Lake Cleveland

I'm not sure if I'm spelling that right. Anyway- to the south of Declo there is a mountain range that holds lots of camping sites and a small ski hill up on Mt. Harrison. Our family has been up there previously- but only once when Ty was just a baby. We decided to go have another look and it gave us something a little bit different to do.

There is a gorgeous lake toward the top where we stopped to throw rocks and take a few pictures. The boys didn't care much for pictures, but we literally had to drag them away from the rocks that they were chucking into the water. We spent the better part of the afternoon there- Kate took a nap and Shaun and I watched the boys. It was very peaceful- it's nice when there is something to distract the boys from fighting with each other! :)

Cassia County Fair and Rodeo

We never miss the Cassia County fair and rodeo. We have been every year since Shaun and I have been married- and I think it's one of my favorite things that we do during the summer. We all look forward to it. The boys' favorite is going around earlier in the week and looking at all the different animals. Last year most of them cowed Ryan- but this year, he was pretty eager to stay with Ty and see and pet as many as he could. He liked the lambs best. Ty was pretty impressed with the turkeys this year.

Kate was awesome- and was mostly content to sit in her little stroller and wander the fair. It was pretty hot and sunny, so she was covered most of the day. She was stoked to be able to just sit in the shade when it came time for lunch.
And probably THE reason that Shaun keeps us all coming back each year is for a Maple Bar. He usually eats his weight in maple bars by the time the week is over. And it looks like it's something he's passed onto his second child. Ryan chowed down on the doughnuts every time he saw one!
We also went to the rodeo on Saturday night- which is my favorite part of the week. I love rodeos- I think they are so much fun! Ty got to pick out a treat for the night and he chose cotton candy- he worked on it most of the night and kept commenting on how good it was. Ryan tasted it and wigged at the texture- he wouldn't touch it the rest of the evening. Kate did really well- she slept through about half of it, and sat in my arms for the rest of it. She didn't fuss or cry- which made things so much easier. There were some fireworks- which Ryan buried his head in Shaun's coat for the duration- but overall- we all had a lot of fun.

Ross Park

I found out this summer about a little water park up in Pocatello called Ross Park. Feeling adventurous one day- we ventured up to it and the kids had so much fun! We went back a couple of times! One of these times was when we were visiting Shaun's parents in Declo- Pokey is only about an hour away so we went on a Wednesday afternoon with Shaun's brother Chase and his wife (Dani) and daughter (Deja). I don't know about Deja- she is just a few months old- but my boys had a blast! There is this little splash pad in the middle of a very shallow pool for the little ones to play on, there is a lazy river, a BIG water slide and a swimming pool. I never could talk Ty into going on the big slide- but he was more than content to play on the smaller ones with Ryan.

I think Ryan is peeing in this picture... Makes you want to jump right in doesn't it?
This is cute Deja with her grandma Tami.

Lake Days

Living in Montpelier totally has it's advantages- we live about a half an hour away from the beach at Bear Lake and we moms take the kids regularly during the summer. It's what makes living through Montpelier winters bearable! The boys LOVE it when I tell them it's going to be a lake day- we'll pack snacks and drinks, sand toys, an umbrella and chairs and there is NO stopping us!

If you've never been to Bear Lake- the water gets deep very gradually so there is plenty of shallow water for the kids to play in. They search for shells, dig holes, build sandcastles and go swimming. It's so much fun!

Raspberry Days

Every year, Bear Lake holds what is called "Raspberry Days" over in Garden City (about a half an hour away from Montpelier). It's not much- a few food booths and a bunch of crafters- but it is pretty fun. Up until this point I have not had a lot to do with it- but I went over this year with a girlfriend (Clover), Ty and Kate (Shaun would only take one kid today). I bought a new cookbook and a hat for Kate. Then Ty and I shared a snow cone- have you ever tried the ones where they put ice cream in the bottom of it!? It's awesome!

Kate slept the whole time. Except to get up and eat a bottle when we had our snow cones. She's such a hard baby...

Kate

It seems odd to me that you can add a new person to your family and that you can love them all at once and so completely. It seems like we have always had Kate- because I can't imagine life without her anymore.

Kate is a month old in these pictures and is the sweetest little baby girl there ever was. I don't mean to brag or anything- it's just true. She loves to sleep on dad's chest (not that he's complaining- he loves his babies) and she is so content when her brothers are holding her. She sleeps well. She eats well. She doesn't fuss and I haven't heard her cry yet. I'm sure it's coming- maybe she's just saving it for something that really bugs her.
Kate also has a zillion nick-names. Katie-pie, Katie-bug, Cake, Cakearoons, Kate, Katie... The list goes on. She may never really know her name.
And I have to admit- I love having a baby that is small enough to fit into the Newborn size clothes. My boys were both such monster sized babies that they started off in 3-6 month clothes. This one has room in the newborn size! It's nuts!! Do you think there is any way that I can just keep her this way for a couple of years? Is there a request form that I need to fill out?

