Underground Hut

One of my kid's favorite things is for The Babe and I to tell them a childhood story before they go to bed at night. Some nights we have to rack our brains to be able to think of something that is worth telling as a story. But this little tradition has been going on in our home for quite some time, so sometimes we have to re-tell some of their favorites. The most favorite is the story about the underground hut that Uncle Jon and The Babe dug when they were young boys. We lived in a yellow house just across the railroad tracks and there was a creek right next to the tracks and about 10 feet or so from the creek was an irrigation ditch. Then we had a pretty large front yard and a ginormous back yard. I think it was a whole ache or so, but I'm not really sure, but that's not the important part. The front yard had grass and some pine trees and the side yard had the driveway and some more large trees and the rest of the back was just dirt! Lots and lots of dirt...of course it wasn't just dirt, there were sheds and pig pens and horse corrals and the like, but that's not important to this story. The boys were always making huts out of anything and everything they could find. They built a hut in the pine trees, they built a hut in the big tree on the side. We (Aunt Rie and myself) were always a little bit jealous of their huts, so they kindly built us a girl hut in the "not-so-cool tree". They built a hut in the wood pile (several actually), they built a hut in the hay stack (also several), but one day they decided to build an underground hut! So they started digging. and digging. and digging. I don't remember how long it took them to dig out that hut, but it took some time. They dug a big whole in the ground. I couldn't accurately give you dimensions, but I don't remember needing to duck my head when I got inside. They had kind of a small tunnel opening that you had to crawl into and then it opened up into a pretty big hut! They used Grandpa Bishop's logs to lay over the top so that it was covered, and actually kind of hard to tell that it was a big hole in the ground. Being the little sisters we sometimes got to go in with them, but not always. It was pretty cool hut though, we had some fun times in there! Then one day, the irrigation ditch in the front yard flooded.....
You guessed it...it filled that underground hut clear to the top of muddy, soupy gross water. So being the kids that we were, we weren't afraid of a little dirt, now we had a swimming pool!!! So the boys removed all the logs off of the top and we all we swimming in the mud hole!
Grandpa Bishop later filled the underground hut in with dirt because he thought it was too dangerous. :-(
A few months ago, we were at my parents house, and the kids were "bored" so I told them to go outside and start digging an underground hut...it kept us busy when we were kids! So they went out and dug and dug for a little while, I think they might have made a small divot in the dirt, but it kept them busy for awhile!

Thanksgiving was our next visit home. I love going home when everyone is there because my dad always has some kind of crazy adventure up his sleeve! I'm not sure if any of the in-laws really get it, but it's my dad and I just love it! So dad gathered up all of the grown-ups (the ones who were willing to play) and all of the grand kids (the ones that were big enough to go outside and play in the snow) and we went on a rabbit hunt! He did his best Elmer Fudd impression and we headed out to find a wascally wabbit! None of us knew what he had up his sleeve, but when we got to the front door, my mom was chosen as the leader and we were off on a rabbit hunt!

We went tromping through the snow all around the yard. We went through fences and around wood piles. We went to the corrals out in back and we went back to the wood pile. None of us even knew what we were looking for. He just kept saying keep your eyes out for a rabbit....

Oh, my mom makes me laugh! She so fun! After following our fearless leader around the yard, Dad finally led us to his grand rabbit hole hide out! He had dug an underground hut!!! He put a tarp over it an that night it had snowed and covered the whole thing with snow so all that was showing was a little opening covered with blue tarp. The inside was full of straw so that it would be a fun place to play.

It was the sweetest thing to let my kids experience an underground hut! Like the one they have heard stories of so many times! It's the most repeated childhood memory we tell. They love it! and now they get to have an underground hut of their own at Grandpa's house!

I'm excited for the memories they will create here!

Thanks Grandpa Baker! I'm sure glad you have a backhoe handy!

Light the World

Yesterday after school, Porter got home and I asked him if he was still planning on running in the Reindeer Romp, a 1 mile race at the school. He said that yes he was. I asked him casually if maybe he thought his buddy Cole would think it would be fun to run with him. He got a huge grin on his face and said, "oh ya, Mom, I want to ask him. Can I ask him? Can I call him right now?" I told him that maybe this question would have to be asked in person so that he could see Cole's reaction and see if he really felt up to it. He asked if we could go right now to talk to Cole, so we went right over...the whole ride over this little momma could not hold back the tears because I knew that Porter and Cole were about to embark on a pretty cool experience. Cole's Mom answered the door not knowing what we were there to talk to Cole about, but she kindly let us in. Cole was laying on the floor and his mom helped him sit up so he could see Porter. Porter sat down on the floor in front of Cole and asked if he would like it if he would push Cole in the Reindeer Romp. Tears were streaming down my cheeks as Cole got a great big grin across his face! He was in! He wanted to run with Porter in the race! 

Cole met us at the starting line with number all pinned on and his red running shoes all laced up! When the race began, Cole's mom and myself were both a little... (probably a lot more than a little, truth be told) nervous because we had both assumed that the mile race would be run on the track, but NO, this race was all around the school! Through the play ground, around the track, up hills and down hills, around the parking lot! Poor Nikki, I thought she might decide this was not such a good idea! I was wondering myself! But the race began and they took off running like champs! It really melted my little heart to watch my son do such a kind service for his friend. I asked him a couple times when he passed me if he was doing ok and he always had a big grin on his face and said, "Yep!" They needed a little help rounding the corner at the bottom of the hill, but luckily Sister Jones was there to help them get through that little (BIG) obstacle. At the end of the race I asked Porter how he felt, he said it was hard but I feel really good! Porter took Cole to help him pick his prizes, but wasn't quite sure how to help him pick, so his Mom came to the rescue and picked out some awesome reindeer antlers that were perfect for the occasion!!! I think Cole had a good run! I hope he did. I know that it was a super special experience for Porter! Thanks for being his buddy Cole, everyone needs friends like you! 

Leighna ran in the Reindeer Romp as well. I asked her how it went after and she said it was exhausting, but the reward (donuts and chocolate milk) was worth it. Ty tagged along with me and Will while we tried to kinda keep up so we could help if needed. Will was happy to get his hands on Porter's candy cane. I think Nikki ran a whole mile just trying to keep up with the boys to make sure they were okay on the hills....I bet she'll sleep well tonight! Nikki, Warren and Cole, THANK YOU, Thank you for letting my son have this opportunity to light the world! We love you!