A picnic with Daddy!

We've had beautiful sunny days lately, on one of them we were out running errands when lunch time happened upon us. Daddy usually comes home for lunch but this day we took lunch to Daddy and had a fun little picnic on the lawn at work.

Yum! a bite of Frosty.

Phi came and went while enjoying his chicken nuggets and mango slices from Wendy's. They have a great 99 cent menu here, you can get a junior cheese burger deluxe which has everything a $2.50 1/4 lb.er has only it's smaller for 99 cents. That way the burger is more the serving size you should actually eat too. Any way so we were enjoying our picnic until the lawn care guy came along and needed to mow the grass we were sitting on. We sure have trouble picking good picnic spots! :D
Looks like Leroy might be attempting to snitch some of Daddy's Frosty while he's distracted.
As you can see the grass really needed to be mowed. :)

"That lawn mower is too loud"

Playing with daddy after lunch.

Leroy is learning to sit up and does better every day. Currently he still topples at random.
Phi coming in for a fill up.

He figured out he could drink and not pick up the cup if he squatted.
These guys, anything to make life easier. :)

Bite anyone?

Verse for the day:
For HE satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:9

Do you see something that doesn't belong??

I had left a bag of cans by the pantry door way and kept meaning to put them away but hadn't yet. I was baking and left the pantry door open and since Phi loves to pull the cans out of the bag ( and drop them on his toes) and the pantry is a fascination of his cause he's not usually aloud in there, he began putting them on the bottom shelf. I was encouraging him for being helpful, next thing I know I turn around and he's not there. "Phi"? I call and I hear "Eh"!? from the depths of the bottom shelf. So funny what these little minds think of.

"Is this where this can goes Mom??"


He got a hair cut with our new trimmer and looked so funny sitting under that huge cover.

All spiffy!
This was almost a month ago now and it's time for another one.

It's Pool Time

We finally scrubbed out our pool that has been full of scum since last year and filled it up. Phi was not sure at first, we tried going in with a life jacket but it kept dumping him on his face. Last year I got this toy for him to float in at 6 months of age, we stuck him in it and it works great. The pool will fill to 36" but it's only half full now. He is able to stand and buzzes around like a little water bug in his ladybug floater. It gives him freedom of movement and will still hold him up when he wants to float. Some times he'll run forward and then lift his legs and float across the rest the way. It's so fun to see him enjoy the water.

Scooping out the bugs (like Mom does)

Leroy went in too the other day for his first time in a pool.

Ride with big brother in his toy.

"Wow he's heavy!"

It looks thin but it is amazing how well it floats and holds him up.

Our Memorial Day

To begin with Daddy arrived home safely on Saturday.
He was an hour after schedule as they decided
the plane needed new wipers after they had
backed out from the gate in Anchorage, but he's here ! (;
There was an awesome thunder storm Saturday night
which Phi and us enjoyed from our bedroom window.
It lasted for an hour with almost continuous flashes
of lightening followed by very impressive BOOMS of thunder.
It was Phi's first storm like that but he thought it was neat to watch
and gabber about so long as we were there. Sunday was a relaxing day
with meetings and a rest in the after noon.
That night there was a YP sing out at
the pond which we attended. It was a bit drippy but the
real shower held back until we were
just done singing around the fire.
Then "the rain came down" and we hurried to
set up a canopy over the refreshment table. Leroy slept through it all,
cozy in his car seat, well Phi enjoyed some goodies. I forgot my camera
so that's why this is not a picture post. Some brave souls camped
put for the night but we went home to our dry beds,
and returned in the morning.

Jenn kindly gave me some copies of the pictures she took
as usual they're great. Leroy's curious about what she's doing?!?

Phi found some puddle which were in abundant supply.
there were quite a few wet kids through the day.

Miss Kate and I watched her daddy and mommy
and lots of cousins and friends play baseball .
They had a great game and the sun even came out
(almost) toward the end. By 5:00 everyone was ready to
head for their homes so we had an impromptu family gathering
for dinner and chatting at our house. I think I do better at spur of the
moment gatherings. the house wasn't entirely clean but we had a
fun time anyways!
It's back to work to day on what feels like it should be another day off.
Because of the thunder storm things started off busy at work, with afew
businesses having had power outages over the weekend and just finding
out their phone systems aren't up to par today. But it's good to have Daddy
back in town.

