Happy "Bird" Day...

So the lady who drops off the newspaper has this cool bird she carried on her shoulder (very much like a pirate), and every time she comes around, all the little kids attack her and beg her to let them hold her bird. (We haven't caught her since, so I think she is avoiding the "public" hours. Her paper route came to a screeching halt when she met up with us. :) This time, Amberlee and Autumn got a turn and they were completely thrilled. Amberlee took it so seriously! I don't think she moved a muscle. I think she and Autumn are going to take after their Aunt Goo (Catherine) about pets. Amberlee asked me yesterday why we can't have a dog. Isn't this a little early for that? (I love the messy faces... typical day!)

I feel so bad- the other night I was combing Amberlee's hair and I got the brush completely stuck in her hair... I mean really stuck. Both Doug and I tried to pry it out and we couldn't. Poor girl, she was so patient about it, just saying, "Please try to be gentle." She thought it was pretty cool to have a brush dangling from the side of her head. When she had tried a ton with no success and a lot of pain, I had the idea to blow it dry, and then try. We got it out, along with half of her hair... poor kid. I felt so bad. Now, whenever I comb her hair, I get a little lecture preceeding it... and well I should I suppose. :)

"I am good at this game" and "Pockodile"...

Confession...

Ok... so anyone who knows me well, knows that I have been pretty funny about these books from the get go. Not "anti" mind you, just "stand-off-ish". Basically, I'm not really quick to jump on the band wagon... I want to see if it will stand the tests of time and become a "classic" or a fad. (I'm "waiting" on the Twilight books as well. :) I thought it was all a fad, but.... well I just wrapped up the last book last night... goodness it was intense, and I think I have turned a complete 180! I'm ready to go wait in the ticket line for the midnight showing now! :) I really enjoyed the series - I usually listen to books on tape (that way at least half of me can be functional as I do dishes or play with the girls), so I've got narrator "Jim Dale's" British accent repeating everything in my head. I'm a little sad it is all over. Some "brilliant magic" (as Ron would say). :)

On a different note... what do you do when your children hide from you and don't answer? I nearly had a heart attack yesterday looking for Amberlee. I couldn't find her anywhere. I didn't think she had gone outside, but I was about to check. I went up stairs again frantically calling her and I hear this "Hi mommy" after about 5 or 10 minutes of my panic. SHE WAS UNDER THE BED! Completely scrunched under there, I honestly don't know how she fit. She told me she was playing hide and seek with me... nice spot, usually she just stands in a room, fully visable, waiting for me to come. I stuck my head under there (literally) and explained how you have to let the person know you are playing hide and seek etc. It was all good in the end and I had a good laugh at her cute little scrunched up body, but goodness me, I hope this is not a reoccuring thing! Is this normal?

Doug in his element...

Doug is totally in his element with computers! He "insisted" that we needed a new "motherboard" (whatever that is? Anything with "mother" in it, sounds nice.) and I wish you could see the excitement on his face when he goes in for surgery! It's like a kid in a candy shop! How do I say no when I know he loves it so much! :) I guess as long as the computer is running so well, I can't complain. :) He's a good man... and brilliant with computers!

"Nap-time"

These girls crack me up- they really are the joy of my life! Amberlee told me they were going the take a nap. Really? Then she called me up about ten minutes later and this is what I found. They are in their dress-ups, and they thought they were pretty hilarious. :) So did I. :)

Sampson & Delila: If I cut it, will it get stronger?

Ok... so I have heard of parents buzzing their girls to "stimulate" the hair growth. True or false? (It seems rather abusive, but I'm really close to doing it)- a very long buzz mind you, but this poor child has been reminding me of a refugee anyway, I suppose I should finish the job and hope for a bit more thickness on the next round. It is just thin little blonde wisps that I can't do anything with- maybe a headband if she'll keep it in. So I want to ask all you hair experts, if I cut the wisps, will it grow faster and thicken up? Or will the Phylistines be upon us?

Meet Fantine on Les Miserable. :) Poor kid, where is she getting it? Other kids her age are wearing thick braids and pony tales. We love her none the less though!!! (If not more so.)

Preschool...

Amberlee just started her first day of preschool with Miss Libby. She loves it! They have an awesome physicality and I can already tell she is learning a lot. She loves to make books, put together puzzles, and write letters to her dad. :) The have a doll house, dress ups and little babies, so she has been in heaven! They also feed her lunch and she likes that! We're sure proud of her and excited that she likes her new preschool class so much. Autumn and I enjoy walking her to class, although it does get a little difficult to drag Autumn away. :) Yay for Amberlee!

Hike to Elk Creek Falls...

