Hey! Hey! The Gang's All Here!

Last week was our family reunion at the lake. For the first time since my mom's wedding (2 years ago) all five of us McClellan kids and our families were together at the same time. We ended up having pretty great weather this year...except for the first day...unlike last year when we had temps in the 50's in August. It was good to see everyone and it was fun to see all the grandkids together. Everyone is growing up so fast. We never could coordinate everyone to get some group family pictures...plus my camera seemed to never be at hand when I wanted it...but I did manage to get some pictures of most of the group I think.

Here are some pictures of what we were up to:

We had a sushi night...this is getting to be a tradition.

Jayme and me making the rolls

Kirk and Tyler making us laugh

Kirk manning the deep fryer

Enjoying the fruits of our labor...it was so good!!

We celebrated Kirk's birthday by eating escargot...his birthday request...along with our sushi. Yum. I swear it is so good. Who couldn't love buttery, garlicky escargot on a french baguette?

We even got Reilly to try some by bribing her with $3 dollars.

It's really good...I promise!!

Chewing it. It wasn't so bad after all.

Kirk raided the dress-up box. What a particularly fetching ensemble. Yes...he took a stroll up the street in it too. I blame this tendency on my Aunt Marji and Uncle Dennis who made "polyester parties" (where adults and children dress up and then stroll the beach/street acting like nerds) a family tradition. Kirk put together 3 different looks on three different days...my personal favorite was the "crazy canoe-er". Kirk in his underwear, too small life jacket, with a trucker hat. How I wish I got a picture of that but I was laughing too hard.

We hit one of our favorite eateries. Oh Osaka bowl how I love you!!

We went for hikes.

On this particular day we made a pilgrimage to Mrs. Beasley's grave.

Paying our respects. Kameron made a nice cross to add to our ribbon that marks the spot.

We ate ice cream at Twin Echo...enormous ice cream cones...Tyler ended up finishing off all of these.

Kameron, Kaiden, Ailey and Bryn

I love the look on Kaiden's face. "Mine's pretty good but yours looks good too Ailey." (Do note that Kaiden and Bryn are in pajamas...I love it!!)

We caught up with each other.

Kelley and Jordin

My Aunt Margaret and Aunt Ade

Granny and Ken

Kirk and Kaiden

Jordi and me

Jordin, Jaylah and Ramon

We played the Wii

We karaoked

We reminisced about the past--

The lake circa 1980-ish:

Cousin Tania, Kristin, Kelley and Stacey

The lake 2010...recreating our original pose:

Tania, Kristin, Kelley and Stacey

We went for walks:

This is a picture of my FAVORITE cabin on the lake. My grandparents almost bought it but didn't...shoot!! We all love it. But...Lilac Lodge is still pretty great too.

We relaxed:

Reilly

Kameron

Ailey

Bryn

We enjoyed one another's company:

Stacey, River, Tania, Mom, Kristin and Kelley

Kelley and Elle

Ken's daughter-in-law Julie and her two daughters

Jordi and Jaylah

We or should I say Ken did a bunch of yard work and increased our beach size by quite a bit. The memorial is now a much nicer area to swim from and Echo Beach is once again a beach. Also, a swim barrier was set up to try to reign in the little kids. It worked pretty well.

Little kids...don't cross that line!!

We had some beautiful bonfire nights!! I love sitting around a bonfire until late. We laid on the dock and watched the meteor shower and made wishes. Tyler, me, my mom and Kirk went night swimming in the rain...double score!!

The haunting of Lilac Lodge continued...via the ghost baby...creepy. (A crying baby was heard over the monitor when no baby was around...and creepiest of all...one night at the bonfire my grandma who is blind and getting senile said to my mom "The girl sitting next to me was rocking her baby and now they are both fast asleep!!" (There was no one sitting next to my grandma.) What would the lake be without a ghosty appearance? :)

We built sand castles and rivers...Ramon was awesome!!

Dane and Kameron getting in on the action

We played badmitton and basketball...we forgot to have our water balloon volleyball game. Shoot.

Cute Jaylah

Fish were caught even a frog was caught as it came swimming by...exciting.

The kids played and played:

We boated and water skiied and wakeboarded for days on end. I was glad to see that my previously broken wrist didn't prevent me from getting my butt hauled out of the water to wake board!!

