Cats and Kids

Cats and kids...kids and cats....what does that mean? Hours of entertainment for Jonathan. It was Deee-vine! It is so great to go to Idaho, because Jonathan is in love with their cat Jake. He chased him all over the place. Jake is an outside cat, but this week, he was loving all the inside activity. I bet he is traumatized after the week of being indoors now that he is banished back outside. Sue has 4 boys so Jonathan fits right in. I actually had time to read 3...yes I said, THREE books that week. Lovin that. Jonathan is feeding Jake above, and what am I doing in the background? Laying in front of the window in the sun. I use to do that every Sunday in front of those exact windows growing up. Good times...Gooood times.

My brother Rob playing with Jonathan

Aaron and Jonathan

Justin and Jonathan

I realized I didn't get any pictures with Jonathan and Jordan and Brayden. Oops..too busy reading I guess. The rest are some videos with the cat, and one is with Aaron pulling Jonathan around in the laundry basket, and pushing him on the scooter. Endless hours of free entertainment that I didn't have to provide. It was a beautiful thing. It was "almost" as beautiful as when Sue and I went to Cancun! I KNOW...that was AWESOME! What did we do on our girls only trip? Nothing...absolutely nothing. I was 6 months pregnant with Jonathan. We sat on our lounge chairs on the beach and read books for 7 days...literally...just sat around and read. We got in the water up to our ankles, and we did walk to a store (across the street) to buy souvenirs and get our Mexican vanilla...but that was about the extent of it. It was one of the best vacations I have ever been on....here is a photo...endless virgin strawberry coladas...it's still hard to believe we actually did something like that...

Thank heavens for cats and kids...at least while I am in Idaho that is.

Idaho

Jonathan and I at the Restaurant after a long day

I recently returned from a week long trip to Idaho for some rest and relaxation. It's the next best thing to laying on a beach drinkin pina coladas, but for 1/4 of the price. You do...whatcha gotta do. I flew into Salt Lake for my sisters baptism (long story). My sister Michelle picked Jonathan and I up, and we drove to Heber for the baptism. Jonathan was getting pretty antsy by then. We started out the day leaving for the airport at 7 am. It was now 3:00. It was the first time in years that all six of us siblings have been together. It was AWESOME! We went to a restaurant afterwards and had a good time. We all laughed. That is one thing my family have always been able to do...is laugh. We have some issues, but we can laugh about them. Or should I say that everyone else had a good time? By then, Jonathan was DONE! I spent most of the time walking around the restaurant entertaining a 20 month old, because it was butt cold outside. You know, the kind where your nose hairs freeze together? Just about that cold.

Scott and Keri, the "babies" of the family

My Mom and Dad, and of course Keri "crashing" the picture

My sister Kyndra and her baby

My sister Michelle and her husband Greg

After the restaurant we went to Kyndras house so Sue and Kyndra could get a quick cut from Keri, the Hair stylist.

Then we had to drive 3 hours up to my brothers house. We were exhausted by the time we pulled into the driveway at 10:00 that night. As I was getting everything situated and ready for bed, Sue played some basketball with Jonathan. Very cute.

A Real Man

I saw a Real Man while I was at Target tonight. I was getting some cough medicine for Trent when I spotted the guy behind me perusing all of the different Midol boxes. He was in heavy concentration as to which one to buy. I couldn't help but giggle watching the intensity of his decision. I am sure that it said a lot as to what kind of mood his wife was in at home. "You better get me some Midol, or else!" Hormonal women in pain is never a good combination. He ended up being in front of me in the checkout line. All that he purchased was a single box of Midol. The lady asked him if he would like a bag for that...in which he declined. I was shocked! He grabbed that box and his receipt and walked out. Wow...that is a true man right there. The only way he would have been an even "truer" man was if he had a bulk size box of pads in his other hand.

