August 10, 2008

July 2008

Dear Kids,
Originally I had planned on writing this a couple of days ago but I hadn’t factored in that the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics would be so compelling. It turned out to be quite a show and pretty much eliminated all of my plans for the evening. Anyway, I’m back and focused and ready to tell the tale of this past month.

We started off the month with all kinds of Campbell aunts & uncles & cousins in town for the 4th of July. The Seattle Campbell’s were here for a week in addition to the San Francisco Campbell’s. Of course, the main attraction was baby Thaddeus with his cute little fuzzy head and his ever present charm.

We had all kinds of fun with a mass viewing of WALL•E where nice nice aunt Marni secretly threw down for tickets (thanks again, and you really didn’t have to). We then shot off a bunch of fireworks and shot all kinds of photos with the shutter wide open. I had the new camera and sadly I didn’t spend time before trying to dial in the settings. We got through it though and still managed to get our art on.

This month we also had the opportunity to travel to Moab where I played a gig with my sometime boss Peter Breinholt. I’m embarrassed to admit that I had never been there and initially I thought it’d be about a three hour drive but it turned out to be a little longer. With gas prices being what they are (just over $4.00 as of this writing) I was afraid that this would be a losing financial venture but it turned out to be a ton of fun and we’re anxious to go back when we have more time.

We did spend a few hours in Arches National Park where we hiked up to The Windows and took it in. We wanted to do more, but everyone was a bit crabby (everyone meaning you two) so we opted to hit the road and get home.

I just can’t even begin to express how much fun it is to have a really sweet van to drive around this here beautiful state we live in. When I was a kid my family had a 1970 VW bus that took us everywhere and I have oodles of memories stored away from that time. I can only wish that you have the same.

As if we didn’t see enough red rocks in Moab, we most definitely got our fill as we headed down to Lake Powell for four days. We traveled with aunt Suzanne and cousin Tennyson. We arrived on Sunday evening and spent the night on the slip with the Faldmo’s, uncle Jared and Grandpa Ross & Grandma Julie.

The next day we cruised up to Warm Creek and parked the houseboat Rebel. Sadly the lake was crowded and we couldn’t find some sweet afternoon shade, but our spot did have a nice and fun beach for all the kids to play on.

I could write more detail on our trip, but I think that pictures may do a better job telling the story.

This was taken after day one where we thought it’d be a good idea to get a hotel for the night in Page, AZ. Unfortunately, the entire town was booked up and we finally found a room in Big Water, UT.

This was the hotel we stayed at. I think that the owner must have known that Page was booked up as we were charged $100 for a really mediocre room.

Here’s uncle Jared doing his annual scale ‘n jump.

Ruby, mommy got really inventive and repurposed a cooler for a bathtub where you and Tennyson scrubbed off the sand and lake water.

Tennyson was his usual adventurous self.

Uncle Jason got to drive the new fancy-schmancy SS Jessica all day long.

Cousin Ethan was on flag detail.

Aunt Nicole was trying to get this new fangled surf thing to work.

As did uncle Jason (note that only Dodgers fans are dumb enough to go sans life jacket and surf on a pink board).

Then here’s the family shot that I wish could have been taken about an hour later but due to some x-tra crabby babies we had to take it in full sun as there wasn’t shade anywhere to be found.

The following morning uncle Jared and I took the fish boat back into the slip where we drove to St. George where I flew back to Salt Lake just in time for me to take my very last final. Yep. I’m done. No more homework. No more going to class. No more cramming for tests. Words cannot fully express the relief I feel and how happy I am to have part of my life back.

RUBY-
Oh, Ruby. You’re breakin’ my heart. You’re breaking it with your cuteness and your hugs and your little songs and your demands for popcycles and your little feat pitter-patterin throughout the house.

This summer has been so much fun as you continue to to develop in just about every way. You’re still moody as anything, but I think that you’ve been spending much less time in the naughty chair. At least it seems that way, anyway.

You still crave your independence which has sometimes found you at odds with your mother and I. I still get phone calls just about every day from your mom where she just has to vent. Lately I’ve been coming home for lunch and I think that it helps for you to have someone else tell you “no”.

This is a shot of you and mommy at the 24th of July Pioneer Day parade as you take in all the floats, bands and pageantry.

Here you are at Lake Powell on top of the Rebel just waking up and getting the day going.

And here’s another one of you on the back of the Rebel long before exhaustion kicked in.

And after the exhaustion kicked in.

And this is quite possibly my most favorite photo of you so far. It was the final evening at Lake Powell and you were totally spent. This is what four days of no naps will do.

HENRY-
The big news is that you are finally getting the idea that mobility is an option. You can now go from your belly to sitting up and you are now doing the army crawl when you see something you really really want across a room. This new-found mobility has caused some interesting moments for you in your crib as your favorite new position is to stick your legs through the rails and sit up and put your arms on the crossbar kinda like you are sitting at a bar about to order a drink. I have found you this way a couple of times and it cracks me up as you look like such an adult.

We’ve put you through the ringer this month with all the traveling and for the most part you’ve responded well except for the night we were trying to find a hotel in Page. It was a tough time as we drove all over Page continually being rejected with you crying at the top of your lungs. It was a rough night, but you bounced back well the next day.

Henry, you have such an effect on people. My dad (Papa) I think accurately assessed that you have such a calm about you. Your mom is also more and more crazy about you to the point where she has let it be known to me that I can be replaced. I’m not sure just exactly what that means, but suffice it to say that she adores you as much as a mother can adore her child. Hopefully you won’t be too big a momma’s boy and I’m considering methods I may have to take to man you up...just kidding. I pray that you may always be close to your mother as she’s worth it.

Alright then kiddo’s. I gotta hit the sack. This next month brings with it a lot of changes around the house as we begin spending our refinance money. Lots of news and corresponding photos to follow.

Love,
Dad

Posted by patatomic at August 10, 2008 11:09 PM

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