My New Favorite Place

I have a new favorite place - it's this cool bike/walking/running/rollerblading/or whatever trail in West Layton that follows an old railway line and continues all the way down to Gateway in Salt Lake City. They just barely finished it during the summer.

We discovered it as a family about a month ago when we set out on a family bike ride down the trail. Then John and I went by ourselves last week for a date, even biking in the dark with some headlamps - now that is a fun adventure and a very fun cheap date idea. We rode all the way down to Farmington and took the train home. One of these days we'd like to ride all the way down to Salt Lake.

I am so excited to have a cool bike trail near us that is so smooth and flat!! I absolutely adore riding bikes. Sadly, I didn't have my camera for any of our biking adventures, and John and I looked incredibly dorky with our head lamps under our bike helmets, so suffice it so say, I will have to wait for another time to take pictures.

Today I went back to the trail with just my two young 'uns. While I pushed Megan in the stroller, Natalie could ride her bike to her heart's content and I didn't have to worry about any cars, weird turns, crazy drivers, etc. - we basically had the trail to ourselves and spent 60 luxurious minutes soaking in the warm fall air, feeling the light breeze, and counting the katrillion grasshoppers along the trail (some not so alive and thoroughly squished. nasty).

Oh, and getting some exercise too while we were at it.

I Have a Problem

Yes that's right, and I am here to make it bloggingly public.

Let me begin by telling you about a recent outing our family had to visit some friends in Clinton this past Sunday evening. About 10 minutes into the 20 minute drive, I discovered something most disturbing. I had forgotten to grab my purse on the way out the door because I had been holding a bowl of salad in one arm, and Megan in the other. Yes I know, to an average woman, this wouldn't normally be a problem as John was driving, I didn't need my wallet and keys. But sadly, I am not the average-joe, because in my purse lay two very important must-have items I need to have on hand at all times: my chapstick and lotion.

I wasn't as worried about the lotion as I was the chapstick. I was pretty sure my friend would have lotion on hand, which she did in her bathroom, but not everyone uses chapstick like I do. I buy chapstick in bulk...monthly. I have a friend who told me once that she doesn't think she has ever finished a tube of chapstick...ever.

I on the other hand start to get desperate when my chapstick gets down to its final layer if I don't have a backup tube on hand. In fact, as we left Oregon this summer on our way home from a reunion, I applied my chapstick only to discover that it was nearly gone. Since I knew I couldn't make it the rest of the 9-hour trip with such a rinky-dink amount, I picked up a new tube at the very next gas station.

Yes, I know I have a problem. It all started when I moved down to Utah 17 years ago. My lips were used to the moist, ever-rainy weather conditions of the northwest. My lips (and hands) went into rebellion mode when they encountered the vast dryness of Utah. I compensated with chapstick (and lotion for the hands). And since then, it has never left my side.

I am teased mercilessly by family and friends. You would think this would change my habits.

No.

I am still sadly addicted to the addicting stuff. As another friend stated once, I must have the smoothest lips and hands in the neighborhood.

I am not worried. It is probably OCD, but as I have researched the disorder, it is only a mild form. In fact, I'll take my chapstick OCD over any of the other options out there.

That being said, I give you my full permission to chuckle, snicker, or even tease me if you see me apply yet again, more chapstick. Just know that my lips are sealed. Literally.

Do The Puyallup

Whenever I think of the state fair, I can't help but remember while growing up all of the commercials for the Washington State Fair with the catchy jingle singing about "...Do the Puyallup." Please tell me you fellow Seattlites remember those? Heck, maybe they're even still singing it up there?

So, the Utah State Fair may not have a catchy tune, but it's a tradition for us to go down every year. Last Saturday was our day of choice for the fair, which was a first for us as we have usually gone during the work week in the past, picking John up from work on the way. Now that he works in Clearfield, we attempted a Saturday. Next year we will go back to middle of the week.

Reason? Ever try finding a parking spot near the fairgrounds on a late Saturday afternoon? And tack on the fact that North Temple is down to just one lane each as they add in the trax lines. 30 minutes of seeing sign after sign of 'parking lot full,' we were about ready to give up when we saw one lot with a few spots open. We found out real quick why they still had spots. They were double the price of everywhere else. But, when the supply is down, demand does have a tendency to increase. After our harrowing experience, we were willing to pay the increased price.

We spent 4 hours at the fair, so it was well worth the parking hassles (well, almost.)

We saw kangaroos and wallabies, spent some time in the science area, did a treasure hunt in one of the buildings, visited every building with displays of some sort, saw the animals, and caught a couple of rides.

The older girls even enjoyed petting a goose.

Megan, not so much.

Got to see the loomer in action. In fact, the girls quite enjoyed themselves and spent quite a bit of time asking her questions and watching her at work.

