Trip to PA

Last week I decided to be totally nuts and fly with my 2 kids to PA to visit my friend Jennifer. It was a little hectic planning, packing, checking in, and getting seated. I was totally sweating each time I boarded a plane! Of course I was a nervous wreck the day before and of travel, but the kids did awesome both ways. By way of awesome, I mean way better than expected. Reagan did manage to talk me into migraines with all her excitement, questions, repeat questions, etc. the ENTIRE travel period, but people commented every time that they didn't even know kids were on the plane. Guess that's a plus, especially with an 8 month old! And I was impressed, pleased, and a little embarrased with the amount of attention and help people wanted to give me! (Wasn't sure if that was because I looked terribly unqualified to do the job, or there really are nice people in this world) Definately made me want to be more helpful when I am traveling alone. After arriving in SLC late Sunday night the kids were tired and awoken from sleep. Some extremely nice lady CARRIED Reagan off the plane and held her until I was all situated with everything.

We arrived on Sunday night and Monday morning met Jennifer's brother and sister and their kids (with her mom) at a huge "pumpkin patch". This was an awesome farm with everything you can imagine for the kids to do. Jennifer has 7 nieces that live there, and let me tell you how much they LOVE Reagan! I overheard her say to one "I bet you missed me (remember, this was the same family we spent a week with last summer in Virginia Beach), to which she replied to Reagan "I sure did!". They were fighting over who got to hold her hand, sit by her, talk to her, etc. She was in
H-E-A-V-E-N. It was a perfect day in the perfect atmosphere. The scenery was, of course, beautiful. I was back last year at this exact time with my mom and 2 sisters so I was excited to return to the beauty (however, I didn't manage one photo of that). We had a few days of cold and rain, but spent time at their little town library, a movie, hanging out playing dress up with the girls, dancing, eating, a swim birthday party, and last but not least, catching up with a dear friend and I have always felt right at home in their house.

From the last trip as well, Reagan had acquired her "sweet thing". This would be Jennifer's brother Christopher, to whom Reagan just mushed all over. This continued and he was such a sport with all that. She also attached right to his girlfriend. Should we say she definately is not shy!! There should also be an introduction to George! This would be Jennifer's father whom is known for not being, let's say, extra friendly (George, you know we love ya). He can't help that Reagan has no idea he doesn't want her around or to sit on his lap or cuddle up to him! It's totally amusing to watch.

So to a successful week all around. For a nice little trip for me, the kids, the friends we love, and safe travels. Enjoy the photos.


Getting Ready to Take Off

At Chicago Airport during our 2 hour layover (which totally sucked and luckily was only anhour on the flight home). They have a cool play area though so here is Kade just chillin', munchin on an apple...this kid would eat anything you put in front of him right now.


Morning after the flight in Auntie Jenn's bed

Roba's Farm







Lexi & Rea swimming

Out to lunch (and Reagan being silly)

PLaying Dress Up




Hannah the Cheerleader

Rea & Cole (isn't he cute)

Sweet Thing

My Sweet Kade

The Kid is oblivious to the puke all over him. I change him numerous times a day and I am thinking I need to start carrying around a change of clothes for me as well. The doctor said he just throws up a lot. Nothing wrong with that right?! Whatever! Anyway, he's healthy and growing so they said just let it be. I had just changed him for the flight, get situated at the terminal and blurp...all over me, him, and his fresh clean blanket. So needless to say, I smelled throw up the entire way home. And I'm sure others smelled it as well :) Gotta love being a mom.

Cheese

Isn't this picture awesome! Reagan still loves to put Kade into her doll stroller, although he surely exceeds the "weight limit". It often closes under pressure but he's happy as can be.

I'm sure my mom will think I'll get arrested for this picture...but how can you not just love these chubby little body parts!

A week of rest and girl time then Island Park

Since my last post was such a downer! I decided it was time for some feel good moments!

Two weeks ago my mom and sister Heather came and picked up Kade and stole him away for an entire week!! Needless to say I was having major anxiety prior to his leaving because who leaves their 7 month old for a week!! BUT, we all survived. I got some wonderful hours of sleep, finished doing all the work on our fix-its and was able to spend some one-on-one time with Reagan. We got pedi's, saw a movie, went to dinner, read lots of books, made cards, and enjoyed the time. I was more than ready to see my little guy. He has slight "mommy leaving his sight" syndrome now but I don't mind. My sister Jessica brought him to meet us on our way to Island Park. THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone that made this possible, and especially my mom and Heather for convincing me that it was totally okay to ask for help and a little mental relief and sleep made a huge difference. Love you guys!

Last week, the kids and I traveled to Island Park (West Yellowstone area) with my little sister Jessica for a week of relaxation. A friend of the family owns a few cabins there and they were gracious enough to let us use it for free. My parents met us there on Monday and stayed for a few days and the most thrilling part of the week was Mike being able to join us for 2 days!!
On our way to Island Park, we stopped in Idaho Falls for a few hours. For days, and the ENTIRE way up there, Reagan would not stop talking about making money working at her dad's store. He had a little shirt made up for her and she immediately put it on and was a pro in no time. She cleaned windows, dusted, and perfected the "money machine". The sad thing is...she totally knew what she was doing. Although we've told her to be careful who she is telling that she works there for money. She did earn her keep, one dollar and a "pay stub" that she held onto the entire way to the cabin.
The weather was absolutely perfect minus one day while at Old Faithful. We saw plenty of wildlife, took many, many walks around the cabin area, ate too much junk food, and even stopped at Bear World (very cool but definately overpriced).
On our way home we stayed in Idaho Falls and got a hotel so Mike could join us. I took the kids swimming and Mike came over that night. We enjoyed another swim Sunday then we haunted the store for a while and headed home. We were all exhausted but it was definately a fun week. Sorry for the many pictures...these aren't even a fourth of them!!
(Oh, and a shout out to some very kind people who are letting Mike stay at their house until we move up there...his mom works with Nicholas's mom and they have 2 little girls that I'm sure will become great friends of Reagan's. He was staying with his Aunt and Uncle in St Anthony, but the drive was a little long each day! So thank you Beth and Nicholas for letting a complete stranger inhabit your basement....and scare your cat to death!)

