We Finally Got It!!

Woot! We finally got Bentley laughing on video! It was the funniest thing because I didn't have to say anything at first. I could just look at him and he started laughing his head off. I love it!

Enjoy the video...it'll make you smile.

Oh and I'm almost done rearranging and organizing the Living Room. Pics and post to come soon.

Mom just updated her cooking blog. Check out her recipe for amazing freezer jam here. I'm also now a co-author for that blog and can't wait to share some of my experiments in the kitchen.

P.S. you'll want to pause the music player at the bottom of the screen before you watch.

Refreshing Rearranging

I don't think I have many quirks, but I do have one that I will admit to....I L.O.V.E. to rearrange my house. Not just once, but over and over again. Rearranging, reorganizing, redecorating. Growing up I used to rearrange my bedroom just about every other month. I get a thrill out of getting the most space out of a little room and making it feel big! I love how a new look for a room gives you a refreshed feeling.

Lately I've been feeling a bit down about having to rent an apartment rather than being able to buy a house right now. Things were just feeling chaotic and old. I needed to be refreshed so I've started a complete rearranging rampage (there's some alliteration for ya!) on my apartment. First up was the kids bedroom.

Before

After

These pics don't nearly do it justice, but it feels oh so much better!! Next is the kitchen or living room....haven't decided yet.

Naptime

You never can really understand the blissfulness of naptime until you have kids. That one or two and sometimes three hours in the afternoon while they are sleeping is just what my soul (and my patience) needs to make it through the rest of the day. We've gotten into a better schedule nothing interferes with naptime. LOL Peaceful, quiet moments when I don't have to hear whining or crying (not that my kids do that all the time, but a good chunk right now. Tis the stages their in) and I can scramble to get all my housestuff done uninterrupted. Dishes, showering, and a bit of computer time until they wake up. Ahhhh sweet bliss!

Sunburns

The other day I told my mom that "Sunburns are like pregnancy...you forget how bad it hurts until you're going through it." Such is what I experienced when we went to Bear Lake this weekend. I shamefully didn't put enough sunscreen on and then spent a solid 2 hours in the water. Needless to say I am a very crispy critter with blisters all over my shoulders. I haven't been burned this bad in...well I haven't ever been burned this bad, but I have been burned bad enough that I vowed I would never go into the sun without 60 SPF again. Well again and again I learn my lesson and recommit to that vow. This weekend was one of those renewing ones and I will pay the price this time as I vow I won't go into the sun that long without lots and lots of 60+ sunscreen.

A Bit of Camping

Got in from camping last night at 10:30. We're all in one piece....well except for the car. We ripped a hole in the bottom of the oil pan whilst driving on some of the forest roads. It should be an easy fix. Erick thinks he can do it himself. Mom and Dad had to come out and rescue us. Ah memories.

We got up to Timber Creek Thursday night around 7. Just slightly (note the sarcasm) later than we were planning. LOL We just couldn't seem to make it out of town. Brett and Brianna made good time and made it up there by 9pm. When I paid the fee I accidentally counted the days were staying instead of the nights so I donated a little bit to the forest service. You're welcome Challis National Forest. LOL

We had a great time! Full of fishing, hiking, cooking and eating good food, worries about bears and wolves. Awesome neighbors that brought us firewood. Lots of bumps, scrapes, bruises, sunburns, windburns, and tons of mosquito bites. The week was filled with lots of laughs and only a little bit of grumpiness because I didn't get enough sleep. LOL (Next time Myelle is sleeping in her own sleeping bag instead of with me, Erick and Bentley.)

Now I'm off to figure out how to get down to the family reunion in a couple days. Here's some pics to get you by until I return. Have a great week!

Myelle in her power stance playing catch.

Fishing with her Scooby pole.

Bentley and Dad on the huge rock.

Myelle felt the need to sweep the ground. It sure was dirty.

Brett and his fish.

Where did we find these crazy people?

Like Uncle...Like Nephew? They both love the river.

Wolf Tracks

Our Rescuers

Mom's Cooking Blog

My mom is a fabulous cook. I didn't learn nearly as much as I should have from her when I was living at home, but thankfully we live close enough I can learn much more from her. She's started a blog to post all of her old favorites and some of her new experiments. She even said I could occasionally chip in my adventures in the kitchen. Check it out here.

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I've been trying not to spend as much time on the computer (Yes I am an internet junkie) thus the sparse posting. This will continue as the next few weeks are crazy busy! Camping this week in Sawmill Canyon(Thursday-Monday)...2 days to unpack and repack for the McKinnon Family Reunion in Bear Lake (Thursday-Saturday).....That leaves Sunday for church (Hallelujah! I will have missed it the past couple weeks) and Monday or getting ready or my 2nd annual throwing camp (Tuesday-Thursday) just before Pioneer Day. I will try to post in between all this. No promises though.

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Bentley has started to giggle and laugh. I have yet to get it on camera because he stops as soon as I whip the camera out. He's too interested in that. And actually our camera has been missing for the past 3 weeks. Thanks Kee for letting us borrow one of yours.

Bentley has also been sleeping through the night for about a month now. He usually sleeps a minimum of 5 hours a night. Yay for sleep!! I'm a much nicer person when I'm not tired.