ACCCCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!

I have a "Start of School" Parent Teacher Conference today.

Evan starts first grade tomorrow.

I officially feel old.

The Hunt... WARNING: 5 million pictures ahead.

We have not camped this season... which is just soooo sooo weird. We camped quite a bit the year Evan was born. In fact his first camp trip, he was only 3 months old. Last year, we camped almost every weekend. This year, I have been going through withdrawals!!


But, alas, we couldn't miss opening weekend of the Archery Hunt!!


Even if it meant sleeping in this:

** Note to self: Next time you're camping in a tent, even if you're sure it's the flattest spot in the campsite, DO NOT set up your tent at the base of a tree. Trees have roots. Roots that poke you in the back all night long.

We sold our camper last year... it would have been too small for the four of us, and we haven't purchased a new one yet. So we roughed it. Thank the good Lord that Rick and Robyn have a camper, because as much as I like camping, I like toliets more. 'nough said.

I did discover that the muted midday lighting through the walls of a tent are PERFECT for capturing the soft tones of baby skin! So that's one good thing about tents....

Actually, other than the toliet and root issue, I enjoyed the tent.

Back to camping...

We got to camp late on Friday night, after the sun had gone down, (hehehe I sat by the fire and held Ryan while my dashing husband put up our tent for the first time. In the dark.)

We were awake at the BUTT CRACK of dawn, thanks to our normally early schedule during the week, so Ryan, Evan and I quietly got out of the tent and got the fire roaring. While we sat and waited for the rest of camp to wake up, I pulled out the camera, and took these pictures of my boys around the fire waiting for breakfast!

Evan was kind and took a picture of me too... but after reviewing the pictures from the weekend, I realized I had SERIOUS raccoon eyes from NOT washing my eye makeup off the night before (no I don't wear makeup WHILE camping, but it was the first night, and I had worn makeup that day while running errands to get READY for camping), so I omitted it from this post. Instead, pretend this is me:

The wind WAS blowing.... and I'm sure that under my sweat shirt and fleece, I looked JUST like this. Except my hair is shorter... And I'm currently nursing, and I don't think they make nursing bras that are this pretty, and I don't have a "beauty mark" on my face, but I DO have a pimple in about that same spot...

Sorry, back to camping....


We were camped at the same place we camped two years ago for the archery hunt... which you can read about here . You may be thinking that Evan's fashion sense has gone downhill, but actually, Mark was still asleep in the tent, so we got up and sat by the fire in our pjs. It was COLD! We had left the valley below with 90 degree temps, drove up to 9k plus feet, and fell asleep... waking up to 50s. So much for the shorts I packed!!



Side note: Moms who are expecting, the Bumbo... as stupid as it looks, is AWESOME. It went to Montana with us, it went to the top of Skyline Drive with us, and it will go on ALL future day and overnight trips. THEY CAN'T ESCAPE!!! But they get to be sitting up, and see everything. It works great as a highchair too.











We camped with Rick and Robyn and Trevor again... Trevor was so cute with Ryan! Ryan was being put to bed that first night, and I left him alone in the tent to settle himself down, and of course, he was crying a little... and Trevor was just SOOOO concerned.... "The baby is CRYING!" So thanks to Trevor... he got to be nursed all the way to sleep. I'm sure Ryan will thank him when he gets older and can talk...











Evan was a little disappointed that the tire was gone, but someone had made a swing out of a stick, which the boys played on the majority of the time. Well, other than Saturday afternoon, when the wind whipped up some Arctic air, and we took cover in the tent, which was nice and toasty. I resorted to teaching Nate, Seth and Evan all the stupid magic tricks I could think of... they were fairly impressed with me... or at least pretended to be to spare my feelings.



Also, sharing our campsite... was Uncle Bob, and his boys, Nate and Seth.


When the great white hunters returned to camp for lunch on Saturday, Uncle Bob took a turn snuggling the cutest thing in camp... and Ryan could NOT get over the flag on his sleeve. It was worth hours of entertainment. I'm thinking of sewing them onto all of my clothes.



I know it was the bright colors, but honestly, how sweet is that picture??








There were no dead deer pictures to share this year... so instead, I'll end this rambling post with a fire picture. No reason other than I love fire pictures....

Grandma Rie

Grandma Marie (or Rie as Evan calls her) and Grandpa Gary paid us a visit at camp.

