Through Aleana's Eyes - Dog Days of Summer

Two Christmas' ago, we got Aleana a camera (nikon cool pix s210). I have to say, it has been a great purchase, especially this summer. Aleana gets bored. Let's face it. Two kids who still nap, another who needs some sort of quiet time, and a nursing baby means that the afternoons in our home are quiet, and well, boring. So when Aleana had her fill on reading, I would encourage her to take her camera outside and try to take some pictures. I have to say, I am impressed. She does a great job. All of these pictures are untouched. No photoshop/editing was done. She has learned to use all the different little functions on the camera. Smart kid. Good photographer.

In this segment, it's all about the dog. Guess that's what happens when Sasha is the only other animal in the backyard. She makes a good subject :)

Aleana's Eyes - Nature

Nature segment. I love seeing things through her eyes. Even the smallest weeds all of the sudden look beautiful. Again, all this "nature" was found in our backyard.

Aleana's Eyes - through the aquarium...

In this segment: Our aquarium. One of her fish (she named it, but I can't remember), and her frog (again - there's a name, just not sure what it is)

Ol' Silver City

Tracy had to be at some sort of cattleman's meeting in Silver City, ID (not to be confused with Silver City, NM - which we have also been). So we tagged along. The weather was great and so was the drive. We got to see a lot of gorgeous scenery which made me fall even more in love with Idaho. The only way to get to this historical town (which is only open to the public from April to October) is by dirt road/4-wheel drive. He was able to take a nice big truck (Ford F350) that fit all of us. Tracy loved the off-road drive, and Hannah kept asking for more bumps, as I tried not to cry when we rounded the curves on the side of a cliff on a one-lane dirt "road".

All the buildings looked like this. Since this town is classifed as "historical", no changes can be made to the buildings without permission from the BLM. No buildings can be added. These homes that are standing have been passed down though the families for generations. It's really cool to look at what it was like to live 100 years ago.

This is just outside the little restaurant that serves pie. Neat little place. Of course, no indoor plumbing.

Love this pic.

The kids played in the creek while Tracy was in the meeting. What I really liked was the humming birds. They were everywhere, and they weren't shy. As the kids were getting muddy, one little humming bird must have thought I was interesting. It kept buzzing right up to my face and just looking at me, and not for just a split second either. It would just hover there. I have never had that happen before. Aleana was jealous. I wish I had a camera at that moment - but this picture that I got later will have to do.

Random

Random pictures that I love.

Licking the brownie spatula. Not sure if she was so happy because it was her turn, or because her getting a turn made Trent mad.

If there was sound to this picture, you would hear her snoring.

Making homemade ice cream - Thanks Grandma Giles!

Just a great picture. Love the dimples, love the baby, and love the man holding the baby.

Hannah and Grandpa Giles

Reading a dictionary, and enjoying it. Weird kid. :)

Luke 4 months

4 months old and still growing. He's a big boy, and doesn't show any signs of slowing. He now weighs 19 pounds. No wonder my back hurts.

Bath time. So relaxing.

Still suffers from reflux...but that doesn't stop him from playing.

This is the look I see at least 4 times a day. He knows what's for dinner. :)

Joining in the celebration at Aleana's b-day. Just shy of turning 4 months.

Love pictures like this.

Time for solids. Rice cereal. Yummo.

Do they have a different size?

Luke is hitting that stage. He's too big to sit in the bouncy or car seat for any length of time, because he likes to wiggle (what baby doesn't). Plus, his bouncy has become a low-rider due to the load it has to carry. Luke so wants to move around and sit up, but his muscles still aren't strong enough to hold the said heavy load (that doesn't mean his diaper is full - just to clarify). Here enters the Bumbo. Best baby invention. However, I wish it came in a bigger size. That way, we wouldn't have to wedge his pudgy little legs in there, like we have to now. And by wedge, I mean, it is a TIGHT fit. Let's just say it does't fit him like it did Hannah. Once he's sitting in the Bumbo, he loves it. Getting him out is trick, and it's not because he loves it so much and wants to stay. Again, it's due to his adorable pudgy legs. I have to pick him up, and one of the kids has to help pry his legs out. Wish it didn't have to be a two-person operation.

Luke: Mom, this car seat thing isn't working. Neither is the frog (compliments of Aleana).

Ahhh, he is oh, so cute. So what if he needs a jumbo Bumbo?

Trent is SEVEN!

Happy Birthday Trent!

Trent didn't have a big party this year. We had ice cream cake, and had a BBQ. Trent also wanted a Jersey Wooly rabbit and he picked out a ruby-eyed white one. He named her Fluffy, so very original, I know. We were able to take both his and Aleana's rabbits home just a few days before his birthday. He was so excited. Now only if I had the camera when they picked up the bunnies. One of these days, I'll get some pics of the rabbits posted. I also forgot to get pictures of the decorations Tracy did (I'm such a slacker). You'll just have to take my word for it, he did a great job. I did however, manage to snap a few pictures of his cake.

Trent patiently waiting so he can blow out the candles.

Hard to imagine my boy is 7. He is one of a kind. I love watching how he learns and how his mind works. He is kind and very protective of his siblings. He's always coming up with new ideas to make things work better, and he asks waaay more than 20 questions on any given day. I love you Trent!

Aleana turns double digits

The Big 1-0

Tracy does this special thing for the kids' birthdays. He waits for the kids to go to bed. He then breaks out the streamers, tape, balloons, and the gorilla ladder. This is what Aleana woke up to:

She got to have a "big" birthday party this year (we don't have big parties every year). She was allowed to invite a few friends. She really, really wanted a slumber party. We really, really didn't want to have to deal with that. So we settled on a camping theme.

Thank you Dairy Queen!

Mini-bonfire :)

Part of the camping theme. We set up the tent, and played games outside. We had sling-shot shooting contests, ball tossing games, crafts in the tent. Good stuff and cheap.

This year, Aleana wanted to get a rabbit. We let her pick out a Jersey Wooly rabbit through her 4h program, but it wasn't ready to leave it's mama. So she couldn't open a present from us. But, she did receive money from grandparents, and was able to purchase this. It was a big hit with her friends.

And her dad :)

These pics crack me up, because Tracy was chasing Aleana. She darted into the tent, thinking she was safe. She should have known better. Tracy followed her in. All I heard was muffled laughs. Awesome.

This was the after party. We left the tent up for a few days. After all that work, we had to make it worth the effort.

Happy Birthday Aleana Mae!

Luke 3 months

At 3 months, Luke weighed in at 18 lbs. My little chunk-o-hunk loves his food. It's hard to believe that he weighs more than Hannah did when she was 16 months old. And considering all the reflux stuff that we are dealing with (the physical therapy seems to be helping a little bit), his weight gain is amazing.

Luke, how you steal my heart.

I love singing to you, because you like to sing with me - cooing, curling your little lips and smiling the whole time. You smile is bright and your eyes are full of light.

Time passes by too quickly.

I wish I had a pause button.