Celebrating Ten Years

So I probably mentioned a few months ago that Rob and I have been married for ten whole years! Whew! It's been great. We wanted to get away as a couple, but since Rob wanted to do an amusement park trip and I didn't want to go in the summer, we pushed it back for the fall. It was a lot of fun.

We went to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It's about three hours from us and we both had a great time. First it was nice to not have to worry about the kids the entire time, especially when it got dark and it would have been hard to see the kids. Second it was just plain fun.

Rob happens to think that I'm a wuss about many things. (Bugs, hiking, swimming or touching untreated water, heights, dogs, and the list could go on.) And he told me that when he heard me talk about loving roller coasters and amusement park rides that he thought I was exaggerating my love and sense of adventure. (I think he also forgets that one of my favorite places is Yellowstone.)

Never mind the fact that we went to Lagoon together when we were dating, and again just after we were married. (Granted the rides there weren't all that intimidating--since I haven't been in nine years I can't claim to know how they are now.) But when we went to Universal Studios in Florida about six years ago, he was pleasantly surprised to see me scampering about the park, dragging him quickly from ride to ride.

So he knew that this trip would be fun for us. (The above spiel came as a result of a comment he made yesterday.) And it was. I had a lot of fun. He had a lot of fun. There were four fun coasters--although I only rode Apollo's Chariot once. It was just too tall for me, (although it was only a few feet taller than Griffin which I rode more than once). But seriously the whole way up I kept wondering what would happen if the coaster got stuck. I was looking at the stairs and they are the steel ones that you can see through at the bottom. And I knew there was no way, absolutely none that I could actually physically walk down those stairs to the bottom. Just wouldn't happen. So although the ride was fun with killer hills, I couldn't do it again.

It was the Howl o Scream or some other such thing with Haunted Houses and such. And we went to a total of one Haunted House, out of the seven. Rob does not like haunted houses, which I find quite amusing since he loves creating them, and learning about ghosts and writing creepy stories. And they had people popping out at us and following us around. But it brought back many middle school and high school memories and all of the friends I went to haunted houses with. Good times. Rob has now been to four haunted houses. I honestly don't know how many I've been to, but it's more than four (lots more).

Rob however bested me on the number of times he rode all of the coasters. He went on Apollos Chariot 4 times. He says it is his favorite of all time. Griffin 3 times, Loch Ness Monster 3 times and Alpengeist 3 Times. (Funnily Loch Ness is my age--that was kind of weird.) We were both sad that the Big Bad Wolf shut down last month for good. We looked at the track and thought it looked like fun.

We want to take the kids next year. We also briefly drove through Williamsburg, just to say that we had. We want to go spend time there, but it is the type of place that I wouldn't want to just stop at for a few minutes. So we didn't get out. Excitedly enough when Beth saw the brochure, she wanted to go visit, so that would be part of the trip too.

The kids take after Rob and devoured all the silly brochures he likes to bring home so that I can clean around them for three months before I finally throw them away. The kids love Maps, love them! They make their own maps on a regular basis and Jacob can even say maps, and identifies them anytime he see them by saying map!

Anyway we had a great time, and the kids had a lot of fun with Eldon and Gail. (Thanks for babysitting!)

Hiking Panthertown Valley

Some friends and I just took our annual hiking trip. We decided to try out Panthertown Valley, a beautiful spot of land near Brevard, NC, with dozens of hiking trails branching out in all directions. There were beautiful waterfalls and overlooks. The leaves were awesome. This highly-compressed video doesn't do justice to the color of the leaves.

This video is a bit long, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. As always, click on the link underneath to view it in HD at the Vimeo site (1280x720).

Panthertown Valley Hike from Robert Caldwell on Vimeo.

The Last Week

All righty, a quick rundown of the week, would honestly be the last post. Library books not withstanding, it was a pretty standard run of the mill week.

Beth and Caleb were in the Primary program and of course they did a bang up job of it. Caleb was super confident and fairly shouted his line into the microphone: "I love my family when I play games with my Dad" Beth was much more calm and did a very nice job.

The kids went on a hike with Rob yesterday and I got some work done. Rob has noticed how much more mature the kids are all getting. Especially Caleb. He's super impressed. I'm proud of each of them. Jacob is going through a fiercely indpendent stubborn streak with lots of pouting, but I know it is only temporary.

That's about it for the week. I hope you have a very happy October. (We actually turned on the heat, but I think Rob may have turned it back off. It's cold here. I love it!)