Ryan obviously had a lot to say to his Great Grandma!! Sorry for the weird shadows... the sun was just starting to drop behind the mountains...

I'm 5 months old...

And I have conquered my toes.

Ryan refuses to lay down, unless he can hold his toes. If you don't allow it, he does crunches until you help him sit up. He's in that "I MUST BE UPRIGHT" stage. Which makes meal time esp fun.

In other news... we went camping last weekend... and a post with pictures will be coming soon. I've spent most of this week doing laundry, lol, but all the camping laundry is done, and I just need to do the weeks laundry now...

Grandpa

More from Montana... Ryan and his Grandpa.

There was much tickling.

WARNING: Lactation post

(That was for my Dad... and anyone else who doesn't want to hear about my boob issues.)

Holy freaking HANNAH. (Utah swearing, really.)

We started trying to get Ryan to sleep better... which means NO MORE NIGHT NURSING. And and and ... well... my boobs haven't figured out what is going on.

Since Ryan isn't eating at night, they come up with completely random times to ask if I need to feed my child... like while I'm sitting at work.

"Do you want milk now??"

20 mins later...

"Okay, you must want it NOW."

20 mins later...

"NOW, you MUST want it NOW. Right now. "

I have gone through more pads this last week then I did when my milk first came in!

And I need to find some super absorbent mega pads if this keeps up, because honestly, this is getting embarrassing.

At least none of my male co-workers has had to witness it... only fellow moms, who are at least sympathetic.

And I don't look at all stupid walking around in 90 plus degree heat with a sweater on. At least that's what I tell myself.

Uncles

I have four brothers... three of which I grew up with... and are pictured below. Two of which had "met" Ryan before the last minute drive to Montana.

This first one is Wade... I have a picture of him with Evan at about the same age from the same angle. The thing about Wade is he is 6'8", and the tallest of my brothers, even though he is the youngest. Wade surprised me on my birthday by showing up on my doorstep for a quick visit. I love Wade... he is incredibly thoughtful, and quiet and gentle, and just just.... just Wade.


Next my adorable brother James... who Evan just thinks is the best thing since sliced bread. James is just a kid person. This was the first time Ryan and James had met, but I can envision countless "butt kicking" in the future. (This is James and Evan's favorite topic of conversation... who can kick who's butt.) James is the most like me of all my siblings I think... and of course, I love him too... he's quiet and smart and so incredibly thoughtful, unlike me, he has the softest, most giving heart.

And finally, Shane. Shane lives down here in Utah... in fact, he's the reason I moved to Utah 11 years ago. He has been a huge support to me throughout my life, even though we did not get along so well in our childhood. He has always been there for me, and I can't express in words how much that means to me, and how much I truly love him.

Shawn, the fourth, and oldest of my brothers, has yet to meet Ryan, but I know that he will be just as loving and strong for my boys as the three captured on film above... well, not really film, but you know....

All four of my brothers are amazing men. My boys have wonderful roll models to help guide them through life... and I feel so blessed to have them.

Tooth, or Lack There Of

WHEN did he get so old?? Honestly, someone tell me what happened... It's not possible. I do not have a six year old son who lost a tooth. Not possible.

Okay, I guess since I'm the one who posted the photo, then yes, it is true.

He came running in the door, gone for two weeks to the wilds of Montana, and smiled pretty... and through his clenched teeth he said, "MOM! LOOK!!!!" And then he stuck his tongue through the hole. Lovely I tell you, L-UVVVV-Leeeee!

Yep. My little boy went away for two weeks and came home all grown up.

Not only did my brothers take him out to find some "Chicks" to play mini golf with, but he lost a tooth too.

It's just too much for me to deal with.

WOW! What happened??

Life exploded, that's what!!

First, Evan came home (he had been in Montana for about 2 weeks w/ my parents) and well, that meant that my parents stayed with us for a few days....

Then my brother and his wife welcomed a new baby into the world....

And then there was a last minute trip to Montana....

Which threw Ryan's sleep schedule into chaos....

Which threw MY LIFE into a zombie, walking dead chaos (working full time with a baby who wakes every two hours, NOT FUN.)

And then Evan started a new school... and Mark was out of town for a night, and ACK!!!!

Yesterday, Mark took Evan to Manti, and Ryan and I stayed home and got the house put back together.

Today, I don't know what the plan is, but I feel much more in control.

I'll leave you with a picture... and then post some more of the last two weeks worth of pictures in the next few days.