Robert's First Haircut

It all started very innocently. Andrew has been pushing the "haircut" issue for the last few months and I've been putting it off. Well, last Wednesday (the Wednesday before Halloween) we were making Spooky Pops at my Mom's. My niece Maya had given herself a haircut, she's 4 years old. My niece Becky brought her clippers along to fix Maya's hair. Then Jesse had a haircut--Maya's older brother. I decided what the heck! Let's have the "1st haircut" behind us. So here's the before picture to show how long his hair was.

I asked Becky to clip off the curls so we could keep them in a little baggy in his baby book. You can see the look in Robert's eyes saying, "Wait a second. Wait just a second. I'm playing with cars here and someone is doing something behind my back and I don't like it one bit. I did not sign up for this!"

He really let us know how he felt about the situation too. A little boy and his cars (distractions from the reality of the situation) are not to be triffled with.

This is the new distraction, cars didn't last very long. I ended up holding him playing "Ahhhhhh BOO" while Becky did the finishing touches. He looks like such a big Wee Man now.

Carving our Pumpkin

I wanted to have a giant pumpkin this year so I could put Robert inside it and take a picture. So cute right? Well, it was a little chilly Sunday October 25th, but time was pressing on. We needed to carve our pumpkin. and take the picture. and bake the seeds.

Robert wasn't diggin' the whole "carving pumpkins is fun" idea. He did enjoy taking handfuls of seeds and sprinkling them around the yard though. I was really surprised of the size of the seeds inside this pumpkin. Like the pumpkin, the seeds were huge.

At last time to get that picture. And he hated it, of course. Who would enjoy being stuck inside a pumpkin? I still had a glimmer of hope tugging at my heart strings.

Sometimes the things we hope turn out cute as bug, turn out cute as a bug in a different way.

Something's Up

So I thought I'd blog a little while Robert is sleeping. For some reason I can't upload any pics. What's up with that? So here's my dialog anyway....

Poor little "wee man" is a sicky. Throw up and all! I feel sorry and greatful for Liz (our babysitter) all at the same time. She called me at work today, "Robert is throwing up and has a fever." I'll be right there," I told her. Sure enough, when I got to her house he had thrown up all over his clothes, blanket, and her living room. She already put his things in a plastic bag and had him stripped to his diaper. I loaded him up and drove him home. Just as we turned the last corner (Liz only lives 5 blocks away), here comes round 2! The car seat can wait, I told myself while rolling the windows down hoping I wouldn't come back to an icky smelling car.

I got him in the house and cleaned up, gave him a bottle of water (must stay hydrated!) and a new blanket, and went to the car to get the stinky car seat out of the car. He's got tylenol in him and he's down for the count---just taking a little snoozeroo. I'm sure when he wakes up, he'll feel much better.

Deer Hunting

October 10th is the opening day of deer season, and no matter what is going on we try and make it out every year, and this year was no exception. What was a little different this year though was a change in the regulations that govern the unit. This year it was a draw hunt only (with unlimited tags) where any antlered deer was legal.

Shortly after dawn we started seeing all sorts of deer crossing the fence where we wait every year, and after we saw a dozen or so does and fawns cross over, we moved on. As we were doing so another group of five jumped the fence right where we were standing and nearly ran us over. In the group there were two tiny bucks whose ears were larger than their horns. Lacey was pushing hard for me to shoot one of them, but I told her they needed to do some growing first.

Can you see the antlers on them?

She was kind of disappointed, but the feeling was short lived. About an hour later, when we were on top of the mountain, we waited on the north end of a saddle to wait and see if Dad would kick out anything as he circled around the south end of the saddle. Just as he was walking out of sight a group of three large bucks came into view almost as though they were watching Dad and waiting for him to get out of sight.