The Saga of the Missing Library Books

This last weekend was definitely interesting. It started with Rob leaving to go on his annual fun hike with his friends. (Before you take pity on me for staying home alone with the kids all weekend, don't. Rob gets his hike, I get writer's conferences and such.) He got up bright and early and left before six.

Then the weekend began. I got Beth to the bus! Whoo! Then Caleb to preschool. Then a book I wanted from the library had come in. I checked online to see if others were on their way and realize oh no! I had 10 overdue books. We went and turned everything in on Wednesday. So began my weekend of searching for the library books.

Well a quick surface search turned up three of the books, which I turned in. But I wasn't discouraged yet. The kids room had been bordering on being condemned for a few weeks, and last week it had escalated when Caleb got into the closet and started pulling out the extra toys. I was simply convinced that the books had to be in there. All of the books were comic books that Caleb gets to read on his own. (I had a memory of stacking them all together to take back to the library, but I wasn't positive that the library trip had actually happened.)

Before I tackled their room, I hit up the front room. I moved the couches, got the flashlight and peered behind shelves and just looked everywhere. No luck.

Then I went to their room. It's time to bring out the winter clothes, switch clothes around and finally I decided to get rid of all of the baby clothes and other clothes that the kids won't wear anymore. So I simply emptied the closet all of the way. That way we could be sure the books weren't in there.

Well that happened on Saturday. By the end of Saturday the room actually didn't look any better. Though all of the toys we own were in the middle of the floor. The closet was very clean and empty. And I had broken down a few times at the thought of giving away the baby clothes. But I remembered the fact that having a newborn is not appealing to me right now, or anytime in the near future. The clothes had to go.

When Rob called to tell me he was on his way home on Sunday, I warned him that the mess was worse than he could imagine. He laughed. but he didn't laugh when he got home. He was just very silent. Not mean--he knew not to make any comments.

Monday was spent looking at the mess, and rechecking everywhere for those library books. This was a constant worry for the entire weekend. Still no stuff, but I managed to go through most of the rest of the clothes.

Tuesday we had the kids each pick two toys (yes you heard right, just two) and then I packed everything else up and put it in the closet. There are about eight bins of toys in the closet ready for a yard sale! Whew! But I was extremely happy. No more crazy mess. The kids can earn more toys by keeping their room clean. (So far it isn't going to happen.) The toys aren't put up, but the room doesn't look as though it is going to be condemned either.

Wednesday I didn't get as much done. But I still looked for those blasted library books. I was absolutely convinced they weren't in the house, but I was nearly ready to attack the coat closet, which could end in a very ugly fight. Rob is very possessive of that closet. But I decided I couldn't until the laundry I had been ignoring in my quest for books was done. No one had anything to wear.

Thursday--I've got to sort the laundry, which is piled all over my floor along with the clothes I'm going to give away (which are in big black garbage bags) making it impossible to walk on the actual floor. But instead of focusing I'm worried about those stupid library books. Worry, worry, worry.

So I decide to take the boys to story time, and I also write down the names and call numbers for each of my missing six books. And I spend time at the library with Caleb finding tattoos and looking books up on the computer and Jacob sitting patiently next to me. I look through the shelves. And I find five of the six books. Sitting on the shelf. Sigh.

So I took them up, and they forgave my late fees. And I pay for the book which had gum on it when I turned it in. $13.00 for a book about being an astronaut. Gum is off limits at my house right now.

So I didn't post because of the library books, which are mostly accounted for. Just one left, but I kind of think it is at the library somewhere. I'll keep checking.

The kids are doing well. Beth is happy. Caleb is happy and Jacob has made a major breakthrough with speech and said the SSSS sound. It's not quite right, but he was doing hard 'K' sound for all s and z sounds. Yeah.

Have a happy week.

The BYU Police Beat

While I was attending BYU this was my favorite section of the Daily Universe to read.

Police Beat

Anyway I stumble upon it and thought it was too good to keep to myself. I really do miss that part of campus life. Life was so much simpler when the crimes were hot air balloons and sidewalk chalk.

Enjoy!

Where's My Update?

This last weekend was not a ton of fun. It was General Conference, which of course I love. But Rob was sick, so we didn't even attempt to do anything fun this week, and somehow managed not to destroy the house very much. (Jacob is waging a war with markers on the wall, and nothing is getting it off, not even bleach! Any advice would make me happy--I've tried Magic Erasers--I think the Magic in Magic Markers is stronger than the Magic in Magic Erasers.)

