Icky Padidddlekins

Okay, so technically my buddy Isaac turned 7 nine days ago, but hey who's counting? His actual birthday was the day of the Draper Temple Dedication which was a busy day to say the least, so we didn't get around to having his birthday party until a week later.

He wanted an Indiana Jones theme.

Huh?

So first to the guest list. Ideally, I wanted about 7 or 8 guests since they are after all 6 and 7-year-old boys, but it got tricky. There are 12 boys his age just in our neighborhood; there are 10 in his Primary class; there are 15 in his school class. There must have been something in the water back in 2001 that resulted in a surge of testosterone around these parts. So I asked him who he wanted to invite, and he of course picked the kids in his school class. Against my better judgment, I decided to let him invite ALL the boys from school. I figured a Saturday morning party would mean that several of them would have ball games and other activities that would conflict. And I was right. Only 12 of them managed to make it to the party.

If you're ever going to host an Indiana Jones themed party, just be warned. You're not going to find anything in the stores to help you out. So this is what we did. When the guests arrived, they were put to work making their own pizzas. We had delicious toppings for them like chilled monkey brains, and sliced baby cobras. We had "Raiders of the Lost Ark" playing in the background so that as they finished their pizzas at different rates, there was something to occupy their attention until all the guests had arrived. Ah, sweet television.

After the pizzas were done and cooking in the oven, we gathered and read the letter that Indiana Jones had left along with a piece of a map leading to a treasure. The map directed them to the first game where they had to wrap two mummies (with toilet paper) in order to discover the next piece of the map.

From there, they were directed outside to a hazardous obstacle course. If they were successful, the next piece of the map would be revealed. The obstacles included blowdarts, (q-tips dipped in paint and blown through a straw at a target) a walk across lettered blocks, (ala "Last Crusade") a snake pit, (the trampoline covered in rubber snakes they had to navigate around) a rolling boulder, (Cory with a beach ball) digging for diamonds in the lost "ark" (a cooler filled with sand and golfballs), and a run with a chalice. About halfway through, Zachary remarked, "This is a lot more fun than I thought it would be."

One of the "diamonds" had the clue to the next piece of the map. It led them to the first clue to a treasure hunt. The clues were all cut up into puzzle pieces, so they had to assemble the clue, read it, then search for the next puzzle. I left Cory in charge of this while I set up lunch. This turned out to be the trickiest part because as it turns out it is physically impossible for thirteen 6 and 7-year-olds to work together to assemble a puzzle. Somehow or other, they finally managed to find the "treasure" which was a treasure chest birthday cake.

(I forgot to take a picture until after the candles had been blown out and the cake had been cut.)

We had just enough time to eat lunch (pizza and "bug juice"), cake and ice cream, and open presents. All involved had a good time...with the exception of Anna who was mad the whole day because she was not allowed to participate.

Our birthday boy is such an easy-going, cheerful child to have around. He is purely a joy. He is a friend to everyone; especially his little sister, Anna. He is one of those people who it is always comfortable to have around. He is compliant and happy and good.

Happy birthday Isaac!

Ode to a Utah Spring

Oh March, you seductive vixen!
You bluster in with wild skies
a determined winter ready to make its last stand.
And when the tantrum is over
you turn shamefaced and meek.
And to atone for your brutish behavior
you tantalize us with a glimmer of freshness...
the scent of raw earth and early budding,
fair skies and mild afternoons,
peeks of early blossoms and daffodils.
Reluctantly I find myself amidst the enticement
daring to hope.
Casting off the shackles of a long, dark cold,
I'm persuaded to believe in flip-flops
and open windows
and fixed-up bicycles.
With tentative steps I emerge
from a weary hibernation.
You beckon me closer
with your clear countenance and winsome eyes.
And when my wavering hope is fixed and faithful belief,
You drop 4 inches of snow on my upturned face
on the 23rd day of your vindictive debut.

Mother's Intuition

Last Thursday morning, on the way out the door to school, Zachary asked me to come to his D.A.R.E. Graduation Assembly that morning at 11:00. Sure son, thanks for the notice. I told him that I had to take Anna to ballet that morning and the soonest I would make it there would be 11:30. On top of that, I had family coming to stay with us from St. George that afternoon, was baby-sitting a neighbor's friend, and to top things off, the garage door had just broken. Then I told him that the assembly would probably be really short, just a chance to hand out (meaningless) certificates. (Don't worry...I left out the meaningless.) By the time I got there, the whole thing would be over. (To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the program anyway-- I think this contributed to my reluctance.)

