April showers...

Make great puddles. While we had a fair amount of rain, we got to enjoy the nice days too. With the word "sucker" written across my head, I even let Baylee talk me into pulling out the pool. Even after sitting out in the sun most of the day it did not warm up the water and while the kids froze their heinys off, they had a blast.

We stayed low key for Easter this year and just had an egg hunt at home with just the two of them. It was still entertaining and tricky, as Tanner thought he was supposed to rehide the eggs after he took the candy out. Baylee insisted on having an egg hunt for Cody and I as well. And I only found 3 eggs while mowing the grass, so we did pretty well.

We did get to go fishing again one day. It was very toasty out, but we at least caught some fish and neither child went for a swim. We call that progress!

With the warmth, there has been plenty of work to do around the farm between all of the animals and the garden especially. It keeps us busy most days. We got some more chickens and ducks. Since we have already lost a few, this time to a hawk and 2 to drowning themselves, I think we have maxed out our birds for the year.

It was spring break as well for the schools, so we got to spend some time with Hannah and Izzy and took  the opportunity to make and decorate cookies at Baylee's request. She loved every second of it. Tanner loved that he got to have free reign on decorating and ate more than enough icing for 10 people it seemed like.

On a side note, we had a second ultrasound, which yet again, turned up inconclusive on the gender of this wiggly child. I am only hoping it gets its crazy out before arriving!

Tanner thinks he's big...

April 6 marked Tanner's year and a half milestone. We have struggled with his weight and issues relating to it since this lil dude was a few months old. I am proud to say I will no longer dread his check ups as the doctor is finally on board with accepting that he is just a fun sized guy. He measured in at 21 lbs 3 oz and 30.5 inches tall, which by their calculations puts him in the 3% for weight and 10% for height. So yes, he's small but he sure carries one loud scream.

He's talking more all of the time and adding new words, though not so consistently and I've learned he pretty much refuses to at all if we are out and about. That ever so "pleasant" little grunt he does takes over. It's as if it possesses him. Good thing he's cute! We love him very much despite his screams and yells and temper tantrums that's he's perfected.

March 2012

March brought sun and warmth our way and we spent quite a bit of time outdoors. We had a car wash and pulled out the power wheels for the short ones to ride around in. Tanner was much more intrigued with washing his ball but at least he was helping in his mind. Baylee had a blast and has since requested   another round because her jeep is dirty.

We made it around to our first fishing trip of the season. In our minds there was no option on where we were going to go first. In Tanner's new found freedom(walking) since last season, we had to reintroduce him to the fishing routine and assumed this could be a very wet event. Turns out, experience does pay off. Despite many warnings, Tanner went for a swim, thus why we chose where we did, very very shallow water at the banks. Unfortunately, he went in where there was a ton of dead shrubbery and such and he  got his face scratched pretty good. I think the word livid describes his mood pretty well. He was less than pleased to be all wet. I did even have a towel with us. He was then pretty content to stay away from the bank the rest of the excursion. On a side note, Baylee also partially went in trying to wash her hands off after having fish on them, she slipped and got a face and arm and shoulder in the water. Clumsy day for her. It was not a great day for the fish biting, but we caught some and we achieved the goal of "getting Tanner's feet wet" again.

It was just too hard to resist the acquisition of more chickens. We have been unsuccessfully looking for more goats, so we decided to go with ducks for now. The ducks are so much more cuddly than the chickens when small and so adorable because they have to be together and touching at all times. We <were> hopeful we were going to be predator free at this point and decided we really do like having the chickens around.

As most of you know, we had the big ultrasound to find out gender of the baby, which was totally inconclusive due to the wiggly, wild child that lies within. But in turn, we do have a healthy baby and momma. So we will take it, though we were looking forward to finding out.

February

The first part of February, we had the chance to take a trip(vacation would entail my toes in the sand while listening to the waves crash onto the shore or an equivalent relaxing time in the sun and warmth) to Utah and Idaho(not warm and sunny while we were there)to see our families.

