4 Corners Quest - Day 10: Battle of the Four Corners

4 kids

4 Corners

Coincidence?

I think not.

The Monument is in the middle of nowhere, is not in the least attractive, added a good 3-4 hours of driving, and was considered of vital interest to the #4CornersQuest participants.

The above photo was planned and negotiated more than a few times by its participants. Who is to stand where?

Emily claimed New Mexico as her birthright.

In turn, Garrett wanted whatever state was closest to China, initially estimated to be Utah, given that China is north of whatever is below it, and Utah is north of Arizona.

Elizabeth, however, with her newfound love for Arches N.P., had her eye on Utah as well.

"Garrett, I think Arizona is closer to China. Right, dad?"

Catching what she was trying to do, knowing that neither kid had a clue which state was "closer" to China, not sure myself, and not averse to lying to decrease potential tension, I followed suit, "Yep, Arizona is like 5 or 6 feet closer on the angle. It's close, but has been survey verified."

All was well, as Elizabeth and Garrett made peace with their appropriate locations.

Louise, generally casual about things that don't actually matter, gladly accepted Colorado.

Border crossing and free-trade agreements are being negotiated.

4 Corners Quest - Day 8. Negotiating with a Teenager

Emily keeps thing simple:

• Plenty of sleep,
• Weekly trip to the library,
• Low cardio expectations,
• Instagram and iMessages, 
• Fall out Boy, and
• 4-5 meals per day. 

She's always had her pop's taste for food, willing to try just about anything and almost always liking it.
Does me proud.

• She's also a bit of a foodie:
• Not interested in junk food,
• Wants to eat local-owned,
• Appreciates the magical properties of cheese, and, most-recently, 
• A full-fledged New Mexico Hatch Green Chili convert.

Does me proud.
While normally quiet and unassuming, she has been a bit bossy of late.

• I want Breakfast Burrito!
• I want Fry Bread!
• Do we have any more Sopapillas?
• I want Navajo Taco!
• I want Fry Bread!
• When are we going to get more Green Chili?

Does me proud.

4 Corners Quest - Day 7. Shut-Up Sighting

<Background Information>

4 kids,

3 daughters, including,

1 teenage and 1 preteen daughter.

14yo Emily has been pretty casual re: her flirting partners. A bit of fandom from afar (Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy fame), but not much more. A few grins and giggles.

12yo Louise has got it a bit deeper in her blood, more interest, more something or other... I don't even know how to say it.

What I do know is that boys, or the names of boys, or the fear that another may be talking about a boy she may or may not know, be interested in, or may be rumored to have interest in... what I do know is that this is dangerous ground.

<Scene One>

TheBowling6 are dwelling in some cliffs, taking advantage of binoculars to people watch, as Louise pretends to sight a boy Emily may or may not have interest in. Grin and giggle.

<end scene one>

<Scene Two>

Emily, still grinning and giggling, banters back the name of a boy that Louise may or may not have interest in.

Now, the male species would block such potentially embarrassing or accurate concerns with a well-placed 'Your Mama' joke or a punch in the gut. If only...

"Shut Up!" Louise reacts, and then, "You too!"

<end Scene Two>

<Scene Three>

The critical feature of the Scene 2 was *not* the bowing up between sisters, an unhealthy but not mind-blowing or unheard of engagement.

The critical feature, and be forgiven for not anticipating how the plot was about to turn, was the character to whom "you too" was directed.

The one you should least direct such towards, the matriarch, Mom.

Please understand that while the previously-provided documentation is based upon context clues and post-incident interviews, and while I was approximately 42' away from said incident and with my back turned, the remaining testimony was loudly and very clearly witnessed.

"No, (said with an implied 'OH', in front of it, as in 'oh no') 
"Are you kidding me?

"I don't think so

"I am your mother

"You don't say 'shut up' to AN Y ONE

"You most certainly don't say that to me. I brought you into this world, I will take you out."

There may or may not have been a few other things said that were cut from the scene to protect the Mrs. from further actions.  

<end Scene Three>

<After-Credits Scene>

Mom is given a shot of whiskey from our emergency supply kit.

Dad and Elizabeth are found crouched in a Kiva, praying that they dodge any cross-fire, hoping to make it through the night.

Garrett's post-event testimony has too many inconsistencies to be admissible. He is cleared of any charges, given his lack of motive or comprehension of what just went down.

