We Had to get our Vizas and some trivia...

So when I figure out how to post pictures from my camera without having the cord which connects my camera to the computer I will add photos. For now, Mr. Mecham has the cord in Europe and I have the camera in Sonoran Desert.

We had to go to L.A. to get our Visas... And so we made a little trip out of it! And it was such a relief to a looooooooong vacation less few months! Lucky for us the timing couldn't have been better! We were awaiting the arrival of Mr. Mecham's work permits and one of our passports which came in just before the the 4th of July! And so we bolted for the Ocean! Two luscious days on the beach with 10 bajillion of our (not so) closest friends, 400 million sand flea crabs, the ever fabulous Princes and Aunt Peebs and a whole lot of sunshine! It was spectacular! Especially the Dolphin show right in front of us! They were soooo sooo cute playing in the waves! And the stray whale that mysteriously parked out a ways from us and just kept blowing water was so very cool!
Huntington Beach Trivia:
1) the 4th of July crowd at Huntington beach trashes the public restroom and makes them so stinky that you are forced to wear swim plugs around your nose to urinate. Take a toothbrush because you will want to brush your teeth when done since you were forced to do all breathing in the jon through your mouth. Take 2 extra rolls of t.p... paper towells would be better... and rubber dish gloves: these items will aid in your ability to plaster the toilet seat before you squat down to use it.
Wear flip flops to the restroom. No. bare. feet. Irrigation boots are a better choice. Headlamps and goggles would also be helpful.
2) for the lack of swimsuits! Hello skimp bikinis! Body size and shape Do NOT matter! Feel free to romp and run in your nothings! (good choice:) skimpy bikini. (better choice:) string or thong bikini nude colored (best choice:) one piece tie on suit laced up the front with parts less covered than the string/thong variety. Why don't we just follow suit with the Europeans and go nude? It would undoubtedly be less shocking!
3) Seriously public display of beyond affection which took some explaining for the older kids... and was offensive to the young men of our group! Ok... but we had a truck load of fun and even found the pda hilarious! Really? How could one be so passionately in the mode completely oblivious to that fact that sand flea crabs are ducking under their feet, 734,000 kids have dropped their sand shovels and are staring at them, the dolphins stopped jumping because they were so embarrassed, and I was taking notes? haha.. just kidding... I wasn't taking notes! I was laughing though... and bribing my children with candy to look at me while I laughed at the nuisance!
4) Did you know that 1 out of 5 people at Huntington beach do NOT have a tattoo? 3 of those that do have sleeves? Tattoos and body piercings are like Pb and j. If you are properly tatted then you also have body piercings. It goes like this. women: if you have a tat on your back you have a piercing in your belly button. If you have a tat on your leg then you might only have 16 ear piercings. If you have leg, back and chest tats then you also have belly, nose, lip and multiple ear piercings and you might even have your ear lobes tatted. Did I mention that the lobe piercing is big enough to put a spoon through? Enough about that!
5) Did you know that when you look out on the water and see a large flock of birds swarming and landing they are most likely landing on a whale? No kidding! And that is how whale watchers find their show!
6) if you find a clam and you don't get the meaty part out before you go home just know that the clam rots and makes your bag smell like a very old yucky diaper... and you might have to through everything away.
7) you may or may not come home with more sand in the family sized chip bag than chips. individual sized chip bags might be a better choice!
We stuck out like a sore thumb... Imagine this: 3 men literally WORKING THEIR BUNS OFF (everyone else on the beach working was of the female gender while the men played). 4 women. No big tattoos on the adults. No bizarre body piercings. 11 children under the age of 12... over 3/4 of them under the age of 7. No smoking or alcoholic beverages and NO pda even though we obviously enjoy affection since we hauled in with 11 kids and a bun in the oven. It was a sight!
We live in a bubble! I like my bubble. So after 10 minutes of me digging my jaw out of the sand, I got over it and we had a BLAST!
Favorite moment on the beach: Bailey and Talor wanted to be buried in the sand for a picture. Taylor went first even though we suggested that not to be a super good idea... since sand in the suit is only sometimes super comfy... the rest of the time it is totally lame. What. ev. er! And so the hole was dug. And Taylor was buried up to her neck. The last bucket of sand was to be dumped on before the grand picture was to be taken. And so Taylor suggested the purple bucket because it was already full of sand thanks to the digging done earlier that day. Little did the girls know that the purple bucket was the boys bucket which was being used to house the 87 sand flea crabs they had been diligently catching for hours! But who knew? Sand crabs dig down in the sand instantly and so they couldn't be seen! But BOY HOWDY! When Bailey dumped that last purple bucket on top... right by the neck line of Ms. Taylor, She bolted out of that sand grave like I have never seen anybody move! And I was laughing pretty hard!

