Bown Family Reunion

While Trav was home we took our kids and my sister's kids to the Logan Aquatic Center. They had so much fun. They even got to play with another friend of ours that was there at the same time. Nash and Caleb both went down the water slide and loved every second of it. Poor Caleb screamed and screamed when we left. That boy should have been born with fins! I thought I had my camera in my expedition, but when we got there there was no camera so, no pictures! We also took the kids down to the park while Trav was home. They love going to the park and I don't take them nearly enough. It's just been too stinkin' hot during the day and then we're busy at night. I keep thinking I should take them to Merlin Olsen and let them play in the stream. They would think they'd died and gone to heaven! This weekend we headed down to Manti for the Bown reunion. Just before Travis came home his grandparents were in a nasty car accident so they weren't able to come up to the mountain with us. Grandpa Butter has a broken sternum and Grandma Butter was in the hospital until Saturday. We did get to stop in Nephi on our way down Friday morning and see Grandma. They are pretty bruised and battered, but they have high spirits. I don't know how Grandma persists, but she is a pretty dang amazing woman! She has GOT to have something important here to do! We took our trailer and the kids were super excited to get to go camping with their dad again. They didn't even whine about the ride (which I feared would be terrible!). On Saturday Aunt Jamie and Uncle Robbie showed up with Clayton & our new cousin Jaxton. We also had Uncle Chad and his family show up Saturday night. Samantha was in seventh heaven though because Uncle Glade and Aunt Lori were there with their brand new baby GIRL! I asked Sam if she wanted me to leave her at their house (that's 11 kids now) so she could have a sister finally. She said "No, let's just take this sister home!" She sure was a cutie and I was more than happy to snuggle her for a good part of the weekend! We did lots of 4 wheeling and playing with cousins. I even got 3 books read! Yep, according to my husband, I was "completely worthless" this weekend. I told him I'm okay with that though! ;) Since I was so busy being worthless and my husband isn't much of a photo man, I only got 2 pictures of the entire weekend! It's okay though because they are the of the most important thing - Nash and the fish he caught (he out fished his dad!).

2 year well check

Today I took Caleb to the dr. for his 2 year well check. Everything went well and much to my surprise, he didn't need shots and won't until his kindergarten shots!

He weighs 25 lbs 7 oz and is 33 inches tall. That puts him in the 17% for weight and 20% for height. He sure is my little shrimp!

Things Caleb loves:

Buffalo (thank you trip to Yellowstone - he considers elephants to be buffalo too!)

Dogs

Water - this is his ultimate favorite thing in the world. I think he must've been a fish in another life!

Dirt and mud - he really only likes these when someone else is digging in it with him.

Helping mom - doesn't matter what I'm doing, but he really loves standing right in front of me and sticking his head between my knees and then holding on. He just giggles and giggles when I walk with him like this.

His dad - he is definitely a momma's boy, but he still loves his dad.

His brother and sister - he wants to be just like them so much! Samantha is such a great sister and just loves to mother him. Who knew after the week of tears she cried when she found out "Sparklie" was a boy!

Things we love about Caleb -

How he says his own name - "Taleb"

His puppy dog eyes when he says "peas (please)?"

The way he says thank you "tank you!"

His big gorgeous smile and bright blue eyes.

How much he loves us!

Bottles, naps, and potty training!

I've been slowly throwing away Caleb's bottles for several days. On Saturday I finally threw the last one in the recycle bin. When Caleb asks for a "ba ba" I have told him that bottles are for babies and he's a big boy now. Since we have a new cousin (Jaxton), I've told him that we sent all his "ba bas" to baby Jaxton. As the days have gone by, he seems to be a little bit more accepting of this idea. Now when he asks for a "ba ba" I tell him they're "all gone". He just tilts his head and looks at me and says "baby Jaxton?" At least I know he understands what I've told him!

Bed time has been the toughest without the bottles. He refuses to drink milk out of a sippy cup for some reason. I've told him he could have milk or water or go without. He finally decided that he would have water in one and he's been content with that - lucky for me! Since he doesn't have his bottle to go to bed with, he hasn't been going to bed (and staying there) until around 1 am for about the last 3 days!

