We Now Interrupt Our Scheduled Vacation Update Posts. . .

To wish Claire a happy second birthday! It's hard to believe this happened two years ago. (And, as it happened that I posted that story exactly one year after the fact, today is also this blog's first anniversary!)

Now that she's two, we are officially breaking Claire of the pacifier. I'll update as more time goes by, but I'm surprised at how easy it's been so far. I had really built it up in my mind to be a gruelling ordeal for all of us.


A Glow Worm: her inducement for giving up her pacifier.

This is where Ruby tells her that she needs to share her new "baby."

And an update on Haley. She had her six week check today, even though she's older. (Blame a trip, then a sick toddler for the un-timliness.) I took this pic yesterday to ask Barb if I should be concerned about her hyper-extended neck. Aparently, she just likes it that way. Haley weighs in at 11 lb, 5 oz. and seems to be developing thrush. Not entirely sure yet.

4th of July

More "Vacation" Pics

Tuesday at the gate: Uncle Kev shows the girls the planes

Wednesday: cousins Gabe and Ruby enjoy freshly picked cherries from Lita and Grandpa John's orchard.

Thursday: Ruby and her Great-Grandma Ruby (and Haley, of course)

Haley and her Great-Grandpa Gib

Saturday evening: Our "traditional" Multnoma Falls family photo (is it traditional if we've only done it twice?)

Whew! What a Vacation!

Monday marked our ninth day away from home and our return from an ambitious family trip, involving driving and flying, and including the three beautiful states of Colorado, Oregon and Washington. We left Sunday morning, June 29th, drove to Colorado Springs to visit my family, drove up to Denver on Tuesday to catch a late-night flight to Portland with my sister and her family, spent 5 full days in the Oregon/Washington area visiting Casey's family, then met up with M and K again at the airport early Monday morning to fly back to Denver. We promptly drove to Colorado Springs to eat lunch and then started our almost-eight-hour drive home.

AND IT IS GOOD TO BE HOME AGAIN!

What prompted such a crazy whirlwind trip with a newborn? One thing mainly: Claire turns two this Monday. As of Monday, we will have to buy four--FOUR!--tickets to fly anywhere from now on. Needless to say, we expect this to be our last flying experience as a family for quite some time. At our current rate of having babies, it is almost out of the question that we will be able to keep up our yearly pilgrimage to the west coast.

So, why the extra fuss of driving all the way to Denver? Casey and I have flown with 2 children under two before--not exactly relaxing. Add another baby and a volitile toddler into the equation and we weren't about to kid ourselves. As much trouble as it was to drive to Denver, one thing made it totally worth it: HELP. My sister and her family were heading out to Portland to visit her husband's family and we jumped at the chance to fly along with them. Her children are older and my girls love "Auntie M" and her kin. Of course, the added fact that each ticket was $150-$200 cheaper than flying out of ABQ, as well as the sad thought that I'm not going to be driving up to visit my family by myself anytime soon made our decision final.

Casey thinks that the help was so valuable, it would be worth it even if we hadn't saved any money. There are fewer stressful "every-day" things than a screaming toddler in close(d!) quarters THAT BELONGS TO YOU. Thankfully, the trips (all of them) were without much incident. It was a completely satisfying and enjoyable trip, and very much worth all the trouble. That being said, WE DO NOT WANT TO DO IT AGAIN ANYTIME SOON. We are happlily home until Christmas (we think).

So much happened on our trip--so many momentous things--but I am too tired to expound at this moment. A few pictures will have to suffice.

Sunday: pit stop in Las Vegas, NM

Aunties M and Deb: M holding Haley, Deb holding Caiden. Upon arriving in the Springs, we went straight to a park to eat dinner and let the girls stretch their legs. The fam walked over and met us there.

Monday evening: under the trampoline at Papa and Nana's house with cousin Lydia

Tuesday night on the Denver airport trolley

Uncle Kev and cousin Isaac

Haley's 5 weeks

Just a quick update--hard to type while nursing. Haley was 5 weeks on Thursday.

Wednesday. One of Ruby's favorite pastimes

Star-gazing Haley on Thursday. This is her preferred neck position. I'm glad she didn't come out that way! From what I've read, star-gazers are very difficult to deliver.

A "Ruby's-eye" view of last night's bath. Ruby's photography--but if it weren't for her, we wouln't have pictures of some things! Haley's not as big as she looks here. The camera adds 10 pounds.

Family Time

Casey and I are trying many different ideas to quell the disturbing behavior of our two oldest children. Right now, we're on the "let's spend focused time with each of them" idea. Focused time in general has been helpful so far, but we thought it might be good to separate now and then and each of us take one of the girls to have special time with them individually.

Yesterday, the naughtiness reached new heights (?) and I was at the point of tears (again--I know, that doesn't mean much does it?) Casey called me back (after I called him at work to ask for ideas) and asked if I needed him to come home to help. I hemmed and hawed, because I didn't really need "help" physically--I was just losing it mentally and emotionally. I had already given up any idea of getting much done for the day, but just dealing with them, period, was proving more than I could handle emotionally. (I know, I sound like the biggest wimp, but that's how it is.) He said that's what he would come home for: to help keep me--and my poor girls--sane. Of course, I said yes. What a fabulous husband. He left 2 hours early from work (vacation time--and if you know my husband, you know that is a HUGE sacrifice. He does not like to take vacation time unless we are going on vacation!) and was home by 2 p.m. We had a great time as a family once the girls got up from their naps. My sanity returned soon after the phone call--just knowing the cavalry was coming. My hero!

Finger Painting for Great-Grandma Ruby.
Everything's better now that Daddy's home!
Candy Land on Wednesday.This is to show that I was involved, too. Ruby was the photographer--hence, Daddy's cut off head.
This is to show Haley's involvement.

Dinner Helper

Ruby loves to help me in the kitchen. She's always asking to help make dinner, wash dishes, etc. I always tell her she can help with the things that aren't on the stove. So today, when Casey got home from work, she informed him, "Mommy says after she's finished burning the chicken, I can help her." Lovely.