We've had tons of things going on this summer. I'm falling behind on blogging, but here's a mega post to catch up!
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| It was killin turkey time! Julia didn't want to watch the actual death, but she was totally fascinated by the process of butchering. She will inform anyone expressing the least interest in how it's done: "First you hang it upside down, then you get a knife and cut it and whens theres a hole the blood comes out. Bath it in hot water, i cant member why, pull the feathers out, then pull out the insides cause you can't eat them! BLEH!! " |
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| It was a huge learning process for us all. We did one initially, as a practice, then we did the other 3 a few weeks later when a bunch of family was here. They finished about 20 lbs. It was a big learning curve, but we did it, and maybe come spring we'll want to do it again. |
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| Uncle Joe Joe, doing story time |
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| birthday parties |
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| with mega balloons |
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| one fat, happy baby! |
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| EMT training. not a bad setting... |
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| for a navy helicopter rescue |
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| Theo loves his bouncy seat |
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| and outgrew his mini crib. now we've got a full size one, and are on new adventures in sleep. Julia slept with me until she was 2 1/2, but Theo is super restless now when he's sleeping next to me, and neither of us sleeps well. We experimented with having him sleep in the crib, and while he was fine with it, he woke often to nurse, leading me to spend half the night dozing in the chair nursing him. Just a few nights ago I decided to try stopping the night nursing in the hopes that he'd stop getting up 5 times a night. for a couple of nights I was running back and forth, supplying his pacifier just as often, but he didn't cry about not nursing, just needed a snuggle to get back to sleep. Well the other night, he slept from 9 30 pm till 4:10 am straight!!! Happy birthday to momma! (I'm 31!) Hopefully this wasn't a fluke and we are onto something good! |
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| Summer has been busy in the garden. Dave's cucumbers were (are) prolific, and we've done tons of pickles. |
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| Theo and his Godfather, Henning. |
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| alas, he's also outgrown his little bed in the kitchen. It was pretty great to have him nap there while I got a few things done. Now there's a blanket on the floor there and a pile of toys and he plays while I get a few things done. |
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| helping momma make pie! |
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| cuddles with Julia. She's still thrilled to bits with Theo. |
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| She's also thrilled with her bike. We live on a road that's too busy for her to go alone on, but not so busy that she can't go on it with me beside her. |
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| Theo and Grandma Gini |
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| Theo, making friends at the farmer's market |
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| We tried deep frying a turkey the day we butchered the other 3. Lots of family was here as it was also Theo's Baptism. |
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| family! |
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| Momma Dawn and Theo |
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| some beach snippits. You sure wear out swimsuits when you live by the ocean. We started the summer with 4, and they are all worn out! |
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| our mini family reunion finally had to end, Julia had to say goodbye to her "Ofo" Olaf. |
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| and to Grandmomma Dawn and Grandpoppa Jack |
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| but no time to mourn as Canada awaited! Camping near Harrison Hot Springs |
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| Theo was a champ when it came to camping, charming the socks off the family we were with. I must say though, that setting up a tent by myself, with nothing but a hand held flashlight, at 1 am, with rain threatening to pour while the kids waited in the car (out of sight) almost undid me. |
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| theo does not like lifejackets. |
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| but he had to wear one so I could take Julia out in a bumper boat. She picked the pink one. |
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| camping was wonderful and fun, but as always, it's pretty great to sleep in a bed again when you get home. |
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| Julia's in a fashion mode where the outfit gets changed between 6 and 30 times a day. |
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| We loved having uncle Joe Joe around. an extra arm is soooo handy. |
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| one night we tried a little oatmeal, but it didn't go over too well. We haven't tried again, mostly as life is too busy! |
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| Julia adores her friend Gavin, and especially adores dancing to his incredible piano playing. |
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| I left Julia and Dave at one wedding and took off by air with Theo to Montana for another. My college girlfriends were all gathering and i would not stand for being left behind! |
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| there were two new babies besides theo and two more on the way, so lots of conversation revolved around babies! We all got to stay at a lovely B&B in Helena and it was wonderful to have the time to renew our friendships. |
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| The baby backpack got good use, and Theo was a champ the whole time. |
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| Kelly was our beautiful bride, and the reason for the occasion. Her wedding was lovely! Low key, intimate, rustic with beautiful touches and great food! |
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| Theo was a great traveler, but I was completely exhausted upon my return |
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| but no rest for the weary! 100 chickens had to get butchered. 20 of them went into our freezer, and while i didn't terribly mind gutting and dressing the plucked birds, i haven't really regained my appetite for chicken yet. When I do, though, I'm super pleased to have meat we raised in the freezer. My friend Terry had the birds in tractors in her field and she choreographed the renting of the equipment (and all the rest, really) so I am so grateful for her hand-holding! |
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| Theo charms wherever he goes |
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| I got a job! I'm the dessert baker for The Bay Cafe, a restaurant just a few minutes from my house. I make cheesecakes, flourless chocolate cakes, tarts, sorbets, ice cream, and whatever else suits the season and my fancy. I go in at night to work, from about 9pm to 1 am about 2 nights a week and then I pop in occasionally other days to see what's still around. I love the baking, but the hard part is getting enough sleep! This is why I'm so into the idea of getting Theo to sleep at night. If I'm up till 1 working, then up again at 3, 4, 5 and 6 am, and maybe once for Julia too, nobody's too happy in the morning. Of course, Dave is back at school and busy as can be getting the year off to a good start, so he needs sleep too and I hate to feel like I'm leaving him with an unhappy baby. The last few nights have been headed in the right direction for sleep, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will all work out. |
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| cause this little pile of sunshine wakes me up by 7, if Theo hasn't already done that. |
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| she's still a delightful big sister. no resentment whatsoever toward the baby, and very concerned that we take good care of him. |
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| as she grows, I have funny dejavu moments. she was playing cheerleader and running under the bleachers at a football game a few days ago, and many of my early childhood memories are of doing similar things, as my dad was a coach when I was very young. |
