Pumkin Picking & Carving

Pumkin Picking

Crew Turns 3!!!

This is the first year Crew has really been able to understand that his birthday was coming up and that he would be 3.  He was soooo excited.  While I  was growing up, my family would come into our room on our birthday singing "Happy Birthday" with a candle and all of our presents.  We would open them right there in the morning while we were still in bed.  So, we have carried on this tradition in our family.  The batman "dollhouse" was a big hit along with a batman car, a set of legos and some playdough.

While Crew was busy opening his presents Paige asked me "Is Crew really 3?  I said, "Yes, today is his birthday."  She said, "Well we still can't understand him." Hopefully this year will bring some milestones in the speech department.

That night we had Nanny, Papa, Aunt Bryn and Uncle Luke over for Crew's favorite food, spaghetti and of course birthday cake. 

I had blown up about 20 balloons and taped them to everyone's chairs before dinner.  I came downstairs to find that Crew had popped every single balloon with a fork.  The girls felt bad and blew up a few more for Crew's chair.

This next picture isn't from his birthday...it was a few weeks ago but I thought I'd include it on his birthday

post just for fun. He is such a good sport when it comes to letting his sisters get their kicks out of dressing him up.  Crew and Hailey have such a special relationship, they have so much fun together.

 

Crew's Canvases

Give Crew a couple markers and there is no end to his creative abilities.  The problem is, we didn't give him the markers (permanent) and there was no supervision one day while mom was out running errands and dad was busy helping Hailey and Paige with homework.  We have learned that paper is not the medium of choice for our little artist. 

The guilty parties...

He also is quite expressive when using himself as the canvas...

Note the gear in the elastic belt of his underwear...you never know when you'll need a spare block, car or dry erase marker!

We love this boy, despite his destructiveness.  How can you not?  So sweet...especially when he's sleeping.

A Day of Rest

Hailey has had nasty a cough for the last 2 weeks.  With no fever and a pretty good appetite, we just figured it was a virus that wouldn't let go.  Thursday she called me from school saying she didn't feel well.  This has happened several times this year already so I was having a hard time believing her but still went and got her.  When we got home, she went straight up to her room and fell asleep.  I knew then that she really was sick because she NEVER does this.  Friday morning she woke up with a fever and wanted to stay in bed.  Around 11:00 I went in to check on her and took her temperature.  The side of her face that she had been sleeping on registered at 106.5, the other side of her face 104.5. It was at this time, I knew there was something really wrong.  With Swine Flu going around I was pretty sure this is what she had and I gave her a dose of Motrin and Tylenol and called our friend Matt who is an ER doc to prescribe some Tamiflu.  Later that night, she said her side hurt. Jim listened to her breathing, thought it didn't sound right and took her in to the ER.  The chest xray showed a fairly dense pneumonia on one side.  At one point we thought she might have to be admitted so Jim's parents drove down from Rexburg at midnight to help out.  It's really nice to have family this close when these kinds of things happen!  Matt (our ER doc friend) decided to send her home with a heavy dose of antibiotics.  The next morning (yesterday) her fever was down but she was still pretty tired and stayed in bed most of the day.  Today, Jim took Paige and Crew up to Rexburg and Hailey and I have had a nice time resting and hanging out.  She's much, much better.  She's got her appetite back, no fever and is up and walking around.  Thank goodness for modern medicine!

Taking a break in between movies to do a little painting.

We watched Coraline up in my bedroom.  Hailey got a little scared and I'm sure it didn't help when she looked over and I had buttons over my eyes.  Here I am reenacting...

Here's Hailey reenacting...

I had time to make this incredible bread that my friend Johanna had the recipe for on her blog.  I admit, I'm a bread snob, I LOVE good bread and you can't find it here in Idaho Falls.  This bread is amazing...crusty, chewy, delicious!

It's been nice to have some time to spend alone with Hailey.  I'm so thankful she's ok and thankful for the people that helped.

Paige's Pages

Lately, if you are wondering how you're doing in the mom, dad, sister or brother department, there is most likely a note from Paige letting you know.  Usually these notes come floating down from the balcony into the living room or are thrust into your hands followed by the sound of the pitter patter of her tiny feet and a violent slamming of her door. 

