It's Always Fun When Grandpa Comes (and Grandma too!)

Thanks to my previous post's foreshadowing, it's no surprise that my parents came to our home for a quick visit. Actually, they justified coming because they would be "passing through" on their way home from Nauvoo. I'm extremely grateful they didn't use MapQuest, because there is no way our little spot on the earth came anywhere close to being "on the way".

They arrived on Tuesday evening and I had a beef enchilada casserole waiting for them. Unfortunately, dinner was the only thing waiting for them as I had to run out the door to retrieve Jay from his parent's house where he was stuck due to car issues.

Wednesday, Henry had his first speech assessment here in the morning and I was glad to have my mother there listening to the comments and consensus from the team of therapists. Sometimes, it's hard to explain to people that Henry actually needs therapy and isn't merely "a little behind." He's made great progress since January since he started, but I was told again that he has a "significant delay" and qualifies for state aid. Something the therapist noticed right away that I don't think the therapist in Utah ever mentioned was that the muscles in his face that make a puckers or are used for blowing don't seem to be actively used. Everyone involved seemed very competent and I'm looking forward to his therapy beginning next week. He'll have in-home therapy once a week for an hour until he's three and then he'll begin some sort of speech therapy at one of the elementary schools.

None of that really had anything to do with my parents being here, but it started getting typed and I wasn't going to delete it all. I've written enough about Henry's speech that I want to document any progress or development. Tangent aside, Wednesday afternoon, Henry and I took my parents to lunch and for a walk downtown. As neither are super fond of wandering into shops that sell touristy t-shirts and ridiculous western wear, the downtown tour was rather brief.

After Seth and Sam came home from school, they all displayed their recently discovered passion of bike riding. We've been here most of the summer, and they never wanted to ride bikes. Now, it's their activity of choice almost every afternoon. Henry has given up on his little tricycle and has taken over the scooter. He's actually pretty good on it and I have to admit - it's pretty darn cute to watch. All three boys got plenty of "ooh"s and "ahh"s and I was pleased that they had admiring grandparents to show off for.

a dark picture but the only one I have with all three boys in it.

Sammy pumping his legs to get uphill on his circus bike. Grandma and Grandpa watching in the background.

Seth showing off his speed on the downhill. He needs a bigger bike too.

I said bigger...not smaller. Seth getting even after I made him lend his bike to Sammy to see if he could ride a bigger bike.

Henry wasn't about to be left out. He can get anywhere he needs to go on this scooter.

Look at me! I'm out in the middle of the street and having a great time!

Thursday, Jay had the day off so we all spent the day traveling on a famous narrow-gauge railway. The morning was chilly, but we had our jackets and sweatshirts, plus a lap blanket, and I thought the day absolutely perfect. The colors were just changing in the mountains and after twelve years of wanting to ride the train, I can finally say I've done it.

In front of the steam-powered engine before departure.

Both pairs of his glasses are currently broken so Henry gets to charm everyone au naturel.

The entire ride was gorgeous, but my camera ran out of batteries on the way. This is only one of several stunning stretches of rail travel.


The colors in high country

It takes three and a half hours to get to a small mining town above 9,000 ft and we spent a couple of hours there eating lunch, finding a place to buy diapers and reading about the bordellos that were in business until the 1950s. That, my friends (and I know I sound like John McCain right there), is a huge difference between men and women. In its heyday, this town grew to about 5,000 people, mostly men hoping to find their fortune mining. Those men supported 41 separate bordello businesses (and if you don't know what that means - bordellos hire ladies of easy virtue and if you don't know what that means - rent a Western). I get that they were lonely and isolated and that they have their "needs", but I'm pretty sure in a similar situation, with lonely and isolated women, you'd have at least 41, if not more, book groups or quilting parties. Wow - I'm really losing my focus here. Getting back to grandparents....

We watched the VP debates on Thursday night and I've realized that as much as I respect my parents, and learn from them, I am a different person. I think differently. And that's o.k. My views aren't opposite of theirs, they aren't even radically different, but we can watch the same thing, hear the same things, and not think the same things. No converting necessary - just appreciation for the agency we have been given.

Friday morning they left and the beautiful weather we had turned into a rain-filled, sock-wearing weekend. I've managed to watch most of conference but missed Saturday morning as I was volunteered my time and talents to dump pre-packaged popcorn into a popcorn maker at the soccer games. It's to support a Cub Scout service project that I wasn't all that enthusiastic about, but I was with Seth and it turned into a good time after all. This kid loves to make a sale. Buyers beware.

Our set-up. We were thankful for the canopy when the rain started.

I had to get a picture of the surroundings. Seth and Sam's school is in the background and I think it's in a spectacular spot.

Sammy calling out "Popcorn for sale!"

Seth taking care of a customer. He really could do it all without me - except for dumping the packages into the hot popper.

Conference was, of course, invigorating. I am so enormously grateful that I have this well nearby for refilling twice a year. I appreciated all of the talks and felt, more than once, that a particular one was meant for me. I think Elder Hales advice about being meek instead of "putting up your dukes" could be applied in a variety of situations, especially in regards to political differences. Wise counsel. President Monson - thank you. Your words came just in time to save me from shouting at the boys to "BE QUIET!" I suppose I'll miss these noisy conference sessions one day. I suppose.

Thank you for your visit, Mom and Dad. It was appreciated and you are welcome anytime. Even if it's only a stop along the way.