Ideas that deserve more space

Every once in a while I find that I have a hodge-podge of stuff that I've been waiting to write about, but the right occasion never comes along. I usually wait for a slow week, or a time when I don't feel like doing any actual thinking, or a time when expressing the real topic on my mind would offend someone. At these times I reach into my bag of ideas and do a post on one of these preconceived themes. Unfortunately though, some of these subjects are time sensitive, and if I don't get them out soon enough then they tend to expire. This becomes difficult then, when every week in the foreseeable future has a definite theme that is more-or-less forced by the circumstances, and you have a bunch of other stuff that you want to get out there as well but it just doesn't seem to fit anywhere. As a result of this conundrum, you get a post like this- where each idea deserves much more attention than I am giving it, but where getting it down permanently becomes much more important than getting it out well. So there you go. Enjoy!

Topic One: Kids Camps

This summer has been a blast for everyone with no stops along the way. When school got out we called a family meeting and got out a calendar. We then made a bucket list of what we wanted to do, and blocked out times for the bigger items on the list that didn't lend themselves well to spontaneity. Most of these things were scheduled camps and activities for the kids, as well as family trips and special weekends. Some of these things are what I want to mention here.

The three older kids are attending Camp Ka-mee-lin for two one-week sessions. Each session has its own theme, and the camp runs from 7:00 in the morning to 6:00 at night. At the end of these days the kids are totally worn out from crafts, games, swimming, and activities, and usually come home to a quick dinner before heading off to bed. The first week is already finished, and the second will be next month while Rachel is away on a cruise. It's pretty awesome. Besides this, each of the kids have their own camps/classes that they picked out for themselves.

Jackson had his first- "Champ Camp." It was a week-long, full day camp where they played sports all day. His favorite was basketball and since finishing he has been very interested in practicing his dribble. He also got an award at the camp for "hardest worker" (everyone got individual awards) which I am not surprised at. Of all our kids, Jack is definitely the best at setting his mind to a task and then sticking with it until it is completed to his satisfaction.

Addy's camp came next- drama. This was also a week-long thing where they did singing, dancing, and acting. At the end, they did a short play that combined the tales of the three little pigs with Little Red Riding Hood. Addy played the part of Little Red and did a great job. She told me beforehand that she was nervous, but that it was okay to feel nervous because it was still fun. That sounded like something Addy would say- she seems to have gotten the "courage" gene from somewhere and is very good at throwing herself outside of her comfort zone, whether it be on the stage, in social settings, or in outdoor adventure pursuits.

Evelyn's camp is coming up next week- art. This is no surprise to anyone, and she is very excited about it. She made herself a "picture journal" the other day (I think she got the idea from Grandma and Grandpa?) and has been making drawings of the things she does. Some of these pictures will probably end up on this blog.

Topic Two: Favorite Patients (*Some details are changed to protect identities*)

One of my favorite parts about my job is meeting new people every day. Most of these people, of course, see me merely as the "tooth fixer." They come because they need a service which I happen to provide. They are friendly, and we enjoy small talk (all too often involving right-wing politics, hunting, and guns...there are some downsides to living in Idaho), but for the most part we each go our separate ways at the end of the appointment and never think about each other again.

But then there are those who form connections. This is almost inevitable, for better or for worse, when there is a lot of treatment to get done and you see the person on a weekly basis. It is also normal when you discover common interests, forming a thread of conversation that resumes each time you see the person. Either way though, bonds of friendship are often formed. These are the people I wish to mention here.

First, there is "Chris S." One day, Chris came in for an extraction and casually asked if it would be okay for him to go rock climbing the next day. My response: "As your dentist I would advise you not to- and as a climber, I would totally understand if you did." This began a long conversation that has continued each time the patient comes in.

Then there is "Stephen F." who has lived with his partner for almost forty years, but because of a certain supreme court decision was just barely able to get married last week. Two days before his wedding he had a dental emergency that I was able to take care of- I didn't charge him for it and told him to consider it a wedding gift. He cried and most of our office cried for him (happy tears), and we went away each having affected one another for the better...as it should be.

