Vander Linden Musings

This year for our vacation, we decided to do a “Staycation”. We stayed home and took in the sights around us.

We took the opportunity to visit Mt. Timpanogos and its incredible cave. The boys were truly impressed with the beauty and wonder of the cave. The hike up is about 1.5 miles, on a paved path. You’d think it wouldn’t be that difficult, but we had to make a few stops along the way. The view was beautiful up on the mountain looking out to the Salt Lake valley. Once we made it into the cave it was about a 30 minute trip through the three separate caves. There are some really incredible views of rock formations within the cave. Some that you can’t see anywhere else in the world.

We visited Antelope Island and the herds of Buffalo and Antelope. The interesting thing about visiting the island is that because of its isolation from the rest of the valley it has remained as the pioneers would have seen when they first entered the valley. There is a ranch on Island that has been around since the mid 1800‘s. It has obviously changed over time, but it was interesting none the less to see all the tools, pictures, and buildings. The boys really seemed to enjoy themselves. We saw a number of buffalo and antelope as well.

Finally, we took an early morning trip out to the Dugway Geode beds. It’s only 95 miles away, but takes almost 3 hours to get there. For the first 40 miles of the trip we were on small highways. However, thereafter we turned onto the old Pony Express route. We left early that morning, around 6:15 AM, so we reached Lookout Pass just as the sun was coming up. We got out of the car for a bit to enjoy the sunrise before continuing on.

When we finally got to the Geode beds we spent the first hour digging in a spot that was void of our treasure. We were getting ready to leave and decided to check the notes that we brought with us. We realized we needed to drive another half mile in from the sign. Once we did that, we found hundreds of these cool rocks. We dug up a number of whole stones up while finding many, many other pieces. It ended up being a very successful trip.

All in all, it was a good week. We spent a lot of time together as a family and created some good memories. It was definitely time worth spending.

Well- they went back to school on Monday.  Actually Gerritt and Jake did- Josh just had an appointment to meet the teacher.  He was very moody all day because of that- so he and I went grocery shopping and met BJ for lunch to cheer him up.

Before school BJ and I took the boys to McDonalds for breakfast to celebrate going back to school.  After MickeyD’s we walked to school…

When I picked the boys up from school- Gerritt came running out screaming “I LOVE my teacher!!!”  So I guess he had a good day.  Jake came out saying, “My teacher is so nice- she will never yell at us!”  So I guess he had a good day too!  Josh came out of school yesterday and said he liked his teacher.  So- so far we’re having a good year!!!

The boys invited friends over to have a last day of school get together.  We’ve decided it will be a tradition.  I decided after spending the afternoon with 6 boys, 8 and under, alone that it will be BJ’s tradition to ask off and participate in the last day of school party!

The boys had a water balloon fight which lasted 2 minutes (I took about 2 hours to get all those balloons filled while they were in school).  Since the water balloons didn’t last long we drove to Arctic Circle to eat some ice cream shakes.  The people who worked there didn’t look very happy when I walked in with 6 boys 8 and under!  Guess I should have tipped them.  Here’s a few pictures of the boys’ get together.

Jake was chosen to be on an All Star team.  He got a bunch of hits in his 2 games that he played.  He had a BUNCH of fun!  Here’s a couple of pictures…

So- we’re back from our vacation.  It was wonderful to be able to see everyone!  Here’s our daily log (from memory!)

So the 17th we flew in.  We’re walking to get our car, Jake walks a suitcase over a speed bump and since his arms were full, he fell flat on his face.  Here’s a picture of that owie…

