Gwen is 2

The day after Gwendolen's birthday (so, October 5), we invited family over to celebrate her birthday with us. (When your birthday is on the Saturday of General Conference, you have to switch things up a little since the menfolk will be at the priesthood session that evening.)

The weather was as perfect as you could ask for in October. We had most of the festivities outside where the kids could enjoy the sandbox,

 Bennet, Cooper (hiding in the background), Miriam and Winnie in the sandbox.

... the chair swing,

Bekah spinning, Ana swinging, Seth sitting.

... and the little play house.

Winnie on the table of the playhouse.

We couldn't very well ask the 2-year-old what she wanted for her birthday dinner, so I chose to serve chicken salad sandwiches. Aunt Rachel was smart and brought mac and cheese for the kids.

Everyone ate dinner,

Winnie with her birthday dinner.

... and birthday cake,

Seth cutting, Andrea serving birthday cake.

Winnie enjoying her portion.

We don't usually spring for fancy ice cream cake at birthdays, but we won a coupon for a free ice cream cake from Coldstone at the school's raffle earlier that week. It was quite tasty.

... and watched Gwen open her presents.

From us, Winnie received bristle blocks and a reusable Crayola coloring pad.

From Grandma and Grandpa Scott, she received a toddler tablet.

From Aunt Rachel and Uncle Justin, she received a box of Sofia the First books. (Grandma Scott had Miriam try on the Minion costume she made for our Scott cousins in Washington, by the way.)

From Grandma Susan and Grandpa Dennis, she received wings, a skirt, a boa, a crown, Smarties and princess place mats.

To see more fun birthday festivity pictures, start here.

Fall pool party

When summer/outdoor toys go on clearance in the fall, I try to snag a few for the girls to have next summer. Who knew the blow-up wading pool I got at 75 percent off would be used in September when the temperatures climbed back up past 80?

Rebekah and her Barbie in the pool.

Miriam eating a Popsicle.

Analee, Winnie and Miriam playing with toys on the driveway.

Winnie eating her Popsicle.

To see more, start here.

Monument Hike

Back in September, we arranged to take Bekah and Ana on our annual summer hike. Actually, we first arranged to take the hike at the end of August, but the promise of bad weather made us take a rain check (HA!).

The adventures started before we ever got to the trailhead. We've learned through experience that Analee has a tendency to get carsick. Unfortunately, that manifested itself on the way to Darby canyon. We had to pull over to the side of the road and use every napkin in the jockey box to clean up the mess. Analee's jeans were pretty wet, so we drove through Victor and then Driggs to try and find a store that sells children's pants before 9 a.m. on a Saturday.

The best we could do was Broulim's in Driggs. They had a few pairs of women's pajama pants, so we got the smallest size we could and decided we could use a bungee cord as a belt. (And the moral of the story is: Always pack extra clothes. Or at least have a barf bag near the back seat.)

By the time we made it to the trail head, Ana's jeans were mostly dry anyway (thanks to the heater vent turned on high), so she opted for them rather than the too-big pajama pants. You'd think our pants quest was in vain, but Bekah ended up using them when her root beer erupted all over her jeans, making her a soggy mess. Thank goodness for extra pants!

Analee, Andrea, Rebekah, Seth and Grandma Scott heading up the trail. (Grandpa Scott took all the pictures.)

Rebekah (and the aforementioned pajama pants ... hacked off via Seth's knife to make them short enough for her) during a snack break.

Analee on the hike.

Stopping at the monument before heading up to the Wind Cave.

Analee, Andrea, Seth and Reekah under the waterfall that comes from the mouth of the Wind Cave.

Heading up to the mouth of the cave.

Rebekah coming back out of the cave. She just crawled through the small, windy opening that gives the cave its name.

Andrea, Analee, Seth and Grandma Scott eating lunch at the monument after coming out of the cave.

A silly picture (the girls needed one taken) at the monument.

Analee (and her blue lips) with the Wind Cave in the background on our way out.

The whole experience was perfect--the weather, the company, the trail conditions.
It was fun to take the girls on a hike I've done about a dozen times myself. I hope it's the first of many times we hike together to the monument.

To see more pictures from the hike, start here. 

