We're going full steam into our summer. There is a lot that has happened since the last post, so hang on for some great photos and we'll take things in chronological order:

Boating Adventures

In our last post we mentioned that we had purchased a boat. It's a bit more boat than we originally had in mind, but it can fit our large family along with some friends for some time to come. Because of everything else that has been going on, we haven't been out on the water a whole lot since we brought it home. The times we have though, have taught us some important lessons. Namely, that we have a lot to learn.

From launching and loading from a trailer, to "kid management" while underway, to actually getting moving on the water in the first place, we have definitely run into our share of excitement. Fortunately, nobody has been hurt in the process, and we haven't broken anything expensive yet. We have made a lot of mistakes, hopefully learning in the process, and we have had a lot of fun. I think that our standing Wednesday night climbing dates are going to turn into Wednesday night figure-out-the-boat dates.

Just to give you an idea- here is our first time out:

1) Drive to boat launch
2) Block the entire road and parking lot while we figure out how to get our trailer oriented correctly
3) Nearly drop the boat off the trailer before it gets to the water
4) Serpentine the trailer down the ramp
5) Kids are crazy!
6) How do you turn this thing on?
7) Ahh- there is a secret button. It's labeled "on." Now the key will work.
8) Kids are crazy!
9) Now it's on- how do you get it to actually go forward?
10) It's not going forward!!!
11) Is that rain I feel?
12) Oh- we need to let it warm up. There we go.
13) Wait- was that lightening?
14) Kids are crazy!
15) It's raining pretty hard now, lightening is everywhere, and we haven't even left the dock yet.
16) I guess we're headed home
17) Load boat onto trailer- this part actually went pretty smoothly.
18) Isn't the engine supposed to be up out of the way when we drive?

19) Why isn't the engine going up?

20) Will you kids please stop yelling?!!!

21) Oh- there's a secret button for the engine when you put it on the trailer. It's labeled "trailer."
22) We need to plan better next time.

At least we had a good family night lesson. The soundtrack? Shakira:

I messed up tonight, I lost another fight

I still mess up but I'll just start again

I keep falling down, I keep hitting the ground

I always get up now to see what's next

Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up

Nobody learns without getting it wrong

I won't give up, no I won't give in

'till I reach the end

And then I'll start again

No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail.

Getting ready to lead the boat back onto the trailer

At least the storm gave us a spectacular sunset that night. I love this place.

*****

Las Vegas

Every year of our marriage, Rachel and I have been lucky enough to do one big "us" getaway. This is largely due to my parent's willingness to take on our kids (who can be crazy) while we go and relax. This service is very much appreciated and definitely not taken for granted. It is also one which has probably kept Rachel and I out of institutionalized care- whether that means a prison or a hospital depends on the day you ask. Because of these little trips though, we get a chance to rejuvenate and put things in perspective. So here's a big shout out to my mom and dad. Though we've said it in person several times, it cannot be emphasized enough- THANK YOU.

This year, our destination was Las Vegas. Here, I'll let the pictures do most of the talking:

Twice, we got out to Red Rocks- an amazing rock climbing destination. The heat of summer keeps most people away in the summer time (on the hottest day, our car said it was 123 degrees). We are hard core though, and getting up before the sun made it possible to enjoy a couple of mornings in this breathtaking place. The first day we did a lot of sport climbing, and the second we did a little longer multi-pitch route. We did, I hate to admit, have to come down a little early when the rock became too hot to touch and we could see the rubber on our shoes melting. Seriously.

We went and saw Cirque du Soleil perform "O." Pure acrobatic and theatrical eye candy. Pretty stunning.

Lots of walking on the Las Vegas strip. Some of our favorite places were the gardens in the Bellagio, the hamburgers an Planet Hollywood (which I promise are world famous), and the Aria hotel and casino with all its modern art. Vegas has some pretty cool stuff.

Not a great picture, but it proves we were there

One night we went to the "Worlds Greatest Rock Show," which had a lineup of some great cover bands for various rock icons through the ages. Each band went out of their way to reproduce not only the music, but the costumes, stage effects, and on-stages movements of the actual bands, and with a little imagination it was easy to pretend that you had gone back in time by about 45 years.

