Solar Cowboys

"Slow down you're doing fine 
You can't be everything you want to be 
Before your time." 
--Billy Joel

Rush to get dressed, speed to work, hurry through to prepare for STAR testing, hustle to Karate, quickly eat dinner, bath, bed, housework, bookwork, mow the lawn, check the things off of the list.  .  .  Life is just too fast.  Where have the last years gone?  I know that looking back it won't matter if the lawn was mowed, if the project was completed on time, or if the floor was as clean as it was yesterday.  What will matter is that we have raised sons who appreciate the value of hard work, but know the importance of taking care of themselves.  That slowing down is not a sign of weakness, but of strength in the hopes of building a stronger self.  What will matter is that my sons will have memories of a mom who puts everything down for the slightest need, but who has given them the tools to be self-sufficient.  What will matter is that they will see their father's work ethic, but relish in his ability to relax with them. Yes, we want to be successful, to do, to grow, to fulfill, but life changes in a split second.  The endless checklists we have conquered, do not matter in a split second mistake.  Life is precious, life is good, life needs to be conquered with an awareness and appreciation of the moment.

Miles will only want to "snuggle" so many times, and Carter will only want to retell the same story for so long.  I know we are good parents, but today we were reminded of the preciousness of life and the things that are truly important.  My dad would ALWAYS remind us of all we had done, and reinforce the need for relaxation and taking things in stride.  "Look at all you have done," - I can hear it still.   

The solar project is coming to completion and I am so proud of Bradley for his ability to complete such a huge task.  From the planning, to the paperwork, budgeting, purchasing, permitting, constructing, wiring, it has been a huge task.  Within the next week and a half, we hope to be producing all of our own power.  

Today was the rodeo.  Both boys were in a "driving" float for Dotty's.  They all got to ride or drive in their own kid cars.  Carter drove the John Deere Gator, while Finn or Wyatt sat shotgun, and Miles held on for dear life in the dumpbed.  I don't know why I went for a run this morning, because I got quite the workout after Bradley showed them the difference between first and second gear.  The float won 1st place and all of the kids had a lot of fun.  

For the second year, Carter decided that he wanted to bust a mutton.  This year's ride was about a second longer, but equally exciting.  Don't worry about the end of the video, he just has a delayed reaction in getting up.  After some snowcones, cheesy fries, and tamables (wait is this the fair or the rodeo) it was time for a nap during an afternoon thunderstorm.  

Here's to a productive, mindful, and appreciative outlook to the week ahead.  

Birthday Week Recap

Between the stomach flu, Miles' 2nd birthday party, and the 1st anniversary of dad's death, I think our family has gone through every physical and mental emotion possible in the past week.

Start last weekend the stomach flu invaded our home.  By Wednesday morning, Miles was vomiting all over me and I had to call in a sub.  Mid-day Wednesday I was vomiting all over Miles.  Not really, I made it to the toilet, but it was a close call.  Wednesday evening Bradley was .  .  .  you get the picture. Without my mom, I think our kids would have gone into protective services on Thursday which was actually Miles' 2nd birthday.  We were so sick, it was all we could do to open an eyelid to make sure that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was still playing and that both children were accounted for.  Luckily my mom was able to take Carter to music class for a bit and to her house for a couple of hours.  Just when we though it couldn't get any worse I went to get some water from the sink to sanitize another vomit pile and I realized we had NO water.  Bradley fought off chills and nausea all day to help the pump people figure out why our pump was not working.  LOOOONNNG story short, he sunk a t-post into an upper line of conduit and caused an electrical problem.

By Friday we were all at work and I was only rollling at about 70%.  I told my students my troubles that morning and every mistake I made they replied, "It's okay Mrs. Isbell, 70%!"  I LOVE MY JOB!
Believe it or not, me we made it to the big party on Saturday.  I had advertised a HUGE bubble party and by golly I had to pull it off.  By the grace of Costco, my mom, my mother-in-law, my sister, and Andrew, we made it happen.  We hosted roughly 40-50 people on a beautiful sunny day in the back lawn.  Bradley manned the grill and I manned the bubbles.  The kids had a really great time and Miles seemed to enjoy having all of his friends over at his house.

