A Month of Fun -

 We have been here for a month.  I'm going to do all pictures and little talky.

Local Zoo.  Tiny, fun.  

Pictures: top -Peacock (even a baby one - so fluffy!)
Kids and reindeer (not as cute in the summer...); albino raccoon asleep and adorable - can you sleep like that?!; and a ton of baby ducks and geese. 

Hiking up Logan Canyon (McKenna not here).

Pictures:  Ellie, Carter and Tyler enjoying snack by the river.

Bottom:  Tyler and Dee (Love this picture - when did he get so big?!); and da' boys.

Tyler found a giant "Dandylion" (yes, I know it's milkweed but all he saw was a giant wish).  Didn't blow like he thought it would.  Still hope his wish came true.

Aggie Ice Cream to finish off a great day.

 Last weekend James and Amber and crew came for the night.  Suzanne and boys also came by but only got a few pictures of that.  It was Carter's actual birthday so we borrowed a RedNeck waterslide from the neighbors.  Great fun.  

He got ugly cupcakes from me and Zan saved the day with the awesome cake.  The night ended with a sleepover on the new trampoline with cousins.  

The next day we headed to Rexburg for some extended family fun.  It started with a 4th of July parade.  They know how to do candy there!  

Then back to Uncle Dondavid's where I relived pieces of my childhood vicariously through the kids.  Playing in the ditch, jumping on the trampoline, 4 wheeling, bridge jumping and just having fun.  Was a great time had by all and I am SO thankful to be living by family!

The next morning was the Color Run. We ended up getting unused tickets, but next time we will all do it.  So fun to see.  I have a TON of pictures of this, but will spare you with just a few.

Now we are caught up to this week.  We went to a local Dam to get out of the house for the afternoon and it was fun - and toasty.  (Been over 30 years I burn every year.  You think I'd learn.)  A bald eagle flew around our heads and around the lake for about half an hour.  Lovely place we live.  *Side note, McKenna got her braces.  Woo hoo!*

We have done other stuff but those are the highlighted pictures.  Saw our Father's for Father's Day for the 1st time in years.  Lots of them.  Had sisters and friends come over just because they can.  Went to a farewell of a son of a roommate. (Not sure how that is possible...) 

Feeling grateful. 

There's no place like home...

Well it has been 6 months since the last post.  If any of you are still out there I'm impressed.  

The last year has been a whirlwind.  Tornado.  Hurricane.  Tsunami.  Whatever you would like to call it.  I'd like to go back month by month and catch you up but I fear I'll actually never get around to it so we will start with today and see how far we get.  

Summary:  We survived.  Sometimes it was hard - a lot of times it was hard.  Sometimes it was joyful.  I learned a lot.  A lot about family.  A lot about weakness and strength and how they actually play together.  I learned a lot about friends.  I learned a lot about bitter and sweetness.  I learned how you need to be at your weakest to find your strongest.  I learned a lot about marriage and how simple the idea is and how complicated it can be, but really it is simple.  I learned how kids can be small and childlike but wiser and deeper than we give them credit for.  I learned about the "fox-holes of life" and how even when you feel alone when it's dark and scary and everything is blowing up around you - you really aren't alone.  I learned depression sucks rocks.  I learned sometimes you have to admit to your weaknesses to someone else because you actually can't carry your cross alone. I learned that isn't always a bad thing.  I learned about tender mercies from a loving Heavenly Father and how you sometimes have to learn to recognize them but once you start seeing them it is like seeing stars - your eyes have to adjust but they are numberless.  Some are brighter than others.  Some are constant.  Some are like shooting stars - bright and flaring with a streak across the sky that will change you forever.  

Now?  Now we are here.  Our family is together.  We are in our new home in the valley it all began.  It feels so right.  So peaceful.  So quiet.  The anxiety and depression and fear and unknown for the last year seems to melt away and I don't just have to *choose* joy but I am joyful.  My heart and head are quiet and peaceful and the respite is such a blessing.  I am healing.  

It's a new beginning. It feels so right. 