On July 5th the consulate opened. The paperwork and passports were submitted and we were off to Disney while awaiting them to process! OH WOW! Who knew Disney could be so fun? Cole's first experience in Disneyland... and i have never enjoyed a "first" so much! It was incredible!
Disney Trivia:
1) Did you know that there is a mini hospital just off main street Disney? Yep! sure is... Bailey found it! Po Bailey... She gets motion sick. All day she did awesome but 1 trip on Tower of Terror + 2 back to back rides on California Screaming did her in! We were all enjoying an ice cream from that (to die for) parlor when Bailey sat over in the corner a barfed her brains out, thought for sure she was going to hyperventilate and pass out and even turned some awesome shades of grey and pasty white. The Disney nurse came a running with the Disney paramedics while the ice cream parlor men in their striped uniforms made a half circle around the corner where she was to ensure that nobody else was grossed out by her puke and to ensure Bailey's complete barfing pleasure in privacy. If you had to be sick anywhere outside home, I am voting for main street Disney in the corner of the ice cream parlor. I bonded with those men... They didn't even look suspicious until the paramedics showed up. By that time Aunt Lisa was holding the grocery bag of vomit while finishing her ice cream waffle cone. I was securing the pony tails in Bay's hair and giving evil eyes to anyone who might be trying to stare. Cole was gathering his treats and bolting for Nate and McKay who had fled as soon as humanly possible to the outside to watch fireworks explode over Cinderella's castle! And then Lisa and I joined Bailey in the infirmary while the boys headed over to cash in on the fast passes at splash mountain followed by a little shopping before they came to drop off on their way to space mountain and autotopia.
2) Did you know that if Disney inconveniences you with one of their rides needing serviced while you were on it that they make it up to you by giving you a pass which allows 6 people to skip on to the front of any line for the ride of your choice? They sure do! So while we were on the go carts one of them died somewhere ahead of us. It wasn't a big deal since we were almost done with the ride anyway! In very routine fashion the rides were all shut off, the roads secured, everyone escorted off the ride and then orderly given passes to any ride they wanted which accommodated up to 6 people. So we took an extra ride with only 10 minutes to park closing on space mountain! I LOVE DISNEYLAND!
3) FYI: new puppets in small world. Loved them! Loved the A.C. on that ride!
4) FYI: the park shops stay open for an hour after the rides close.
5) If you eat a huge turkey leg at 3:00 p.m. you only have to eat one meal for the rest of the entire trip. But take lots of water! And don't forget a churro and an ice cream.

coming home!

This little hotty will be home today! I can't wait to kiss his face off! Welcome back Mr. Mecham!!! You have been missed terribly!

When we really think about moving clear across the world we kinda get a little sick. We have been ready for an adventure for a long time. We are beyond excited! But leaving family and friends behind us makes us kinda sick to our stomach.
Every single day my kids play with their cute little friends. They are so happy. Our dear friends hand with us. Laugh with us. Raise us up during hard times and put up with us... and now, while Mr. Mecham is a gajillion mile away preparing our European home, friends make the longs days go by faster. Family does the same. So here we are... excited and sad all at once. Its a bag of emotions whose reality is quickly approaching. We know family will be here. We know friends will be here. We know we will stay in touch. But we won't be playing with them and talking to them every day... Today when I saw the boys playing with Princes out back, it hit hard... these little people are more like our kids than the neighbors and we kinda feel like we are leaving some of our children behind. Thank heaven for technology! If it weren't for phones and fb, blogs and e-mail, we wouldn't make it!

