Wednesday, October 30, 2013
It's Been A While
Ok, I know I have severely neglected our blog so I hope you will forgive me if this post is a bit random. Here's a little catch-up. We moved back to Idaho two years ago and stayed with Travis's mom for a while and then with my parents while we fixed up my grandpa's rental home to live in. We were there for several months when Travis got a teaching job at BYU Idaho. After commuting for five months we moved closer to the school and we are loving it here. I'm getting to know the moms in our neighborhood, Mason is enjoying kindergarten and Travis is finally in a teaching position that he has been praying for for a long time.
About a year ago we began the adoption application process. Our case worker told us that you could theoretically push through and get an application done in three weeks. We foolishly thought we could do that. Not so... I think it took us about ten months from start to finish. The hardest part, for me anyway, was the letter to the birth parents. How do you decide what to tell someone who is looking for someone to raise their child? How much do you share?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Camping
We'd been talking about going camping for a while earlier this summer and we finally made it happen. With the help of our leftover Christmas money we had, we found a nice tent and some other camping gear and probably spent more then we needed to or should have. It was worth it to me though.
If it hadn't been for the bugs and the fact that we needed to cook our dinner I don't know that we would have a fire at all. It was a really warm day. I think it got down to 73 degrees that night and it was very humid and there was no breeze. Sleep did not come easily. Mason didn't seem to mind though. He danced around the tent and had a great time taking full advantage of a late (more like lack of) bedtime that night. 
Sitting around the fire. 
We had an uninvited guest during our little camping trip. Mason loves to explore when he's in a new place so Travis took him for a walk. While on this walk Travis saw and pointed out this cat that he saw. One of them called the cat over and they started petting it. While petting it Travis realized his mistake. The cat followed them back to the campsite and didn't leave until after we did the next morning.
There is a creek that runs though the park where we camped. This a foot bridge that goes over it. I know, not that impressive.
This, however, was impressive (to me, at least). I've never forded a creek before. Sure, I've driven through puddles before but this was quite different. I was sure we were going to be swept away.
We made it across though. Several times, in fact.
We went camping the following week because we had so much fun. We decided to to a two-nighter the second time around and decided that that was Mason's limit. While we were breaking camp he insisted on sitting in the hot tent or waiting in the car. He had had enough of the bugs and just wanted to sit and watch a movie on his little DVD player. I know, way to rough it. IPods and movies.
Although it was cooler and I think we slept a little better, the bugs were just as bad. We ended up driving to the nearest Walmart and buying some fogger and spraying our campsite with it. I was wishing we had done that the first time camping and the night before. It was great.
I forgot the camera on our second camping trip and was regretting it because we saw a couple of baby raccoons. They were just wandering around the park. I wasn't expecting to see much wildlife but there they were.
Sitting around the fire. We had an uninvited guest during our little camping trip. Mason loves to explore when he's in a new place so Travis took him for a walk. While on this walk Travis saw and pointed out this cat that he saw. One of them called the cat over and they started petting it. While petting it Travis realized his mistake. The cat followed them back to the campsite and didn't leave until after we did the next morning.There is a creek that runs though the park where we camped. This a foot bridge that goes over it. I know, not that impressive.This, however, was impressive (to me, at least). I've never forded a creek before. Sure, I've driven through puddles before but this was quite different. I was sure we were going to be swept away.We made it across though. Several times, in fact.
We went camping the following week because we had so much fun. We decided to to a two-nighter the second time around and decided that that was Mason's limit. While we were breaking camp he insisted on sitting in the hot tent or waiting in the car. He had had enough of the bugs and just wanted to sit and watch a movie on his little DVD player. I know, way to rough it. IPods and movies.
Although it was cooler and I think we slept a little better, the bugs were just as bad. We ended up driving to the nearest Walmart and buying some fogger and spraying our campsite with it. I was wishing we had done that the first time camping and the night before. It was great.
I forgot the camera on our second camping trip and was regretting it because we saw a couple of baby raccoons. They were just wandering around the park. I wasn't expecting to see much wildlife but there they were.
BUBBLES, BUBBLES, BUBBLES
While we were in Idaho Mason had his little birthday party with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. One of his gifts was bubbles with a long bubble wand. He LOVES it. The first time we got it our we were all surprised at the size of the bubbles and I was surprised at how long Mason chased them around. I am amazed sometimes at how much energy that child has.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Hide and Seek
Travis was taking Mason back to the bathroom last night to get him ready for bed. Mason's new favorite thing to do is play Hide and Seek. One the way back and into the bathroom the conversation went like this:
Mason: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7,
Travis: Oh, you're stuck. 8.
Mason: 8, 8, 8,
Travis: Hahahaha. 9
Mason: 9
Travis: 10
Travis is still holding him at this point.
Mason: 10... Ready or not, I coming. (small pause) I find you!!!
Mason: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7,
Travis: Oh, you're stuck. 8.
Mason: 8, 8, 8,
Travis: Hahahaha. 9
Mason: 9
Travis: 10
Travis is still holding him at this point.
Mason: 10... Ready or not, I coming. (small pause) I find you!!!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Cousins, A.K.A., Best Buds
I love watching these two play together. It's probably one of my favorite things about going to Idaho. You can tell Mason is an only child. I guess we need to practice sharing more with other children. Mason didn't want to watch what his other cousins were watching on TV so we got the little DVD player out for him. It's a good thing his cousin was being patient and was content to watch the movie over his shoulder.
We went to see the baby farm animals at the fairgrounds while we were in Idaho and I think the boys had more fun playing in the little pools filled with pea seeds. I didn't think we brought any seeds home but when I did laundry I kept finding more that they must have been "hiding" in their pants.
"Hey! Where'd he go?"
Mason: I'm king of the mountain!!!
Teigan: Not if I can help it!!!
One of Mason's favorite things to do while at Grandma and Grandpa Turners' house is to ride the little four-wheeler around the yard. This time around, Grandma went out to Aaron and Vanaes' house and picked up their four-wheeler so Mason and Teigan could ride together. Looks like we needed a third so Violet could ride too.
Mason's New Favorite Thing To Do
So, I know that I have really neglected our blog lately. I'm finally sitting down to do a little updating and share a few videos of Mason thoroughly enjoying some time with Travis and his harmonicas. There was a lot of video taken and it was hard to narrow it down to one or two so I went ahead and posted these four. I hope it isn't overkill.
In this last one Mason just started putting one harmonica away at a time but one of the harmonicas don't belong in this set so there wasn't ever enough slots to put them all away. My baby cracks me up. I hope you enjoy.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
twin baby boys have a conversation - part 2 ORIGINAL VIDEO
I stole this from a friends status on Facebook and it was too good not to share. It really makes you wonder what they are thinking. I love the mismatched/missing socks.