week :: twenty-six and twenty-seven

I fell behind again and missed taking Annie's week twenty-six photos. 

 

We've been busy. 

 

Wanna see?

 

So, first there was our annual Easter trip to my parents place "down south".    The not-so-highlight of this trip was a blow-out on the interstate going to my parents place.  If there was ever a 'good' time to have a blow-out with three kids in a car while going 65; then this was it!  We were able to pull over on the last exit ramp for Benson.  The tire couldn't be fixed and our spare was original to the Beast so we decided to head for home and get a whole new set of tires.  Easter this year was expensive!

 

 

 

We finally made it down there after supper time.  It rained off and on all day Saturday so our evening there was nice and cool.  It made for a perfect Easter Sunday.

(Annie in her brother's camo)

(Bug's "cool kid" photo)

 

 

 

Once home I decided it was time to let Annie try some people food. 

 

There is a style of baby feeding called baby-led weaning.  In essence you give your baby soft, baby friendly food and let them figure out the whole feeding thing.  I was ill prepared as you can tell with Annie still wearing her shirt.  The banana didn't mind.  She did good.  The following day though she threw-up because I think a larger portion of the banana made her choke too much.  Honestly, I am kind of sad to be at this stage with her.  It just seems the last six months flew by. 

 

Speaking of six months....

 

Annie had her six month check-up.  Her stats are:

 

Weight:  14lbs 10oz  //  22nd percentile

Height:  26in  //  56th percentile

Head:  43cm  //  74th percentile

 

The doctor was beyond impressed with her.  My baby girl has some mad skills for six months.  The Doc said she has the skills of a nine month old.  HOLLAR!  My baby girl has the looks and now the brains!

 

 

During last week all my kiddos were able to experience something new together...

The Fair!!

Squishy was a little tired and unsure at first.

Not Bug though.  He was ready to dive in and take it all in.

After the fair we packed up and headed to the White Mountains for some family R&R and...

 hunting, of course!

 

Our cabin for the long weekend.  

 

Annie and her three dads.

 

I always find a little time for my grandmother. 

The dogs napping with Annie.

 

And now.....

 

week ::  twenty-seven

 

 

 

Annie's crawl is getting faster with each passing day.  She is enjoying eating bananas.  No teeth yet but she's trying.  She still adores her brothers but I sometimes wonder if the speed in her crawl is her attempt to make a break from them :-)  Right about 7pm is her quitin' time for the day although we won't make it to bed until 8:30 when it's Squishy's quitin' time.  In the last week she was discovered her tummy for sleeping on.  I am not sure I agree with this but will keep a closer eye on her.  She is still full of smiles and is quick to share them with anyone.  Her growl went on hiatus but it recently returned during our trip to the White Mtns.  I forgot how much I enjoyed that sound.  She can't sit up yet but is trying with a good lean-back-on-one-arm.



week :: twenty-five

This past weekend the boys had their first experience of an air show that the Air Force Base puts on yearly (or when the budget permits).  Unfortunately, with our normal desert weather it was too hot to stay longer then two hours so they received the condensed version of the show.

 

I don't have a picture to show yet but I wanted to share that Squishy, my three year old guy, has recently learned how to ride his pedal bike.  Three years ago when Bug was two his Daddy-O purchased a balance bike for him.  For those who don't know what a balance bike is....it's a regular looking kids bike but without any pedals or brakes.  It allows kids to master the art of balancing themselves on a bike in motion without getting wrapped up in the confusion of pedaling and braking.   We have never owned a bike with training wheels and nor would we allow the kids to ride a bike with them.  Bug, my oldest, wasn't in a hurry to give up his beloved balance bike so that's why it took him until he as five before me made the transition to a pedal bike.

 

Once Bug graduated from the balance bike Squishy quickly took it over and mastered it within months.  So, just this week I put him on a pedal bike and BAM....he was off.  He's slow on it but he's figured it out.  He even knows how to start riding by himself without any help getting started although he prefers that help.  I highly recommend a balance bike to any parent thinking about getting a first time bike for their kids.

 

week :: twenty-five 

 

 

Life is a changing around here with our little Annifer being more mobile. Most things aren't safe. She isn't at a full crawl yet but there is a ton of forward movement happening. She can make forward advances with a combination of an army crawl, to a worm like movement, and then to a "when all else fails just grab at the carpet and pull yourself forward." It really fascinating to watch daily how much she can develop her crawl style.


I am starting to feel like little Ms. Annie and her Buggy Brother are two peas in a pod.  Twice within one week this is what I spied....

 

I don't condone nor do I encourge my soon-to-be six month old to watch the T.V. but she does seem to enjoy it much like her older brother.

week :: twenty-four

We had our second lake trip of the year this past weekend.  I took my camera but only managed to snap one photo....

