Who, Me?

People - we have a full fledged toddler around here. Complete with ridiculous outfits, refusal to eat anything I put in front of him, and screaming - I mean mind-blowing HOWLING - tantrums.
That sweet, sweet child - the one I often referred to as "I know God still loves me because He gave me Chase" - has become a mild version of Satan's spawn.

He found a pair of camouflage boots my friend gave me. He insisted on wearing them everywhere.

And I mean everywhere. With everything.

I caught him brushing his teeth in the dog's water dish.

After he had transferred much of the dog food into the water bowl.
This is me trying to take away the bowl. This is him trying to get it away from me. After this picture was taken I found myself in the middle of a Screaming Howling Fit. (from him - not my own).

Another day, and yet, he must wear the boots to bed.
Wearing boots and watching brother play the computer

HolyMoses - this child needs your prayers. Okay, maybe I need your prayers. That I can handle this next chapter in our lives.

Strawberry Shortcake Collapse

I'm trying to be more gourmet - I really am. Maybe gourmet isn't the word, but I'm trying to do more special edible creations around here. However, when I am at home with all four boys, they don't appreciate gourmet as much as I would like. I mean, if I'm going to spend 2-3 hours making a special something I know that my efforts would feel more "worth it" if I got more than a grunt in response.
So when I got to my mom's house, I like to make fun things because I know I have someone who will make a big deal out of my efforts. Yes, I'm 33 years old and I still like my mom to praise me and make a big deal out of things I do - What????? Is that so wrong?
So I tried this new recipe for strawberry shortcake I found in Better Homes or Sunset - I can't remember which. You basically make two yellow round cakes (they called for a homemade cake recipe - I opted for Betty Crocker). Then you cut each round in half, essentially making four halves. Make homemade whip cream (I made the amount the recipe called for, but it really wasn't enough). Then cut up fresh strawberries. Between each cake half layer whipped cream and strawberries. It's a high, sugary, delicious mess.

In my case, the cake collapsed. I guess it all goes in the same, but didn't look at pretty as the picture.

My life is about Poo

Let's face it. My life is mostly about poo.

In fact, poo dominates a good portion of what I do on a daily basis.

Not an hour goes by when I am dealing with something poo-like.

Let me give you yesterday for giggles' sake.

Chase poops in his diaper. clean and carry stinky diaper to outside garbage.

Boy pooes in the toilet but doesn't flush. I discover his poo in the toilet and have to flush for him.

Chase poops again only this time it is stinkier and smellier and takes way more wipes than before. Take poo out to garbage.

Another boy pooes in the toilet and yells for me "I NEED DIAPER WIPES!!! WE'RE OUT!!!" So I have to go into their bathroom, smell the poo smell, and hand wipes. At least I don't have to wipe him anymore. (Isn't that the worst when you hear - "I'm READY!!!!!" - from your potty trained child in the bathroom)

Again, he doesn't flush and therefore I discover it an hour later and have to flush for him.

Chase wants to play outside in the backyard, so I have to go out before him and clean up all the dog poo in the grass and also get the garden hose to "wash" poo off the grass so no poo residue is left so his feet can safely walk on the grass.

I take my dogs for a walk. They poo on someone's front lawn. I have to scoop it up with a plastic bag.

Finally, I figured I have had all the poo taken care of for the day and can SAFELY go outside to the garage to workout.

Nope, Jeremy interrupts me 8 minutes into my workout (right as I'm getting my groove). "Hey! You need to come right now. Bear (our dog) pooed all over the kitchen floor. Someone didn't leave the doggy door open all day and he couldn't get out. So I have to clean nasty, drippy poo off my kitchen floor and rug.

Honestly people - tell me that there will be a time in my life where poo does NOT play such a big part.

Hells Canyon

One of my most favorite magazines is Sunset magazine. I devour it every month it comes in the mail - from the day trip suggestions, gardening advice, outdoor activity suggestions, local out-of-the-way haunts to visit, amazing recipes, and down home decorating - it is my kind of reading.
Anyway, we noticed this article a few months ago about some great summer car trips to take. Coincidentally, it was along the way to the Lake we were meeting Jeremy's parents at.
The same lake where Jackson caught a 7 pound, 26 inch trout.

Anyway, my fisherman husband just couldn't stand to drive through Hell's Canyon and NOT fly fish the river that you can see from the road. I wandered around trying to capture Hells Canyon's beauty.

I can now say from experience that I highly endorse Sunset's endorsement of the Scenic byway through Hell's Canyon through the Wallowa mountains in your way to Wallowa Lake.

Postcard views galore.

New Trick

He just turned 18 months old and a whole new world has suddenly opened up. Wow - I can actually climb up on things including today's feat of the kitchen table! (Check out his father's menacing warning look in the background)

Oh Happy Day - (for me)

They're Back to School - They're back to school.

Forgive me as I cannot contain my excitement.

Post-script Note:

today as I was getting ready to compose this post, I had a sudden pang. Hmmm....I thought, what was that?

And then it hit me - it's about 1pm - they've been gone4.5 hours. Hmmmmm...could it be.....I kind of miss them.

I relish the first few hours of peace, but then after that, it gets kind of dull. Hmmmmm....that is what those empty nesters are referring to.

Interesting.

We're almost there

Labor Day Weekend was a blast - as was our recent trip to Utah. Y'all may I just brag a moment? All three of my boys - you know, the ones that I constantly complain about on this blog about how loud, wild, crazy and obnoxious they are? Well those three boys were absolute ROCK STARS on our 15.5 hour car trip to Utah. We did a straight shot and never once did we have a break down. NEVER ONCE.
Even the baby, who DID NOT NAP AT ALL was the very bestest of them all (take that grammar police).
I praise my expert combination of: 3 separate TV screens (2 for DVDs, 1 for video games), switching out Redbox movies at various McDonald's along the way, 3 different bags of stupid toys that the baby was never interested in at home but couldn't get his hands off in the car, 5 different bags of car treats including homemade Rice Krispie treats, The Rice Krispie treats were the best motivator of good behavior (if you make it to the next rest stop without complaint you get another RC treat), and last but not least - allowing our children to switch their car seat positions every potty break.
The trip to Utah was not too shabby either, but I'll save that for another day.

And Now I Am Almost to the First Day of School - it starts tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

did I mention that I have gained 7 lbs in the last month????? That's right folks - stress eating and drinking at its finest. I got on the scale this morning for giggles and nearly fell over. Sheesh!
I guess I enjoyed every last morsel and drink that put me there but I really feel more comfortable when I am a different size, so off I go to the gym for extra cardio and off to find interesting activities for me and Chase that don't't involve eating.