Happy FIRST Birthday, Natalie!

Guess who is one year old today!?!

Yay!! It's Natalie's birthday, and we had a great day. We started with a bit of a sleep-in, so she only got to open one present at breakfast... this darling little outfit for her birthday. She knew she was looking good, for sure.

 Then we went to a nature center and farm up in Connecticut, to enjoy the perfect warm, fall day we had today. To be honest, Spencer and his friends may have liked it more than Natalie, since they got to be out and about.

But she seemed happy enough, even though I kept her in the stroller most of the time.

Spence got to see some sheep and pigs, and "pet" a tortoise. Lucky boy.

We even watched a couple of otters in a gorgeous little pond. Otters really are cute, I think. But in the water they look kinda creepy, like snakes.

And we found a secret "tunnel" that the boys loved.

I think they loved it because it led them to this...

Again, poor Nat didn't get much out of the playground, but she did get some lunch, and didn't get stung by a bee (they were everywhere). Then, more lunch at a restaurant (why do we moms take children to restaurants, anyway? We always know how it will turn out... chocolate milk spilled on the floor, half the food gone to waste, no one staying in his/her seat, not enough napkins. Ah, but we persist, for the other-mom company and the delicious salads that always taste better than homemade.)

Back to Natalie... She took a birthday nap in the car on the way home, and another nap after we picked up Samantha from school. When I went to get her from her second nap, she had ditched her shirt -- her newest trick. This is the second time this week I've found her topless after her nap. Show off! Isn't she a little young to already be figuring out how to undress?!?

We redressed her, so she could show another new trick. She's a little late on this one, but finally, she's a clapper! yay!!

Then we had a special treat... Daddy came home for dinner and present time! Um, but I didn't get a picture of him. oops. But look at the table. Four plates -- one for Brian.

Birthday cake. I made each of the kids their own little cakes in ramekins. She wasn't so sure at first...

Then Brian helped her get a good start, feeding her some bites with a spoon.

Oh. Hands. They'll do the job much more quickly than Daddy and the spoon...

Finger-lickin' good!!

Presents... Some lights-and-buttons toys...

 And some soft puppets (so cute... they're like stuffed animals, and she laughs so hard at them!) I love how eager the kids are to help her "unwrap."

And a package from Grandpa and Grandma Bishop... a baby doll that she LOVES!

That wraps up the play-by-play of her birthday. It was a fun day. Hard to believe our baby girl is one!! She's a doll and we love her to pieces. Just a few more pics of her, just because...

And next time, I will do some serious back-blogging, to show the 300+ pictures I just uploaded from our last months of "stuff." Until then, just think of sweet, sweet Natalie, reveling in her birthday glory!

Random update

First, you should know our computer is broken. Not this one, the other one... The one that has all our pictures on it, and has the right "drive" so I can upload pictures from our camera. Its battery has been dead for a year, and now its cord died. And the cord to our camera is lost, so there really is no other way to upload pictures. Hmm...

And next you should know that Mr. Fix-It (aka. Brian) has been so busy he can't see straight, much less find time to order a new computer cord or battery, or look for the lost camera cord. With that, I assume you already know that *I* am not responsible for the technological details of my blogging life: computer's broken, no pictures. That's just the way it works around here.

So, another photo-less entry from me. I have thoughts, and they need to come out somewhere. And now that you know how busy Brian has been (and probably will continue to be), you will just have to understand that right now blogging is going to be my "grown-up conversation" time. But since I've not been blogging for a long while (just waiting and hoping I can get the computer fixed), this blogging conversation is going to sound like someone who hasn't talked to anyone for days, maybe weeks, and finally has a listening ear... apologies in advance for the choppiness I anticipate in the coming paragraphs.

What to tell?
 I've been sick with a little sore throat. I'm on antibiotics, but they're not doing a super job of knocking this, so I think it was viral after all, lucky me.

To help myself get better, I've been staying up very late, watching dumb netflix sitcoms, eating pudding or ice cream bars.

Also to help me feel even better, the kids have had school all week, and Natalie has been kind enough to start most of our mornings for us at 6:35-6:45 a.m.

Brian has crawled in bed in the middle of the night (even LATER than my very late nights) every. single. night. for the past two weeks straight... except for last night, which didn't count because he never even came home AT ALL the night before, so... anyway.


To top it off, my dad and mom (aka. the-person-I-vent-to) have been gone on a cruise to Alaska for more than a week, with no cell phone service, except for that one day she called me from Juno for a few minutes.

Whine, whine, whine. I know. I sound pathetic, huh? It's really just the lack of sleep. It's 9 p.m. and I really think I'm headed to bed when I'm finished with this, even though I just KNOW Brian will be home soon. He really will, tonight.

