Church Camping

Our final camping trip of the season turned out great. I forgot my camera, but Amber took some fun ones of the kids. (thank you!) So here's the top 5 reasons church camp-outs are awesome:

1. Dinner and breakfast are provided (and we're not talking hot dogs here)

2. Staying up late playing games

3. Everyone helps set up your tent

4. It's okay if you loose your kids cause most likely someone nice is watching them

5. The church property has a covered pavilion to get out of the rain

I finally came prepared with TONS of warm clothes, but of course we didn't end up using it. It was humid and warm. Eliza's hair was ringlet city.

I love her guilty face in this one. The kids loved throwing rocks in the river.

(Kaleb only got hit in the head once with a rock)

His smile is still some-what normal so we're good!

It's hard being 3

I'm going to take a break from blogging about camping trips and catch up on the kids! Here's a compilation of random things about them.

Kaleb spends much of his life in timeout lately :) As he's stomping upstairs, he'll yell something like, "I don't like you Mom" or "you're not being nice" and then slam the door. However, when he comes back down, it's as if nothing happened. He has a big smile on his face and he'll go back to playing.

He calls Eliza "Babe." The other day my friend asked him, "Who's babe?" Kaleb pointed to Eliza and said, "Her, you silly goose!"

Every morning Kaleb asks, "Dad went to work?" I'll nod. Then he''ll say, "He went to get money to buy robots?" I usually just nod again, but sometimes I'll try and explain that he doesn't just go to work for robot money, but to pay for our food, house, clothes, etc. But. . . it doesn't really matter what I say because in his head, Dad's at work to earn money for robots.

He loves the BBC series Life.

He could watch the reptile and insect ones over and over. I love when he acts out what he just saw with his toys. Like today he watched these vultures drop bones while flying hundreds of feet over cliffs so they can suck the marrow out more effectively. So, later with his toy parrot I sa

w him put leggos in the talons and fly around and drop them so they'll break.

He also loves to play games on Starfall.com. He is really good at clicking the arrows and letters all by himself. Every time they say a sound, he repeats it.

Eliza loves her baby and it melts my heart to see her rock, sing, dress, wrap up, and feed her baby.

She even talks in a higher-pitch to her baby. LOL! (I'll have to add pictures later)

Ever since we got out the potty seat, she runs to sit on it when I change her diaper. So far I've yet to see anything go in the potty, but she thinks it's pretty fun to sit there and look cute. After she's "done," she'll look in the toilet and say, "Ew gross!" And then shut the lid and say, "yay!" like she's done something.

Kaleb sure likes to pick on her. Like today I watched him purposely stand on her blanket as she's walking away. When she noticed, she tried to pull it, but gave up and started crying. The whole time he had a big grin on his face. She needs to wear her armor more often!

I used to love cooking with Kaleb, but now with two, they fight too much. Even if I get them both a stool or a chair, Kaleb will step on her chair or she'll want to mix something like him and pretty soon they're pushing and hitting.

Yesterday Kaleb saw a bag of Halloween candy I got and looked longingly at it. Finally he asked, "Mom, how many more minutes till Halloween?"

He's liking preschool I think. He fights me to get dressed and get in the car and get his backpack on, shoes, etc., but I think that's just because I want him to do those things. They're learning about farms so last week a goat came to their class. He liked that. He loves the pizza and shark song they learned one day.

Forbidden Peak

I mentioned earlier that Braydan got released from YM. He and Wes both got new callings and I thought, "phew! Their crazy mountains adventures are over." WRONG. Not even a week later, they made plans to "hike" Boston Basin area. I didn't know it was a peak until I saw the pictures. They DID get some cool shots ,which kind of . . . but not really makes up for them leaving.

Have you seen this picture Amber? Notice the the huge block of ice above his head . . .

This is about where they turned around. Too icy. I didn't know there was such a thing as "too icy" for them.

The repel. Looks like a big toilet bowl :)

Braydan says he's "retired" now. But . . I've heard that before.

Races, Turtle Spaces, and Fair Faces

We finally have a new computer! Maybe I can catch up now on the blogging world.