Emily is found grinning and giggling with her thoughts of Patrick Stump.
Louise, ironically enough, is the one child who most certainly does "shut up".

<Fade to Black>

4 Corners Quest - Day 4: UnPacked

This is not our first road-trip rodeo. We've toured a bit as a family, and (in theory) learned a few lessons.

• You are your own mule. You carry what is yours.
• Pillows are a luxury item. Sometimes there's room for luxury in our lives; sometimes there isn't. 
• You don't need near as much as you want. There's a point in the metaphysical realm where stuff turns into crap.
• It is better to wash clothes than store dirty ones in the back of the hot van.
• TheBowling6 are unable to learn the lesson of the book: heavy, fragile objects which are better appreciated in limited quantities. 

In preparation of the 4 Corners Quest, the Mrs. developed a trip-specific packing list, including types and quantities, handed out 4 copies, sent the children upstairs, and assumed the best. As they returned down the stairs with a duffle in tow, she asked:

• Did you pack?
• Did you follow the list?

She failed to follow the advice of our former actor-President: Trust, but Verify.

• Emily brought one pair of socks.
• Louise did not bring a toothbrush.
• Garrett brought no underwear.
• Garrett brought no jammies.
• Garrett brought 2 t-shirts and 7 pair of shorts.
• Elizabeth fetched clothes out of the dirty clothes basket, adding a certain 'essence' to the rest of her bag. 
• Elizabeth packed a bottle of water, which opened and soaked all of her and her mother's clothes.

I was smrt enough to let the Mrs. pack for me. And, after a few verbal transgressions on previous trips, have learned to enjoy whatever is in there.

4 Corners Quest - Day 2. Can we go to the store?

I have no idea how to broach this topic with my girls. 

So when we started encountering 200 miles worth of billboards announcing its arrival, I stared ahead, kept quiet, and hoped for the best.
At the 37th billboard of the ad campaign, Emily finally notices. 

"Oh cool. They've got an entire superstore just for fantasy novels. Can we go!?"

 Silence. 

No help from the mom-character.

Silence. 

"Wait. Novel-ty. Oh... Huh, never mind."

Silence.

4 Corners Quest - Day 1

T-minus 75 minutes until the kids return home, are swept into the waiting transport vehicle, and TheBowling6 begins our long awaited sequel to the 2011 Bowling Westward Roadtrip. We attempted to make this trip in 2013, to be thwarted by the government shut-down, and were forced to make the 2013 Eastcoast Jam.

17 days, ~4,500 miles, heading to the Albuquerque, Durango, Moab, 4 Corners, Grand Canyon and whatever else will get us out of the car. The Mountain Time Zone is our hearts' home. Took Emily to the 4 Corners when she was 2 months old. I held her crying self over the brass boiling_lava_hot monument. I''m gong to retake that shot with her 5'-9" self, if I can manage to pick her up. Pretty sure she'll cry again.

Garrett asked to stay home. "I don't like being in the car. My back gets sweaty and I always have to pee."
Mom's response: [silence]
Elizabeth's response: "No offense, but you can be pretty gross. I want to sit next to the girls."

Just removed Elizabeth's 5-foot body pillow from the van. Sneaky Pete.

So it begins...

Where We've Been So Far...

The Bowling Six is planning its next Westward Road Trip.
In our previous jaunt, we ventured up to Mt. Rushmore and had a fabulous time, as remembered here.

Below is a record of where we've been to date, with the intention of adding to the list next month.

The Bowling Six through 2012

Lexington 2013 Video

The one above is what we show the grandparents....
The one below is what we show our friends at school;)

There and Back Again, again

Yay! This year, in 2013, from July 21-July 26, I am going back to Lexington Kentucky! (for reference to this subject, see earlier posts, There and back again, a tween's tale, and, My Personal Narrative, my Trip to Lexington) SUPER EXCITED!!!

