Sunriver, Ape Caves and more

Once again, we've been on the go!  We returned last week from a trip to Sunriver, Oregon.  We rented a huge house and all Joe's side of the family went.  We had a blast.  They have an awesome new water park that Liam loved, we rode bikes, canoed down the Deschutes, ate tons of delicious food and just enjoyed being with everyone.  Liam loved being with everyone and woke up super early because I think he was just so excited to get the day started and see everyone, especially Dylan.  Dylan just turned eight and is so good with him.  I love seeing them together!  I had been looking forward to this trip since we booked it in May.  I was so sad when we had to come back.

Joe's parents and cousins family all came down to our house this past weekend.  We went to the Ape Caves on Saturday for the day.  I hadn't been since I was a little girl so it was fun to go again.  We took Liam, I didn't realize they wanted to hike the upper cave.  Here's a description of the upper cave off of the Mount Saint Helens website:  The upper Ape Cave is 1½-mile long and takes about 2½ hours to complete, 
returning on a surface trail. This section is more adventurous as cavers must climb
over approximately 27 boulder piles and scale an 8-foot high lava fall.  It was tough!  Especially "scaling" the 8-foot lava fall.  And yes, Liam did this with us.  Let's just say Joe is amazingly strong.  He did the entire thing with Liam in the backpack.  Crazy.  When we climbed out at the end a guy was standing there and said, "Wow, it's hard enough as it is...but with a baby on your back??"  Lol.  I think people were pretty shocked to see him coming out.  Some parts of the cave were so tight he had to take the pack off and manoeuvre him around/pass the pack off to Gil or his dad.  I had to stay ahead, I got nervous on some parts.  Liam loved it though, he was a total trooper.  Dylan did great, too.  He scaled the 8-foot wall like it was nothing.  And he also made sure he found the hardest way possible to climb over the boulder piles.  As he says, he was "living dangerously" and loving it.  It was a fun weekend!  

Liam is getting to be a little comedian.  The other day I swatted at a fruit fly and said, "Damn (whoops....I slipped in front of him) fruit fly!" He immediately said, "Damn poo poo fly" and started cracking up.  He cracks himself (and us) up a lot lately.  One day last week he decided to whisper.  He thought it was hilarious.  And he still says "noooooo" when I ask him if he loves me then looks at me and laughs.  He knows that's not the right answer but thinks it's hilarious to get a rise out of me.  

Joe started school last week, makes me feel like summer is over.  I'm really  not ready for fall, but I'm starting to get in the fall mode.  I feel like I'm nesting.  Trying to get everything cleaned outside, recipes gathered and little house projects completed before hibernation starts for the winter! :)

Happy Monday!

Inherited traits

As Liam gets older, it's fun (and funny) to see some of his inherited traits.  Sitting on the curb is one that he got from me.  I remember doing this all the time when I was little when we lived on Villa Street.  I would watch the neighbors, pick at potato bugs on the ground and watch the world go by.  Liam has been doing the same lately.  Runs around for a bit then goes and parks himself on the curb.  So funny.  Another trait he got from me is a obsession with rubbing things.  He rubs his blanky constantly.  If his blankie isn't nearby he'll find whatever he can and rub it with his thumb and index finger.  He'll even go as far as rubbing the skin on my arm sometimes.  Yeah, I'm the same way.  Not quite that extreme but give me a piece of silk, ribbon or anything else that most people don't consider soft and I like to do the same thing.  Do I have issues?  Maybe so!

The quirky trait he's gotten from Joe is his inability to SUCK on hard candy.  We recently introduced him to organic suckers, only to be used when he gets out of hand at the store or somewhere else I have to go and he hates, but good grief.  He's just like his daddy.  As soon as he gets it he chomps it and breaks it apart with his teeth.  Now I'll have to be getting on to both of them about that!  ;)

I'm amazed more and more each day with his development.  There has been a huge change in just the last couple of weeks.  Last night he shocked us, we were eating dinner and I had put a piece of potato on his plate.  He picked it up and said, "No, mama.  I don't like it."  Say what?!  I couldn't believe it.  For a few weeks his answer to everything was 'no.'  Then I think he started thinking it was funny to answer no to everything because it always got a rise out of us.  Like, "Liam, are you having fun?" (as he's splashing in the tub or doing something else he loves) and his answer would be, "Nooo."  Then he'd crack up.  Over the weekend, he started saying "ok" and "yes" a lot. The communication gap is getting smaller and smaller everyday.  He also says really big words (in my opinion) like marionberry, vitamin..... So cute.  Oh, and this one makes Joe happy.  He says "cool car" a lot.

