The A/C and Me

What? A post about air conditioning? Well I must admit, I L.O.V.E. A/C and am not sure how well I'd cope without out it. We HAVE had to live without it, for a few days here and there in past years, as our air conditioner would freeze up, and we'd have to turn it off for hours. 

Even when the A/C was working, the West side of the house (the kitchen/family room) was always hot. With the evening sun pounding on the many windows, and not enough vents in that area, the A/C just couldn't keep up. As it attempted, our bedroom (on the East side) would get pretty chilly ... which was actually okay with me, especially at night (I like to cuddle in my blankets). 

I remember being pregnant with one of the boys (probably Cooper) when the A/C wasn't working. Gray came home from work to find me outside sitting in a small patch of shade, looking miserable. He went out and bought a portable air conditioner and set it up in our room, so at least there was ONE place to escape the heat in the house.

That portable air conditioner moved out into the family room when the house one was back up and running. Just a little extra push in that area. The kids would often come in from outside and stand right in front of the machine. After several years of use and abuse, we replaced it with another portable unit.

A couple years ago ... we replaced the house unit and had additional vents placed in the kitchen and family room area. It's been pretty effective. The only drawback was now our bedroom doesn't turn into an ice box ... it's one of the warmer rooms now. I have to turn the thermostat way down to get our room cool. Mornings (as the sun comes up and hits the house are the worst. I like our Nest thermostat, so I can adjust it from my bed without getting up).

Keaton's new bedroom (also on the East side) suffers from the morning sun too. It's HOT on summer mornings! With the portable A/C not in use in the family room, we went ahead and set it up in Keaton's room. He had to move things around to make it work, but we actually like the new arrangement better.

Now the boy is jumping for joy in his COOL room ...

Cousin Camp Out 2016

This Blackham Bunch had a backyard cousin campout last year, and had to get one in this year too. Just under the wire before school started back up (so we can call it part of "summer" fun). Tents and air mattresses. Grayson even took the hammock and lounge chair. The projector of course, as a "movie" is part of the process.  Look how cute Amare and Sammy are snuggled in the sleeping bag with Keaton! The kids were writing to Landon during this time, so here are their recaps:

Colton: So on our campout to Maga's house, it took me hours to fall asleep. It was still really fun though. Addie, Will Aiden and I kept trying to balance and walk around her garden. I got the most in a row at 5. I almost got 6 in a row. The movie we watched there was, "The Angry Birds Movie." In the morning, we were going to have breakfast at a little place by the prison. Right when we got there, we found out that it was closed on Saturdays. So we ended up just going to McDonalds.

Cooper: we had the backyard campout at Maga's. A lot of Pokemon had spawned there, but I had no Poke Balls, so that blew. The movie we watched was the Angry Birds Movie. It was a great movie, and had a lot of funny moments. Then it was time to sleep, but I did not want to sleep in the tents. So I slept on a recliner under the stars. It was kind of cold, but it was also very comfortable. But the things was that I wasn't used to sleeping that way. So I woke up multiple times in the night.

Keaton: We had a backyard campout at Maga's 2 nights ago and it was way fun! It's become pretty obvious that I've officially taken over your position of occupying the little ones (Amare and Sam are with me all the time lqtm). I just slept on the ground in a sleeping bag without a tent. In the morning, we were planning on having breakfast at a cafe near the prison where some in-mates are working, but it was closed on Saturdays, so we just got Micky D's. Everyone, except me, was really scared about going. I wanted to go though because I thought it would be cool.

Callahan had the night off work (had an 8:00-4:00 shift) and sounded like he would go join the cousin campout ... but he came home and fell asleep. I poked my head in at 6:00 when Daddy and the boys were leaving to see if he'd join them then. Then again at 7:00, and 8:00 .... then I gave up. That boy is a sleepy boy.

Callahan's Crossing (Trek Time)

All packed ... no, Oreo didn't go.

