Sitting with Santa

Elfie

Missed November posting so rolling right into December.  Lot's happening around our house.  We continue to fight the crude with different runny noses, fevers, and aches but we battle on!

Lately, we've introduced Elf on the Shelf in our house (and at Yaya's).  If you don't know what this is you must not have kids that believe in Santa.  It's a doll (boy or girl, black or white) that comes with a book that explains that Santa knows if you are good or bad from this little Elf's help.  The child names the elf and then it is placed in different locations around the house to watch until Christmas Day. 

Our elf is creatively named "Elfie" and is slowly catching Dax's interest.  This vertically challenged friend of Santa is beyond popular with parents lately.  Marketing genius!  Can't consider yourself a good parent unless you get one.  I've heard some funny stories about what different elves get into around the house, including snow angels in flour, undecorating the Christmas tree (bad idea!) and hiding in creative spots.  But my favorite involved an elf that used the potty and left a peppermint in the toilet as it's droppings (thanks Aunt Addie).  Since our mostly potty trained 2-1/2 year old doesn't want to leave his peppermint dropping in the potty every morning, daddy and I thought we may be able to get Elfie's help.

We put Elfie on top of the toilet lid and placed a marshmallow in the bowl (much safer to flush then hard candy).  When Dax woke up this morning we excitedly found Elfie in the bathroom.  Unfortunately, that's where the excitement ended. 

"NO!!!!", Dax yelled out when discovering what Elfie had done, "I don't want Elfie in the bathroom!"

"Look Dax.  Elfie went potty in the toilet", I responded with excitement.

"NO!  I don't want him there", he repeated and rushed over to grab him.

"NO!", I yelled repeating my two year old.

"You are not suppose to touch Elfie!  His magic powers will go away", I announced as he grabbed his leg and tried to fling him across the room. 

"He is here to help you go potty", I said trying to convince myself as I'm thinking it would be a little weird to have an elf watching me use the potty.

"Fine", he stomped off  in defeat and decided he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Elfie sat on top of the toilet smiling gaily as I wondered why this didn't work at 6am in the morning.  Needless to say we didn't see any more peppermints or marshmallows in the toilet that morning. 

I can't decide if Elfie is helping us this holiday season or being pushed upon my two year old.  I can't totally blame him.  Pretty sure I wouldn't want an elf watching me in the bathroom.  Maybe next year he will remember the trauma we put him through on this first year and fall into general fear and respect for Santa's little tattle tale.  Or maybe when he is 21 he can laugh about how his parents tried to make him believe in a silly little doll like the rest of his friends.  Either way we have a two year old and are willing to try anything to get him to believe in us... I mean Elfie, and then hopefully convince his little brother next year.

Dax in his homemade Rudolph hat.

Utah Nana

My Nana moved to Utah this past spring so we are lucky to visit her when in the area.  

She is doing great and kickin butt at 90.  Go Nana!

Airplanes & Sugar Beets

Never know what you will find on your way to Salt Lake City and back!

Hill Air Museum

Sugar Beet Mountain...somewhere in Idaho

Happy 90th Kenny!

Zach's grandfather turned 90 this past weekend and we traveled down to Ogden to celebrate.  What a guy!  Nothing is slowing him down at his age.  He drove his new Prius to the restaurant that he ordered online and I just emailed him before putting up this post.  He has so many stories and amazing qualities, I feel lucky that my boys may inherit a unique quality from him :)

Otto & Great Grandpa Ken

Fall Back In

Yikes!  It's been awhile since my last post but these boys are keeping me busy.

We have been busy with house projects, colds, and some traveling. 

Dax at the Pumpkin Patch

Otto trying to keep up with his brother.

Beaver Creek Fire Video

Photo by Joe McNeal

So much has happened before this fire even began but I had to start with this video before returning to past events.  Lighting struck and our valley had a HORRENDOUS fire this past week that is still burning today.  Thanks to fire fighters hard work it is 67% contained at this point.  Our family left town for a week to find a way to breathe some fresh air and are happy to be at home now in better circumstances.

This video has good footage of some of the events.

http://vimeo.com/72619750

The only thing missing is the terror in a lot of people's hearts as the fires were getting closer to their homes.  It's a crazy experience to look around your home, wondering what you may never see again and what is important enough to try and bring with you.

Thank you Fire Fighters for saving our valley!

Opus

We have been enjoying our new little camper, Opus, as we've named her.  Just like the cartoon penguin that couldn't fly our Opus has everything we need on the inside (despite the lack of wings) to get us there.  She keeps us warm, fed, and rolling along.

Zach and Dax first breakfast in Opus.

We've spent a few weekends breaking her and us in with friends north of town.  Zach rides his bike, Dax plays with friends, and I get out of the house with a nursing infant.  It all works well.

