Hiking before the weather gets too bad

We hiked down to the Snake River from Pine Creek Bench.  It was pretty, and chilly, and a good excuse to get out of the house.  This is actually the start of a longer trail that I want to do some day.  I'm worried about bears, so it didn't happen this summer.

Celeste likes to squeeze our noses while making a honking sound.

Throwing rocks in the river with Daddy.  "This one is perfect."

 

We stopped at the overlook to see the colors and watch boats on the river.

I got her to smile by making animal noises.  This is the trail down to the river.

Celeste has incredible vocal chords.

 Way off in the distance is a moose.  He probably only makes up a few pixels.

Hiking back out of the canyon we wished we had an ATV.  Scott is pretending to be asleep and Celeste is thinking, "I can't take another step."  She was asleep 2 minutes after getting into the car.

Fishing with Daddy and the Early B-day Party

The South Fork is the Best!  Scott caught some fish while C. and I played.  We had a picnic and picked apples from an old apple tree that is all that remains of an old homestead on the river.

C.'s word of the week:  "Puppin" [Pumpkin]

(She loves them!)

 

C. got to have an early joint birthday party with our friends the Woods.  Alexander turned 1.  C. blew out the candle several times, loved being with the kids, jumping on their trampoline, and eating candy & her favorite, hot dogs.  The pinata I made was a little tough to break open.  When asked how old she is, C. says "two".  She's been giving that answer for at least 3 months now.  We didn't teach her that.  She's so cute.  We are binky free.  She hasn't even mentioned it in at least a week.

Hanging on to Summer

Yes it's that time again, time for coats and warm sleeper jammies.  However, I'm showing my optimism for some warmer days by leaving out the lawn furniture and the wading pool.

I hosted my 1st pampered chef party this week.  Here is one of the yummy desserts we made.  It closes on Wednesday Oct.13.  If you're interested in pampered chef kitchen supplies let me know.

Before Scott & I attended a session this afternoon I took C. for a walk on the temple grounds.  Her favorite part is the stairs.  Scott & I want to thank Grammy for tending Celeste and taking her to Bear World while we went.

Say cheese.

Celeste wants to thank her aunt Meli for the poofy skirt and fairy wings.

Working on walking reverently.

Celeste's great-grandma Ruth recently passed away.  We are glad we got to meet her.  This is a picture of Grandma Ruth and C. when she was a few days old. We promised Ruth that C. would get piano lessons.

C.'s words of the week:

Daddy, fix it!  Mama, fix it! 

(Usually in reference to rewinding the "Clifford the Big Red Dog" video, or opening something that is stuck.)

Bye Bye! See Ya!

Thank you.

Potty.
(When she says this we put her on it and she goes.  Usually said when taking a bath.)

Okay, Let's see.
(I must say this a lot.)

Sorry.
(I must say this a lot too.)

De-Binkification

De-Binkification: [noun]  The process of weaning your toddler from her binky [a.k.a. pacifier]

i

Halloween Preview

Night #1  I've been reading up on the best way to de-binkify.  I was prepared for an all-nighter because she always asks for it when she's tired, but it was a piece of cake.  After a nice bath and her evening routine, I put her in her crib with just curious george and her favorite blanket, and not a binky.  She was mad and cried for 2 minutes, at which point I came and got her.  She fell asleep peacefully in my arms in the rocking chair, but woke up when I set her in her bed.  She cried for 10 seconds in her bed and went to sleep.  What an amazing little girl.

Celeste misses all of the cousins she's been around the last few weeks.  In addition to saying their names frequently, she woke up at 3am saying, "Mama! Mama!"  I went to see what she needed and she said, "Kids gone."

I gave Scott some banana bread on a plate, and Celeste thought it was hot.  She exclaimed, "Don't touch it!"

Night #2 Went to bed happily without rocking, after a late-night snack with Daddy after he got home from the priesthood session of conference. 

Nap Day #2 Asked for binky, got redirected to george, complained for a few seconds, then went to sleep.

Night #3 Needed rocking

Nap Day #3 C. boycotted napping

Night #4 - 8 Still having a rough time with going to bed.  Cries and falls asleep eventually.

I was starting a load of laundry and went to get clothes from the other room.  I came back and found my good little helper loading the washing machine.  So sweet!

Celeste is sitting next to me as I write this and is saying:  "Crayon, crayon, crayon."

Alphabet Dancers video C. and Jackson:

http://carolyn-grammygoose.blogspot.com/2010/09/monkeys-jumping-on-my-bed.html