100 Miles Down the Salmon River

Jim returned home LATE Saturday night. Technically, it was early Sunday morning. He had three full days of paddling 100 miles down the Salmon River with his Uncle and some of his cousins. Jim had a blast.

The whole group AFTER the trip -- notice the broken paddles.

Adam, Dave, Zach, Rob, Jim

As far as the rest of these photos go, I don't know if they're in order. But, you get the general idea of the fun that was had by these five guys over the course of three days.

Fishing

Going through some rapids

In the next three pictures it shows Adam and Rob jumping off this bridge. Jim had already jumped, so he grabbed the camera for the next few pictures.

Rob just hanging out

Rob is right in the middle of the picture in mid air. He's kind of camouflaged.

Adam is doing a back flip off the bridge. Again, you kind of have to look for it.

That's all folks!

When Daddy's Away

We too will play!

Jim's on a river rafting trip. He'll be back soon enough, but while he's gone I've been trying to find fun things to do with Tralee.

Last night Tralee and I went out for some ice cream, Hunter tagged along too but mostly just slept in his car seat. After ice cream, we stopped at Kohls since I had two coupons to use there. I let Tralee pick out a stuffed animal. She picked a gorilla. Whenever she usually plays with toys at a store, I make her put it away before we leave, and wave "bye bye" to it. This time, she kept trying to put the gorilla away after I already paid for it. She got mad when I told her she could take it home with her. I never heard of a kid crying because the parent actually got them something. Anyway, with my two coupons my total only came to seven dollars. Not to shabby since I also got a couple of outfits for the kids, and a pair of shoes for Tralee.

This morning we tagged along with one of my walking partners and her kids. They had to go milk goats at another member of our ward's house. I've never seen a goat getting milked before. Very fun. This house also had bunnies, kitties, dogs, a tire swing, and playground. Tralee was in heaven. I smiled when I watched her run as fast as her little legs could carry her, arms pumping, to the next activity -- so innocent and full of life.

This afternoon we went visiting teaching. The house we went to also had kitties, doggies, and a fenced in back yard. Tralee went out back with the animals and I didn't hear a peep from her up until we had to go.

We were invited over to someone's house tonight. Tralee will be able to play with their kids, and the women will watch an old Carey Grant movie. Sounds great to me! I said we'll go unless Tralee falls asleep before then. She hasn't been napping lately, and so she's been going to bed earlier. If Tralee doesn't nap today, I'll stay home, put her to bed early, and curl up in bed with a movie of my own. I've been renting chick flicks while Jim's away. I haven't been cooking or cleaning much either. Just the basics to keep my children taken care of. Actually, I did clean out my car this morning while Tralee ran around collecting leaves and sticks. Other than that, we've been having fun and relaxing. If Jim gets to go have an adventure with the boys, then the kids and I should be able to have some fun of our own.

Okay. . . off to TRY and take a nap. Hunter's sleeping, and after I put a show on for Tralee, I hope to get a few minutes of zzzz's. I don't sleep well at night when Jim's gone, thus my tiredness right now. Night night.

Lost

I feel lost today, or is it that this day was lost?

I skipped walking/jogging this morning, mainly because my kids (who usually wake up around 6 or 6:30) both slept in until almost 8:00! I couldn't bring myself to wake them up, for selfish reasons. Their sleeping in meant I could lay in bed and skip walking. The only downer was skipping this fourth step in our daily routine (1st say prayers with Jim, 2nd feed Hunter in bed while Tralee climbs in for her morning snuggles, 3rd get up and get ready, 4th go for walk/jog) ruined the rest of the day.

Here's how:

Normally when I get home from burning a few calories I really concentrate on keeping the rest of my day's habits healthy. Today a lot of sugar and sodium were consumed.

Also, when I exercise fourth thing in the morning, I feel energized and accomplish quite a bit the rest of the day, we stay on schedule, and things get done around here. I think I did one load of laundry today. Make that half a load. I still haven't switched it to the dryer.

So. . . you see I'm lost today. I don't feel too badly about it though, because I don't think I've had a day like this in a while.