We went on such a fun hike to Elk Creek Falls. It is about an hour from where we live and it was just breath taking! I felt so renewed after being in the forest with all the beautiful green around me. It was like going to the temple. I kept thinking that it totally made sense that the Lord always called his prophets to the Mountain... it was so peaceful and healing. I just felt like I could face the world again. I think we're going to have to go back frequently. :)

The girls where troopers, they walked almost the whole 2 miles, but we did end up giving a lot of piggy back rides. :)

The trees were so tall and beautiful... it just made me feel so small and humbles... just sort of like... "Yes, Lord, whatever you want me to do." (Build a boat... sure...--- ok not to be sacrilegious, but I totally understood where Nephi was coming from. :)

Here is a picture of one of the three of four waterfalls. It was awesome!

Some of Doug's Camping Pictures...

Doug took some really pretty pictures of the Elk Creek Reservoir. I didn't get a chance to finish my post last time, so sorry for the delay, but I thought that these were really nice, You can tell he was up early. :) He helped with breakfast- good man! (It obviously had it's rewards!) You don't see that every day!

Camping at Elk Creek Reservoir

We went on such a fun camping trip this last weekend to Elk Creek Reservoir. It was absolutely gorgeous! It was by far my most comfortable camping trip ever. For the first time ever, I was warm and cozy! I always pretend I am, but I always have a root in my back and I am freezing from head to toe! Well, this time we went with some expert campers the Lloyds. We got off really late because Doug had class, so they went early, prepared a dutch oven dinner, set up camp for us, and geared us up with mummy bags (witch, by the way, are on my list of must haves for the next camping trip!) The girls slept great, the food was fabulous and I was warm and on top of an air mattress. Like is good! :) It was really fun though!

The first thing Autumn did was jump into the muddy creek. :) How did I know that was going to happen!

We had a delitous dutch oven breakfast borrito that the ward cooked up for us.

Amberlee had fun pretenting to fish- she caught some really nice moss. :)

...but never two at once!!!!

I have two precious new nephews! Lucky Me! Above is Dominick James Rieth born on the 1st (Labor Day I might add- what are the odds of that!) Doug's sister, Christina, had her baby 2 months early. He only weighed 4 lbs, but he was a little fighter and I can't wait to meet him! He just seems precious! He is doing a lot better they say. They have taken out all the tubes and IVs.

Then below is little Gabriel Noah King born on the 3rd. My sister, Jessica, had him a week late. (Isn't it funny how different they all come!) But he is so sweet and Jess says he just seems to have an "angelic" nature-- fitting with a name like that! :) I think we might have gotten some Romney in there too- which is tough to do when competing against those dominant "Kingly" genes! Can't wait to meet this little guy too! SO LUCKY!

Matching Hand Towels and a Head-lock...

I know it seems like the only pictures I take of my girls are in the tub- I am sorry. I guess I am weird, but sometimes, when they are clean and harmless like that I just think that is when I love them the most. :) They crack me up though- the pulled out the matching hand towels and they were so excited, telling me they were "just the right size." Oh- the little things!

GO VANDALS!!!

GO VANDALS!!! We just got back from our first home game! (Doug even got us matching shirts that say, "Get your gold on!") The Vandals (ok- so who came up with that anyway?) won and it was pretty fun, but Doug and I both agreed we would be getting a baby sitter for the next one. I tried to gear them up with pompoms and everything, but I basically spent the whole time wrestling with them and trying to keep Autumn off the field... unfortunately she got past me twice- that girl... I don't know where we got her!

Note to Papa Scott: The Boise State game is Nov 15th and we'll have tickets for you and Momma... we won't even care who you cheer for. :) (Bring Ilene and Randy, too! :)

I don't think Autumn actually sat by us once the whole time, and this was the most "reverent" she ever got.

A Walk Around the Block and the Weirdo...

We have had a lot of fun exploring Moscow! It is funny though how I forget about the hills I have to climb on the way back every time!

Is this socially acceptable- probably not... but it was a hot day and I think it was worth it! :)

Ok... where did she come from? She is so crazy!!! How do you teach a kid to take small bites? Got to love honeydew!

Crazy Tub Times...

My little artist came up with this self-portrait all by herself. I was pretty impressed when I walked in, especially with all the detail. Way to go Amberlee! (By the way- these are special tub crayons (They are pretty awesome!)- I would not just normally let them color in the tub like that. :)

Also... the water is died that color with a little water color tablet. (Doug's cousin geared us up with all this fun bath stuff on Amberlee's birthday. We have really enjoyed it!)

Ok... and then there is this... the next day- after I had made such a fuss over Amberlee's art... Doug called me up after a shower with Autumn and said, "Lyd, you've got to check this out. I don't know where Autumn is getting it, but she must be some kind of child protege!" Autumn played right a long with it!

If you look closely you can see he wrote the words to "The Flight of the Jabberwalk" and all these formulas and Greek and Latin... and just a ton of weird stuff. SO TYPICAL DOUG! He cracks me up- so glad to have someone around to keep me laughing!
This particular mess was not that easy to clean up. :)