Wow

Giant catch up coming.  Get ready for a long boring post.  Probably without pictures because I don't feel like fighting my computer.  Pictures may come later.  Maybe not.  Stay tuned to find out.  

My last post was about Halloween.  I actually posted it in November.  SO.  Since November 4th here is what has happened.  I might even use bullet points for effect.  Wooooooo.

• November 6th-9th Ellie was in a Cinderella production.  She was a super cute mouse (turned into a horse) and a townsperson.  It was fun and exhausting and all the exciting things that comes with a production.  
• November 7th McKenna had soccer tryouts for High School.  She made it.  She is a starting Forward Center.  Yep she's a Freshman. 
• November 9th Ellie had a soccer District Cup (two games Saturday then finished Sunday without Dee and Ellie *makes for hard choices* but their awesome team got 2nd place.  Super great season.  Amazing team and coaches!
• Same day - Tyler had a flag football Turkey Bowl.  Two games.  Same times.  Different cities.  Literally.  Crappy coach.  Not as great of an ending... BUT he still had fun.
• November 10th - Diantha was called as a Relief Society teacher at church 2nd Sunday's.  I am also a Sign-Language interpreter for our Deaf Ward a couple Sunday's every month.  Relief Society is terrifying LOL.  I'm learning, though.  I also bring cookies because I once heard the wise words of "They may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel."  Mother Teresa I believe.  Cookies make you feel happy.  Just ask Cookie Monster.
• November  11th - McKenna has High School Musical "Shrek" tryouts.  She is a Dulock Dancer and Choir member.  This will last a few months and is after soccer practice.  Basically she leaves for Early Morning Seminary at 6:15 AM and gets home at 8:00 PM.  Sheesh again.  Life of a High Schooler.
• November 16th - Diantha heads on a super fun Temple Trip with friends from our Deaf Group.  Able to attend the ASL Session for the 1st time and was amazed and humbled at how much I learned.  Great reminder of Heavenly Father's love and a bit of foreshadowing of things to come since the thing that was "shouted" to me the most was my shoulders are strong enough for my trials specifically.
• November 17th - Diantha's birthday.  Whoa.  When did they stop being fun and start being "how can I possibly be that old??"  Dee did get me a longboard, though, and that helped me think I can still be young at heart if nothing else!
• November 18th - Dee flies to Chicago for a business trip for the week.  He calls that Wednesday and says there is a lot of restructuring in the company and there are positions open in Utah.  Kind of mentions it off hand.  We talk more and decide to pray about it.  *Side note - our move to California was always a "temporary move."  All our immediate family except his brother and family are in Utah.  Every other time we have prayed about it it was a "Your work here isn't done."  or "Not yet" or "Quit asking" or "Suck it up."  Okay i may have taken a bit of liberty there but you get the idea.  This has gone on for 12 years so my hope honestly wasn't high.  Mostly because the disappointment hurts.  Also two important things to note here, the week before it dawned on me that above said brother in law and family (our closest family) is moving soon AND my friend Jordan who has become like family and whom I rely on to help me with driving kids and what-not also was going to leave January 3rd.*  So, as Dee was praying about it in Chicago and I was praying about it in California I admit my prayer wasn't humble.  It was slightly angry and panicky and sad.  I've described before my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  He let's me be me and even when I'm like that - praying in anger or pain or fear - he still loves me.  He listens to me, sends me comfort after I get it all out, and answers my prayers in his due time, and loves me despite my faults.  Sidetracking again.  I gritted my teeth and prayed (angrily) "You always have given me family when I need it.  You always have sent someone to rely on because I can't do this without them and we both know it.  Now everyone I call family, everyone I can turn to without judgement is leaving.  You have to send me someone else if they are all leaving!  Either send me someone or let us move!"  Remember, He loves me anyway.  And He has a sense of humor...
• November 19th - Dee says he feels good about it and he's going to throw his hat in.
• November 20th - He gets home from Chicago and 
• November 21st - we work on his resume and submit it.  
• November 23rd - He is contacted and they say they don't really even interview for transfers.  He has the job.  He starts January 2nd.  In Utah.  hahahahahahaha....*GULP*