Hot Hot Hot

The late days of summer in Bear Lake are always HOT! So in an effort to keep my boys cool- I bought them a little swimming pool for the backyard. They love it and have so much fun splashing around- it keeps them entertained for hours!!

Ryan's Birthday

Ryan is officially two (both on paper and in spirit if you know what I mean). His birthday fell on a Sunday this year and we decided to spend it up at grandma and grandpa's house up in Declo. Jacki was gracious enough to let me take over her kitchen so I could make a birthday cake and have a small party on Sunday evening for Ryan. Ryan's most favorite thing lately is baseball. He loves to watch it on TV, he likes to play it in the yard, he likes to play it in the house and all of his clothes have to have a ball on it. So it made sense to give him a baseball themed birthday cake. And while I am a decent cook when it comes to baking- I am not overly skilled in the decorating department- so I had to get a little creative.

It wasn't much, but Ryan was pretty excited. He kept reaching for the ball and didn't want to waste time with a candle.

Of course- once he figured out that it was cake there on the counter- he went a little hog wild. Ryan is the best eater in the world, and that's with actual food. Give the kid some cake and he didn't stop until the plate was entirely cleaned off!

Naturally- we gave him a baseball mitt and he was so excited to have one of his very own. He keeps stealing Ty's- so to in an effort to keep what little peace we do get in our house- it just made good sense. He wouldn't take it off either- so his brother had to help him open up the rest of his presents.
We are so lucky to have Ryan in our family and in our home. We took for granted how much he means to us and how much we really do love him- until recently that is. Ryan is good natured and sweet. He loves to help Mama- he is the first to bring me Kate's binky or throw a diaper in the garbage. He saves me a million steps each day. He loves his brother. He loves his sister. He loves to talk and to run. We've had to come up with our own little Ryan dictionary so that we can understand what he's saying.

Bucket = Grandma

Jooo = Binky

Towel = Blanket

GaGaaa = Mickey Mouse

Cake = Kate

Voom = Car

Pick = Chocolate Milk

So many of these things have become second nature to the way we talk- it's a wonder that anybody can even understand us anymore!!

Anyway- we love you Ryan and hope you had a very happy birthday!!

Fishin'

Our boys have never been fishing before- sad thought to some of you I'm sure. I guess we just haven't made the time to go and do it. Mostly because I'm terrified that the boys' true nature will show itself once again and they'll both end up in the water with the fish rather than the fish ending up on dry land with us. Call me crazy.

But this summer, Shaun's uncle Kent was determined to help out our deprived boys and let them come fishing in his backyard in Declo. They had so much fun! It took a couple of days and some serious fishing artillery- but in the end it paid off- and Ty caught a fish. He was so excited- until he had to hold it. Then the braveness started to wear off.

Ryan never would hold still long enough to do anything other than throw his pole into the water. He was more interested in throwing rocks and getting his toes wet than anything else. Still though- I think he had fun. Thanks Kent for your help!!

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July down in Utah this year. We kept things pretty low key and just lit fireworks off at my parents house. Ty is a total pyromaniac and kept trying to talk Grandpa into letting him set things off all by himself. I'm not totally surprised to say that it worked- he did indeed let off a lot of fireworks by himself. It's like an ad for the fire department... on what NOT to do. Luckily all was well and Ty had a lot of fun. It was kind of a toss up- who was enjoying themselves more- Ty or grandpa.

Ryan on the other hand- hated the whole thing. He sat in Grandma's lap and held a blanket over his head the whole time. When we did manage to talk him into watching a tank- he burst into tears and quickly covered his head again. He did not like the "hot" (his word for firework).

Kate was a champ- she just snuggled up in my arms and slept through the whole thing.

Great-Grandma and Grandpa

We went over to my grandparents house the other night, and thought that since it was such a nice night outside- that we would snap a few pictures.

This is my grandma, Marjorie, and is the woman that we named our little Kate after.

And this is my grandpa- I can't believe how little she looks in his arms!

The Pirates

I forgot to post a picture of the mighty Pirates. Preposterous, I know- who could forget something so vital???

Just Keep Swimming

Ty loves to swim. Ryan... is thinking about it. So, because I'm a mean mom- I made him go swimming last week. A lot. Thankfully my parents are along the same wavelength as I am. I figure the more exposure Ryan has to the water the better chance he has of liking it. So. Off to the pool.