After a nap and some clean-up we headed over to the 2nd birthday party of the weekend.  Bradley stayed behind to finish the clean-up and it's a good think he did because our burn pile spontaneously combusted into flames.  Ironically enough, my dad a few problems with out of control fires and I honestly think he might have had something to do with this.

Sunday morning came and all of us decided to start the morning with a hike.  None of us wanted to sit around on the anniversary of Dad's death feeling sorry for ourselves, so we decided to go on a hike behind the house to a cell-phone tower.  The hike was really beautiful and we could see the entire Scott Valley, as well as Mt. Shasta and the Marble Mountains.  However, as I was packing Carter part of the way and Bradley was packing Miles, we realized that there was no way in hell dad would ever have gone on the hike.  He would have insisted on just watching the boys at home while we all hiked.

In order to go full circle on this post, I will report that my sister left tonight after vomiting several times. Despite our three full bleach sanitization efforts on the house in the past week, she caught something.  We all tried to eat a nice meal, have a few shots of tequila, and call it a night, but poor Ness was a bit sick.

"My momma said, ' There'd be days like this' ".

Last but not least, here is Miles' 2nd b-day interview:

What is your name?

Miles

Fave Food?

Cereal and Mac and Cheese

Color?

Yellow

Who is your brother?

He goes to Nene's, Carter Bear

Friends?

Clara, Owen, Nene

TV?

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Outside?

Soccer ball

Grow up?

Cowboy, shovel

Spring, Solar, Scary Bunnies, Sleep, and Sweet Moves

Spring is here and that means that the boys are playing outside!   As usual in the Isbell home, we have a new project.  Wait for it.  .  .  A sixty panel solar system, being installed by my handsome husband.  What does that mean for the boys?  About a 1/4 mile of muddy trench to disappear into and play in.  What does that mean for the mama?  Lots, and lots, and lots of Resolve (not the mental kind).  The trench is almost finished, but next comes the huge erector set piece and I can just envision the loss of screws in the upper field from the little helpers.

Since my last post, both the leprechauns and the Easter Bunny have visited the home.  The Leprechaun left green glittered pee in the toilet, and green foot prints on the seat.

The Easter Bunny left some less disgusting and more edible items.  However, he/she did not look at the weather forecast and all of the hidden eggs ended up with soggy candy and a loss of dye.

A couple of days prior to Easter I took the boys up to Ashland because the Easter Bunny was at Paddington Station, and there was also cookie decorating for the kids.  I left for the trip with only the expectation that Miles would destroy his polo with icing, and I therefore needed to make sure I had a backup for Easter Sunday.  As we made our way towards the Bunny, Miles spotted it from the back and he practically leapt from my arms and into a running gait straight towards the rabbit.  However, sheer joy turned to terror when the bunny waved at Miles.  I don't think Miles knew the Bunny was mobile, but he wouldn't even look at the stuffed creature again.  Carter took the obligatory picture, which I have yet to receive, and we headed to decorate cookies.  The cookie pictures speak for themselves, and yes the shirt was destroyed.

As we left Oregon and headed home, Carter informed me that he saw the person behind the Bunny costume, and he didn't think the Easter Bunny was real.  Double score point, on my "Mom of the Year" award tally.  I left with good intentions, and returned with two epic fails:  Miles hated the Bunny, and Carter at the tender age of 4, no longer believed.