I'm excited for today.  A few of my friends and I are having a canning party.  My friend bought a Groupon for it.  The lady is coming to her house, bringing all supplies and they item we picked to can (green beans), and teaching us how to can.  Should be fun!

Hope everyone has a good weekend.  Happy Friday!

A perfect weekend

Whew.  I still feel like I'm recovering from the weekend.  And it's already Wednesday!  We had a busy but great weekend up north.  On Sunday I went with Joe, his cousin Gil and Uncle Jack on a hike at Crystal Mountain.  I was a little apprehensive, they were going to look for a ski that Joe had lost last winter, but they all agreed I could handle it.  What they didn't tell me was there wasn't really a trail, we had to make our own.  Really?  At 7,000 feet?!  I could have gone up all day, it was just knowing that the higher we went the more down hill we'd have to do.  I'm glad I did it though, it was an adventure for sure.  I was pretty proud once I was back to the lodge safe and sound.  Liam took the less adventurous route (thankfully) and went with Papa and Grandma Jayne up the gondola.  They walked through the fields of flowers, saw some animals and then rode back down.  He had a great time having one-on-one time with them and they enjoyed it too.

We also rode bikes and Liam had a great time playing with Dylan.  If I wasn't already old (haha), I'd say that the age difference between Dylan and Liam would be perfect if we have another baby.  Dylan is so good with him and Liam adores him.  Dylan wanted to read to Liam at bedtime, I didn't think Liam would like it much but I was wrong.  So wrong.  He wouldn't even sit in my lap!  He had to sit on Dylan's lap.  The smile shining through his binki was priceless.  He loved it.

What else?  I've been baking and trying new recipes.  Joe's Uncle Jack has inspired me and I've been having so much fun.  He's an amazing cook and baker and I want people to think that about me, too!  Last week I made English muffins.  We love them and I'm constantly buying them at the store.  I decided to find a recipe and go for it and they turned out perfect.  It's amazing to compare the ingredients in mine to the store-bought ones.  Makes me want to bake everything from scratch.  I'm currently waiting for dough to rise, making homemade buns for a bbq tonight.  It's so easy and fun!

Summer is flying by so fast.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Halloween stuff out at Safeway yesterday.  Fall is my favorite time of year but I'm loving summer this year.  The long days, being able to be outside most of the day with Liam.  Makes everything seem so much easier to handle.  I think I'm just resistant to change like everyone else though.  Always hate to see the seasons end, guess because it's just a reminder of how fast time is going.

In sad news, Allie, our family dog for the last 14ish years, died on Friday.  We were at Joe's parents house when I got the call, it was one of the worst days I've had in a long time.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  She was really starting to show her age but she's been such a fixture in our family.  I think we got her when I was in 8th grade.  We had been up at my parents visiting before leaving on Friday and something happened that I'll never forget, and I'm so thankful for this last memory.  We were walking out of the garage and Liam ran to her bed where she was sleeping, patted her gently (very unusual), and said, "nigh night, allie."  And then he ran off.  Even Liam loved her, I dread going up there and him asking where she is.  That was the first thing he always did, look for Allie.  Rest in peace, sweet girl.

My first attempt at English Muffins

Joe made me stand by the wood fired oven that his Uncle Jack built to show how big it is.  It's amazing, especially the pizza that came out of it.  The best I've ever had! 

 A fun day with Papa and Grandma Jayne at Crystal Moutain

Big man on campus

Yesterday we went to WSU and waited for Joe while he took his final.  It was a gorgeous day and I knew Liam would have a blast running around campus.  As these pictures show, he had a little too much fun!

 It was HOT so I decided to go get us ice cream while we waited.  He sat on my lap and was so happy.  And then.....

 ...the sugar kicked in.  Mid-lick.  Not kidding.  One minute he was sitting, the next it was like a flip switched and he took off faster than I've ever seen.  Of course he went straight for the fountains.  At first he was just walking around it, then he went for it.  Bib and all!  Of course I didn't have any dry clothes.  He was so wet, the water weight made his shorts fall off.

Since we didn't have extra clothes, figured no clothes would be better than leaving his on.  It was so warm out, I know he didn't get cold.  He opened the bathroom door while I was washing my hands and took off through this hall yelling, "Daddddy, dadddy!  Hiiiii Dadddy!!"  Did I mention Joe was taking a final?  I thought for sure we'd be getting a lecture after he was finished but luckily his class was in the basement of this building.

I had so much fun with him yesterday.  He has had a smile on his face constantly lately, I love it.  My mom and dad have always said I always had a smile on my face when I was younger, I hope Liam is the same way.  