The Mob Museum was actually really cool. We went there to kinda kill time one morning. We ended up spending 4 hours, and only left because we had to be somewhere else.

We did a comedy show where Rachel got picked on more than she deserved. She was a good sport though.

With Marissa and Wesley, we went to an "escape room." I think that's what it's called. I'll admit, I was skeptical at first, but it was honestly one of the coolest things we did. Secret passages, ingenious puzzles, and creative props made the experience very worthwhile. The company was also pretty good :). 

All told, Las Vegas was a really good, really hot, but really relaxing time for us to enjoy life without children for a little while. What a great trip.

*****

Lindsey's Birthday

As much fun as it was to be on our own for a while in Vegas, I was actually pretty excited to see our kids when we got back. In case anyone hadn't noticed, five kids is a lot. Readers of this blog probably know that it gets crazy sometimes. And our little escapes are definitely needed from time to time. The other side of the coin though, is that having five kids is actually really, really rewarding. I love our little (big) family more than anything, and I love the things we do together. We have a ton of traditions and little quirks that we know about each other and we have a lot of fun doing things as a family. I'll admit, I am tempted sometimes to indulge in thoughts about what a DINK sort of lifestyle might have meant for Rachel and me, but being away for a while never ceases to confirm the truth that I wouldn't trade what I have for the world. It's a pretty awesome life.

As eager as I was to see each of our kids again, Lindsey was the one that I was really excited for. And she did not disappoint. As soon as we walked in the door, she ran up to us (dressed as a lion) and me gave the biggest little hugs that she could (all the while, giving me her trademark pat on the back). Then she stepped back, struck a pose, and managed to exclaim through giggles "I'm THREE!!!"

Yep, our little Lindsey girl is 3. She is not my baby any more.

As a matter of coincidence, some family friends that live down the street from my parents were also celebrating birthdays that day, and they invited us to take part in the festivities. They even got a cake for Lindsey. It was so much fun.

Here's Lindsey by her cake

Rach was a little embarassed when I took all my clothes off and started flexing for people. 

Here's Jack. The three oldest kids (but especially Jack) spent almost the whole time going up and down the climbing wall.

Maren spent the whole time on the carousel. I think she rode it about 15 times. I'm not exaggerating.

Independence Day

I really like Independence Day. I don't know if I'm "patriotic" or not- that word means lots of different things, depending on who you are, and some popular versions of it really turn me off. At the same time, I genuinely love my country. It's diversity of landscapes and cultures is beautiful to me, and I appreciate that people, including me, generally have more control over their own lives than they would in many other places in the world. 

I also like Independence Day though, because of the community atmosphere. I like that people meet around barbecues for good food, or street corners for parades, or front yards for fireworks. I like that people tend to forget about their differences for a while, including those about what "patriotic" actually looks like. It's a good day.

This year, we went to a party at a friend's lake house for the entire afternoon. There isn't much more to say- there was boating, food, beverages, sand, lots of kids, lots of people, and a nice way to relax after a long vacation.

Have a good week!

What a week!

Family Reunion
It's been a long time since we were able to attend the Hazard Family Reunion. I'm not talking about me and my siblings here- I'm talking about the BIG Hazard family- my dad and his parents and siblings and all my cousins and their kids and everything. Some of my greatest memories growing up revolve around these reunions- river trips, beach camps, cabin stays- it was never just a "get together." Nope. With us, it's either "go big, or go home." This year did not disappoint.

My grandparents stayed in a cabin. The rest of us took over a camp site and made ourselves at home.

Marshmallow goodness

Of course, we didn't just stay at the camp site. Rather, we used it as a base to do a bunch of other stuff.

Hiking

Rafting/kayaking

And of course, the annual wiffle ball competition. This year, the game took place in the water, where we also did a lot of Jeeping, beaching, and sand-duning (are those real words?)

Camp
When we got home, Maren and Lindsey had day camp every day of the week. We have booked ourselves pretty solid this summer, and the kids are involved in a lot of camps and stuff over the next several months. This is only the first of many. They made tons of neat crafts, and both kids were excited to see me at the end of the day and tell me all about their activities. I think they had a good time.

Strawberries
Addy went to a strawberry farm with some friends and brought home a huge box of strawberries. What to do with them? Mom- be expecting a call so I can get the recipe for that amazing freezer jam you make!

