humanities field trip

Tuesday we had a humanities fieldtrip. Here are some important words and facts that we learned at the DaVinci exhibit in Spokane:
The Vitruvian Man is the naked guy in the circle and square.
The Mona Lisa has no facial hair
The Air Screw was a prototype of the helicopter.
There is no such thing as a Perpetual motion machine.
DaVinci, a brilliant inventor, rarely finished anything he started.
Mongolian Grill is a better buffet than the Old Country Buffet.

This is Max's rendition of the Vitruvian Man
Summer is finely here so we are making up for lost time at the lake. Thursday we went to Rock Lake as a family. Friday we joined the Workmans at Boyer to celebrate Oakley's birthday. Saturday we went to Boyer with the Heiner family. The weather was perfect and other than a pulled hamstring (Bruce Heiner) and a lost pair of shoes (Marcos), the day was perfect.


I dropped Wilson off at Hainsworths this morning. He is off to EFY in Nauvoo. I hope it is a wonderful experience.

las vegas weekend

Tony and I slipped off to Vegas this weekend for our niece's wedding. Vegas is my least favorite town in the US, but being with Tony's family is worth every minute of that searing desert heat. On Friday we went to the old strip with Mom, Dad and the Winwards to enjoy shrimp cocktails and Luv-it frozen custard, two of our happy memories. We spent the evening at Lori and Blake's for a BBQ and swim party. We were very impressed with Blake's Harley, but even more impressed to elarn that there is an actual motorcycle gang of people called the "temple riders." They ride their Harley's from temple to temple and their saddlebags are for their temple clothes! Tony got crazy and went to see the new Harry Potter movie with a bunch of guys and I went back to the hotel room to nurse my nasty cold and sinus infection.

Saturday was full of wedding events for Melanie and David. The ceremony was performed by Tony's first Bishop in Las Vegas. He was instrumental in reactivating Tony's parents. Betty was worried the Bishop wouldn't remember them, but Debbie assured her that, "they were on every list at every ward council and would be remembered for sure."

The reception was beautiful. There was delicious fresh made salsa and chips, fruit kabobs, and hot tamales and lemon drop candies to go with Melanie's colors of bright yellow and red.

Sunday was ward Conference in Lori and Blake's ward. I think the highlight of my trip was listening to "President Burr" (Blake), give an eloquent and powerful lesson on the Resurrection of the Savior in Sunday School. The best lesson I've learned as a result of joining the Lundberg family is that the gospel changes people and makes them better. Blake is a great example of how the Savior maximizes our potential. He is a really powerful leader and influence on people, but still the same twinkly-eyed, mischivious guy everyone adores. It is impossible for me to think of him as Warren's drinking buddy and rebel rousing kid.

Wilson survived wrestling camp. It sounded like a nightmare: 6 workouts a day, running 5 miles at 2:00 in the morning, wrestling for 45 minutes straight. I asked him if he would ever do it again and he said, "don't ask me this week." He's been humble and grateful since he got back, so it was worth the time and money!

Swimming lessons this week. So far I've only had to throw Max in the pool with his clothes on once. I hope we don't have any repeat performances of that anxiety attack.

Dude~

Dear Wilson,
Last night, on an absolutely beautiful night at Rock Lake, we celebrated your 15th birthday with hot dogs, wakeboards and, (chagrin) girls in bikinis. About half your class was there and at least four families came with their boats. We wake-boarded, knee-boarded and tubed until dark. I loved watching you in your element: strong, relaxed, confident and the life of the party. I can't believe you landed that backflip on your wakeboard. What a way to welcome 15! Lately I have really been able to trust you and rely on you in ways I wouldn't have though possible six months ago. You said this was your best birthday party ever. I totally agree. I can't wait to enjoy high school with you. I'll never do a back flip myself, but I'll enjoy seeing every single one of yours.

my head was hot

On my friend Betina's insistence I have shaved off Marcos' hair so he won't be so hot. Now we call him "the new kid" or "chulo." Max, incidentally, did not get to keep the mohawk, but he was proud of it while it lasted.

freedom enjoyed

pets

We have the most fun "to do" list this week.
1. Dogsit for Gabby the Kolb's golden retriever. Take her for walks and remove, burn and smash engorged ticks.
2. Feed Sophie the cat and give her all the ignoring she craves.
3. Check on all 166 tadpoles. Catch the ones with arms and monitor their progress. Catch bugs to feed them.
4. Feed and water Robby and BunBun, Sis Gubler's rabbits. Make sure they haven't dug their way to freedom.
5. Feed Pooka the hamster. Take him in and out of his cage not less than 400 times a day and show him to everyone that
comes to the house.

Yesterday was a fun day. Everone worked all morning in the yard and getting the boat shined up. Then we played all evening at the Pullman aquatic center. Max had an anxiety attack when we told him he had to go on the water slides, but once Tony peeled him off of his neck and shoved him down the slide, Max announced, "that was fun!' To top off the day we surprised Marcos and all went to see the new CARS movie. He loved it. Everyone was happy. The black kid was happy. The teenager was happy. The mom was happy. Beautiful day.

Tony got the basketball court all painted in BYU blue. Camp Jimmer is now in session! My freethrow percentage is worse than anyone in the family except Marcos. I will probably win the prize for most improved.

After an excruciatingly painful wait, including missing the Fed Ex guy two days in a row, Cooper's jumping castle arrived. He is very excited and has business cards ready. He named his company, "Jump for Joy." He will be taking it to the ward 4th of July breakfast and the big Endicott celebration. He has already made $10.00 off his brothers and sister and the other suckers in the neighborhood.

Tuesday was an impromptu summer party. I ended up with 8 extra kids and it turned out to be awesome. Days like this make me understand the beauty of big families.

Eliza got a bee in her bonnet to paint her room blue. By some miracle I was able to focus more on the process than the product and let her go at it. She chose an amazingly shocking shade of blue, not too different from the color of the swimming pool. She got her friend Eden to come help paint and it only took me about an hour to remove the blue paint from the trim. She is happy and really proud of herself.

Tony the Bishop is learning a lot. It seems like the most important lesson is how to resist rambling and commenting at every gathering. Tomorrow is the first ward party. If there is plenty of food, a jumping castle and waterballoons perhaps no one will lose their testimony at this event.