Actually, it hasn't been that bad, and I'm really trying NOT to be so whiny. We still managed a trip into Central Park one day this week, and a trip to New Jersey today to see friends. And we made it to the dollar store, and the post office, and the library, and Costco this week, as well. We've even stopped by the puppy store on our main street, to gawk at the adorable little cuties in the windows.

Have to keep going, keep doing things that make me smile, right?

One thing that has REALLY made me smile this week is Samantha's attitude about school. I don't know that it will always be this way, but so far, she is absolutely THRILLLLLLED to be in school!! She LOVES her days, wishes they were longer, talks incessantly (and I DO mean INCESSANTLY) about her friends, her teachers, her art projects, her locker, her backpack, ... just "all things school" with that girl. It's adorable, and I could listen to her -- or rather, I DO listen to her -- for hours on end!

We've been doing half-day kindergarten these first two weeks. Then next week we'll do two full days and three half days. Then, the following weeks, it's ALL DAY school for Samantha. She's counting down on the calendar for this blessed event. And she still vows she will NOT miss Spencer. He sucks his finger and looks sad when she says this, so I have asked her to please stop saying it in front of him.

More happy news... Spencer started Joy School (preschool program) this week. And he really enjoyed it! Yay!! I was a little more nervous about him, because he seems like much more of a home-body than Samantha. But he surprised me in a good way... really enjoyed being there, loved the other kids and his "teacher," and wants to go back again. He still brings his blanket with him (I know... I'm such a softie mom when it comes to that). But he leaves it in his backpack most of the time. I'm curious to know how things will go when Joy School is at OUR house. We still have a few more weeks before then. Phew!

What else? Well, I'm happy to report that I've finally found a book I enjoy reading. This is good news, because I've struggled to find good material lately. I can't do nonfiction right now, even though I generally enjoy biographies -- they just put me to sleep right now. So, I'm looking for good fiction.

I tried "The Uglies" and it was okay. But the ending was weak. So I looked on wikipedia for a synopsis of the next books in the set. Thoroughly disappointing. Disappointing enough in the 2-paragraph synopses that I'm glad I didn't waste any more of my time with that series. (Just my opinion, for any "uglies" lovers out there.) Anyway, so the book I'm reading now, that is NOT a disappointment, is for our book club from church. "The Forgotten Garden." I'm halfway through, and loving it. Delicious sentences, fast moving plot, lots of twists and turns, great character development. And so far, no "junky scenes" that I'd rather skip, if ya catch my drift. This author is good! (Kate Morton -- she's good enough I actually remember her name. That says something, right there.) Now, lets hope she can really "punch" it with the ending, right?

Another not-so-fun item to discuss... a mouse. In our garage. I saw it there this morning, first time. I can't knock the shudder that keeps running up my back as I re-picture it, trying to scurry up the corner of the concrete wall, then scrambling behind some boxes in the back. Ew. EEEWWWW! I bought some traps and put them out, in the garage and in the house. Yucky. Don't worry -- if I catch it, I won't put up a picture, okay? (Good thing the computer's broken, right?)

 One more something, then I'll close for tonight. I found a great recipe for chicken in a recipe book my mom sent me. I "tweaked" it quite a bit and made it my own, -- made it even better. And it is delightful! And fairly healthy. I'm calling Italian Smothered Chicken. It makes me happy just thinking about it. It will be our dinner on Sunday -- better than the Eggplant Parmigiana we served to the missionaries two weeks ago. Now I can hardly wait until Sunday. Mmmm.... Here's hoping my husband is free to join us for the delectableness!!

Bye for now. I'm just going to read one more chapter in that book, while I wait for Brian...

First Day

Well, I'm joining the throng of other mother bloggers, writing a post about Samantha's first day of school. She's been looking forward to it alllll summer long. She picked out her rainbow cheetah-print backpack more than a month ago (no Hello Kitty, Dora, or Princess pack for this girl, nosiree!); we got her school supplies three weeks ago; and she had everything all packed up and ready to go three days before school started. She had her clothes laid out the night before (including new Tinkerbell underwears), and was dressed in two seconds this morning. She even BROUGHT me the hair stuff and sat patiently while I did her hair!! (a first, in a looong time!)

Yep, this girl was EXCITED for her first day of school. And school did not disappoint, not today, at least! She came home beaming, talking about all the fun coloring and games and songs they did. "No learning or teaching or homework today, just fun!"

I have pictures to add, but I can't upload them tonight (technological difficulties). So, just picture her in her new little blue and pink hearts outfit, smiling and happy to FINALLY be in school!! (and check back later, because I DO plan to add some pics here).