Dear friends and Family,
We are excited for an opportunity to travel Europe, work in Poland, serve our Heavenly Father in a far off land and expand our circles of friends there. However, you will forever and ever hold a big piece of our hearts. It has helped to know that in all the places we've ever lived, our friends are still our friends and we still communicate with them. But we will miss you something fierce.
There will always be a place for you to lay your head and an warm meal at our table if you should desire to travel across the ocean to see us.
We will be back... and perhaps we like you more than you like us... but we can't tell....because you are too nice to us! That is why we will be back. And we already look forward to it!
Until then, Much love,
The Mechams.

Every Fourth Stork is Polish

"Every Fourth Stork is Polish"

I have to admit something since the Mr. already spilled the beans about my love for bird. I LOVE BIRDS! It's maybe a little bit weird... but I have always loved them. Infact, the only thing that I get excited about when I think of the mammoth oleanders in my back yard is that they house a WHOLE LOT of birds... and I can hear them and see them every day. We are not real "pet" people... but we have 15 chickens which I have a place in my heart for and two cockateils that I talk to like they were my babies. Mr. Squeeker knows I love him. And Tilly is my buddy. I know. It is strange... I just can't help myself. So while some people dream of the fancy car they would drive if they had a million bucks, I dream of the aviary I would build... It is palacial.
Mi Amore knows this little fact about me. He has listened to me ramble many times. So he couldn't wait to report on the stork population in Poland... our future new home. I went to work researching the mythical creature that drops babies at on the door step. This is what I found: And I am so excited to see these beauties in my back yard.

"Each spring, Poland welcomes home roughly 25 percent of the nearly 325,000 white storks (scientific name Ciconia ciconia) that breed in Europe. When the storks return from their wintering grounds in Africa, they are attracted to tall trees or buildings where they build nests that often weigh up several tons. People sometimes attach wagon wheels to rooftops and barns or tall poles near buildings in hopes of luring the birds to nest near their homes. Today, telecommunications companies put up special poles and nest supports for the storks.

Adult white storks are about 1 m (3 ft) tall, with long red legs, a straight pointed red bill, white plumage, and black wing feathers.

Nearly 41 thousand “couples” of the 160 thousand worldwide breed in Poland, thus, “every fourth stork is Polish.” (http://poland.pl/spec/storks/facts.htm and www.bociany.pl)
Stork nests are huge: some old nests may be over 6 ft (2 m) in diameter and nearly 9 ft (3 m) in depth. They are constructed of branches and sticks and lined with twigs, grasses, sod, rags, and paper. Some nests have been in continuous use for hundreds of years . Breeding birds add to the nest each summer, with both males and females contributing to the construction.

Storks stay with one mate for the breeding season, but they do not migrate or over-winter together. If the same pair mates the next year, it is because of a strong attachment to the nesting site. The female usually lays 3–5 eggs, and both parents incubate the eggs for about one month. Young chicks are covered with white down and have black bills; their legs and bills slowly turn red as they mature.

Both parents bring food to the nest until the young fledge at 8–9 weeks of age. As the babies prepare for their first flight, they practice by jumping up from the ground floor of the nest, and then take small flights near the nest. Before the summer is over, they join their parents at the feeding grounds, which are usually near wet or marshy areas"

Is that fantastic? I can't wait to see them. Nate says they are everywhere! :)

Happy Anniversary Baby!

June 14, on Flag day, Mr. Mecham and I were married in the Manti, UT, (Sanpete County) LDS temple. It was a lovely day, indeed. The photographer forgot to show up (because dad had pre-paid him) but other than that there wasn't even a glitch! And besides, everyone had a camera anyway so we had tons and tons of pictures!
14 years later here we are... still celebrating that beautiful day! Except we are happier today than we were nearly a decade and a half ago... because we've had time to figure out how much we actually really do like each other. And I must say, I wouldn't like to live another day without Mr. Mecham. I hope we never have to find out what that is like.
This year we do not celebrate in much style... Although the ever romantic Mr. Mecham did call in a special order clear from Poland to have Sugar Mama's deliver a little treat. And he promised me we would have a real celebration... perhaps in Paris or Prague to celebrate our union. And then... he sent a love not from Europe. And though I did edit it a little bit, I am going to share the romantic side or Mr. Mecham... because it makes me so happy to read it.

