Renn 18 Months

It's been a year and a half.  Depending on the moment it feels like yesterday or five million years ago.  I love this little rascal.  He has his own strengths, tricks and crazy just like the rest of them.  You think coming from the same two people our children would be alike in many ways but they are not.  Having multiple children really confirms the idea of individuality.  

Renn's many tricks over the last six months or so include (but are not limited to):

-Monkey climbing.  Bunk beds, windows blinds, dressers, anything with a foothold.

-Walking, (15 months, second earliest) which progressed to running, which progressed to zooming on his wheely bug throughout the house, which progressed to...nudity!?  Not sure of the connection but he can strip and run in seconds if left in nothing but a diaper.  

-Pointing.  It's amazing the power he can wield with one finger.  

-Along those lines he can also tell you how old he is.

-Making noises of the lion, fish, puppy, and his best one...monster.

-Teeth, lots of angry molars.  And drool.  Lots of drool.

-Ya!!! and un uuhh combined with vicious head shaking for no and the symbolic/confused shaking of the head, hands to the side for "I don't know."

-Minimal speaking,  Mama.  Dada.  That's it.  He understands everything.  EVERYTHING.  However, he will not talk.  I wanted to go for a walk one morning (which he loves doing) so I told him, "go get my shoes."  He promptly went into the laundry room and brought me my tennis shoes.  Mind you I have about ten pairs of shoes in there but he knew to bring my tennis shoes because I told him, "let's go for a walk."  

-Jumping off the boat into Jed's arms.  

-Most recently, liking the bike trailer and going with me for rides. 

-Playing with trucks

-Reading books especially books with trucks and real-life photographs.  

-An interest in TV.  Every day about 11, when he's starting to wind down, he climbs up on the couch, spreads a blanket over his lap, fetches the remote and points it at the TV.  We watch us a little Baby Einstein and he is happy as a clam.

-Nursery.  He's doing pretty good.  Tolerating other people for goldfish and a chance to play with new cars.  Jed thinks he may get kicked out for chucking toys.  I didn't believe it until I  took a "finn mcmissile"  metal car to the eyebrow one day and had a whole new respect for his throwing arm. 

-Sliding

-Destruction.  In the 10 minutes it takes me to make lunches in the morning he has his fun.  Marker to the floor and wall, water dumped on the table, newspaper torn to shreds, cat smashed.  He's a good multi-tasker.  I've started leaving the door into the garage open because he can have all the happy destruction he wants in there.

-Loves. He is my little pet and when he begs to be picked up and then wraps his little paws around me and pats my back with his nose snuggled into my shoulder I forget my worries and his tornado skills.  He can melt me.  Jed calls it manipulation.  If it is, I don't care.   I love my little puppy.

Flat Top Ridge

Here is Jed giving a little speech with the mayor of Mesquite.  Towards the end of July a new bridge built by ACC was dedicated.  Lower Flat Top bridge is the first of it's kind along I-15, this great project was Jed's brain child.   He worked hard to get it done right and on time, with many innovative and creative moves along the way.  I admire the crew for their long, hard hours to get it done in the blazing desert heat. I also admire the projection manager quite a bit (and not just because I'm married to him)  he is good at what he does.    

Interview with the media.  

I'm glad I could make it for the opening ceremony, it was over 100* but well worth the heat.  I've never been so excited for a bridge/exit ramp before.  You really start to appreciate construction for the work of art it is once you understand the effort that goes into it. 

 And lets not forget the metal, decorative jackrabbits!  Everyone loves bunnies.  Sadly however, Jed won't let me have one for our yard.

Lake Mead

Lake Mead you must not dry up completely we love you.  We love your dirt, rocks, blue water and mountains.  We could spend every weekend on your shores and never be bored.  

Elise clearly in charge.

Renn's boat.  Jed can't really do things "small."  Repercussions of being 6'5" I guess.  Here is where I trap Renn and he is happy because he is out of the sand.  The other half of this party barge is not even in the picture so he has plenty of clean freedom.  The best part is where my feet are in the picture, a little net that allows just enough water for him to splash in.  It really is the perfect set-up.  Although I do have to anchor it to something or we end up half-way across the lake in a light breeze.

Jara and Jack doing a little tubing.  You can sit, stand or go on your stomach.  They prefer to jump.

I love my beach bum.

Jack skiing.

Jed catching some air.  

He finally has his own boat with a tower and he is very, very happy.  

Kanarraville Falls Hike

Sometimes you have to get out of the heat and take a little day trip/hike.  90* may sound warm but when it's 30 degrees cooler than what you left that's down-right chilly.  Most of the hike was in water and the kids were skeptical at first but didn't want to stop once we had seen the falls.  Jack and Jara were getting into it, Elise was a four hour pep-talk, and Renn was happy in his carrier but Jed was dying.  He's maybe outgrown the bjorn.

Posing in the slot canyon.  

Posing in front of the falls and the ladder to get up them.  Little slippery.

He even took a nap, he was so cozy.  Renn not Jed.

Switching positions.

The dry, dusty part.

Summer Time '16

The levels of creativity, cabin-fever, and desperation run high come August in NV.  Especially when all of July the temperatures hovered around 115*  I think it is time that we went to winter break from school rather than a summer break.  Wouldn't that be better?  All of November, December and January off from school, when you can actually sit outside and not risk heat stroke.  They can have a two week break in July.  

Here is what we have been doing to avoid boredom (besides watching too much TV)

A little archaeology/geology.  

One week we went to Wal-Mart and I turned them lose with ten dollars.  Jack bought a rock extraction kit.  Renn really likes to wear the safety goggles to the pool, he looks like a mad scientist scuba diver.  

Jack and one of his many k'nex creations.  He also has constructed lincoln log homes/neighborhoods and various lego projects.  He is progressing towards his contracting career.

Jara has made many lovely crafts.  Here she is sporting her hand sewn apron.  She has been crafting up a storm:  beaded bracelets, fabric purses, hand-knitted pot holders, key-chains, book-marks, picture frames, crochet chains.  I'm sure I am forgetting the rest.

Sometimes they aren't trying to destroy each other.  Here they are playing "Princess in Black."  Elise has a new heroine...."THE Princess in Black."  I highly suggest you read these books with/to your child by Shannon and Dean Hale, they are awesome.

Elise likes play-doh.  

Play-doh and cookie cutters while I'm making dinner have saved us.

Speaking of princess's in black...hmmm.  The life.  Lazy minx.  

There are no words.  

Now you know why there should be school in the summer.

MayDay

80's and 50's style

May day was revamped this year.  I think a certain teacher who had been there since I was in first grade (and scary even then) finally retired and everyone was cutting a little loose, footloose, put on your dancing shoes.  

We're Bored

I heard somewhere once before I had children, "if they are driving you crazy and it's been a bad day, put them in water."  It really does solve most problematic days.  How can you not smile as Elise shoots her water gun at Renn's plumbers crack?!

Put on a ninja turtle costume, guaranteed to bring out nunchuck skills.

Find things to put on your head...lunchbox

Or a colander.  Either/or.

Go to the beach.  The mucky, muddy swamp beach.  

The desperation reaches high levels at times.

At least the water park is clean and no one else wanted to brave the 115* temperatures

Teach your children a few art skills.  

Play a little balloon, spoon volleyball

Long Live Summer!