Bikes and Boats and Family Memories

There was a big bike race here this weekend. We ate our usual pancake breakfast out on the front porch so we could watch the bikers getting ready. It was a Criterion- which I learned is basically a bike race in which the bikers ride a short circular(ish) course several times in order to qualify for some other- supposedly more important- race in the future. The course went right by our house and there were LOTS of heats- from 8:45 AM until after 5PM. The kids LOVED it. They cheered the bikers on and used the "clappy hands" that our neighbor Nick handed out. All the neighborhood was out, enjoying the morning and socializing. Tanner kept yelling, " Go Bikes, Go!"
and "You can do it, Bikes!". We spent several hours doing this, then headed indoors for some much needed rest.

Later we headed out on a spur-of-the-moment exploration of a local reservoir about 20 miles away. We swam at the beach there, then checked out the marina and drooled over the ski boats and Sea Doos, already scheming on how we could make the summer ski lifestyle that I grew up with our own.

I grew up skiing from the time I was Jake's age. As I remember it, we lived on the boat during the summers, camping, RVing once, renting houses on the Delta, houseboating, etc... Some of my strongest family memories are centered around those trips. Even today I am moved almost to tears (No, I am not kidding) by that small whiff of gasoline in the summer air that reminds me of our old Evenrude engine, sitting around on the boat, docked at a gas pump sipping Diet Coke or Corona.

Over the last few months it has struck me how much I want my kids to grow up on the lake, or on the Delta, or on the Lucky Peak Reservoir. On a boat. Anywhere that they come back to year after year. I want them to bring friends and sit in the water making up new games like "Funoodle Ball" and wake up at the crack of dawn to get the "glassy water".

So, I am adding "buy a boat" to my longterm goals. Put the kids through college, retire... somewhere in there I want to throw in "buy a boat". It doesn't have to be anything fancy (Yes, I know there are many of you out there now thinking, "Yes, but think who you are married to!"). There are lots of things to figure out and learn: how to drive a boat, how to pull a boat, how to launch a boat, where to store a boat, how to finance a boat, etc... But there is no doubt in my mind that we will do it. Somehow and someday.

My dad started with a used boat purchased for $3000. It ran (well... mostly) for 12 years and sold for $3000 before buying a fancier model. It got lots of use and was the backdrop for more memories than I can count. That boat was just about the best 3000 dollars ever spent. Come to think of it, Dad was just about the age I am now when he purchased that boat. 37 years old. But he had 4 kids- two of them almost out of high school and two just starting Kindergarten. If he could do it, so can I, I guess.

Well, here's to making more family memories- on a boat or at a bike race. Enjoy the season!

Off the Dole

I have a new job! I am happy to say that the job search is OVER. My days are no longer ruled by multiple visits to Craigslist, Careerbuilder, Boiseidahojobs.com or any of the multitude of school district websites that were slowly taking over my existence these last few months. I am now a part of corporate America- OK, it is a small company, but still, a COMPANY and not a school district. Weird. A departure, for sure, but still in the education realm. For those of you that I haven't talked to, here's the deal: The State Dept. of Idaho recently adopted this program called SmartHelp Math for 45,000 students grades 5-8. The program's goal is to differentiate math instruction for students. It is designed and run by a company called Apangea Learning based in Pittsburgh, PA. I am working for Apangea, aiding in the implementation process. I will be training students and teachers on the program, so will be traveling throughout Boise/Meridian three days a week, and on the other two days I will be tutoring online using the program. I am really excited about the opportunity, especially since they are coming out with a similar program for writing later this year and the opportunity exists for me to move to that division at some point.

The company seems very family friendly and I have really connected with every person I interviewed with (there were 5 separate interviews- three of which were on the phone). Downside? I start TOMORROW and it is a regular business schedule: 3 weeks vacation/year plus the week between Christmas and New Years. No more summers off. That's going to be hard to adapt to, but hopefully with the flexibility of the schedule I won't feel it as much.

It was strange packing up my classroom, knowing that I would not be UNpacking my teaching supplies next year. OK... so I was close to tears. It will be my first year out of the classroom in 12 years. I know I will miss the kids (and the schedule!) but feel I am ready for something new, even if it is just for a year or two. Who knows? It could be for longer if I love it.

So, Brian and I got a babysitter and went out to celebrate the night I was hired. We are psyched because it is significantly more money than I was making the last two years, plus full benefits that are fully paid for all five of us, so we can stop paying the 500/month from Brian's check. Now I can go on vacation- our road trip to MN- with a light heart and fewer worries about the fortune it will cost us in gas!

