Miles @ 21 months

I am excited I was able to grab this photo the other day on our quest to visit a different park every week this summer. We headed to beautiful Lanesboro, MN last week. Sadly when we got there the park was closed for upgrading:(. We fed some very hungry ducks and entire bag of Gold Fish though.  I ended up taking the boys down to the waterfall and with Harrison's help of banging a branch on my head I was able to snap one of Miles actually looking at a camera. At 21 months...That's practically a miracle! Now I only wish I would have dressed him cuter that day and we shot this during the golden hour, rather than high noon. Oh well...that curly blonde hair and blue eyes totally make up it all!

I just love this kid. He is a total fish. He loves the pool. I lost track of how many pairs of  shoes he got wet this week by just playing by the pool and by playing I mean pretending to play on the outside of the pool and then just climbing in. My two favorite things to watch include running and falling on his butt in the pool and trying to lay on the beach ball. Both are equally and hilarious. I snapped a few shots tonight...so you can expect to see those shots in the next 6 to 12 months. I've been so busy on the side of photography... which is awesome since I call it my job these days, but not so awesome at the same time since I started this whole business because of the kids. It's a balance I'm still fighting to figure out.

Time outs have been introduced this past month. We have a few designated areas. Downstairs it's on the bottom step, outside it's on the front step and upstairs it's on the chair in his room. To our surprise he does really well with time outs. He listens when say, "time out, sit down on the stair." Sometimes he cries, sometimes he doesn't. After a minute or two of time out, he gives hugs and moves on.

Treats are pretty much the best thing, ever. We are back on the fruit snack kick we had with Harrison a couple of years ago. I don't dare think about going anywhere without a couple packs stashed in my purse. Those fruit snack companies make millions on just toddler's that is for sure.

Meal time is a hit/miss these days... Mostly miss. Casseroles and noodles are about the only thing that passes our kids lips. Welcome to picky eating central. This doesn't stop me from making "new" things... but most "new" things are just picked at best and left for Doug and I or the dog to finish.

Walks are pretty much the best thing ever (a side from swimming). "Walk" is a new word for Miles this month. He's good for a 30-60 minutes of just cruising in the stroller or wagon and if he's got a good case of the crabbies, a good long walk usually helps.

A first for him this month is blowing bubbles. He blew his first bubble tonight. I don't know who was more excited... Me or him? This is big stuff, especially when you have spent most of the summer just putting the soapy stick in your mouth. :)

Imitation is everything. He's a natural copy cat at anything Harrison does. And if he can't do it, he will do anything and everything to he can do to try. He doesn't easily give up. He is very strong willed. He is our complete opposition of  Harrison. Nope our first did not prepare us for our second. :)

As he is strong willed, he has a strong temper. He started these loud screams when he is afraid Harrison or Violet are going to take something from him or he is about to not get his way. Needless to say I am not a fan of this. I am hoping this phase is short lived. He also still tends to be a little brother bully---but do I dare say it's getting a tad better?

He loves to snuggle. Tonight I was about to lay him down for bed and when I picked him up he gave me the sweetest, longest hug, completely unprompted.

Chasing a tickling are the funnest (yes I can say funnest because I am not be graded on my own blog post).  Ps... I never proof read either before I hit publish on these entries (so that explains the typos and numerous grammar errors).

Oh Wow. We are now just 3 months shy of his 2nd birthday. I'm thinking something construction themed. He just loves big trucks, even trains are "big trucks."  However there won't be a "real" party this year other than us celebrating at home with cake, ice cream and presents. Since both of the boys birthdays are so close together and so close to the holidays...it's so tough planning individual/combined birthday party, especially since Harrison is more at the age of having "friend" parties. This fall we plan to take a long weekend and spend it in Wisconsin Dells at a water park. It's a choice we gave Harrison (Miles doesn't know the difference) party or water park and he chose water park.  Whew---I was secretly hoping he would choose that (party planning is a lot of work)! But if he (they) would have wanted the party, he (they) would have gotten a party.

