Oh, Colorado....

I'm in Arizona and having a fantastic time at a family reunion.  Seriously...so awesome. But more about that later.

Right now my heart is heavy.  It is grieving, actually, for my beloved Colorado Springs that is engulfed in flames.  The Waldo Canyon fire started around noon on Saturday, June 23. As of 9:30 tonight, it had burned 6,200 acres, jumped the mountain ridge line, and entered residential areas.  I have been glued to the internet (mostly Facebook and this official incident site) and have been horrified at the pictures.  This is way too close to home--just about six miles from my house.

This photo was taken from Dillard's at Chapel Hills mall, which is a mile down the road from Garry's office.

Photo credit: Danielle Mortensen

And one from a building across the intersection from Garry's office.  The friend who took this photo said this glow is unretouched.

Photo Credit: Lindsey Lason

From a neighborhood in our old ward (between Garry's office and our house).

Photo Credit: Julie Zelasko

This one was taken from the Wolf Ranch neighborhood (east of us, but in our ward).

Photo Credit: Shaye Harger

And from Cordera (east and north, but in our ward).

Photo Credit: Tara Kelley-Cruz

Photo Credit: Tara Kelley-Cruz

The sun on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo Credit: Teletha Lambert

Photo Credit: Teletha Lambert

From the Air Force Academy (now evacuated).

Photo Credit: Eric Lescarbeau

With the AFA in the foreground.

Photo Credit: FOX 31 KDVR

This is close to the fire--west of I-25, near Vindicator & Centennial Roads.

Photo Credit: Unknown Facebook person

Homes burning.

Photo Credit: Jonathon Craft

Photo Credit: Kevin Kneble

Waldo Canyon.

Photo Credit: Gypsy Etaugh

Evacuees.

Photo Credit: KOAA 5

Photo Credit: Paula McInaney Woods

The fire after sunset Tuesday.

Photo Credit: Gypsy Etaugh

As of this evening, 32,000 people--including a few people I know and love--have been evacuated from their homes.  Garden of the Gods is burning.  Flying W Ranch has burned to the ground.  I am horrified by stories I have heard of being evacuated on 30 minutes notice, feeling the heat of the flames, and being covered by falling ash.  I have been receiving emails all day from our local church leaders, asking for volunteers to help with people in need.  It hurts my heart to see pictures of the fire, but I am even more pained to be far away and completely useless to my friends and neighbors.  I want to be there and do something and hug the people I love.

We are entertaining the possibility of driving to Mesa after our reunion, partly to avoid the terrible air quality in Colorado Springs, and partly to have a safe haven in case we are evacuated.  This plan sounds kind of great, but there are lots of problems with it, too (mostly because Garry needs to work).  We will watch the news and wait, and probably won't make a decision until Thursday.

Until then, we are mourning and praying.  And praying some more.

One more sleep

Tomorrow morning we are heading off to Arizona.  This time we'll land in Greer, a little mountainous town in the eastern part of the state.  We'll meet my parents and my siblings and their spouses and children, and together we'll enjoy the First Annual Dixon Family Reunion.  I cannot wait.

Preparations are well under way.

Yesterday Gavin and Lexi helped me pack.  They were super eager to fetch socks and swimsuits and Sunday clothing.  Once their little suitcases were packed, however, they assumed it was time to hop in the car and leave!  At dinner last night we finally helped them understand that in "two more sleeps," we could embark on our journey.

Our family is in charge of serving lunch and dinner to the family on Sunday.  Last night I bought all the groceries we will need.  I've never cooked for a party of 24.  It's hard for me to estimate quantities for a group that size!

Garry has been busy making marshmallow guns for the crew.  He also labeled individual bags of marshmallows.

I have put together a Dixon version of Jeopardy, which has the potential to be very amusing.  I hope that playing it turns out to be as fun as I am imagining.  Last week I also designed our reunion t-shirt logo.  I can't wait to see the finished product.

This time tomorrow we'll probably be somewhere in New Mexico with a car full of kids, bellies full of junk food, and DVD entertainment numbing our minds.  Sounds like fun to me!

Visitors

I was thrilled to see my friend Melanie in Colorado Springs this week!  She and her family took a spur-of-the-moment trip out here, and I've been lucky enough to connect with them several times. 

We first hosted the Shahas (along with a few of their boys' friends) for Father's Day dinner.  Lexi really bonded with Bob while Garry and I were finishing the gravy and potatoes.  Melanie suggested that Bob and Lexi sit by each other at the table.  When Lexi sat down, she saved a spot next to her for Bob.  But when Bob walked up to his chair, she looked confused.  She asked, "Are you Bob?"  It was hilarious.

On Tuesday we met Bob and Melanie at the mall for lunch.  After a somewhat rowdy meal, they walked my family back to our car.  Gavin got ahead of the group (of course) and headed for the escalator, which we did not need to ride.  Bob and Melanie then rode the escalator with the kids for a few minutes, just for fun.