This morning I was handed a Christmas list by Beth. What a list--Cell phone, I Pod and a snake. Plus a dog. So those four are out the window. But Beth still has hope, because she is sending the list to Santa who doesn't always listen to Mom (according to her). She did ask for an Easy Bake Oven or a Cupcake Maker thing. Interesting. Tangent, but I've never understood the appeal of an Easy Bake oven. The mixes were nasty, and it was always much more fun to make lots of goodies and mess in the real kitchen. So I'm leaning more towards buying her own bakeware set. (I can just her the But Mom! now).

Caleb and Jacob were at war yesterday. (Jacob was particularly cranky) Every time I'd distract one of them with a toy the other would immediately want that one instead. And man can they get at each other. Jacob is finally starting to hold his own, but that mean the fights are escalating. I need to find some constructive ways to channel that energy, I'm telling you!

Otherwise the boys are happy. Caleb got to sit in a Police Car today, with the lights on and everything. First thing he told me when I picked him up from preschool. Jacob keeps giving me hugs and saying "I'm Happy Now." Melts my heart a little bit. Well more than a little.

Anyway that's the update for the week. (And I do not approve of the M game that Caleb played with Rob sans blood and swearing. And I don't turn the games on when Rob isn't home. I believe in moderation, especially of video games.)

Dad, can I play Playstation?!

So Caleb is officially a videogame addict. Every day when I get home from work, as soon as I walk through the door, he asks if he can play the Playstation, while he jumps up and down, then clings to my leg. Usually he is accompanied by Jacob, who proceeds to mimic his older brother, yelling, "Playstation! Playstation!"

I'm afraid I've created a monster.

Then again, I remember at the last church conference I attended, there was a talk about fathers needing to spend quality time with their sons. I suppose slaying demons with flaming sticks counts, right? (the videogame I'm referencing is Ico, for those not in the know ... pick it up at ebay.)

Of course, I usually get curious looks from Mim as I let Caleb play an M-rated game. It's only happened once, for all you concerned mothers and grandmothers out there, and I DID turn off the blood and gore option and the foul language option (yeah, it's considered an OPTION in this game to see blood splatter everywhere when slaying beasts with a battle axe). And I sat there with him. And it is a FUNNY game, after all, so that makes it okay for kids, right? The kid crack up while while the main character in the game, played by Jack Black, talks nonstop about how the characters in the game should start a mosh-pit. (Brutal Legend, also recommended).

But now Caleb wants to play games all the time. It's driving me crazy, despite the hours of quality male-bonding time together. I decided to make the PS2 "his" and he can play the games I approve. He's amazingly good at them for a four year old. We don't play much, but when we play, I'm constantly amazed at how well he has figured out the controls. There are 10 buttons and 2 joysticks after all.

It always comes to a point in the game, usually within the first 15 minutes when he screams for help. he throws me the controller. "I can't handle it Dad," he says. "It's too hard, " or "It's too scary." I always throw the controller back at him and tell him he can do it. We usually argue a bit. I walk away and listen for more shouts of frustration coming from near the game system. He doesn't know I'm listening. He usually gets frustrated a few more times, then miraculously gets past the monster he's trying to fight, or he figures out a puzzle in the level. And then I hear shouts of pure glee. "I did it Dad! I did it!" I come back downstairs and tell him, "See, I told you that you could."

I know it's just a silly videogame system, and parenting magazines, politicians, and even some church leaders say you shouldn't play them with your kids, or even play them at all. But for a moment, I feel proud of my son. He's discovered something that gave me years of fun in my own life (I still remember fondly hours spent playing videogames with friends in ill-lit basements with bags of Doritos and bottles of Mountain Dew) and it's something we can share together. What's more important though is that he's learned not to give up so easily when something tough comes his way. I've never really thought that videogames could teach too many lessons in life, but I see it with him. I see how proud he is of himself, how thrilled and ecstatic he is when he beats a level in a game that he thought was impossible to him. And usually he can do it with none of my help. He's learned that he's smart enough and good enough to do tough things on his own.

Now, I just can't wait until he's old enough for model rockets.

Mountain Goats

So I'm in a sharing mood today. My favorite band, The Mountain Goats, is releasing their latest album, The Life of the World to Come, tomorrow, and I felt like sharing a song from the album.

Hope you enjoy.