To add to my day of being lost, I completely botched the dinner recipe. We're having salmon stuffed puffed pastry. I didn't read the directions closely enough and instead of sauteing the garlic and onions, I just put them inside the pastry raw. I thought it was weird as I was doing it, and even thought to myself, "This would taste so much better if I sauteed them before hand, but I better follow the recipe." It was only after the stuffed puffed pastry were in the oven for five minutes that I re-read the recipe and realized I skipped over a step: Saute garlic and onions and let cool. Oh well. Hopefully dinner will be edible, even if the onions are a bit undercooked.

I'll get with the program again tomorrow.

Boring Busy

We've been pretty busy around her lately, thus the absence of blog posts. It's the kind of busy you wouldn't want to read about. Boring busy. For instance, you wouldn't want to hear about the various errands I had to run last week, and all the planning I had to do for a combined YM/YW activity. I wouldn't want to recount it anyways.

I just wanted to say that we're all still alive and well. There might be a lot of changes happening in our lives soon, so stay posted for that.

Staying Busy

Here's a few things we've been up to lately:

First we took these ingredients and made some edible play dough.

Here is Tralee modeling one of our creations:

We took a few different shots of her and the play dough

Of course you have to eat it

One day last week I felt like all I was saying to Tralee was "no." So, I got out the washable markers and told her she could draw on my legs -- something that would normally be off limits. She loved it, and added bonus: it kept her busy while I was feeding Hunter. The markings came right off in the shower. I told Tralee it was a one-time deal, and she hasn't tried drawing on herself or me since. Sometimes it's fun to break the rules.

We've been trying the potty training thing lately. We're making progress. . .
S L O W L Y.
Tralee has two potties, one in each bathroom. My Nana gave her one, and Tralee picked out the other when we took her shopping for our "potty party." We got this potty chair, Elmo's Potty Time DVD, and came home and had our potty party.

My friend Audie makes forts with her girls all the time, so one day after coming home from the library, Tralee and I decided to give fort building a whirl. She loved it.

Lots of kisses have been given lately as well.

This next picture has Jim written all over it!

Hunter is seriously the sweetest most joyful baby in the history of babies. Seriously.

I like this picture of Tralee.

My same friend Audie also supplied me with this fun idea:

Put pancake batter that you've added food coloring to into these containers. Cut the tip so it's a little bigger, and make fun pancake shapes for you kids.

I did the kitty, Jim made the dinosaur.

If you're not a fan of pancakes shaped like dinosaurs, try making some stuffed french toast. YUMMY! I would post this delicious recipe, but I'm too tired right now. So, just google it!

That's all she wrote

Tralee Translations

Here are some more words Tralee uses. Words I don't what to forget about someday:

"Fo" = Nose
"Lilly or Lah-dy" = Silly
"Seesour" = Dinosaur
"Ho" = Hunter
"Half ass" (yes, I know) = High five
"F@&*" (again, I know) = Frog
"Eat" = Paint, or eat
"Bow" = Cow
"EeEe" = Tralee
"Paypah" = Paper
"Zah-Zah" = Pizza
"Doo Doo" = Thank you
"El Um" = Welcome
"Beez" = Please
"Ah Aht" = Night Night

A few things Tralee's been doing lately:

Tralee will say "Oh no! Oh no!" and wave her finger around like she's going to poke you. After she pokes you, you fake cry, then she'll give you a hug and ask, "You okay?" She loves to get a reaction.

She likes to do the "High five. On the side. Break a pickle. Tickle, tickle" thing. Only is sounds like this: "Half ass. On sass. Ickle. Ickle, ickle."

Tralee LOVES to paint or color. When she wants to paint she'll ask to "eat." While she's painting Tralee yells, "Mom! I'm eat . . . ing." I'll respond, "Yes, you are painting so pretty Tralee." If I don't say this she'll keep yelling, "Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!"

Tralee likes music. Sometimes she'll like us to sing to her, however when a song is on the radio and we start singing along she does not like it, and wants us to stop ASAP. Odd.

