Cardon Family Chaos

Dinosaur Day in May....No September. Now I Remember!

2011-10-12T20:51:00.000-06:00

Smiles around every corner.

Kehl and Stockton had the wonderful opportunity to spend the day with Nona and Papa at the Dinosaur Park in Ogden. You'd think that after living in Ogden for 11 years I'd have visited the park by now, especially after having two boys and one of them being a dinosaur fanatic. BUT....I'm me and tomorrow was always another day.

So thanks to my parentals my children didn't have to wait another day to play in their own backyard. I wish I had been there because it sounded so entertaining. Kehl found the dinosaurs to be fascinatingly, scarily realistic. He wouldn't get out of a chair at one point because the dinosaur kept "roaring" at him every time he moved. He was afraid that it would eat him so no one was allowed to move. But you know Nona, always pushing the issue. But it's safe to say that she made it out alive.

Kehl had a hard time climbing a dinosaur to ride but he didn't give up. As we were looking the through the pictures he said, "I had a hard time to get on that dinosaur.....I did it! Look I got on...and...I got off." It was all in one breath. It's probably one of those you had to be there experiences but trust me when I say that it was comical.

If at first you don't succeed...try, try again.

Champion!!!

2011-09-18T17:14:00.001-06:00

I've been wanting Kehl to mutton bust for the past year or so, but no one would allow it because he wasn't old enough. At Ogden Pioneer Day's you have to be at least five. Well, this year we were informed of a Little Buckaroo Rodeo in South Uintah that allowed three year olds to participate. We jumped on that opportunity. We signed him up for both the mutton bust and the chicken chase.
We prepped him days in advance and made sure that he wanted to do it before we signed him up. He would frequently remind us that he was going to ride a sheep and chase a chicken. I was totally prepared for him to change his mind at the last minute but he didn't.
They started the evening with a parade of all the contestants. Kehl held the line up because he was more concerned about making friends, which was also evident in the chicken chase. He kept talking to all the kids instead of listening. We had to yell, "Focus" a few times, but those words just fell on deaf ears. He was just so excited to be surrounded by so many kids. He didn't catch a chicken but he did run ALL over smiling at every step.
His next event was the sheep. They were good sized sheep with a lot of energy. They were bolting out of those chutes, dumping children left and right. The kid who could hold on the longest would win. No points for style. Kehl wanted to ride out with one arm up because that's what cowboy's do but we convinced him otherwise.
When it was his turn he climbed right on and went to the winning position, hugging the sheep with both your arms and legs and hanging on for dear life. They opened the gate and the sheep was.......not bolting that's for sure. He slowly walked out hugging the edge of the arena with Kehl hanging on. The owner's tried to push the sheep more to the center, but he had none of that. Slowly he made his way to the center where Kehl's grip finally failed. He gracefully fell to the ground, stood up, dusted himself off and proudly walked off. He gave his dad a tough cowboy high five and just kept on walking. Phil and I were so proud that we wanted to cry, but for Kehl's sake we held back. Tough cowboy's don't have parents that cry.
Once all the other kids were done he told Phil they needed to go get his trophy. We told him that he might not get a trophy but he had already made up his mind that he was getting a trophy. To our excitement they called his name to the champion stand but we still didn't know if he had the winning time. Once again he wanted his trophy and once again we had to tell him that he might not get a trophy but a ribbon instead. Then they announced the champion as Kehl Cardon. He proudly walked over, climbed the winners stand and waited for his trophy.

2011 South Weber County Fair Day's 5 & Under Mutton Bustin Champion!

American Summer Past-times

2011-09-18T15:44:00.000-06:00

Summer is that time of year I look forward to to spend time with my family. Yes, Spring is refreshing with new growth and Fall is magical with the changing leaves, crisp air, and Football......but summer is late nights, endless family gatherings, rodeo's, baseball games, demolition derby's, fairs, and more. So that's exactly how we spend our summer.
I think we're gone 90% of the summer but this year we took it a bit slow and cut WAY back. Our first rodeo of the year was at Oakley. It's usually the third one for us on the rodeo circuit but it moved to number one this year. It was also Stockton's first experience with fireworks, which I'm happy to say he loved. My favorite part of the rodeo is watching the man release the stock for either team roping, calf roping or steer wrestling. His intensity is so captivating.
This summer we also threw our first WSU firework BBQ but because we were so busy running around entertaining we FAILED to get any pictures but in my head it was....almost picture perfect. We had great food, drinks, fireworks, child entertainment, and when it was all over we didn't have to fight traffic.

