Gotta love Craigslist

So this is my exciting find on Craigslist......It's a Wurlitzer and we only paid $100 bucks for it! It's in pretty good shape, just needs to be tuned.

I've been looking for a piano for a while but when it's a good deal you have to be quick. Here's the thing though....I don't know how to play (I know some basics but that's about it), I think Mark knows one song, and of course none of our boys know how to play either. So why a piano you ask? I had this thought that I really want my boys to learn to play (I've been telling Dylan that girls love it when a boy can play the piano...it shows their sensitive side...but he's not really into girls yet so that didn't phase him). Anyway...I figured I should learn to play. You know..be a good example plus maybe I could teach them and it is a good skill to have. I have this mental image of having a peaceful family home evening with me playing a primary hymn as my boys sing along (ha ha...yeah right!). Hey, maybe I might even be good at it...I have been told that I have good piano hands (i.e. long skinny bony fingers :)) This is what was in it's place before..... The ugly black bean bags that Mark brought into our marriage from his bachelor days. I feel kind of bad since the boys love playing in them but c'mon how long was I supposed to keep those injury inducing, dust producers around? A big improvement don't you think? Or maybe a piano wasn't such a good idea :).......

Round 2

After a week of Yosemite and one week at home we geared up for round 2. We got reservations 6 months ago for a week at San Elijo State Beach which was a miracle in and of itself (if you've ever tried to get reservations there you know what I mean). We were excited but I was definitely still recovering from the Yosemite trip. We borrowed my parents stylin' old school RV and since Grandma Cox can't pass up a couple days in the sun, they joined us for a few days.

which means...we were kickin' it in the tent. Our campsite was just a few steps away from the sand but unfortunately the back of our campsite was right next to the main road. Needless to say our first night was very noisy and sleepless. I tried to trick myself into thinking that the semi's and motorcycles zooming by were actually the sounds of the ocean...it didn't work. There was even a train that came by about every 30 minutes which Tryg and Luke loved. Every time Tryg heard the "choo choo" he would chime in with "All aboard!". It was all good though because the rest of my nights included a little Tylenol PM, some ear plugs and I was sleeping like a baby!

Pretty much every day was spent on the sand soaking up the rays (what else are we going to do?). The weather was perfect all week! Tami, Brent and kids came down for a day too. Nights were spent around the campfire...and you can't do a beach campfire without the hot dogs (Costco hot dogs for mom and dad of course. I think they took some back in their suitcase to Utah since they don't sell the coveted Hebrew Nationals in the Utah Costco....I don't get it :)) We even talked Kenny and Jane into taking a 10 hour road trip in their new car to join us. Kenny has a hard time passing up the SD surf and as luck would have it the boys enjoyed some 6-7 footers the whole weekend. Brandon and Melanie came down for a night as well and we were good hosts as we gladly provided them with some ear plugs. Grandma and Grandpa Olson also came down for dinner on Friday night. Luke got some of his favorite "bike time" in and even got Grandma Olson to take a ride with him. By the end of the week we were pooped! I was seriously exhausted from sunscreening and showering kids off multiple times a day! That's luke in the towel with his hand hanging out...he was voluntarily taking a nap on the beach which tells you how tired he was. All in all it was a great week and we've got the tans to prove it. I think I'm still finding sand in my children's crevices! :) We're excited to do it again next year.....with a campsite away from the road of course :)

Chaos Yosemite Style

A couple weeks ago we made our annual trek to Yosemite National Park. This time we had a sweet ride....my new car....which I love! My non-negotiable in this new car was the drop down DVD player and let me say it was a lifesaver! The kids were happy and entertained which means mom and dad were happy travelers too :). Mark did some bargain shopping and found a THULE cargo box and bike rack on Craigslist.... we were good to go!

For those of you that have never been to Yosemite...here's a taste of some of the views you get to see when you're there. It really is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

After being couped up in the car, Luke and Dad took a little bike ride and got some cute pics...

Then it was time to set up camp....guess Uncle Brent needed a quick nap first :)

In Yosemite they have a little trouble with Bears getting into people food and breaking into cars. You have to store all your food in these "bear bins". Luke and Tryg decided to try it out for size. Of course we couldn't go camping without Tryg's bear and Luke's cat....

The great thing about this year's trip was that we had 5 campsites all right next to each other which is a miracle if you've ever tried to get reservations for Yosemite (we have our system). Of the 9 cox kids 7 made the trip with all their kids and Mom and Dad of course were there with their stylin 82' motor home. It was quite the scene with 40 some people in all including 23 grand kids...and 1 dog. We had to use a megaphone most of the time to "round them up" which I'm sure the neighbors appreciated.

Special thanks to Mom who coordinated several group meals for what appeared to be a small army.