• Other stuff happens and it's pretty much a blur.  We tell the kids the next Sunday evening.  Literal weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.  It was hard.  It was painful.  It was sad.  Tyler was so angry.  We expected all of that.  Shock is a brutal thing.  What I didn't expect was when McKenna says, "I'm okay with this. We had a lesson today about managing stress in Young Women's today.  I wasn't really paying attention but then the Spirit whispered I needed to pay attention.  I knew, I knew, we were moving then."  Tender mercies.  Tyler was still so angry.  We'd talk as much as possible.  He is like a vault, holding everything in until he explodes.  Jordan (who moved around a lot as a kid) ended up taking him on a walk a few days later.  He explained to him he wished he had prayed about it.  Used the gospel and priesthood and what he knows now.  He knows it would have been easier to move if he had known for himself it was what his family was supposed to do instead of just being angry that he was forced to move.  Tyler hasn't talked about what happened after that - but his anger is gone.  Tender mercies.  We let them decide if we should all move in January or if the kids and I should stay until June when school is out.  We had already discussed this and knew what we would do, but wanted them to feel in control of something.
• December 4-7th - Our church does a program called "Journey to Bethlehem" which is a play.  Each room is something out of the story of Christ's birth (Shepard's, Angels, King Herod, Wise Men, etc.) and Tyler was a servant of the Wise Men and the girls were in the Angel room.  Awesome and amazing and I'm so happy they got to participate.  I also interpreted for the first time in ASL and it was a great experience.
• December 18th - Carter's Kindergarten Christmas Program.  Geez those guys are cute.
• December 20th - Begin Christmas break for the kids.  Let the playing begin.  We originally were going to head to Utah for Christmas but with everything happening so fast, it was just too much.  That stunk too because I have a niece and a few nephews that are little little now and will be so big by the time I get to see them.  Not to mention we missed our two nephew's baptisms.  BUT I am determined that is all we will miss from now on!
• December 23rd - I finally get started on the blanket I'm making for Jordan.  Nothing like deadlines to make me actually do something.  Turned out awesome I must admit.  As long as he doesn't look too close.
• December 24th - Christmas Eve dinner.  Fancy candles and dishes, ham and potatoes, the works including sparkling apple juice.  We have a lady in our ward join us whose husband was in the hospital.  We were happy she could come.  We read Luke 2.  We had family prayer.  Grateful, peaceful, reflective, happy.  We opened Christmas PJs then scurried off to bed.
• December 25th - 4:45 AM giggling in the hall.  Whispering.  My favorite moments.  They have to wait until 5 to get up so I laid there counting my blessings I was so overwhelmed with.  Christmas was wonderful.  A whole post in its self.  
• December 27th - Dee, Carter and Tyler head for Sacramento to see a football game with extended family.  It was in San Francisco so we didn't want to hang out at an empty house while everybody was gone.  They had a great time except a transportation issue, Gordon getting hit by a car, and BYU losing.
• December 28th - We head down to Sac and get to see our newly returned nephew missionary from Italy BEN.  It was SO fun seeing the boys together.  Love those guys!  We had a great time with Dee's parents, Heather and Andy, Gordon and Kristi.  
• December 29th - Ben's homecoming talk.  Was one of those moments where he was giving a great talk and I am bawling because I know it was for me.  I was so touched, again, by Heavenly Father's mercy and love and his sometimes gentle reminders of those things.
• December 30th - Came home.  Reality hits.  Dee is packing. Jordan came over.  For the last time here our whole family was together.
• December 31st - "Dee's Day" We told him anything he wanted to do we would do.  We went for a walk in the morning (beautiful weather 70ish) by the river.  We went and saw a movie.  We went out for dinner.  He gave us all Priesthood blessings.  Powerful and much needed to hear.  Humbling and strengthening.
• January 1st - Dee moves to Utah.
• January 2nd - Jordan moves to Idaho.
• January 3rd (today) - We are still kicking.  They both made it safely.  It's bizarre because I am happy to move near family.  I love many things about where we live (yes, weather and friends are at the top of the list).  It's knowing our lives will never be the same.  It's NOT knowing what will happen, where we will live.  It's missing friends.  It's living in snow *blech*.  It's the unknown, change and uncontrollable circumstances that is causing the fear.  It's not knowing how in the world I will do the next 6 months.  It's the lessons I know I have to learn but do.not.want.to.  Lessons like not doing everything myself and asking for help.  Sounds simple.  It's not.  Lessons like simplifying.  I can't do everything and if I don't stop trying to I'll burn out. Lessons like let things go. I can't control most things, yet I stress myself out with worry. I recognize all of this, but have a long way to go.  

