Pass the Peas, Please

July

 





Please, no more photos!



Big Kids On the Block

I visited a friend and her new baby earlier this week. Two thoughts... one, we're so happy for our friends Claire and Fiona who just welcomed baby Carys (rhymes with Paris)...

(I stole this photo from Claire's blog... it's just too beautiful not to share)

two, I'm stunned at how small and vulnerable and sleepy she is... and she weighed in at nearly eight pounds. Lela was only four.

We're coming up on six months with Cate and Lela. Somehow, I simultaneously feel that they've been with us forever AND that it has all happened so fast. How did we go from the tiny baby bundles that we cuddled in the hospital to these little people that are rolling over, trying to sit up, and working on their first few teeth?


Remember this?




This is what it looks like now when they're both in my lap... out of focus and uncomfortable for one if not for all.

On the Road Again: For Better or Worse

John had a conference this week in Bend, Oregon. I love Bend, so I thought it would be nice to all go together. I imagined walks by the river, lunch downtown, nice long soaks in the McMenamin's soaking pool, a visit to the High Desert Museum, and a weekend exploring Western Oregon. Only we couldn't go together because I had a class on Monday morning. So, John left early, and the girls and I headed out of Boise just before 3pm.

I'll keep this simple... the drive didn't go so well. Actually it went really well, until it didn't. Evidently there is a limit to the amount of time two five month olds can happily spend in a car seat.

The rest of the trip didn't go so well either. Instead of the lovely Bend visit I envisioned, I polished my skills at ordering room service and worried endlessly about our neighbors in the next room as Cate and Lela expressed their displeasure with their situation at all hours of the day and night.

The girls and I did enjoy a few short walks, a wonderful morning with an old friend, and one nice dinner out, but the consequences for these small pleasures were traumatic for us all.

So, in the room we stayed. Eat, scream, scream, sleep. Repeat. That about sums it up.



At McMenamin's      Bend, Oregon



I wish I could say that they're great travelers and that we can just bring them along as we continue to do all the things we love to do, but it's not working out that way. Until this morning, I still considered extending our travels through the weekend, but really, I just couldn't wait to get home.

We're home now. Life is better.

Guilty

Guilty of using the stroller in a desperate attempt to achieve sleeping babies. Guilty, but not ashamed.



If at first you don't succeed....

Our recent day trip to Grandjean turned into an overnight in Stanley with this view...

And ended 80 miles from Boise on a curvy two lane highway with this view...

Notice the bum car in the background.

Three hours, one lucky pay phone, three sesame crackers, two half-full water bottles, one huge tow truck, and two friendly passers-by later, we were on our way back to Boise, thankful to live in such a wonderful place and planning our next adventure.

Confession

I'm afraid I've been keeping a secret. It's taken me awhile (and a few meltdowns) to muster up the guts to spill the beans, but I just don't think I can hide it any longer.

I'm tired. Dog tired. Just like the KaiDog, but at least I still have all my limbs.