Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Happenings

playing after bathtime



meeting Jess's baby Redding (with Mrs. Feaster and Sar Bear)

Nate Picard and Andy Landers. Look them up. Amazing.


Old friends, best times :) Sar, Steph, Jess and me and Liv







Olivia Layne - 7 months





What can I say? You are my heart, my love. Love, mama

Friday, July 27, 2012

Olivia Layne - 30 Weeks

Baby girl,

Like I say every week, I can’t believe how much you are growing and learning! You can pick objects up like a pro now. It is so fun to see the wheels in your brain just turn and turn. You will lean waaaaaaaaaaaay forward to try to grab things, but you still HATE to be on your tummy, or even on your knees if I try to set you that way. Maybe when you end up that way all on your own you will think it’s fabulous  We found out on our “camping” trip that you LOVE dirt! You just sat and scooped and pushed that dirt for minutes on end. And we all know that is no small feat for you. It was hilarious and precious and fun! (until you rubbed your eyes with those dirty hands and everyone, especially mama, got worried you would hurt your poor eyes.) At our camping trip you reconfirmed that you seem to really love the outdoors and being social. You got to play with cousins and meet lots of family and you seemed to be so content. As for naps, well yours are getting shorter and shorter, but I don’t think that’s a good thing. I’m not sure if it’s the heat, the mixed up schedule, the fact that you wake up every 2 hours at night or what it is. I know you probably need more sleep during the day, so I’m investigating how to help you with that. I’m also hoping to gently help you sleep longer at night. We’ll see how it’s going in about a month. We keep trying foods, but you still aren’t a fan. We’ve tried a piece of raspberry, banana, avocado, strawberry, peas, a cracker type thing and back to the rice cereal and baby squash. No thanks, you say with your hilarious scowl and turning of your head. OK, sweet girl, we’ll try again later. You do, however, love to drink water from your sippy cup, or any cup or bottle for that matter! 














"Camping"

Every year my family, on my Granddad's side, has a sort of reunion in the mountains.
I grew up going to the mountains, both camping and for day trips. I have amazing memories of riding motorcycles, swimming in rivers, roasting hot dogs, playing house with my cousin by making this rock a bedroom and that tree a kitchen, hiking, sleeping in tents, and tons of other fun things! I think the reunions started many moons ago when my grandparents generation were younger. The get-togethers have been in Wyoming and Colorado and involve family coming from Idaho, Nebraska, even Alaska! I think one of the biggest we had included 80 people! This year there were 42 of us, but not all at one time. You should have seen the place. Campers, tents, motorcycles and 4-wheelers everywhere. It was a sight to behold! We had two 6 month old babies all the way up to an 85 year old granddad. Grandparents, cousins, siblings, friends and even a fiancĂ©. Jeff, Cade, Olivia and I went up on Friday morning, stayed at my parents house on Friday night, went back on Saturday, then came home Saturday night. OK, OK, we didn’t really camp. Let’s face it, I’m all camped out. Maybe if we had a camper we could swing it. We might check into renting one next year. We had a great time! Cade and Jeff went on several rides, Olivia played in some serious dirt and met lots of family, and we chatted and played to our hearts content. I hope Olivia and Cade will have fond memories of these reunions when they are grown. And now for the OVERLOAD of pictures:
 
a new puppy friend, and a cousin (Kyler and Kerrie)


Kyler-17 days younger than Liv

adventures in the dirt

Kyler loves being on his tummy and can squirm all over the place. He could not, however, teach Olivia.



I love dirt!

I love doggies!




baby eyeliner? this was after we tried to clean off her poor face and eyes. we had to try again.
getting the dirt off the fun way!




playing with the new house Grandma Smalberger got

loving cousin Janice



when my family camps they bring humingbird feeders!




now where was that stream from last time?

now where was that trail we were on?

enjoying a meal


Cade getting ready for the "big" ride


jeff

Uncle Bill, Colin and Aunt Norma

after Greyson's nap he just climbed right onto my lap to play with Olivia


The blocks in her hands were clearly much more appealing than those on the ground ;)



My family also has welcome signs for their camps :)



Granddad, Uncle Brent, Bob and Amy


nap time
Greyson and Great Grandma


I don't care for this cracker, thank you

Gerald and mom


Fixing the 4-wheeler Cade smashed into a rock :(


The babies and the doggies ride!



Look at all of them!


An open letter to the school district

 So the plan for school this year, at the K-5 level, was pretty complicated to begin. (the plan was made after lots of meeting and planning ...