Deciding to try to address the religious side of the holiday (what a concept), we attended church in Callahan.  The church is over 100 years old, and feels like an old schoolhouse inside, complete with a wood-burning stove.  We met our good friends and their twin boys there.  The children's time was great, I brought little bags of jelly-beans for the kids, but when it came time for the sermon, all Miles wanted to do was practice swimming on the floor, blazer and all.  On top of his normally loud demeanor, it was a bit of a disaster.  The good news is that the average age of the church goer there was 67, there was only one other "kid" who is in the 5th grade, and therefore they thought the boys were "so well-behaved" and "wonderful".   Wow, I got a workout, Miles pulled off the greatest scam, and then to top it all off they got to have ANOTHER EASTER EGG HUNT!

Church was followed by a wonderful meal at Bradley's mom's house.  She decorates to a tee, and makes all holidays so magical.  She even hand-appliqued the center pieces this year.  The boys had ANOTHER EGG HUNT, and we went home.  The even better news is that after three egg hunts, and numerous Easter gifts, we can now afford a good down payment on their first semester at college.

The boys had their good buddies Wyatt and Finn over for everyone's first "away from relatives" sleep-over.  What a blast!  Spiderman Mac and Cheese, movies, popcorn, and a huge air mattress made for a wonderful night.  Speaking of sleep, both Carter and Miles request nightly to sleep together.  Even though they each have their own bed and their own room, they seem so comforted by each other.  Despite the bickering and yelling, they really do love each other.

To cap off this spring issue: Carter convinced Grandma Cora that he has been taking Karate lessons.  Truth be told, his moves are pretty good, but he has no one to thank but Netflix and the constant streaming of PowerRanger movies.  I guess I should just be thankful none of the moves were used on the Easter Bunny or in church.

Happy Birthday Carter!

Whew, the birthday weekend is coming to a close.  You really score the jackpot when your kid's birthday falls on a weekend day.  Everything - done, bam - ONE DAY.  This year, we were close.  His birthday fell on a Friday.  That meant the actual birthday was still a workday, but we needed to make it special.  Therefore, the excitement of the party then led up to Saturday.  Thus, Sunday is spent fully recuperating, putting toys away, making thank-you cards, birthday books, etc.

Everything would have gone a lot smoother if I hadn't decided to schedule my laser eye correction surgery two days prior to his birthday.  I didn't even think about the possibility of not being able to see, with still over forty cake-pops needing decoration.  Luckily, the blindness only lasted about ten seconds, and the irritation was over by the next day, resulting in completion of cake pops prior to deadline.

We've made it a tradition to take the boys to breakfast at Bob's Ranch House every year.  My dad actually started this tradition, and it was a bit sad this year to not have him there.  After the usual number six for both boys, my mom took them to Eileen's, and he enjoyed cake pops (delivered the night before by yours truly) with his buddies.  After a LONG day at work, I picked him up and took him to Mema's, where he had his customary cake with cousins.  I then took him home where his Auntie Nessie was waiting for him after making the long jaunt from Portland.  She entertained while I made the elaborate celebratory 4 year old dinner of Spiderman Mac and Cheese with hot-dogs.  No judgement here, my quota of creative cooking for the week went into the cake pops.

It was early to bed and early to rise.  We left the house at 8:30 with two kids, cake pops, skiis, waters, duffels of clothing, and goodie bags for the party goers.  Carter and Bradley got a run in, while I set-up, drank a Bloody Mary (this is the birthday gift to all mothers), and took in the view.  The snow was really terrible, what there was of it, but it was a beautiful day.  Soon, many of his buddies showed up, ate pizza, sang to Carter, devoured cake-pops, he opened presents, and then everyone was off to hit the slopes.  Some took lessons, some played on the bunny hill, and some even took a few runs on Douglas.  It was an awesome day.  However, no day of family fun would be complete without a little argument, and that was between Bradley and I over a miscommunication on the meet-up on a run.  Hindsight it was really stupid, but I think a week of four-year old birthday celebration will bring that upon any loving couple.  (And if you're a parent who has NEVER gone through a birthday party without an argument with your significant other over something really insignificant, you're full of it.)

When the kids got tired we just pumped them up with more glucose filled cake-pops and sent them back out.  By four pm (how ironic), it was time to go.  As my good friend and mother of twins so wisely stated, when I inquired about one more possible run "No, you want to end it on a good note".