Dax and Thijs having fun.

Zach has been a busy bee filling every tank, checking all the fittings, adding energy sources to places I didn't know we needed.  He added shocks to our lower bunk so we can lift it up and down for extra storage.  Opus is pumped!

Zach and Otto near Prairie Creek

This weekend we are headed to Tahoe for a family gathering.  We can't wait to see everyone and catch up during beach time with the kids.  Opus will be our home for the week and we expect to get to know her well.

Our Salt Lake Family

We geared up and headed out with the boys to visit family in Salt Lake City last weekend.  They were troopers and did an excellent job being drug around from one loving adult to the next.

First we checked in with Nana and she looked beautiful as always.  We were happy to see she was enjoying her new town and finding all the good restaurants to eat at.

Then we saw the Griffiths and their chicken coop.  Dax checked every stationary hen to see if there might be an egg hiding underneath.  Later, the ones he did find with Uncle Jay's help, were our breakfast.

Dax and Uncle Jay

Breakfast time

Lexi, Aaron, and Dax

And next was Great Grandpa Ken who showed us his new Prius proudly purchased from Ebay.  Who says old people don't know how to use the internet?

Zach and GG Ken might go for a ride with Dax

Sadly we missed a number of our family members who were out of town but that gives us good reason to go back and visit soon.

The CIRCUS

A few weeks back we were lucky to have Papa Bob visit us from Reno.  He met Otto for the first time, took Dax to the park, saw his last day of school, and visited the circus.  I didn't say that correctly..."THE CIRCUS!"  Dax has been talking about it ever since it visited out little town.

Being from Reno this actually felt like a casino attraction more then the Barnum & Bailey professionals most people are use to.  These acrobats were a little over weight, the clowns weren't that funny, the jugglers dropped their knives, and the motorcycle trick was run by the guy who took our tickets at the gate.

But all that didn't matter to a two year old.  There were elephants!  And people in funny outfits, silly music, and kids everywhere.  Watching it from Dax's eyes made the event seem more then worth it.

Here are a few highlights from our visit with Papa Bob and the, I mean...THE CIRCUS!

Papa and Otto

Mesmerized

THE CIRCUS!

Papa, Dax, and Zach

An elephant!

How close can he get to the elephants?

We had to tear him away because he was trying
 to fit through the fence.

The Strider

It clicked.  

Dax received a Strider bike for Christmas from Aunt Kat and Uncle Bryan but didn't want much to do with it until these past few months.  A genius invention for kids the Strider bike is basically a bike without pedals.  That simple.  It teaches the kid how to balance and control before taking the next step to peddling.  

And over the past few weeks...it clicked.  Dax learned to pick up his feet, use them as brakes, fall down like a big boy and then brush it off to ride again.  He loves it and we love watching!

 Once he seemed to have the technique down (or maybe a little before) we took him to the local Pump Park to test it out.  Dirt mounds in various shapes and patterns make for a fun adventure on your bike, especially a Strider.

Daddy tries to keep up at the park.

No doubt little brother, Otto, will be on his own Strider in the near future.

The Amazing Gigi

Gigi came to Idaho a few days early for Otto's surprise arrival.  She stayed a little longer then she planned but I couldn't be more thankful!  She made sure we were all fed, slept, cleaned, and happy.  And despite sleeping in Opus, the R-Pod, she woke up perky and ready for action everyday.  We couldn't have done it without you!

Your a life saver Gigi.  I hope I can learn to be half the mother you have been for me :)

Kosach Memorial Visit

The Kosach's came to visit for Memorial Day weekend and despite the rainy weather we managed to have a great time.  Here are a few pictures (sorry if any of these are repeats from Erin's blog):

Erin, Nik & McKinley at the Pump Park.

Sleeping Otto

Dax and McKinley clean it up.

Run Dax Run!

Erin and McKinley hiking Quigley.

Gigi, McKinley, and Dax having fun.

It came and went so quickly.  Come again soon!

xoxo

Zoo Boise

Gigi has been in town to help with baby Otto and we felt energetic enough to make the trip to the Boise Zoo to entertain Dax for the day.  He LOVED it!

Checking out the giraffes.  

There is a prairie dog on your head!

Sleeping Sloth Bear

Thanks Gigi for a great trip!

Otto was perfect and slept all day.  Gigi kept up with Dax in and out of every slide, prairie dog hole, and goose sighting.  It was a fun day!

Otto

Bye Bye Mo-vember

It started in November as a month long mustache dare from friends.  

Growing quite fond of the change, Zach stayed the course.

At times he found a redneck drawl.

Wranglers were worn.  New Tires were purchased.

Yesterday he realized the month was over.  

Clean up began! 

Mo-vember is over dude.

Luckily, we like him with or without his fuzzy facial friend.

Who is that guy?