I found a dinosaur in the Christmas Tree

Miscellaneous Ramblins & Pics

Katie, Lincoln and Porter were in town for a few weeks and were leaving just before Christmas.  We decided we should get them a family Christmas present and give it to them before they left. Lincoln celebrated his 3^rd Birthday here in Boise and in Utah. He received lots and lots of trucks to play with. He also got a book and some other fun toys. Sue and I decided to get their family something we thought they really need and would enjoy. We bought them a Canon digital video camera. Our only stipulation was that they have to send us videos every now and again. Sue wrapped the present up real nice and set it under the tree. A couple days before they were to leave we asked Lincoln if he wanted to help his Mom unwrap their Christmas present. Lincoln was all excited. Katie and Lincoln sat at the table and unwrapped the present together. When they wrapping paper was off, they had a plain box with lettering on it. They needed a knife to cut open the box to see what was in it. When the box was opened, Katie pulled out a new video camera, then a battery pack and instructions. The last thing out was a camera bag with some accessories. Katie looked pretty happy with the gift and began inspecting the camera. Lincoln looked a little solemn. Sue said to Lincoln, “Hey Lincoln, isn’t that a cool gift? You can take video of everyone now.” With a sad look on his face Lincoln stared at the box and whispered quietly.  “I wanted a truck”.

 

 

Lincoln took to my IPAD rather quickly and learned how to get on the internet and find videos to watch. He watched truck video, Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and several new ones I wasn’t familiar with.  Many were educational videos. There was a talking train, some guy named TuTitu, and I couple other I can’t remember.  One was in Spanish. I would watch some of the videos with him and help him find certain sites. I remember well the song “Lots and Lots of Trucks”. In fact, there are times I can’t get it out of my head and it drives me batty. We had to be careful with Link and budget his IPAD time, otherwise he could spend hours watching videos. He did pretty well and always turned it off and did other activities when asked.  One evening, Lincoln was worn out and kind of grumpy. Katie tried to cheer him up but he wasn’t biting. Katie then tried the baby approach and talking to him like a baby said, “Does the baby need a diaper change?”

Lincoln sharply said, “No”. 

Katie tried again, “Should we try a binky?”

Lincoln’s reply.  “No.”

 Kaite. “Should we try a bottle?”

Lincoln again. “No”. He was getting tired of this game.

I then tried my hand by saying, “Shall we try IPAD?”

Lincoln was silent for a long time. No one else said anything.

Lincoln then looked at his Mom and softly said “Let’s try IPAD”.

 

15   Things Katie, Lincoln and Porter did while in Idaho for 4 weeks:

Helped with Lindsey’s Wedding Open House and saw lots of old friends

Went to Utah with Lindsey and Nate for 4 days and saw old friends

Thanksgiving at home with the Oakes family

Two trips to Idaho City for the weekends to visit with Tyler’s parent and family

Katie went to the Boise Temple Rededication with Lindsey and Nate while Sue and Steve babysat the boys

Attended 2 of Heaton’s basketball games of which Boise won both

Visited the Doctor and Lincoln got a shot

Visited the Orthodontist after Katie broke her permanent retainer

Went to the Veteran’s Cemetery and saw Grandma Joyce’s grave and Lincoln watched a backhoe dig and move dirt 

Went to the Train Depot and saw Big Mike and the fish ponds

Went to the MK Nature Center and saw the fish and a Sturgeon

Katie and Sue went to the Discovery Center and the Bodies Revealed display while Steve babysat.

Katie enjoyed a night out with friends and no kids. Sue and Steve enjoyed a night in with 2 grandkids

They went through a cardboard box tunnel multiple times. Katie included.

They put up and decorated Oma and Opa’s Christmas tree. Lincoln said it was beautiful

Merry Christmas

Here are the fruits of your Christmas gift:

Lunch IS Lincoln ... or Porter

Good thing those gators had their backs to us or they might have thought Porties looked like a pretty yummy snack!

No rest for the weary.  The boys were home just a few days before their parents drug them on another trip.  

 Lincoln was pleased as punch to get to dig all day.

 Porter was not pleased and his mom gave him lots of punch to try to keep him quiet.

 But he did like crawling around all on his own.

It sure was pretty, but we are glad to be home (again).

Things we will miss since Katie, Lincoln and Porter left

1. Small fingerprints all over the IPad screen.

2. Small palm prints on the French door windows.

3. The pitter patter of little feet running across the kitchen floor in the morning.

4. The pitter patter of small feet running across the floor at 10:30 at night, coming all the way to the bedroom, the door flung open, all the lights turned on and Lincoln running up to the bed and saying “I’s just checking on you guys”.

5. When I walk in front of the TV, hearing, “Hey, you’re covering my show”.

6. Watching Robin Hood, The Lion King, and The Grinch Stole Christmas. (it would be weird to watch them by myself, and what if somebody caught me?)

