I don't want to grow up...

Brad decided that we needed to make a fort for "Camille" to play in. So we dissected our couch and produced this awesome structure. Mil was the only one short enough to stand up in the fort but we all had a great time playing in it. This might have to become a Sunday afternoon tradition. Fort al la Brad

Camille's entarnce - She loved crawling around in there.

Mil watching the flashlight

Playing with Papa

Feline Update

We found a good home for the kitten. After some convincing, my sweet Aunt Linda took pity on me and relieved us of the kitty. Although, she warned me that getting rid of a cat that decide to adopt you is bad karma. I'll take my chances. She discovered that our visitor was a girl and decided to name her Boots.

So fare thee well dear Boots, I'm glad you have a home.

Free to a good...well to anyone

Anyone want a kitty? This little guy* has been hanging around our house for the past few days. Everytime we open the front door he tries to walk in like he owns the place. Not sure what to do with him but he can't stay here.

* I haven't actually looked close enough to know whether it's a him or a her.

Aloha 'Ohana

Camille is a lucky girl! Her cousins from Hawaii decided to grace the Mainland with their presence. We've had so much fun already and are thirsty for more.

Mil excited to see Abi in the swing

Arranged by height

Camille, Abigail, and Saylor

Proud Mamas

Favorite thing #6 - Stealing

Okay, not stealing but I didn't exactly get these lilacs from my own yard. I love lilacs! These made my house smell so wonderful.

I got these from an abandoned house down the road from my in-laws. (So, maybe it was stealing but I enjoyed them too much to care!)

#5 Second Weekend in June

I love the second weekend in June. It's the weekend Brad and I go to Liberty Lake, Washington to visit his family but that's not all. On this particular weekend the community of Liberty Lake has yard sales. There are usually between 200 to 300 on the same day. It's the only way to do yard sales. Over the years we've worked out a system.


Friday: we go out to find anything that could be out. (This only takes a few hours because the sales don't "officially" start until Saturday morning.)


Saturday: We are out the door by 8:00 am to get the hot items then spend the rest of the day looking and picking out smaller items then comes 4:00 o'clock. 4:00 is free stuff time. People are done for the day and start leaving out boxes of free stuff. It's so nice to get a good deal but free stuff is always fun.


This year our best purchases were:
1. A DVD player for the car $1.00 (Yes ONE DOLLAR and it works perfectly!)
2. A Dining room table with 6 chairs $175.00


Other items:
1. A pile of cute clothes for little Mildew
2. A jogging stroller
3. A Camel back
4. Wooden puzzles
5. Books
6. Disney Movies/DVDs
7. A Magazine rack
8. Games
ETC.

Route to the Hia"walk"a

I saw this thing on PBS about railway lines in Idaho that had been turned in to paths for bikers and hikers. The Route to the Hiawatha looked amazing! It's starts at Lookout pass and trail runs through Idaho and Montana. It's 14.4 miles with 10 tunnels and 7 trestles. I told Brad next time we were up in northern Idaho we were going to ride the Hiawatha trail. I got my wish last Thursday. We journey up through northern Idaho every June on our way to visit family in Washington, so this year we planned a few extra days so we could fit in time to do the Hiawatha. Once the family got wind of our plan we had everyone on board to go. Our group consisted of 9 adults on bikes, 2 kids on bikes, and 7 kids in bike trailers.
My niece Kaylee kept calling it the "Hiawalka" instead of Hiawatha, which actually turned out to be a fitting name. Along the trail there were some in our party who opted to walk from time to time to give their bums a rest from the hard bike seats. We did 7.3 miles and then turned around. In total we rode 14.6 miles, so we did the length of the trail we just didn't go all the way to the end. (The shuttle service wasn't running because of snow on some of the mountain roads and we weren't up for riding over 28 miles with 9 kids and no padded seats on the bikes:)

If you ever get the chance I highly recommend it! (I think I can talk Brad into going again next year!)

Millie and Lexi weren't big fans of the helments.

St. Paul Pass Tunnel 1.66 miles long. Cody (almost 7) asked, "So are we riding ALL the way through this mountian?"

Most of the group

Taking off the helmets plus the dark tunnel put them right to sleep.

Yes, we rode on that bridge.

Looking down from a trestle

Brad in one of the shorter tunnels (Go towards the light...)

The four little girls mostly happy after a long ride.

Mmmm Mountain rocks are better than regular rocks.

I'm Blue

My sister-in-law, Audrey, and I thought it would be fun to get prints of the girls' hands and feet for their scrapbooks. The project turn out to be a little more involved then we imagined but we all had a great time. Camille and Alli enjoy being together (for the most part) and had their first shared bath afterwards. A little messy

Blue feet

I'm branded. (one of the best hand prints of the day. Too bad it was on my arm!)

Clean up time.

Future Reality TV Star

Camille could totally handle being on Survivor. She's not afraid to kill her own food before eating it. However, she does like to make sure her food is all the way dead before partaking so she might not be a good candidate for Fear Factor.

Success

suc·cess (sək-sěs') n.
The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.

Today I saw success.

I had to run into Broulim's to pick up a few items. I wasn't looking forward to this as I had not showered or officially gotten (is that a real word?) ready for the day. I made it through the aisles without spotting anyone I knew. (Phew!) Then at the checkout I realized the person in front of me was a former student of mine. (Great!) I took quick note of his ensemble and felt a little better. He was wearing a old t-shirt, basketball shorts, and cowboy boots. (Yes, in Rigby basketball shorts with cowboy boots is not unheard of.) Anyhow, back to the real story. We struck up a conversation during which he said I was his favorite teacher (Oh, flattery I love it. Does he realize I'm no longer grading him?) and tells me how he remembers the Bill of Rights then proceeds to recited our precious amendments to me. I smiled all the way home. I have seen success. (Even if it is just one student remembering one lesson I taught. That's enough for me!)

Viewer Discretion Advised

Disclaimer: This post is not intended for the weak of stomach.

I'll try not to be too descriptive or use great detail. I had purchased some foam stickers when I was babysitting so that the kids would have something to do. Once I found Camille chewing on one and reemphasized the fact that we need to be careful about what was dropped or left on the floor. All the kids were greatly concerned because "Sister Wilding, we don't want Camille to choke or die." (I guess I said that a lot.)

Yesterday, I was changing Mil's poopie diaper after her nap. (Once you have kids conversations about poop increase dramatically!) When what to my surprise there was something mixed in with the poop that I'd never seen before. It was a little green foam sheep (see picture*). There is only one way the sheep could have gotten into Millie's diaper. I guess I'm a really disgusting person because instead of throwing the diaper away immediately I left it on the changing table so I could show Brad. (Hey at least I didn't take a picture of the poop!)

*not the actual sheep but one just like it.

Reflecting back on this experience:

1. Camille could have choke on the sheep but didn't.

2. It could have caused a terrible stomachache/disgestive problems but didn't.

3. It was mostly still intact, so not to much of an unknown substance was digested into her system.

So in the end I guess I'm really glad that I found a green foam sheep in Mildew's diaper.