My grandma went swimming...which she loved. It was fun to see her swimming again. You don't need your sight to swim.

Look at that smile!!

But you might need someone to keep you from going out too deep.

It went by too fast but it was fun while it lasted!! I miss the out-of-towners already. :(

Until next year!! XOXO

New Blog on the Block


There is a great new blog being written by one super cute blogger. It's called Reilly Revels. If you would like to know what Reilly is reveling in email me and she will invite you. Freaks need not apply. :)

A Visit From Grandma and Grandpa


So as per my last post...am I the only one who goes a little insane cleaning or just insane in general when guests are about to arrive? Tell me I'm not the only one who gets a little hopped up on bathroom cleaning supply fumes and has to have her husband pry her fingers off the vaccum she is tightly gripping? C'mon we all do that right? Needless to say I chilled out...a little husband inflicted "mommy time-out" and all was right with the world.

The kids were very excited for the arrival of Grandma Judie (Tyler's mom) and Grandpa Joel (Tyler's step-dad). The weather was horrible most of the time they were here but luckily the first day was pretty nice and we were able to do a little of this:

Grandma and Grandpa had previously sent Kameron a rocket in the mail. He and Tyler had a great time putting it together and launching it. Kameron wanted to launch it while they were here. So off to the elementary school we went. Aahh...it takes me back to 5th Grade at Sage Creek Elementary and Mr. Strong. I loved my Red Devil Rocket!!


Grandma and Grandpa got in on the action. They also happen to be the cub scout leaders in their ward and got Kameron all excited about scouting again...and helped me to get a better attitude. Hmm...coincidence?

Blast Off!! Unfortunately the wind was against us and this rocket ended up on someones roof. Oops.

We had fun playing on the playground.

Tyler and his mom

Grandma Judie and Grandpa Joel and all the kids

Bryn was a crack up with her purse and Winnie the Pooh. She refused to put either down.

Then it was back to our house for a BBQ. Oh yes...the bloody bastard of a deck is finally done!!

Relaxin' in the double rocker

We had a fun night visiting and seeing all of their pictures from their recent trip to Sweden, Ireland and Scotland. They are quite the world travelers.

The next day we were up and at 'em for another day of fun. It was rainy but the kids had fun hanging out and eating pizza in Grandma and Grandpa's deluxe fifth wheel trailer...talk about Swagger Wagon. It is nicer than our house. Trailers have come a long way.

Check out the fireplace!!

Judie and Joel camp in style

Then we were off to Greenbluff for cherries. Wow!! I think we got the best cherries that I have ever had.

Brynnie was a "Grandpa's Girl" the whole time they were here.

We took a drive up to the top of Mt. Spokane. What an amazing view.

From the top you can see seven lakes...our lake included.

Two of the seven lakes...our's is the one on the right. The kids were so excited to see "their" lake!!

On top of the world...or as close as you can get at 5883 feet. You can see Washington, Idaho and Canada.

We came back to our house and had a fun dinner and evening. The highlight of the night was Tyler breaking our dining room chair. One minute he was sitting the next minute CRASH he was on the floor. Tyler was laughing so hard he couldn't get off the floor and I was laughing so hard I neglected to get a picture and boy do I regret it!! :) Tyler also helped his mom figure out Facebook. So all you "friends of Judie"...she will finally have a profile picture and some other pictures posted. Yay.

Judie and Joel were able to attend Sacrament Meeting with us this morning which was a fun and rare phenomena. The kids were very excited to have "visitors". But then they had to take off and hit the road towards Glacier. I told you they were world travelers. We enjoyed the visit and had a lot of fun.

Come back for another visit soon!! We love you.

Pre-In Law Visit Psychosis


Have you ever been talking to someone about something random and suddenly it's everywhere...the subject of your conversation...and you think....hmmm odd. Am I the only person this happens too? Like have you ever had a personal inside joke with someone and some how it ends up on Saturday Night Live as a skit? This has happened to me more times than you would believe. Is my unconscious tapping into some universal vibe or are those satellites really powerful and I am extremely interesting?

