From Movies to Mountains

One way Ben has always amazed me is that he has one of the most active imaginations that I have ever seen, and he's had it for the longest time. He constantly makes up stories with whatever objects are around, whether it's a car, train, stick or spoon. Jake has picked up on this trait very well from Ben, and those two can play for hours making up stories back and forth. Ben's imagination was in full force this past Tuesday as we threw together a Spiderwick Chronicles party at the last minute--that's how we work best, you know. We thought it would be fun to have a few neighborhood friends over to watch the movie, and then Ben's ticker really got going. He and Danielle, his friend who lives down the street, together made up a goblin game, and after talking with them for a few minutes to iron out the details, they put it all together themselves. They really worked hard and it was so cute.

When everyone arrived, first thing on Ben's "agenda" was the goblin game, with Ben and his friends: (l to r: Sydney, Jezzie, Danielle, Thomas, Ben, and Zane). The object is that you divide into two teams, boys v. girls, and you start behind the cement line.

The weapon of choice is a stick, and you have to hit your goblin into the bucket.

Once the goblin (which originally had arms and legs, but didn't hold up well under so much beating) is in the bucket, the bucket is then raised up and quickly smashed down so it explodes, sending the goblins flying out of the bucket. The team who gets the most goblins in first wins...and after a hard fought battle, the girls took home the prize, faerie berries--aka: Swedish Fish.

The other game we played was guessing how many "seeing stones" were in the jar (answer:63). And finally it was time to watch the movie, treats and all. I love these popcorn containers I got at Target for $1 each--we have definitely gotten our money's worth out of them!! And if you don't know Ben well, he thinks he could survive on Tootsie Rolls alone for the rest of his natural life. He doesn't like most other candies or ice cream or sodas, but give him some Tootsie Rolls and Hershey bars, and he's in heaven!

The neighborhood gang watching Spiderwick Chronicles.

The party didn't end when the movie ended. Ben still had more fun plans for his friends. The younger ones mostly ran around the yard, but most of the others made their own "Field Guide." I'm not sure how many Field Guide's Ben has made in his short little lifetime, but we have been through enough paper, tape, staples and crayons to fund a preschool! Ben used one of his Field Guides to show others how to make their own, and some of them got very creative. Those who wanted also made necklaces out of their Seeing Stones. When the party ended (around 10pm) and everyone had gone home, it was almost a let-down for Ben. He said, "Oh Mom, I already miss all my friends so much. It was such a fun party." Not bad for such short notice!

Saturday morning, July 19, our stake primary was invited to march in the annual Day's of '47 Youth Parade in Salt Lake City. We had to dress up as pioneers, and because Will is so unpredictable, one of us had to march in the parade with the boys--Daren was only too quick to volunteer to take the pictures :) Our stake float was really cool. It represented the Riverton Tithing Yard Storehouse on Tithing Hill here in Riverton, circa 1886.

It was a very warm Utah July morning, and fortunately there were a few water bottles around to cool off with. Will got a hold of one of them and was on the hunt for victims!

For those of us walking in the parade, we were supposed to be carrying baskets of our "tithes." Some had chickens or eggs or carrots or apples or wilted lettuce that was going bad in the fridge. I'm pretty sure the pioneers would have loved to have crocs or Merrell's or Asics running shoes to walk in!! My friend Julie, who I am walking with (and her son Thomas, who is Ben's friend), and I were talking before the parade as we were waiting, that we were definitely born in the right era and how hard it must have been to be a pioneer--as we were sitting there drinking our cold bottled water. It was hard and hot enough for the kids as we walked the four blocks that the parade went; I can't imagine crossing the plains without fresh water or much food or all the other hardships they went through. I am so grateful for all their sacrifices to come and settle this valley and beyond.

After the loooooooooong walk, so thought the kids, there was a festival at the Salt Lake City and County building for all the participants. There were more fancy bouncy things there than I have ever seen, that the kids could jump and slide on. Plus a storm trooper or two didn't hurt!

Later that day, much to Ben's reluctance, we went to the Deer Valley Music Festival to hear the Utah Symphony play Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Daren, Ben and I went with Daren's parents, Barry and Susan. I think they have tickets to every cultural event around town, and it is always so fun to go when invited. We have been to some amazing performances with them, including the opera, ballet, theatre, etc. and this night was no exception. Ben looked at least 9 or 10 years old this night. He was a little miffed that this was cutting in to his playing time, but I think he liked it in the end.

We got there plenty early before the gates opened so we could get some good seats, and there was quite a crowd there that night. Ben was amazed with the condos, seen just beyond the crowd, and figures that would be a good place to have one. Do ya think?!

We got great seats, right next to Barry and Susan, aka Grandma and Grandpa Train.

The orchestra opened up by playing the national anthem, and at the end of the song they shot off one of the cannons. Ben was nervous about the cannons anyway, so it took him, and the rest of us, by surprise. He spent the next few songs with his ears plugged up thinking they could go off again at any time.

The rest of the cannons didn't go off until the 1812 Overture, and because we were sitting so close to them, they were quite loud. It was a great concert on a beautiful night out in the mountains.

Keith Lockhart was conducting the orchestra...he has been a great conductor here for many years, but now this is his last season since he is leaving to spend all his time with the Boston Pops Orchestra. He is a very fun conductor to watch.

Other than that, it's been a low key fun summer week. Amazingly enough, it was our first "real" week of summer--last week Ben was at that summer camp class, so now we are in "normal" mode, with swimming lessons, visits to the library, playing with friends, and everything else that goes on. Daren is back to working like crazy at the fire station and with his law practice...and with his golfing game! :) We are looking forward to Gma and Gpa Airplane's visit later this week. Good times!!