Thanksgiving

I realize my blog has been a little outdated for some time now. We are not still sick, but actually quite healthy now! Since the last post we've enjoyed Halloween and Thanksgiving! We were very blessed to have my mom and dad visit us this year(a 2000 mile drive)! They brought along their newest addition, Piper the puppy, that isn't so little anymore. She was so much fun to have, yet I realize I am not ready to do a puppy yet! Fisher and piper share many of the same behaviors, mostly putting things in their mouths that don't belong. Our pictures are a little weak as our sweet photographer Sawyer captured the holiday from his perspective. Cute, but very unflattering in most cases. We had a fun week with lots of walks and a few puzzles and games. Being spoiled by mom and dad is always enjoyable!

It was a funny day as the past 7 years we have spent the holiday here with friends. We didn't realize our untraditional style was becoming such a tradition! We are so thankful for them as I am sure the 2000 mile drive by my parents will not happen every year!

Swine Flu Side Effect

So this is something the news won't cover about H1N1...super swine snuggles! poor Zach and Sawyer got hit last week. They were couch buddies and had alot of quality time together. By the end of the weekend, they were both so couch potatoed out, and started to drive each other crazy, fighting over the remote and who got to play games on the iphone. It was so great they had each other as Fisher and I tried to stay clear as much as possible. This morning was the first morning we all sat on the same couch with the same blanket! It is good to be back with them!

9 months

Well, Fisher is now 10 months old, but here are some pictures from the ninth month! I'm writing this mostly so I can look back and remember this moment in time that seems to be a vapor! He is 19pounds,13ounces, 30 inches long. He cracks us up with all of his expressions and is starting to babble things that make sense, such as, mama, dada, bru(brother), and baba(bottle). He lifts his arms in the air when asked, "how big is Fisher?" He explores every nook and cranny around here with fingers and mouth! He still screams after every nap and in the morning. If I waited till he was a happy cheerful baby(as the books suggest), he would never leave those oak bars! I'm pretty sure that he just doesn't want to miss out on anything! He is happy and rearing to go as soon as he is removed. We have to pin him down to change diapers and clothes. He acts as if he is being truly harmed in some way. He is also challenging some days at the high chair. He has mastered smiling and laughing while keeping his lips tightly sealed. He only has 2 lower teeth, so moving away from pureed baby food isn't in the near future. He is a big flirt with the ladies. Mostly the strange ladies in stores that you really don't want to talk to. We have randomly caught him standing, not holding on to anything, so he will just get faster. He loves to be outdoors, in the stroller, and the backpack. He has enjoyed going to Sawyer's class with me on Tuesdays and interacting with the big kids that affectionately call him "Fisherman". Just this morning, Zach and I were talking about how much we love him when we didn't think it would be possible after Sawyer. I think we comment everyday, "Sawyer never did that..." yes, Sawyer was an easy baby in every way, but easy isn't everything!

Hey, Hey, Goodbye

I will never forget Zach catching chickens all over the yard...too funny!

So Sunday we said goodbye to our feathered friends.(I should say the boys' friends) I would like to think that I'm a pretty good sport about most things. However, my long standing bird phobia showed its true colors when turkey grew to be the size of my own children. He began to chase Sawyer while he drove his car around the yard and gobbling every minute. I convinced myself he was going to attack. I know he sensed my fear and taunted me by just standing near me. It worked! I'm not sure if Zach agreed to get rid of the birds for my sake or for the possible money making oppurtunity. I'm thinking the latter! Who would've guessed he would get countless emails and calls for people wanting to give us money in return for our overgrown monster!

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever fit in this farming community? Last Sunday, we gathered in our little cabin inspired church, Cow Creek Community in Palo Cedro, eatin tri-tip, and listening to bluegrass music. The funny thing is that it almost seemed normal (compared to what we are used to). I was giggling as we drove home and Zach inquired what was so funny and as I told him, he was also surprised that it felt like a normal evening. I don't say this to make fun of our church or anything like that, just to say things are different here. We love that it is different and simple. We love that tri-tip can bring people together and spread such joy!(Tri-tip is a cut of meat that we had not heard of prior to moving here)

With all that said, we are not quite ready to be chicken and turkey farmers! Did you know our turkey's poop was the size of our 80 pound dog? GROSS If and when the day comes we invite birds into our lives again, they will be separated better from the family and not be completely "free range" . We wish them a happy life at their new goat ranch in Janesville!(that sounds like a perfect place for them!)

When God Gives You 110 degrees.....

You do handstands on a tiny grass island in the middle of a swift creek




....you search for higher ground! That is what we did on Saturday. Zach is really great about getting us in the car and headed toward somewhere we can get the craziez out in the outdoors. We are loving being a little closer to Mt. Lassen as it offers cooler temps. We had a picnic by a creek near Manzanita lake and then went to King Creek Falls. We enjoyed it so much and are so thankful to spend the day not cooped up in the house!