So that is the end of the tale so far.  I did hear a lady at the store today talking to another lady say, "Well you know bad things always come in threes.  Just when you think it's over your car will break down or your house will burn down or something!"  I wanted to punch her.  Guess I'd better write that on the "Lessons I need to learn" list.  There are many of them.  

A couple of extra prayers would be appreciated.  Look at me asking for help.  yay me.  

Halloween Fun

Halloween this year was full of fun and, of course, candy.  These pictures are us and some friends carving pumpkins  Realized I didn't actually get pictures of final products so just use your imaginations.  

These pictures are Carter's class at the pumpkin patch for a field trip.  So. Cute.  I don't know who has more fun, me or them.  They had pig races this year and I was laughing so hard the other mom's probably thought I was crazy.  Seriously.  We live in a place where pig races are an accepted part of entertainment.  I love this town.  

And ... costumes!  McKenna started as something totally different but by Halloween she was a Huntress-ish.  Awesome cape everything else was added on.  This is her and her friend with their mature pillowcases before heading out.  

Tyler (Batman) and his friend Zack (Master Chief) and the photo-bomb ninja.  They love candy enough to wear anything.  

Carter is a ninja.  Obviously.  

Ellie so wanted to be a fox.  I looked all over for a stinking fox costume then just as I was about to give up we found the hood and tail.  Phew.  Her back had a sign "What Do I Say?"  If you haven't seen the YouTube video "What Does a Fox Say" you need to look it up.  

This is Carter inspecting his candy.  I think he would be okay with being a professional candy inspector!

School Starting... so soon?!

It's a big year in the Treadway home for school.  My baby started High School.  High School!  McKenna also started early morning Seminary.  These are both great things but basically we haven't seen her since.  *sigh*  I suppose it is how it goes but I'm kind of fond of her and miss her a bit.  She joined the tennis team also.  She leaves at 6 AM for Seminary and gets home at 6 PM.  Wow.  I guess our days of sitting around doing nothing but swim are officially over!  She is beautiful and funny and smart and so ready for High School.  

 It's a big year for Tyler, too.  He was home schooled for half of last year and although it was a needed experience he missed his friends and social life a ridiculous amount.  He was excited to start back in Junior High and was welcomed with yells of TYLER'S BACK! after I dropped him off.  He grew so much this Summer it's funny to see him be one of the big kids.  He has a quiet humor and already has the teachers loving him.  And stalker girls.  That is a new experience for his mom!  

Big year for Ellie too.  She started 4th Grade which means she moves over to the same school as Tyler.  Middle school!  Very exciting and she loves her super artistic teacher.  She has a good group of friends this year and works so hard at her work.  She is doing soccer twice a week and is in a Children's Acting Group and is pretty much going going going until she hits bed.  Phew.  Every year we say we will do it differently, every year our kids have such great opportunities.  How do we deny them the opportunities?!  Haven't found the solution to that one so if you've figured it out please let me know!!

As you can tell by the joyful picture, it's also a big year for Carter.  He started Kindergarten this year.  He LOVES it so far.  I figure we have until 2nd grade before he is bored silly.  For now it is all new and exciting.  He came home the first day and proudly told me he has four new girlfriends.  Atta boy.  

**Remember I told you Tyler doesn't take pictures well?!  That boy...**  They are all excited for school and since it is only the second week of school so far so good!  Hopefully this year will be a lot smoother than the last one.  Exciting times!

This is our last hurrah at the local yogurt shop.  So long summer!

And unless you fear the fun has stopped with school starting - things are as crazy as ever.  Love these monkeys!

