Here's What You've (I mean I've) Been Waiting For

Of Snow Horses

Just about a year ago, when Hippo was a newborn, my sister and her two boys came to visit.  I don't remember much about their stay other than Hippo was crying incessantly.

But...

I will never forget Buddy, my sister's oldest, and his fascination (or obsession) with the Snow Horse.

***

Utah Pioneer legend says:

Once you can see the Snow Horse on the Farmington Canyon Peak of the Wasatch Mountains, you can go ahead and plant your gardens, specifically tomatoes, because the risk of frost is past.

***

L's family has been Utah's largest tomato farm for decades, and so they take the Pioneer advice very seriously.  Buddy, an avid animal lover, learned of the Snow Horse from L's dad, Mister Con, while they were here last year.

Mister Con thought he was being nice and friendly to a sweet interested four year-old child. Little did he know he was creating an obsession.  Buddy talked of NOTHING else during their stay. And boy, can Buddy talk.  

He wanted to know:  what the Snow Horse's name is, what the Snow Horse eats, where the Snow Horse lives, where the Snow Horse sleeps, if the Snow Horse has friends, how old the Snow Horse is, what color the Snow Horse is, how big the Snow Horse is, if the Snow Horse can talk, how the Snow Horse got on the mountain, if the Snow Horse likes living on the mountain, if the Snow Horse ever goes off of the mountain, if he can go see the Snow Horse, if the Snow Horse is mean or nice, if the Snow Horse is wild, if he can have the Snow Horse, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.

See what I mean?

Hence, why I remember it even though I was seriously post-partum with a screaming baby. 

It's  now planting time on the farm, always an exciting time.  And sure enough, the Snow Horse is visible.  Mister Con said to me last week, "Does Buddy still like the Snow Horse?" to which I replied, "We don't talk about the Snow Horse...don't ever mention the Snow Horse under ANY circumstance when Buddy is around."

To Answer Your Question Grandpa...

No.

Sorry for the inconvenient angle.

If your name is Buddy, you may want to leave the room before your mom watches this video. (Hippo's cousin Buddy hates this song.  I think it's the only thing they disagree on).

Notice the several shoulder rolls.

Hip, What's Your Favorite Song?

Can you see/hear him singing along?  He says, "Boom, boom, boom."  

The Trainer In...Me

You know I've been working out like crazy.  

I've always enjoyed working out, really, but there are times I am less motivated to burn calories than I am motivated to consume them.  Further, I am not an athlete--as I've mentioned before. Working out is also complicated by my life-long battle with Asthma (which has sent me to the ER on more than one occasion).  

When I was a kid my sister and I would throw a workout record, of my mom's, onto the old turn table and dress up in our leotards to perform the exercises in the living room.  My favorite track on the record was Olivia Newton John's, "Physical."  I would actually get sweaty during these workouts.

I began playing sports in the fourth grade and so naturally I was pretty fit throughout the years. I remember being complimented on my physique often in early high school.  

Like thousands of other teens, I began to be severely depressed mid-sophomore year of high school and ended up quitting all athletics at that time (one of the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, according to the DSM-IV Revised, Ed. is a loss of interest in things that used to be enjoyable).  Consequently, my weight began to yo-yo.  At one point, without trying, I lost 15 lbs only to gain it back plus 15 more within just a few months.  Weight change is a very common effect of Major Depressive Disorder.  

Eventually, I headed off to college and there I found myself living a food lover's dream come true--all you can eat cafeteria breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Unfortunately, my sister got married a few days after I finished my freshman year which cemented in time (wedding pictures) me at my fattest, somewhere in the 150 lb range.  Fortunately, getting out of the eating 24/7 culture was helpful and that summer I shed at least 20 lbs without trying.  

Depression hit again sophomore year of college and with it my weight blossomed again.  By my senior year, however, my mood had improved and I began jogging nearly everyday and began playing racquetball several times per week. Looking back at pictures of that year I was seriously hot.  This ended my "fat phase" as I like to call it to people who've only met me after the fatness.  People have a really hard time believing that I was so heavy at times in my life, because I have now been quite petite for more than eight years.  

But...then...I...got...pregnant...

I actually only gained 27 lbs over the course of my pregnancy.  Pretty good, really.  I lost the weight within about six months without putting too much effort in.  I, however, never recovered my shape.  There was extra-stuff everywhere. Love handles where there weren't any before--even in the fat phase.  

So in January 2009 I'd had enough.  I got back on the workout wagon--merely 18 months prior I was training for a marathon for crying out loud!

I began to really enjoy myself.  And the results were promising.  As you remember, I put the workouts into over-drive when I was invited to Hawaii which gave me such good results I could easily say I was looking pretty darn fine.

