Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Tooth Achers

The last few days have been a blur of whining and crying, with an occasional smile from Greyson. He is getting 4 new teeth on top. His two front (BIG) ones and the two incisors next to those. Poor guys is not happy, I wouldn't be all that pleasant if I was in his shoes either. He seems to only be happy nursing or eating. Here's my blueberry boy happy as a clam!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Road and The Radio...

My intention was to blog each day while on the road, but that didn't seem to happen...so this life as is happened, day three - eight...

DAY three

We continued on our road trip to Whitefish, MT EARLY (3:45AM) Wednesday morning. Josh needed to be there by 11AM to golf with the wedding party etc. There was a little mix up with the directions :) and what would have taken 3.5 hours, ended up taking 6.5...(awesome). Thankfully they were able to push the tee time back and all was fine on that end. This meant that Kara and I would have to drop the guys off at the course, DRIVE the RV, find our camp site and if we were really feeling awesome (we so are!) set up. This entails engaging the jacks, leveling out, slide outs and making our overall "home" for the next few days. Truth be told Kara and I pulled it all off with flying colors and in about half the time the guys did. Women are so efficient. All the while I am certain the older lady across the way who watched us back er up...thought we were lesbians...that is until our husbands rolled in...awesome!


On the road again...

(Hey, look at that Gregor's got himself a tan!)

(Oh the black beans and the "clean-up" that went all wrong when big brother wanted to do it!)




DAY four

Upon departing CDA, Idaho we also left our internet connection. :( Is it symbolic that my demeanor started to feel like I had lost connection? This location wasn't as nice as CDA, no river and no nice grassy area for Greyson. But tons of lovely rock gravel. To which he couldn't put enough in his mouth. Ugh...
Highlight: There was a small window where Greyson was sleeping and Levi was playing around with rocks outside while I sat and watched.






("Um hello, I'm just a wee guy...")
DAY five

Happy 30th Birthday Gregor - being the camper extraordinaire that he is, I'm pretty sure this is the best 30th birthday he could have asked for!





(Love these of the boys!)


After a big breakfast made all on the grill (FYI french toast made right on the grill is pretty darn good!) we headed out to Whitefish Lake. Levi had a great time playing in the sand, that is until Greg introduced him to 'Mr. Lobster'. Apparently to a 2 1/2 year old he looks rather "scawy" moving around with the breeze...this picture pretty much says it all!







We enjoyed a great lunch in downtown Whitefish and headed back for the rehearsal & dinner.

DAY six
Wedding Day
While Josh stayed back with the boys, I headed into downtown with Kara & Greg to check out the shops. Is it bad this hour and a half was one of my favorites from the trip?? :) There are some cute little shops and who would have thought a shop in Whitefish, Montana would sell $135 flip flops!?!? Yes, flip flops people...I wish I had my camera to prove it. INSANE!! Anyway, I found myself a cute little pair of Hudson jeans on sale. Love it!
The wedding was beautiful, under a tent outside, right on the water. Perfect. Levi really stole the show at the reception. The kid pretty much cut it up and rock out all night on the dance floor. Mind you he solely consumed fruit punch and cake all night...awesome! Whether he was bobbing around on his own out there or swinging around with Clara the flower girl, (adorable) Levi seemed to think the night was just for him. He had the time of his life. It was a great wedding, so fun, fabulous food and all the drinks you could (or couldn't :) handle.
Congrats Jason & Jessie!!!


DAY seven

Up early (again) we headed back to CDA. It sure was nice to pull back into that park. For an RV park it appears to be the cream of the crop. Something this "camper" is all about! :)

After some sunshine and river time we biked into town. This was one of my favorite things we got to do while in CDA, it was so fun to put the kids in the bike trailer and head out. They loved it and I loved the exercise. We checked out the shops and then strolled the worlds largest floating boardwalk (really). CDA is actually a cool little town, very similar to downtown Kirkland with the waterfront and fun little shops.

(This fun toy store had a carousel, which Levi was TERRIFIED to attempt until brother did - can you blame him, check out the horses eye! Yikes!)


