Impromptu BBQ

Doing stuff on impulse- my new favorite thing. Holly was going to pick up the girls at Mom & Dad's house, so she asked if I wanted to go with her. Mike called as we were driving up there, and Holly told him he should come too. Shortly after we arrived and visited with Mom a bit, Dad got home from work. When Dad called up Todd & Kristin and said how 'bout a barbeque? of course they were in. The funny thing was Dad said, good- we'll be there soon! So we had a full house at Todd & Kristin's and they were really able to put together a bbq in a snap. When I grow up I want to be just like Kristin. ;) Sometimes it's when you do something impulsive that you end up having a super fun time and a memorable experience. I was glad that all of these events fell into place so we could have so much fun. Too bad Val was working or we could have hauled her over to Kristin & Todd's too.

Under Construction

I've been inspired to renew and revamp the blog. It seems like a great way to track goals, dreams, accomplishments, and special moments in my life. I only say 'seems' because I'm not sure that I will succeed in my attempt to stick with it this time, but I am convinced that it is in fact a great idea regardless (insert comedian's accent). Some of my older posts may look different for a bit while I fiddle with the template, but I have confidence that you can all be strong until I get it all worked out.

Party Time

Because Holly & Ben have moved, some friends and neighbors wanted to throw them a going-away party. We all met at a park near Holly & Ben's old house. Everyone brought some food and we visited for a few hours while the kids played on the toys. It was really nice to meet at the halfway point so we could see Mom, Malaya, Kristin, Todd, and their kids.

Take a Hike

Holly, Mike, the girls and I went hiking today. Holly enlisted both Mike and me to come with, yet it was she who kept saying, "Who's idea was this?!" As we trekked up the hill, Kelsie would beg off by having one of us carry her on our shoulders. Whitney kept stopping and giving us gifts of nature. Every few minutes we'd have to accidentally lose 5 or 10 rocks, a few pine cones, and some flowers so we weren't so weighted down! When we got to the top of the hill, Kelsie and Whitney pretended they were behind a counter and asked us what we would like to buy. Of course we were hungry, so we ordered a burger and fries. I have to say-the rock Kelsie gave me didn't taste very good. Not like a burger at all! On the way back down the stroller kept catching on rocks and things so Holly just picked the whole thing up and carried it.

Splash

I picked up the phone today to hear Ben on the other line saying only- "You comin'?" Of course I'm coming! Where are we going? Apparently we were going to go swimming. I was sure I'd have fun with them, but I wasn't convinced that I actually wanted to go swimming. It turned out to be a special treat, super fun, and just what I didn't know I wanted to do today. Too bad I didn't get any pictures of any of us going around the lazy river on the tubes. We also went for ice cream when we were done. I think icecream somehow tastes better than normal after you've gone swimming. I'll need a scientist to somehow confirm...


Little Brooke had such a blast splashing in the water. I can remember a few years ago when it was Whitney doing the exact same thing. The pictures of that occasion vs. this one even look similar! I'll have to find those and post them sometime. I had to post a video of cute Brooke because the pictures just don't do it justice.

Take a Walk

As most of my family members know I've struggled to get my beagle potty trained. We've tried crate-training (keeping her in her kennel while we're gone and taking her out as soon as we get home), mean-voice training (rubbing her nose up to her messes and telling her we go potty OUTSIDE!), giving her a treat when she goes potty outside, taking the dogs out separately, together, etc. What wasn't funny at all, was that when I was vigilant about taking her to the mess, identifying for her what she was in trouble for, and then taking her outside to show her where that mess belongs, she actually started going potty in the house and running to the door like, 'Ok, now we get to go outside.'

So now I've started to take them for walks. This seems to be the magic trick. I take them out at specific times so that they will know that whether they tell me they have to go or not, we're going for a walk. So far, so good. I really enjoy getting out and walking several times a day, and they really love it too. For some reason when we're walking, Ginger has no problem stopping and doing her business, but when she's just out in the yard she'll just stand out there for an hour without going potty.

Coloring

Today Holly, Ben, the girls, and I went to Blackfoot to gather up some of the last of their things. Sometimes when we're getting stuff done what we really need is to somehow keep the girls occupied. Whitney and Kelsie were coloring in the kitchen for a while, but when I went to check on them and comment on their pretty pictures Whitney quickly enlisted me to help her make the best picture EVER for Holly. My job was to add purple and red dots to the picture.

Quick, Behind You!

Today I learned the value of distraction. Occasionally Holly & I will be out and about and the girlies will decide to fight or cry or do any number of things little girls do when they're very tired. We were in the van when this happened today and when Holly ran inside the house I decided to try out her trick (she's an expert at distraction!). So I whipped out my camera and said, "Kelsie, quick, super cute!" and she stopped mid-whine and gave me the cutest smile ever. I did the same with Whitney and it became a photography extravaganza instead of way-past-naptime-fight-time. I'm gonna have to remember this trick!

Breaking in the Crockett Side

I'm trying to break in Morgan's side of the family to my picture-taking ways. I was shocked when they had a family get-together and they didn't know it was a requirement to take a picture of everyone before they left. Shocked I tell you! I have a picture of Morgan's dad here, who kept swearing at me every time I tried to take a picture. If only he knew he'd look better smiling than swearing! It's okay, though, I'll make it my mission to show him (I can hear him groaning right now). I'm okay with blaming this all on them for now. Obviously if they had more pictures I wouldn't have to take so many to make up for it.

For Morgan's brother Brad's birthday party a lot of their cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents came to Ross Park to hang out and have a picnic. It was a lot of fun. What was super funny to me, was that the moment I realized no one else was going to take pictures of the occasion I quickly took up the post. When I said, "No! You can't leave yet, we need a picture of everyone," they totally lined up and waited for the picture! I feel so... so... powerful. They totally did it, because I made them, lol. I hope they get used to it, because the picture-taking- not a phase. I will haunt them forever, and my camera too.