Boat
Living in this area, it was only a matter of time before we would get a boat. Well, that day finally came. All the pieces fell into place, and we are now the proud new owners of a big boat that neither of us knows how to operate. Now we are outfitting it with all the toys (skis, wake-boards, fishing stuff, etc.). We aren't entirely sure what we are doing, but we're having a good time figuring it out. It should be a fun summer on the water!

Kind of a dark picture by the lake. My car is a beast, by the way. 7400 pounds of towing and seating for 8, all in a package that is smaller than a mini-van. Boom!

Outdoor seating for the whole family

And indoor seating as well. It's actually pretty roomy, if you can get everyone to sit down. It also folds down to a king sized bed for boat camping. Hmm...anyone want to babysit five wonderful children overnight?

Climbing
This isn't really specific to this week, but I just want to record that I absolutely love our ongoing Wednesday night climbing date. I get home from work and play with the kids- hang out, eat dinner, read books, etc. Then, a babysitter comes right around bedtime and Rachel and I head for the local crags. We can usually get an hour and a half to two hours of climbing before retiring to our favorite local restaurant for appetizers (The Oval Office) where we top of the night. It's a wonderful weekly tradition for this year.

Silverwood
Rachel and Evelyn went to Silverwood theme park and had a wonderful time. Hooray for Summer!

Growing up, I often had the thought that I could live perfectly happily, all on my own, in a cabin up in the mountains somewhere. Books like "My Side of the Mountain," "Walden," "Desert Solitaire," or "Into the Wild" held a special sort of romantic appeal to me, and I could easily picture myself following in the footsteps of their protagonists (except for the part where Chris dies...In my imagination I never die). In short, I have always been fairly comfortable with nothing but a stack of books and my own thoughts to keep me company. Not that I dislike more social interaction...I've just never really gone out of my way to seek it out.

And that's where Rachel enters the picture. Because of her, I now question all these youthful fantasies of solitude. And it's not just because I want her to be there with me (which, of course, I would). More than this though, Rachel has introduced me into a world where friends come easily, and activities are made more enjoyable by the presence of others. From backyard cook-outs to game nights to going out on the town, I find myself more outgoing and social now than my twenty-year-old self would ever have believed. And I like it.

Oh, I still allow myself the occasional daydream of a quiet, lonely life. There is still some romance to the idea that I just can't shake. In the versions now though, we live closer to a big city (where alienation is, perhaps, easier than ever), Rachel is there to help pass the time, and we find ample excuses to escape our self-imposed isolation.

*****

With that introduction, I want to put a plug in for Rachel's new Facebook group that she has started. Everywhere we have gone, she has either joined, or initiated groups like this, and I have to say that they have added a dimension to my own life that I would probably miss. This week we hosted the second meet-up of the group in our own back-yard, and with the beautiful summer weather, it's easy to "let the good times roll."

There were actually a LOT more kids running around than this picture would imply

*****

Later in the weekend, Jackson and I had a fun time hanging out at Silverwood theme park. The three older kids get free passes for reading in school, making it easy for Rachel and I to grapple some one-on-one time away from our busy lives.

I'll tell you what- this kid is a maniac! As soon as we got in the park he sprinted to the biggest, fastest rides that he was allowed to do. Hooray for roller coasters!

Taking a break on the Ferris wheel. Look at the beautiful sky- it was a perfect day

About halfway through the day we changed into our swimming suits and headed for the water park. These slides were by far our favorites, and we raced down them over and over again.

And of course, my favorite part. Dinner and a magic show. It never disappoints.

Have a good week!

He is winking. It looks like he has a bug in his eye though. He's a cool kid.

On Turning Ten
Billy Collins

The whole idea of it makes me feel like I'm coming down with something,
something worse than any stomach ache
or the headaches I get from reading in bad light--
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche,
a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.

But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I could shine.
But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life,
I skin my knees. 
I bleed.

This poem has been coming back to me time and time again lately. I'm not sure when I first came across it. Maybe a year ago...ish...in a literature class I was in? I'm not sure. But something about it has managed to lodge itself in my mind, like a catchy song almost, and it just won't let go.

Maybe it seems so relevant because I have noticed in recent years that my voice has changed. 

