Furniture Shopping with Males

What on Earth is the matter with me? Why did I ever think it was ok to take 3 males shopping for new furniture? I'm chocking it up to an ever shrinking time frame and the insanity of one going into her Senior year of high school, one moving into her first apartment, 2 boys bored and impatiently waiting for school to start, my school year starting on Monday and whew!

Rachel is moving into her Junior year of college and her first apartment. Our family room is slowly piling up with her things that are going with her. She's also going to be using our living room furniture thus us needing to replace what is here. Somewhere this summer I lost 2 weeks where I'd planned to find replacements. Now the furniture is going out the door on Saturday and we don't have anything to replace it.

I love to furniture shop...when I can find things that I like.....when I have time to look.....when I'm not dragging 10 and 11 year olds off the displays, making sure they don't touch anything glass and keeping track of Mike who seemed to be falling further and further behind. So what's a woman to do? Leave the store, feed the men and decide to return solo to finish the shopping at a later date...let's see how many days til Saturday?

Sunflower Ranch

We are in the full out, house torn apart, pre opening of school cleaning mode. At lunch today we didn't even have chairs available to sit on as we ate tacos so we did a picnic on the floor....100 plus degrees outside...no way we were eating out there!

Lucas was on his third taco when he announces that he likes the Sunflower Ranch....huh? Ok, maybe it was the cleaning fumes or the exhaustion of keeping 4 kids cleaning in 3 separate areas but I couldn't figure it out. He gets really frustrated when he has to stop to try to make us understand. His English is pretty darn good but sometimes he doesn't refer to things by the correct name.

After trying to explain to Rachel, Sydney, Eli and myself he disgustedly puts his taco down, gets up goes over to the counter and grabs the Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing and points out, "See, I like the Sunflower Ranch sauce!" I said, "Buddy. That's called Hidden Valley Ranch." He looked at the label, sounded out the words and said, "Huh. Whatever. I like it."

On Safari

We took a trip back to Sylvan Lake today. The boys went swimming but decided that swimming in a heated pool was better than a mountain lake...they do like some warm water. Then we went on the great buffalo hunt with no success, we did however find very friendly buros. Eli was satisfied with this discovery and demanded to be returned to the campground to play with his new $1.95 marshmellow gun. Headed back towards Iowa in a.m. bet the back seat riders are asleep before we clear the Black Hills...ahhhh the quiet. Mike says if we'd just let the boys shoot the buros in the mouth with the marshmallow guns they'd have both been satisfied. I don't think I should leave those 3 alone anymore.

Trying to nap on vacation

I tried to take a snooze while the tribe took a bike ride....yep the campground decided to mow around our trailer...no nap and the tribe returned early it made me happy...

No Internet

Our newest campsite doesn't have Internet so our posts are being dictated to Rachel at home to post.

We made it to the Black Hills of South Dakota. It only took us about an hour and a half from our last camp ground to the newest one... Lucas and Eli have talked themselves into enduring another seven hour ride so they were pleasantly surprised!

They haven't decided if this is an okay place or not. Going up is not the favorite thing to do especially as we are climbing into the Black Hills. And are realizing that there are clouds covering the tops of hills so they couldn't see. Eli thought we should stop completely as we drove into the clouds above them.

I made (tried to make) a joke on the way up that we may need them to get out and push the Yukon because it might not pull the camper up the hills. Its too bad no one had a camera ready because as I looked in the rear view mirror I couldn't help but notice the shocked and horrified look on Lucas's face! He said, "Mom. I cannot do that. I will get runned over and smashed! It would roll backwards and be bad." I then asked if he could get out and help slow us down on the downgrade.... "Mom! That would be worse! I get run over! No way!" Smart kid!