Ghana...

Going to post something fresh on my mind.  My nephew Brian left last week for a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He was called to Ghana Africa and instead of going to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah he went to the MTC directly in Africa.  What an amazing experience.  What an amazing kid.  We are so proud of Brian and his family!  

 Brian at the Sacramento Temple

Brandon, Kristi, Brian and Gordon (Ben is still on a mission in Italy)

 Brian and Tara Leonheart, Brian, Brandon, Kristi, Gordon, Dee, Diantha, Lee and Pat

**Side note, notice Brian, Brandon and Gordon's matching ties?  Ben sent them for Mother's Day so they could all match.  How awesome.  What an amazing family!**

Happy birthday! To America too!

Last of the birthday posts.  Almost caught up... ha ha ha.  

Carter turned 5 in July.  He wanted a bowling party.  With girls.  All the friends he listed that he wanted to invite were girls.  Yeah, that's how he rolls.  We have a couple of families with the closest girls so we ended up inviting them instead of ONLY girls.  Fun times.  

Can't believe my baby is 5!!  We all had a great time.

Our local fireworks are always the evening of the 3rd because the "big city" does 4th of July fireworks.  The evening of his birthday we headed over to our church lawn where you can see the fireworks.  Fun times, everybody runs around and plays games.  We had some fun with glow-in-the-dark bubbles and glow sticks which actually all turned into weapons.  The pictures didn't turn out great but here is a preview of what damage we did.

The next day was our neighborhood parade.  Fun times!

On Innocence, Growth, Consequences and Why I Hate It

There was a bit of an incident yesterday. Ty and his posse (affectionately named) had gone down to the ponds about half a mile from our house. I knew they were going, not a big deal. They go all the time.

Then I got a phone call that went like this, "Hey mom.... So we are at the ponds..... And we sort of lit a firework.... Ummmm ya. H wants to talk to you."  heart pounding H speaking a million miles an hour "So we've already called 9-1-1 and they're coming and we tried to put it out and it started on a brick but it jumped off and then" "H! Stop! Are you guys safe?!" "Yeah we are moved back but don't know what to do." I asked how big it was. "Probably 60 feet..." I grabbed Carter and jumped in the car drove down and met them at the gate. *It was at this point I realize Carter doesn't have shoes on. Wouldn't be bad except all the star thistle...and they were a good 1/4 mile from the parking lot. Ug he is heavy.*  The boys had run down and met me. We walked back to the fire. It was so big. I said a prayer of thanks they were okay. It was so big!  

By the time I got there one of the boys was on the phone with his dad. He was sobbing. I could hear his dad yelling how he was going to jail and a bunch of cruel hurtful names. That's when the shock wore off and the anger kicked in. The kid is already terrified and he is 10 for crying out loud. Parents your job is to protect your kids not make them hate themselves!  I don't care how angry/scared you are you are the adult! I took the phone from the kid and told the dad I was with them, we could hear sirens and the firefighters would be there soon and then I would take the boys to talk to the Sheriff for statements. I told him they were safe and I'm glad he remembered that was the most important thing.  I hung up and hugged the kid who suddenly looked so small.  I looked him in the eye, reminded him to breathe and told him how proud I was he called 9-1-1 and how very important it was to me they were safe.

The fire trucks got there. The wind kicked up. We had to back up. It moved so fast. We returned to the car, found out where the Sheriff was and drove to meet them.  It was two Fire Marshall's that started with, "If you lie to me I will throw you in Juvie right now." Then he softened up. He explained he had to read them their rights. Ug. They interviewed them one at a time. *side note:  Because I find humor in most things when one of the boys was being interviewed and was spilling his guts I was reminded of Chunk on Goonies.*  We learned a lot of things.  Things like kids under 16 aren't even allowed to have matches/lighters on them or it is a felony.  Things like the one boy who was with them but ran away as soon as the fire started could very well be in more trouble than the rest.  Things like boys who make stupid decisions aren't bad kids, just boys who make stupid decisions and sometimes they end up becoming Fire Marshall's   Things like once the other dad pulled up with rage in his eyes the Fire Marshall's are there to also protect the kids.  Things like it could have been a lot worse.  A LOT WORSE. If it would have started 10 minutes later they wouldn't have been able to get it stopped before the wind pushed it into the houses.  If it had been on the other side of the road we would have been responsible for paying for the emergency personnel who responded.  An acre and a fourth was burned.  No one was hurt.  No businesses were evacuated.  No homes were affected.  It could have been a lot worse.  