Oakley Rodeo: 4th of July

For the 24th of July we went to the ballpark with the family. The night was perfect for a great game and time together. The Bee's won and the fireworks were AMAZING, which made it worth the extra $2 per ticket. I initially thought it was ridiculous to have to pay more but wow. I'd highly recommend going to a Bee's game on firework night. The only downsides of the night were the high priced food items and Stockton's sad face.
Stockton had his 5 month shots earlier that day and they were starting to really take effect. It just broke my heart to hear him cry and not just cry but cry in pain. But by the end of the night he started to feel better and finally ate. The good thing is I didn't have to buy his food.
Kehl wanted some food, too. Actually, he wanted everything he could see. The problem with that was that we didn't have enough money. Kehl kept telling me that he had money so I put his money to the test. How much popcorn do you think you can buy with a penny? Ask Kehl he knows the answer. He walked up to the booth, where they sell the kettle korn for $6, and asked if his penny was enough to buy some popcorn. According to the lady it wasn't. He didn't freak out. He simply took back his penny, told the lady "Thank You", and walked away. He then informed me that it wasn't enough. He didn't ask for anything else after that. Lesson learned.

Bee's Game: 24th of July

Every August some of our cousins participate in the Juab County Fair Demolition Derby. In years past my sister has participated, my uncle J (who one year I thought was going to die so he called quits after that), my uncle E, and many of my cousins. This year it was just one cousin and he did well but he didn't win.
For a time we had to spend it in the car because a microburst blew through and they made everyone evacuate. We spent our time watching Mega-Mind and fitting 4 adults, 2 children and 2 car-seats into a 5 passenger car. It was a cozy experience.
When they finally let us come back we watched two rollovers, a car catch on fire (minor but still on fire), and a lady have to be taken to the hospital via ambulance. I have photos of none of that because....well, who wants to get their camera wet just in case there's a good shot. I guess I should have taken that chance.

Demolition Derby

Pagosa Springs, CO

2011-09-18T14:03:00.000-06:00

We haven't had a true Proctor family reunion in years. So, I thrilled when my Uncle organized a trip to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. All we had to take care of was getting there, our food and any activities. I was leaning toward the free ones.

The first day of the reunion we spent it perusing around Pagosa and then on a hike. The waterfall was wonderful and Kehl "found" two beautiful rocks on the hike. When I was little, I use to "find" rocks right outside our hotel room in the dirt. It was amazing how no one found them before me but I guess they weren't looking.

Sunday

The next day we spent it....in the car. We did a lot of driving. We drove all the way to New Mexico to visit some ruins. While I was in a car with two tired and bored little boys, Phil was baking his legs playing golf and tennis. It might sound like he had more fun but that's debatable. I learned a lot about an ancient culture, spent quality time with my boys, and didn't get burned. Phil....played a good game of golf, at a price ($$$), played excellent tennis, and....got BURNED!!! He got burned from mid-shin to just below the ankle. Weird, I know. His burn was so bad that when we went looking for Bears ("A 3 hour tour". It's hard not to start singing.) his legs swelled up to the point it looked like they were going to to explode. Visualize that! Yep, pretty gross. So, I think I had the better day.

Now, I must address the "3 hour tour." A 7 car caravan headed out looking for bears at the city dump which was suppose to be a 15 minute drive but ended up being 3 hours. I didn't care that it took that long because the view was beautiful and we were having fun singing songs. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Our lemonade was tasty.

Monday

The next day was null and void. Most of the family went to a mine but since Phil could barely move, we decided to stay and let Kehl go with Nona. Phil spent the day inside with Stockton while I sat by the lake reading a book. Phil would occasionally come outside to give me Stockton but he would only walk in the shadows. It's a good thing it was an overcast day.

