O, Pioneers

"Completing a treacherous thousand-mile exodus, an ill and exhausted Brigham Young and fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints arrived in Utah's Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. The Mormon pioneers viewed their arrival as the founding of a Mormon homeland, hence Pioneer Day. The Mormons, as they were commonly known, left their settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois, and journeyed West seeking refuge from religious persecution. The final impetus for their trek was the murder of founder and prophet Joseph Smith on June 27, 1844.

Determined to settle in an isolated region, the pioneers made their way across the plains and over the Rocky Mountains to Utah. They lost many of their party to disease during the winter months. By the time that they reached Utah, the desolate valley was a welcome sight. Potatoes and turnips were soon planted, and a dam was built. With solemn ceremonies, the settlers consecrated the two-square-mile city, and sent back word that the "promised land" had been found. By the end of 1847, nearly 2,000 Mormons had settled in the Salt Lake Valley.

July 24 is still celebrated as Pioneer Day in Utah and several other Western states. The bravery of the original settlers and their strength of character and physical endurance is commemorated with festivities including games and music, speeches, parades, rodeos, and picnics." (From the Library of Congress, Today in History)

Here in Tucson, we celebrate the 24th of July in November. It's just too darn hot in July. Some descendants of the original Tucson pioneers relate stories of their ancestors saying if they had to choose between hell and Tucson, they would choose hell. One of the early settlers, when informed of his "mission" to Tucson, threw down his hat, spat upon the ground, uttered "Dammit!" not entirely under his breath, and moved to Tucson.

The local Pioneer Day celebration took place on Saturday at the Binghampton Family park, where the mormons first settled the Tucson area. The park is named for the Bingham and Hampton families, who bravely settled here before air conditioning. This was far from the actual town of Tucson at the time. The Bingham family still maintains the little LDS cemetery nearby.

There were no parades or fireworks like we experience in Utah, but there was a little barrel train and two bounce houses! Nicco didn't care for the jumping castle because they let about 10 kids in (contrary to the 4 kid limit recommended by the manufacturer) of mixed ages. Nicco was a little intimidated by the 10 year olds bouncing with him. He preferred the inflatable obstacle course. I didn't blame him, and I only had to yell at the big kids twice to stop hiding in the middle and harrassing the littles. I did overhear this gem of a stupid joke while standing in line: "How do you know it's raining cats and dogs?...You step in a poodle." Ha ha!

Nicco rode the train 4 times, because there were 4 cars and Mr. OCD had to ride in each one in order, starting from the back. That's his little buddy Caleb on the left.

Coming around the bend...

He finally made it to the front car. Just in time for us to wander up to where the remnants of deep pit BBQ were being served.

We were treated to a variety of musical entertainment including family choirs, barbershop quartets, mariachi bands (Patrice said incredulously "There are Mexican Mormons?") and a Celtic number.

It was a fine celebration of culture and unity in 85 degrees.

How To...

Didn't we all had to write a "how to" essay at some point in high school? I wrote one with a partner in 9th grade on "How to Get Away With Murder." We gave step by step instructions based on film and literary murders including "The Tell Tale Heart," a short story called something like "The Deadliest Game," Norman Bates, and the Children of the Corn. I think we got as much credit (if not more) for our creativity, literary allusions, and presentation (We recited our essay by candle light with clips from "Psycho" running on the t.v. screen behind us) as we did for our actual writing.

Nicco gave me a how-to lesson this morning, explaining "How to Make a Chocolate Milk Sippy"

It won't take long at all, you'll see.
First, you put in the milk.
Then you put in the chocolate.
Then you mix.
Then you put the lid on.
Then you turn it.
Then you give it.
See? I told you it would not take long at all.

He's ready for 9th grade!

(p.s. If anyone knows the story about a rich guy who hunted and killed all big-game imaginable except for the elusive "man" and basically hires a guy to be his prey, could you tell me the author or the real name of the story? For some reason, it has been on my mind and I can't find it. It will probably drive me crazy until I find it and read it again.)

Dictionary

Booby Thing: [boo-bee thing]
-noun

A woman's undergarment for supporting the breasts.

Synonyms: bra, brassiere
Origin: 2009 <E,F

Context: A little boy sees his mommy putting laundry in the hamper, picks up one of her bras and says "Don't forget your booby thing!"

Halloween Wrap Up

We had three Halloween experiences this year. The first was at Nicco's school a couple of weeks ago. It was still blazing hot and we had to be fairly vigilant about making the kid drink plenty of water between his running around in the heat.
There were several games for the kids to play and win prizes,

A jumping castle

More games. Who wouldn't love a tarantula catapult?