After an hour and a half in the 3:00 heat they sent us home with each boy holding a "ticket" which will be followed up with a meeting with a Juvenile Judge to determine what happens next.  With the boys away the Marshall told the parents most likely it would be a warning. 

So I've told you the story as therapy for me.  Now to the part that caused the title of this post.  The hardest thing for me as a parent is watching my child loose pieces of their innocence.  Loose pieces of their childhood.  I recognize this is a part of growing up that is necessary to make them adults.  However, as a parent I want to protect and preserve this about them.  

After we got home and had a long talk Tyler, hurt so deeply with his decisions, whispered, "I just wish I never did it.  I wish I could go back in time and make better choices."  I hate the fact that now he knows and recognizes remorse and regret so deeply.  We talked more and I told him I had bad news, "This won't be the last dumb thing you do.  You're going to make a lot of dumb choices in your lifetime.  What I hope more than anything is you learn how to learn from this, never do it again and are able to forgive yourself."  

We practice Love and Logic in our parenting so the best thing I knew for me to do was let him suffer the natural consequences and learn his hard lessons that come with it.  We talked about what could have happened.  He got physically pale.  We talked about the seriousness of it.  We talked about choices and consequences and how even when you make the choice you don't choose the consequences.  We talked about how our actions affect others.  He understands now.  More than he ever did.  He lost a piece of his childhood which he can never go back.  He will be a better man once this is over, but never again the child he was.  

Then I showed him President Monson's talk about starting the fire when he was 8.  "Even the prophet made stupid mistakes, think of what a great talk this will make when you're the Prophet..."  

I have a friend who says "Tragedy plus time equals humor."  Apparently Tyler still needs time.  He can think about it while he weeds the yard.  He'll have plenty of time to think...

Next Birthday... It's a big one!

Next chronologically is Tyler.  **Side note... there will probably be another post about his upcoming birthday party since he hasn't had it yet.  Thaaaaaat's right.  Trying to give him more to talk to his future therapist about...**

It was a big birthday for him.  He turned 12 which means he received the Priesthood.  He now passes the Sacrament at church and holds Priesthood Keys he did not before.  Pretty amazed at him and what an incredible young man he is turning into.  

This year I was able to spend a lot of time with him (see homeschool posts) and am proud to be his mom.  He is a great kid with a gentle heart and a funny sense of humor.  I love his wit and that he can keep up with my bantering.  

We were blessed to have family come to attend his Priesthood Ordination.  I didn't do so well with picture taking except the morning, I missed Gordon, Kristi and Brian but got everybody else... except Dee and Tyler and myself and Tyler.  Ha ha.  Hope somebody else got them...

Here are the awesome Grandparents.  So happy they could come!

Now here is a secret about Tyler.  He isn't great at pictures.  He's a very handsome guy but something about cameras makes his face go all wonky.  I took  probably 10 pictures to get the two bigger ones.  The "normal" ones.  The others are for your enjoyment.  Ha ha.

This is one of my favorites.  Getting fussed over by his Grandma's before heading to church.  

Here are my beautiful kids.  Growing too fast!

But here are how they really are...

Birthday Girl Turned 9

I have a few to catch up on.  I'm going to start with little Miss Ellie who turned 9 (a month and a half ago...)  She had a family birthday this year but her friend got to come over for the fun.  

 We had the brilliant idea to surprise her with a kitten.  When I say brilliant I mean... what were we thinking? Then you see the look on her face and remember why.  

She ended up with the name Razamatazz but we usually call her Raz or Dang Cat!

