Busy being fabulous.

We were lucky enough (lucky or blessed?) to be able to spend an amazing week in Colville, Washington this summer. We:
spent lots of time with Graaaandma and Graaaaaandapa (as Dave so lovingly renamed them)

checked out some cool scenery and machinery- neither of which is available in the area in which we now reside
took naps and passed out from sheer exhaustion


ate fabulous corn from Graaaandapa's garden (even Dave couldn't resist)

checked out Spokane

rode the old carousel at Riverfront Park and won at the ring grabbing game (at least I thought I was winning)
got rained on with our pals, the Villers

rode the Batmobile

ate snowcones on the train... in the rain... in our jackets... in August

wore life vests
in a canoe

got all tingly and serene on the glass like water at Lake Gillette

paddled

swam in a series of freezing bodies of water
coveted other people's lake homes

changed our frozen underpants in the woods saw Smokey the Bear

went to a real county fair, complete with pack goats

got disqualified from a rabbit show (Those judges are harsh. Crooked feet??? C'mon!)

petted a llama


border hopped

hiked in a foreign country... in flip flops (as per usual)

swam in a body of water that, apparently to Canadians is not cold, but to Texans is frigid

read books (I finished New Moon and Breaking Dawn. Dave read The Three Little Pigs 2,582,324 times. He has a very patient Grandma.)

waded in freezing water at the base of a tree fallen waterfall


swam in a freezing river

and then did back flips into it.

That's pretty much it. Our summer vacation was pretty dang wicked awesome sweet. Hope you all had good ones, too. BFFE. Stay cool and don't change. C-ya next year!

Why am I still the dorky kid in class?

I woke up this morning at 5:30 stressing about having to drive into the downtown area of Fort Worth to attend a class at the larger, more confusing sister hospital to the one I work at. I got up, got ready with knots in my stomach. Drove there. Parked. Repeated to myself over and over that I had parked on level 5 (the coyote level). Got directions to the education area and walked over with twenty minutes until my "class started". I sat there reading my book until I realized it was almost time and no one had shown up yet. One lady walked up and asked if I was taking the fetal monitoring class. Considering the number of fetuses I ever monitor, I told her no, but I was now confused.

I went to the nice lady at the desk and asked, "Where are they holding the ENPC class?". She blinked at me (smiling) and said, "I don't have ENPC scheduled til November 4th." I asked to borrow a computer, checked my schedule and realized that I was (to the minute) 2 months early for my class.

I asked my Mom if she ever recalled dropping me on my head as a baby.

She said no.

Wordless Wednesday: Groom's Cake

Potty Training Semi-Success!

Most of you know that Dave has been potty training... for a while... almost 1 year to be exact. For lack of forced motivation (I think) he hasn't really tried to go on his own and definitely wouldn't try to go "#2" in the potty. Mike is out of school for a month or so, so he decided to lay down the law last week. For about 3 days Dave was on a steady diet of capri-suns, sans underpants, diapers or shorts.

Day number one brought a few accidents on the floor, both varieties. I came home from work to find Mike falling over on the couch. I asked if he was ok and he just mumbled, "I hate potty training.". Dave stopped having pee pee accidents by day number 2 and on day number 3 he went "#2" in the potty chair outside of my parent's house. Hallelujah! We are still having some accidents (like when we had to rush home from the park yesterday because I didn't think Dave could squeeze his little cheeks hard enough to hold it in), but I think we're over the hump.

Who knew the bowel habits of a three year old could be so interesting! I'm sure you're all enthralled. (Just be thankful Mike made me spare you the actual proof of defecation completion in picture form.)

Wordless Wednesday: The real Batman (in a grocery cart).

A real conversation I had tonight.

Me: I can't lay you in bed- I have to toss you, because you're getting too big.

giggles and tossing.

Him: You're silly.

Me: No, you're silly.

Him: Noooo...

Me: You're the silliest.

Him: Oh, yeah, in my room.

Me: Yep- you are definitely the silliest in your room.

Him: Hey, Mom?

Me: What buddy?

Him: See you tomorrow.


He really is getting too big...

It's official!

We have our tickets to Washington (the last week of August, for any other interested Gilchrists) for a week of R&R at the lakes- hanging out with Grammie and Grampie G, catching up with some old friends, and eating at the local Rancho Chico!! Hoorah!

Big D's big day.

Thought you all might enjoy some pictures and video from Dave's 3rd birthday party. It was quite the success. I can tell by the green frosting that I am still finding in strange areas of my home almost 2 weeks later. The water gun and waterballoon fight were the highlights (I think). Just to show how much parents sacrifice for their children- Mike and I inflated almost 400 waterballoons. Mike's neck and knees were lobster red for approximately 4 days after. There were lots of kids and we had a great time!

A few weeks before his birthday, while we were discussing party plans, Dave said, "Mama, can I wear a party hat? Please, please puh-leeease can I wear a party hat?". So Marge found this really cute birthday boy party hat. He loved it.

4th of The-Ly fun.

I'm posting about 4th of July before the actual month is over-so that's good, right? This year was fun because, even though I had to work all day I still got to watch the fireworks at night with the guys. Dave got to set off his first round of fireworks (something I think is sort of a waste of money, but we bought a little pack and he had fun). The joy on his little face was worth inhaling smoke all evening. Next time, though, I think we'll just skip the fountains and black snakes and get straight to the sparklers. Those were definitely the favorite.