Random Pictures

I went to Twin last week for a couple days to make apple sauce with mom, get my vacuum fixed, and go to Devin's baptism. It was a fast trip, but worth it. Mom and I were up until midnight finishing the apple sauce. I loved this picture of me and Zander because we were matching in our football shirts and I didn't even realize it! 

 Zander loves playing under the furniture. Lately it's been the dining room table and dad's nightstand.

 This morning I spent an hour cleaning, sorting, folding, and piling all the clothes Zander has outgrown. Only to be destroyed in a matter of seconds. Literally, I blinked and this is what I saw next. How are they so quick to destroy?! It's a really good thing he's cute because I wasn't too happy to have to re-sort, fold, and pile all those clothes.

Silver Lake

I love Columbus Day. Mainly because Stephen gets it off work every year, so I have taken that day and made it a family day. I plan an activity or two for us to do as a family and take pictures. This year we visited Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon and went for a picnic. After that we went to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins. We had so much fun! We were exhausted by the time we got home, but it was a good day. I love my family....and the mountains....and taking pictures.

 We found Mater in the pumpkin patch!

 Ok, so we could not get Zander to look at the camera to get a good family picture. I finally gave him an ear of corn to play with, but of course, he tried eating it and we just laughed.

What Are You Looking At?

Zander had his first meltdown in a store the other day. It was SO embarrassing! He can throw a fit with the best of them. He'll scream at the top of his lungs--one long burst followed by two or three short ones, then continue with it until he gets what he wants. What happened?! He was such a quiet, peaceful newborn; I had to put a monitor in his room even though his bedroom is literally six feet down the hall from mine because his cries were so quiet I simply couldn't hear him. But now that he's entering the toddler stage look out!

So back to Target. I just needed to grab three things for my activity days craft, but I made the mistake of going down the toy isles to see what they had on clearance since his birthday is next month. BIG. MISTAKE. Or might I say rookie mistake? He was happy as could be as I tested out some of the toys, but as soon as we left the isle he screamed and screamed and screamed for like five minutes I swear. All eyes were on me from whoever was within earshot of him; which seemed like the entire store.

I took Zander to the doctor today for the third time in six weeks. We suspected another ear infection. Sure enough, there it was in both ears. We just took him off his meds from the last one, so this infection is just holding on and won't completely heal. This is his fourth ear infection this year and three of them have been within the last six weeks. He seems to get sick about every other week, and we are so tired of it! My doctor told me if he gets another one, which seems to be very likely since cold and flu season are just beginning, that he'll have to have tubes put in. I'm crossing my fingers it won't come to that, but the infection is why he's been so cranky and sick all the time, so at least I have an answer for his constant screaming, crying, and whining. Poor boy.

Caught Ya!

Yesterday morning I was in my bedroom getting ready for the day, and I noticed it was a little too quiet in the house. I snuck out to the living room to see what Zander was up to...

Caught him red-handed! Eating and throwing the dirt on the floor. I came up behind him and asked him what he was doing. He about jumped out of his skin; not sure what to do. 

 So he stared at me for a minute, then offered me some dirt too.

Spokane Trip

Mom, Zander, and I got to go to Washington for a week last week to visit Becky. I was so excited to go, but really nervous about how Zander would do on the air plane. It was the perfect flight for a 10 month old's first plane ride because it was only an hour and 15 minutes long. Zander did great! Both to and from Spokane. The ride there he fussed and screamed a bit before take off because he didn't want to sit on my lap, but he had to until we got in the air. He played and slept both times.

When we got to Becky's house that morning we waited around the house for them to return home from Boise. We chatted with her friend, took a nap, went for a walk, and made dinner. Meanwhile, Zander was exploring the living room and found a big decorative rock slab on the fireplace. He tipped it over resulting in a smashed hand. There was some bruising, little bit of bleeding, and lots of crying. It scabbed over real nicely the next day, and was gone by the end of the week.

The rest of the week was full of shopping, sight seeing, and playing with cousins. We wore the kids out pretty good, but they were all very patient and willing to go where ever we wanted with little complaint or fussiness.

It was amazing to see little Cora's progress throughout the week. We got to meet two of her therapists and watch how they interacted with Cora. She's rolling over, sitting up, and picking up cheerios all by herself! And also getting on her hands and knees. She's even eating bread, Cheetos,and ice cream.  She's such an amazing little girl! (and it helps that she has an amazing mama too)!

The first place we went to was a cute little toy shop called the White Elephant. I could've spent all my money and time there that day. It was so fun! I got some birthday and Christmas gifts for Zander. Here's Kimball riding the white elephant outside the store. Is he cute or what?!

 Zander was tired and fussy while we were shopping so Becky told me to give him a toy to play with. We were looking at stuffed animals, so I grabbed this sheep and he immediately hugged it followed by coos and sounds of excitement. It was the cutest thing to watch him with it. Becky took it from him for a minute to play with him, but as soon as she did he screamed, so she gave it back and he went back to cooing and squealing.

 Playing with cousins.

One day we took a drive to the countryside where there were dozens of beautiful farms and fields. We stopped at a few of them to buy apples and peaches and play around. The first one we stopped at we looked through their gift shop and had some ice cream. The second we came to had a gift shop and lots of things to do outside. Half of it was closed down, but we got to feed the sheep, and play in the peabox, and take turns going down a big slide.

 Ok. This was really neat. Instead of having a sandbox, they filled it with dried peas instead. The kids loved it! Zander just started popping them in his mouth right away, but after giving in and letting him do whatever, he stopped and started playing. This was really cool and fun for the kids.

Here's the slide. Becky and Kimball were the brave ones to go first.

Next, we went to Riverfront Park downtown for an afternoon. Lance had half the week off work, so he got to do a lot of this stuff with us. First, we took a ride on the carousel, then fed the goat dead leaves off the ground. This goat "eats" people's garbage. You just put your garbage in front of its mouth and it sucks it up into the garbage can! then we fed the ducks and geese.

Next, we went on another big slide, and to the playground for a little bit.

 We had a picnic with a few of Becky's friends. These kids sure do love their grandma!

Zander took his first steps with a walker while we were there. He thought he was hot stuff.

 Love my mom! Thanks for making this trip possible.