Next, there is "William S." William loves the theater and plays in minor acting roles every now and then. Because of this, we went to great lengths to make the perfect denture for him, and along the way a friendship was formed. We talk a lot about different shows and fine arts and theater groups, and he even invited Rachel and me to a VIP event where we got free tickets. He is definitely a picky patient, but the friendship we have formed has been worth the effort.

We can't forget "Emily D." of course. Emily is into books, and we often share reading suggestions. Beyond that though, we share a love of reading- of good writing, of interesting ideas, and of diverse topics.

Or "Roger B." Roger is an older gentleman who was a very good long-distance runner in his youth and understands the joy and pain of pushing one's self past the breaking point.

Or "Janis J." who was a hippie in the 60s and tells some wild stories, or "Carl S." who is a pre-med student with a passion for science, or "Martin K." who is a liberal pastor and enjoys talking philosophy. There are all sorts of people I meet, and many of them make me stop and think about how, if I were to simply pass by them at the grocery store, I would never know how unique and interesting their personalities were. And then I realize that this is the same for everyone else too- that for all the people I don't meet or talk to- that each of them probably has their own story that deserves to be told. 

And I just consider myself lucky that sometimes they choose me to tell it to and to bring into the circle of people they call friends. These relationships, to me, are probably the most rewarding part of my job.

Topic Three: Old Friends

In the past year it seems that I have connected with a lot of old friends and acquaintances, and it has been fun to catch up and see where we have all ended up since we last said our goodbyes. From mission companions to college roommates to friends in Cleveland- many have followed similar life pathways as Rachel and I- and some have not. But it is always fun to reunite.

I have often thought about what it would be like to have a crystal ball that could see into the future. I have wondered anxiously what that future holds, not only for myself, but for my kids, or siblings, or different people I have known through the years. The desire to look would be so strong. But would I? I don't know. It would be hard not to. At the same time, looking would remove the uncertainty, which couldn't help but erase much of the excitement of living life. Fortunately (I think it's fortunate), we do not have any such device. 

Coming together with people after prolonged absences seems almost like the same thing though. They were one person the last time you saw them- and now they aren't any more. They have changed and so have you. And in the moment you realize that it is almost like looking into the future from a past that can't help but remain static in your mind. And then you go about the business of learning about this new person who resembles the old just enough for there to be a common bond already formed. Maybe there is actually something to learn in that old kid song- make new friends but keep the old- one is silver and the other gold. It's true.

Us with Scott and Kate- some good friends from Cleveland. They stayed for a couple of days as they were on their way from Sacramento, California to Island Park, ID (just a small detour, right?). This picture is a breakfast we went out to before I had to go to work (that's why I'm all dressed up). It was great catching up with them.

Topic Four: Bonus Pictures. Lots of pictures.

These are just some pictures of things we have been up to lately that I haven't had time to write about:

Pictures from the annual "Body by Scotty" gathering.

These ones, as well as the next few are from the Cedar Grove we visited last weekend

"It's the climbing wall tree!"

This is how Jackson did most of the 2 mile hike. He looks like a wild child. He is a wild child.

Addy's quote "I love it out here- It's so big and beautiful and AMAZING!"

Evelyn found a wasp nest. Fortunately it was empty.

Everyone got pretty far ahead and Jackson and I had to run several hundred yards to catch up. I was genuinely impressed- this guy is a great runner!

Of course Evelyn and I had to make our fairy house. This has sort of become our thing. I like it.

These next ones are from when Rachel and Evelyn had a day long Silverwood/Boulder Beach date. Evelyn did her first inverted roller-coaster that day (The Corkscrew- which also happens to be the first looping roller coaster ever invented. Yes, we have a famous roller-coaster here. And yes, it is that old.)

The next several pictures show some of the things Rachel has been doing with the kids while I am at work:

Bowling day with Maren while the other kids are at camp. Bowling is now Maren's new favorite thing ever.