7. Playing the Pi-Une with Porter and Link.

8. Letting Lincoln feed the ducks and chickens.

9. Walking in circles around the house, bent over, with Porter holding on to just one finger.

10. Saying things like “Portie Pants” or “Hey, you’re burning the chow” or "Oo-da-lolly" without getting weird looks.

11. Getting puked on.

12. Watching the dog lick puke up off the floor.

13. Car seats.

14. Playing with trucks and dinosaurs.

15. Falling asleep on the couch waiting for Lincoln to get tired enough to go to bed.

16. Singing “Lots and Lots of Trucks”.

17. Bob the Builder.

18. Chocolate Chip cookies.

19. Bath time in the kitchen sink.

 20. The messy family room.

Lunch with Porter aka The Turkey Vulture



 

So we had Porter come to lunch with us the other day, since he was in town. We also invited our old friend, Mr. Turkey.  Mr. Turkey was a gift to me from Katie several years ago, he has sat on my shelf since then. 

 

 

We introduced Porter to Mr. Turkey and he seemed to like him. They played together pretty well for a few minutes and then suddenly Porter ripped of the Turkey's beak and began chewing on it.

We took the beak away from Ports and told him it was rude to eat your guests. He gave us a goofy, innocent, toothy smile that says, "I didn't know what I was doing and I won't do it again".  The very next day Porter wanted to play with Mr. Turkey again. They played together just fine for a few minutes but when Porter knew we weren't watching close, he ripped the Turkey's face right off and started chewing it up.

I'm not sure if he was after an early Thanksgiving dinner or if the Turkey made some rude comment to him. Anyway, the two aren't allowed to play together anymore.

Lemony Snickets. I had been warned.

Big Things and Little Things

 Big Snowman

 Big Dolphin

 Little Train

 Big Mama Shamu and Little Baby Shamu

 Big Fish

 Little Fish

 Cute Little Boy

 Little Gator By Dad's School

 Matchy-Matchy Big Boys 

 Big Snapper

 Big Horse (19 hands)

 Little Horse

Big Smile, Porties

Big Excitement

Big Rack this season

 

 





A quilt rack, a quilt rack, I built me a quilt rack. I haven't made A quilt, let alone many,

 that would necessitate the use of an entire rack.

 

 

 

 

Luckily, Sue has. This is Lindsey's quilt hanging in the kitchen.

videos

Animal House

 In Florida we have really cute bats and ducks.

Some ducks can even drive.  They love to, in fact.  (How about you, Myra?)

Some of the bats here are not nocturnal.

 Some cows seem to have hollow legs ... and stomachs.

 What do you call a horse with no arms or legs?  Bob?  Art?  Skippy?  Matt?

 Have you ever seen a cuter cow bum?

 This is Penny cow.  She also has a stomach that cannot be filled.

 Here are some chickens and our cute friend, Madden.

 We have too many 'buggies' for Mom's liking.  Lincoln could probably handle more though.

 We found this little beast crawling around last week.

 Did you know it was colder in Florida (Gainesville) than in Idaho (Boise) the other day?  We decided to let the animals come inside and wear their snuggliest jammies.  

GPS

As from the previous post you may wonder why someone may wander around the western USA the way my father does.  Let me relate this little ditty:

5:30 am Sunday October 21:  My dad ranting about how annoying it is that everyone gave him crap about not having a GPS for his car.  "You don't have a GPS?  Scoff!  I can't believe you don't have a GPS!  Here, borrow my GPS."  He admits he will probably breakdown and buy one, but the banter has really annoyed him.  

5:55 am Sunday October 21:  "Where is the airport.  I must have missed the sign!  Let's turn around."

Smart Alec Me: Hey Dad, did you see how many states and miles you did in the past week?  Maybe you should buy a GPS (at least to get me to the airport on time). 

Riddle Me This:

 

1. What goes from Boise, Idaho to Utah to Arizona to Nevada to Arizona to Nevada to Arizona to Nevada to Arizona, and then while in Arizona; to Phoenix to Tucson to Phoenix to Tucson to Phoenix to Sedona to Page, then to Kanab, Utah to Zion National Park to Salt Lake City to Boise, Idaho? Goes over mountains, across dams and bridges, through mountains, across deserts, not to the Wave, in 2,900 miles and 7 days?

 

 

 

 

 

2. What goes from 55 degrees and cloudy to 95 degrees and sunny to 35 degrees and snowing in a week?

3. What goes from Phoenix to Boise in 2 hours?

4. What goes from Florida to Phoenix to Tucson to Phoenix to Tucson to Phoenix to Florida in 72 hours with no kids?

5. What goes from San Diego to Phoenix to Tucson to Phoenix to San Diego in 30 hours and wipes frosting off a rental car?

6. What went from single to hitched last Saturday?

 

 

 

Answers:

1. The Rogue

2. The weather between Boise and Tucson (snow in SLC Tuesday night)

3. Heaton

4.  Katie

 

5. Kelly

6. Lindsey and Nate

 

 

 

A bit of explanation for question #1:  The interstate from SLC to Las Vegas goes through the corner of Arizona before going into Nevada. After leaving Las Vegas we crossed into Arizona right by Hoover Dam. The river is the border. We decided we needed to see Hoover Dam but the entrance to the visitor’s area is back in Nevada. We turned around and went back to Nevada and to Hoover Dam. We drove across the dam into Arizona but the road ends there on the AZ side. We had to go back across the dam to Nevada to get back on the interstate to Arizona.  So ID, UT, AZ, NV, AZ,NV,AZ,NV,AZ to Phoenix.