That night, Zach, Tyler, Garry, and I enjoyed a Sky Sox game with the Shahas and the Dallys.  We had a great time!  It was a perfect night for baseball.  Garry taught the boys about the plays.  I tried to stay awake (it had been a particularly full day, starting with The Incline).  We all slept soundly that night.

On Wednesday I joined Melanie and a group of fun ladies for lunch at Olive Garden.  Thursday was our final meeting -- a quick stop in a parking lot for a conversation and a hug.  It was so great to spend some time with my dearest friend.  Few people in the world really understand me the way Melanie does.  She truly is the best.

10

The summer has been busy, and so has our little Kate.  She is ten months old today and has the dirty knees to prove it.

Kate is a little whirlwind of energy and activity.  She reminds me a lot of Gavin: always moving and ever curious.  She is interested in so many things and will crawl, stand, and climb to get whatever she deems noteworthy.  Kate cruises around furniture, stands on her own for minutes at a time, and crawls at warp speed.  She has not yet conquered the staircase, standing herself up in the middle of a room, or walking without support, but these milestones are not far distant.  This one is a mover and a shaker.

Kate is very happy baby.  I am especially fond of her giggles and grins first thing in the morning.  She is vocal and expressive and just bursting with personality.  Kate continues to clap her feet and wave her arms (more like flapping her wings) when she is excited, particularly when a long-absent family member suddenly appears.  She has a special bond with Zach.  He can make her laugh like no one else, and the laughter is totally contagious.

Kate LOVES the outdoors.  With the advent of summer came children constantly running in and out of the house.  She is most seriously displeased when she is left inside.  She spends a fair portion of her time standing with her nose to the sliding door, just waiting for someone to take her into the great beyond.  Kate adores swings of any kind and is developing a fondness for grass and rocks, as well.  This month Kate went swimming for the first time and loved it.  She also enjoyed playing in the fountain at a local park.  Also on the water theme, Kate loves bath time, especially when siblings are involved.  

Kate has acclimated to the child watch experience at the YMCA.  She often naps there in the morning while I exercise and the other kids play in the gym.  She doesn't mind babysitters a bit, which is nice, since I am paying a small fortune to sitters this summer while I run here and there by myself.  When I am present, however, Kate will rarely go to another adult.  The major exception, of course, is Daddy, whom she adores.  She is always happy when he walks in the door.

Kate still isn't sleeping through the night consistently.  It's my fault.  I haven't had the heart to sleep train her because she shares a room with Lexi, who is a very poor sleeper.  Those girls wake each other up all.the.time.  I just can't get a handle on either one of them.

Kate is drinking less formula these days.  She just doesn't want a bottle sometimes and will push it away forcefully at others.  There is no mistaking this girl's opinion!  Her diet is consequently expanding to include different textures and temperatures.  She is not very interested in sippy cups, although she did drink about four ounces of pomegranate juice from a cup recently.  I have my eye on switching to [the much cheaper option of] whole milk in August, but that is contingent on her willingness to drink from a cup.  Clearly, I am not in charge around here.

Kate continues to be a daily reminder of our family's blessings.  Sometimes I look at her and can't believe how far we have come in 18 months.  I'm just so grateful for our happy, healthy, darling little girl.

The Incline

This morning I crossed something off my Colorado bucket list: hiking The Incline.  This hike is just what it sounds like: walking up the side of a mountain.  According to this website, The Incline is one mile long, with a 2000-feet elevation gain, with the steepest grade being 68%.  For some reason I have wanted to do this for four years, and today it finally happened.  I met some friends at 5:30 a.m. and we drove to Manitou for a slowpoke attempt at the hike.

Just getting started.  See the top up there?  Yeah, that's not really the top.

It was harder than I thought it would be.  Granted, I'm not in great shape, but I thought that my regular hour-long runs and elliptical sessions would count for something!  And I suppose they did.  But I was still quite winded most of the time.  I appreciated the company of friends.  Starr and I hiked together for about the last half, and that was great.

The view down from about the half-way point.

When I finally made it to the top (in an hour and twenty minutes), I was very tired, but also kind of felt like celebrating.  I'm pleased that my worn-out body can do hard things again.

As I hiked I kept thinking about parallels between The Incline and this thing called Life. As long as I kept my eyes on the goal and put one foot in front of the other, I knew I'd make it to my destination.  Pleasant companions made the journey so much better.  And reaching the top after all that hard work felt fantastic.

Our group: Alicia, Ashley, Heidi, Starr, Lisa, and Jennifer
(plus Sandy, who hiked half-way)

I'm not sure when I'll hike The Incline again, but I hope for another time or two before the weather turns.  Zach and Tyler really want to try it.  We'll see!

Church according to Gavin

We were "late" to church today (15 minutes early) and didn't get a seat in the chapel.  We sat in the first row of the overflow/gym, where the seats are hard and child containment is mostly impossible.  Gavin was restless, and interspersed with mauling me (read: sharing constant physical affection), he had a lot to say.

