So Lauren and Chloe have been at my Mom's home since Sunday, we've all missed them, just a little bit though! :) When they were little and used to nap I would go into super-warp speed and get so much accomplished-cleaning, dinner, scrapbooking, sewing.... Well, now when Noah naps it's time to hang with my favorite gals, so I don't get as much done, but definitely have more fun. It's strange to not have them around. Two things that are nice to have a break from include: No sweeping of the kitchen floor 3 times a day, and I really don't like cleaning up the bedrooms and toyroom at night, even though they help, it's always a disaster it seems. But that aside I miss their funny comments, hugs, and the help and love they give to Noah. Not so sure he has missed them! He did wander into their rooms this morning probably wondering where everyone was. I didn't realize how much they do help with him, just watching him. Maybe I've become a slacker, today he poured Borax all over himself, picked a good handful of green tomatoes, and topped off the morning with a good serving of cat food. Gross, I hate his breath when he gets into that stuff. Well, time to get busy, it is naptime after all.
happy pioneer day...
We spent the day in Bancroft, population 350- where Cody and I grew up, fun times. The 24th of July is the biggest day of the year there. Here Cody and I are holding our cheesy blue ribbons from the 5K race held that morning. We each placed first in our divisions, funny since Cody was the only one in his division. He did make good time though, I'm proud of his exercising efforts. I was first for the 5K walkers, no jogging for me this year. It was fun to participate together, it's been years since I was awarded a ribbon for anything! Check out those bags of candy, the parade goes around the route twice and always throws an obscene amount of candy, Lauren and Chloe loved it. It was fun to visit with Mom, Dad, and my cousin Connie from Utah. We took the boat out on Alexander Reservoir later that day. It was the first boat ride for L& C and Noah I guess, although he wasn't too thrilled, just interested in the motor of course.
So today, I am grateful for the new football coach at Century High School in Pocatello. As I was nearing the city I hit something and at the top of the hill my tire was deflated. I didn't have a phone and no one was stopping, so I started to walk to an exit (with my three children-surely I looked desperate :) He was so kind to stop and change my tire. I do know how to change a tire, but it's still a bit tricky and requires some good muscles. How glad I am that he stopped to help me. Now I have to remember to return the kindness to someone else in need, just as long as it doesn't involve a jack!
summer breakfasts....
Even for as hot as it is right now, I do love having fresh raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries for breakfast- with yogurt, granola, or just plain, mmm. Today I'm thankful for good neighbors-on both sides- who let me pick their raspberries and give me awesome starts of their flowers! We're so lucky! I got four batches of jam and two frozen bags of raspberries in the freezer. It is the jam of choice for our family! Seems like I take a lot of pics of Noah in his highchair, it seems food is a pretty big part of his little life right now! Noah came out by the patch while I was picking as soon as he woke up and immediately sat down by the big bowl and starting helping himself. He ate so many berries that day I was a bit worried about his intestinal health, lots of fiber at least. He got quite worried every time his plate was empty :) Wish I could find a u-pick blueberry patch around here, heck, I'd settle for a u-pick anything! For me berries are something you can never have too much of!
all in a day's work...
So I must say, I love being pregnant and nursing just for the fact that my hormones finally feel balanced and all in order. But now I'm back to myself and the past couple days have been emotionally rough. Lots of random crying and angry outbursts, (yikes! says my family) Today just kind of took me over the edge. Chloe came upstairs to lunch with her hair combed and pulled back-amazing, amazing and...odd. She was heading out to a movie with Cody and Lauren so I re-combed her hair. Oh wow, she had cut about a 2 inch section right in the front, down to-oh maybe a 1/4 inch!!!!!!!! I don't know what she was thinking, we had just talked about growing out her bangs, maybe this was a quick fix in her six year old mind, "heck, why grow them out, I'll just get rid of them altogether." And of course, Murphy's Law in action yet again- we have some pictures scheduled to be taken tomorrow morning. I can hardly wait until the patch is 1 inch long and stubbornly poking straight up, argh. Lauren cut nearly the same patch on her head about 4 months ago. I mistakenly thought we were in the clear for cutting our own hair, but apparently not.
Later today, I was patching some clothing, obviously off in my own little world. Noah came into the sewing room and pulled the hot iron down onto his arm. Luckily I was standing back to back with him and quickly grabbed it. Could have been so much worse, it left a moon-shaped burn in the crook of his arm. Poor little man, I felt terrible. If the guy wasn't so into cords and all things that plug in. If I had just draped the cord up onto the counter like I usually do. If, If, If..... Later he kept wandering in, making all kinds of noises and pointing at the iron, I think it left an impression, gives him a whole new meaning to the word 'hot'.
So here's to a better day tomorrow, a true Monday today :)
What a great woman...
"I REALLY LIVED"
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
By Marjorie Hinckley
mmm........
the peas are on.....
This year was our first "real" garden. I grew quite a bit in pots in Moscow, but it has been fun to plant in our own little plot. Everyone is enjoying snap peas here, nothing wrong with peas for dinner right?! They are tasty and just right for little hands to pick. Noah chews on them for a while then spits the whole wad out, good flavor but a little fibrous for him I think :) Cody and I are already talking about expanding the garden next year. I planted just a few square feet of snap peas. I would sure like more, and more beans, and more carrots, just more... Behind Noah is what is left of the spinach, lettuce, and swiss chard. So sad, the plants started drooping, I figured it was water, so I watered more. When I finally pulled one up the roots were nearly gone, stinkin' ants. I hate those bugs, they are everywhere, they got most of my beets too. So now there's some butternut squash growing there. Maybe next year I'll have some salad, anyone have ideas for ants? And I must say I was quite pessimistic about Cody's grown from seed tomatoes, they weren't hardened off slow enough and most of them bit the dust, but we have five plants that look awesome, I hope we get a ton of tomatoes. So fun!
Fourth of July fun....
This was our first parade here in Idaho Falls, it was long, I think we made it to the 80th entry and we headed out. We were in the sun unfortunately and L & C kept complaining about how hot it was. Plus the lack of candy disappointed them, but it was fun to watch. Noah sat on my lap the whole time and drifted off at the end. Cody was lucky enough to get just one ice cream. It was hilarious to watch them as they tried to share it, they both wanted it for themselves so badly! We had a BBQ with just our family, we should invited some people, but didn't plan ahead. Of course it was delicious. I do love BBQ season, Cody really steps it up in the kitchen, who doesn't appreciate that?! The heat really took it out of Lauren and she went to sleep about 6 p.m. not feeling well and missed the fireworks. Chloe and I cuddled on the lawn of their school and had a great view of them across the river. Hope everyone had a great day!
more water...
and more of my handsome son, can't get enough of him :) I think Noah's first official word, besides Mum and Dad is probably "kitty." I'm not quite sure why he loves Macey-O so much, he pretty much avoids Noah, but he gets excited whenever he comes around and starts saying "itty, itty." He has one book with cats in it that he always wants to read before bedtime. Today I captured a rare encounter with the two of them. And of course, more water fun. I was showing Noah how to just dip his hand in the sprinkler, he doesn't like to stand out on the lawn and get sprayed, but running back and forth to stick his hands in was a big hit! We're just trying to stay cool, the hot weather tends to make me grouchy and a bit lethargic. I don't feel like cooking, cleaning, or much of anything by about 3 p.m. I'm remembering why I prefer spring and fall to summer and winter, just right, in the middle temps. Happy Fourth to all, enjoy the fun!