I thought I'd be the weepy, sentimental mommy about all this back-to-school stuff. I mean, our baby girl is growing up right before our very eyes. Not to mention, this is the END of a lifestyle for us -- we're now TIED to a school schedule, like it or not. I've been anxiously anticipating what all this will mean, over the past few weeks... No more sleeping in if it was a rough night. No more pick-a-day-trip-and-lets-go time for me and my kiddos. Whoah. As you can imagine, I thought I'd shed some tears today. But nope; Samantha's enthusiasm must be contagious.

One quick wave and a hug goodbye, and she was off. We left her sitting happily next to a little girl she knows already from church. As I walked out of the classroom, I noticed another mom wiping away tears and looking so distraught. I looked at her and thought, "Oh, I wonder what's wrong with her??" Then it hit me -- oooohhh. She's a sad mommy of a Kindergartener. Poor her. I just couldn't be sad today.

I'm sure it will hit me three weeks down the road, at some very inconvenient time... I'll suddenly realize we've closed a chapter of our lives, opened a new one. Then you'll get the sentimental, sappy post I thought I'd be writing tonight. But for now, I say, HOOOORAY for Samantha's first day!!

Those random pics...

So, I finally got those pictures uploaded, and thought I'd add a few of the recent randoms...

Turns out I CAN bake bread. Thanks, Marissa (and friend), for a great recipe!

Fender-bender, at the scene. Bummer...

Deer in our back yard, eating our landlord's pears. It stayed for a few mins, until our kids scared it away...

Girlie, attempting the stairs. She doesn't really go up them yet, but she's starting to think about it...

Chubby little leggers. So yummy I just want to eat them up!

Kids, sitting on the bridge at the pond on a Sunday afternoon walk...

Kids sitting on the stairs, "protecting" Natalie from falling down them...

She looks like me, I promise. Adorable, no??

Can't resist adding one more cute one of her...

Bike riders...

Their kind chauffeur...

These last "random" pictures are from Samantha. Always nice to see what she thinks is worth a photograph...

Self imagery...

More self imagery, only not turning out so well...

Natalie, covered in food, looking very enthused...

Mom feeding Natalie, from a distance...

Natalie's mohawk hair, up close...

Scripture-of-the-month, on the fridge...

Dishwasher, ready to wash...

Pencil jar, phone, and bottle insulator, from above...

Mom making dinner, up close...

Flowers on the table...

One last self portrait....

That's it for now. We're off for a weekend getaway to Upstate New York and Canada. Little country cottage, Palmyra, Niagara Falls, oh -- and we'll miss the hurricane here. Lucky. Sounds fun!!

Slumpy

I'm still here, just not so into blogging lately, I guess. Not sure what I am "into" these days, actually. Feeling a little bit slumpy, I guess. It's not that I'm down or discouraged or anything. I'm just not really motivated to do whatever it is I "should" be doing, I guess. But at the same time, I'm not really concerned about this slumpiness. (btw, slumpiness is not a real word, and spell-check KNOWS it, and is quite bothered by it!)

I guess I'm just soaking up the last of the lazy summer days of August, while they last... sensing that change is around the corner: school is starting soon, the leaves are turning stale-green (which everyone knows is right before they change colors for real), and the humidity is finally going away (which means it's going to start to get cold soon). Ah, change... ready or not, here it comes. But before it's officially here, I think I'm going to just continue this slumpy phase, because it feels relaxing and comfortable, and I know it won't last.

Now you know what I've been up to -- not much.

Here are some recent random pictures of our slumpiness and other stuff...

oh, never mind. They're still on the camera, and I'm feeling slumpy enough to not get up and download pictures.

Instead, I guess you'll get the quick list of things I accomplished today:

-- emptied the clean, folded laundry baskets throughout the house (there were three, sitting half full from last week)

-- went to Target and got Samantha's school supplies and some mascara for me (and somehow ended up with a bunch of other stuff that totaled $64... and don't try to tell me that's never happened to you?!!?!)

-- turned in Samantha's updated Tuberculosis test waiver and updated immunization forms at her school.

-- mailed off a request for the accident report form for the little fender-bender I was in a couple of weeks ago (bad merge, slow traffic on the freeway, everyone was fine.)

-- talked to Dalana on her birthday, had a nice long catch-up chat.

-- made that delicious potato/tomato curry I've been craving, finally. Kids didn't love it, but I certainly did!

-- visited the afternoon away with my friend Debbie and her kids.

-- talked on the phone to my mom for a long chat this evening, while we both cleaned house.

-- blogged, while I waited for Brian to come home, but he's still not home and the blogging is winding down, I can feel it.

Yep. Pretty normal day here. Doesn't even sound too slumpy, does it? But nothing too thrilling, either. Honestly, the main benefit of this particular post is that you don't have to keep looking at that lame-o potty-training post! Hang tight, I'm sure there's better stuff coming soon, right??

