October 15, 2010
Guess who’s coming for dinner tonight?
Daddy! It’s October 15th! A regular day for most people but for us, it’s “Cel-e-bra-tion time!” (Can you hear Kool & The Gang? Give a listen. It will make you happy.) Yep. We get our Daddy back!
Doug’s October deadline rivals the April one. The two-month push is just as long, we see him just as little, and miss him just as much as we do during regular tax season. Maybe more – because the weather is beautiful and we’re ready for some outings. But even during the busy months, I realize I couldn’t do what I do without Doug. Putting in the long hours for his profession allows me to be home. And because I do what I do, he can burn the midnight oil. We make a good team. I’m just ready for us to run side by side for a while, rather than passing the baton.
So we’re planning a celebration trip down south. For you easterners, you’re thinking Hilton Head, OBX, something beachy like that. But here in Utah, we mean red rock country – a break for the border of the Beehive State.
We’re not leaving for a few more weeks. I have THE RETREAT to attend next week, and there’s Halloween to pull-off and such. But the girls are already talking about “The St. George House” (which belongs to Doug’s parents who are lovely and so generous to share).
In August we trekked south for a family reunion (my side). The girls have been asking to go back ever since.
We stayed right in Zion’s National Park. Most of the childless family members hiked Angel’s Landing while the rest of us herded 9 toddlers (two babies in packs) along the Riverwalk trail. It ends at the Virgin River Narrows where Doug took the brave ones out into the water. Clutching sticks to balance, they forged their way upstream but returned a few minutes later, soaking wet, teeth a-chattering.
This picture of my Dad is blurred but his face says everything about the experience. In the time it took our intrepid hikers to scale five steep miles up the Landing and back, our posse’ made it one measly flat mile to the river. My Dad acted as sweeper, happy to bring up the rear, but by the end I think he was wishing for a cattle prod.
Who did he spend most of his time sweeping? Sweet Sami – who hunted for squirrels, sat on every rock, and picked up every sparkly object she saw.
After the Riverwalk, I ditched my point and shoot and borrowed my brother-in-law’s camera. A Canon 10D. (Lance took the group photo top of post.) I had a blast getting in tight with the telephoto lens and catching real smiles before they disappeared.
I have no aspirations to be a photographer (obviously), but I do have this Christmasy kind of wish to “capture the moment” with (and for) my children. Without faster shutter speed, though, I’m doomed to keep missing. So Santa, if you’re reading, I would really really love one of these for Christmas. I promise I’ve been a good girl. (Yes, I know I’m dreaming big Santa.)
The cousins loved being together.
We swam here. Lofty towers rising out of the earth on every side.
Look at that laughter.
I experimented with Lance’s camera while everyone was at the pool. Here’s Deb and Lizzie.
Becca and Ty.
Dave and Maya – their family was visiting from Egypt. We miss them!
My youngest sister, Rachel.
Twin sisters.
And my Ali-girl. How I love that sweet face.
The girls had to share a pull-out couch for a bed. We weren’t sure how the night would go but we tucked them in – three pretty maids all in a row, and by morning they were huddled like this. A triangular fetal cuddle right at the center of the mattress.
We drove up Kolob canyon. It was so quiet you could hear the hawks calling and an occasional breeze as it rattled through the scrub oaks.
Gordon
The kids went with Grandma and Grandpa on a short hike. I hid on the side of the trail to surprise them as they came round the corner. This was the look on Eliza’s face when she saw me.
They found yellow flowers hidden in between the sage brush and picked up the perfect walking sticks. These faces tell the joy of being a child. When else can you scream – as loud as you want – just for the fun of it?
My Sami-girl. Another sweet face I love.
An attempt at a family picture. Moments when all of us are standing (somewhat) still in front of a camera are rare to be sure!
After our stay in Zion’s, we drove to the “St. George house” to spend a few extra days together. Just our little family. Every evening, before bedtime, an electrical storm rolled in. We had just enough time to walk out onto the golf course before the downpour. On this night, the clouds were tinged with pink.