 

 

Yup, that's Annie with hair.  FINALLY!  I thought I would have to wait until she was like sixteen before I would finally be able to comb her hair into a pony-tail. 

 

Just kidding.  The "hair" is courtesy of our newest boating/camping friends.  It's a new big group and one of them also has three kids, like us, and all of our kids are within six months of each other.  It's nice to be at the same place in life with another woman that also has similar beliefs as me.  Well, except for one big one and it's something I won't share with her.  They say there are two things you shouldn't discuss with someone you like...politics and religion.  Well, in today's society there is a new third thing.....but I ain't discussing it.  They also say..."You can choose to treat your "pool" with chemicals or you can choose not to treat your "pool" with chemicals." 

 

Wait, okay....I guess I am only the one that says that. But again, I ain't discussin' my "pool" chemicals with you either. 

 

Okay, it's time for a few updates from week :: twenty-one!

 

Remember this goof ball?

His pediatrician was concerned about his "knocked knees" so we took him in to get an opinion from an Ortho Dude.  As we suspected and felt in our hearts, Ortho Dude said Squishy fell within the "normal range" for kids his age to be knocked knee.  He should outgrow it by the time he hits the age of 7ish. 

 

Also, during week :: twenty-one I mentioned....

 

 "This past week has had some extra excitement in it and I hope to be able to share it all with you next week."

 

Here is the first 1/3rd of the all the excitement or shall we say craziness!

 

The story starts likes this:

The Daddy-O and I bought that thing above last year about this time.  As anyone may (or may not know) is that an RV doesn't necessarily make the best grocery getter so anytime we went someplace we would tow Frank, my daily ride.  Well, one time not so long ago, we had a mishap with Frank while he was being towed... 

Ouch...

 

 

So, we realized that having Frank as a towed wasn't such a hot idea. 

 

Another issue, in general, that we have is that the Daddy-O doesn't have a huntin' vehicle.  Right, I know.  We do have such a hard life! So the Daddy-O has been on a hunt for a cheap ride that could triple as a towed for the RV, a huntin' ride, and then just a general purpose 'let's tool around off road' kind of a vehicle. 

 

On a Monday, a Toyota Land Crusiser came about.  It was a cheap quick purchase that filled our triple need.

 

 

On that Wednesday, after much debating the 2nd third appeared---this wrecked truck.

 

 This story starts out like this:

 

The Daddy-O and I have been on a hunt for a new family ride for at least a year now.  We knew the next ride for me would be a mini-van however mini-vans don't pull boats.

 

I know...the troubles we have!

 

The Daddy-O also refused to drive one and well he does all the driving when we are a complete unit.  Frank has done us well for the past six, almost seven years, but we know Frank is maxed out in load.  We really, really, like REALLY, wanted an Excursion from Ford but they stopped making them in

 2005.  Turns out Excursions, like the one we wanted are a hot item so they aren't cheap or easy to come buy, hence the year plus hunt for a new family wagon.  We had just about given up hope of finding one when at last the beautiful beast showed up in California.  Daddy-O hemmed and hawed and I played the devil chanting..."Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!"  Just as Daddy-O committed to the plan of buying it someone swooped in to buy it.  BOO!

 

So, after much long, and sometimes painful debates, the Daddy-O decided he would build a family wagon from the frame up.  The idea....a 1970's something Chevy 'burban.  First, the Daddy-O needed to go to auction and get the truck above.  Done!

 

Just as he won the auction guess who he gets a call from?  The great state of Cali  The beautiful beast is still available.  Turns out the first buyer was a scam.

 

I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali.. hmm, I don't think so

 

Can you name that song?

 

Yup, the Daddy-O bought three rides in one week.

 

The new ride, or The Beast as we call her, will hold four kidlets plus extra company and be able to pull most anything we need it too.  Really, we feel this ride will take us along until it's time to downsize.

 

 

Whose ready for day trips to the lake?  Me! Me! Me!

 

If it makes anyone feel better the Daddy-O did just sell one truck from his stash. 

 

The Booger-Truck was pushed down the driveway for the last time today.  Here are the boys kissing and hugging it good-bye.

 

week :: twenty-four

 

This week we have forward movement.  I am pretty sure that Annie will be crawling before she sits up.  The boys are excited but they have no idea what this will mean for their current lives.  The destruction they'll face!

 

 

Toes are very yummy. 

 

Thanks to cloth diapers the boys never knew the treat of their own toes.  Annie is number three so we are kind of over cloth diapers.  As long as the money is rolling in she'll be rolling in disposables and enjoying her tasty toes.