Silver Lining

Well, I'd put this on fb, but I don't really think my 300+ fb friends from high school or wherever else would really be interested. And I'd call Brian and just vent/explain to him about it, but I've tried calling him so many times today and I just get voicemail. And I'd call my mom, but I've already bugged her enough today.

So, hello blogging world. You get my story today. I'm calling it "Silver Lining" because I'm choosing to see the positive here... like working with Murphy's Law, or something like that.

Disclaimer: stop right here if you don't like reading about potty training.

Here's the story, short and sweet...

We went to the beach this afternoon.

Spencer pooed in his swim shorts.

After I took his fully-soaked diaper off.

Before I got a swim diaper on him.

The silver lining.... because he pooed in his swim shorts, he did NOT poo in the tub a few short minutes after we got home. Whew!!

Another one?

Spencer peed all over the bathroom floor and wall.

I mean ALLLLL OVER.

After the beach and the poop.

Before I could help him get his "potty training" act together.

The silver lining... this all happened BEFORE I mopped the bathroom floor. And YES, I was actually PLANNING to mop the bathroom floor today, just hadn't gotten to it yet. I mean, seriously, there is a silver lining to almost EVERYTHING, people.

Even potty training.

Knock-Knock.

Conversation at dinner tonight...

Samantha: Mom. Here's what we're going to do. I'll knock on something and say 'knock-knock.' Then, you answer and say "who's there?" and I'll say "-- well, I'll say a name or something." Then you say "the name or something and then 'who'?" then I'll say another name or something with the first name, and then if it's funny, we'll laugh. Okay??

Me: You mean, like we'll play knock-knock?

Samantha: Yeah, but I'll knock on something, too.

Me: Okay. I'm ready.

Samantha (knocks on her chair): Knock-knock.

Me: Who's there?

Samantha (pauses, looks around the dinner table and kitchen area): Umm.... Hunt's Tomato Ketchup.

Me: Hunt's Tomato Ketchup, who?

Samantha (another good "thinking" pause): Ummmm... Hunt's Tomato Ketchup and rice and oranges in a blender!!!!! hah ahahahah!!!?!!?!

Her "silly face" ...

Wow. Knock-knock IS the game of the five-year-old. And I get to be her frequent audience, lucky me!!

Tribute to Redfish

So, believe it or not, life in near the big city gets a little rough at times. (Surprised?) And usually, when that happens, Brian says to me, "Wow. I just wish we could pack up and go spend a few weeks at Redfish Lake." And he means it. So, this summer, we actually did throw a bit of Redfish into our little vacation to Idaho. And it was wonderful.

This post is my quick tribute to Redfish Lake and all its loveliness...

We rented a little cabin suite for a night, the night before my birthday. I didn't get a picture of the outside, but here was the cute little bedroom inside...

Brian's Aunt Cindy (and our dear friend) works up at the lodge there, so we got to see her, and Janice (Brian's sis) & company. Sadly, I have no pictures of our fun tinfoil dinner night at the beach, but you'll have to trust me that it was really fun!

We all smelled like campfire, and had perfectly cooked and seasoned dinners, complete with corn on the cob cooked in the fire, and delicious sides of pineapple and feta salad. yum!! And let's not forget that Samantha and cousin Allie got SOAKED in the lake while "playing in the sand." They were freezing and begging to go home by the time we left the lake to go back to our cabins. (And a mother who TOLD Samantha NOT to get wet that night was somewhat satisfied that the poor freeeeezing five-year-old had learned her lesson the harder way, even though I tried to be sympathetic.)

So, I woke up on my birthday morning to this lovely, gorgeous mountain setting around me...

We ate a delicious birthday breakfast (blueberry pancakes, yum!!) at the lodge...

With this view out our window as we ate...

Then we swam all afternoon. Spence and Brian stayed in the water a lot, so I didn't get many pics of them (Brian thanks me for the lack of photo coverage, of course, ha!)...

Samantha rigged up her own "floatie" system...

Wondering how it worked in the water? Demonstrated below...

And Natalie? Well, I made sure to get some pics of her from all angles, since she was so cute in her little suit...

Gotta love that softie little back...

And her painted toes, tee hee...

Truth be told, she crashed out in her stroller for a lot of the afternoon, like a perfect baby doll...

I guess that's the end of my tribute. We had to end it all too quickly, to rush off for a birthday party/bbq/fireworks at my parents' house. (Can't complain about that, eh?)

Oh, but I also have to throw in our fun pics of our favorite ice cream parlor in Idaho City. We stopped there on the way up to Redfish; it's tradition...

Some close-ups of those darling ice cream faces...

Sprinkles, from her "birthday cake" ice cream...

And Natalie liked her cup of water (less messy when it spilled down the front of her shirt)....

My final word...

I have to say, if you've wondered whether you should put Redfish Lake on your list of "destinations" I vote YES!! It's worth it.