Next up 22 months.




 

Story Time.

I feel like sometimes all they do is fight. Well, more Miles than Harrison...but not saying Harrison doesn't provoke it more often.

Well, when it's all said and done;  I am a referee... except the game never ends.

I look forwards to moments like this. I call it MAGIC. It makes all the struggles of parenting and sibling rivalry disappear.

Story time has become my favorite part of the evenings. Miles is old enough to be able to regularly join Harrison for a few stories at night. It's no longer Miles objective close the book or rip all of pages out :).

My favorite everyday.

 

 

Sherwood Forest

It's the first time we went camping as a family and the second time Doug and I have ever been camping together. Our friends Kyle & Kristi family owns a permanent site in Garrison, MN. The campground was Sherwood Forest.

We left late on a Friday evening in hopes the kids would sleep the almost 5 hour drive there. Miles was out within an hour in... Harrison FINALLY fell asleep about half hour before we reached the campground. Doug was pretty tired too...so I drove and he slept. I to was exhausted from long night before with the burglary at my studio, but with Harrison's continuous questions as always, "How many more blocks until we get there?" There was absolutely no way I would lose focus by sleep depravation while driving. In fact I made it through listening to "Finding Nemo" & "Horton Hears A Who" on the way up there in between the continuous question asking of that 4.5 year old I mentioned earlier. :)

After we arrived at the campground.... We all settle into bed about 2:30 AM.

Day One of Camping:

We started to stir about 8:00 AM.

Powdered sugar donuts and Bloedow's were a hit with a 4 year old, 3 year old and two 1 year olds.

After scoping out the campground and playing on the play set and mini golf we headed to the beach.

The winds at the beach picked up so we headed back to the pool for a couple of hours until the rain moved in.

After letting the rain pass... We did what was perhaps the most important thing of camping; we made smores :) If you haven't tried it already... substitute a Reeses peanut butter cup instead of the traditional chocolate. Oh it's delicious. I had 3 of them just to confirm this.

 

 

 

After the camp fire came bed for the little people in our lives and we raised a glass of cheer and sat around the camp fire in good conversation.

Day Two of Camping:

The older boys headed out to go fishing about 8 am. This left us girls with the two 1 year olds.

Not long into fishing the men ran into rain and had to head back. The rain had passed by the time the guys headed back to our campsite. We headed on a long walk around the campground. After nap, Krisiti and I took the 1 year olds to a small town in Nisswa.  Salt water taffy was a much needed purchase from the little town. The kids then played at a community park before we headed back to the campground.


Harrison had fun playing in the Raadt family boat and catching caterpillars. There must have been at least 100 just of those fuzzy little guys running around our campsite. I predict an awesome year for butterflies.

Like I mentioned... It's a good year for caterpillars and not to forget to mention a fabulous year for bug bites. Miles himself sported 23 mosquito bites (even with bug spray with deet).

Hammock fun!

Sunday evening Krisit spotted some smoke coming from the neighbor's next door shed (they were there this weekend). The men grabbed a hose, fire extinguisher, and headed next door to attempt to put out the fire. Meanwhile Krisiti was on the phone with 9-1-1 dispatcher. Kyle and the boys went to meet the fire trucks at the camp gate. Doug continued to fight the fire and put out the last flames and the fire fighters jumped out of their truck. The fire ended up being electrical and could have been a lot worse if it wouldn't have been for our men who sprung into action. Apparently we also learned that is you call 9-1-1 from a campground, they dispatch a police vehicle, fire vehicle and 3 fire trucks. Our campsite became a very popular spectator spot for golf carts that evening.

Day 3 of Camping (last day):

Monday morning was full of packing... but we still manage to fit a few snuggles in.

And I just had to grab a shot of the unique tree stump that lines the wood of our campsite. Can you see an image of a praying Mary? Very cool.

Both of families had such a great time this weekend and it's our hopes to get together for another long weekend this fall... but that's an entirely another bucket list in itself. There is so much of summer yet to accomplish!