Taking into consideration that he's not going to bed until 1 am and he's getting up around 9, you'd think (or at least I think) he'd need an afternoon nap still. Well, take what you think and throw it out the window. He's also been refusing to nap! Today I did finally get him to take an afternoon nap, but that was only after 30 minutes of repeatedly putting him back in his bed, giving him a sippy cup with a little bit of orange juice, and me laying by him for nearly an hour! Maybe tomorrow will be easier??

I finally decided I should probably start potty training Caleb since my cousin's daughter (who is a month younger) has been potty trained since last fall. Today marks day 3.

On Saturday I decided I would try putting a pull up on him just to see how he would do. Caleb wore the same pull up for nearly 9 hours and stayed dry - using the potty about 5 times.

On Sunday we weren't too successful. He wore the pull up just fine, but every time I put him on the potty he just tried to jump off. He wanted to stand up like his brother, but he isn't tall enough. When I put him on the stool, he just wanted to play. When I finally sat him back on the potty, he refused to put his feet down and stood on the toilet seat to potty (still never going potty)! We also went to WalMart on Sunday and bought him his first package of real big boy pants. He's thrilled that they are Spongebob. He's tried each of the 3 pair on and snuggled with them as well. ;) He also insisted on taking Bob to grandma's house today to show them to her!

Today has been better than yesterday but not quite as good as Saturday. He's wearing the pull ups and he's gone potty for me, but he refused to go potty for my mom while she had him so I could go to the dentist. Only 2 accidents today though, so I think it's progress!

I'm hoping we'll have the no bottles and the potty training whipped into shape before too many days go by!

And, on a side note, I thought for sure I had at least one cavity - which is part of the reason I broke down and made my first appointment since 2006! Much to my delight, NO CAVITIES (still! ;) ).

We made it!

We made it home after 17 hours and 748 miles! We didn't get home until 2:30 am on Tuesday, but we did make it home!

Tuesday was a busy day since I had my sister's kids again. My kids were just thrilled they didn't have to ride in the expedition again and that they got to play with cousins. I have been trying to catch up on laundry and 47 other things!

I can't believe that school starts in just 3 weeks!! It kind of makes me sad to think I won't be teaching this year. On the other hand, I'm really glad too. I was bummed out that I missed out on all the school things that Sam did during Kindergarten and 1st grade. We'll see how much I really missed it when they start asking for parent volunteers as chaperons on field trips! Praise the kindergarten teachers - I for one no longer believe I could do it! ;)

Samantha was bummed out to learn that her bff was leaving for Maryland and Ohio the day we got home. By a random chance, she got to spend one day with her before she left for real. They ended up getting to have a sleepover so I think Sam will survive a few more days without her dear Jolie!

While I was in Oregon my cousin showed me how she does her digital scrapbooking. Scott, my brothers friend, has Photo Shop Elements on his computer and is going to hook me up. Now I can finally learn to digital scrapbook. Travis will be thrilled on all the space and money this habit will save! Before I get too into it though, I have to get some school clothes made for the kids that I bought fabric for while it was on sale just before we left on our trip. I also want to get an etsy website up and running by October. I somehow just keep managing to find all these fun things I want to do but have never had time to do because of my job. I think I might enjoy staying home more than I originally anticipated! Bring on the school year! :)

Oregon or bust!

We got home from Yellowstone on Monday, July 26th. We left for Oregon (minus Travis) on Tuesday, July 27th. Yes, we are beginning to love our expedition and each other! I have no idea how Sam slept like this in the car. In fact, after I pulled her out of this crevice, she ended back up in the exact same location! It must have been comfy!Approximately 13 hours and 800 miles after we left, we arrive at Multnomah Falls in Oregon. We did hike up to the bridge in the picture. Nash ran nearly the entire way. I think he need to stretch!