Old Stomping Grounds

While Tanner and Brian were enjoying their "alone time"Jake, Faith ,and I were loving every minute of our time with friends and family on our old home turf. Jake spent 24/7 with Auntie Sue and Grandma Mary being spoiled rotten- with hardly a glance in my direction. Faith entertained herself wherever we went, showing more independence than I've ever seen from her before. No stranger anxiety for this girl- she just made herself at home whether we were at Aunt Kim's house, Auntie Sue's, Shannon's, or Peet's. I had the luxury of babysitting services from Auntie Sue (A HUGE thank you!!!) so I could go out child-free for "quiet" dinners with friends. There was lots of catching up to do since I hadn't been back to the Bay Area for over a year and a half. It was a whirlwind two days and I didn't get to hook up with nearly as many people as I would have liked, missing the weekly Sycamore Staff party at Cindy's house by only a few hours . Still, those I did get to see, it was like old times.

Go Boise Hawks!

As mentioned previously, Tanner and I went to the Boise Hawks game last night. Leading up to Marisa's trip, this has been the highlight for Tanner. He has been asking for a couple of weeks now, "Daddy, go to baseball game right now?". So I could tell he was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, he refused to take a long nap to prepare, instead taking two short ones, the last starting at 5:30 PM, so I wasn't 100% sure how he was going to do at the game which didn't start until 7:15 PM.

We both had a really good time. Tanner got his 1st Boise Hawks hat, we sat on the third base line and had a heart healthy dinner of hot dogs, soda and a deep-fried snickers bar (God love minor league baseball parks!!!) for dessert.

Tanner enjoyed the game. His favorite part, and mine when I was his age, was the foul balls. He loved when the players hit the balls backwards over the screen out into the parking lot and dinged up someone's car. His big concern was that they didn't hit our car (I know better, and park WAY out there...). He did great, paying attention and really enjoying the game until Humphrey the Hawk (team mascot) decided to show up. At that point the focus of the game became the Hawk (and not in a good way). When he could see him, he kept his eye on him while he watched the game. When he was out of site....well that was just unacceptable. "Daddy, where big birdie go?" "Where big birdie at?". I tried to reassure him that the big birdie was friendly and wouldn't get too close to him if he didn't want him to, but Tanner was only okay when he could see him and knew where he was. I should have seen the signs...

About the 6th inning, Humphrey came over to work the 3rd base line seats while Tanner kept a wary eye on him. He would say things like; "Daddy that big birdie hugging that man." "That big birdie sitting in seat watching game". But seemed fine, until Humphrey came into the section next to ours and then he got this tone in his voice. Parents of young children know this tone, the one which means, 'you can't talk me down from this, I am deadly f*$^ing serious, get me out of here'. He said, with an eye on the Hawk, "Daddy, I want go home RIGHT NOW! I go home RIGHT NOW and watch movie. Me leave RIGHT NOW!" At which point, the only question is how fast can you gather your s@#t up before he starts screaming and get out of there.

We ended up escaping just fine, and his main concern is where all the balls in the parking lot were as we walked to the car. "Daddy, we need pick all dose balls up?"

Tanner Grows Up

Tanner and I had a really good morning on Sunday.

We got up and went out to McDonald's for some breakfast and a quick game of foosball (we have REALLY different McDonald's here...) Then off to the pond for his first real fishing trip (granted, it lasted about 1/2 hour from beginning to end).

Tanner caught his first fish! A little Bluegill, in the exact same place that Jake caught his first fish last year. This little pond has about 1,000.00 little Bluegill in it this time of year, and it's easier to catch them than to avoid catching them while you are trying to catch larger fish. Tanner had a good time, but is still a little young to really be fishing, so I had to help him cast and then he reeled it in. I unhooked the fish, but like his brother, he wanted nothing to do with it so that's why the awkward picture while I tried to take the photo left handed. It's a horrible picture of Tanner, but tell me that the fish isn't thinking, "What in the hell is going on here?" It's the first time I have ever caught an expression on a fish (he was released unharmed and swam back to the others with a great story..). After Tanner saw what was involved, he didn't want to fish anymore, but wanted to sit and watch me, refusing to leave until I finally talked him into it by promising a trip to the pool.

Additionally, he is starting to really develop his taste in music. We had the iPod on in the car and he kept saying, "No me like dis song". So out of curiosity, I kept fast forwarding, and he kept saying "Not dis song..". We did this for about 30 songs, until he got to one he liked and gave his seal of approval to.....the song....."Amarillo by Morning" by George Strait....it makes a Daddy so proud....

Daddy - Tanner Days

Once again circumstances have arisen where it is just Tanner and I for a few days. Marisa, Jake and Faith are back in CA visiting and Tanner stayed behind with me.