Stuck

Jonathan and I went to Fred Meyer today to do some quick shopping. I don't go there very often but I didn't feel like braving the crowds today at Winco, and not to mention having to bag my own groceries. Today was a have someone else bag my groceries type of day no matter what the cost. I unloaded my groceries and was getting Jonathan out of the shopping cart. I was pulling him out and he would not budge. I could lift him up a little but he was stuck. I kept checking if his feet were stuck, as I pulled and tugged harder. The front of the cart would start to fold up as I was tugging on him. I was getting really frustrated. Jonathan was crying, I felt like crying as the struggle continued, and continued. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to go to customer service to help me out or call the freakin fire department, or personally dismantle the blasted cart with a blow torch when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. What is that underneath his jacket? What is that little strap like thing right there? OH...it's the seatbelt. Forgot about that little contraption. Unclick...problem solved. I'm probably going to have to take Jonathan to the Chiropractor after all that pulling, twisting, and tugging I put him through. Another day in the life of Kristi.

Tender Moments

Jonathan was in an especially ornery mood tonight. He has officially moved into the "terrible two's" a little bit early. It has been quite the struggle with him, he is one stubborn little guy. He wanted something tonight that he couldn't have so he had a major melt down. Ya know...the kind where they scream and throw their body around and want to throw things. He ended up in his crib to have a cooling off session. Probably more for my benefit than his.

After the tantrum it was time for bed. We did our nightly ritual, jammies on, brush teeth, say a prayer, and then he lays his head on my shoulder while I stand in front of his crib rocking back and forth rubbing his back while I tell him how much I love him and how glad I am he is part of our family...etc. In the middle of this, he lifts his head off his shoulder puts his hand over his mouth and blows me a loud kiss. "Mmmmmm-Mwhaaa!" and lays his head back down on my shoulder. Precious isn't it? We go from wanting to pull my hair out, to loving the moment all in the space of about 10 minutes. Oh the mood swings of a toddler. Ain't they grand?

Yo, bro

My brother keeps asking me when I am going to update my blog page. I think he is pulling my leg and does'nt really check the page. It has only been a few days since my last post...six days is still "few" right? Since our Rock band purchase, Nathan has totally been getting into the whole drumming thing. He is obsessed with finding the beat in every song. Our car rides are not the same. He is constantly saying, "Mom...LOOK, I got the beat!" As he is Air drummin like a mad man! He shows me his drummin skills on a daily basis. He is actually quite good. It has reminded me of my brother Rob. Any car ride with him was a toe tappin experience. I am not sure how his steering wheel ever survived all of his "jam" sessions, and how we never got in a car wreck when he barely had his hands on the wheel. I can still hear him pounding out his drums all...the...time...and he was even out in the barn. Don't get me started on the electric guitar! And then his whole band thing. (Every guy wants his own band, and they were good too) I have to say though, I didn't mind the band thing so much, because the members of his own band were totally "hot". (80's word). Good times. Goooood times.

Whoa Dude

Today Jonathan said something that caused Trent and I to look at each other in amazement. He was just playing with some toys and said, "Whoa Dude". I looked at Trent and asked, "Did he just say "Whoa dude?". Yeah...that is exactly what it sounded like. It is so funny to hear him say things out of the blue like that, and something so random too. Quite the jump from "love you" to "whoa dude". You can tell how we talk around here. "Dude" is part of our vocabulary I guess. I can predict that his next word will be "crap" or "fart". :)

Love you

Chris and Brenda came over for some Chili yesterday (I love doing things in the crockpot!). As Brenda was leaving she said to Jonathan "I love you", and then Jonathan responded, " lwuve you". We were all silent. Amazing! He has never said anything like that. It was absolutely totally precious. Grandma just melted. I would have loved to have been the first person he said that to, but I figure a person with Leukemia is the next best person right? :) We have been trying non stop since then to have him say it again to no avail! He just looks at us like we are all idiots. I love that kid. He is such a funny little fart.
Grandmas hair is growing back. She's got some peach fuzz goin on. Here's a picture for your viewing pleasure. :)
Jonathan loves to wear Nathans heavy helmet. He staggers around trying to balance the weight of it, running into things. I try to "hide" it in the garage but he finds it and drags it into the house wanting me to put it on his head. Simple pleasures.