John, not so much.

We always ride the Ferris Wheel.

Though, we did learn that Kimberly is not so keen about heights.
Not a problem for Megan though!

Too bad our garden didn't produce one of these babies.

The state fair always signals the end of summer and the start of fall. I love fall, but it is never long enough! We'll see what this fall has in store for us.

My Mom Taught Me To Use Protection

When I was a kid, my mom made us wear bike helmets. Back in the 80s, they were just starting to come out and so my mom, being a good mom and all, wanted us to be safe, so of course we were the only kids on the block who HAD to wear helmets (there were absolutely no exceptions of course). Admittedly, I hated it and always felt like a complete dork. Oh, and we of course had to wear them when we went sledding, which now that I think about it, would be a good idea for my kids, but do I ever remember? Of course not.

I do however remember to have the kids wear helmets when they ride their bikes. It is one of the things in our household that is not open for discussion - it is a pure must. Grounding from ones bike has occurred a time or two for the kids to realize we actually do mean what we say.

I am grateful my mom insisted we wear our helmets because it was so ingrained in me that now my kids know the drill, because you never know when this might happen to your kid's head when protected with a helmet:

I am extremely grateful I am showing you this picture of a helmet, and not her head.

I didn't really think about her helmet much when she came home from school last week and her whole arm and shoulder were scraped up to the hilt when she wiped out trying to avoid a truck backing out of a driveway. As I was rearranging the girls' helmets in the garage yesterday, I noticed the huge gash, several cracks, and numerous marks on the helmet and immediately felt a rush of gratefulness for all of our repeated remindings to the girls to "Go get your helmet on!"

I don't even mind that I need to buy her a replacement helmet. It is worth every penny.

and yes, I'm aware of the veiled reference to other things in my title, but hey, it got you to read my posting, didn't it?

So it's root, root-root for the home team...

If they don't win it's a shame...which sadly, the Ogden Rapor's game we attended as a family recently was a shame since we lost, but we are still rooting for them!

We were given some freebie passes to see our local minor-minor league baseball team play. Sadly, the girls were more interested in meeting Mr. Raptor than actually watching the game.

We had a fun time though as a family introducing the girls to the entertaining world of baseball.


On a complete side note, Megan is having fun with all of her sisters at school, in case you were wondering -

I Have a New Love

I am officially declaring my new love: St. George, Utah. I have not visited since I was a wee child, so my memories of the place are a bit blurry. I was able to go down this last weekend with some gal pals of mine, and I've fallen in love with the place! I will be dreaming of St. George this winter. I may have to visit again very soon.

As is our tradition, the gals on my street head out every September for a girl's weekend. This year, we decided to give St. George a try so we could stay at my neighbor's sister's condo and do some shopping, see the sights, and watch a show at the Tuacahn theater.

As always, we had a fabulous time, and I got some new shirts and a totally chic purse (as evidenced in some of my pictures). We had a grand time, as always.

well, maybe a little too much fun -

Of course, that's all of the craziness I'm sharing for now, because as you know, what happens in St. George, stays in St. George.

We did lots of eating out, sans kids. How quiet and inexpensive when you are only paying for one!

A few of us went to see Grease at the Tuacahn Theater. It is an outdoor theater next to a beautiful red-rock backdrop. Sitting and watching a good performance with the gorgeous scenery and the wind lightly blowing is something I will definitely have to do again.

(see: chick purse)

And since we didn't quite make it to church on Sunday, we did the next best thing and visited the temple grounds. Our timing was impeccable as the area was hit with a massive rain/thunder/lightning/hail storm the moment we finished clicking our pictures.

All in all, a very fun weekend indeed. Now I can catch up on my sleep.

Minus a couple things

It pays to live in a good neighborhood, one where my nine-year-old neighbor can train my daughter how to do things.

Like this:

I did not have to train Natalie how to ride a bike without training wheels. Nor did John this time around. I just left it up to Alicia's nine-year-old friend to do the deed.

**Note** My girls DO wear helmets when they ride their bikes, but I completely forgot to have her wear it for the picture-taking session. oops.

Now don't go thinking I forced her into it. I didn't even plead nicely. Natalie has been begging to have her training wheels taken off, especially since a couple of her friends can now ride a two-wheeler. I discovered many years ago that I am a terrible teacher when it comes to two-wheel bike riding, so it's been John's job for the girls.

We only had one problem this time around: John has been out of town for the last couple of weeks in New Mexico on business, so I reassured Natalie that he would help her learn when he got home.

Guess she got tired of waiting because a couple days ago while she was playing outside, my 9-year-old neighbor brought out her old bike and taught Natalie how in 10 minutes flat.

Have I mentioned I have the best neighbors anyone can ask for?

You can bet I will sign her up to train Megan too when she turns four.