Forced Vacation

After a particularly hard and long week at home, I convinced Targhee that it would be a good idea for him to take a break and stay home with the family for a few days.  More for my sanity than anything else:)

We spent Wednesday out in the yard cleaning up and doing some winter prep and then headed up the canyon for a hike.  It was more like a short stroll.  But we still had a good time enjoying the beautiful outdoors. 

TJ is happy about his leaf 

Love the fall colors!

Leilani was such a good hiker.  She walked the entire way until the last jaunt to the car.

Her Little Mermaid rock. "Part of your WORLD!!!"

We stopped off at Weber to feed the ducks

The masses of ducks fighting over our meager portion of bread.

So I have to admit that while I was a student here I would curse this stupid pond and wish they would just turn it into more parking, but now that I just get to go up and enjoy its beauty, I'm glad it's here.

On Thursday morning Targhee still had to go to class (darn school:) and then we packed up and headed out to relax with some old people at Crystal Hot Springs. 

We weren't expecting it to be busy in October on a Thursday, and it wasn't, except for a bunch of retired wrinkly old men and women who have nothing better to do than sit in a hot mineral bath:)  It was funny and they chuckled at the kids.

Leilani had a blast and TJ loved splashing in the warm water.

After a few hours, our fingers and toes were as wrinkly as the old peoples' so we forced Leilani out of the pool and headed to Maddox for dinner.  MMMmmm!

That place never disappoints.  And well, we were on vacation!

Of course we weren't quite dressed for such an occasion and I felt a little silly walking in with my wet hair but after looking around at the other tables Targhee asked, "So do you think this is where they put all the people who don't dress up?"  

He was right, so we were fine:)

I am sure grateful for a husband who is wise enough to see when his wife needs him.  It was refreshing to be together as a family for more than 1 hour at a time.

The Letter H

H is for Horse

Helicopter (which conveniently flew by while we were looking at the horse)

Happy (because "if you're Happy and you know it clap your hands!" and because "When we're helping we're happy and we sing as we go!")

Head (because "Head, shoulders, knees and toes")

and Hammer (because you were hammering to the beat as we sang our songs)

The Letter D

D...by the Door with your Dog

(you love pretending to be a dog, and a cat, and a zebra, and a...)

Duck (our neighbors have ducks that we say Hi to when we get the mail)

and Daddy!!

(Your playmate, your hero, your best friend)

The Letter N

N stands for No No No (while shaking your head and finger at me:)

Nap (you had me draw you in bed with your Bears, which you will not go to sleep without)

Night (when the Sun goes to bed)

and Nest (we found 2 this summer in our trees)

The Letter G

The letter G is for

Green Grapes are Great!

Garage, (you particularly like pushing the button to open and close the door)

Garbage- Gross!!

Grass

and Games, (you love to play games with Mom and Dad, your favorites right now are Candyland, Cooties, and Ants in the Pants)

The Letter I

The letter I says the short sound i as in... 

Igloo and Indian and 

ICKY!

Mom made your sandwich into an I too.

TJ's 7 months!

His 6th month just whizzed right by me and I've almost missed his 7th too so I better hurry and write some things down before he starts driving.

This little boy just melts my heart in every sense of the phrase.

He is so sweet.

I just want to keep him this size and put him in my pocket.

Seriously, I think if you measured him up to Mary Poppins it would just say, "TJ Cole...Perfect in every way."

I wake up to his smile every day.

He babbles and talks in his crib and gets louder and louder until I finally hear him and wake up, usually around 7:30am.

His favorite choice of words is "Da da da" (although he did officially say Mama first- I wanted to make sure that was on the record:) "Ba ba ba" and "THHHBBBBbbbb" which he can arrange into any fashion of profanity to gleeful delight. 

I very much enjoy our mornings together.  Even though I am not a morning person (he seems to understand that) and am usually half asleep, it is very peaceful, just the two of us together, until we go wake up his sister and Dad.

He is always good for a smile.