We're slowly trying to potty train Tralee. We have yet for the poo or pee to make contact with anything but her pull-ups or the floor, but she'll sit on her "big girl potty." However, sometimes she absolutely refuses to sit on it. When we tell her it's time to sit on the potty Tralee will say, "No! No! No! No! Daddy/Mommy No!" She's very adamant. If we try to make her sit on it, her whole body will go as straight as a board and she screams, "No! No! No!" A few minutes later (when it's her idea) she'll go sit on the potty and wait for us to sing her praises. If you haven't noticed, we have a VERY head strong child.

I asked her nursery leaders how she does. They said Tralee does very well . . . for the most part, but she's a non-conformist. If they're trying to get everyone to clean up and sit quietly for a lesson, Tralee wants to play. When everyone is playing, Tralee wants to sit down and have a lesson. She's very rambunctious, and can get the other kids riled up. They've already banned Tralee and another little boy in nursery to EVER date because they're trouble when they're together.

Tralee has also taken to screaming. . . A LOT! Screaming if she doesn't get her way. Screaming if the tower of blocks she makes falls down. Screaming if we don't let her do something. Screaming if we make her do something she doesn't want to. Screaming just for fun. SCREAMING!! This is behavior Jim and I are not too fond of, and it results in many time-outs for Tralee. Yes my friends, we have officially entered THE TERRIBLE TWOS!!! Any advice? Suggestions? Keep in mind that our daughter is a very head-strong little girl. But, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Hunter Talking

This video is mostly for Grammy Char Char. She's been asking for a video for some time now, so here it is! Try not to be too blown away by all the cuteness.

Women and Moodiness

I started walking every morning at 7:30 with some other ladies in my ward. It's fun, a nice little work out, and a good way to just get out and talk to adults. I've also been reminded that women are good sounding boards.

On this morning's walk/chat the topic of Abrahamic trials came up -- deep I know. We discussed how men's trials are more physically based. Like how they're more easily addicted to pornography than women. Women's Abrahamic trials are more mental. For instance, how it's hard for women, in general, to not let their hormones discern what mood they're in. The whole, mind over matter thing.

My matter is not being properly minded today. I've been having a "why me" day. I hate days like this. I keep telling myself to snap out of it, be grateful for my blessings, not get impatient with my children (especially a little two-year-old who's whining has hit a new level), and just choose to be happy. It's a lot more fun to be happy. I know this, so why do I keep slipping back into the "why me's" today? One of my walking partners reminded me that I am still considered postpartum, so it will take some time before I feel myself again.

That's another thing about women, we are good at reassuring each other that our personal neurosis are acceptable. After telling me that getting a little emotional at this time in my life is normal, one of my new walking partners then shared a story about herself that was similar to what I'm going through. It helped to know I'm not the only one struggling, and I was reassured that having a hard day is, in fact, normal. We all go through ups and downs. I've also learned that it's a good thing women are more emotional, because we can relate to each other, and we'll be there for each other. Even if it's just to lend a listening pair of ears at 7:30 in the morning.

Saturday Outing

We had a lot of fun today. Frankly I'm a little beat from all the playing so I'll just list what we did:

1. Woke up, ate blueberry pancakes, packed up our things, and drove toward downtown Boise to play with the other Jacobs family. As soon as we told Tralee she was going to see Jovie today all we heard was, "Weewee! Weewee!" That's how she says Jovie.

2. Met up with the other Jacobs family and walked around Boise's Saturday market.

3. Decided it was too crowded and walked to Julia Davis Park for the Soul Food Festival

4. Bought some soul food, listened to some live soulful music, watched Jovie and Tralee dance around.

5. Left the park and went swimming at Jared and Audie's. It felt GREAT!!!!! It was such a hot day I couldn't wait to get in the water. Tralee had a blast! I think everybody did. Hunter layed around in the shade like the cute little lump that he is.

6. Ordered and ate pizza while watching a movie. The little girls watched a movie of their own.

7. Went through a car wash, stopped at Winco for a few groceries, came home.

8. Typed on the old blog-a-roo.

I only took pictures from the first part of the day, then forgot about the camera. So these are the only pictures you get.

Waiting for Jovie to arrive.

Friends holding hands while perusing the market

This has GOT to be one of my favorite pictures. Look how awesome Jovie and Tralee look! I LOVE IT!

Waiting in the tunnel while leaving the Soul Food Festival

Still waiting to leave. . . but looking cute while doing it.