Family

Day Two and Three- Railroads and Capitol

1 Comment

The Railroad Museum in Sacramento is exceptional, as retired train after retired train greet you to awe you with their size. The staff sit aboard every train, and are prepared to discuss that particular engines history and travels.

History of the west and the development of the western states is woven throughout the engines.

You can go inside many of the trains, others you must be content with glimpses from the windows at the life size wax passengers inside.

Claire was very happy to have “All the sisters” in one place, though this particular photo lacks Madeleine.

The conductors seat stirs the imagination.

How many brothers can fit in one seat?

The capitol building is nestled in a garden like arena, complete with orange trees full of fruit.

The children bonding with their new state animal:


Little Ones

Leave a Comment

They are growing up faster than they used to. I never noticed it so much as this summer. Each time I visit home, Benjamin has increased his vocabulary exponentially. “Pick up your lightsaber and fight me” is currently his longest sentence. He has been well trained under the influence of Master Johnathan.

As if to continuously claim her positions in this large family, Claire likes to use exact familial terms. “Did you come home to see your sister Claire?” is the consistent greeting for me at the door. Mother, brother, grandmother, family bonds are rhythmically reinforced.

These two are rarely apart. Both are slowly working their way out of ‘little boy’ status. Nevertheless, Dominic still charms the entire neighborhood with one smile. They usually smell gently of  outdoors, rough and tumble, and peanut butter and jelly. And never sit still for a moment.

Remembering

Leave a Comment

Four years ago this week, I met little sister Claire:

Image may contain: one or more people, people sleeping, people sitting, baby and closeup

And two years ago this week, I met baby Benjamin.  (This picture was taken after my microbiology teacher let me out of my two hour lab class in forty five minutes so I could visit him in the hospital between classes)

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, sitting and indoor

Christmas Day

Leave a Comment

Christmas suspense was building. This little watcher kept a tree-side vigil patiently:

img_6551

Well, mostly patiently.

img_6553

We enjoyed Christmas music from family musicians old:

img_1968
and new:

img_1957

One of the best parts of the day was a father-son Jingle Bells duet. Alexander has been taking clarinet lessons for about three months.

img_1977

Keeping time:img_1981

Little brothers-my favorite.
 img_1963-1

Daniel and Dominic sweethearts. Joseph is not amused.

img_1964

img_1965

Grandparents visited:

img_6548

Dominic and Claire love to play ‘puppysitting’

img_6593

Landon won the originality award for wrapping presents for himself:img_6610

Merry Christmas!

img_6562

Christmas Bake!

Leave a Comment


img_6320

img_6334

img_6331

img_6325

img_6375

img_6340

When the last test of finals week is taken, and I find extra time on my hands for the first time in months, there’s only one thing to do: bake! Long class days are always conductive to formulating long lists of recipes I’d like to try, and when I go on break there are plenty of helpers ready to assist. Waiting for the cookies to cool and a block of time to frost them was a major test of patience for the youngest ones, but we were able to manage the entire process with no melt downs. Alexander is growing into the role of family helper, and guiding the youngest hands in creating small white faces. Daniel and Dominic worked hard to decorate carefully, as picturesque cookies were promised a place on the blog. Sweet memories!

Black Hills Preview

2 Comments

A friend’s wedding took the family to the west side of the state in late September. The beautiful fall scenery in the rolling hills and jagged rock formations brought a wonderful rest from schoolwork, as we fit our entire trip between my weekday school schedule. (Thanks, Dad, for driving till four in the morning to get me home for Monday classes!) We brought home a multitude of pictures, and here are a few teaser pictures until I have time to sort them all.

