odds and ends

Charlie said to me today, "I'm so happy that Daddy works, and I'm so happy that you stay home." MELT MY HEART.

He has been rocking at swimming lessons this week. Charlie said that he likes doing rockets the best. Rockets are swimming under water from 8ish feet from the steps. He can kick his legs and do a really good job!

Molly had carrots for the first time a few days ago (8-4-14). She shuddered a lot. :/ She stuck with it for three nights, but her response was about the same each night. She never refused to open her mouth though!

Molly had her six-month appointment on 8-4-14. She weighs 15 pounds 8 ounces and is 25 1/2 inches long. She is in the 50th percentile for height and weight, and 75th for her head. She got two shots (no HIB - it wasn't in stock) and an oral vaccination. She spiked a low fever that night (100.5), and her legs were really tender. She seems to be ok now, though there is a hard lump and a red mark the size of a quarter on one of her thighs from the shot.

It seems as if I have gotten quite a bit if one-on-one time with Alanna lately. Since Matt took Charlie hiking, the girls got extra attention from me all day on Saturday. Then on Monday, Charlie said he was super tired, so he laid down for a 90-minute nap. Molly was sleeping at the same time, so Alanna and I had another stretch of time together. Tonight, Charlie had a make-up swimming lesson (two in one day!) at 5, so Matt took him. Molly slept until 6, so Alanna and I played and talked some more. Even though we have me gone anywhere or done anything spectacular together, I have enjoyed our individual time together a lot. It's fun to have uninterrupted conversation with her and play whatever it is she wants to play.

Charlie told Matt tonight, "If you love Jesus, then you ask him into your heart. Then Jesus will give you a car (pointing to a red minivan). " Ummm...no.

Hiking with Charlie

Charlie and I did our first big hike together last Saturday and it was a blast.  We hiked the Lake of the Clouds trail, which I believe is actually called the Gibson Trail.  The problem with the Sangres is it's hard to find a kid friendly trail.  All the trails there start at 8000-9000 feet and terminate at 12000 feet.  When we started, I had no expectations as to how far we would get down the trail, it was all up to Charlie and how he felt.  He was very excited except he did tell me it took a long time to get drive to the trailhead.  Charlie talked the entire time, and I think that was his excitement, but we were going uphill the entire time so I am suprised he didn't get more winded.  We took an easy pace and I stopped to point things out to Charlie.  We ate some wild strawberries, climbed on rocks and tree stumps, built a beaver dam, threw rock in the stream, listened to woodpeckers and squirrels, and on and on.  It was fun to see him take intrest in things that have always intrested me.  We made it to the point were the trail crosses a stream, which is two plus miles down the trail, and stopped there.  Again, for a little four year old boy, I was really impressed as to what he could do.  Charlie did start to get tired on the hike down and I had to carry him for a couple of short stretches, but he hiked 99% of the trail on his own.  I looking forward to more experiences like this with each our kids as they grow.

The start of our journey.

Having a snack break at the wilderness boundary.

Showing off a wild strawberry that mommy would be jealous about.

The beaver dam Charlie built.

Hiking home.

Fishing on Spinney Reservoir

On June 20th I was invited to fish on Spinney Reservoir with a couple of guys from work (Dave Gilbert, Fran Ackley and Fran's daughter).  This style of fishing was very different from what I usually do and it reminded me of fishing Lake Superior with my Dad when I was a kid.  We had down riggers and planer boards hooked up with six lines out the back of the boat.  Then we just drive and wait for one of the rods to start thumping.  Once a fish was on I didn't have to fight it, just reel it up.  So it was different, but fun.  We caught a lot of fish and a number of big fish, both trout and kokanee salmon.