On our way up to the bridge, we saw this on the trash can. I thought it was a poop at first. Then I got closer and realized it had antenna. After seeing the antenna, I thought it was fake. And then I saw it move! It completely creeped me out! I thought the slugs in my flowerbed were bad! Holy cow!! Part way up the trail I actually stepped on one that was a bit smaller than this. I told Zack it was like stepping in dog poop but it rolled instead of squished! Grosses me out remembering it!
After stopping in Portland and visiting Powell's City of Books (the COOLEST book store EVER), we headed for Mt. St. Helen's. Apparently we hadn't been in the expedition long enough! :) This big foot statue is made out of ash and cement. It is the second version because someone burned the first one (made of carpet and other flammable materials) down. The kids thought he was pretty cool. The reason we stopped at this site on the way up the mtn is that there is a house that was 3 days shy of being moved into when the volcano went off. It's now 5 ft lower in the ground, water is still inside it (as well as all the furniture) and the log that went through the front door is sitting just outside it. I didn't get pics of the kids with it so I'm not posting a pic of the house unless there are requests!
You have to cross this bridge on your way up the mtn. This bridge is something else. It's so long and it's a long way down too!
This stop is a bit closer up the mtn. You can't see the volcano because it was overcast that day and hard to capture in pictures unless I zoomed way in. the kids were looking at the volcano through the telescopes.
This is the last stop on the mtn before you get to the observatory that is 5 miles from the crater. I was able to get a good pic of the volcano here because we were lots closer. The trees here were insane. I'm sure they're petrified because of the ash. I can't believe how they look like they were just exploded by dynamite and still look just like that 30 years after the explosion!
This is at the observatory that is 5 miles from the crater. I wish we would have had more time here but we got there just in time to watch the last video they were showing and then they were closing. It was really cool inside and had an actual tree that was destroyed in the blast that they carried off the mtn and set up in the lobby.
We have visited the rose gardens at Avery Park.

We visited Avery park itself. Caleb absolutely loved climbing all over the train.

We went down to the waterfront park where the kids were the happiest I've seen them in days! Who am I kidding - they were in the water and not in the truck. It was the happiest they've been since before we left for Yellowstone!
My brother got his new tattoo. He got it done while we were at Avery Park and the waterfront. I think it turned out really good and actually quite like it.
We went down to feed the ducks and stopped at the park along the way.
It was funny when we got there. The ducks saw us coming and knew we had some bread and we were swarmed! Caleb kept chasing the ducks saying "Duck, mere!" He just wanted to pet one so badly!

We've been to dinner at a place that is a parent's nightmare and a child's heaven. Think Chuck E Cheese meets Hardy's. Yes, Caleb is saying, "Cannonball!" as he jumps into the balls. The boy cried and cried when he had to leave. When they came out to eat their pizza they only lasted all of 5 minutes. I think they might have eaten 2 bites of their pizza. Sure glad I ordered that!
We've invaded Ashlee's apartment and made ourselves quite comfortable here.
On the 30th we headed to Newport. The 30th was Travis and I's 11th wedding anniversary. I figured we spent it 976 miles apart. It's the first anniversary we've spent apart. I guess I'm glad I could do it in style. Too bad he had to work!

We've visited a few covered bridges.
We went to the aquarium and the Hatfield Marine Center. The kids were in heaven here. They didn't want to leave!

Sam & Caleb are inside the fish tank in this picture. Caleb thought it was so cool that he could get so close to the fishes.
Samantha inside a giant shark.
Caleb at the touching tank. The kids got to touch star fish and anemones, an eel, and a fish that looked like a halibut (flat with its eyes on the side of it's head).
We've been to the bay front and seen sea lions (which smell not so nicely for all the water they "bathe" in!)

We went to the Yaquina light house.
We went to the ocean where we could have stayed forever. Caleb did somersaults in the sand after watching his brother do them. Samantha apparently joined in later because her hair is chuck full of sand. We put together a piece of the beach to take back home to grandma Terri. We even found a few pieces of coral and crab shells.

The water was SO cold!

I told you he did somersaults!
We've been hiking at Silver Falls and made a 3 mile loop.
Ashlee was nice enough to take turns packing Caleb with me.

And today we also went shopping at the outlets. We timed it perfectly because this weekend was their sidewalk sale.

Tomorrow we're off to the zoo. Monday morning however, we must head back to reality. We haven't decided if we'll detour to Crater Lake on our way home yet. Guess we'll see how much we like the expedition and each other by then!