School Days in Michigan

 Yesterday I caught a few shots on my phone from a lovely school day, another 80 degree plus day in March. Seems like just about everything is budding now. We bought new bikes for Dax, Addy and Mia last weekend, so we could enjoy the 1-2 mile ride to/from school each day. We're learning that Michiganders aren't the most bike friendly folks in the world, but that it's okay (and seems to be encouraged) to ride the nice, wide sidewalks, so it's actually a pretty nice commute. It's much, much nicer than the hour long car routine in the morning, first taking Taylor and Addy to the middle school, then waiting across the street in the elementary school parking lot for 20 minutes until the magic time for Dax and Mia to hop out and start their day, then waiting another 20 minutes a mile down the road at Kenna's school until it's okay for her to walk through the school doors. Biking keeps us moving and I'm pretty sure gets us all a little happier about the coming day.

Kenna is on Mia's old bike, which, yes, is a tad too large, but she does okay. She'd do better if she'd let me help her on and off, but that little stinker is so determined. In fact, on the way home she wanted to be ahead of all of us so bad, that she took off with her bike running down the sidewalk as fast as she could, thinking she'd get ahead of the rest of us enough to do her own tricks to get on that bike on her own, then still be ahead of us enough to lead the pack. Sadly, Dax and Mia caught up to her just about by the time she started her maneuvering to get on the seat. I could feel the pent up frustration blow down the sidewalk in a fury, which exploded in that little girl throwing her bike down in discouragement. I'm sure the train of parents in cars rolling out of the school drive thought that I'm torturing that girl making her ride that mile home, and of all things, not being able to suppress a giggle at her tantrum. I know I'm weird here, so it doesn't bother me too much what others might think. As for Kenna, she'll be leading our bike brigade soon enough, she just needs another inch.

After we welcomed Clint home from a 3 day business trip and gobbled down dinner last night, we were off to the elementary science fair. I so wish I had caught Dax and Mia with some photos in scientific action, but trying to grab some poses in front of their results was the best that I could do (Mia, obviously wasn't too thrilled). These kiddos worked so diligently on their projects, truly inspired to be truly scientific. I was a little worried knowing that we're in a much larger "pond" now, and didn't know what to expect in the way of how much parents should be involved, but these guys had it down, had it organized and had their projects complete at least 2 weeks before they were due.

Mia studied how 3 different brands of dish soap compare in how long their suds last. I was so impressed with how she took her time in conducting her trials, working on her project a little bit each day, meticulously timing and recording her results, then whipped out some impressive charts in Excel, something I have no clue how to do.

 Then there was Mr. Dax. Always the mechanical/engineer guy, he chose to research paper airplane design. He researched folding methods, created 3 models, then methodically flew them over a few week period, making notes and charting results. His sisters of course gave lots of input, but I think he actually had this process down. Dad helped a little with getting his data organized into Excel, but again we were impressed with his skills--his teacher is obviously inspiring enough that Dax is not only listening, but learning! We couldn't be more grateful...I can't forget the best part of Dax's project, he named each of his plane's after 3 of his best friends from Sandpoint. I think it was "William" that flew the farthest.

Scotchmans' Peak, September 10th

 Hiking is one thing we love to do with the kids. It may take a bit of cajoling and preparation, but over time it is getting much easier. Candy bribes sometimes make it easier, if I remember to bring them along. For some reason the hardest hikes are some of the easiest, bribes or no bribes, as I think the kids feel so much more satisfaction than a simple hike nearby. This was one that heard a lot of complaints on the way up, but was rated 5 stars on the way home.

Early last fall we took the kids up Scotchman's Peak, just above Clark Fork, Idaho. It's the tallest peak in the Lake Pend Oreille area, so gives some fantastic views. The four miles up and 3,700 feet elevation gain makes for a grueling climb, and an increasingly painful descent on my knees each year.

Clint had just interviewed for his Michigan job a few weeks earlier, so we knew this could be our last chance for awhile, if forever. September is great for fitting in as many outdoor activities as possible, few tourists, usually good weather, after the summer hubub and before ski season hits. We even opted out of soccer last fall to squeeze as much of our nice September weekends as possible.

We waited for a day we knew would be a little cooler, and it was, maybe a little too chilly, or we were just underprepared. Some days I'm just happy we all have shoes that fit, let alone ones that are appropriate for the conditions. Despite the chill at the top, we were happily rewarded with this goat also enjoying the views from the peak. If I had to pick a favorite animal, it just might be a mountain goat. I can just relate. Looked like he also found us a little amusing, or he was just chewing his cud.

Mia was especially happy to try out her new camera. That girl's got talent. I love seeing her light up when she is inspired by something. All the kiddos had a fantastic look of awe and pride of having made it up there. Those grins on their faces are just about as satisfying as the vistas around us, maybe even more so.

Kenna was especially proud to sign the mountain log at the top. She may have been the youngest to climb on her own 2 legs, and if not, surely the smallest! That girl's got more endurance than the rest of us combined. Not that she didn't voice some complaints on the way up AND down, but she was the first one later on to say it was her favorite hike!
  

