Don't Mess With Tradition

Every June forever and ever us girls will go on our little bike ride in Logan. The weekend will start by fastening our road bikes to various SUV's and driving to one of our favorite places. We will stay in the same hotel as always and eat at the same Indian food place/gas station where we can buy tikka masala, garlic naan, fuel, aspirin and gummy bears from our waiter. Next we will make a convoy down to the local ice cream shop and talk until it gets too cold. We will talk about tomorrow's ride and how none of us have ridden a bike since last year's ride (except mom, who can out ride us all). Then we'll drive back to the hotel and attempt to sleep, but really it is just like a sleepover party and we giggle and watch TV late into the night.When the alarm goes off the next morning four sisters groan and try to make excuses about how to make the upcoming ride shorter by cheating. But when we finally get to the starting line we realize how lucky we are to ride side by side with a friend, a sister, or a mother.And even though we all return home with tender butts, sore shoulders and sunburned arms, the pain is worth the time we spent together. Bring on LRRH 2015!

LRRH 2014

The Purpose Of The Middle Finger

Three weeks ago I smashed the guts out of my finger. I was left with a painful nub wrapped safely in a rather large and unwieldy splint. During that time I have learned the purpose of having a middle finger. Aside from continually flipping the bird, I lost the ability to do most of the mundane things I do on a daily basis. The most important aspect of having five functional fingers is the ability to grip. Almost every action involves a grip: pulling heavy things, pushing heavy things, lifting heavy things. So in essence, changing, bathing and moving Tanner was an impossibility. Also I found folding laundry, making beds and doing the dishes to be very cumbersome using only one hand. Try washing your hair with one hand. For that matter try washing your hand with one hand. Try it!

So although I can survive using just one hand I am so grateful I have two. After three weeks I am well on my way to a fully functional grasp. Already there is a tiny newborn fingernail growing right where it should and by the end of the summer it may need a trim.

The Full Moon And My Finger

It started out as a typical Tuesday afternoon. I was the loving, wonderful mother, dropping everything to please my typical teenage daughter. I sat in the passenger seat as Hailey drove around Kaysville, testing her driving skills. Then I cooked her favorite dinner. Then I sat on the couch and watched her favorite TV show with her. Peace reigned, we were contentedly spending time together, all was well.

Then something happened. The moon reached it's zenith of fullness and Hailey and I turned into a couple of crazy people. We began "fighting" over the remote control. I wanted to watch "my" show, she wanted to watch "her" show. Then I began chasing her through the house. She headed toward her room and I was right behind her as she slammed her bedroom door. Except part of me was in the way of the door, yet the solid wood door closed nonetheless. Then I felt a strange numbness in my finger and I yelped like a dog.

I didn't want to look at it.  I knew it was bad due to the lack of pain. So I looked at it. The top of my middle finger looked fine until I touched it and saw the flesh move unnaturally. It was bad, I could see bone. I forced Hailey to "LOOK AT IT"!!! That was her first punishment.

I drove myself to the ER, all the while my finger throbbed like a big, bloody blob of alien flesh. The physician looked at it and congratulated me on a job well done. Then he pried my precious fingernail out of it's nail bed and put it in a cup. Next as he tried to find salvageable flesh to sew he used the phrase "this is pretty pulverized", which made me feel great (not really). After watching the curved suture needle go in and out of my finger I was surprised when the doctor started re-seating my dead fingernail. Apparently my old nail will protect my wound for the next two weeks and then I can pull it off again. And for the next year a brand new, delicate nail will grow.

So now I am disabled. I can't grip, I can't dig, I can't write. And best/worst of all I can't take care of Tanner. Now for Hailey's true punishment for slamming my finger in her door.....SHE has to change and bathe and help her brother. Ha! Finally! I think I will continue to fake my intense pain for at least a month so that she can become proficient at her new job. Guilt is the best manipulator.

St. George Has The Hosenfelds

 Southern Utah is going to be seeing the Hosenfelds a lot more often. With a speed of 90mph (if there is no highway patrol and it's late) we can drive there in 3.5 quick hours, have a comfy house to stay in and wake up to the most stunning red rock cliffs imaginable. St George is the preeminent playground for all of us because it offers EVERYTHING! Last week we brought 10 bikes, climbing gear, hiking boots, swimsuits and sand toys. Used them all!!

sunbathing teens with their headphones on high

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 almost made it to the road

weakling at Chuckawalla

Spaghetti #2

Five years ago I recorded the kooky way Tanner ate spaghetti. He was 11 years old then and was so specific with his method of eating pasta. For some unknown reason Tanner felt compelled to put a handful of the noodles onto the counter first before he stuffed it in his mouth. I always wondered why he did this with just spaghetti and nothing else. Recently I watched as he ate his noodles and realized that he does the exact same quirky thing he did all those years ago. So every five years I think Iwill make a spaghetti video of Tanner and I bet he will continue to eat the same way.

Spaghetti 2007
 

It Was Fun When I Was Twelve

I understand that my birthday comes around once a year, every year. I would probably forget that special day if it were not for the persistent and relentless persecution I endure by the hands of family and friends. I'm not too keen on getting older and I realize I'm getting older when I can't remember how old I am. Still people insist on celebrating. But I know that if nobody did anything on my special day I would be disappointed and even a bit indignant. So thank you everybody for reminding me that I am not an island.

I'm glad I get to share the Birthday Joy with Hailey, we're
birthday buddies born in April

A very practical gift for an old gal like me. Now I won't have to strain my delicate shoulder trying to get the machines to start.



I bet when I was twelve I got toys instead of landscaping equipment

No Big Deal Birthday

Well, my little daughter turned 15 today. I can't say it was a joyful occasion because, you see, teenagers aren't allowed to celebrate and be merry. They are very serious people. Enjoyment is seen as a weakness. When I asked Hailey what she wanted to do on her special day she said....nothing.  So for my own benefit I took balloons and donuts to her soccer game and made everyone sing "happy birthday" to her. How embarrassing!

And since Hailey turns 15 only once in a lifetime we felt obligated to get her a gift (although when asked what she wanted she said....nothing).

Now that the birthday cheer has petered out I can only look back nostalgically at  Hailey's past birthdays to find the true joy and wonder of childhood.

-----first bike 5yrs old

-----second bike 8yrs old

-----third bike 11yrs old

-----LAST bike 15yrs old

-----NEXT year??? Good luck sweetheart, you're going to need it!!