The second was the ward trunk-or-treat party. It was a stark weather contrast to the school party. Here is Nicco in his race car outfit, bulky because he had to put it on top of layers of warm clothes. It seems like no matter what the weather leading up to Halloween or in the days following or where I might be (Denver, Bailey, or Tucson) it is inevitably cold on Halloween. At the ward party there was chilli and hot cocoa, and we needed both to warm our bellies and fingers.

Nicco complained about the food, (the "dip" was not nice for him, i.e. too spicy) and he complained about the games, ("I'm not doing great!" he said in utter dismay when none of the rings he threw simultaneously at the pumpkin ring toss actually landed on the stem.) He complained about being cold, he complained about waiting to get candy, he complained about being tired. After we visited all the quite creatively decorated trunks in the parking lot and finally got into the car to go home, Nicco said "That was the best Halloween party ever! Thanks for takin' me, mom."

Our third halloween experience was on Halloween day. Nicco went trick or treating between his dad on one couch and I on the other. He rang an imaginary doorbell, accepted whatever "treat" we put into his pumpkin bucket (socks, pencil sharpeners, blocks, toy cars from his collection) then dumped them out on the floor to check out his haul. Then he put it all back in the bucket and went "out" for another round. We didn't have any trick-or-treaters, probably because our neighborhood is an older demographic, not a lot of kids. I was glad because Nicco was so content to trick or treat in the living room, I didn't really want him to realize he could be wandering through the neighborhood ringing actual doorbells for actual candy. I was also content watching him trick or treat from my perch on the couch.

At the end of the day, our Halloween was spooktacular! (In the sense that I didn't have to do much, not in the actual spooky sense.)

10/25/09

Nicco's birthday in review:

He started with a treasure hunt. When he woke up, he saw little arrows marking a pathway to several nooks and corners, hiding birthday treasures. "Huh? What the.." he exclaimed when he saw the first arrow leading out his bedroom.

He found the first prize in a cubby in the guest room.

Another one was hidden in the dryer.

Each little package contained an addition to his airplane collection, 6 new ones in all.

Here he is showing Papi and Mamie all his new airplanes.

While Nicco and I baked a cake, the daddy put together a little red wagon (and another treasure hunt. On the ride home from church, Nicco said "I bet there will be more arrows and more surprises!")

He collected all his friends and carefully arranged them, making sure the entire bottom of the wagon was covered. This is a new manifestation of his OCD. All empty spaces must be covered. When he snuggles on the bed, couch, hammock, or in his wagon, he takes FOREVER to arrange all his things so that no spaces are showing.

We played "Uno Moo" (also known as "Moo the Farm" at our house) over and over. It was a good choice. He loves it! He even mostly follows the rules.

Tante Zouzou provided his first Pez ever. It satisifies his love of straight lines.

Grandma and Grandpa got him his very own camera. It said on the box that it holds 90 pictures, but it only holds 26. I made a file on the computer for Nicco's budding photography skills so that he can snap away.
Papi and Mamie also sent him a "Remote control Airbus A380. It's the biggest passenger airplane in the world."
Testing the frosting for the cake.
Sprinkling sprinkles. A deviation from the traditional un-frosted cake, but it is compensated by the fact that this is my best birthday cake EVER! I added a little extra sour cream, a little bit of milk, and I baked it a full 25 minutes less than called for. It is PERFECT! (Except for the frosting...) Joyeux anniversaire! Happy birthday!

Four Years Ago Today...

...we met our boy, who was celebrated across the ocean as the 7.5 pound boy, only known as Boudou Boy for 2 days until we knew he was Nicco.

My soft, sweet angel boy.

My pokin' out ears boy
My squishy boy
My Madsen boy
My Boudou boy
My blue-eyed boy

My silly boy.

