September

We are so ready for fall and cooler weather. So in an attepmpt to coax fall along I found a super yummy recipe for pumpkin waffles... They are a new favorite! It's hard to believe that the summer is pretty much over. So many things that we had fun doing and still so many things we didn't get to do....

Over Labor Day weekend we made a quick daytrip up to Shaffer Butte above Bogus Basin to enjoy some sunshine and a little day hike. We haven't done much "hiking" with the little guy but we did have a kiddo carrying backpack. He did pretty well and liked to be up high and see things. He jabbered away for most of the hike. He was pretty tired near the end and tried to climb out a few times, thank goodness for buckles that he can't undo. :)

Thatcher was able to come to work with me on a Friday for a few hours to get a few things done. He hasn't been in for a while and thought it was pretty fun to sit in the big chairs and walk around with mommy and help send faxes.

We have started a little sticker chart for Thatcher with a few age appropriate "chores". It is mostly so we are better about involving him in things and teaching him to help a bit. Things like cleaning up toys, laundry helper (he loves moving clothes from the washer to the dryer), feeding Jack and reading books. His reward for a full sticker chart this week was to pick out a balloon at Zurchers. This kid loves balloons. He can spot a balloon from a mile away and always finds them in the rafters at the store when they have escaped.

We were able to participate in the Fit One 5k this year. My mom was supposed to go with us but she ended up with a meeting that morning so one of my friends snagged her number and we took our little guys with us. Since we were in the family stroller wave we weren't allowed to run (I was totally okay with that- I didn't do much "training" beforehand). We walked the course in about an hour. No too shabby. We also met up with some of my family members who get together every year. It was fun to reconnect with family and friends and Thatcher loved watching all the people and other kids. He did great!

Thatcher and I try to take walks in the evenings around the neighborhood. This night all the little birds were lined up on the roof tops. It was like they were rehersing for something. Thatcher thought it was pretty funny. He also has decided that he is big enough to "walk" Jack and insists on holding his leash while he rides in the stroller. Sometimes I remember to clip two leashes on so we can each have one.

We have been looking for a kiddo table and chairs for awhile. Thatcher loves to sit in chairs his size and is getting to the age of wanting to color more and more so we thought a space just his size would be great. I saw this cute table and two chairs at a consignment sale and snagged it. Thatcher loves eating his snack at the little table and tries to convince me to let him eat dinner there too. It is so fun to watch him grow!

I have been working on a project in our living room the past week or two. I was putting up some shelving and turned around to find that Thatcher was sitting on the table and had emptied my purse and the diaper bag. He thought it was pretty fun!

Silly boy was snuggled up with us watching a movie, and insisted on having both binkies so daddy showed him how to get both of them in his mouth. Thatcher thought is was funny and would laugh, making both of them fall out, then he would try to get them back in.

Here is our newest project! There is this little bump out in our living room that we have been trying to figure out what to do with since we moved in. We have had two bookshelves there for the past couple of years but it really wasn't that functional. We are also wanting to transition Thatcher into his "big boy" room next year which means I need to clear out all of our office supplies/craft things. So we came up with this little built in "office". Our house has hardly any storage- just one teeny linen closet in the hallway. So we were happy to fit in some cupboards and shelves. Now to finish clearing out the rest of the room...

August

August was a busy month for us... I didn't pack the camera around but I was able to load pictures from my phone! :) They loaded out of order though and I can't get them organized so here is our jumbled month...

Thatcher loved watching the crazy rain out the back window.

We met up with Grammy and Don, Grandpa and Grandma Beal and Uncle Jeff's family at Ann Morrison Park to watch the end of the Balloon Classic. They had a fun night glow program. Thatcher wasn't sure what to think about the balloons at first but he loved them by the end of the night and liked watching all the people with glow sticks. I picked up a bunch of glowing things at the dollar store before we got there so the kids were happy to have them to play with and it helped us keep track of them in the dark.

Aaron was recognized at a special banquet at work with a handful of other co-workers. He called it the "TMobile Prom" we dressed up all fancy and enjoyed a night out at the Grove for the banquet and dancing. Aaron surprised me with a hotel room at the Grove too! We haven't been away together in a long time and it was perfect to just walk up to our room when the party was over. Thatcher and Grammy had a fun slumber party at home.

Thatcher loves his little car. Everytime we go out to the garage he tries to climb in. He finally figured out how to go forward instead of just backwards.

We found this awesome bike trailer on craigslist this spring and Thatcher is really enjoying bike rides around the neighborhood. We can't wait to take it to the green belt and maybe camping.

A little snap shot from one of our Sunday drives. I don't even remember where this was :)

Thatcher and Jack enjoying the last of the summer sun. We didn't let the water sit and warm up for long so it took a little getting used to. Thatcher loves to splash and thought it was pretty fun to slide into the pool. Jack stayed in the water for about 5 seconds before jumping out and hiding on the patio.

July

July was a month full of outings and adventures and somehow not many pictures... On the fourth we hung around home and then drove over to watch the fireworks being done at the Meridian Speedway. It's nice to just pull into the parking lot and see the fireworks from the comfort of the car or lawn chair. It was pretty dark when we got there, Thatcher was a trooper and snuggled up in my lap and liked watching the fireworks. On some of the bigger ones we could feel them boom too.

Eagle Fun Days was moved to July this year instead of the first weekend of June. We walked to the parade from Grammy's house and Grandpa and Grandma Beal joined us. Thatcher liked watching the parade go by. There weren't as many parade participants and I had remembered in years before. We wandered around the booths and tents for a while before heading back to Grammy's for a fun BBQ with Grandpa and Grandma Beal, Grammy and Don and Marley the puppy.

Cocoa had surgery and was sporting her "cone of shame" which made her quite the menace around the picnic tables.

Grandpa and Grandma Beal

Don and Grammy

Puppy Marley

For Father's Day Thatcher gave Aaron a Smores kit and we hadn't had a chance to use it so we used Grammy's fire pit and everyone enjoyed smores for dessert. Thatcher loved them! He watched intently as we roasted a marshmallow for him then he would try and steal bites from everyone.

Thatcher and Jack are becoming best friends. Jack loves to lay in the sun and some days he tolerates Thatcher invading his space. Thatcher laid next to him quietly for a little bit before Jack moved to a different sun spot.

Thatcher's first camping trip!! We decided to make a quick get away to Ponderosa State Park in McCall. My brother, Justin, has been in McCall/Riggins the past six weeks working with the Boy Scouts and he was able to meet up with us and hang out while we were there. Thatcher was pretty excited to see his Uncle Justin. Thatcher loved playing in the sand on the tent pad and throwing rocks across the campsite. We had a great site that was pretty shady and close to the bathrooms and the trail that goes by the lake. We headed into McCall to treat Justin to dinner and walked around a little bit. Thatcher did great sleeping in the tent once the campground quieted down a bit.

Walter the bear went camping with us too- and of course was always close by and getting pretty dirty so we zipped him into Thatcher's jacket. Thatcher loved it!

Thatcher and Uncle Larry playing with the Tonka truck. Pretty sure that truck is older than I am! Thatcher loved being pushed around the yard!

We are loving all the sunshine this summer and spending time outside!