We met Beckey, Tony and their kids at Denny’s.  They bought us tickets to go to the Buffalo Bandits Championship game, so we told them we would buy them dinner.  We lucked out!  All the kids were free on Saturday nights!!!  After dinner we made our way to the Bandits game.  It was SO much fun!!!  During the game the guy on the PA system yells- “Buffalo WHAT?”  Then we yell “BANDITS!!!”  The PA guy yells when the other team misses a shot- “What’s he got???”  We yell, “NOTHING!!!”  The kids got into it so much!  At the end the Bandits won.  I was so excited I jumped up and down and screamed and felt my cell phone bounce right out of my pocket and onto a spectator below us (a full level down).  I was SO worried about the girl I hit and worried about the mula I spent to buy that phone 2 days earlier.  BJ was about 10 seats away from me and I yelled and pointed that I dropped my phone.  My hero BJ went down there while everyone was celebrating and retrieved the 3 pieces of my phone.  My lovely Samsung made phone went back together, had no scratches and works just fine!  We had a GREAT time at the game- so many thanks to Beckey and Tony Bartolotta for buying those tickets!  We got back to the hotel that night and Jake fell on the way and and got more scrapes…

The next day we went to church in Amherst.  I was able to see my friend Joy (used to be Ehrenburg) that I have known since I was young.  It was great to see her!  BJ saw someone he used to work with there too (he sees someone he knows EVERYWHERE!)  After church we met Grandma and Grandpa Badding and Beckey’s family.  We spent some time with them and went to my Mom’s that night where we met the most evil cat in the world.  Mom has a cat that swats and hisses at anyone that passes by (well except her).

On Monday we picked Amber up from work.  The great McDonald’s.  Later that night Russell, Ashley (Russell’s wife), Amy, Jeff(Amy’s hubby) and their kids, and Elizabeth came to Mom’s to have a get together.  We had a great time just sitting and laughing like little kids.

Gerritt got to mow the lawn for Grandpa.  He was excited about that!  We also ordered real pizza and wings from John and Mary’s.  YUM!!!

On Thursday we drove to Dad and Christine’s, then headed down to Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania to see Grandma and Grandpa Mowrey.  On the way down Josh fell asleep and started singing songs in his sleep.  We videotaped it with my cell phone- it was SO funny!  Grandma made us some some yummy food!  We stayed one night there and headed  back to Canaseraga.  Next day we went to see Indiana Jones.  Christine and I made faces at each other through out the movie- making fun of how realistic it ISN’T.  But it was fun.  We made smores over the fire that night.

Next day we went to church, and AGAIN BJ saw someone he knew from another workplace!  SO not fair that he sees someone he knows everywhere we go!!!

On Monday we went back to Amherst and got together with Beckey and crew.  We went to the movies with them that day too- the boys (and Beckey’s daughter Katie) all went to  see IRON MAN.  Beckey and I had some time off and went to see WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS.  Very funny movie.  The boys enjoyed their movie and we enjoyed ours!!!

We went to Niagara Falls to enjoy the scenery there…

For the rest of the week we saw Grandma and Grandpa Badding a few more times and went to dinner with Beckey and crew a few times.  One of the nights we went to a park and had Santora’s (the best there is!) pizza and wings.  Jake ran into something and gave himself a huge goose egg.  By the time I took the picture- the swelling had gone down- DARN- it looked cool!

Our last day there- we met Beckey for lunch and went to the Anchor bar… HOME of the chicken wing!  So YUMMY!!!

It was a nice vacation… but now life goes on.  We got home and our grass was SO long!!!  I was on the verge of going to get a riding mower just to mow it- but we did it- we got it mowed, without spending thousands of dollars!!!

So Utah Jazz are up in their series 2-0.  AWESOME stuff!  Here is a picture of two of my boys during the game…

I thought they looked cute sitting there watching the game while playing on the computers.

So this past Sunday in church, all of my boys (including my husband)sang “A Child’s Prayer” (written by Janice Kapp Perry)in sacrament meeting.  They did so well.  The boys looked so cute.  BJ’s mom came to play the piano while they sang- and thank goodness.  She was able to slow down and pound out the melody for the boys since it’s a song that has seperate parts- BJ sang a different part than the boys.  Here are the words to that beautiful song:

(Boys part) Heavenly Father, Are you really there?  And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer?  Some say that Heaven is far away, but I feel it close around me as I pray!  Heavenly Father, I remember now, Something that Jesus told disciples long ago, “Suffer the children to come to me.”  Father in prayer I’m coming now to thee.