The other night we were having hard boiled eggs, toast and bacon for dinner.  Jim was warming up the cold, peeled eggs in the microwave...he may be a brilliant Neuro/Interventional Radiologist but when it comes to the kitchen, he's lacking in the common sense skills (sorry Jim).  So, after setting the microwave to re-warm pasta????, the eggs exploded in the microwave.  Paige was so looking forward to her hard boiled egg (one of her favorite foods) and ran crying up to her room.  I am really glad she's learning to use writing as an outlet for her frustration...it beats the screaming, crying fits that would almost rupture our eardrums.

Translation: Dad and Mom, You guys are no good at making eggs.

The notes are not always out of frustration, sometimes just purely informational.  Translation: Dear Dad and Crew, I snuck into Crew's room, I am giving this note to you. From Paige

Here she is wanting us to reciprocate in the note writing. I totally understand that it's not as much fun to write people notes unless you're getting notes back! Translation: Write a note to me on the door.

The notes are sometimes really nice and sweet. Haiely came home sick from school yesterday so Paige made her these hearts...Hailey get better, Hailey feel better, Hailey Mom loves you.

She's growing up!

Whirlwind Weekend

Over Labor Day weekend we were trying to decide between going to Boise or Salt Lake. Jim's brother Josh, needed help with his yard in Boise and my mom needed some work done in her yard in Salt Lake. At the last minute, we opted for Salt Lake.

It was a non-stop weekend. Saturday we took the kids to Thanksgiving Point. We had never been there before and were pleasantly surprised. We will definitely go back. The kids loved Farm Town and we were only able to spend 15 minutes looking at the animals because we had to make a showing of the 3D dinosaur movie.

No fear...

This bull was actually shuffling it's hoof, getting ready to charge...such a great picture, not so great parents.

The dinosaur museum was great, the kids loved it.

Crew was actually really scared.

Digging for bones...

As Jim pointed out, "various uses of the index finger"...

Paige one minute later...she can turn on a dime, that one.

Riding the ponies...

We had a nice spur-of-the-moment visit with our friends Ang and Jason. Ang let me ride her beach cruiser.

And our big project of the weekend....

It doesn't look like much but we spent a lot of time ripping out weeds and stone, putting top soil in and planting a slow-growing, drought-resistant plant on this patch on the side of my mom's house. Now Molly (my mom's dog) will have a nice place to do her thing.

And then, of course, we got the dog, Indie, in between all of these things. So far, she's been just ok. She's got some issues. She didn't bark for the first day and a half we had her. Since then, the barking at people has gotten a little out-of-control. At first she was just freaked out by adult men, then all adults and now she's barking at kids. I'm sure Jim will get right on this since he was the one who was so intent on getting a dog (hint, hint).

Reconsidering Reincarnation

Jim and the kids have been wanting a dog for the last 2 years.  I, however, have to admit that I've been enjoying the hairless, dog-poopless world in which we can leave our house for the weekend spur of the moment and not worry about the 6th wheel coming or finding a dog-sitter for.  Considering the hassle dogs sometimes are, our last dog, Hannah was a great dog for many reasons:

-She was old enough by the time Hailey came along to not grab her by the neck and shake her like a rag-doll (which has happened to Crew with the last two puppies we've tried to adopt)
-Didn't bark unless it was necessary
-Could be outside without a leash on and obey (most of the time)
-Had a fun, playful personality and was great with kids
-A great traveler
-Wasn't a chewer or digger
-She was a constant compainion and loyal friend, especially to the kids

Jim has been researching dogs for the last few months.  I was DREADING getting a dog, especially being the one that has to assume most of the responsibility. Well, I think I might believe in reincarnation, we have found Hannah 2.  So far, she seems to be fitting right in where Hannah left off.   Introducing Indie, the newest member of the Taylor Family. 

The resemblance to Hannah is uncanny, her face, her body, her mannerisims (if dogs have mannerisims).  Indie is a year old, house trained, loves kids, stays in our yard, doesn't bark unless necessary, loves to travel, seems to be loyal, doesn't dig, chews a little but we can work on it.  Let's hope she can stay this way!