After dropping Mom, et al. off at the airport, we ran a couple of errands (including getting Tanner his 1st fishing pole for Daddy - Tanner Day #2). Then home and a nap, then Tanner got to be in charge for the afternoon.

Tanner is becoming much more verbal and knows what he likes and doesn't. He gives you his opinions in a very straightforward way, so there is not a lot of guess work with this kid. So here is our afternoon told from Tanners perspective (match the photos with the captions.

"Daddy, I wuv dis water pawk"

"Daddy, I need west"

"Daddy, I wuv dis dinner pwace"

"Daddy, dis pawk is hot"

"Daddy, I wuv dis Batman shirt"

"Daddy, pwease me have my Sweck Pez, eat it all gone?"

Tomorrow we have a textbook day with Dad. Mickey D's for breakfast. Fishing at the pond. Swimming pool in the afternoon and a Boise Hawks game Monday night.

We truly do miss everyone else, but we're having a really good time just batchin' it!

Lots of "Firsts" on this Fourth

Kim, Bill, Abby, and Aidan joined us for a Fourth of July full of "firsts". The kids had a great time- and so did the adults!



Faith watched her first fireworks show.

We spent our first 4th at Lake Payette in McCall.

Tanner was mesmerized- and a bit nervous- by his first fireworks production.

Jake did his first trampoline/bouncy harness thing.







All the kids stayed up until 10:45 for the first time.

Faith discovered the beach- and the way that sand can infiltrate all body orifices- for the first time.

I rode a Wave Runner for the first time ( At the risk of sounding like my husband....I think I may need one!)

Tanner and Faith rode in a canoe for the first time.

Brian took Tanner fishing for the first time.


AND...

Jake rode his first bull!

Dad's 4th of July

So, there was so much fun stuff done over the 4th holiday on our trip to McCall that we broke the posts up into two parts, Marisa is handling some parts and I am taking care of the other parts. First of all, it's great that McCall is so close. It's a quick two hour car ride up there, so the road trips up and back were very uneventful (other than intermittent sleep - which would be a theme for the trip).

The house was great, across the street from the lake (sort of), but beach access nonetheless. This was the 1st time we have ever stayed in McCall and it was wonderful. As you can see, Faith amused herself quite well and didn't get too far off her sleep schedule. She did spend most of the trip as you see her here, in diapers and nothing else but sunscreen. She had a great time keeping up with her brothers and cousins, everyone matching snack for snack over the course of the four day trip.

Sleeping for the boys was worse than as home, which is no surprise. I swear to God, our first vacation without the kids, it won't make any sense to even leave Boise - we'll just check into the Motel 6 down the road, because I'll have six years of sleep that I will need to catch up on first, before I am even close to back to human again. Those Sandals Resort commercials; you know with the tanned, non-sleep deprived couples, para-sailing and scuba diving...those make me want to throw the hell up. Tanner slept with us one night, Jake another night and Jake and I switched beds the final night. The kids stayed up much later than normal (especially on the 4th to watch the fireworks), but in the logic that rules my life now, they still woke up at the same time in the morning. Thus the photo of Tanner and I crashing on the couch.
Since we had all the additional daylight hours, we were able to do a lot of fun stuff as well. I took Jake fishing in the Payette River, caught nothing - but that's going to be par for the course for a few years is my guess. I took Tanner fishing in the lake for the first time which he really liked. He told everyone, "I go fishing, I threw it WAY out there, but no fishies get it." He is in this phase, were the more tired he gets, the more he talks, so he was pretty much talking non-stop on this trip. "Daddy where you get that hat?" Daddy what you eating, open you mouth, let me see." Daddy, why you say that?" It gets old quickly and you find yourself saying things that, before you had kids, you swore you'd never say. "Tanner please just watch your movie please." "I'll give you some candy if you be quiet for 10 minutes..."

We also rented a Wave Runner for a day, which we had a blast on. Marisa had never ridden one, and neither had Jake, so they had a really good time. Jake is turning into some semblance of a teenager over night. He was fine on the wave runner as long as we didn't go too fast. He told the rest of the kids after, " My limit on the Jet Ski is 37, and we jumped some big waves." He was yelling to all of them as we came back into shore, "Awesome dudes, double peace (holding up peace signs with both hands), double peace, yeah!" So I think he enjoyed it. Marisa and I got to go out a couple of times on our own and she had a really good time as well. We got to explore the whole lake and it's much bigger, and much prettier that I thought.

On the whole it was a great trip and an great 4th. A couple of weeks of semi normal life then off on our midwest roadie. As Bon Jovi says, "I'll sleep when I'm dead".