(BJ’s part) Pray, he is there.  Speak, he is listening.  You are his child.  His love now surrounds you.  He hears your prayers.  He loves the children.  Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of Heav’n.

Then they sing those two parts together.

Seriously- I wish I had a video- I had to fight back tears.  I guess what kept them at bay was also trying to not laugh that my mother-in-law was having to pound out the melody to keep them going.

I got a rude email today saying I need to post something on this website.  Why haven’t I posted?  Because we lead dull lives!  There’s nothing new- we’re in the same boat we were in last year- baseball season.  Baseball baseball baseball… that’s our lives right now.

All three boys are on different teams.  Josh plays for the Dodgers.  Jake plays for the Cardinals.  Gerritt plays for the White Sox (at least it’s not the Red Sox!!!).

BJ is still working at Helio.  He’s still travelling about once a month.  And he is still going to school for his masters- so I guess that is something new compared to last year this time!

Me?  I take the boys to school- clean at home a little (if I feel like it) and then go get Josh about two minutes later.  He’ll be in first grade in 3 months (they start the school year at the end of July) and then he’ll be gone for the full day!!!  That’s when I have to figure out what to do with me.  I think the first month I will spend sleeping!   After that- I have no idea!  If anyone would like to make some suggestions- I will listen and then most likely turn them down (that’s what I’ve been doing with BJ’s suggestions).

We are going to New York next month.  I’m excited for that.   BJ hasn’t been back there in 4 years- so I’ll probably bore him with visiting my old stomping grounds again.  And this is where I used to go when I was bored, and that is my high school, and right there is where I went to elementary school, and that is where I got my first job… etc.  Poor hubby.

Seriously- I have nothing interesting to say.  Maybe I’ll think of something later!

I have been slacking on this post… sorry all!

Over Christmas break, Jake lost a tooth and soon after Josh lost a tooth!  We took a picture with Josh’s camera (he got one for Christmas) and once I get a hold of it I will post the picture of Josh’s first lost tooth.  Gerritt got contacts a few days ago… he’s doing pretty well with them.  It takes at least 5 minutes every morning to get them in,  but he IS getting better!

BJ has completed 3 of his classes with at least an A- in all of them- he’s such a nerd!

And me- well- nothing new!!!  Today I cleaned the living room- that was a positive thing!

This is why I haven’t posted- I have nothing to share!

Well- we were going to go to California this year…but BJ started his Master’s program with Utah State so we had to shorten our trip. We went to Bear Lake instead. It was nice and relaxing- until the last day… Josh tore his hand open while falling at the pool, and had to get stitches. He’s been enjoying showing them off to people. Hopefully our insurance will cover the clinic that was up in poedunk, Utah.

Here’s just a few pictures of us on our much needed vacation…

Gerritt comes up to me and says, “Is my tooth loose? It hurts when I chew.” I checked it- and yes it was wiggling a bit. He went outside to let his brothers feel it. Josh pulled so hard it popped it out. I heard Gerritt say, “Oh my goodness- my tooth fell out!” I shouted- “Liar!” Thinking he was trying to fool his brothers. Jake then pipes in, “No it’s for real.” Gerritt comes in with a bloody mouth sans the tooth. He was standing on the deck when Josh pulled, and it fell through the slats. Whimpy Mom decided to brave the spiders and dirt to look for the tooth with Jakob. No luck. Gerritt said, “In my letter to the tooth fairy I’m going to tell her that my brother pulled so hard we lost my tooth- so can I have 100 dollars?” I’m thinking she doesn’t carry that kind of money around. So- I’m thinking- no.

One of Jake’s first comments was, “He beat me to number 5 tooth.” The dentist didn’t want to pull Jake’s teeth- so he’s still at 3 teeth lost.  Then Gerritt said to Jake, “I did beat you to number five.”  Jake said- “I know- let’s say ten.”  So now the race is on for number 10!  They’re funny.