We hung out close to the campground most of the day but took a drive up Needle's Highway in the evening. The boys were sure we would drive off the edge and were amazed at the narrow tunnels. I have explained, "Why are the Bad Lands bad?" "Why are there colors in the ground?" "Why are the Black Hills black?" "Why do I have to listen to my sister?" "Why is Mount Rushmore not called South Dakota?" "Why are the roads so twisty?" "Why can't I pester my sister?" "Why is Crazy Horse crazy?" ...... you get the idea.

Lucas's quote for the day was, "Wow! The Yukon say 'I like to shake my booty!" ...... Translation: The road was a little rough.

Next amazing statement came when we were trying to show the boys Birch trees. As soon as I said the word "birch" I knew we were in trouble and waited for the "bad" words to start... Eli said, "That sound like bush!" ... whew!

The pictures are of Sylvan Lake and the view from our campsite.

What Got Into Them?

Tuesday was the day for exploring and hiking the Badlands of South Dakota. I hiked my share but when the quartet of climbers you see below decided that they would climb the "difficult designated" trail, my bad knee and I opted to stay below and take pictures and call 911 if necessary. They all were ready for lunch and water by the time they got back to the bottom.

The photo above is interesting, thought I'd take a shot of it while they climbed...notice how tall that peak is?

Look closely. Do you see two little darker specks appear at the top?

Yep...it's them....no fear and no judgement on anyone's part.

The intrepid climbers are now ready for the Himalayans or at least a bottle of water since it looks like Lucas isn't sharing the one he has.

Mike demands that I say it is not as bad as it looks....yep stick to that story and I'll stick to my photographic proof.

The photo below is Sydney at the top confessing to the camera that it was a bad idea and how very sorry she was for following the misguided and ultimately how smart her mother was to stay below....she also said...."I'm too short to get back down."

A Few More Photos

No children were harmed in the exploration of the Badlands.....we just finally explained to Lucas and Eli that rattlesnakes were like cobras....they're not but it got our point across.

Eli is always 50 feet ahead and walks like he's contemplating the universe....works out well until he gets too close to a cliff....I'd be rich if I had a quarter for everytime I said, "Eli, not so close, get back here!

2 Boys Take on South Dakota and Their Family

Mike, Sydney and myself have survived our first day as chaperons for Lucas and Eli's "Great South Dakota Adventure." They have tolerated us as a necessary encumbrance in order to arrive at their destination. Please keep in mind their own point of reference for the Badlands and Black Hills are the tourism ads on tv.

My first "mom" observation of the trip: Billboards are dangerous. Forget your standard ad placements for restaurants, the interstate across South Dakota is a mecca for kids learning to read English...they read ALL of them including those about reptiles, caves, snakes, cowboys, Mt. Rushmore, mazes.....it goes on forever. Eli spots one billboard that was definitely an oldy (I think I remember it from my trips here as a kid) it was a classic Indians chasing a cowboy and stagecoach....not on the side of today's politically correct line. Eli asked if Indians killed white people....so my wanting to give him both sides, I attempted to explain that yes and white people killed Indians a long time ago. He then asked, "did they kill brown people?" Ok. Then I had to explain that there weren't Filipinos in old west America....yep good luck there. Then to top this conversation off..."Mom. Are there Indians here now?" I must have had some sort of mental issue cause I said, "Yes there is (which there are and no I can't explain the correct terminology to him.) and there are two Filipinos. He hit the end of his seat belt so hard screaming, "WHERE?" I'm surprised he's not bruised. And so that was my revenge for having to explain 400 miles of billboards.

Once we entered the Badlands, where our campground is, the road twists and winds through the first part of the park, throw in a couple sharp turns and a vertical hillside and we hear Lucas chime in from the rear of the Yukon....."Mom! We're going to fall down!" We made it to the bottom in one piece and he didn't ask to get out and walk.

Sydney, having traveled to Manila and back when we brought the boys home, is quite a trouper when it comes to long distance traveling with them. Her only complaint today was after having endured about 120 miles of less than pristine road conditions, announced from her back seat, "I think I'm suffering from Shaken Pickle Syndrome!" She too arrive at the campsite in one piece.