The stake participates in a pioneer trek every few years. Grayson had gone on two here, once when he was in the Young Men's Presidency, and once while in the bishopric (also once when he was 14 years old back in the Cottonwood stake). Landon went a few years ago. Now ... it was Callahan's turn (Keaton was also eligible but didn't feel the pull and we didn't force him). Cal made the run to DI to grab some clothes (boys are so much easier than girls to outfit!), we gathered the gear ... and of COURSE the old "stinky pete" hat that Gray and Landon had worn. It's fourth time going out. 

Callahan and Travis

Tuesday morning, July 26, we were up early and to the church by 6 a.m.  Then they were off.  The trek historian posted pictures and their progress as internet access would allow. This trek was to Martin's Cove. They did some walking Tuesday, with square dancing in the evening. Callahan said the dancing was fun, and was his favorite part!

A little dancing to end the first day ...

 As they are put into families (Callahan was in #12 - Brother Hansen in our ward was with him), Callahan mentioned how quickly everyone got to know each other, and how they really did become family. 

Jordan Oaks Stake

Serious shot

Silly shot

Of course, being the pedometer person that I am, I made sure his Fitbit was running and ready for the trek. He is using the Zip currently, which was perfect for this, as it has a replaceable battery that lasts longer than the rechargable ones (my Charge wouldn't make it four days). One Wednesday, he got 26,651 steps. Thursday was the BIG day, with 44,687. Back on busses on Friday for the return home (synced the Fitbit, and while Callahan came close, he didn't quite pass me on my Fitbit friends list). 

Welcome back Callahan! He wore his old basketball shoes, and said they worked perfectly. No blisters. He does have a nasty looking toe (ingrown?) that we will be keeping an eye on (I remember we got Landon's toes fixed a few months before his trek, but I hadn't been aware of Cal having any issues until now). I'd had to do most of his packing (as he was working a lot before leaving) and he hadn't realized I'd put a set of scriptures in his bucket, so he stuck a set in his duffle ... so he had two. He also didn't notice the spray bottle (for cooling off) until the last day. I packed sunscreen, but he didn't use any. His nose and hands got pretty toasted!

Upon his return, he took a shower, then went to Costco to grab some dried mangos they'd had on the trail. He was craving them! Then he and Keaton went and played basketball for a couple hours. Back to the usual routine!

Father's Day 2016

 Father's Day ...

It's also the annual Westra gathering at Scott and Amy's house. This year ... sans Scott and Amy, who were in Switzerland for a work trip! Their kids stepped up and hosted though. I also thought we'd be missing the Blackham bunch, as it was the scheduled Seattle vacation. But Grayson decided to pull the plug on it as his Meniere's has been acting up, and he's had so much pinched nerve pain. I was pretty happy to have him around on Father's Day though. I would have missed him tons!

As we headed to the party, Grayson pulled out a slack line kit. He had purchased it months ago (maybe even a year or two?) and we'd never gotten around to putting it up. There were two trees in the backyard that were perfect. It was a hit with the kids!

It was fun to visit ... Shane and Alicia were even in town from California, and Jensens had made the trip (they usually do, but not always). So other than our missing missionaries, Callahan working, Mckenna and Spencer back East ... and of course Scott and Amy, we had a pretty full house.

 There was some frog kissing 

(okay, it's a toad from under the tramp).

... and some baby throwing.

(There MAY have been some photoshopping of this photo). 

So happy Father's Day to THIS guy!

I can't believe I didn't take pictures of HIM on the big day. He'd bought himself a smoker, and was getting the bacon ready, so no breakfast in bed for him today. Keaton did step up and make the waffles (usually Grayson's job). See that HUGE wood cutting board? That's what I got him for Father's Day (after he sent me a link to it in an email earlier). I did good didn't I? He's pretty happy every time he uses it ... which is pretty dang often!  It's true. Gray started smoking!

End of the Year Assemblies and Awards

The end of the school year has been wrapping up. I'm SO glad the littles are on a traditional schedule with the older boys, and that we don't have another month of school for them. Colton FINALLY unloaded his backpack and I glanced through all the papers. Oops ... a notice that he was receiving the Principal's Pride award, the date had passed. Colton had never told me about it. I asked him if he was sad when I wasn't there and he said "No, I didn't want to get my picture taken".  Cooper however cares, and always lets me know when he is receiving an award. He did get the Principal's Pride a couple months ago. I did make it to that one ... and took a picture.