I didn't see them at first but Lacey was quick to point them out and remind me that I needed to shoot one of them. So, after sizing them all up I chose the third one in line because he looked like he was the biggest and he was presenting the best shot. After I squeezed off the first round nothing happened. I completely missed. But, the deer didn't move except to turn their heads to look in the direction the shot came from. I knew they wouldn't hang around for long, so I quickly chambered another round and shot again.

He dropped instantly and when we got to him 228 yards later this is what we found. He has five points on the right side and four on the left.

Things are about to get messy.

Once the gut pile came out we noticed that there wasn't a heart with it. The shock of the bullet must have obliterated it.

It's a long way back to the truck, but it's all down hill so it could have been a lot worse.

What is that on my belly?

Robert and I were playing in his room the other day. I had to go stir dinner and when I came back Robert was in the toy cupboard. Just chillin' with the toys.

Robert got this Pooh Bear the day he was born. It sat on the shelf with the other stuffed animals until about 3 months ago. I got him up from a nap and he was pointing to the stuffed animals. He went straight for the Pooh Bear and loves I mean LOVES snuggling up with it. As for the orange thing in his mouth. Well, we have a toy pegboard. The pegs have a hole all the way through. Robert likes to stick it in his mouth and then breathe really heavy---it whistles!

One day last week, I took Robert's tray down after dinner and he found the bellybutton. It's so interesting.

Yup, it's still there.

Our trip to Yellowstone

Last weekend (the last weekend of September) we went to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton Park. The autumn colors were beautiful. Old Faithful was still faithful. No bear sightings, but we saw plenty of elk and ofcourse buffalo. We stopped at the Grand Prismatic Pool and there was an osprey perched along the river. Not too often you see an osprey. We saw the fire between Jackson and Jenny Lakes. All in all it was a good time.

This is along the trail around Jenny Lake. Robert kept playing in all the leaves. It was so cute.

He was so tuckered out when we stopped at the Grand Prismatic Pool. He's still a thumb sucker when he sleeps.

The boardwalk around Old Faithful. The Lodge said it would go off at 10:10. We walked over about 9:50 and swoosh! It blew it's top! We watched it for a bit and as we were leaving bunches of people showed up for the 10:10 blast--too bad.....

Robert asks a question, "What's that?" sometimes it gets slurred together and comes out sounding like a swear word, "...'s h t?"

It's Morning Glory Pool! Pond whatever.....

Again, doesn't care that the water is freezing, just wants to play in it.

We were looking at some elk across the river and all of a sudden heard this one splashing just down a little ways from us.

Oh the shades. Andy in his Top Gun shades and Robert in the Mission Impossible shades.

September Flew By

I can't believe I didn't post anything for September! I've been adjusting to my new schedule at work, but I think October will be better. For the past couple years I've been working at the elementary level and this year I'm at middle school. School doesn't start until 8:50!! So we get out at 3:15--1 hour later than I'm used to, but it's getting better. We've had some good moments in Septemeber.

Andy went elk hunting--twice, but didn't get anything. The first time was too early and the second time was too hot. What's up with September being hot anyway? Robert and I went with him the second time. Even though he didn't get anything, it was still a great camping trip--Bob and Sheryl went too. Robert loved exploring the rocks and creeks.

The first night we were there his bottle got left out on the table disassembled--the nipple, cap, bottle, the bottom screw on thing, and the plastic ventilator thing that goes in the bottom. Anyway, in the morning I went to get him a bottle and couldn't find the nipple. The paper towel that all the bottle parts were sitting on was chewed at the edges and there were mouse droppings!! Somewhere there's a mouse with a bottle nipple that doesn't belong to him! We managed without it though.

Robert eating breakfast in his warm cookie monster suit. It was warm during the day, but the mornings and evenings were chilly.

Andy and Robert in their camo.

Robert loves hats. I thought this one with Andy's hat was precious.

Robert playing on the camping blanket with some toys.

This is the makeshift bottle I came up with after the blasted mouse ran off with the nipple.

We played BY the creek, but then Robert decided it would be much more fun to play IN the creek even though it was COLD! He didn't mind one bit.