No, not that voice. Those awkward years are far behind me. 

The voice I am thinking of is the one that shows through in my journals, or my blog. It reminds me of the author E.B. White- one of my childhood favorites. And although Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little are fun to read, the story that first comes to mind when I think of this author is "The Door," a short piece I first encountered in 2004. What is so striking about "The Door" is how different it is from his classic children's books. It's more serious. Introspective. Timeworn.

How is it that the same man can, at once, describe a world full of magical talking animals where everyone lives happily ever after, and then turn again to write of animals driven to insanity by the absurdity of life itself? Furthermore, which of these two worlds is a better representation of his reality? Could it be both? What drove him to write one or the other?

I don't know these answers. What I do know is that somehow he was able to write eloquently from both perspectives, and in such articulate terms that he must, somewhere in his being, have been aware of the paradox he presented to his readers.

...And now I am rambling and I don't really know where I'm going with this. I'm going to let it stay though, and maybe sort it all out a few years down the road.

Also, I realize I am no E.B. White or Billy Collins with my writing. I also realize that my tone, as of late, has been more serious. I'm not as playful as I once was. I don't make myself laugh as much. And I'm really not sure why. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing...just an observation.

Maybe I'm in a "ten-year-old" stage of life right now.

*****

Well, that was a somber beginning to a blog, wasn't it? Sorry 'bout that.

Actually, this week I did feel a little bit like a ten-year-old again (a real ten-year-old). On Friday, sort of on a whim, we decided to go camping. I got home from work and Rachel had the car packed and ready. 

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Camping"

"Any idea where"

"The mountains"

"Okay"

So we drove to the mountains, not really sure of our destination, but confident that things would work out.

We ended up stumbling upon a splendid campground that we hadn't known about before. It was a lot of fun. The best part for me was the early-morning fairy hunt I went on in the forest with the three oldest kids. The second best part was Lindsey falling asleep by herself. It was a great weekend.

Woodland royalty

Maren's "caterpillar plant" 

This thing looks like coral. BTW, Evelyn has taken to calling me "fun guy," because that's what you call a dad who finds cool looking mushrooms with his kids. Get it?

This is what the ground looked like everywhere except for at the camp site- a perfect carpet of moss. It was pretty neat.

Success!

Here's a few other notable events from our week:

I went on a date with Lindsey. She's getting so big! Also, she is nearly potty trained. That means that after nine-and-a-half years, we will finally be a diaper-free household. Woo-hoo!

Maren officially "graduated" from Pre-School. She is sad about not being able to go anymore. She's been going here for two years and will be the first to tell you how much she'll miss her friends and teachers. At the same time, she really excited about kindergarten. 

Remember this car? We still have it. At least we did until today. Last night, Rachel and I spent hours cleaning it out, and today Rach worked some sort of magic and sold it at a profit. I promise the transaction was honest.

Evelyn got to sing at church (blue dress, front and center). I am also in the picture with the electric guitar. She did an awesome job.

Have a good week!

A brief sketch of our week: Two separate backyard BBQ shindigs hosted at our house, a family bike ride on the Hiawatha trail, and a rock climbing trip with Addy, Jackson, and their friend Lizzy. Meanwhile, the kids are putting the final touches on their school year with field days, presentations, and parties. Rach and I went climbing for our mid-week date, and then had hors d'oeuvres on the patio of one of our favorite little restaurants. I went on some long bike rides and am playing in the band this weekend. Rachel started a new meet-up group and they had their first "event" earlier today. Lindsey is almost potty trained, and her "monster potty" is her new best friend. Summer is definitely here, and we're lovin' it.

Here's some pictures:

Climbing with my best friend

Exploring in the woods

Maren's pre-school. She in in the turquoise shirt, third from the left.

Lindsey's "monster potty"

The potty sometimes ends up places it shouldn't...like in the middle of our party. How charming.

The beginning of the ride. This is one of my favorite trails ever. It starts out with a tunnel that is a mile and a half long, and then just gets better from their. Do yourselves a favor and look up the Hiawatha Trail on Google- it's pretty spectacular.

One of the many bridges

Notice that she has only one shoe. The other one is 250 feet down at the bottom of the trestle. She's a little too proud of herself. Don't worry- I got it.