There were award assemblies for the end of the year  ...

Colton has always excelled at math, and won the Master of Math Facts award. The fourth grade also participates in the Presidential Fitness Program. Colton got the silver there, he was a bit bummed about not getting the gold, but didn't quite have the flexibility on the v-sit (which also knocked Cooper out of contention back when he was in 4th grade). In every other category, Colton had the high score for the class.

Cooper received the Academic Excellence award, 

and also a certificate for finishing the 40 book challenge. 

Keaton received the Presidential Academic Award (4.0s every quarter) 

and an athletic award (only given to one boy in the entire school). 

Of course, there was the end of the year program too. Cooper didn't have one this year, but Colton did. It was almost identical to the 4th grade program Cooper did (see clips here). Most of the songs had a familiar ring (with a Utah theme).  Colton doesn't love singing and performing, but I thought someday he might like to look back and remember, so here's some clips ...

https://youtu.be/M7Ijg0Fw9wQ

... and I never got around to posting (here anyway ... I did on my JenB'sJourney blog) about Grandparents Day at the school back in March. My folks were able to come out and eat with Cooper and Colton. I come too, to say hi to my folks, the kids, and take the annual picture! 

Grandparent's Lunch 2016

Check out my Throwback Thursday Grandparent's Lunch on my other blog where I showcase all the pictures from the past several years. I can't believe that next year I'll only have ONE in elementary.

May Memories - 2016

May was memorable ... ducks played a huge part! But there was quite a bit of family stuff and basketball of course.  Hubs had several derbies, but Meniere's and pinched nerve problems continued to really make things difficult and miserable this month. School is slowing down and almost out ... that will certainly shift up schedules. Here comes summer!

• Family: K&J were in town (they'd come in for Pammy's Party) so we had all the Blackhams over for a Sunday breakfast. That same day there was a Westra "Cookies and Cousins" in the evening. Visits to both moms for Mother's Day, and we got "the call" from our missionary. Hubs/Maga and the littles hit several cemeteries for Memorial Day. An impromptu BBQ for my dad's birthday. We went to Maga's to see the new kittens.
• Basketball: While not quite as many games as last month, there was still plenty of play going on. Happy to have Colton finish up the TwoxTuesday league, and Maga came out to see Cal play. A meeting for summer plans. 
• School: Shakespeare Day at school, a field trip for Coop (I don't have anything in my notes as to where they went), a "Fun Run" at the elementary for the littles (and then Keaton did the neighborhood 5k, even in the rain). Colton had his end of year program.
• Six Derbies
• Dinner & a Movie: We had a family Tepanyaki run, and Red Robin for Mother's Day.  Hubs picked up some Marco's Pizza after Keaton/Colton had it with friends and raved about it ... our experience was ehhhh. Hubs took the littles to see "Civil War" and he and I watched "The Martian" on DVD (it was really good). 
• Medical: Gray had an MRI and still struggled with spinning and sciatica. Another dentist appointment for Keaton.
• Hobbies: Jen still Zumba-ing, subbed a few times and got in a Saturday class. Generally going five days a week, but missed a few here and there. 22 total for the month. Hubs is still smoking up a storm. Yummy!
• DUCKS: Eggs were in the incubator last month, and this month they hatched! Well, one did. There was one or two others that were so close but didn't make it out of the egg, which was heartbreaking! Also sad for our solo baby, who didn't stay alone for long. Hubs picked up five additional ducklings. Then wild momma duck who had been visiting us all last month showed up with 13 babies! They were so fun to watch, but again, stressful as they would wander (a couple fell down a neighbor's window well, but we rescued them). After one wander, there were only 12 :(  A cat tried to get them (Hubs and I ran out in our jammies to chase the cat away and round up the babies and reunite them with momma). She finally made her way to the local canal ... good luck ducks. We still had our six, growing like crazy!

Shakespeare in School

Ah Shakespeare ... I have to admit, he's NOT my favorite author. A few months ago, Cooper's class was putting on a Shakespeare play. All the 5th grade classes at Terra Linda were. There was "The Tempest"  "A Comedy of Errors"  and "The Merry Wives of Windsor" ... Cooper's class did "A Midsummer Night's Dream". 