We were suppose to head out Wednesday but Phil's legs were still swollen and there's no way he would have lasted with a 8-9 hour drive home. His legs would have looked like those of an Elephantiasis victim. So once again Phil laid low while the rest of us played tennis. He eventually made it out for a little miniature golf and shuffle board. All while staying in the shadows. Just before it got dark we went on another bear hunt. This time we made it to the dump in a timely matter but still no bears...well, Phil saw one and the rest of us heard one.

Wednesday

The next day we headed out but not after a LLLOOOOONNNGGGG night. Kehl and Phil spent the night taking turns in the bathroom. Poor Kehl spiked a fever of 103 F and kept throwing up. He couldn't keep anything down. He was so dehydrated. It broke my heart to see him that way but we had to head home. We gave him his bucket and pulled out. We tried to take it slow and enjoy the drive. He filled his bucket a few times so we obviously had to stop to discard the contents, because NO ONE wants to drive with that.

By the time we got to Arches National Park he was feeling a bit better, so we decided to stop. It was a blessing that it was an overcast day with light rain. If it had been hot, I don't think he would have made it. I'd never been to arches before so I was absolutely fascinated. It's amazing what nature can produce.

Thursday

It's a Girls Night Out

2011-09-18T13:49:00.000-06:00

Before everyone started their summer plans, we had a 'Girls Night Out.'...or would it be considered 'In' since we didn't go anywhere. Anyhow, we consumed some great food, learned about essential oils, played some games, stayed up late, and did what girls do...be silly.

The next day we went to our cousins baseball game, because family support is always nice, and then taught him how to play 'Red Rover.' I couldn't believe that he didn't know how to play 'Red Rover.' It was like we were all kids again but we didn't run that fast as kids and we definitely weren't that big. Nevertheless, it was still a riot.

I just LOOVEE cousins!!!

Apparently we're biters.

Silly is what we do best! Grown-ups acting like children in PUBLIC. Yeah, we raised a few eyebrows.

Families ARE Forever

2011-09-18T13:44:00.000-06:00

Pulling off a surprise party to celebrate 50 years of being an Eternal family takes a lot of planning, secrets, and cooperation. I got all three. It took exactly a year to plan the celebration of Grandma and Grandpa and it was worth every minute.

The initial planning started with getting family pictures. Have you ever tried to get 60 people together at the same time? It was a task I was willing to take on but I knew it would take advance scheduling if I wanted to be a success. I started notifying everyone in April about pictures in August. That way no one could use the excuse, "I didn't know about it and I have something else planned." Oh NO! That would NOT fly. I guess everyone knew it because we had everyone but 3 people there. One had a VERY valid excuse of being out of the country on a mission. I could accept that.

To keep the peace we brought water, fruit, cheeses, crackers, and cookies. If you want good pictures then you've got to keep the masses happy, especially when they're melting.

The next steps were getting a caterer, decorations, invitations, framed pictures, a replica cake, and entertainment.

The last step was keeping it all a secret until April 2011. That was probably the hardest step of all but everyone did a great job. There were a few close calls but Grandma and Grandpa never caught on.

The events for the day were as follows: surprise Temple sealing session in the early afternoon and then the surprise dinner that evening. Grandma and Grandpa thought they were to have a day filled with my sister but they were in for a surprise.

The Temple was...exactly what it needed to be and the cornerstone to the evening.

The dinner was a hit and everything that I could have hoped. Phil's replica cake was beautiful. My sister's movies were amazing, entertaining, and the show stealer. The family involvement was astounding and that's what made the night so amazing.

We reenacted family reunions and if awards were to be issued for the best portrayal of a reunion then the reenactment of Lake Powell would have won. I was laughing so hard that I was crying.

Speaking of crying. My favorite line of the night was, "I don't want to be better than them, I want to be JUST LIKE them." You can't get better than Grandma and Grandpa. They are wonderful examples and I pray that I can be just like them, too.

I'd do it all over again for them but I couldn't have done it without my family. Families are Forever and I'm so Thankful for that Blessing in my life.