A lovely...interupted...picinic.

On Saturday we it was a beautiful sunshiny 95 degree day,
so we decided to go disc golfing along the Columbia Gorge w/
Kate and her Daddy and Mommy.

Here's Leroy enjoying the shade of his stroller.

We played a few rounds and then it was decided that the
guys would head out together to return the bosses car,
(farther up the gorge) that we still had from the
trip earlier that week while us ladies and the kiddos were
going to wait for them at Benson Park.
It was so hot and sticky and the kiddos were sweating

and trying to keep cool .

There is a lovely little creek that runs through the
park and we found a little island in it just across the railroad
tracks that run along the edge of the park.

So we happily set out our picnic snacks,

stuck our water and carrots in the creek to get them cooled again

and were all enjoying ourselves.

Leroy had just joined the picnic when we heard
a train whistle in the distance...
This mom thought naively 'Oh cool we'll get to see a train up close"

As the train reached this point
(we're all directly below the bottom of the picture)
he blew his whistle again
long and loud at which point we all went deaf and there was
much action on the part of the small ones in the party.
I now understand the phase about a barreling freight train,
I did not know they were sooo loud, thankfully it was a short one.
Deb had grabbed Leroy and covered his ears and I had Phi as he had jumped
up ready to run..somewhere... while Kate after the initial scare was peering
around me trying to watch the train, while we tried to cover everyones ears
at once. It took Phi a good ten mintutes to get over it and he kept wanting to
find safe places to hide.

Safely back at the car were Phi wanted right out of the stroller and into
his car seat..Let's get outta here!
Thus ended our lovely, interrupted, picnic.

Sunny Days

Today is a cloudy rainy day here and I am trying to get some house cleaning done. We have been having a problem with those microscopic Sugar Ants in the kitchen. I think it is because of all the food that ends up on the floor under Phi's chair, but that is not the only place they congregate . I "deep cleaned" the counter tops and then floor yesterday with Lysol and that has seemed to help the problem a little, have to try and keep up on it more often. Today the schedule has "folding the mountain of laundry on the guest bed" and ironing some mandatory items along with baths for the boys and making sure feedings, lunch, and naps stay on track. I have found that it's less overwhelming if I write out a approximate schedule in the morning before getting out of bed as to what project to tackle for the day and when to fit it in among the mandatory things like naps, feedings, lunch and dinner prep. Seems to help me get motivated to get out of bed and start the day instead of laying there overwhelmed by the seemingly endless mound of possibilities. It has helped to get me more on tract with morning readings, as I feel like I have time, (though that shouldn't make a difference) and also with diet and exercise. It would be great to lose 20 pounds in the next two and half months, I guess that's my goal and we'll see if we can do it. After all that here are some pictures of a walk we took with Gramma, A. Sue, A. Deb and Kate on a sunny day last week. All are compliments of A. Deb as I forgot our camera again. Enjoy!

Phi keeping track of cousin Kate. He was having fun peeking at her
and wanted her close, this was his solution.

Who's in my glasses??

Strollering along!

The baby sitters!

He did pretty good about keeping these on until he got bored.

Cousin Kate in her shades

doing her stretches before the walk.

Kate is looking bored or maybe tired.

What are you looking at??

She has two teeth now on the bottom and loves to make growling
noises which sound so cute and funny coming from a little girl.

Verse for the day:
Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth...
Is. 42 :1

I have had this verse on my mind and finally found it's reference. Over the course of the last few days Sat. night was a Y.P. meeting, Sunday was all day meeting and Mon. night we were invited to supper and a reading at T&H Blakes home. The thought that has stuck with me from it all is how we ought to keep our eyes on HIM and it makes the wiles of the way much let tempting and the enemy get the victory a lot less. "If the eye be single the whole body shall be full of Light".