Remember all the candy they got at the parade? This is how we get rid of it quickly- the unused pieces mysteriously disappear, but the kids don't notice since they have cool gingerbread houses.

Recycle Man- the official mascot for the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team. Yeah- it's a thing here.The women fawn over him. It's weird. 

Science experiments. This is how the kids leaned what eggs are for in recipes (and how to design a blind controlled experiment).

And finally, the poster for the amazing production Rachel and I recently saw for Singin' in the Rain. Wow. This is just a fun show, with amazing music and even more amazing dancing. I think I smiled through the entire thing- especially when there was a real rainstorm on stage (followed, for good reason I'm sure, by the intermission). It was absolutely perfect.

Summer Festivities

One of the things I love most about summer is the various different festivals that are held in the small communities around here. Here is a sampling of the things we have been up to in recent weeks:

These pictures are of the Schweitzer summer festival we went to. The kids' favorite part was the ski lift ride to the top of the mountain where we hiked around a little before coming back down. In the last picture you can see how tired the kids were afterwards (you can also see Jack's interesting sense of style). It was definitely a good day.

This is the only picture we have of the 4th of July festival and parade. I think Lindsey does a pretty good job representing the family though- she sure is a cute little girl. Also, I really, really enjoyed the parade this year. Here you have a bunch of different groups walking down the street and showing off what it means to them to be an American- and they were all proud of that. I thought this was significant because on a day to day basis many of these groups disagree strongly about what exactly America should be, let alone what it actually means to be "patriotic." But here, for a few brief hours, the entire community was able to forget differences for just a little while and appreciate (even celebrate) the fact that we live in a country where such differences of opinion can exist. It was great.

Also, I love that we live in a place where this is a thing. On May 6th an article was published in the newspaper with these opening words:

“K27 Central your status?"

The simple phrase was issued from a police dispatcher to a Coeur d'Alene officer, asking how they were doing. Only this time, the call would go unanswered..."

On a relatively routine day, during a relatively routine check of a suspicious person, Sergeant Greg Moore, badge number K27, was shot and killed. For months now, this tragic event has totally rocked our community, and the people of Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene have come together to grieve in a way that I have never seen before. Now, I realize that things like this, and much worse things for that matter, happen all the time. But not here. Not in our quiet little corner of the world. Everywhere you go now you see this officer's number, K27, shown as a display of community solidarity on bumper stickers, church and business marquees, hanging from construction sites, and painted on home windows. And everyone knows what it means.

Like I said, I love that we live in a place where this is a thing. Where events like this aren't just forgotten as yesterday's news. Where people know each other, and celebrate things together, and cry together. I think it's neat.

These are some fun ones. This was the Post Falls Days Parade and Festival. In the top picture the kids are showing off their massive haul of candy from the parade. The next few are from the annual neighborhood hot dog party after the parade, and then from the annual big-wheel competition that takes place at the local park, surrounded by food vendors, craft booths, musicians, and entertainers. If you look carefully you can see the ribbon that Addy got for winning her heat hanging on her handlebar.

So far, I'd say it's turning out to be a great summer!

Addy

This sweet girl is Adalie. I interviewed her last night. Here is what she had to say:

Me: What is your favorite thing to do?
A: Sing and Dance
Me: Really?! Are you excited for your acting class that is coming up?
A: Yeah, but I'm also a little bit scared.
Me: That's okay. I get scared sometimes too. Do you think it will be fun even though it's a little bit scary?
A: Yep. It's going to be awesome!
Me: Cool. So...I was just wondering, what is your favorite food?
A: Cheesicks
Me: Cheez-Its?
A: Yeah, cheesicks. They're the best. They're also grandpa's favorite food.
Me: I see. Have you thought about what you want to do when you grow up?
A: I want to be an inventor!
Me: What things are you going to invent?
A: A medicine that fixes cancer, and wings that people can put on to make them fly. I'm also going to make a necklace that makes wishes come true.
Me: That would be good. I especially like the necklace.
A: I'm also going to be a ballerina dancer.
Me: Can I come watch you dance.
A: Yep.
Me: Good. I would love to watch you dance. So...one more question. What is the most beautiful thing you can think of?
A: A "uni-kwan" (unicorn) with rainbow hair that can fly
Me: Wow- you answered that question pretty fast. Have you thought about that before?
A: No. Unicorns are my favorite animal though, and I want to know how to fly.
Me: Oh. That makes sense. Well, thanks for letting me ask you questions.
A: You're welcome.