After a nice dinner in Mt. Shasta, we were home before 7pm, and both boys went straight to bed without complaint or sound.  However, they woke up this morning at 5:55.  They're at the tail end of a nap now, one that I probably should have partaken in, but then who would have downloaded the photos, made the thank-yous, made the birthday book, updated the blog, and paid the bills?  That's right, I damn straight earned that Bloody Mary yesterday.  Happy Birthday Carter!  We love you to the moon and back, but maybe next year your birthday will fall on a Saturday!

Almost four and two!

When kids are newborns everyone loves to tell you to cherish each moment because "it goes by so fast".  In the wake of 3 am feedings and poopy diapers, this advice has little merit.  However, on the eve of both kids turning another year, it feels so real.  I love my boys so much and cherish how different they are.  They are such good boys.

Carter's birthday will be celebrated at Mt. Shasta Ski Park.  Many of his friends have also started skiing this year, and like him, are really getting good.  I have taken Carter skiing a lot this year at Mt. Shasta and I feel very fortunate to have this small ski park so close.  Ignoring the weekend drunks and crazies, it tends to be very family oriented.  A retired teacher and I got the ski/board program going at Etna Elementary, and each time we go with the school I have also taken Carter.  He is now capable of skiing anywhere on the mountain, and only needs assistance getting on and off the chairlift because he is just not tall enough.  We went yesterday morning and I swear, I had a hard time keeping up with him.  Here's the latest video of him skiing:

Miles has continues to express his independence every way possible:  Getting into the car seat, brushing his teeth, putting his boots on, taking a diaper off, and needing little sleep.  His vocabulary is really building, and although his articulation is difficult to understand, the thoughts are clear.  Unlike his brother, he makes a mess everywhere he goes, and still wears clothes a size below him.  We recently converted his crib into a "big boy bed", and he has embraced it well, however I do think the move might have gone to his head.  The new bed seems to have been the catalyst for the new found independence.  

This Valentine's they had another nice party at Eileen's.  All of the kids exchange Valentine's and the boys had a lot of fun helping make theirs this year.  We also had fun at home making a heart shaped pizza, complete with pepperoni hearts.


I decided to interview Carter last night, something I've seen on Pinterest, in order to help capture the essence of who he is, prior to turning four.

Name:  Carter Bradley Isbell

Age:  3, I'll be 4 in six days.
Favorite Color:  Red
Favorite Food:  Pizza
Fave Drink:  Chocolate Milk
Fave Veggie:  Salad
Fave Fruit:  Apples
Least Fave Color:  Black, it's too dark.
Least Fave Food: Potatoes, the red ones.
Fave person:  Biyah
Girlfriend:  Macey
Buddies:  Wyatt and Finn
Who will you marry?  My momma
Why do you love dad?  Because he plays with me.
Why do you love Miles?  Because I really love him.
Where do you live?  Fort Jones
Fave Place:  Hawaii
Fave City:  Portland, because I can visit my Auntie Nessie, Andrew, and go to the zoo.
Fave Sport:  Baseball
What are you awesome at?  Coloring by numbers, reading, skiing.
What do you want to be when you grow up?  A garbage man like my daddy, and work with my daddy.  But, when I am 100, I will go to college.
Fave Movie:  Scooby Dooby Doo

Fave Show:  Curious George

Fave Toy:  My ToyStory toys.

What are your new chores now that you're four?  Feeding Rocky, and cutting wood.  

Fave Restaurant:  Bob's Ranch House

I tried asking Miles some of the same questions, but all I got was giggles and lots of smiles.  .  .  

Aloha 2013!

The day after Christmas, I quickly removed every bit of Christmas decor from the house, and started preparations for our Maui trip.  It was a good thing I got a head start because we all ended up being waylaid by a terrible virus/sickness.  I ended up with an ear infection, we all had fevers, and then the day before we left Carter got an ear infection as well.  We also dealt with an abundance of snow.