Rebecca Suzanne,

First of all, you may have received my custom-ordered 'magic' anniversary gift. I mean, seriously....only once in a lifetime do you celebrate 14 years of marriage on the 14th day of your wedding month, and I find myself on the other side of the world. Curse. Don't fret, my dear...I will get to be with you again very soon, and someday soon I will be able to take you to celebrate in a proper fashion. enjoy.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Part I:
With much joy and fondness do I sit down tonight and reflect on the blessed and happy state of my life with you. Today marks the completion of 14 years of marriage to you, and I wish like a dish of tuna fish that I was next to you to say this in person...but with my weakness in communicating, would I say the things I want to? Hard to say, Clark. One thing I do know is that things happen for a reason, and I firmly believe that I was lead to you. You were like a magnet for me. Once I saw you, I knew that I had to know you. Once I got to know you, I couldn't stay away. Period. I joke about marrying way above my head, but that couldn't be more true. The problem with that, however, is that you must tire of constantly dragging me along. Everything worthwhile, lovely and of good report related to my existence on this earth ties directly to you. Period. (I say that a lot...I think) You are my foundation of hope, happiness and pure joy. I cringe when I reflect on some of my past actions and attitudes related to our relationship, my career, my role in our family, my view of our family and the way I have treated you at times. I think our thoughts can be assembled in such a way as to create our own framework of endless misery and woe (I don't know how to spell woe, to be honest with you), and for me, thinking of those things does that to me. I doubt you had any idea of the amount of work it would be to have me in your life. Oh how great the hope that eternal life gives us, that we can be in a constant state of improvement and repair, always becoming better than we are...not settling for what we are now, but striving for what we can become. I am sorry it has taken me so dang long to appreciate you for all that you have done, all that you are and all that we can become together. Dang. That sounded good. Way better than any stupid card at Fry's or Wally-world....and I had to break from my stupid tradition of buying you some slightly (or not so slightly) suggestive card that was as shallow as all get out. :)

Part II:
Things I really, really like about Rebecca Suzanne Mecham (in no particular order):
- The sultry sound of her voice on the phone after a long day.
- The way she flips her lovely blonde locks off her shoulder when she is giving a kick-fannie presentation.
- The way she tilts her head when she is listening to what you have to say.
- The way she can whip up the most decisious meal in the world with nothing but vegetables, some left-over rice and a couple of cans of beans.
- The way she can sight read music better than most folks can play after practicing.
- The incredible way she smells. I am not kidding at all about that lotion applicator position...
- Her patience with her children, which far and away exceeds the great majority of the population.
- The way she sticks up for her children - always.
- Her desire to be a noble and obedient daughter of God.
- The way she says 'k'den' when she needs to make a point.
- The number of books about ancient prophets within an arm's reach at any given moment.
- Her honesty.
- Her passion about those things that she cares about.
- Her beauty.
- Her grace.
- Her soft spot for anything about the Royal Family, a Coke with lots of ice, and cadbury eggs.
- The wall of pillows erected every night to make the cursed (Sunday purchased) mattress even half-way comfortable.
- Her talent with hot wax.
- The way she can turn a trip to the gas station, grocery store or indian reservation into a reprieve from the world's troubles.
- Watching the way other people love her and react to her.
- Pulling the blanket up around her after she has fallen dead asleep on the couch, knowing that she may or may not sleep in her bed that night.
- Watching her manuver around a cooler in the back of the van as she distributes a fabulous meal to the family going 75 mph down the highway.
- Watching her manuver the tiller (her favorite power tool) around the garden or chicken coop.
- Listening to her play the piano in the evening just for the heck of it.
- Watching the reaction she gets from both the chickens and cocketiels. She really is the Bird Lady.
- The way she takes care of people recovering from sickness or surgery.
- The way she never makes fun of people coming out of surgery by making them say dumb stuff.
- The way she covers for people when they get sick at the sight of a needle or the wiggle of an IV thingy.
-

The way she makes me feel when I am with her....my oh my.