Mama's boy

Excuse the crazy shadows.  Someone doesn't know how to use their fancy camera.  Or any photo editing programs for that matter!  Another month gone by, another month older, another month of new stages.  Liam's currently going through an extreme mama stage.  He only wants me.  I hear, "mama, hold me...mama, hold me.." over and over and over from the time he wakes up till he goes to bed.  He hates it when I leave him, even if it's just with Joe.  I really know this phase wont last forever, and I can't imagine him never NOT wanting me (which I know will happen), but good grief!

Joe's last day of summer school is Wednesday.  Thank goodness!  It's only been a 6 week class but it's twice a week which means Liam and I have been alone for dinner most of those nights the past 6 weeks.  Looking forward to more of a normal routine and only having him at class one night a week next semester.  Besides only wanting me, Liam is changing so much everyday.  Tonight when I was giving him a bath Joe came in and was reciting part of the book, "Hop on Pop."  He stopped and Liam continued on with the next parts of the book!  He's also talking really good.  He knows so many words I can't even count them anymore.  He can even say marionberry clear as day.  And also saying three word sentences.  Tonight he wanted some fruit at dinner and said, "I hold it" (the bowl).  He is also obsessed with Sophie, airplanes, both of his Papas and the neighbor kids.  Oh, and picking our blueberries.  And being outside.  As soon as he wakes up he starts pointing to the window and saying, "side!  side!  side, mama. side!"  Side=outside.  That's how all the cool toddlers say it. ;)

20 Months!

Our sweet baby boy is 20 months today!  We had a great day, it was even sunny and warm.  Makes a happy baby and a happy mama.  We are both so much happier when we can get outside and play.  What a difference it makes.

Liam is obsessed with airplanes.  Every time he hears or sees one he gets so incredibly excited.  And then when the airplane is out of sight he signs more and says, "more, more, more."  I say, "more what?"  And he says "airplanes."  Whenever we are outside he's always looking and as soon as he hears one his head is up and he's searching.  Anyway, this morning he wanted to play the bed game, a game that Joe always plays with him (basically just rough housing on our bed), so I played with him but then he fell back into all of the pillows and just cuddled up against me.  He said, "phone" and the "airplane" so I knew what he wanted.  Wanted to watch airplanes on my phone!  I searched YouTube for planes taking off and landing and then I decided to search for the Blue Angels.  Found so much and he was totally fascinated.  He cuddled and watched with me for at least 30 minutes.  I LOVED it!  I have a love for airplanes and flying, so it was right up my alley.

Really can't believe my baby is 20 months.  He is so smart, so happy, so full of life.  I love it and everything about him, even though at times I feel like I'm a zoo keeper!  At the end of everyday, no matter how crazy of a day it has been, I always end up laughing about it.  He's definitely got me wrapped around his finger.  And I'm ok with that.  :)

Happy 20 months, buddy!

Birthdays, holidays, life......it's been busy.

I knew it had been ages since I had last blogged but I didn't realize it had been over two months.  Yikes!  I feel like a total failure when it comes to documenting things.  I'm horrible at writing things down in Liam's baby book, totally slacking on pictures lately and I don't even blog.  I guess someday if Liam wants to know something I'll just have to look back on Facebook.  As much as I despise it sometimes, I feel that's the only thing I update consistently.  Oh well, can't dwell on it, right?  Just enjoying the moments as they come!

We had a wonderful Father's Day weekend.  We went up and spent the weekend with my in-laws.  Liam always has such a great time when he goes up there.  As soon as we turned the corner to drive up their hill, he knew where we were and started saying, "Papa, papa, papa, papa."  He is totally in love with both of his grandpas.  Or papas as he calls them.  Papa this, papa that...it's all about the papas!  We went to a graduation party on Saturday and Liam fell in love with all the girls that were there, especially the youngest, an adorable 5 year old.  He was eating a piece of cheese when she got there and immediately started rubbing her leg.  No joke.  He is a total flirt!  She was being really nice but started looking a little nervous.  He ran off to do something else after a few minutes and she said, "He's so cute but his hands are grubby."  Haha.  She was right.  I wouldn't want grubby cheesy hands rubbed on me either!  After we washed his hands she was good to go and followed him everywhere.  He loved getting attention from all 3 of these girls!  They were reading at the end of the night and he crawled up on the bed, snuggled up to them and started saying, "night night, night night."  It was so adorable, a memory I never want to forget.

Yesterday we went on a bike ride and then had a BBQ with the rest of the family before we headed back home.  Delicious food, great company....it was a great weekend all-around.  I am so thankful for all of the dads in my life and for an amazing husband and 'dada' for my sweet little guy.  We are so blessed!

I can't take credit for this picture, my friend Cassandra took it when we went to pick strawberries last week.  SO much fun.  Although Liam eats more than he ends up taking home. :)