He seemed resigned to my logic and left for school. Ten minutes later, the phone rang as I was heading out the door. It was Zachary. "Hey Mom! Mrs. Rose says the assembly will last an hour so you won't miss the whole thing." I told him again I had a really busy day, but I guess I could try to get there for the second half; I warned him not to get his hopes up. Then I started the mad dash of work and errands that is my life.

At 11:30, I pulled into the neighborhood in a panic of things left undone at home and decided to just drive past the school and go collect my neighbor's little boy and get home to my laundry. Something pricked my conscience as I neared the school, and in the last second, I pulled into the parking lot. After all, my nearly 12-year-old son actually WANTED me to come and participate with him in this. I should take advantage of this desire while it lasts.

I walked in with my gym clothes on and Anna still in her leotard, sat down, picked up a program and discovered Zachary's name was on it! Apparently all the sixth-graders had to write an essay about their experience in D.A.R.E. Then, the officer in charge selected one winner in each class who was awarded a medal and would get to read their essay to the group. Zachary's essay had won! He read his report with his typical uber-serious attitude, even going so far as to raise his hand in the air when he read his pledge to remain drug and alcohol free. It was SO completely Zachary...so full of his personality...so true to his voice. I found myself with many other parents in the room, chuckling at his examples and turns of phrase. This kid is just too good to be true.

I grabbed Zachary afterwards and asked him why he didn't tell me he had won. Apparently, he had been just as surprised as I was to find his name on the program. The officer just showed up to the assembly with the news. His teacher told me later, that the D.A.R.E. officer said it was the best essay he'd ever gotten; he made his entire precinct read it.

How horrible would I have felt if I had ignored that prompting to stop?

My Real Self

Just over a week ago, Cory made travel arrangements to go down to Phoenix for a hearing. Impulsively, I decided to buy a plane ticket as a birthday gift to myself and join him there. I engaged the services of my sister-in-law (thanks Kim!) and friend (thanks Bryn!) to keep my children supervised, and headed off fancy-free to the valley of the sun. It was a super-fast trip--I landed on Thursday night and left Saturday at dinner-time--but I did my best to pack a lot in a short time. I brought my camera, but was too busy enjoying myself to actually take any pictures.

It only took about 24 hours in town to realize this was maybe not a good idea. It was too wonderful! How would I ever go home again? February in Phoenix felt like that scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy walks out of the black and white world of Kansas into the technicolor vision of paradise. It all smelled so wonderful! Everything around me was viewed through the rosy-colored lenses of nostalgia. As I drove the streets, I knew exactly where I was and had a memory for every corner. I chatted long with old running friends and preschool friends and play-group friends out in the glorious outdoors. I visited with another friend in her home while chopping tomatoes for Youth Conference the following day. I attended the temple with my old ward and saw many familiar, friendly faces. Cory and I kept good friends up VERY late talking and laughing just like old times. On Saturday, we ate lunch at our favorite downtown dive (almost painfully delicious in every bite), visited with dear friends for what will be the last time in their Phoenix home as they prepare to move to San Antonio, and enjoyed a perfect afternoon at a Spring Training game. Then we stopped in at the best used bookstore anywhere, and managed to escape with only 4 books--pretty disciplined for the 2 of us, and finished the day off with ice cream. Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I felt almost like I was re-discovering an old forgotten friend--myself...my Phoenix self. I flew home on Sunday both exhausted and refreshed.

I think I came home with fresh eyes. I came home that evening and had a wonderful time chatting with a fun and devoted sister-in-law. I spent Sunday afternoon visiting with two remarkable women in my Relief Society presidency. On Monday, I went on a preschool fieldtrip where I could rub shoulders with good and kind women who are wonderful examples and fun to talk to. That evening another friend stopped by to bring me a thoughtful birthday gift. I realized suddenly that I have been blessed to make good friends wherever I live. I don't think I have been grateful enough for that. It was good to go back and it was good to come home. I will always miss things about Phoenix, but I need to open my eyes to the good things that are around me in Draper too. And next time I go to Arizona, maybe I should do it in August.