After packing up everything short of the kitchen sink, we made it to Oakland.  Interestingly enough, I thought we were traveling out of Sacramento until about 24 hours before we left, so it was a good thing I checked the itinerary.  Once we were about ready to hit the hay, I realized that I had left Carter's antibiotics for his ear infection in the fridge.  We were then set with the task of finding a pharmacy that was A:  open, and B: SAFE.  Bradley ended up in San Mateo, and received a toll violation.  With about six hours before our flight, we made it to sleep.  The next day was a bit rough, but these two are better travelers than most people I saw.

Immediately upon arriving at the hotel, we found the pirate ship pool, and some alcoholic beverages.  The next five days was full of sand, pool time, EXCELLENT food, runs on the beach, sunscreen, walks on the beach, and many wonderful beverages.  It was truly just what our family needed to say goodbye to 2012, and Aloha to 2013.  The trip back was not as wonderful and completely exhausting, but we made it (along with another toll violation).

The first week back at work was a bit hard on all of us.  The boys just wanted to be home, and I just wanted to have a bit more energy.  Plus, I think I was going through happy-hour withdrawls.  :)

Yesterday I took Carter up to Mt. Shasta Ski Park for a day on the slopes.  He had been last year, but still lacked muscle control.  With the help of the "edgie-wedgie" yesterday was a huge success.  We hopped right onto the chairlift, and made a grand total of two runs.  The first run he fell about 30 times, and the second only six.  By the last run of the day, which we were able to share with our good buddies, he only fell once.  However, six hours doing the "pizza pie" can be a little rough on a little guy's legs, and we ended the day with torturous screams in the parking lot back to the truck.  Next time, I will be bring the BOGS into the lodge.  This morning we have barely made it out of our PJs and Carter's legs are super sore, but he's ready to go again.

Deck the Halls - 2012

Amped to get going on the 2012 Holiday season, I really got the Isbell family going early.  In fact, we're still a week out from Christmas and have seen Santa at least three or four times, and the tree may or may not make it another seven days.

This weekend as Carter was putting the finishing touches on the nativity scene, Bradley entered the room and asked him what he was doing.  Carter said that he was, "setting up the manger, because you know dad, it's not just about presents.  .  .  It's also about baby June".  Alas, my heart leapt at the thought that I had indeed truly inspired the Christmas spirit in my son, only to be disappointed that Jesus was in fact June.  (For awhile we thought he said Baby Jew, which would have technically correct).

I have also recorded every possible Christmas movie possible on Disney Junior and Sprout, and Carter got to stay up late last week and watch my personal favorite, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  About three minutes in, I thought we had lost him, and am in fact a little embarrassed to admit that we let our three year old watch the movie.  However, tonight Carter informed me that I was the best mom in the world, (because we made our second batch of Christmas cookies today), but if he did need to choose a new mom it would be " the lady from the Christmas Vacation movie, from when the dad was dreaming about his pool".  Ah - ha !  He did take in the movie!



To recap this month, here's a list of accomplishments:

1 - Breakfast with Santa and crafts in Yreka (Will never repeat without help from another adult)
2 - Christmas cookie decorating with a group of Carter and his buddies
3 - Letters to Santa (I took pictures of the letter before we mailed it to prove to Carter that in fact, he did not add another four things to his list).
4 - Telegram from Santa
5 - Christmas tree-hunting, decorating
6 - Christmas tree decorating - carol singing at my mom's
7 - Christmas tree decorating, with Bradley's mom
8 - Christmas crafts, thumbprint Christmas lights
9 - Callahan Santa (he has a ponytail)
10 - Holiday Hustle 5K run, with Santa and hot cocoa (mom won with a 19:28 5K time)
11 - Three nights of Christmas light viewing (multi-state)
12 - A multitude of Christmas books read over and over and over again

I don't know who will expire before Christmas first, this mama or the tree!