Pow Wow What?

Trying to find all kinds of things to see and experience here in the Morongo Valley. Especially the free things.

Just a couple, what we told our babies, but really 40 miles away on the highway was the 26th Annual Morongo Thunder & Lightning Pow Wow. We had never been to a pow wow before, so why not?

Jack asked where we were going, and so I told him. He said, "A pow wow what? Does it have good food? Are we going to buy something?"

Basically, to make Jack happy, you need good food and the option of spending dollar dollar bills, y'all. He reminds me so much of me. 

So, good food - Navajo Fry Bread Taco,

and the option to buy something. 

We didn't end up buying anything from the vendors however. Jack really wanted a sweet arrow, but it just wasn't going to happen for $40. We decided to spend our money on delicious homemade ice cream instead!

The actual Pow Wow was not as much of a hit for my babes as I had hoped.  "It would have been more fun if we didn't have to stand so long while they kept dancing around in circles forever. And the drums and singing weren't so dang loud. But, I did like the colors on their dancing outfits." ~ Afton

"Yeah, the drums were super loud. Like too loud. And my feet hurt." ~ Jack

Jocelyn said her favorite part was, "Ummmmmm, da ice cream. And my mom and dad."

Oh well, we tried. 

Now, they at least know what a pow wow is. 

Be a PIZZA something great!

The world basically sucks right now. 

They have asked a lot questions about certain things they have seen on the internet, news, or on my Instagram feed as I follow @nbcnews. They want to know more, and I don't exactly want to tell them. But I told them this very thing I stated before, the world basically sucks right now.

So, I wanted my kids to know that they can be a part of making their own little world great in some way. 

Their whole little worlds were about to change a big way since we would be moving. Moving away from their home. Moving away from their neighborhood. Moving away from their school. Moving away from their friends. Moving away from their family. Moving away from Las Vegas, NV entirely.

So for this FHE we focused on PIZZA!

PIZZA for dinner,

and then a discussion on how to "Be a PIZZA something great!"

Each kid got 2 tiny pieces of our whole pizza. I told them that the whole pizza was representing "Our  little world." The pieces of the pizza are specific parts of that world.

They had to think about how they themselves could do something to make that part of our PIZZA great. We talked about it as they designed their pieces of pizza.

Jocelyn said, "I be nize to my family. I luv on dem." And for community she said, "Ummmm, a commuuumitteeee. What's dat? I ont know."

Jack said, "I will try and make new friends in my school by playing with them. At our new ward, I will help my teachers. I wonder if they will be old?"

Afton said, "I will make sure that everyone always has a friend. I don't like it when kids are by themselves." And for the world, "I will always pick up trash wherever I see it."

Since we have been in Yucca Valley for a few months now, I would like to announce that we are doing our best to "Be a PIZZA something great." 

The kids are making friends in the neighborhood, classrooms, at church, and helping the world by helping to keep it clean, on every hike, beach trip, and park we visit!

It is my hope that they will remember this lesson as they grow older. I hope their little world is a great place, and if we all will try to do our part, the big world can only improve!

"Mom, I did it."

Once he saw the dude on the beach fishing, he would not stop talking about it.

Then, once he saw the dude actually catch a fish on the beach he was determined to do it too. 

I told him that he would have to politely ask the nice man if he would show him how to do it, on his own. (Trying to build his confidence and adult social skills.) But, I reminded him that the man could say no for many reasons. Reasons like,

1. He doesn't like kids.
2. He wants to relax.
3. He finds peace in fishing by himself.
4. He has a nice fishing pole that he doesn't want to share.
5. He doesn't like kids that interrupt him as he's trying to relax while fishing alone with his fancy fishing pole.

Either way, I told him that he had to be respectful of the man's decision.

Fortunately it all worked out. Jack was brave and confidently asked the man to show him how to catch a fish. And the man was polite, very pleased to do so. (Let me make this clear, I was right there, just a few feet away to ensure there was no danger. I would not EVER send my boy to go and walk up to some stranger, on the beach and have him ask the man to teach him something.) Turns out the man learned how to fish when he was 5 so he had a great time just talking with my boy. 

"Jocey, come here!"

Jocelyn was so proud of her big brother. 

"Can you imagine how scared my little fishie had to be when I caught him? First, he's caught. But second, I'm wearing a freaking shark shirt. That's scary for that little guy."

Hangin' with my Hipster

 Jack came home one day after school saying,  "Mom, we're going to have hope floats at school for our 50's celebration. Oh and I'm supposed to dress handsome. Like in jeans or something. It should be pretty fun."

