerson family. We always have a good time with them because Todd knows the lake so well. This time we got to watch a tree full of turkey buzzards take flight, an Ospry catch a trout and get the heck out of the way of a fire fighting airplane filling up with water. Todd taught us that when the water is green it means it is "blooming" with plant life deep below and gives the water a beautiful color. Even a few misbehaving children couldn't ruin a perfect summer night.

Father's day whip cream fight

Monday was the fifth annual Father's Day Whip Cream Fight at the Lundberg house. This year we only had one child in tears. Wilson was expert at aim and managed to plug everyone's ears with his whip cream. Cooper's strategy was to simply hide until everyone had used up most of their whip cream, and then attack. Eliza was plain FAST! In spite of the whole family smelling like a dairy for a day or so, this event was, as always, a highlight of our year.

We got another picture of Marcos this week. He is growing fast. I was a little concerned about the mosquito bites on his face, but I think I'm over-reacting.

We had a beautiful day at the lake on Thursday night with the Winter's family. Cooper and Wilson are both up on wakeboards and skiis. The kids loved the tube rides and even Max is begging for a turn. The water was cold but smooth like glass so Tony and I had good skiis. The low point was that Jaylynn Winters snapped her hamstring. Ouch. The kids are anxious to invite the Winter's again because they bring great snacks. They also pointed out that the Winter's are fun to have along because they obey the rules and are thankful. I'm so thankful for the lesson they taught by their example.

Today was fast Sunday and we all fasted for the people in town who have been affected by a young man's recent bad choices. It has reminded us that a parent's presence is integral to keep kids safe and that good communication within our family is imperative. It breaks my heart that children my kid's ages have to deal with the effects of sexual abuse and rape. It is a motivator for me to closely follow the spirit.

Tomorrow we are off to Boyer Park for a camping trip. It should be a great (very hot) 4th of July.