Last Saturday we woke up early, crammed breakfast in the kids, and drove to the Machias trail head for the Stake Fun Run. There was hardly anyone there! Complete opposite from the Seattle race a few months ago.

the starting line of the 10k--not exactly what I pictured

Braydan and I jokingly argued over who had to run with the kids until a few minutes before the 10k started when he finally agreed to take them. I'm so glad too. Braydan hasn't been running at all and just woke up that day and ran the 10k in good time! Not fair. I tried as hard as I could and still only beat my time by a minute. All well. Next year our ward needs to represent.

The rest of the day Braydan worked on the terrarium he's building for Spartacus, our new turtle. Yeah, a terrarium!

I'm about to go crazy! The Kimballs asked if we wanted their turtle and I should have never told Braydan. He built a 16'x8' structure out in the yard, partly where my garden boxes were, just for a box turtle.

I have so many projects I want done on the house and that's what he's working on instead. However, now that turtle is outside in his new home, Braydan is happy and he thinks he has a farm.

Sunday was great, never a dull moment with primary. Braydan is liking his new calling as ward mission leader. More on that in a later post . . .

Monday was the last day of the fair and we almost avoided going, but alas, we couldn't help ourselves and walked over in the morning. I heard it was half price admission, but when we arrived and it wasn't, I refused to go in. I can be really stubborn! I guess this post is making me sound like the worst wife ever. Actually, the last few posts have . . . but I'm really nice? Or not. I ended up going along, not wanting to miss any fun.

First we went to the pig races.

Eliza kept calling them "doggies." Kaleb watched in shock.We made our way through the barns and the highlight (of the animals) was the bunnies

!

Who would've thought? Now Braydan wants bunnies in the terrarium!

Next we went to a logging show and it was cheesy, but Kaleb loved the log rolling when the guys fell in the water.I'm like, "what about the guys who climbed the tall poles? Or the chain saws?" Nope, he just liked the water part. We went and watched some barrel races while we ate . . .. . . and then raced home when the rain started dumping. There was a few things, like the tractor races and dinosaur exhibit that Kaleb refused to try because I suggested it. He's more stubborn than me! I also wanted him to wear a coat, but since I pushed it, he instead wore his shorts and wouldn't get near a coat. Agh!!! I seriously stopped talking to him half way through. We drive each other crazy sometimes.

Preschool

(ugly picture of me, funny picture of Kaleb--this is his "I'm scared, so I'll stick my fingers in my mouth" face)

Kaleb started preschool on Wednesday! I've been stressed for weeks trying to decide if I should sign him up or not, but I finally did it the day before the ice cream social night where he met his teacher and checked out the classroom. Why did I wait until the last second to decide?

1. I'm extremely cheap. And preschool is NOT cheap.

2. Everyone I talked to said preschool doesn't help academically, but socially . . . and he's fine socially.

3. Guilt. I felt guilty when I dropped him off the first day! I kept thinking, "he's only 3! Why are you leaving your baby?" Very dramatic, but it's what I thought.

4. He's going to be in school for the next 16 + years, so let him be a kid for a little longer.

One day, as I was deliberating over what to do, the rain decided for me. I know, the rain? But it's true. We've enjoyed weeks of long days, playing outside at the park, riding bikes, camping (maybe I shouldn't mention that), swimming, etc. Well, I forgot about the rain until one day last week it rained ALL day. And then I remembered what winter is like stuck inside, trying to stay occupied and keeping the kids from killing each other. After that long rainy day, I knew that Kaleb was FOR SURE going to preschool. We needed some structure, something fun we both get to participate in (I get to volunteer in the classroom), and he needed something away from his annoying Mom.

So, all week he's been talking about school ( I was careful not to mention it for fear he would hate the idea if I suggested it). He kept saying, "Mom, I'm so excited to go to school and go to the fair!" He also kept asking if I was going to go with him to school. When we got there, he refused to wear a name tag (because I told him how cute it was) and then ran off to play with some boys. He never looked back so I left. But, when I came to pick him up, he asked if I missed him. When I said I did, he said, "Yeah, I missed you too. Well . . . I guess I can't go to school cause you miss me too much." I tried not to laugh, but told him I would be okay for a few hours without him.