Overheard

Just heard this screamed from Charlotte's room (she is playing instead of napping): everbody hi, everybody hi, tigers might eat you. It sounded like she was peeking out the window, warning the neighborhood.
Tigers are her thing lately-either she is a tiger and is going to eat you, or she knows a tiger and it is going to eat you, or there is one chasing her and it is going to eat her.

Walking

 

Timothy has been slowly taking more and more steps over the last 2 weeks. And the last 2 days he really wants to walk as much as possible. He can take about 10 steps at a time and looks for objects to walk between. He reaches out to hold may hand for extra confidence, but can do it all himself. He is also into climbing-oh boy (note the big boo-boo on his nose).

He is quite a character. I am loving:
how cuddly he is
when he laughs and burys his head in my lap/chest/neck
the way he leans his head forwrd to meet mine
the way he cocks his head, smiles with his eyes and then his mouth
when his body gets so excited with giggles-he brings his hands to his face and covers his mouth
the way he hides behind my back and peeks around to play peek-a-boo
the way he and his sister run/crawl around the house as I chase them-screaming and laughing

so much fun.

Pigtails again

 

 

 

I think she knew how cute she was because she had lots os fun posing for the pictures. If only she would leave them in.

Playset

It is finally constructed thanks to lots of freinds and family for all their help. It was a bit rainy that day but everyone pitched in with construction, food, and kids. Everyone has been having lots of fun :) Thanks again.

Playmates

 

Burnt Ranch

We had a wonderful Sunday. It seems to be a tradition that we go up to the Burnt Ranch on Memorial Day. And it never fails to fill my need for rainy, damp, cool weather and cloud filled blue-grey skies. We always have fun with the families and there are so many kids running around that they just seem to take care of themselves.

On the drive up, which takes at least one hour and half of that spent on slow-going dirt roads, I was really able to take in this beautiful country that we live in.
The colors are just as amazing this time of year as they are in the fall. It is so green right now. This is what I saw on our drive, if you can imagine it:

Yellow tufts of grass mingling with silvery sage bushes.
Burnt oranges and reds of the willows winding through the wetlands and rivers.
Lime green new leaves against the black and white bark on the aspen trees.
Deep, rich greens of the pines.
Blue-grey skies.
Purple mountains in the distance.
Red cliffs in the foreground.
White phlox, purple peas, and yellow arrowleaf balsamroot littering the ground.
Black, white, and rust blur of a pronghorn herd running across our path.

Our kids couldn't get any more fortunate with the views they see out their windows. Another neat sight while we were there was unfortunately not seen by me, but 4 folks saw a baby moose bathing in the river bleating for its mama. It was so young and tiny that the umbilical cord was still soft! Oh the beauty of Wyoming and it vast views and slim population.

Overstocks

I may have already posted about this, but Lands End has a great Overstocks section on their website. It is always there and full. And they are having great deals this weekend. Anyway, just wanted to share a money-saving secret :)

Outside In

 

 

The weather has just been dreamy. This is one of my favorite times of the year. When the weather is cool enough in the mornings and evenings to have the doors open and it warms up just enough in the day that you can wear your favorite skirt. Is there somewhere on this planet where this weather exists year-round?? Someone please tell me, I may end up there someday.

Ooops

 

Charlotte loves to cut paper. Last weekend after I gave Reid a haircut, Charlotte was sitting at the table with her very dull saftey shears and well decided to give herself a trim. Ooops.

Trouble

 

Paw Paw and Meme

 

 

 

 

Meme and Paw Paw were visting last week and we sure had a great time. Reid and I got to spend another day together-fishing and lunch-what a treat.

I never thought

 

 

I never thought these words would be uttered don't paint your brother. LOL!

Milestone

Well, it has been a long time coming but Timothy finally slept through the night. He woke up at 10:00pm was back asleep by 10:30 and slept until 6:30am. At almost 11 months it seems he has decided he is ready. This had also coincided (not accidentally I am sure) with the fact that he is no longer interested in breastfeeding. It has been 2 1/2 days since he has last breastfed. He went from feeding quite often to nothing leaving me to cope, and very uncomfortable!

At first I was sad, because it was sooo sudden and I was not ready to lose that connection with him. I wasn't even considering cutting back on feedings until he was 1 year and thought I may nurse him for something closer to 18 months. But, I think I'll take the sleep. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!

Friends

 

 

 

Giraffe friends and flowers.

Melons

 

We started our melons. The second set of starts and Charlotte was more than happy help-who wouldn't be with all that dirt :)

a big weekend

 

We have had a big weekend. Reid built me some raised beds forthe garden-yea!!! While he was using the circular saw to cut the wood, one of our chickens laid down and died! Big bummer-did she have a heart attack? Don't know. I talked to some other chicken mama's and they have had chickens do the same thing recently. Do we have a case of the chicken flu-doubt it :) I am blaming it on breeding at the hatchery. Hopefully noone will find the picture too morbid, she is just so beautiful.

 

On Sunday the family headed over to Thermopolis. Reid and Ava and I went fishing/floating on the Big Horn River-and spent 5 hours together without kids. The most time together since Charlotte has been born. I have decided this time is sooo important for us that we just need to budget it in.

 

 

Charlotte and Timothy played and played and Timothy took 2 steps!! He is on his way and I am ready.

Tickle tutorial

 

1. Find one willing baby.
2. Strip down to diaper.
3. Rub your hands together to warm them up-at the same time make silly faces at the baby.
4. Laughing may have already begun-this is a sign of a very willing and ticklish participant. Fear not if the baby still has a straight face, it will not last long.
5. Once fingers are warm, place fingertips on the upper chest and pretend you are typing at your computer.
6. Next apply kisses with your smooth, puckered lips along the jawline-you get bonus points if you can get your chin to tickle the upper chest at the same time.
7. Then, lift up one arm and massage fingertps into the pits.
8. If laughs are elusive, apply lips over entire body delivering zerberts. Hot zones: stomach, armpits, upper thighs.
9. Lastly, take the end of your fingers and run them up and down the soles of baby's feet.
10. Return to step 3 and repeat often.