It has happened again. On Sunday Tyler and I were having an intense discussion on feminism. Oh yes...that's how we while away our Sunday afternoons. What do you do? Nap? Anyway...we were having a most interesting discussion. Is feminism dead? Dying? Or is the world going all Gloria Steinem again. I am a bit of an enigma to Tyler. I am a feminist wrapped in the riddle of a satisfied and contented hausfrau. How is this possible? To Tyler you are one or the other. To me it is clear that a happy hausfrau in 2010 is a feminist without question. Duh?

(Do note that I still find it impossible to actually call myself either a housewife (gag) or a homemaker (double gag). I enjoy hausfrau.)

Several days later via Facebook Tyler's cousin's wife posts a link to a great blog; which is quite funny and you should check it out. What do my eyes light upon but my very own argument with a little pizazz thrown in.

From kasm.blogspot.com from the post "You Can't Have It All":

"... I think there is an interesting feminist backlash going on right now in the form of people who are really into homemaking and claim to be anti-feminist. They can do and say what they want. That's part of feminism. Actually, it's just part of being a nice, fair, person who lets other people live their life. What do I care? I happen to not be good at homemaking, or maybe I'd go all Martha Stewart on you. I think a lot of people my age are "rebelling" or asserting their individuality by embracing the 50s because maybe they grew up in the 70s and 80s with a working mom and Claire Huxtabel so now baking bread in heels and an apron seems quaintly retro and awesome. And their mom's are going, "Red lipstick and homemade cupcakes? Yeah--we remember Donna Reed just a little too well for it to be awesome to us." Kind of like how I remember baggy fluorescents and stinky plastic flats just a little too well for the 80s to be awesome to me."

My argument in a nutshell. I can guarantee you that Tyler will read this and say:"that's what you were saying?!" But that was my argument with a dash of wartalk, the gospel, and a sprinkling of patriotism thrown in for good measure.

What was the point of this post? Who knows. I'm hiding in our bedroom trying to avoid having to get my house all spic and span due to the imminent arrival of the inlaws. It is nearly impossible to get my house spic and span due to the fact that every time I turn around some child of mine is making a mess in the area I just cleaned and snacking on something crumbly in every room BUT the kitchen and if they don't stop I might have yet another psychotic break!! Did I mention that I was a satisfied and contented hausfrau?

To top it all off tonight is pack meeting for scouts...another enigma...is scouting a kind of cultish worship of the Jungle Book with a Native American vibe thrown in for flava? Why does being called akela give me the creeps? Discuss.

This is what happens to me before the arrival of the inlaws...I clearly lose my mind...that and my neck has seized. Later.

Why Can't They Make a Sunblock That Smells like Coconut?


Shouldn't this be possible? I mean they can grow an ear on the back of a hairless mouse. Why not make sunblock/sunscreen smell good? I'm jaded. I just had an appointment with my dermatologist and things didn't go well. I got scolded....more than scolded...I got upbraided. I felt like I was sixteen and just got caught sneaking out...except that I had the added humiliation of wearing a paper gown.

I had gone in for my usual. Mole checks and melasma. What is melasma you ask? If you aren't acquainted with this nuisance consider yourself lucky...like those of you who don't have cellulite...and those who have thick and luxurious hair. Damn you lucky people!! The symptoms of melasma are dark, irregular patches commonly found on the upper cheeks, nose, lips, upper lip, and forehead. It used to be called "the mask of pregnancy" only mine lingers after pregnancy...long after. The solution is to stay out of the sun and wear copious amount of sunscreen. That is easier said than done since where I live I feel like a character in the Ray Bradbury short story All Summer in a Day. If the sun is out...I must be in it. Basking.

"Well Kristin...It looks like you were in here about melasma three years ago. I told you what you needed to do to get rid of it. Why didn't you do it?" said Dr. M. In trying to defend myself I launched into my sordid past of trying to get pregnant...miscarriages...pregnancy...breast-feeding...during none of which can her precious cream be used. She softened slightly. She wrote out my paper to get the precious cream again. Then she kindly checked my moles.