Hikes down a mountain are always fun with our crew, hearing the kids barrel down the mountain, feeling so free as they see how fast that they can make it. I usually want to do the same thing, I just have to keep my mom hat on and help Clint keep any stragglers in tow (he's much more patient at that, something I love about him). This day we all sprinted when we could, just to keep warm and to avoid the pending storm.

I felt so liberated on the way down, knowing we can all tackle something like that together AND enjoy it. Not having a baby carrier on my back was also a new, bittersweet experience (Clint will tell you, that Kelty was awfully hard for me to give up...he never got it, it was my only ticket to freedom some days). My knees still hurt, this time from age, but the view and sound of giggles and chatter took care of the pain.

I hope that somewhere along the line we all make it back for another climb, if not soon maybe even a decade or so later with a few of our kids with kids in tow or on back. I'll be sure to bring candy bribes. If I can catch some of those smiles at the top, too, I know my mothering will have had another little success.                                                        For more info on hiking Scotchman Peak and other Sandpoint, Idaho area hikes, see the Friends of Scotchman Peaks website.

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Spring!

Michigan, and apparently the whole midwest (still baffled by that term now, seems like it should be mideast) is having a very abnormal late winter/spring. Feels like summer, looks like summer, smells like summer, and sounds like summer with all the beautiful woodland birds around us. Although we miss the skiing in Idaho, we did get a little in before we left, and this summer weather more than makes up for it, normal or not. Somehow I feel a little like it is just for us, to make the transition that much easier.

To celebrate spring I couldn't resist starting my own little gardening project. I picked up these planters and started some spinach, bok choi, and sugar snap peas. I realize winter could hit here again at any time, but with temps being an average 40 degrees higher than normal, I don't think the ground is going to cool down that much to give us a good freeze. Even so, I was more than happy just to smell the dirt and tuck those magical little seeds into their new beds.

With a little down time after settling into our move, I'm taking a basic photography class, to figure out how to maximize our camera. Although I'd love to aspire to a great photographer someday, I don't think I have the determination for it, but we'll see. I'm just not good, or patient enough, with details. I didn't even edit these shots, as I just wanted to get writing. Nonetheless, here are a few practice shots that look a little springy, too, and showcase the only decorative touch I made, or will make, on our rental. I had to make it functional, with these pretty salt and pepper shakers that I found to replace the ones we left behind in Idaho.

I have to say if you have to move cross-country, and can handle giving up your stuff, selling and donating then starting over is a good way to go. Liberating letting go of your clutter, prioritizing what stuff really matters, then having fun choosing new things as you go is kind of fun. We did have a lot of stuff to gather in the beginning, and felt ridiculous with all the spending we were doing (although very American), but the feeling that we're not so attached to our stuff has lasted and knowing
we'll have very little to move this summer is a very peaceful thought. It will give me a more time to think about late summer and fall gardening.

Life in Michigan

I thought I'd just jump right into the middle of life and make random posts here and there of how we're growing and evolving. Ideally I'll just as randomly fill in our history as I go along.

We've moved to Michigan. Seems like the shock is wearing off a little, and we're getting used to our new life here. We're still on hold, waiting to build a house that should last us the next 10 years or so of our adventures here. The house SHOULD be complete by the 1st week of August, when we hope to really settle in. But all in all I think we're starting to feel comfortable here.

This was a big move, not only as it was kind of out of the blue, and involved moving all 7 of us and our most important belongings across 5 states or so and 2 time zones, but, as we knew if we were going to make a move, it would be for some of the most important years of our kids' lives. This is where we'll be facing teenage hood in all it's glory, times 4, likely times 5. We LOVED our life in North Idaho, skiing, biking, hiking--just enjoying the views and the nature. I think we truly eked all we could out of it. Somewhere along the line the idea came up that perhaps we should have some new adventures, add some new dimension to our lifestyle, and seemed a college town might be a good way to go (as our ideal of beach living or anywhere else warmer would likely be too pricey or crowded for our whole crew).

Technically speaking the East Lansing area looked ideal for our family--hundreds of activities, if not thousands, all sorts of cultural events, and many places on the east side of the country to explore by car that we would never have otherwise thought of visiting. It's thankfully proven true already in our 3 short months here. Above all, the schools are fantastic, and we're constantly exposed to the benefits of a great university nearby. We might not have the mountains of the west, but we've still found familiar beauty in the forests, lakes, wetlands and farms. We're not far from beaches and I hear there are cliffs and mountains not far south in Kentucky, if not closer. (I keep finding it funny how although I know my states pretty well, I'm getting such a different perspective here now that I'm on the ground here, and not just thinking of all these places as lines on a map. Kind of like filling in the dots.)

I'm pretty sure we'll have a good life here, and glad we made the move. As much as my heart still aches for our friends in Idaho and throughout the west, I think we'll make some great connections here, too.