Scenes from Yellowstone

Mom and Pops (aren't they cute)

This was about all we got out of Ol' Faithful....who was so agressive at this explosion

One of the hot pots on your way up to Faithful. It was so hot and steamy when you walked around. Scary to think if you stumble and fall in there you are toast...literally. But also very cool how they all work.

Elk lounging about...I had no idea they lost their antlers and grew back so fast....can grow like 2 inches a day or something insane. They are the fastest growing cells. Cool beans.



I am not sure why buffalo are so fascinating!! We saw them on both occasions into Yellowstone Park. The one picture of him crossing the road was just that...he took his sweet time sauntering across. We have video driving right by him and my dad's saying "hey" and he lazily looks up (and thank goodness ignored him!...a pamphlet said they could run three times faster than a human...eek!!)



Bear World
This was a fun place...albeit expensive. It took maybe 10 minutes to drive through but you did see lots of elk, buffalo, deer, goats, a moose, and BEARS! Little miss anxiety Reagan wasn't too thrilled with the actual driving. She didn't want us to roll down the window and was more than glad to be done with the bear part of it. They have a fun petting zoo (where you could just kneel right down and pet a deer), and 6 silly bear cubs that were totally entertaining. They also has a few little rides for the kids as well and Of course for mighty more bucks, you could feed the cubs. Ask Reagan what she did that day and she will say "we didn't have enough money to feed the babies but my dad will work harder and give me money to go again" :) Love it.







Mesa Falls was a beautiful area. Apparently the 2nd largest undisturbed falls on the Columbia..if I remember that right?. They had a nice plank area around the falls that you could walk or push a stroller.




John Sack Cabin area and a "nature walk"
This too was a beautiful area with a trail around the river. We actually went there twice this day. The second time around there was a muskrat swimming with the ducks and huge trout getting fed.

My sister Jessica

Posing of course

Kade wants anything and everything in his mouth...even this yellow pepper. He will be hell on crawlers when it's time. Total opposite of Reagan who just never put anything into her mouth

Doesn't she look so grown up here?!





Randoms

Island Park Damn (I was just scared the whole time a bear would come out of any of the woods we were around ;o)

He doesn't care where....he just LOVES taking a bath (and of course the camera...any time he sees that come out he's got a smile on his face)



I just thought this picture was so cute...this little old couple hops off the motorcycle with chaps or whatever they are called on....the lady walked away while I was sneaking a picture

Child Labor...isn't it sweet





Ok, I won't spare you with any more pictures :O)

Life Lessons...Bear with me...and a few cute kids

So the past few weeks have been somewhat of a challenge; emotionally, physically, mentally, you name it. It seems like whatever could go wrong did (and most of you know it all happened within 24 hours!!) My kids weren't sleeping, my body wasn't resting, my husband wasn't around to vent to, my water heater broke, my shower leaked, my car broke down, my parents aren't just 10 minutes away, and I had to actually ask someone for help! Boo-hoo right :)
It was in a dark state of mind in the darkness of the night, that I was weeping and feeling pretty sorry for myself. I had numerous crying fits, temper tantrums, and yet feeling that I was probably deserving what came my way. And during this dark hour, I was, of course, surfing the internet because I couldn't calm myself enough to sleep.
There is a story, one that will rip your heart out, cause buckets of rain to fall from your eyes, bring peace to your heart and literally drop you to your knees. If you have heard of it, you will know. It's called Nie Nie. And her story is amazing, gut-wrenching, humbling, and joyful. She was famous in the blogging world. Then one fateful day, she and her husband were in a plane crash...survived, but not without serious, life altering scars. And I spent an hour reading. And an hour pondering. And an hour of being extremely grateful. For my "trials" the past few weeks were so insignificant and so fixable!
And then I remembered, "What is life, if not for living". That's all I was doing. Living in the real world, with real simple little problems. And I remembered a few nights earlier when Reagan and I were going at it for the hundreth time that day, after exhaustingly asking her what else I could do for her and she said "I want a hug mommy". Simple. And there is no one way to be a perfect mother...there are a million little ways. And I shouldn't think I can be perfect in just one way. Just like life apparently. No one way to live it right...there are a million little ways to do it, to survive it, and to learn from it.
It's been a really trying month. We miss Mike extremely, and he misses us. Our life is in limbo and for me, the write-ten-lists-a-day type of person, this is super duper hard for me :) And through all of this, we have had amazing support from friends and family. I can never thank everyone enough for helping, phoning numerous times, bringing me a diet coke, lending a car, and even just offering. We are truly blessed...and it doesn't hurt that I have two beautiful, sweet kids to wake up to every day.