Summer recollections

Back in August while I was at girls' camp, Seth took the whole week off so he could take care of the girls. So they did a little of this:

Seth and the girls at the public library's Pete the Cat party. This was the first of three we attended this summer. 

Analee and Gwendolen playing a Twister-like game at the party. I'm not sure Gwen understood the rules ...

 And a little of that:

The girls as monsters at the Snake River Roaring Youth Jam at the Idaho Falls greenbelt.

Miriam, Rebekah, Analee and Gwendolen showing off the symmetrical monsters they made.

Miriam making some noise at the Junk Jam.

Gwendolen taking a peek.

Analee and Rebekah playing "checkers" on the bear statue with the built-in checker board.

Gwenism #6

While sitting on Andrea's hip in the kitchen:

Gwen: Tomato! (Points to a potato on the stove.)
Andrea: Potato.
Gwen: (Comprising on my behalf.) PA-mato.

Gwenism #5

While eating French toast at breakfast this morning:

 Gwen: It's a kangaroo!

Whatever you say, Winnie.

Gwenism #4

This morning Andrea wakes up and hears Winnie screaming from her bedroom. She opens the door, and through her tears Gwen said:

Gwen: Broken jammies!

Andrea investigates the broken jammies and finds that the toddler has removed them completely, then attempted to put them back on by herself. They were inside-out and backward; she had only gotten her feet and legs in.

Miri-ism #29

Miriam telling a joke to Aunt Jessica.

Miri: Knock, knock.
Jessica: Who's there?
Miri: Banana.
Jessica: Banana who?
Miri: Banana you glad I didn't say "orange"?

Gwen-ism #3

While driving around town ... 

Gwen: (Sees something and comments on it.) Sad car!
Andrea: Sad car?
Gwen: Yes. (In the most pathetic voice) Vroom, vroom.

School starts

Rebekah is in fourth grade (Here comes Idaho history!) with Mrs. Jenkins (also her Primary teacher) and Analee in second (Here comes cursive!) with Ms. Weber this year.

("Make sure you get my shoes in the pictures, Mom.")

("Can I have a twirly ponytail on the first day of school, Mom?")

Archery camp (so far)

We've gone to archery camp twice already: once August 20-23 to haul our trailer up and set up camp, and once August 29-September 1 for hunting and cousin time.

Let me just say, I am enormously grateful for our new travel trailer. With all the rain and occasional hail we've had this season, the trailer has made a world of difference. No more will I have to check the covers on the baby 12 times in the night to make sure she's not freezing in the tent. No more will I have to take shelter under a tarp when it starts to rain. No more will I have to borrow stoves, pots or matches to prepare meals. It's heaven.

Endorsement over. Time for pictures!

Camping trip #1:

 Gwendolen sad because her hat fell off.

Rebekah with her "pet" grasshopper Leafy. He didn't stick around for too much longer.

Seth teaching Rebekah how to shoot a .22 pistol--her first firearm aside from her BB gun. 

 Miriam at the rock quarry.

Rebekah and Analee in Harriman State Park. I had intended to take these two girls on a short hike through the park while Grandma Susan tended Miriam and Gwendolen. Instead, we chanced upon Heritage Days and got to experience a lot more.

Analee and Rebekah stamping leather for key chains.

Analee getting a short horseback ride. The girls also got to participate in some games and eat homemade ice cream.

Camping Trip #2:

 Seth, Kelsey, Grandma Susan, Miriam (in red) and Analee going on a walk near Grandma and Grandpa Hendricks' cabin after church. Grandma had taken Cooper, Kelsey and Miriam to the cabin Saturday because of the weather. We met up with Miriam at church and spent the day at the cabin, culminating with the big dutch oven dinner Grandpa Dennis always makes Labor Day weekend.

Kelsey wanted to be carried, but not by Uncle Seth.

It was Grandma she wanted. (She was extremely tired, by the way.)

Gwendolen eating lunch on our only sunny day at camp this time around (all other meals had to be eaten inside to the stormy weather).

 Miriam pulling funny faces at lunch.

Analee at camp.

Rebekah melting plastic forks in the fire while Seth watches. Melting silverware became a favorite pastime for Bekah, Ana, Mack and Tav.

We're excited for another installment of camping to happen later this month.