A few things about Ellie this year:

• She is moving from 3rd Grade to 4th Grade which means she moves over to the big school this year.  She has loved Elementary but is so excited to move on up.  
• She LOVES to read.  Especially animal fact books.  
• She wants to be a "Wild Animal Vet" when she grows up.  Like in the jungle.  Like with cheetahs.  My only saving grace on this is she HATES bugs which might keep her away from the jungle but while discussing this she said, "I guess I could just be a Marine Biologist since there aren't many bugs under water."  Yeah, cuz sharks are way better than cheetahs.
• She is so kind hearted and always is concerned about those around her.  
• She is my best sleeper.  She loves to sleep and has no problem going to bed when tired.  When she is over-tired I call her "Ella" her evil twin.  She get's that from her father... ha ha ha!
• She doesn't like girly things but loves Star Wars, Jackie Chan and all things animals.  
• She really wanted a snake, but the cat will have to do.
• She loves to be happy.  I often tell her if I were to rename her I'd give her another middle name of Joy.  She makes everyone around her happy when she is happy.  She lights up a room.
• She has the most beautiful laugh of anyone I know.

To the other side of the country and back! - Be warned - LOOONG post

McKenna and I went on a crazy trip. I've been trying to post about it for a week now and hopefully will get it all down before I forget important pieces. We have been planning on this trip for a year now. The school does a 7th - 8th Grade "New York/DC" trip every two years. We knew it was coming. McKenna had to earn half her money to go, the other half would be her 8th Grade graduation gift. (Yep, she graduated. Once this post is out of the way those pictures will follow!)

I called it a crazy trip...because it was. We met at the school at 2am to take a bus to the airport by 4:30. While checking in and waiting and standing around a kid in our group passed out. Locked his knees, hadn't eaten. Boom. He was fine, btw, just not the best way to start!  We made it on the plane and flew to DC. Our luggage was loaded on a bus and we went directly to the Smithsonian. Phew! Here is what I learned from that. There are actually 20 Smithsonian's. They are all very big. We went to the Natural History (think Night at the Museum) and explored just a portion of it.

In this collage the 1st pict is McKenna with a teacher Mrs. Nunn who also loves "Wicked!" They are in front of Elphaba's dress. Below are the original Ruby Slippers, & the middle bottom is an original Harry Potter Cloak. You can see how excited they were. The crystal ball one is because it makes me laugh every time. That is McKenna's face but it took some time to get it just right. After I finally got the picture the guy behind her was bending down trying to figure out what she was looking at for so long. His face was huge and didn't even know it. Ha ha.

We went to see the Holocaust Museum.  No pictures.  So many emotions.  Can not understand.  Never will.  But I will also never forget.  I am glad we went - amazing stories, especially the survivor stories.  Stories of hope and bravery.  Of family.  Of sacrifice.  Unforgettable.

After dinner we went memorial sighting.

** Quick side note: I had decided to find something everyday that made me happy. Like spontaneous joy happy. The first evening in DC it was the surprise of fireflies. Totally forgot about those and chased them around like a crazy West-coaster.**

These pictures below are all from the Lincoln Memorial.  The one on the right are the girls in front of the Washington Monument (too bad you can't see it, lol) which was under scaffolding from the earthquake a few months ago.  Lincoln was so cool to see.  A different feeling there, the only way to compare it is like a beloved Grandfather watching over the city.

Next was the Vietnam Memorial (top and bottom picture on left).  There was so much symbolism with all the monuments I never realized.  The Vietnam Memorial is built into the hillside representing a scar in the land.  What struck me most there was when McKenna was running her hand along the wall of names, of people, realizing how many were lost she questioned, "Has all the work been done for all of them?  We have so much to do!"

The bottom right and top pictures were from the Korean War Memorial.  They call it the Forgotten War, which I suppose is true since I had not even known about this memorial until then. It was my favorite.  It spoke to me.  There is a winding path with larger than life statutes standing looking over the path.  Where ever you are on the walk one of the soldiers are looking at you.  Along the backside of the path is the granite wall (top) and instead of names the artist used actual pictures of soldiers who served and died in the war.  I'm a visual person.  There were over 2500 faces.