Spring Cleanup

Today was number three in a row of some beautiful sunshiny days. So I decided to have a random yard sale and clean things out of the garage that have been taking up space most of the winter. I only made $25 but that didn't seem bad for not having any signs out and the items that went were some of the bulkier ones. Hooray!! Less clutter and more clean space definitely make for a less cluttered mind and life in my experience. Any way I also have not gotten a chance to blog in a while so this is sort of a catch up of some random pictures from the last few weeks. Enjoy!

Little A being held by Beth, Lily's daughter.

We enjoyed BC conference very much though I was a little busier then I in the past! :0) With help from family all went well. We enjoyed Chatty and the Mr.'s hospitality the last night and on Monday. It was fun to spend the last night and following morning with them after the busy days of conference. The guys relaxed in the usual way, a bit of competition on the Ex box.
Phi doesn't look so sure about this. He found plenty of things to do and had fun with Chatty snitching grapes ( a favorite of his) from the breakfast salad she was making and meeting Thumper (not so sure about him) . Chatty kept him busy while I got our things all packed which was a great help to a busy Mom.
Phi also enjoyed the piano. He has fun with them as Gran'pa and Gramma have one too. He tries to help A. Sue play theirs by pushing the peddles for her! :) He's been learning a lot new things, so much comes so quickly now it's hard to remember to write things on the calendar I keep as a marker of their accomplishments. He is not very social as far as words go and only says Little A.'s name so far along with momma and dadda. These are still used at random. He likes to make people laugh with his cheesy grin that he does and that is his way of interacting I
guess.
This picture is more of his giggle which is fun to hear and comes readily with a tickle, a game of peek a boo or this little piggy went to market. He love that one and starts laughing on the first toe in anticipation of the end. He still loves food but has gotten a little pickier, he likes to try using a spoon now though most of it still gets to his mouth via his fingers. He likes ice chips, (this came in handy when he banged his mouth) beans/chili, and most fruits and is always ready with a reach of his hand in your direction and an "uuggh" to share what ever desert your eating or pretty much any food for that matter. He's mastered a cup as long as it's not too full and thinks that is fun stuff.

He likes shoes mostly if they're about three times his size, more often just to drag around the house and leave in random spots than to actually wear them. This makes for some fun moments when it comes time to go places, (where did I put my shoes??)

He enjoys the out of doors now that he's old enough to explore them on his own and it's warm enough to do so. Sticks, rocks, dirt, and water, be it puddles or other wise are all things of great attraction to small men, and he is no exception.
Thankfully he is mostly past putting things into his mouth although the occasional rock finds it's way there. Dirt clumps used to be the morsels of choice when we would work in the garden but now they are just great for destroying with a small shovel.

He's gotten a few bumps and bruises but keeps on in spite of them. He fell and put two of his upper teeth into the back of his lip for the first time a day or so ago his first "big" ouchie. It hasn't slowed him down much. He's so busy and goes around in such a hurry he is always falling and bonking something. This post is turning into a journal of the stage he's at now, read on if you care to... :)








He is not potty trained but we have tried on occasion ever since 10 months.

"I'm bored here Mom, can we be done yet"
































Oops! our wagon shrunk!
He enjoyed this ride but his usual preferred mode of travel is standing, hence more bumps and bruises. Will you not learn child?! He seems to like to be taller and any box, book, toy, item that will make him so is happily turn over and climbed on. He is starting to copy what he sees or hears others does but still no words.

Little A is our man of many expressions, we'll let some pictures tell the story.

"If you say so"

" Speak up I can't hear you'

"Oh my what shall we do"


"I'm a thankful man"


He has been having more tummy troubles of late but other wise is filling out and getting bigger every day. He likes to stand but not quite as much as his brother did at his age. Hopefully this means he won't be attempting to walk (w/ help) at 3 months. He is very snuggly and likes to be wrapped up tight "like a little burrito" as A. Sue put it. He has still been giving us at least 4 hours at night which is very kind. When he does have tummy troubles we use Gripe Water by Baby Bliss and it seems to help him a lot. It's great stuff!




"The Thinker"















He's gotten much more alert lately and started focusing on people, voices and noise. It will be fun when he actually starts responding! He looks to be pondering every thing now.


He fits in a 7 quart bowl!!


This guy used to, yikes! where does the time go!

Verse of the day:
Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6