The Mother of Geese

Brad Danielson family and Jared Danielson family hiked down to Emerald Bay while we waited for the boat to join us. The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast. The mother of geese was pleased to see fellow geese at the beach. Sadly I have about 15 pictures with her eyes closed and this very same pose A tuckered out little boy takes a nap under the picnic table. He loved to walk in the freezing water then pretend to eat the sand. Or really eat the sand. Potayto, Potahto. Who needs sand toys?

The ball that Abbie paid for with her own money was a huge hit (obviously). Thanks to an awesome birthday present from this gal I made the most awesome ice cream birthday cake. It was yummy! Max got a smaller version with canned icing(sorry about that kid) Take a bite! Take a bite! Take a bite! I can't believe my little boy has been here a year! I love this affectionate, chill, little mama's boy so much!

We camped at a place that was close to the beach. Since I had no intention of bathing the children, a quick dip in frigid Tahoe seemed just the ticket. We couldn't stay long because we were in charge of dinner for everyone (salmon, monkey bread, broccoli salad, water melon) but it seemed to sort of get the kids clean before a new layer of dust descended. Remember how impossible it is to get all three kids looking at me at the same time? Nancy, any ideas? Here's Abbie. And Amelia. Max had just thrown some sand at Brad's face when I snapped this. But look at my cute baby in his trashy diaper!! Isn't he divine? When we arrived at the campsite we received the obligatory "You are in bear country, take precautions, blah blah blah". While Brad was setting up the tents the girls were being especially obnoxious and not listening until I spotted a bear at the next campsite looking for food. Hello! Was the bear warning a little casual?! How about saying "we have 8 ...

Some people brag about how fast they can make a roadtrip. Like "I made it to Reno in 7 hours from Salt Lake"! To that I say BIG WHOOP. Our family can make it to Reno in 13 hours!!!Yay for us and our slowness! Not everyone can stretch out a trip in the desert quite like we can! We felt super cool when we realized that we spent the same amount of time at the rest stop then we did on the actual road. I was a bit nervous having the girls stretch their legs and our limits in a crowded parking lot (what with all the elderly drivers and such.)so Brad solved that by putting them up and away. We (meaning he) was able to pack the car without having to strap them in or be run over by Sonja the Slotqueen in her cadi. I did love that the Peppermill parking lot cranks out Neil Diamond. "Money Talks! But it don't sing and dance and it don't walk!!!" Imagine this face for several hours looking at you. Horray for Redbox, IPODs, Elko Walmart, This American Life reruns for me...

I had a meeting in the morning of Max's birthday and I had been composing a sweet and heartfelt birthday post to him in my head until I could come home to my big boy. I was greeted by this scene. Schmoopy birthday post averted. I've heard of going "T-Ping" at birthday slumber parties but this is uncalled for. Someone should really teach him that we don't TP our own house.

Ah, its good to be back to the familiar orange and blue blogger page. Wowzer! Have things been crazy busy around these parts?! (yes). I have this huge guilt thing going because I haven't posted in so long--so I am going to take the last 2 weeks in baby steps--(breathe in, breathe out) But first--can I just say... HOW FREAKING HAPPY I AM THAT MY MIA IS FINALLY ON HER WAY TO BEING POTTY TRAINED?! (and the carnage has been relatively low this time around. Who woulda thunk that if I shamed her for 2 months it would actually work?! Emotional manipulation rules!) We went on our annual Danielson campout to Tahoe. Amelia played with Max while I helped Bradfo get organized and set up. (read-sat and ate sandwiches and visited with Wilma). Do you feel a leetle bit bad for him? don't. Max is intrigued yet uncomfortable with this action. Looks at me with those big baby blues for approval. Can't give him the thumbs up because I am busy fumbling for the camera. Amelia needs no approval....

Sandwiches are yummy! Sand is yucky!

Whenever the kids start getting on my nerves I like to send them on jobs that are away from me to keep the happy in the house. Abbie was in rare form last evening so I sent her outside with a bag to go pick apricots so we can make jam. She came back a few minutes later with a bloody nose. I thought it was just your standard dry weather induced bloody nose like I used to get all the time. Nope. An apricot dropped down on her and gave her a bloody nose. I felt like a super awesome mom. Also, lately Amelia has been doing these little Jedi Mind Tricks on me. Example: Amelia: Mom, I want to have a cookie. Say Yes. Ok? Ok Mom. Say Yes. Like This "Yes". Ok? It generally works.