The boys have played on the playground, checked out the pool, played basketball, ridden their bikes, played a board game and are now eating ice cream....yep, we'll never return to normal when we get back. We actually found time to take a hike up into the Badlands this afternoon. Mike and I are ready to fall into bed but the kids are going hard...suppose the ice cream was a mistake?

Ready To Roll?

We head out in the morning at 4:00 a.m. for the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota. Our house/pet sitters are here and are really wishing we'd clear out sooner rather than later. It's been a very loud and messy day packing the camper.

Did I mention that Pickles really aren't outdoors people. We enjoy a good hotel and restaurants but we are broadening our horizons and our pocket books by introducing/forcing ourselves to commune with nature. We've taken a lot of short 2 and 3 day camping trips and one 5 day camping trip about 12 years ago....has it really been that long? I'll have to double check with Pam and Gene to make sure.

While the homestead is being tended, we will try to keep everyone up to date on our "fun" as we go along. Lucas and Eli are very excited about the "mountain with the faces" and still do not believe me when I tell them that there is no inside and no treasure like in the movie National Treasure 2. We're looking forward to watching one of the local Boy Scout troops play taps at the flag lowering ceremony on Thursday night at Mt. Rushmore. Hopefully the weather cooperates...forecasts aren't looking good. Wish us luck!

Transformers on the Road

Mike asked that I put in a short story about a recent road trip with Eli. They were driving down one of our local country roads when they came upon a familiar sight in rural Iowa farm country. Below is a picture of what Eli was positive was a Transformer....not a good Transformer but a Descepticon (I have no clue how to spell that and spell check doesn't recognize it...go ask the nearest person under 16 and they will explain).

Mike once again tried to explain that movies aren't real, no Iowa has not and will most likey not be invaded by either Transformers or Descepticons much to Eli's great disappointment.

No Filter

Little boys and big boys for that matter, do not possess a verbal filter.....or at least not this morning when my little "cherub" of a youngest son grabs my hand and says, "Oooh mom! What happened! You have grandma hands."

Well. Where do I go to buy a mouth filter that goes around his foot which is inserted in his mouth? I have a feeling I'll be needing a steady supply for awhile or at least until I've reached a point where I am so old I am deaf and unable to hear his verbal bashing. According to Eli that will probably be next week. Good thing the kid is so dang cute.

Heart Attack Waiting To Happen

We are starting baseball tournaments this week.....yeah! Not! I absolutely am not a calm sports parent. It is excruciating to watch your kids put it all out there and listen to some of the less than nice comments from spectators.

Don't get me wrong, there are more positive supporters by far but those one or two obnoxious "fans" make it difficult for all the parents and the players when their comments reach the field.

Lucas is playing third base and pitching. Eli plays right field. Wednesday's game ended up as close as you can get and still win. 9 to 10. We had a rough final inning, going from 2 to 10 to the final score. I was pretty sure that my heart was going to explode at the end when Lucas was moved from 3rd to pitcher for the final out. Again, if you didn't catch it....I'm not so good at watching my kid in a difficult situation. He does great, they both do great, now if they could just have training camp for over anxious moms and a sound proof dugout for the obnoxious fans my blood pressure would be much lower thus avoiding that impending heart attack.

Easter Bunny Arrives on a Go Cart

I'm getting a little slow on posting slide shows....it's a lot easier to write. This slide show was from Easter morning when the boys discovered that they Easter Bunny hadn't forgotten to fill their Easter baskets...the go cart wouldn't fit.

Personalize your own free picture slideshow

Break It Up!

With the holiday and days off work for one or more of us in the Pickle house, we are starting to wear on each others' nerves.