The middle right is the Martin Luther King Memorial.  It is one of the most recent built and it, too was awesome.  Behind him is a wall of stone which his memorial is carved out of signifying his work moving forward.  It is also an unfinished statue signifying his unfinished work.  

Next day in D.C.  First stop White House.  This was the only day the humidity was awful.  Blech.  They can keep that!  Saw the snipers on the roof.  Awesome.  *This whole time McKenna and I had been playing "Slugbug"  "PT Cruiser for a bruiser" and "Cop for a bop"  We had to stop in DC because there were SO MANY COPS we had huge bruises!**

Next was Arlington Cemetery.  Hot and muggy remember.  Probably were a lot of cool things to see there but the only one that stands out was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Wow.  Courage, honor and bravery.  The best of our country is definitely summarized there.   Look it up on YouTube if you don't know it.  

Next was the Capitol Building.  Pretty.  Cool.  The California statue inside is Ronald Regan.  That was cool, but the part I thought was cooler is the base of his statue is actual pieces of the Berlin Wall.

After all that and dinner and stuff it started to rain.  When I say rain I actually mean TOTAL downpour.  Soaking.  We were on the bus, only one stop left - the Jefferson Memorial.  Can't see it from the road.  Did I mention DOWNPOUR?!  Our guide asked the kids how badly they really wanted to go.  There was grumbling.  The teacher was pooped, the kids were pooped.  Now remember above when I said I had decided to do something FUN everyday?  What is more fun than dragging 36 people through the rain?!  I said, "I'm going!  I won't be back til who knows when.  Let's go!"  And guess what?  It was so FUN!!  The stairs looked like a waterfall.  I tried to take a picture but the reflection of the torrential rain doesn't show it well enough.  The sign says, "Caution Slippery Conditions"  HA HA HA!

This one is for James.  :)

Then off to New York!!!  We went to the Rockefeller Center and the views are from the "Top of the Rock" as they called it.  New York was crazy.  So Much Noise.  So Many People.  I was having trouble tuning it all out and became so overstimulated it was ridiculous.     

Next day we started at John Lennon's "Strawberry Fields" which is an awesome - and unexpected for me - memorial.  It's one of the entrances to Central Park and it was beautiful.  Very fitting I also thought.  Our awesome tour guide was spouting all these dates and facts and important events throughout the park.  I caught things like, "That's where Avenger's was filmed.  That building was where Ghostbusters was filmed."  (Bottom picture.)  Ha ha, maybe that's why I had so much trouble in History class.   

We went to the MET Art Museum.  Honestly I could have spent all day there.  We only had 1 1/2 hours so we had to pick what was most important to us.  For me it was seeing an actual Monet and Van Gough in person.  A.W.E.S.O.M.E.  We walked all over the city and finished the night with the Broadway play Newsies.  On Broadway.  Yep, that's right.  It rocked.  Then Time Square.  You can have it.  Yeesh.

Almost done.  So impressed you're still with me!

Collage of the rest of New York.  Top right the ferry past Statue of Liberty.  She was damaged from the Hurricane and was under repair but we got to see her and she is pretty dang amazing. Middle top pict is one of the new World Trade Center Buildings.  Biggest building in NY right now.  400 feet taller than the last one.  Super symbolic of not just New York's stubborn attitude, but of the country and it's unbeatable healing.   Top right: just a fraction of the people on Time Square on a Wednesday night.  Why?!  Middle left:our guide and other crazy boys on the Subway.  Middle right:  Fun for the day.  There was a guy who was dressed like Waldo.  I had McKenna sneak a picture of me by him.  Ha ha.  Bottom left:  Zombie Apocalypse on the bus.  Was funny when driver SLAMMED his brakes and kids and cell phones flew everywhere.  Bottom right:  Matching sweatshirts from ChinaTown.  Last minutes in New York.

This was actually our 1st picture of the trip as we boarded the bus @ 2:30 AM.  Didn't know what to expect.  Almost talked myself out of it 1000 times.  Out of my comfort zone.  Away from my family.  Worried about food issues, kids, all the other stuff I worry about.  However, I am so glad I went.  I wouldn't have traded that time with my daughter on our adventure for anything!