Then she got out her little light and began going over my face. That's when the "tsk-tsk"-ing began. "Wow. You've got a lot of sun damage". I do? I swear that I am one of the few in my extended family who religiously wears not only sunscreen but sunblock. I stay a perpetual shade of creamy ivory...barely tanning at all. All this while my mom liberally spritzes herself in coconut oil!! I don't think her skin has ever even been touched by sunscreen. My sisters and brother are the same. I get looks of pity as we compare skin tones. I always win as the fairest in the land. Do I love it? No. I love a nice dark tropical tan but I don't love having moles removed and waiting for the results. Ergo I am pale.

Dr. M asked me if I regularly wear sunscreen...of course. Do I use a moisturizer than contains sunscreen...absolutely. "What is the SPF"? 50 I confidently answered. I just bumped up. "And in your moisturizer? 30...I also just bumped up from 15. Ha! Take that. I was feeling pretty good about myself when she leaned over with her nasty little light and said "You need to be wearing an SPF of 80." What?! Do they even make that? Apparently they do. She also said that I needed to be wearing at least an SPF of 70+ in my daily moisturizer. Then the kicker. "Kristin, do you know those little old ladies that wear the funny hats out in the sun?" Um-yes. "Well...that needs to be you." Fabulous.

Then it got worse. "You need to start applying it on your neck and your decolletage...it is starting to age." How is this possible? I barely have decolletage and now I have "old" decolletage. Rude. I then made the mistake of saying that I really had no idea I had to be so intense about everything and she said "You don't have to be...and you can have wrinkled, patchy skin and skin cancer. It's up to you." (She's kind of a tell-it-like-it-is doctor...but she does have lovely skin.) I then sheepishly nodded that "Yes... I will do a better job of taking care of my skin" grabbed my prescription paper and made a run for the door.

And then I spent my weekend doing this:

Now in case you were worried about my decolletage...don't be. I was slathered in...non-coconut smelling super sunblock and walked away from a day at the lake as milky white as I was before. Jealous?

Summer is here and the heat is on. I love it!!

Three bathing beauties: Elle, River and Ailey

Ailey wearing her 4th of July swimsuit that it was too cold to wear on the 4th of July.

Bryn made in the shade

Stacey (smelling deliciously coconutty) and Ailey

River

Kamers

T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Wish You Were Here!!

(Now don't forget to wear your sunscreen.)

For Ramona


Remember when I used to write book reviews? It's been a long time. I have had a request for more reviews...so even though Ramona doesn't read my blog...she reads my Goodreads reviews (which are the same) and this is for her. Here are a few easy fun summer reads.


Graceling by Kristin Cashore


This was our book club pick for July. I don't read much YW fantasy...truth be told I don't really like Fantasy... but I was willing to give it a try. My friend, Janyse, described it in such a way that it piqued my interest.

From School Library Journal:

In Katsa's world, the "Graced," those gifted in a particular way, are marked by eyes that are different colors. Katsa's Grace is that she is a gifted fighter, and, as such, she is virtually invincible. She is in the service of her tyrannical uncle, king of one of the seven kingdoms, and she is forced to torture people for infractions against him. She has secretly formed the Council, which acts in the service of justice and fairness for those who have been accused and abused. Readers meet her as she is rescuing the father of the Lienid king, who has been abducted. The reasons for his capture are part of a tightening plot that Katsa unravels and resolves, with the help of Prince Po, the captive's grandson. He has his own particular Grace, and he becomes Katsa's lover and partner in what becomes a mortally dangerous mission.


I was drawn in from the start. I liked this tale of the seven kingdoms and "gracelings." I liked the world that Kristin Cashore created. I liked the action, adventure, danger and intrigue that Katsa and Po undertake. That said...I somewhat disliked the main character, Katsa. She was too bad-@##. Don't get me wrong...I like a strong female character...but Katsa was rough around the edges and I didn't ever really warm up to her. Plus her name is just a tad to close to "Katniss" and I felt like that was contrived. Also-- who names the hot male love interest "P0"? All that does is conjure images up images of a giant teletubby. Not sexy.

My main complaint is with the author's blatant feminist agenda. Marriage equals bondage. Children equal bondage. The anti-marriage attitude of the main character was too over the top and in your face. I have since read that the author said that she had no "agenda" and didn't intend for her book to be taken in that light. I have to say BOLOGNA!! Get real.

