Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Today I've been thinking a lot about how much I love Aspen and Oakley.  We've been hanging around the house lately and it's given me a chance to spend lots of time with them.  Today we played with cars and blocks and shaving cream, and had a great time.
The truth is we've been spending a lot of time at home because I'm in my 14th week of pregnancy and I don't often feel like getting an early start in the morning (unless it's grocery day), or even leaving the house!
Another truth is that I don't favor being pregnant.  I'm one of those girls that finds out I'm pregnant and one second later my belly pops out.  The weight gain starts immediately no matter what I do, and I don't feel very pretty for the next 9 months.  I'm jealous of the high school girls who get shipped off during their pregnancy and magically reappear 10 months later without anyone seeing them in all their pregnant glory!! Okay I'm being a little facetious but not completely.  Can't I spend the next 6 months in Italy somewhere?  honey? :)
But today I was looking at my beautiful children and thinking, "yeah it sucks, but boy is it worth it!"  I know that seems obvious, but it's nice to really let that sink in now and then.  I couldn't ask for more amazing kids, and am excited to get to know this one that's coming.  I really am a blessed mother!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Love my kids!  Happy birthday Oakley.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

 The Boise temple has been closed for renovations for the last year or so.  Before it is rededicated it is open for the public to tour.  We took the kids so they could check it out and it was a great day for us.  It was so special to be inside the temple with Aspen and Oakley, and ever since we went Oakley likes to talk about the "tempo".
 In a couple years we will be getting another temple here in Meridian, which means we'll be able to take the kids through that one before it's dedicated, too.  Can't wait!
 We bought this Halloween costume for Aspen several years ago at Costco for $10.  I'm so crazy about it; it's basically a child's sumo suit covered in an elephant costume.  Aspen wore it for 2 years in a row and Oakley wore it this year.  It was the best $10 we ever spent!
Aspen was a cat this year, which I loved because it was the easiest costume ever :)  Aspen and I had some one-on-one time trick or treating and it was fun to check out all the scary decorations on the houses together.  She got quite a stash this year and we had a great time.

Friday, November 2, 2012

 We've been fortunate enough to make it up to Cascade several times this year.  I had never been up there in the Fall before, and had no idea what I was missing out on until we went a couple weeks ago.  I always think of the Cascade area as an evergreen oasis, but realized this trip just how many Aspen trees are up there.  The colors were amazing!
 Eric shot this photo of Aspen with his iphone and I love it so much; I may have to get it framed.
 We took the kids on a hike to a lake while we were up there (2 miles round trip).  It was such a pretty hike, but we had been hiking quite a while when we saw a marker that said we were only half way there.  Aspen was tired and I was pretty hungry, plus we thought we were almost there. We were all pretty confused/devastated, but kept going and got to the lake about 20 minutes later.


 Aspen is really wanting to catch a fish.  She has fished several times this year with no luck, but we're talking the edge of a lake/pond fishing, nothing serious.  Next year we'll have to take her on a boat and get her where the fish are.
 Look at those Aspens!!
 There's not a lot to do in Cascade in the Fall other than hike and relax, and that's exactly what we did.  We were there celebrating Eric's birthday, so we did that too.  Last year I decided we would start making haunted gingerbread houses (instead of making regular ones at Christmas) before Halloween so we did that too.
 On one of our hikes we took the kids up behind the cabin.  We had been talking about bears and then saw a huge pile of bear poo.  Just then we heard a loud grunting noise, and Eric and I looked at each other.  Not wanting to scare Aspen, we told her we were going to turn around and go back, quickly.  Aspen however kept lingering so finally (after we heard more grunting) we we told her we'd heard something resembling a bear.  Once we got back to the cabin we realized the sounds we'd heard were actually cows mooing like crazy!
 My kids and I just can't get a decent photo together, even though Eric tried his darndest.  At least in this one we're all looking!!
 I've always been intrigued with these dilapidated barns near the cabin.  How old are they?  Who lived there?  What was their story?
 I can't believe how big Oakley is.  He'll be 2 in a couple weeks and he's looking like a little boy now. Most of the time though I choose to ignore that and sometimes even call him my baby.  Call it denial but it's my right.  I love being a mommy!
 Being in Cascade reminds me of Oregon, with all the pine trees everywhere. Oh Oregon, how I miss you!
The kids had been talking about finding a frog, and finally got their wish!