Oh and Susi too for providing the massive grill that was "borrowed" from church. It was definitely a lifesaver. Could you imagine cooking for 40 people on a couple of frying pans? Ted and Ken did most of the cooking...since the rest of us were usually chasing kids out of the muddy creek that ran behind our campsites (note for next year: don't get the campsites with the creek!) We got a chance to go on a few hikes. The first one to Vernal Falls. Luke and Tryg didn't have to work too hard.

I thought this was a pretty funny then...and now picture taken in the same spot. Then = Me and Mark....almost 5 years later=3 more

Almost the whole gang on the hike (Dave and Kaci and their 6 kids hadn't arrived yet) Most of our time was spent at the river. The kids had a ball and the grown ups actually started acting like kids daring each other to swim across the very very cold river. Takers - Brent, Mark, Ted, Ken, Jane, Jo, Megan and Kruz. Brrrrr!!! (I was told that Adam and Sydney did it the next day after everyone else left but there were few witnesses :)) Brent also tempted fate and jumped into the icey pool of water at the top of Nevada Falls....crazy!!!

So many cute boys...We also did our requisite hike to Yosemite Falls. Mark always gets a picture of Dylan and I walking up the path. Here's a little then and now. What do you think...another year or two he'll be taller than me? (not that that is a big accomplishment :)) So as you can see we even had t-shirts made for this trip. They read.."Tatonka...it's a cox thing". My dad does this goofy dance around the fire that I guess is from the Dances with Wolves movie and that's where the name Tatonka comes from. Like it says, it's kind of a "cox thing". (I've actually never seen that movie all the way through...has anyone?) Luke would have been happy riding his bike ALL DAY LONG and frequently threw tantroms when he had to get off. It was very stressful riding around with him as he had a tendency to look everywhere but in front of him. Tryg's preference for mode of transportation...the bike trailer (another Craigslist find) He often just wanted to sit in there even if it wasn't moving. Most of the grown ups (sorry Susi ) got to go on a kid-less hike from Glacier Point down the Panorama trail which passes by 3 incredible waterfalls. We even saw a bear or two on this year's trip (from a small distance of course which is close enough for me) Going to Yosemite is all about making memories. I'm not going to lie it is usually pure chaos the majority of the week (at least until the kids go to bed). But when it's all said and done we have some great memories. That's why we take the long drive, suffer in the dirt, go without showers, sleep on the ground, live a week in chaos, then do what seems like never ending loads of laundry. The cox kids grew up doing it and now we're making great memories for our kids..... (for more cox footage check out Kenny's video ) Until next time......

Owie

Poor little guy!

Tryg took a little fall at a friends house the other night in their backyard. He was a trooper and only cried a little and was quickly distracted with some more pool time. When he woke up this morning though.....he looked a little beat up. Still a pretty cute boy! :)

Happy #3 Luke

We celebrated Luke's 3rd Birthday last week...finally. He turned 3 the weekend that I was out of town for my race so we decided he really didn't need to know that it was his birthday and we celebrated about 10 days later. We figured what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him :)

It has been all about trains lately. His Grandma Olson has a Geo Trax train set that he LOVES. He found a Fisher Price catalog at Grandma's and noticed the new CARS collection complete with remote control Lightening McQueen and Doc. He would frequently point to all the items he wanted. He slept with that catalog until it literally disintegrated! Unfortunately the CARS collection did not come out until mid June which was another reason we waited to celebrate his birthday. As you can see above he made out pretty well. Mom even has a few more pieces to the collection that will probably make their appearance for Christmas. We made the mistake of having him open his presents before cake and it was all we could do to pry him away so we could sing to him.

My masterpiece this year :)

10 things about our little Lukie....

1.) He can memorize simple books in little time and recite them back to you even without the actual book.

2.) He loves his big brother Dylan and refuses to ever give him "alone" time.

3.) He is our only child that has been to an emergency room....twice!

4.) He can sing "I love to see the Temple" on command.

5.) He enjoys riding skateboards and scooters through the hallways of our home and using furniture as his personal launch pads.

6.) His new thing is putting on his Batman jamies and cape, running around in circles through the house singing.."nananananananananana....BATMAN!!"

7.)He loves to sleep with toy catologs or ads. Right now it's the Toys R Us ad from Sunday with the transformers action figures on the cover. We've already taped it twice.

8.) He throws right handed but bats left (apparently appealing to professional scouts according to Mark)

9.) He loves wathcing the Polar Express in 3D with no glasses in the middle of June...over and over again.

10.) He is our Craziest, loudest, demanding, most active and stubborn child....so far.......and has made me seriously question my no-spanking stance :). We LOVE him to pieces!!!!

Happy Birthday Luke!