So even though I sound critical I did get lured into the Seven Kingdoms world and I actually enjoyed it. I would under no circumstances recommend this for a 13 year-old due to the anti-marriage/let's just be lovers attitude. But for an adult who has a bit more life experience and can read between the lines it's a fun summer read.

My rating: Good.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Graceling was Kristin Cashore's debut novel...this is her second novel...although it is a prequel to Graceling. My friend, Janyse, said that I would like this book even better than the first. She was correct. I did.

From School Library Journal:

"This fantasy, shot through with romance and suspense, is set in the same world as Graceling (Dial, 2008), but on the far side of the mountain barrier in the kingdom of the Dells. Here there are monsters, enhanced and exceptionally beautiful versions of various animal species. Fire is a human monster, so beautiful that she has to hide her hair for fear of attack by both raptor monsters and human men. She is able to enter other people's minds and exert power over them. It is a tumultuous time in the kingdom, as various lords are preparing to overthrow the king, and Fire is drawn into the fray."

I feel that in this book Cashore has grown as a writer. I felt that the writing, plot, character development, establishment of scene, all of it really, improved in her second book which had a more adult tone. I enjoyed the characters in this book much more than those in Graceling. The protagonist, Fire, has strength AND vulnerability which makes her a much more likeable character. This was a story with appealing characters (except for creepy Leck and Cansrel) and a compelling plot. When I started it I was unsure that I would like it and it took a bit to work my mind around Cashore's concept of "monsters" but once I did I was pulled in and enjoyed it.

This book still pushes an anti-marriage agenda but it is a bit more subtle. The pro-casual sex attitude of this book is blatant and, in my opinion, irresponsible. So once again I would not recommend it for it's YA teen audience. But like Graceling, I enjoyed it and will read the third in the trilogy.

My rating: Good...slightly better than Graceling.


The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart


I read about this book on my friend Lucy's blog. It sounded interesting so I checked it out from the library. This is more YA literature. Who knew I would be reading so much?

From Booklist:

"... In the summer between her freshman and sophomore years, Frankie Landau-Banks transforms from “a scrawny, awkward child” with frizzy hair to a curvy beauty, “all while sitting quietly in a suburban hammock, reading the short stories of Dorothy Parker and drinking lemonade.” On her return to Alabaster Prep, her elite boarding school, she attracts the attention of gorgeous Matthew, who draws her into his circle of popular seniors. Then Frankie learns that Matthew is a member of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, an all-male Alabaster secret society to which Frankie’s dad had once belonged. Excluded from belonging to or even discussing the Bassets, Frankie engineers her own guerrilla membership by assuming a false online identity."

This was a fun, witty and smart read. I really enjoyed it. I like a YA book that makes you think...there are so few of them. Hello Twilight. Frankie Landau-Banks is a unique and fresh protagonist. What's more...she's smart!! While this book is a quick and easy read some of the themes would make for great discussion. Perfect book club choice. I love that the main character analyzes. She thinks deep thoughts. She actually READS. (You had me at P.G. Wodehouse.) Has Bella even heard of Wodehouse? Um...no. (I love it when authors allude to other works. It makes me happy. Thanks Mrs. Dunseth for making me write several papers about this in high school.)

This book asks questions about power, gender expectations, self-worth versus value assigned by society and female empowerment in a fun and fresh way. It had me analyzing my own behavior in high school. I loved the whole "should I wear my boyfriend's shirt or not" part. The "what does that say about me?" Does it mean that I am so fabulous that he wants everyone to see that he likes me or is he marking his territory or am I just his doll to dress up? Great writing.

(BTW-teenage Kristin wore Rex's shirt with PRIDE and bragged to all her friends. She never even batted an eye. To her it was proof of how much he liked her. Teenage Kristin was not deep. Sadly teenage Rex probably wasn't making a statement when he let teenage Kristin wear his shirt. It was just a shirt. But it is fun to talk about now. Did you wear your boyfriend's shirt?)

As for Frankie, I admired her for her passion but sometimes I didn't really like her. I thought she was too much. She took things too far. She became obsessed, made some bad choices that led her down some bad roads i.e. civil disobedience etc. but I understood where she was coming from and what led her there.

All in all, I found this to be a fun and thought-provoking book.

My rating: Good.