I died because he called it a hope float (root beer float) and because he was telling me something about school. I will take any information I can get from him when it comes to school. ANYTHING! He rarely tells me something about his day. "I can't remember mom," or "We didn't do anything today. We never do."

I had already been helping with putting this little celebration together. I was not the mastermind behind it, but just a helping hand. I was glad to see that someone else is at crazy about party planning and attention to details add I am. (Shout out to Elaine!)

So, here's some pics from that day.

Little Things

Little things make her happy.

Water

Playing.

Pretending.  

Cooking.

Spilling.

Bossing me around. 

Experimenting.  

Stripping.

For me, this little thing, my baby girl,  just makes me happy.

I'm your huckleberry.

I wanted to do something fun this weekend. And, I told my babies that we would do something fun. I was hoping it would be a baseball game but that didn't work out, dang it.

But I had to figure something out quick because my babies are relentless when they know there is fun to be had.

So I did some research on the wonderful things Yucca Valley has to offer. Which is not a lot. 

Pioneertown, California, just minutes from our town, is what I came up with for our good old-fashioned family fun.

When we got there, Jack was not thrilled. Not at all. He couldn't understand why he was wearing cowboy boots if we weren't planning on going horseback riding. "What is the purpose of this? Ugh," as he rolled his eyes.

I tried to sell this cute little cowboy town by telling him that many movies have been filmed here over the years. He was not amused. "Movies aren't even real and I don't even like cowboy movies."

At that moment in time, I considered leaving this little town and making my boy sit down with me and watch one of the greatest movies of all time. Then I reminded myself that even though I love it, it's highly inappropriate for my little, naughty, spoiled 6 year old.

He was grumpy and there was nothing I could do about it.

So I forced myself to ignore him and think of my favorite Tombstone quotes as we walked the dirt roads going back in time.

Doc Holliday: You must be Ringo.

[to Big Nose Kate]

Doc Holliday: Look, darlin', it's Johnny Ringo. Deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darlin', should I hate him?

Morgan Earp: Look at all the stars. You look up and you think, "God made all this and He remembered to make a little speck like me." It's kind of flattering, really.

Wyatt Earp: I don't think I'll let you arrest us today, Behan.

Wyatt Earp: From now on I see a red sash, I kill the man wearing it. So run you cur. And tell the other curs the law is coming. You tell 'em I'm coming! And Hell's coming with me you hear! Hell's coming with me!

Sherman McMasters: Where is he?

Doc Holliday: Down by the creek, walking on water.

Doc Holliday: It's true, you are a good woman. Then again, you may be the Antichrist.

Ike Clanton: What is that now? Twelve hands in a row? Holliday, son of a b#$&÷, nobody's that lucky.

Doc Holliday: Why Ike, whatever do you mean? Maybe poker's just not your game Ike. I know! Let's have a spelling contest!

Doc Holliday: [to Johnny Ringo] Why Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked right over your grave.

Doc Holliday: Why Kate, you're not wearing a bustle. How lewd.

Doc Holliday: Oh. Johnny, I apologize; I forgot you were there. You may go now.

Doc Holliday: [taunting a card player who believes Holliday is cheating him] Why Ed does this mean we're not friends anymore? You know Ed, if I thought you weren't my friend... I just don't think I could bear it!

Doc Holliday: [to Johnny Ringo, after shooting him in a duel] You're no daisy! You're no daisy at all. Poor soul, you were just too high strung.

Doc Holliday: It appears my hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Wyatt Earp: Doc you're not a hypocrite, you just like to sound like one.

Fortunately, his attitude changed once we found a little store that he could buy himself a little something. This boy is just like his Momma - spending money makes him happy. Immediately he began to perk up. 

Once he had his very own coyote or fox bone in hand, he was good for the rest of the day! 

He even smiled a bit. 

Wyatt Earp: You gonna do somethin'? Or are you just gonna stand there and bleed?

His own Sioux City Sasparilla Root beer helped with that smile. 

He's like his Daddy that way - he loves a good root beer. 

We ate dinner at the famous Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. 

It was delicious!!!!!!!!!

I hope to return one night and maybe even have a date with my sugar watching some live music.

Billy Clanton: Why, it's the drunk piano player. You're so drunk, you can't hit nothin'. In fact, you're probably seeing double.

[Billy Clanton draws a knife]

Doc Holliday: [takes out a second gun] I have two guns, one for each of you.

Doc Holliday: Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after. It's a reckonin'.

Can you tell I have a thing for a man with tuberculosis? 

Doc Holliday and my Sugar (latent TB)

Pioneertown, California

Thank you for a good time.