Cardon Clan Cumulation

2011-09-18T13:36:00.000-06:00

On February 24th our family gained a new best friend. Our 6 lb. 8 oz. 18.5 inch friend was nameless but not for a lack of trying. We had a list of names and maybe that was the problem. We also had a lot of "outside" opinions and that was truly the problem. So our new little sweetheart gained a name 10 minutes before we left the hospital. Some might say it's too long but I say who cares what they think because it's as fitting as it gets. So without further ado I introduce you to Stockton Luis Kalikohemolele Cardon and by the time he's eight he'll be able to say it too.

So now let's rewind and see how we got here.....actually we all know how we got here so we'll not go there but to a few step afterwards.
So, after a year of trying for baby #2 and surviving a miscarriage we found out we were pregnant the weekend of July 4th. So now instead of going to the doctor to talk about options and the "fun" annual exam, we were going to see the newest Cardon.
That appointment was the best appointment ever! That sounds odd but it was wonderful. First off we were pregnant so that makes the appointment better right off the bat. Second my new doctor FAR exceeded my expectations (Side Note: All I ever wanted was a female doctor but mine was moving to Texas and there weren't ant females taking new patients. I was devastated!!! My option was a man named "Rocky" Seale. Rocky?! What kind of a name is that? Phil's definitely going to my first appointment.), Third I discovered that Kehl is protective of me.
Since we didn't have a sitter we had to take Kehl with us. So as I was there getting my check-up, which included a breast exam, Kehl was sitting next to Phil. I looked over at him and saw this very perplexed look on his face. He then turned to Phil and said, "He's touching Mommy's boobies." Instantly, the doctor's face went red and he paused for a moment. He then chimed in to help Kehl feel better and told him that he was just making sure that I was okay. Kehl accepted this but still kept a close eye on him. We then got an ultrasound that put a lot of worry to rest. There was in fact a baby in there and according to Kehl it was looking him in the eye. The doctor checked the heartbeat and it was fast. That apparently means nothing besides the fact that he's alive because we all know that Stockton came out a boy and not a girl. At the end of the appointment the doctor asked, "So is he [Kehl] coming to ALL the appointments?"
Kehl went to a few more appointments but none of them as invasive as the first. A few times "Rocky" let him check the babies heartbeat by holding the monitor. I just loved the fact that he always remembered Kehl's name and let him be apart of the pregnancy.
The appointment where we found out we were having a boy was quite a roller-coaster. We both thought, for sure, we were having a girl. So sure that I even made a girl quilt and bought an outfit or two...or more. Don't judge, we all do it. I actually threw-up this pregnancy, three times, which is three times more than the last. Kehl kept telling everyone that he was having a sister. The heartbeat was fast and I just felt different. Well, I guess that's because Stockton was different but still very much a boy.
He was exactly three weeks early. The labor was normal and a bit faster than the last time. He beat Kehl into this world by 44 minutes.
When I first looked at him I didn't think he was mine. You're probably thinking, "Ouch, that's mean!" but it really isn't. I still loved him. He just looked NOTHING like Kehl. He had a lot more hair then Kehl (he had more hair than Kehl currently has), his eyes were so....different (for lack of a better word or to avoid offending others that wouldn't understand), his ear's were flat (they say it's because he was premature) and his nose was still adorable but just not the same. He was his own precious.

Baby Blessing:

Second kid means second chances,right? So, this time around I was going to get a picture of my son in his blessing outfit on his blessing day because I have neither of Kehl. This time I did get both but I still FAILED to get a family picture I guess that will just have to wait for baby number three.
The blessing day was beautiful. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It'd been a cold, snowy spring so to get some sun on this day was a blessing in and of itself. Phil was nervous but he did a beautiful job with the support of our wonderful family and Stockton made it easy by being so perfect.
I LOVE my little boy!!!