As you can see, Addy is sweet and thoughtful and imaginative. I love having her as a part of our family.

Vacation at Grandma and Grandpa's House!

As mentioned in the last blog post, I requested that my parents make a guest appearance on here to describe their week with the kids while Rachel and I were off on vacation. My mom obliged, and this is what she has to say:

______________________________________________

Grandpa and I were asked to baby-sit the kids while Logan and Rachel took their amazing anniversary trip. We were so excited to see them and planned lots of fun things to do while they were here. Unfortunately, Grandpa was out of town for the first couple of days, but we still had lots of fun until he got back.

On Friday, June 19th, Rachel and I coordinated with each other for us to pick up the kids. I drove towards her and she drove towards me and we ended up somewhere between Missoula and Butte and met each other at mile marker 171. I pulled off the road onto a side road and there they were! When I went over to their car the kids were so excited to see me and I was so happy to see them! We loaded all the car seats, luggage, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, life jackets, suitcases, and finally, kids into my van, had a final kiss for each of them from Rachel, and we were off! It was a long 4 hours back (with a very active stop at McDonald's for a potty break and dinner), but we sang songs and told stories and before we knew it we were at our house. Allison and Clayson literally pulled in right behind us, and the fun began!

On Saturday we got up and ate breakfast and then discovered the magic of The Hourglass. I had bought a large hourglass for decoration, but we found that when we played the "Beat the Hourglass" game, things got done fast! In no time at all the kids were dressed and ready for the day. Clayson had never been to Bear World so we just had to take him. We were one of the first people through the gates and enjoyed seeing all the mountain goats, buffalo, deer, elk, wolves, and of course, bears! After that we got out of the car and went to the petting zoo and fed the fish. We stopped in the room with the animal hides that the kids could feel and I think Addy would have taken the grizzly bear hide home if we'd let her. She just couldn't stop petting it! Of course, the rides are always the best part of Bear World (how ironic is that?) and since there were hardly any other people there the kids had a ball going from ride to ride, again and again! We finally left the rides and did one more pass through the park before we went home. This time the "teenage" bears were all playing in the water and one of them was chasing all the other ones around. The best part was when he was chasing another bear and then switched directions and jumped into the water with a giant splash!

We all enjoyed our time with Allison and Clayson. Clayson was always playing with the kids and Allison was the perfect hairstylist and book reader. On Sunday everyone walked to church with them while I finally got myself ready. It was great having them here! That night we all went to our friend Amy's house and tried out her zip line. The kids were scared at first, but they quickly caught on and did it by themselves. They loved that zip line! Allison and Clayson had to go home that night. We were so glad they had come!

Grandpa finally came home on Monday! We made a big welcome home banner and put it on the garage door. After lunch we all went to Rexburg Rapids! It was a hot day and the kids loved playing in the water. They just played and played and played! The Lazy River was everyone's favorite and some of us tried NOT to get splashed by the moose, while others tried to get splashed on purpose. We all came home tired and a little sunburned.

On Tuesday we went to the library. We missed the lesson they had on robots, but Iron Man was there and we got to make an Iron Man craft. Then we went and played on their computers and played with their toys. Everyone got to check out one book. We looked at the giant fish they have in a tank by the door. After that we went to the park for lunch. The kids ate and played on the toys. When Grandpa came home from work he took everyone to Mesa Falls while I stayed home with Lindsey. We both really needed naps! Everyone had a great time at Mesa Falls. They got to feed the big fish at Warm River and stopped for ice cream at Dave's on the way home.