You know that affliction where one person breathes and it makes three other people instantly irritated? Yep. We have arrived at that post holiday event. If I had a quarter for every time I told the boys to go play outside or the girls to stop picking on their brothers or the boys to stop pestering their sisters or to just stop, I would have a very nice vacation paid for....of course it would be a solo vacation in a blisfully quiet environment - no not the funny farm!

Don't get me wrong, I don't wish any one of these preciously obnoxious family members to leave, I just want 30 minutes without a dispute.....stop laughing a mom can dream, some days it's all we have.

Happy Independence Day!

We've been celebrating the Fourth of July for three days.....the boys think this is the American holiday that doesn't end. Eli asked me tonight what was next, what are we doing tomorrow....more fireworks? more parade? more party.

I had to say, "Sorry buddy. Tomorrow is July 5th, it's over." He wasn't a fan of that news. I think all the kids (big and little) had a great 4th of July, at least by the degree of tiredness it was a raving success. Hope everyone out there had a good one too!

Bed Check

We have probably some of the most mismatched dogs a family can have. Faye, is a German/Shepard/Huskymix who we chose at the pound. If you know her you also know she's all bluff. She loves to put on the ferocious watch dog for the Fed Ex/UPS guys and gals but she also knows they carry treats for her. She's not dumb.

Our other dog, Walley, is a basset hound, who decided he liked to visit his neighbors and chose to frequent our place so much his owner said, "Keep him, he's there more than home." Walley has the energy level of a moth just before a hard freeze. Movement is not an activity he chooses to participate in. He does, however, believe he weighs 5 pounds instead of 50 and that he is Sydney's lap dog.

These past few days my sister has been staying with us and Eli has let her use his bed for the duration. Hey. This is a huge step for him. His bed is a big deal. He's on the couch, where he's been begging to sleep for a couple weeks. He thinks he's hot stuff.

How do our pets and the musical beds tie together? With the heat index in the 90's at night, the last place a husky mix wants to be is outside. We let her in to sleep. When Faye is inside at night she does what we call "her rounds". Everyone has to be in their bed and she will not stop pacing until everyone is home and down for the count. If the girls are out, she comes and let's us know that we too should be pacing.

The first night she came in and found Eli sleeping on the couch, she tried to make it her mission to wake him up and escort him to bed. I'm not sure what would have happened if she'd found my sister asleep in Eli's bed first. Hopefully she doesn't make midnight rounds.

Big Plip Plops!

Sydney and I went clothes shopping for senior picture outfits on Friday. Let me tell the parents out there that if they've done this particular shopping trip you would so very much appreciate Sydney's shopping.....one store....one hour.....lunch.....shoe store in and out in 20 minutes we were done!


On to the fashion show for Mike, Rachel and the boys....it's mandatory....I shopped, they can sit and adequately ooh and ahh over this successful endeavor and like it. Mike had prepared the boys ahead of time, they immediately sat down and sat quietly (I wonder what the bribe or creative impression he left with them was in order to achieve this?)


Sydney came out with one outfit and the first thing Eli can say..."Sydney those sure are big plip plops. Can I try?" Her answer...."No, not even if you learn to say flip flops...and they aren't plip plops." So much for subjecting brothers to a style show.

Million Dollar Idea?

I'm not sure if this is really a million dollar idea but to a mother of two nail biting sons, I think I'd pay $20.00 for some type of finger nail "caps" so that these two little wood peckers can't reach their nails until they have a chance to grow and heal.

It appears to be nervous/bored/intense situations that bring them to chew away. It's driving me insane (there are truly levels to insanity ~ I've visited several and will probably continue my trek).

I just think that some little rubber sleeves for fingertips, like secretaries use to sort paper, could accomplish a lot towards healing them up. They absolutely, from day one, can not stand to have any type of finger/toe nail showing. Ouch!

Lucas informs us that if they didn't have fingernails in the Philippines that the dirt would not get in them and then they wouldn't have to scrub with the "brush". Well we don't have the "brush" here but that still hasn't convinced them to stop biting! Urgggh!