Benjamin in the Badlands.

img_1160-1

At last, it all makes sense; Joseph is a wild hoofed animal at heart. His first instinct when he saw the pronghorn antlers on the kids table at Wind Cave:

img_1383

 

Almost all the family-Landon stayed home to take care of schoolwork, and Maria is the photographer. This is at Wind Cave national park.

img_1598

 

Well Done, Little Brother, Well Done

2 Comments

My brothers will inform you that I am not easy to startle or fool. I don’t blink at rubber tarantulas on my shoulder, or plastic cockroaches in my closet. I do usually double check plastic lego spiders, but I’m usually suspicious. So, I must give credit to some mischievous rascal who wound this through the leaves of the garden. I didn’t realize it was made of wood until I was taking a picture before it got away. 
 IMG_1697

Daniel later confessed. When questioned for a motive, he replied, “I wanted to scare someone.”

Fair!

Leave a Comment

The last day of the fair was marked by steamy, 95 degree temperatures, but Maria, Johnathan and I were invited to spend the day with some friends. In an amazing show of bravery, Mom faced the heat and ventured out with the younger kids as well.

IMG_6108

IMG_6104

There were rides:

IMG_6059

IMG_6092

IMG_6072

An lots of animals, including my Mom’s dream pet, miniature horses:

IMG_6167

“Quack, Quack!”

IMG_6162

But after all the sights had been seen, everyone was very, very worn out. The heat was sweltering, and it was hard for the little ones to stand in the sun for long. Cheeks all around were flushing, and Alexander went completely red.

IMG_6127

IMG_6117

IMG_6114

But not too overheated for silliness, as soon as the camera’s presence was known:

IMG_6132

IMG_6134

Benjamin was much to interested in playing with straws in the slushy cup to notice the heat.

IMG_6145

So many flushing faces called for rehabilitation by the ice cream method. A stop to the homemade ice cream booth did not disappoint, though in the heat we quickly were slurping milkshakes.

 And then it was time to go home.

IMG_6172

August

1 Comment

The sun’s bedtime is retreating rapidly. Cicada symphonies perform in the dusky evenings, and every once in a while I spot a tree with bronzing tips. Still, August managed to catch me by surprise. (Although I’m not sure it feels like it is time for any month-except perhaps March and April.)

My desk and all my schoolbooks are now arranged, and I’ve started reviewing last year’s notes. The darker evenings are perfect for studies along with a cup of tea. For much of the summer I have been hoping the break would not end too soon, but now I am impatient to get started. Just this one last year stands between me and graduation, and I’m excited to get my footing in the nursing field.

The weather is beautiful, and some of the younger brothers and I have been taking advantage of it by moving story time outside. Joseph has discovered the magic of Edith Nesbit’s Five Children and It series, and Daniel loves Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories.  Cooler evenings put me in a baking mood, so they have also been helping me taste test several new recipes. So far, carrot muffins have been the favorite.

Summer Days

2 Comments

Sweltering heat and humidity set in at the beginning of the week, setting the mood for the transition into late summer. Another month and I’ll be making final preparations for the school year, a fact I’m trying not to think about longer than needed. For now, I’m relishing every minute of watermelon, campfires and summer sun-when I’m not occupied by waiting tables.

I started as a waitress all the way back in January, but I’m only just beginning to be really good at it. I am learning that most things are harder than they look, and I’ve been amazed by the amount of multitasking skills required. Balancing a thousand tasks at once is definitely not one of my strengths, but I have been slowly improving in ways to remember and organize multiple areas.

Interacting with so many people has also presented new challenges. I have had to  focusing on ways to make quick connections and conversations with total strangers from every background imaginable. Now I am starting to build a stockpile of topics (Are you from town? Busy day?) and tricks (I will stare directly at you until you finally make eye contact with me, and then I will smile so cheerfully to find out if you are friendly, so I can chat with you, or if you want me to leave you alone, and I will go away as soon as possible).

The family is bustling with even more activity than usual, between ongoing construction projects and trying to keep up with the baby and two puppies (a seven month old collie and a three month old Golden Retriever) who seem to spend most of the day trying to outdo each other in their escapades. Benjamin is also on his way to setting the record for earliest talker in the family, even thwarting attempts to teach him sign language. I once demonstrated the the word ‘outside’ when he was waiting by the door, and after a few moments of thought, said “out-ite” with a twinkle in his eyes.