What I want for Christmas in 2012 (I know, I'm a little late)

1: anything Harry Potter related
2: Converse sneakers
3: Umm... Some books
4: some Duct Tape
Because I am eleven, I don't really have a long list. :-)

My 2013 New Year's Resolutions

The New Year will bring new stuff to do now that I am almost 12 years old, (the official date of my coronation is March 31) so these are my New Year's Resolutions:
1: To finish the Harry Potter series with pride
2: To read The Fellowship of the Ring
3: to actually remember to do my devo book every day
4: To 'get out and be active!' (that's actually what Mom tells me to do but it is Okay)
5: To try and be a good buisness partner to my collegue, Fred Weasley. (a.k.a. Katie White, my partner in crime)
 6: to track down and make Carly Rae Jepsen sorry for writing Call Me Maybe

My Trip to Lexington in 2012. (only the third or fourth time I have written this)

Personal Narrative= My Trip to Lexington

            This summer in July, I went on a mission trip to Lexington Kentucky. I went with my church group, called BIG45. There were 14 people going on the trip. Nine kids and four adults. The people who went were Mrs. Penny, Mrs. J, Mr. David, Mrs. Amber, Jill, Andy, Houston, Trey, Alexa, Emma, Maggie, Louise, and Me. We were working with three people, Geoff, Sherry, and their son Isaac. We stayed at a dorm in UK (University of Kentucky) with some other college students. There were three people to a dorm, and I stayed with Ms. J, and Alexa.

            Every morning after breakfast, we would do something before VBS. Two mornings we worked in the garden, one morning we went shopping for Kentucky Refugee Ministries, and one morning we played a stimulation game. In the stimulation game, we were divided into families. Alexa and Trey were married and their daughter was Ms. J, (Alexa’s Mom). Emma and Andy were married and their daughter was Mrs. Amber, (Andy’s Mom). Mr. David was the father of Jill, and Louise. Houston and Maggie were married, and I was their translator. In the game, we were all refugee families, and we had to get social security cards, jobs, and a place to live, and we couldn’t sit down at all. It was fun, and hard. Something funny: Andy was supposed to carry a chair around with him to show that he was paralyzed, once, Mrs. Penny called him up to get his Social Security Card, and he forgot to bring his chair with him. Emma, who was his wife, said, “He’s walking, it’s a miracle!”  Everybody burst out laughing, even Mrs. Penny lost her seriousness and broke down.

            Every afternoon, we went to a community center, and ran a VBS for the kids that didn’t have as much as we did. We did a devotion, crafts, and games for them. Also we made them lunch. Chicken fingers, bagel bits, hot dogs, and fruit and veggies with a choice of lemonade or water. Most kids chose lemonade. By the last day we were almost out of lemonade. There were three girls there that we all became really good friends with. Their names were Madison, her sister Sarah, and their cousin Shanea. Madison and Shanea were 9 or 10, and Sarah was 4. Sarah was the cutest little thing ever!! On the last day of VBS, everybody was truly sad to leave.  Mrs. Penny said that maybe she will let the sixth graders go next year, and if she does, than I will definitely sign up. Mrs. Penny wrote a blog and I will post the link below so that you can hear more about our fantastic trip.

-EB

Blog Link= http://www.kidsonmission.blogspot.com/

There and back again, a hobbit's (no a tween's) tale

In July I went on a mission trip to Lexington Kentucky with my church youth group. we were going to do a VBS with some kids that were less fortunate than us. we went to a community center that was behind a school, and fed the kids, (and ourselves) lunch, and the Mrs. Penny, (the team leader,) did a lesson with them. we used some videos called Ranger Todd, (made by Houston Coley's father,) and we did some games and crafts. also we worked in a garden, went shopping for KRM, (Kentucky Refugee Ministries) and
played a game where we were refugees ourselves. we were staying in a dorm at UK (University of Kentucky) so there were some college students there with us. when we did things in the morning, like work in the community garden, or play the simulation game, we were doing this with two people named Geoff and Sherry. they were helping us, and we did a devotion with them sometimes, and we saw them often. there were 13 people going on the trip. Mrs. Penny, Mrs. Jillian, Mrs. Amber, Mr.David, Trey, Houston, Andy, Jill, Emma, Maggie, Louise, Alexa, and Me, Emily.

We all had a great time, and we hope that the kids we worked with did too.

Here is a short video showing some of the work we did in Lexington. This was filmed and put together by my friend Houston Coley: Lexington 2012
Also, here is some of the Ranger Todd videos.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d96aXzO4O9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az0xC7Dv8JE   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNPNqYYr_Bs&feature=youtube_gdata

Lexington Fun

We had some great fun every day of our trip to Lexington, especially our Harry Potter skit. Cast: 

• Ron: ME!
• Dumbledore: Jill
• Snape: Maggie T.
• Harry: Lexa
• Hermione: Emma D
• Voldemort: Louise McKee

During all of this the 3 boys were all upstairs ASLEEP!! and we were very loud...