This picture of Doug pulling the boys through the dirt is so typical. He finds all sorts of unusual ways to get the stroller where we need to go.
An occasional parting of the darkness shot bursts of light across our path, honing the color into brilliant greens and reds.
Isn’t this light spectacular?
I love the highlights in Eliza’s hair, the chocolate ice cream on her shirt.
Airborne
On our way home, we looked over to find Eliza had left the sidewalk and was making her way up this huge hill alone. We called to her, asked her to come back, but she just kept climbing. So we parked the stroller and cheered her on.
Ten feet from the “summit” she turned around, took off her flip-flops and chucked them down the hill. Brilliant, I thought. But barefoot and determined, she scrambled to the top. Here she is in all her resolute glory. This tells you a lot about Eliza’s personality. Decisive, adventurous, confident. She’ll climb it because it’s there, do it because she can. And I’m learning to trust her.
The last few rays of light hit Ali just right. A few minutes later, the sun set and the storm was upon us.
Here is “Lightning Girl” – throwing bolts into the western sky.
We made it home, changed into pajamas and watched the lightning show from Eliza’s bedroom.
Before leaving, we visited Brigham Young’s Winter Home, re-painted in the original 1871 green.
Spencer
We picked leaves, tasted figs, walked through the row of almond trees, and smiled from the wrap-around porch.
It’s always a bit of heaven when we’re together. Nothing to do but be with each other. We’re definitely overdue for some family time, but we did it – survived one more October deadline.
And we’ll be heading down south soon.
We’re coming Saint George! Keep the light on for us.
Shells
2 years ago I bought Dave the 2008 version of that camera. It was hard to spend the money, but as soon as the first pictures showed up on my computer in all their glory, the money was forgotten. Truly, Dave catches some incredible pics of our time here, and I enjoy every one of them. I even steal the camera from time to time to try my hand at it. My pictures are hit or miss, but that's OK with me.
You guys deserve a good long vacation, live it up!
kathunter
Oh yes, the almost unknown tax deadline. Unknown by anyone but the families who live through it. Glad you guys will be getting some nice family time.
Jim and Shalene
So I have to tell you Catherine…Your blog makes me want to be more optimistic. My mom forwarded your blog to me cause I was complaining about something and I read and laughed. Since us cousins don't really keep in touch I had no idea you had 5 babies. My 2 babies are nothing compared to what you have so it makes me realize 2 babies shouldn't be so hard when other's are managing 5. It's inspiring!! Looks like all you Keddingtons had a ton of fun. Maybe on year the Huffaker's will make it to Utah for some sort of reunion. It would be fun to see all of you again!
Erin
LOVE the pic of them sleeping on the pull-out. These are great pictures. I wish we could do more hiking these days…
what happened to the BOB Dualie?
Anonymous
Very enlightening and beneficial to someone whose been out of the circuit for a long time.
– Kris
catharvy
Shells – Thanks for the link to Dave's pics. They're wonderful! Not sure if Santa will be able to work it into the budget! We'll see…
Kathleen – You know the deadline all too well. You of all people can appreciate how tough it is to work those long hours. Doug is awesome. He works so hard for us. And I love him for it. So – are you missing deadlines, the work, the office? Or happy to be nesting?
Shalene – I'm so glad to find your blog. I saw wedding pictures of the big day but didn't realize you just had a new baby! Congratulations! I'm looking forward to catching up on your life. Yes – we need to get together with the Huffaker clan. It would be way fun!
Erin – BOB is still in full action but on that trip we couldn't fit it into the Odyssey with all the other gear. So we took the collapsable double. The BOB would have made a great ATV though!
KESLER KREW...Cami
luv all the pics, the cousins on the couch…classic, running girly's, the sunshine, oh the luv of the south! the retreat looks inspiring and awesome, i can't wait to hear about it! *cami
Jen
Your family is so beautiful! How great are big family reunions and small family time to connect and share. Love the pictures, I don't think you can convince me you are not a photographer!
corinne
i love st. george! what great family pics. did i spy a "force" blanket with the 3 girls sleeping? we have one of those too! 😉