Wipeout

Aspen had his first major wipeout today. Surprisingly, it wasn't on his bike (which he just learned to ride without training wheels this week!), but on his scooter. It's hard to tell how bad it was, but the bump is pretty raised and black and blue, and his hands are all scraped up.

In case you were wondering, he was not wearing his helmet. Lesson learned.

We were a bit worried about a concussion because he was so drowsy and said his stomach hurt. But after a good dinner of pizza, he said he was feeling better. Whew!

My Journey

I haven't written specifically about Journey in a while so I thought I'd catch up on what she's been doing lately.

Journey is 3 1/2 years old now. Already. She is my sweet girl who loves to wrap her arms around Willow and I and declare, "We're the girls, Mama. We're the girls!" She spends a lot of time mothering her "babies", which are stuffed animals most of the time. She feeds them (just like I do!), puts them to bed, changes their diapers, spanks them for getting out of bed and talking in bed, and takes them shopping or to the park. When I'm feeding Willow, she will take the couch opposite me, lift her shirt and feed her baby for a couple seconds. Then will quickly remove the baby saying "No, no! Don't bite!" Hmmm, I wonder where she's heard that?! :)

Journey is very independant and loves to play all by herself. On the few occasions I've tried to sit and "play" with her, she gets confused and asks me to leave. And when it comes to Aspen, lets just say she has a "mind of her own". Lately I've noticed the following situations:

Aspen will run into the house calling for her, asking her to come play with him, come see a bug, whatever. She will completely ignore him and act like she didn't hear a thing. He will continue yelling for her, running around the house looking for her. She keeps ignoring him until she is "found", only to refuse to play or come with him to see what he wants to show her. This makes him crazy! Then he will beg her to come play.....He can't control her! Such a girl. Even at this young age, she loves control and knows how to play hard to get. Sometimes, it's such a great picture of myself........ and I feel a little bad for Mark.

I also notice when they do play together (lately it's been "house" with the animals. Which involves a lot of spanking their "kids" for getting out of bed, haha), Aspen has to do what Journey wants and not the other way around. Because she can take or leave him playing with her, but he wants to play with her. Ahh, girls :)

Journey is also incredibly sweet and loving. Randomly, throughout the day she will say, "Mommy.....I loooove you...". She also notices and will comment when I get something new or wear something I haven't worn in a while. I love it.

With Daddy (like Aspen), she plays hard to get. She loves to be tickled and wrestle, but will say "don't tickle me......don't tickle me........" (all the while wanting him to chase her).

I could go on and on. She loves babies (real ones). She's protective of her baby sister (if she notices people talking to Willow, she will run over to Willow, hug around her and tell them that "this is MY baby sisto!"). There are times when she still wants to be the baby. And it seems like she is constantly hungry. It drives me crazy! I think the problem is that she typically eats in small amounts, and it's her being bored. It's a constant battle trying to get the snacking to stop. But at least she isn't picky :)

More Beach House Progress

All progress pictures taken 7/28/10

Exterior Paint in Progress

Family Room

Kitchen

Bathroom Vanities

Nature Walk

For years I've noticed an area just off 122nd and Sunnyside Rd. that has a bridge over a creek with a walking path just beyond. We've always told ourselves that we should stop and check it out, but never have until this summer.

One afternoon in June, we decided to head on down and explore. It was beautiful. The path followed along a beautiful, rushing creek. They loved it. Where we started, it was sort of in the middle of the path. The first time, we went right and followed it all the way to a cul-ti-sac at the end of a neighborhood.

The next time we stopped there, we decided to go left and see where it would take us. This time, Journey was a little nervous, sure that there were "bears in the trees". The path was a little grown in some of the way, but we pressed on enjoying the adventure of the unknown. This time, to the kids delight, it ended at a cute little neighborhood park. And best of all, Mark was in the area, and decided to meet up with us at the park.

All along the trail to the park, the creek was far below us in a ravine. Being the boys they are, Mark and Aspen decided to hike down and explore. Mark taught Aspen how to jump from rock to rock in the creek so that he didn't get all wet, and taught him how to search for crawdads. Pretty much, little boy heaven! :)

They couldn't wait to go back, armed with a bucket for crawdads and clothes to get wet in. About a week later, Mark, Brett and Aspen went again, caught a bunch of crawdads, and drove up on a dramatic accident/police chase. These are the kind of things memories are made of. :)

11 Months Old

Willow is 11 months old today. I love my baby girl more than words can express (even though she has been quite difficult lately). Today was a first on two fronts for her. First, she "crawled" for the first time today. It was just one hand and knee forward, but she did it! Second, she fought sleep tonight at bed time, and when I went in to check on her, she was sitting up at the far corner of the bed. Actually, both of these firsts were firsts for all three kids! Neither Aspen or Journey ever crawled, and didn't sit up in the bed until well after a year old.

Willow is in the middle of another teething bout right now, and it's been quite rough. Today after a couple hours of fussy clingyness, I put her down in her bed for a rest, and went and hid from the kids in Journey's room. Just keepin' it real. Wasn't the funnest day around here...

Exciting times around here.... :)

Yep, you guessed it. Aspen lost his 4th tooth while at Zoo Camp. He's not excited about it at all :)

FYI: In the first picture, he's holding up his tooth. We told him that the Tooth Fairy likes it when you wrap your tooth in tape so that it's easier for her to find it under your pillow, haha!

Oh, I'll admit that although I think the toothless smile is ADORABLE. I'm kinda sad to see the teeth go. My baby boy is growing up and the next stage is what I like to call the "awkward stage". Half adult / half baby teeth is not the cutest stage of life.

Zoo Camp

This week is Zoo Camp for Aspen. Unfortunately, I don't have any great pictures since I'm not able to volunteer, but he's having a great time. The days are long, 9 - 4pm, and it is a sacrifice to cart him back and forth, but I figured we could work it out for a week.

Aspen has always loved science and learning about bugs and animals. I knew this would be right up his alley, plus I've heard rave reviews of the programs. Mark has been helping me out with the pickup/drop off so that I don't have to do both, and it has worked out great! He is loving it. Actually, Mark is a little jealous of him. He wishes he could go too! Next year we may find him volunteering just to have the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the zoo too :)

Each day they have a theme, they tour an area of the zoo, do crafts and games, and have an animal that they get to pet, learn about, etc. Today (Wednesday), they got to ride the Zoo Train. Very exciting, and Aspen's first time!

Journey and Willow miss Aspen during the day and look forward to when he gets home. It's been a good preview for me for the upcoming school year since I am packing a lunch for him everyday. I'm quickly learning the types of foods I'll need to be stocking up on :)