Again- it was a good thing my parents agreed with me. I can't get in the water yet because of my incision and Shaun wasn't around to help out (he was at his parent's house helping his dad). Yes, I know- I totally abuse the situation with my parents. Thankfully- they don't seem to mind.

And... it totally worked. By the end of the week- Ryan was kicking and splashing right along next to Ty. He wasn't as crazy as Ty- who liked to play with the big kids in the pool, but he did make his way around the shallow end.

Like I said- Ty is totally crazy in the pool. His favorite is to run and do a cannonball on grandma. Lucky thing. He has swimming lessons that start next week at home and he is so excited. I think grandma is too- maybe he'll show something else off besides his ability to empty half a swimming pool on her head.

Bald is Beautiful

Okay- I will forewarn you. The subject of this post has been the object of much ridicule and drama- so if you will please keep your opinions to yourself, I would appreciate it. You would have thought that I painted my daughter purple with the outrage this caused.

My daughter, Kate (bless her), was born with a mullet. It was pretty hair- nice and soft and brown. But she had a mullet. So I cut it off. All of it. And now she is bald. I didn't think this was such a big deal- aren't most babies bald?!?! Apparently not. Anyway. Mine is... now. But when my daughter has the most beautiful hair in the world here in a few months- you all remember this.

T-Ball

That's right people. T-Ball. Our Ty Kidd is finally old enough to be entering the wide world of recreational sports. He was drafted to the "Pirates" in early June and eagerly awaited his turn on the field.

He did really well throughout all of his games. During the first one however, he got a little confused once he got on base. He ran to first. Then he ran to second. Then he ran to the pitcher's mound. Yeah... We had to review where third base was when we got home. Ty also had a hard time remembering to run when the ball was hit. He'd continue to stand on the base until his teammate joined him. Then they'd stand there and look at each other until the coach took pity on them and would go and send Ty onto the next base. In an effort to help him out- my dad worked on this with him the next time we were down in Salt Lake- explaining how important it was to go to the next base. At his next game- Ty hit the ball and ran to first, second, third and all the way home. He stomped on home plate and declared, "Home Run!" He was extremely put out when he had to go back to first.

Ty is also quite the fielder- more interested in the sand than actually paying attention to what the ball is doing. I have to admit- it is nice sand. Very soft. Just the perfect consistency for throwing up in the air and pretending it's snowing.

Unfortunately the season is now over- but we are eagerly awaiting next spring for the next go round. We do however, have soccer to look forward to in the fall... Stay posted for more on our little All Star.

Bath Time

I love it when babies can have baths in the sink. They just sit in there so cute- and I have to admit (even though it might make me sound old), it's way easier on my back than leaning over the tub. Kate likes her baths well enough- not necessarily the getting in part- however once she's there- she just sits so contentedly. And she loves having her head scrubbed. I hate even the idea of my babies having cradle-cap, so they always get a good scrubbing when they are in the water.

She does NOT however, like lotion. It doesn't matter what kind or where I start applying it- it is a NO GO. She screams like she has the lungs of a three year old. The boys always come running in when she starts screaming just to make sure she's okay.

Baby Kate

Before the Baby...

I had to go down to Salt Lake a little bit earlier than we had planned on- so rather than just sitting around doing nothing- we got to work. My mom helped me make a car-seat cover. And I'm telling you- it's so cute! My sister in law, Nat also helped me figure out how to make some cute bows- so I was feeling a little bit better about a little girl coming. I never really had to worry about accessories with the boys.

Here's a before picture of me... And while I felt HUGE- technically I was smaller with this one than the other two. Makes me wonder what I looked like back then. I'm thinking walking pumpkin.
We also had Ryan's tooth fixed while we were there. The Dentist was good and sat through all of the flip-outs. And it looked so good!! Though three days later we went to dinner and Ryan had a grilled cheese sandwich. He started dinner with his tooth in tact- but by the end of the meal- it was gone. He ate his fake tooth. And now he looks the same. Sigh. The dentist said that he'd try again for us though. Maybe before pictures...

The Boys

The boys were another part of the equation during my hospital stay. Obviously we wanted them down in Salt Lake with us- but we needed someone to help us out. Enter Grandma and Grandpa...

My parents were so sweet while we were in Salt Lake! They took the boys for us and kept them soo busy! My mom signed Ty up for swimming lessons which he totally loved. Anytime that is spent in the water is time well spent according to Ty. And mom said that Ryan didn't mind going and watching. He'd cheer Ty on from the sides.

And my parents were so good to sit down and play with them. One night Grandpa took Ty and Ryan on in a game of Twister. I think Grandpa ended up with a twisted back by the end of the night- but it was good to help Ty with his left and right. I think Ryan just liked being in the middle of it all.