Saturday the kids and I went up for an adventure at our favorite library. Imagine our good luck when we found that there was also a fun children's parade going on. (Summer Parade count now at 3) Having a great time reading stories with Papa. (leave it to Abbie to find the Heffelump books at the library. Like we don't "have it up to here with Heffelumps". Abbie was trying to get me to go someplace with her and she said we would only be gone for a few episodes. Hmmm. Might be time to monitor the TV time again. I went to the Nordstrom sale on Saturday in search of the much needed undergarment. Abbie came along so when we were at the DMV today (did my license really expire in April? So I've been driving around without a valid license? Like I did when I was 15? hmmm)-she uses her not so quiet voice and says, "So are you wearing your new bra today? How do you like it?". About 15 sets of eyes turned to inspect the product. I said, yep, but let's pretend lik...

so are the Days of Our Lives... I looked at the calendar today and realized that Abbie will be back in school in one month! I can't believe how fast this summer has cruised by. For the sake of posterity, and for a non-interesting post, I wanted to record some of the things we have done this summer. (in no particular order) Something "water-related" nearly every day. (slide, pool, sprinklers, water parks, etc..) Visited the canyon for dinners and activities Learned how to play UNO Bike-rides, walks to grandma's house Planted a garden Visited Thanksgiving Point at least once a week Gone to the library twice a week (favorites have included Junie B. Jones books (till Mom said let's have a Junie B. Break), Geronimo Stilton 1-3, Boxcar Children 1-2, and more) Parks, parks, and parks! City festivals (2) Played with Hali-licious and Nanny nearly every day Stayed up late Woke up early (grrrr.) Baked and cooked together at least once a week Picnics No wonder I have needed t...

.....because she wanted Honey Nut Cheerios. I currently have 28 (not kidding) varieties of assorted cereals in my basement. Its like your very own cereal aisle. So it kills me when she screams when I don't have the exact cereal she wants. Spoiled much? She should really learn from Max who a. isn't picky about the type of cereal, b. doesn't care if its in a bowl, c. prefers it spilled on the driveway fresh out of the box.

I did. I would love to know what she almost said the second time she nearly biffed it.

I stumbled on this blog which led me to this article ,and I have been thinking about it off and on for the last couple of days. (not really, but a gal's gotta think about something while she is trying to sleep). For you non-follower-of-the-linkers here is the run down. If you want a perfect chocolate chip cookie you should allow the dry ingredients plenty of time to fully absorb the wet ingredients. I had my doubts that it would make a difference, but in our house we have 2 very different schools of thought when it comes to cookies. Perhaps resting the dough can make everyone happy? Crispy outside, doughy delish on the inside. Brad likes his cookies hard and crispy, I like them warm and "battery." I used this recipe (which sadly, with the cookie scoop on made like 15 cookies. total. seriously.). I made them without any help from my bakers so I could let science fully do the trick. Chocolate Chip Cookies adapted from Demolition Desserts 8 Tablespoons (4 ounces) butter, sof...

Guess who I'm going to see August 13? Jealous?

Amelia singing her ABC's to a horse this morning. A,B,C,C,E,F,G, H, I, J, J, AND THE LETTER B, Q, R, S, T, U, B, W, X, Y, AND Z NOW ANNOYING ABCS NEXT TIME I WILL SING WITH YOU. She is perfectly perfect in every way no? Yesterday we went to a dinasaur party at the museum, which is perfect, because Amelia is OBSESSED with all things dinasaur lately. She asked for a dinasaur foot on her cheek. I wanted to say suck it pretty girls! to all the other girls that had hearts and flowers on their cheeks. Abbie wanted a skull (?). m'kay. Rock on, party girl! They made little craps (strike that) crafts for us to take home. Mr. Balloon man in the flaming shirt made a very impressive balloon dinasaur. I should have asked if I could have it for Amelia's 3rd birthday coming up. (don't worry we talk everyday about her T-Rex party coming soon, but not today).

It dawned on me earlier this summer that I have never taken my middle child to feed any ducks. Ever. She will be starting school (cue angels singing Hallelujah!!) soon so I want to make sure I do all the things that I believe make a meaningful childhood. It may not be a big deal but since I remember feeding the ducks like EVERY day growing up here , I felt a little bad that she had been missing out on the experience. So thanks to a whole heap of leftover buns from the 4th we packed it up and had a marvelous time, natch. This perma-grin was perma-nant the whole time. The tame pair. She also spotted turtles. (can you see it on the log resting in the sun? Minus Petco I have never been that close to a turtle. I know, sniff, sniff-I am the deprived middle child myself). Real life conversation: Amelia-I need to take a turtle home (in) me. Mom-But this is his home here, he has all his friends with him here. Amelia-I need to take a turtle home (in) me. Mom-No, we just visit the turtle here at ...

Who needs snow for sledding? All you need is an energetic sister... A somewhat willing participant... And mom nearby for those wipe outs...