Our First Time

Emily returned home this evening from her first adventure sans parents. In another manner, she returned home from the first adventure of any of our children sans us. Five days away, and we were delighted to see her home.
She experienced life and served her neighbors in Lexington KY with a few friends and adults I trust (well, mostly trust). Said adventures chronicled here. http://kidsonmission.blogspot.com/
Having a grand adventure ourselves without parental influence (I do not count once Maggie vacates her office), we were all exhausted, five of us in our jammies laying cross-ways on my bed reading at 7:30pm, and dropping off to bed shortly thereafter.

First trip from home

Emily left this morning for the first trip from home without parents or grandparents of any of our children. She's heading to Lexington, KY with a group of great kids and a few decent adults to help run a Vacation Bible School for a group of refugee kids there.
I pray she is safe, of course. But mostly I pray she is changed, in ways that cannot occur in our home. She's a terribly sweet kid, and generally willing to love others with open arms. This environment should be a good stretch for her, and an important step in maturing into a servant-child of God.

I love you, my dear little lady.
Her Updates can be found here.

The Unsung

This message is to serve as props for our eldest, who is so easy to get along with, care for, and be around that we 'rents often fail to recognize her value.

She sits next to me now, long and lanky like her father, voluntarily reading her latest Greek mythology library book, in case there are additional historical facts she has previously missed. 

When Dad B told her to get over her fears and hit the math books, she did. When told she was to learn to dive, she swallowed her nerves and dove in, again and again, increasing in elegance all the while. From her earliest moments we have learned together, "Fear on the inside, courage on the outside." She has consistently faced her fears, and is all the stronger for it.

The occasional "Hmph!" vented in emotional frustration are an anticipated expansion of her tween world. As a 2-year-old, Mom B obtained Dr. Dobson's Strong Willed Child, thinking that Em was of that type. Mom B soon realized that Emily is not such a child, evidenced 24 months later by her first sister and definitively proven in the succeeding 30 months with the Queen. In this light, the rents need to be grateful of this child, knowing that she is likely the highlight of now and future Bowling 11-year olds.

This is not a statement of favoritism. The impetus of said post is realizing that the non-squeaky wheel is overshadowed by her louder and more acrimonious siblings. She is asked to handle a task, and we mentally mark it off as 'done', while the speculation is opposite with the siblings, where disobedience (or 'lack of obedience' in the new world order) is assumed until tasks are proven complete.

She is a darling, a pleasure, and a source of immense pride for this writer.

A Ten year old's view of Christmas

FYI: this Christmas is my tenth one in MY LIFE.
This Christmas the requests are as follow:

        I.            A Kindle (or any other portable electronic reading source.)

      II.            Harry Potter Lego Hogwarts:  (See the following link) http://shop.lego.com/enUS/catalog/quickViewProduct.jsp?productCode=4867

    III.            New DSi games. (NO STAR WARS!)

    IV.            To paint my bedroom Mint Green ( A request of both the Bowling Girls)
  V:     A Cell Phone.
  VI:    To not go to Middle School. (I've heard stories about Middle School, Bad stories.)

Focused Prayer

Evening hours and dark. Emily, Louise and Bowling-mom are readying themselves for prayer. Various requests are presented, but the ideas quickly run dry. "Mom, I don't know what to pray for," Louise states.
"Well, this is Christmas time, and there are lots of people who don't have family to spend time with, or who are struggling with money and cannot buy their kids presents. You can pray for them," mom leads.
"And you can pray Nathan Musgrove. He looked sick today at the Nutcracker," Emily adds.
So the prayers begin, and the three girls in turn beseech.
Upon completion, Louise adds as an afterthought, "Jesus, please take care of Nathan Musgrove." At which point, Emily responds, "What's wrong with Nathan Musgrove?" Apparently, not enough to remember.

Bowling 2011 Roadtrip - Day 6: Irony

Emily to Louise, “I’ve decided our special power is going to be mind-reading.”
Louise, “What?”
Emily, “Mind-reading.”
Louise, “What?”
Emily, “Mind-reading. Our special power is that we can read people’s minds.”
Louise, “What?”
Emily, “Never mind.”