Said trip started out with questions of turning around 2 hours after we started. Baylee ended up getting sick and throwing up and continuing to do so, but her trooper spirit pushed us forward and she did not want to turn around and wait it out. We didn't drive but for about 7 hours since we left after Cody got off work. The next day proved equally fun, while thankfully B was feeling better, we hit the storm of the century in Nebraska and had the "privilege" of driving on the worst roads I've ever driven on. They were packed with inches upon inches of snow and ice and endless vehicles and semi trucks were lining the ditches. Due to the crazy storm and horrid ice pavers the road consisted of, we only made it 400 miles in 14 hours of driving. We stopped again for the night and finally made it the rest of the way the 3rd day. With approximately 1400 miles under our belt, we were glad to stop rolling for a while.

We had a great visit, spending time with Mom and Tarrah, Rod and the kiddos, Savannah and Camry. I got to visit my old friends/coworkers at Interstate Batteries and go to lunch with some of them one day. We got to shop(without driving 40+ miles each way to get there). Tanner ended up getting sick with what Baylee had, though the intensity of it seemed to die a little with him. I was still nauseous from being prego some days and energy level was severely lacking. We got to go to dinner with friends one night and eat lunch with Lilli at school as well as spend a little time with her. Mom had Baylee and Savannah over for a tea party and craft time one day; Baylee couldn't have been more thrilled. Thanks to Tarrah and Rod for putting up with a certain level of chaos and crazy we add to the mix and letting us stay with them anyway, especially after getting Camry sick, we OWE them!

We then headed up to Blackfoot to spend time with Cody's family. We had the pleasure of having Lilli make the journey with us. Cody's sisters Erin with hubby Rusty and lil man Russell met us there from Boise as did Faith from Reno. We had a fun get together with his extended family as well. Though Faith, Mama Lowe and I ended up lying on what seemed our death beds at the time with only thing we can figure is some type of food poisoning; we had a great visit and it was nice to see everyone. While on my death bed, Cody took the kids to the Idaho museum to give us some healing time and peace; where they got to see dinosaurs and seemed to enjoy themselves. We had a Valentine's day party complete with decorated cookies and homemade decorations made lovingly by the girls and small prizes for everyone. 

We made the trip home in 2 days and it seemed like cake compared to the ride out. Though I ended up getting a nasty cold(thanks to my no good while pregnant immune system) and could hardly breathe the whole way home, the ride seemed amazingly uneventful, other than being pulled over for supposedly going 7 over the speed limit in the tiny town of Soda Springs, where the speed limit was changing up the road in less than a mile anyway. As it turns out my intentions weren't bad and I did not get a ticket nor a written warning. Guess it wouldn't be a long distance trip without getting pulled over for me....though we purposely avoided Iowa for this reason, though yet to get a ticket for any of it, just a hassle and seems tradition. I have to brag for moment about the awesome behavior while in the car of our two kiddos. I was certain it was going to be a nightmare and boy did they prove me wrong. Tanner was out of his element being around people he was unsure of all of the time and proceeded to scream any one of them talked to him, but in the car, he was fantastic.

As I was horrible with the camera and there are a lack of pictures of February, I apologize I was just not feeling it. Sometimes, I get tired of manning it and just wanted to enjoy without trying to get great pictures. 

We got back and had Izzy's birthday party and Cody's birthday to celebrate. And it was definitely a "get back in the old routine" transition for the rest of February. 

January in a jiffy

I was still feeling nauseous most days due to the new peanut, so I apologize for even the lack of pictures. I tried to keep the kiddos entertained though usually while I laid next to them. It was a rough go for a while but as in all things, it too did eventually and only recently pass. So here's our January. These two little ones sure do love to entertain one another and become better buddies everyday. They definitely make me smile.

Remainder of December

Yes, just posting this, enjoy the pics!

November in pictures

I am being a slacker(it's ok if I admit it right?) and I am showing our November rather than rambling endlessly about it. It was a month of change and news for us in many ways from my hair color to, completing our daily time with Izzy to the beginning of my nausea, grouchy pregnancy. I must do the obligatory Thanksgiving  greeting and add that I am so very thankful for my family, immediate and extended, even though we live in the boondocks and rarely get to see any of you.