A few days before I was to travel to Oregon I was doing my leg workout when a regular (people who are there often while I am there) gestured to me.  I was REALLY annoyed.  First, of course if anyone male talks to me at the gym I am going to assume they are hitting on me (right?). Second, I go the gym to workout, not to fraternize (like many others do).  Third, I'd seen this guy several times and he had never talked to me before.  Fourth, he was working out with who I had always assumed was his girlfriend/wife.  Fifth, I had my I.POD in and like I could hear what he was saying.

I pull my ear bud out and ask him rudely to repeat.  He said, "Are you a trainer?"

Me:  WHAT!?

Him: Yeah, I'm just wondering if you are a trainer?

*It should be noted this guy is totally ripped--super in shape*

Me:  HAHAHAHAHA!  Uh, no...why?

Him: I've seen you working out a lot and just wondered.  

His girlfriend/wife:  Yeah.

Me:  No.  HAHAHAHA.  Thanks, though...seriously, SERIOUSLY, thanks!

I was giddy all day (I'm still giddy, thinking back on it), bragging to anyone who would listen.  

I've never been more flattered in my ENTIRE life.  I don't think I could possibly be more flattered if someone gave me a mother of the year award or a therapist of the year award.  

Are my priorities messed up?

I guess I should have said yes and told him I charge $100 per session.  Maybe I'll be a more successful pretend trainer than I am a mother or therapist (clearly it's been a tough week in those arenas).  

Oregon, Washington, and Idaho

The month of May has been a month of vacation.  

On April 30 we traveled to Oregon to visit my parents and siblings, and of course Hippo's cousins Buddy and Sambo.  We stayed at my sister's brand new, and absolutely gorgeous and perfect, house.  

Friday May 1st the family traveled, caravan style, to Seattle where we attended a Seattle Mariner's baseball game.  All professional sports teams have theme nights and this game's theme was, "We Are Family," honoring families touched by adoption.  It was a special experience to support Buddy and Sambo and my sister and brother-in-law.  

Hippo was ready, but no fly balls came our way

It was also very cool to bring Hippo to a place, Safeco Field, which is home to many of my favorite childhood memories.  

*Sniff* *Sniff*  Unfortunately Ken Griffey Jr. had the night off .  *Sniff*  *Sniff*

We spent the weekend in Seattle, enjoying Pike's Street Market, ferry rides, and fried fish.

Ferry Ride in Puget Sound--Hippo really liked it

Back in Oregon a few days later Hippo and I were able to visit my elderly and ailing grandma Hazel.  As difficult it is to see her health declining it was touching to see her eyes brighten when the kids came into the room.

While in Oregon we also visited a Wildlife Refuse near my sister's house where we saw a Bald Eagle! amongst other beautiful birds (pointed out, very expertly, by Hippo's five year-old cousin Buddy); ate at my favorite restaurant in the entire world (if you can call it that, it is a sandwich bar at the local butcher in the town I grew up); explored my mom's extraordinary garden (Hippo eating dirt and stones); worked out at my sister's five star athletic club (where I was politely offered a drink of water by an immaculately dressed man pushing a cart full of H2O); had a family dinner where my brother treated us to his culinary expertise (which included pizza and cheesecake...could it get any better than that?); and spent some precious time with my life long friend (and luckily cousin), Brandy.

Hippo very much enjoyed his cousins.  Can't you tell?

***

Though we forgot our camera, last weekend we spent at L's family property in Mink Creek, ID. I used to think Idaho was a ridiculous piece of US property, only good for the 75 MPH freeway speed limits.  Despite the horrid name, Mink Creek has changed my mind completely and has become one of my favorite places in the world.  The quiet nature of this little foothill town (where cell service is impossible for at least 15 miles) is incredible.  The river boasts world class fly fishing and in the summer it is an unbeatable float.  There are canyons to explore on foot or ATVs.  There's an ice cave where in the dead of summer it's still icy, even when it's 100+ degrees Fahrenheit outside.  The wildlife is close by--we've seen owls, eagles and hawks (once saw one nab a fish out of a pond 100 yards in front of us), moose, deer, etc.  

Going to Idaho also means playing the Idaho State Lotto!  

The trip went well, despite it starting off with a family feud and me battling a sinus infection.  L and his brother began remodeling the bathroom in the old homestead only to discover five layers of flooring!  What a chore!  Hippo had fun but got pretty tired of hanging with the girls. When he would get restless his Uncle Bear would carry him around (Uncle Bear is a 300+ lb football lineman) and say, "We're doing man stuff" which absolutely delighted Hippo.  

We've got some special plans this week too.  Tuesday night is the Taylor Swift concert that we are attending with all of L's sisters.  Then Wednesday is L's 30th birthday.   L's birthday always marks the advent of my favorite time of the year.  As I enjoy the outdoors and heat my blogging may get more sporadic than usual.

HIPPO CAN WALK

Just so you know.

Video to come later--when he will cooperate.  In other words, don't hold your breath.