Yes ... the boys had to wear tights. 

Leggings were acceptable as well, and Shakespeare completely changed up Cooper's winter wardrobe. Cooper fell in love with leggings (sport leggings) and wore them the rest of the winter under his shorts.  Some good came from Shakespeare I guess ...

Parents were invited to come watch the productions. Some of the younger classes were invited to watch too. I did overhear this funny conversation on the car ride to school ...

Cooper: You better not have told your friends to laugh during my Shakespeare play today!

Colton: Naw ... I DID tell them to mock you at the science fair, but then the teacher said if she caught anyone teasing she would pull four cards! So I was like "abort plan, abort plan!"

In included the above conversation in my "Cute Quotes" page, but felt like it belonged here too.  I went and watched, and caught the play on video (much to Cooper's chagrin) ...

Here a a few highlights

Yes ... Cooper's play happened back in February, but I'm only getting to the blog update now? What's my impetus? Well, today was Shakespeare day at Keaton's school. All the 9th graders had to dress up Shakespearean style, and to make a mask. Probably a bit easier for the boys than the girls. It's fun to look around at carpool drop-off and see the kids in costume. I told Keaton to take pictures of him and his friends, but I guess I should just feel luckily he allowed me to take these ...

Keaton had donned the knickers (just some sweats pulled up to the knees) and an oversized white shirt. He didn't look quite costumed up enough, so I said I'd look for a "drape" we'd used for Callahan a couple years ago. Happily it was easy to find and did add a more authentic look.

Just for a little Throwback Thursday ... 

Callahan HIS 9th grade year!

Wild Duckies

Last year we raised ducks (Daddy's Duckies 2015). As the three birds tested their wings at the end of the summer ... they flew away. We wondered if they would return (they had been spoiled with yummy treats, food and a pool), but we didn't see them again.

Spring of 2016, there was a pair of ducks hanging around. Now that's not unusual at all, at the canal, but we're about a quarter mile away. This pair was in the front yard (our home and a couple of the neighbors). I pulled out some of the feed from last year, and they seemed to like that. I filled up the pool in the back yard ... and they seemed to like that too. They'd stay for a couple hours each day. Eat some food, take a swim, then they would fly away to spend their time somewhere else. We wondered if it was one of OUR ducks from last year, coming "home" to roost.

One morning in early spring, I was sitting at the computer with the blinds open to the backyard when I saw Momma duck and 13 babies! THIRTEEN! They were so fun to watch. They would swim, eat, and gather under Momma ...

... even as they got a little bigger, Momma would still snuggle and shelter them. 

They would wander a bit. We'd come out in the morning and they would be gone. The first couple times, they had only made it to the next door neighbor's yard. Stopped at the window well, as a couple babies had fallen in. Keaton climbed down and rescued them (as I tried to protect HIM from Momma, being protective didn't understand we were trying to help). 

She was a very good Momma!

Swim Time!

This is the view right outside my bedroom window.

A post shared by JenB (@jenblackham) on May 24, 2016 at 12:03pm PDT

It was mostly in the mornings when they would wander, although sometimes at dusk too. 

But then Momma would bring them back to the backyard.

One time though ... only 12 babies came back. The boys and I did a search of all the nearby window wells. Tried to listen for the chirp of a lost baby, but no luck. We have no idea what happened to it. If it got taken by a dog or cat, or there is a fairly open gutter grate that a baby could have easily fallen into. We were so sad!

Another time, around 4:00 in the morning Hubs and I were awakened by a commotion. Frantic quacking by Momma Duck. We ran out back in our PJs ... it was a cat! We chased it off. Momma had jumped into the safety of the pool, but there were only three babies with her! We knew that cat couldn't have made off with nine babies, so we got out flashlights and searched the yard and found them huddled in a far corner. Happily, all nine. We reunited them with Momma. One of the babies did look like it had been hurt. It walked with a limp for a while, but finally seemed to work it out.