Ending 2010

2011-08-22T14:08:00.000-06:00

Can a year end on both a high and low note due to one event? I believe it can. For the past five years my Papa has been living in a care facility because a stroke incapacitated him. We'd visit him as often as we could, seeing as he lived in Vegas. We'd sing songs (Papa's favorite), try and talk story, give him haircuts, and just try and make him feel comfortable.
Singing songs would either bring a large smile or tears depending on the song: Families Can Be Together Forever, I Am a Child of God, Mele Kalikimaka, I Know That My Redeemer Lives, Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree, and many more.
Well, just before Christmas we got a phone call that Papa had passed away. I had feelings of sadness, relief, joy, and comfort. I was sad to know that I wouldn't see Papa again in this life and that my children would only know him through stories..BUT I found joy and comfort in the knowledge that I would see him again and that he was no longer restrained by his body. And relief...well, I was able to say goodbye a few weeks earlier.
The memorial was beautiful. Kehl sang "I Am a Child of God" just like he did the last time we saw him during Thanksgiving from the window. It was a beautiful moment. I couldn't see everyone else through all my tears but I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the audience.
We will miss him but we look forward to the day that we get to see him again.

We spent the rest of the year sharing stories about Papa, our own lives, goals, and bonding as a family. It was a wonderful way to say goodbye and bring in a New Year.

Holiday Happenings

2011-08-22T12:51:00.000-06:00

Festival of Trees

Got some great quilt ideas, Kehl drooled over the dinosaur display, I fell in love with the sock animal display and an adorable little car. Phil...he was the pack mule. Don't think he loved that.

This is the Place

Favorite family winter tradition, besides Christmas day, is going to "This is the Place" Monument. Kehl got put on the 'naughty' list, we made some Christmas crafts, danced in the social hall, watched a puppet show, sent a letter to Santa, as well as spoke with the man in red.

Look Who's THREE!!!

2011-08-22T01:12:00.001-06:00

We spent Thanksgiving in St. George this year, which was quite out of character for us, but needed. We were suppose to head home in time for Kehl's birthday on Monday, but since there was a crazy snowstorm down there, we decided to stay one more day; that meant no plan and no birthday cake....But by the smiles we received that morning after we gave him his gift; I don't think he cared about the cake.

We took him to go see a movie, Tangled, and right next door was a Pirate Island Pizza. It was like it was meant to be. He was pretty freaked out by the atmosphere: dark, spooky, and piratey, but he got over that when he got to play some games and win some prizes. Everybody got into the fun: Nona, auntie Loke, Papa, and Phil He got a lot of prizes thanks to all of their participation and his dad's obsession with the exact bounce game. Phil won approximately 600 tickets for his little guy.

I LOOOVVEEE that his shirt has the number 3 on it. How appropriate and quite the coincidence.

Halloween Tricks and Treats

2011-08-22T00:10:00.002-06:00

Halloween weekend was a busy time for us. Kehl had a school party on Friday but his costume wasn't ready so we threw something together and a 'Beatle' was born. I don't know which one, you vote. They had a cute little parade and some wonderful Halloween crafts. 'Bob the Builder' was there and his machine was quite the hit.

On Saturday, after the football game, we went to the ward Trunk-or-Treat. If you can't tell what Kehl is then let me tell you, it's a bit abstract. Kehl is a bag of flour that has become 'infested' with bull weevil. Phil is a baker....yeah pretty original. And I'm....well, an oven. I heard a lot of, "Oh look there's a washer" but that doesn't make any sense. I guess that's why most people didn't get the hidden message. I made a few updates to the oven before we went to the family party.

Sunday was Halloween at Grandma and Grandpa's and we were ready to tell the world our "secret" and bring the family a wonderfully baked treat.....But the cute "blue" cake fell off the car and smashed on the pavement. Since tempers were high we left the cake instead of taking it. Besides that, the night was a smash. We played some gut busting games that had both tricks and treats, saw some great costumes and even had a nice devotional.....just because we wear costumes on Sunday doesn't mean that we're heathens....no matter what people say.

Friday

Saturday

Can you see a theme?

Sunday: Halloween

Harvest Time

2011-08-21T23:06:00.001-06:00

October is the time to harvest the potatoes but the weather always makes it difficult to get the timing right. Too early and the skins are too thin which could cause them to rot during storage, too late....and there's a list of issues. This year we harvested them before the fall rain storms.

