I went to my high school ten year reunion today. I found that I felt much less awkward striking up a conversation with my friends from the past whose blogs or FB status updates I had kept up with. Thanks Blogger and Facebook.

On Saturday we went to a BBQ for Richard’s firm that was at the home of one of the partners.

It was a beautiful home, the type of home that makes someone with three small children squirm. High ceilings, original artwork and a beautiful flared staircase. The slightest squeak from Miriam reverberated off the granite counters and tile floors.

When we arrived most of the children were in the back swimming. It was really hot outside so Richard and I opted to eat in the cool of the mansion. Very bold. But the kids did well and when they were finished I took them into a bathroom to change into their swimsuits.

Located on the wall, where a light-switch would be found in most homes, was a small device containing various buttons for things like lights, fans and probably the ignition to the BWM in the garage. I made my best guess, pushed a button and the lights came on gradually like they do in a movie theater. Wow.

Cameron threw the toilet seat up to relieve himself and just as things began to “flow”, the lid slammed back down and he relieved himself all over the tile floor. I panicked. After trying to figure out the best way to clean up without leaving behind any evidence/odor or having to enlist the assistance of the hostess I ended up using one of the beach towells we brought. I shoved it into the bottom of our bag and warned the boys not to retrieve it.

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly but as we drove out the gate at the end of the long driveway I couldn’t but help breathing a sigh of relief.

On Saturday we floated the Boise river with some friends. I hope they don’t mind my sharing this story. Not too far into our float, after we had all six children somewhat settled by shoving licorice in their faces we started approaching a woman, fully dressed in street clothes, standing in the middle of the river holding on to her tube. Our logistics were thus: Richard and I with our two boys in one raft, our friend with three of her children in another raft, and her husband and their little boy on a large tube. For much of the river we kept our rafts together by holding on to the ropes that run around the top of the rafts. Since the woman was right in the current we couldn’t avoid her and sort of bumped our way past.

Some time went by and I was distracted by various river diversions but then I noticed that the woman was back on her tube floating along with our little group. Upon closer investigation I noticed that she was holding on to the rope of Jason’s tube. Really awkward. Just floating along with us, without saying a word. I looked at Tricia and whispered “What’s up with her? Why is she holding on to his tube?”

I mean, I’m not trying to be a river snob here, it was just a little odd. A complete stranger joining our party with a tight grip on my friend’s husband’s tube.

“He’s hot.” Tricia said matter-of-factly.

After awhile Jason started small talk and eventually I think he asked her name. Turns out she had been separted from her own group, and I guess we looked like pleasant company. Further down the river she spotted her family on the shore and Jason gave her tube a good shove toward the river’s edge. Farewell river companion.

We had a great time, and the kids [mostly] loved it. I wish I had pictures but we were too worried about dropping the camera overboard.

She’s still sucking her thumb but usually it is just when she is tired and/or falling asleep.

This is Jewel at a performance in Boise, forever endearing herself into the hearts of the locals.

I suppose most of you have read this on Facebook. That’s where I discovered it. But it delighted me. Enjoy, and keep your snit to yourself.

1. 28 June 2010- Richard and I celebrated seven years of marriage. I am certainly hoping that neither of us experiences any type of itching in the next 12 months. Although I read that these days the “seven year itch” might be more accurately called the “second year itch” since marriages are not lasting as long as they used to. In which case, we have long since been in the clear.

2. In anticipation of the return of my brother from overseas, my two other brothers came to Boise. (Great was their disappointment when said brother missed a couple flights and was marooned in Dallas overnight.) But we took advantage of their presence for a day. We had a picnic in the park and played a little wiffle ball.

3. 29 June 2010- My youngest brother Evan returned from his two year mission in Greece and Cyprus. Naturally, being in the Generation Y, it was only a matter of minutes before he had cell phone in hand, fresh off the plane. He told me later that he felt handicapped without a cell phone. It goes without saying that the youngest of six children is likely to endure a great deal of teasing. (I guess it doesn’t go without saying, because I just said it.)

4. 30 June 2010- My older brother had to return to Seattle before Evan’s return, and Darren returned to Twin Falls shortly after. But the house was not quiet for long, the next day my two sisters arrived from Henderson, Nevada thus reuniting all six grandchildren. (Virtually impossible to have them all look at the camera at the same time.)

5. 4 July 2010- Adri & Lori’s husbands arrived on Independence Day. Some brave family members ventured downtown to watch a firework display.

6. 5 July 2010- Bryan returned to Boise from Seattle, along with Brit. We were all thrilled to see that Brit has a “baby loading”. We now all refer to Bryan and Brittany’s future baby as “Tie-breaker” because he/she will disrupt the balance of 3 grand-sons and 3 grand-daughters. What’s it gonna be?!?!

7. 6 July 2010- Our family of 21 departed for a few days of quality bonding time at a cabin in Garden Valley. (Getting all 21 of us in a picture just “wasn’t in the cards” as Adri would say.)
8. A particularly comical moment at the cabin. We forgot to bring a cable to connect our computer to the t.v. so Evan could show us pictures from his mission. So we all pulled out our own laptops and watched them via a Picasa album as Evan narrated through the photos. Technology is amazing. Interestingly there were six computers and five of them were Toshibas. We had a hard time keeping track of whose was whose as they were dispersed around the cabin for World Cup updates, access to recipes and occasionaly members of Generation Y checking blogs or Facebook.

9. Other highlights included a ping-pong (or “pink-ball” as Eli called it) tournament put together by Richard, with a bracket and everything. The women did not fare well in that tourny so Bryan put together a Ladies Bracket. It was a sweep by the Stevens with Sean winning the original tournament and Lori pulling off an upset in the Ladies Bracket.

In an effort to harness some of the energy exhibited by the three little boys Lori came up with the “Bubbly Boy Boot Camp” which included a lot of marching and some fun games coordinated by Adri. Even the adults got in on the action.

Other activities included air hockey, biking, swimming, puzzle-ing, napping, reading, playing games, discussing, a whole lot of taking care of kids, campfire, and of course eating. The food was delicious because as Richard put it, everyone brings their “A” game when it comes to meal preparation.

10. 10 July 2010- We returned to Boise, exhausted. That night we had a BBQ birthday party for little Thea who will be turning one year old in a few days.

Of course I have a hundred more pictures and stories, but this post has taken me nearly two hours to assemble. For those (besides my family) who took the time to read it I apologize if you want the last couple minutes of your life back. I love my family and getting us all together is no small feat in consideration of distance, jobs, transportation and school. The last couple weeks have been chaotic but sublime.

Wow. I left my deepest thoughts of late front and center on my blog for a l.o.n.g. time and I only got one comment?  Come on deep thinkers!

We’ve been busy around here.  L.O.T.S. to post about tomorrow. 

Don’t you l.o.v.e. it when people employ improper use of punctuation for added emphasis?