My favorite thing to do is catch his eye across the room and smile at him and a smile is sure to be returned.

Targhee calls this his "puttin' out the vibe stance" AND it works like a charm by the way:)

He loves to play on the floor.

He is so content just making his way around to all of the toys.

Such a big boy in his high chair.

He eats like a champ.

He nurses 4 times a day and has solid food 3 times a day.

He can already pick up the little Puff cereal and even though he doesn't have any teeth yet, he will gnaw on anything you are willing to offer.

Where'd TJ go?

Seriously we couldn't find him.  It's happened a few times when he's wiggled his way into a corner.

His baby push-ups.

This cracks me up!

Leilani did it too, but he's got a new spin on it.  He attempts the bear crawl while up on his toes.

He has mastered the army crawl and started getting on his hands and knees the same week he turned 7 months, now he uses a combination of both.  He will be officially crawling in a matter of days, I'm sure.

He LOVES being naked.

He thinks baths are the best things ever invented.

Good ol' Johnny!

He makes the rest of us jealous that we don't have one.

A pretty rare occasion, so I had to get it on camera.

It would go away as soon as the flash went off and then come back until the next time I snapped a shot:)

Dad and his boy.

One of my favorite shots.

Here are his 6 month stats

Height: 28.25 inches 97%

Weight: 15.95 lbs 21%

Head: 42.5 cm 26% 

And here is a whole slew of pictures from his photo shoot that I can't choose from:)

Thank you for coming to our family and bringing us so much joy!

Lucky 27

Targhee's birthday was spread over a few events but hopefully he felt the love.

Part 1:

The Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

(he said he wanted to go somewhere the kids would enjoy)

And enjoy they did!

We stopped for lunch at Tucanos Brazilian Grill.

Yum!!

Sadly this is the only picture taken of me during the whole event, so...Sorry!

Part 2:

Opening Presents

Targhee had to go to school early and then work on his birthday so Leilani and I stayed up the night before to "decorate" the house (aka one streamer across the fireplace- we go all out here:) and then Leilani I mean Targhee got to open 2 presents;)

Part 3:

The Bar

I decided it would be a sin not to see him at all on his birthday so we stole him away for a lunch break at the Burger Bar and more presents.

Part 4:

Rock N' Roll Baby!

Targhee's work buddies threw him a little party.

Rumor has it they're heading out on tour soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

TJ wanted to join the band

Part 5:

Romantic Dinner for Two

Probably the first and last time Targhee will come home to the house clean and dinner on the table:)

Part 6:

Breakfast in Bed

Leilani and TJ helped me make blueberry waffles and eggs.  Leilani even carried the tray in.  She's getting so big:)

Part 7:

Dinner with the Coles at the El Matador

and yummy cake

(Not pictured:) 

Background Alert:

So, as many of you know, Targhee and I have been together for a very long time.  We started "going out" at the ripe old age of 15... I know!  Don't get me started.  Anyway, there are a lot of strange things people do and obsessions people go through at 15.  You all remember practicing writing your name with your crushes last name all over your science binder (well the girl's at least remember this:) 

One night while talking on the phone (that's about the extent of our relationship at the time) having a very deep conversation about lucky numbers, Targhee's was 12 and mine apparently was 15 (I didn't play sports so I have no idea where that number came from) we decided that meant together our lucky number must be 27.

Because of this, I no longer set my alarm clock for 6:30, oh no, it had to be set for 6:27.  I didn't make a wish on 11:11, nope, I wished on 12:15.  Targhee's football number in high school was, of course, 27.  I carried 27 cents in my purse at all times and the 27th of every month sends a smile to my face because, yes, we even got married on December 27th.

So, without further ado, I believe this is going to be our BEST year yet:)      

The Letter L

L is for the 

Lovely Luscious Lovable Leilani!

(You knew that one before we even got started:)

but L is also for

Leaf

Lady bug

Lamp (Aladdin's lamp so it had to have a genie)

and the other kind of Lamp with a Light

and

LOVE