It was a long day of fun, bonding, hardwork, potato throwing, and laughs. I loved, and still love, the time that I get to spend on the farm but more than that I love the time that Kehl get's to spend. I hope this time gives him an appreciation for work and for everything he's given.....or works for.

I love my little farmer and that he loves to be on the farm.....ALWAYS in his farm clothes.

For the Love of the Game

2011-08-21T22:06:00.001-06:00

My mom LLOOOOVVVEEEEES football and on some days it borders on an obsession. She grew up going to Cougar games so you might be a bit confused as you read this entry and see A LOT of red.....but, you won't see it on my mom.
So, my mom's cousin had some extra Ute tickets and invited my family to come. We rode the train down to avoid what my parents call traffic. Who cares about traffic. Have I told you that I LLOOOOVVVEEEEE the train? Well, I do.
Anyhow, we went to the game, I overheated, bought a t-shirt, took a nap, and got back on the train. You'd think that after a long day of heated football, we'd just go home and relax, but mom's version of relaxing is watching more football. We headed straight home and hoofed it to WSU for the second half.
To make a long day even longer, the game went into triple overtime. I can't say that was a bad thing because it made for an exciting game. I found myself cheering right along side my mom.
We cheered really loud when the lights came back on (20 min. wait) after being accidentally turned off for the firework show. WSU was about to win when the lights went out.....don't worry they finished what they started. "Weber State, Weber State, Great, Great, Great!"
When the lights went out for the second time, we finally got to go home.

Busy July in 2010

2011-08-21T20:59:00.000-06:00

July was a busy month for us. So busy in fact that it's taken me over a year to recover from it and finally record it in our family history blog. The month consisted of multiple rodeos, which go hand-in-hand with multiple American hamburgers, fireworks, and time with FAMILY.

Now the time with family doesn't end there. We enjoyed some "fishing", if you can call it that, a horse-n-hitch parade, a car show, and an evening under the stars with some stars.

4th of July Weekend:

"The fish was THIS BIG!!!" Well, the fish that we almost caught was that big. It was catch and DON'T even think about releasing. So, we ate a lot of fish and we would have eaten more if it was up to Kehl and my second little boy, Phil.

Steele Day's Car Show

Kehl took pictures for me of all the cool cars. He has an amazing camera. Just check out the pictures he took. Kehl also shared a little secret of ours. If you were there then you got to find out.

WSU Fireworks

As you can see I was SOOOOO excited to actually be home and watch the WSU fireworks from our backyard. Every year we're gone but not this year. We got a great view of the after show as well. Check out the light show from the traffic.

Horse 'N Hitch Parade

BlueBird Cafe

"Hey, man! You're my new best friend." If you want to be entertained try the BlueBird Cafe series at Sundance. You get to listen to some famous songs written by not so famous people.

Pioneer Days Rodeo

In 2009 we started a new family tradition of going to the Ogden Pioneer Day's rodeo. This year we added a few more members to our tradition and Mother Nature added a few more degrees. We were melting under those umbrellas....but it was well worth the wait.

2010-12-08T04:37:00.002-07:00

Apparently, you CAN run out of room to speak...on the blog, that is. After a long hiatus from blogging, we came back to our familiar spot to catch up with all that has happened over the last several months...only to face the ominous "elephant" in the room: Full Storage!

Alas, we had reached the end of our free blogging frontier and were faced with the end of our ramblings; if we were going to continue our journey, we would have to succumb to the ubiquitous UPGRADE! However, in the attitude of the human spirit's inherent desire to be be free, and in the words of Galaxy Quest, we rendered our declaration: Never Give Up, Never Surrender!

CardonFamilyChaos.blogspot.com

Okay...enough of the superfluities haha! Here's what we did to keep our blog going without upgrading our storage. We found a website called Blog2print which allows you to convert your entire blog into a book or a digital copy (pdf format: $7.95. Better than paying $5/month for the rest of your life!). After we saved our blog, we deleted all our posts and cleared our online storage of its pictures.

So, here's to a new beginning and the continuation of "free" blogging. Long live CardonFamilyChaos!!