My curly-haired boy

My helping boy

My curious boy

My climbing boy

My rough and tumble boy

My cool boy

My posing boy

My angry boy

My hiding boy

My snuggling boy

My artisitic boy

My crazy boy

My smiling boy

My Boo My Bear Bug-a-loo Sugar Bunny Honey Sweet Loving Boy

Insomnia

Nicco goes through sleep trouble phases, wandering into our room in the middle of the night, always with some reason necessitating a mid-night snuggle. His reasons range from fear of the dark, fear of ghosts, fear of masks, thirst, bad dreams, missing his "best friends" (a.k.a. stuffed animals). Usually if I remind Nicco when I tuck him in that he needs to stay in his bed until the sun comes up he will actually do it. At least for a few nights. He has been in his current insomniac phase for about a week. While I do enjoy the snuggles, I don't enjoy waking up at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. I especially don't enjoy the process that goes along with Nicco's snuggles. He can't just climb into bed with us, he needs all his things, including all his "best friends." We have a king size bed, but even it won't accomodate three people and all Nicco's things without major encroachments on MY side. (always my side...) Nicco, an astute negotiator, found some loopholes in the stay-in-bed law. I have told him specifically he needs to sleep in his own bed, not in our bed. He came in the other night and told me "I'm not here to sleep, I'm just here for a snuggle. Do you prefer that?" Unable to argue 4-year-old logic at 2:00 a.m., I let him up for his "snuggle." This morning, he lasted all the way until 5:00. When he came in, he said "I am just here to give you a hug and a kiss." Well, that little manipulator sure knows his mama can't resist a hug and a kiss, even if it comes before the sun is up.

Locks

With the birthday just around the corner, we've had some discussions on what to do for Nicco on his special day. Last night, the boy discovered locks. He has spent nearly every waking hour locking, unlocking, removing, and replacing padlocks on his cubby doors. Once he opened his cubby door and said "These cubbies are full. I have enough toys, I don't need any more." He also said of the locks "These are the best things in the world!"
If only I didn't have this feeling in the pit of my gut that my boy would be heartbreakingly disappointed on his birthday if all he got was cake and locks...

Bizarro Nicco

Nicco's alter ego has an evil laugh (mwah-ha-ha) and shoots lasers out his finger tips. One of his lasers is the "You are fired-inator 3000"

Routine

This is what we do every day.

• 6:00 a.m.: I get up to work on the computer
• 7:30 a.m. : Nicco gets up and asks for a show and a chocolate milk sippy and to be snuggled up on the couch.
• 8:00 a.m. : I finish my morning hours and ask Nicco what he wants to do, and he says thoughtfully "hmmm...maybe...we could...go to the pool?"

It was a little difficult to get inspired to go to the pool this week, the temperature having dropped dramatically from the 90s to the 70s, but I sacrificed for my boy and went anyway. The pools are heated beginning in October, so it was surprisingly refreshing, even in the "chilly" weather. Stepping out of the water into the bracing cool breeze across pool dampened skin to be wrapped in the fuzzy embrace of a towel warmed by the sun is my Arizona equivalent of a fuzzy blanket in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa or a bowl of hot soup. I'll take it. I saw on the weather channel that the high in Denver for today is 35 degrees, with ice and snow precipitation. I'm done working now, so maybe...we should...go to the pool.

Can it be?

A slight chill in the air? 70s and 80s, rather than 90s and 100s? Occasional clouds? A couple of friends from back home were in Phoenix yesterday and drove down to see us for dinner. We ate out on the patio and Becky put on her fleece! There might be "fall" in Tucson after all.

My Uncle's Book

My Uncle wrote a book. My cousin wrote a blurb about it. I echo her sentiments.

Hello friends,
Yes, I am soliciting...but for good reason, my wonderful father-in-law (Uncle) retired last summer and has since written a novel. It just listed for sale on his publisher's website and I am spreading the word. He is a fantastic writer and entertained many with his life story, his way with words and fluid style.
Check it out by clicking on this website and in the author search type in: Greg Messel, the book is: Sunbreaks

http://books.trafford.com/4dcgi/browseaisles.html

You can also click on the link at the top right of my blog under My Uncle's Book. I am going to order it directly from him so that he gets all the profit, rather than a royalty. It is pretty exciting to have a published author in the family! I am excited and anxious for him in this endeavor, and I want to do the little I can to support his efforts.

Yay Uncle Greg!

Happy Birthday Daddy

Yesterday, Patrice celebrated the 10th anniversary of his 29th birthday. Nicco was half asleep when Patrice was on his way out the door to work, but groggily insisted that he had something to say to Daddy. We ran to the door so that we could catch him in time for Nicco to say "Happy birthday, Daddy!"
We made "The Cake" for the birthday boy. Nicco was a big helper, checking to make sure the batter tasted good.

He liked the butter and sugar part best.

I had to go to the grocery store to get a couple of ingredients and Nicco chose the candles. There were all sorts of funky, twisty, fancy candles, but Nicco thought his daddy would like the numbers best. This was my first time baking in this new oven and at low altitude. It turned out okay, but a little dry and the edges burned too much. Next time I will add a little milk and not bake it as long. Other than that, it is delicious as always! (Nicco sprinkled the powdered sugar on top...we had to cover all the brown, and we needed a lot because "sugar is sweeeeet.")

The birthday song and blowing out the candles. A low key birthday for sure, but Patrice knows his boy and girl love him!