Upon arriving back to the RV park, there was a wedding going on...kid you not. I think we all almost ran into one another as we did double takes and craned our necks to check it out. I mean this is a nice park, but it IS still an RV park. All I have to say is, I believe I may have seen something of this sorts via an e-mail fwd??? :)
I'm so ready to go home, can't wait for tomorrow...

DAY eight
I LIVE IN A MANSION!!!
Never again will I complain about the 1300 sq. ft. we live in. I LOVE MY HOUSE!!!
We headed out of CDA around 7am, for our 5 hour drive home. I was/am exhausted and rather dreading this drive. It started out 'okay', but about 3 hours into it I started in on "how much longer." The mere sounds/whining of my kids voices was starting to feel a little like fingernails on a chalkboard. Being in such close proximity for nearly 24 hours a day was definitely peaking for me. Thankfully both boys fell asleep (I even cracked a magazine) for about 10 minutes. Until they were quickly awakened when we had to stop for gas - CRAP!!! By this point I am so tired and edgy I can barely wait to pull into our driveway. We made it though and what an adventure it was. One I will never forgot, nor need to endure ever again! :) Wow, I need a vacation...
~Thanks Kara for all the great pics, click here to check out additional pics and their blog~

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Day TWO


(rough life right, someone has to do it though!)
Never under estimate the power of prayer. It's 9AM and Levi just woke up and Greyson is still sleeping! All the while we are all within arms length. I woke up praising the Lord...it's gorgeous outside, already almost 80 degrees with a lovely breeze off the river. It's going to be an awesome day!
I WILL SURVIVE, AND WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME...EVEN MOMMA! :)

(Wee guy was SO exhausted, he was completely passed out in the bike trailer after the ride)

Monday, July 7, 2008

Day ONE


Come on sing it with me..."life is a highway, I'm gonna drive it all night long..."

We arrived in Coeur d' Alene late last night. Both boys slept a collective, oh hour an a half at best all day. Granted with the 4th and all Levi had gone 3 days without a nap. So we were already "having fun"! :) Everyone finally settled down and fell asleep around 11:30PM. Then bright and early one by one starting with Greyson the fun began around 5AM...
I am beyond exhausted. I even muttered at one point that I was flying home today...When Momma doesn't sleep things get rough. There have been tears today...okay maybe flat out sobbing and I'm not just talking about the boys. Levi did take a 3.5 hour nap, so things are looking up, right? I hope, I pray...

Saturday, July 5, 2008

On Tour...

(Here she is, in all her glory)
Well not really, but I feel like it. :) Josh's boss graciously offered to let us borrow their 36 ft. (um, wow) RV. We are headed for Whitefish, MT for a wedding Josh is the bestman in. Us 4 Arnolds, along with Greg & Kara are heading out from the Arnold residence. To break things up a bit, we will stop in Coeur d'Alene for a few days and enjoy the fun lakeside has to offer there. Then we are off to Whitefish...
The RV sleeps 10 people...crazy...it's going to be an adventure and I can only imagine the daily entries to come. We really want the Hicks to have kids...SOON...so I pray they will still be headed in that direction in about 7 days. :)
These are thoughts that run around in my head, often...

Oh I pray the boys sleep through the night...
Please Lord, let them be good...
I really hope I can relax and sleep, without worry of the boys waking others up...
How will the bathroom situation be?
I'm really excited to ride bikes...(why?)
I wish the boys were old enough to remember this...
I'm dreading the food battle with Levi...
I can't wait to read...I hope I get to read...
It's going to be a blast!!!!!!!!!

Who loves her boys?

I DO!!!
I am so in love with the recent photos 'Aunty Kawa' (Kara) took of my boys (her husband is Josh's best friend, Greg). Oh and I kinda like her too. ;) Anyway, check out these...she's becoming quite the photographer and I think it's rather cool she likes to use my boys as subjects! Thanks Kara, for the fun pics!!!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Dogs need SPF too...

Today was Tia's day...this time Levi opted for the Hawaiian Tropics SPF 45. Tia and the lounger were well lathered. Poor Tia is walking around smelling like tropical bananas (is that a smell?) I have to take her to get a good scrub down tomorrow. I think I'm more upset about the $15.99 my son has wasted over the past two days. I wasn't laughing this time...