May 22, 2016

Every Rock on the Trail


One of the traditions at church is that each congregation will take a weekend and go on a camp out with the "guys." It used to be called Father's and Son's but with the realities of diverse family situations we referrred to it as the Ward Camp (Ward is the term for congregation in the LDS Church).

Of course, the weekend they picked was raining and really windy! As Lucky Dragon and I were getting ready the rain was coming down really hard outside the house and the trees were doing some crazy dancing in the wind. Lady Hiva asked several times if I was sure we should go. But we tried anyway.

Decked out in gear that looked like it was winter, we set out to a nearby canyon called Hobble Creek Canyon. As we drove, Tau'aho told me so many stories (ones that he was making up). As we drove farther into the canyon he started to get really excited, "Daddy (he is back to calling me daddy instead of "Dustin" again), where is the waterfall?" He was wondering  because when we drive up Provo Canyon we always point out the waterfalls that we pass. Then he said, "Are we going FISHING!!? I want to go fishing!" Poor guy was sad when I told him we were not going fishing! He must have really liked to fish. He has been begging us to have fish for dinner all week--something both Lady Hiva and I have found excuses to avoid haha.
He could not pass a dandelion without making sure every seed was off of the stem


He then spotted off in the distant mountains fingers of snow trailing down the peaks, he said, "Look! I see a waterfall!" I told him it was snow and he promptly said, "Like on the North Mountain? Is Olaf over there?" Oh boy...the influence of Disney.

Once at the camp we went for a hike. We did not bring up a tent because it was so stormy in the valley, but there was no wind or rain up in the canyon. Should have brought the tent! While everyone else was struggling over their tents we walked up the creek towards the summit. It was beautiful to see how green it was after a few days of rain--something you don't get often in the desert of Utah. Lucky Dragon loved seeing all the of the trees and running up ahead of me. He would yell as he went along, "I am FAST like a cheetah and bumpy like Mongoose!" (Mongoose is the name of our car that he believes is part of the family. He will even tell you that the family is Mommy, Daddy, Tau'aho and Mongoose. He demands we tell the car goodbye and I love you when we leave it).
"Can't Catch me Dad! I'm FAST like a cheetah and bumpy like Mongoose."

We stopped to be "a statue" on a tree stump and he loved throwing rocks into the creek. Literally, I think he thought it was his mission to throw in every. single. rock. on. the. trail. into the creek. I would try to get him to move along and he would say, "Wait! I'm not done!" and would scour for more rocks, even digging them out if there were not enough loose rocks. I was entertained by his laughter at the splashing and his narrating the experience. It was also interesting to see the way that he is ambidextrous and would throw with both hands--that is one trait he got from me that Lady Hiva doesn't make fun of! (Others being a gag reflex, crooked teeth, and talking too much!)
Playing Statue




If he wanted to throw in all the rocks...he has a LOT of work ahead of him

We ended the evening talking with friends, shooting a compound one of the neighbors had brought and roasting marshmallows by the fire. We truly do love this kid so much. His love for life is contagious.
Learning about "Potato Bugs" and the way they protect themselves. He was mezmorized




May 15, 2016

Fish Stories


So these two people that I live with decided they wanted to be fisherman. Tau'aho got the idea in his head from his mum when they visited a nearby campground and watched people fishing and kept telling us that he wanted "to go fishing."

When we found a Lightning McQeen fishing pole he was hooked on the idea. So we bought Lady Hiva a pole and a license too. And Saturday morning we shirked our chores to hit the water (We fell into that fisherman's dilemma quickly! haha).






As we were driving up the canyon I heard Lady Hiva watching a Youtube video about how to set a line and fish! WHAT?!?! Hello, after going on 9 years of marriage she STILL doesn't trust that I know how to do things! haha.

We went to Vivian Park in Provo Canyon. It is a large pond they stock with fish for children to fish. Sadly, it was a bit warm for the fish to bite, so we ate our lunch, or as Lucky Dragon puts it, "had a picnic." We went back home to do those chores we neglected and went back fishing again in the evening! Yes, twice in a day.








The evening fishing was, by far, better. Between Lady Hiva and Lucky Dragon they caught six fish! He would reel in the pole and get distracted watching the fish fight. We would have to remind him to keep reeling. He had so much fun. We literally sat there for several hours and he would have stayed longer if it did not get dark.



















We ended up keeping two of the large fish to gift to Lady Hiva's family (neither of us eat fish) and when I went to gut them she, again, asked incredulously if I knew how to gut a fish! Seriously, it is good I have some sort of proud ego or she would wound it permanently! haha. By the time we finished the day and she was begging to stay longer she admitted that I knew what I was doing and they she had fun! Thank you, thank you!

So I can see Lady Hiva and Lucky Dragon up fishing more often. A new hobby for the family I guess.