Wednesday was jam day. I had promised Evelyn that we could make raspberry jam from our raspberries. We both put on our aprons and measured out all the ingredients we would need. Maren thought she wanted to help too, but she was kind of in and out the whole time. We learned that making jam is a long process and requires a LOT of stirring! Everyone had a turn stirring at one time or another, so we could say that everyone helped make the jam. When it was done we put it in the window sill to set up and the next morning we had pancakes with homemade raspberry jam. Yummm!

When Grandpa got home from work that afternoon we went to the splash park and the carousel. We have taken the kids there before, but this time everyone was a little older and they all just disappeared into the crowd once we got there. They all had fun playing in the water, and even LIndsey liked it. She would go right up to the spouting water and splash in it. The carousel is always a hit and everyone had their favorite horses. We rode on it twice and the second time we could hardly get them off! Of course, the carousel also means cotton candy. We were all good and sticky by the time we went home.

That night we had a hot dog roast in the backyard and roasted marshmallows. The kids thought of a million different things to do with the apple tree while they were here. Whenever we weren't off doing something they were always in the backyard being creative.

The next day Grandpa didn't have to go to work for very long so we had more time with him. We introduced the kids to Jamba Juice and we each got their own smoothie. Addy and Jack both had Strawberries Wild and Maren and Evelyn both wanted one with pineapple in it (but I can't remember the name). I had Caribbean Passion, but the one we all remember is that Grandpa had Razmatazz! After we got the smoothies we drove to the start of a trail that led to the The Dollar Store. We parked the car in a shady spot and started the hot walk down the path. Luckily, the smoothies kept us cool! We had lots of fun walking and talking, and Grandpa kept finding all different reasons to say, "RAZMATAZZ!!" He taught us all how to say it with a flair and it became the word of the day. We saw trains and Rexburg Rapids (from the outside) and had stick races on the bridge. We had fast walkers and slow walkers, but we all finally made it to The Dollar Store right as our smoothies were being finished up. Once inside the store everyone got to pick one thing. It was an easy pick for Maren. The mermaid doll was the only thing she even saw! Evelyn looked and looked. Jack picked some swimming goggles for when they go to the lake. Addy couldn't decide for a long time, but finally picked a big picture of Disney Princesses that she could color and hang on her wall. Evelyn finally decided on a bigger version of the same mermaid doll Maren had picked. Each one was very happy with their choices and we had a fun walk back to the car talking about their new treasures.

That night Courtney came to join in the fun! She got here just in time for our big day in Yellowstone the next day.
We got up, beat the hourglass to get ready, and headed off to Yellowstone. Once there, we had a picnic in West Yellowstone before heading in to the park. We drove until we found a whole bunch of "smoke" and then got out and walked around to see the hot pools and mud pots and geysers. The kids were fascinated and we learned about what makes the water so hot. It was a very hot day so we moved quickly. The next stop was Old Faithful. The kids played in a big grove of shady trees while we waited for Old Faithful to go off. When it was over we went and got ice cream at the lodge, which was clearly the best part of that hot day!

We finished that fun day with a stop at the Grizzly and Wolf Center in West Yellowstone. They have a lot of information about bears and wolves inside, and a big open bear habitat outside that allows visitors to see bears up close in a place as close as they could get to their natural surroundings. They have a program called "Keeper Kids" that lets kids go hide fruits and vegetables under the rocks and branches in the habitat while the bears are gone, and then they release them to come out to eat. We signed Evelyn, Jack, and Addy up and they got to learn about bears a bit before getting a bucket of food to go hide. They did a good job hiding their carrots and apples in places for the bears to find. Then they came out and they let the bears back in. It was fun to watch as the bears found the food the kids had hidden.

That night we tucked the kids in bed one last time. The next morning we got them all up and put them in their car seats at 6:00 am. This time Grandpa was there too and we headed back towards Logan and Rachel, who were driving towards us. When we met in the middle it was a sad time having to say good-bye. We had so much fun with them all. I hope they will always remember the fun time they had at our house, because we sure will. We love those guys!