Thursday, July 24, 2008

Happy Utah Pioneer Day



Happy Pioneer Day Utah! James rode in his first Pioneer Day Parade! His favorite part seemed to be the candy he got from the spectators! I wish we were close enough to all the kids to get to see these events! They are so much more fun as a grandma! No worries no herding of kids! It is just fun! It is the young parents being pioneers!






Sam drove us all in the truck....Toff to look in the rear view mirror and keep your feet on the pedals!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Atkinder 08


Again, a great time at the Fam Reuinion! In the post below are some pictures of the day at the beach!


O there's gonna be a hangin boys!


Back to the Atkinder! The consensus of the fam was:
Beach day was great! Good food, sand castle building was a hit for all! Refer to slideshow on the right...even the babies were playing!
The Story telling Friday was great as well, in fact, it went on and on...nobody wanted to stop! Before we got there several commented that they were trying to think up a story...then there was no end! Still going after kids asleep and well into wee hours. The Uncle John on the horse, the Lycine, several from back in the day when the sibs were kids, and some way back in the day stories! The prizes, I must admit, were hilarious (mostly Scott and Joe's nuttiness, but I helped!) I was toast saturday, but it was well worth it! Sat after the beach many just lounged at the pool while the kids swam and swam! Crazy kids were like energizer bunnies! Some dummy (me) got some sunburn just my back though, and there were some water fights ending in huge splashes and drowned cell phones! Wayne on the roof with a huge bucket of water as Joe lured Tom outside in some pretense....ended wetly! Tom had to change his clothes 2 or 3 times that day due to that and a lil dip in the pool and a water fight gone south! (Was it Becca or LL with the ice water?)
Lucy (that Lucy is so cute and so funny)and James turned into little fish. They were swimming constantly, both too little to be doing the tricks they did! Though all the little ones loved the pool, those 2 were nuts! Several little feet were so pruned and water logged. KK was doing gymnastics in the water, Tine and Hallie were playing some crazy games with Eric, Luis and Ben! The weather was perfect for the pool, and the kids were in Sat, Sun and Mon!
The Trivial Pusuit Challenge was crazy loud wildness! Benny,Emma, Kennedy and Eric 2 (he's too tall to be little Eric) did not miss a single question from the Jr cards (some adults wanted to play those cards too...proudly yelling out answers!) Actually it was unfair Eric and Emma got a lot of adult questions right! Next year they play as adults like the other teens! Smarties!
The Dark Side Team prevailed over the Light Side (hmm?)!! Dark Side included Tom, Tom 2, Joe (I think) Jared, Avery, Tom O, Benny, Scott, Scott's mother, and Kennedy among other brilliant, oppositionally gifted overeducated types! I realize that describes most every Atkinder member! (Where was Ashley? I can not remember, but she clearly belonged with the Dark as well as the Light...)
The skits were a theatrical event...unduplicated dialogue, stunning performances, met with rave reviews and critically acclaimed! Amazing action, special effects, unparallelled directing!! Such drama, such tragedy, such comedy... (really....?!) We shall rename this event Atkinder Idol Review or Atkinder's got Talent...we had Simon as a judge, afterall!
Sundays business meeting was succinct and record breaking in brevity, efficiency , intentionality, and productivity! An Atkin record and in less than 45 minutes! It was agreed that the activities were a full on riot well done Joe and team!
The late night game playing was absent! The all night gamers played poker for an hour or so and that is all. They said that they were all anticipating Dustin and his grand games, and very disappointed he was not there! Without Dustin, it was just lackluster. Poker just did not cut it!
The voting was unanimous, Dustin and Lori MUST come next year.
Also, the women were looking forward to holding the new baby Suzy Grace. She would have been held 24/7.
Among the MIA's were Nate and Mandi and fam, Thad and Sharon and kids,Hap, Frank, and Mike n Molly, Mandy n Katy, and Lori Dustin, Hannah, Olivia and baby Suzy. It really was a big gaping hole left where they would have been. Ouch!
Monday Bear Lake had problems with the water main, and we adjourned to our back yard! There were like 16 cars and trucks out front, the neighbors did not know we were so wild. Well actually they did, now they just witnessed it too a new level! Many were tired, had already packed up once so they left for home or other destinations Mon night. LL, Ben and Benny; Chris,Gina and boys: Joe, Ash and girls; Jaime and kids; Avery, Miranda and Wayne stayed and we played Joe's great game laughing ourselves into oblivion....
BACK To The YARD!
The next 2 days we just sat alot. But we did get going again and were back in the yard dawn to dusk again! Here is a peek at the rock walls!









and our first chili pepper!

Atkinder: Sandcastles at Bear Lake!



TA DA!













James the Builder












Tommy O and Becca













Joe, Ashley and Fam building theirs!



ML and Valerie working on their avant garde floral composition










The Mayan Temple Reconstruction



























Kenndy focused on creating!


Riannon building her very own!



















Every Castle needs a thone....
thanks to Mary C!!











Detailed spires of Miranda and Wayne's

Miranda and Wayne's Castle


Scotts Star

Joe as The Merman with Simon adding finishing touches!


















The Canal and Castle










Tommy's dream house...landscaped














Sand Princess!






Matt Judging

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Birds Growing!



Day 3














Day 5













Day 7






The parents are vehement regarding photos of the feedings! But I am sure I can get some soon!








See how the little feathers are replacing the down! They still make very little noise. Occasionally they peek over the edge of the nest and beg to be fed!
Day 9

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Baby Bird News

The third egg has not hatched yet! I peeked in the nest, they are so helpless and just fuzzy! I looked up The American Robin. There is a picture of new chicks there, so I posted it to show. The Mama bird goes ballistic! I will keep sneaking pictures! The babies will Fledge or fly and leave the nest in 2 weeks! Pretty fast!


The American Robin begins to breed shortly after returning to its summer range. It is one of the first North American bird species to lay eggs, and normally has two to three broods per breeding season, which lasts from April to July.
The nest is most commonly located 5–15 ft above the ground in a dense bush or in a fork between two tree branches, and is built by the female alone. The outer foundation consists of long coarse grass, twigs, paper, and feathers. This is lined with smeared mud and cushioned with fine grass or other soft materials. The American Robin does not shy away from nesting close to human habitation.

Newly hatched chicks

A clutch consists of three to five light blue egg, and is incubated by the female alone. The eggs hatch after 14 days and chicks leave the nest a further two weeks later. All chicks in the brood leave the nest within two days of each other. The altricial chicks are naked and have their eyes closed for the first few days after hatching. While the chicks are still young, the mother broods them continuously. When they are older, the mother will brood them only at night or during bad weather. Even after leaving the nest, the juveniles will follow their parents around and beg food from them. Juveniles become capable of sustained flight two weeks after fledging.

These guys are 12 days old, and wings won't support flight yet! Two more days!