Gavin: Mom!  No one [meaning the deacons who were passing the sacrament] is coming to us!

Heidi: That's because we are sitting in the back.  They will come.

Gavin: They will go to them [pointing to ward members in a row closer to the front], then to them, then to them, then to them, then to them, then to them, then to them, then to them...and then they will finally come to us.

Heidi: Yep.  Hush.

...

Gavin: Mom! I want my sleeves rolled up like that guy's.

...

Gavin: Mom!  Do I have lines on my head?

Heidi: No.

Gavin: I guess only old people do.

...

Gavin: Mom! That guy [sitting directly behind us] has no hair!

Heidi: You are correct.  Some boys grow up and their hair falls out.  It will probably happen to you.

Gavin: Then I will try to look so cool.

...

Gavin: Know what hair is the BEST?  Smooth on top and spiky on the sides.  Can you cut my hair like that?

...

Gavin: Mom!  I just saw a guy in a purple shirt and a Mowhawk that blinked one eye.  Is this blinking two eyes?  Can you blink one eye?  That guy in the purple shirt can blink one eye.

...

Gavin: Mom!  I am always older than Lexi and Kate.  Always.

...

Gavin: Mom!  I just saw a person with sparkly big toes and pink small toes.

...

Gavin: Mom!  Kate is a fun baby.  That's why we love her.

...

And this, Gavin, is why we love you.

Gifts from the children

The other day while the big boys were at day camp I took the Littles to the park.  We weren't there very long--just long enough for the kids to swing and climb and run for a few minutes.  Oh, and for Gavin to almost break my nose.

I was spinning him on a piece of park equipment.  He was standing up and hugging his body close to the post around which he spun.  Then, just as Gavin passed where I was standing, he flung his head out.  I'm sure he meant to revel in the joy of spinning (one of his favorite things), but instead his head connected squarely with the bridge of my nose.

The impact made a sickening sound.  I screamed, saw stars, and nearly threw up.  But, over the course of the next few hours, I determined that my nose probably wasn't broken.  Today, there isn't even a visible bruise.  It just hurts like the dickens.

...

Last Saturday I was vacuuming the house when the vacuum suddenly quit working.  It had been making a strange sound and the suction wasn't very good.  But I was in a hurry (Garry and I were heading out for our anniversary date) and decided that cleaning 75% of the carpet had to be good enough.  

Garry looked at the vacuum on Thursday night.  During his investigation he removed a few tubes and tunnels, looking for an obstruction.  Did he ever find one!  He eventually removed two Garry-sized handfuls of crud from the pipes.  The crud included several pieces of sidewalk chalk (each one inch in diameter and a few inches long), Go-gurt wrappers, an entire granola bar still in the wrapper, twigs and lawn debris, and LEGOs, plus the usual dust and dirt.

I guess this is what I get for making children learn to use the vacuum.

Day camp

This week Zach and Tyler attended our stake's amazingly awesome Cub Scout Day Camp.  It's fun for me that the boys got to share this experience (for one year!), and fun for them that they both had such great activities to enjoy for three days.  They came home filthy and exhausted every day, much to our mutual delight.

Our stake Primary presidency did an incredible job of organizing and executing this day camp!  The boys made leather wristbands and neckerchief slides and fire-starter kits and other cool gadgets.  Tyler also built a step stool.  Both boys played pioneer games, went on hikes (Zach's was three miles!), rode horses, shot arrows and BB guns on the archery range, and went ice skating.  They completed lots of requirements for rank advancement, but had testimony-building opportunities as well.  I'm so grateful for my boys' chance to have such great experiences with their friends.

I spent Wednesday afternoon up at camp, which was held at the Air Force Academy.  I was reminded that the navigation part of my brain has totally died (I used to be so good with directions!), even when traveling familiar routes to common landmarks.  But eventually I got where I needed to be and, even though we took a detour, transported my group of boys to the ice arena.  I thought I'd be spending the afternoon in the bleachers with the other leaders, but instead got to ice skate with the boys.  It was tons of fun!

On Thursday night we attended a "closing ceremonies" family program at the Academy.  A bluegrass band and some square dancers entertained us while we snacked on popcorn and licorice.  Gavin and Lexi stole the show with their awesome dance moves (they even danced hand-in-hand for a while).  We enjoyed the cool breeze and watched the sun set over the B-52 plane.

Today Zach gets to attend a special camp for Webelos only.  He and his buddies will earn their Engineering badges.  And then Day Camp will end for another year.  Even though Day Camp cost us a water bottle (Tyler lost his), a bicycle helmet (Zach lost his), $40 to the babysitter, a few gallons of gas, and a crack in our van's windshield (plus camp registration fees), it was just so great.  Day Camp will definitely be a highlight of the boys' summer.