One time I was watching the ducks out the window when ... Momma flew away! Ummm, Momma? You coming back? She did. I guess she just needed to stretch her wings. Then it happened pretty much every day. I then noticed that most of the time ... the Mr. had flown over calling to her. She would take off and join him for some big circles in the sky before she'd fly back into the backyard. The babies would just stay huddled together while she was gone (and we'd always try to keep an eye on them if we noticed she was gone. Chase off any magpies or other dangers). 

Then one morning ... the duckies were gone and they did NOT come back. I took several walks to the canal that day and the next, hoping to see that they had made it there safely. I was rewarded on one of my trips! There was Momma and her full dozen ducklings (while there are other momma/baby sets at the canal, in all the years we've been here, we've never seen a momma with a dozen ducklings, so we were pretty certain it was "our" family). 

I really thought I'd make more trips to the canal to check on them, but we had our own duckies in the backyard (ones we had hatched and were raising) so I was getting my ducky fix without the walk. At the end of the season, the boys and I were talking a walk along the canal when we saw a big group of ducks.

It looked like it could have been our wild backyard babies. Seemed to be a momma and quite a few babies, bigger now, but about the right size, allowing for growth in the time that had passed.

2016 will be remembered as the summer of the ducklings! 

We're glad you stayed with us for a while.

(stay tuned for a post about OUR babies!)

April 2016

April 2016 ... lots of basketball. Lots of derbies ~ 10 of them! Jen was doing Zumba four days a week in addition to other exercise, and Callahan was working at KFC, in addition to basketball and school stuff. Keaton and Colton were busy with basketball too.

• Basketball: Colton's Wolves were playing in a Saturday league, and a Tuesday league. The Tuesday league ended up only having three teams, so each week, we'd play the same two teams, over and over. Cal had his CHHS end of season banquet. It was held at Gardener Village this year (which I prefer to downtown). The team had some games in the spring season. Keaton was back to balling after getting his cast off. He got bumped to the B team, which was a disappointment. He not only didn't care if I videoed his games, he actively did not want me to. 
• Gray: Still struggling with sciatica and Menerie's moments. Had a few doctor's appointments this month. Still managed to hit Wendover with work friends, and he bought a smoker ... this would become a huge part of life. #graystartssmoking  and would make trips out to eat (we went to Texas Roadhouse this month) not so special ...
• Group Gatherings: Got together with the Blackham side a few times. The annual conference brunch, gathering at Gordy's Grave and then a HUGE party for Pammy's 70th birthday.  We missed out on the baby blessing on the Westra side, which Jen felt super guilty about.
• Ducks: We have eggs in the incubator (catching up to Maga's Menagerie, with her cats, new hamster and chickens) AND a pair of wild ducks that have been visiting every day. Will they nest nearby?
• School Stuff: Cal and Keaton both got registered for next year. The "arena scheduling" is great because you can sign up for the classes/teachers you want, with friends. Or, you can TRY anyway. It's a crazy couple of minutes as the best classes fill up super quick. #stressful!
• Passport Prep: Gray is getting passports for the boys, planning an upcoming Canadian vacation.

A Party for Pammy

It was someone's 70th birthday this year, and Grayson decided to throw a party for Pammy to celebrate! All the other siblings really stepped up, and Kolby's family even flew in from Seattle for the event. There was a lot of planning (it was a surprise though) for weeks on end, and then it was the big day.

It was a really nice set-up. Grayson's derby tables come in handy for more than derbies! Courtney had pieced together two big #70 displays of photographs (and created the invitation) and I'd put together a slideshow to play in the background (posted below). There was a birthday cake and a chocolate fountain, and Jami and the girls had made sugar cookies and cupcakes. Clay made pulled pork, and there were chips and veggies too. Aunt Judy brought a nice display of Pammy products and there were tons of pictures everywhere.

It was held at the old Cottonwood 1st ward church gym. All the family was invited, all the friends we could get a hold of, and all the neighbors ... it was quite the reunion. Lots of catching up after many years.

... and plenty of new pictures taken too!

Here's the video that played at the party.

It is long ... 70 years worth of pictures!

I also took video AT the party, and combined with the pictures Courtney took, here's a video recap of the party itself. Thanks to all who helped out and who came to wish Pammy a happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Pammy!