I love you, Becky.

That is just a part of why I love Nate... I think its funny that he thinks he has "mis-treated" me... Like... when I think of that I think of people hitting other people. Or Maybe people saying something mean. He hasn't ever done any of that... But whatever.

My response... to that lovely letter:

Mi Amore,
No way, not ever, Will there be a card or letter written to beat that one. NEVER EVER! laughing and crying... And I don't think I could ever top it. You just hit a major home run... so tell me again, why are you 10 trillion miles away tonight?
I love you. I miss you. EVERYTHING about you. Everything.
Becky

I was so consumed trying to forget that yesterday was my anniversary, since I didn't get to spend how I would have liked to... and so I didn't post this little blog until the 15th. Oh well... Atleast I won't forget it.

Taxi Driver

Among all of the motherly duties to be done, I think I am going to be best at Taxi driving... After all, I spend all my time in the car. Does everyone feel the same way? Like... this week was so crazy that at red lights I found myself daydreaming about the day that Bailey gets her drivers liscence... and I was picking out which new car I would get when I passed the big family wagon on to her so that she could run some errands and drop some kids off. At one light I woke up to a horn honker and a couple middle fingers coming my way. I guess I was a dreaming a little more than I should have been.

5 things best about taxi driving:

5) watching the price of fuel at the pump go up and up and up.... Because you start considering not only the cost of the event that you are driving your child to, but how much it will cost you to get them there before you decide if it will work in your buget. You know, I like the idea of charging per bag. The airlines have that just about right... Each time somebody gets in my car from now on, I think I will charge them for their purse, swim bag, music bag, bat bag, brief case, wallet, church bag, scripture bag, and for sure each grocery bag. Then I can afford gas!

4) working in a cubical (I've never done it but heard it isn't so much fun) must kinda be like driving your car all day. Except you don't have a chair with wheelies that you can spin around in. However, your cubical is on wheels?!

3) winter taxi vs summer taxi: Winter taxi is just the same thing over and over... drop the kids at school. grocery store. bank. laundry. pick up kids from school. take to sports practice/games. take to music lessons. over and over... Super routine! But summer taxi is a little different! Get in car. burn hand. burn buttocks on the seat (cloth seats have to be better than leather in AZ.) turn on AZ and feel a 10 min blast of heat melting your face... then get to destination turn off car only to return and start that over again before you get to next destination. Plus the car smells like chlorine. Very different from winter taxi. Events are moment to moment rather than routine. Can't decide which one I like more

2) Taxi driving with a car load of kids. Hopefully all of them talking at the same time... and Hopefully there are atleast 10 of them... Just hopefully! For an entire 8 hours until your head is sooo full of fog that you can't figure out how to get the straw in your coke from the cup holder to your mouth.

1) The best thing about taxi driving is that I have a taxi at all! Thanks heaven! Could I imagine doing all of this walking? YIPES!

Man of the house

It went down like this:
Last night we were preparing Nate "the great" to leave on the first leg of our European excursion. Upon my scan of the front yard I realized that it was not mowed... I told McKay that he was going to be the man of the house and so he would be in charge of mowing after pops left. And though I was half way joking, because like what mum sends her 10 year old out to do all the manly duties of the father... But McKay let it seep in... While I forgot about it.

This morning we took Old papa Nate to that airport along with 3 oversized suit cases full of provisions for the next 18 months... And we quickly dropped him at the curb with a smooch and hugs and drove away. Upon our return back to the homestead we all quickly found ourselves crawling back into our cozy and cool sheets. And next thing I know this is what happened...

I woke up to the lawn mower moving across the yard. I looked at the clock in time to see that I had waaaaaay over slept and then I peeped out my blinds to see the "man of the house" pulling the lawn mower over the yard.

Later, whence he came in, and after I smooched his face off, I asked Mr. McKay why did he do such a nice thing and he told me, "I wanted to get a start on the lawn before it got too hot." He did the far side by the street today and said he would work on the rest throughout the rest of the week. And then I realized... I am in good hands!

Mr. Mecham may be thousands of miles away, but the Man of the house is taking good care of things over here.

Sure love that little man!