Pretty in Pink

Kaylee had a fun trip to Richland too. Really, as long as she's got milk and sleep, she's pretty happy. She had so much excitement on the trip that she started sleeping really well at night. Hooray! Kaylee got to hang out with Uncle Aaron and Joy . . . not sure who was furrier. :) Grandpa Couch loved giving Kaylee snuggles, and didn't even mind that she was often on edge and screamy when he had her. "Don't worry," he whispered to Kaylee. "You'll like me a lot when you get older."
"Don't worry," he told me. "I don't take it personally." Grandma Couch didn't have quite as much Kaylee time because she was too busy bear hunting. Kaylee was not a huge fan of the PJs I made her and Danny wear. I'm not sure if it was because they were orange and yellow or because they matched her big brother. Personally, I thought they looked pretty cute.Kaylee did seem to enjoy Sunday, though, when she got to be pretty in pink.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Danny has a recent obsession with bows and arrows, sparked by the story of Nephi's broken bow. In an effort to help Danny liken the scriptures :) Grandma Couch bought Danny his own bow and arrow when she was visiting after Kaylee's birth. Sadly, the cheap plastic toy was a bad shot (go figure - the $3 toy doesn't work very well). When we were in Washington, Grandma got out her finely crafted childhood bow and arrow and gave Danny some real shooting lessons. He was entranced. She then took him on an animal hunt around the yard to find bears and other beasts. After downing a yellow bear and a snow leopard, they came across this giant. My brother Aaron purchased this bear when he was 10 years old. It's had a lot of "love" in its time and is pretty shabby. Despite Dad's many efforts to part with 20 year old stuffed bear, my Mom insisted on keeping it. "For this precise moment," she smiled as Danny shot the beast with pride. On our last morning in Richland, I asked Danny what he'd like to do before we left. "Bear hunt!" Uncle Aaron kindly obliged.

Home Sweet Home

Danny, Kaylee, and I had a wonderful trip to my home in Richland the first week in September. We then met up with Matt at his home in Idaho. Now, after almost 3 weeks of travel we are back home in Texas. It's wonderful to have 3 places that feel like home! I'll be posting different trip adventures in several blogs, but here's a start.

I was really nervous about flying solo with Danny & Kaylee. The flights themselves didn't worry me nearly as much as juggling all of the paraphernalia through security and then between flights in Denver. What a blessing that Danny was cheerful and cooperative, Kaylee slept the entire first flight, and there were no delays or kinks(Matt on the other hand got stuck in Denver overnight! Glad that wasn't me and the kids). Here are Danny and a strollered up Kaylee at the Houston airport (in case the TX flag wasn't a give away).

Richland was LOADS of fun! I forgot how much I love soft, fire ant free grass and air that lacks humidity. Grandma and Grandpa's backyard was so much fun for Danny. He played outside hours every day.

Super Man Swing with Grandpa


Bocce Ball with Uncle Aaron

"Gardening" with Grandma
And of course there was also some dog agility.

One afternoon we went to the splash park. I'm not sure who had more fun - Danny running and eating a snow cone or Grandpa playing hookie from work to spend the day with us. :)
There was also fun to be had inside playing legos, drawing, chasing Joy, reading books, watching the aquarium (and adding a new fish named Dory), coloring, playing instruments, and playing games. Generally there is nonstop fun and attention for Danny. What a lucky guy!
One evening Grandpa treated us to a Tri-Cities Dust Devils game. Not quite the same as an Astros game, but lots of fun. Danny enjoyed the Cracker Jacks and trying to hit the whiffle ball. Kaylee enjoyed being held by Grandpa.

A highlight of the Richland visit for me was a kid-free date with each parent. A movie with Dad (Julie & Julia - very cute) and shopping with Mom (lovely new black pants, shirt, and jacket). What a treat. I was also able to get together with some high school friends that I hadn't seen in years. We had a great time catching up and reminiscing. We ate hot fudge sundaes and laughed a lot! It was so fun to see you Lucas, Shanelle, Chris, and Shawnee!!

Thanks for a wonderful trip to Richland Mom and Dad!

Fair Food

Greetings from the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Danny, Kaylee, and I had a wonderful trip to Washington to visit my parents. I forgot the USB cord to download pictures, so those will have to come later. They drove us over to Idaho to meet up with Matt and the Hong crew. Now we are up to our elbows in teriyaki chicken.

Kaylee did quite well on her first plane ride, terrible on her first long car trip, and AWESOME sleeping at hotels and grandparents. Perhaps because she's worn out from so much fun, but she is consistently sleeping 7-8 hour stretches at night now. HOORAY! I forgot how many "K" names there are on this side of the family though. Kaylee now joins the ranks of Kerry, Carrie, Calie, Katie, and Kaya.

Danny has been doing pretty well and LOVES getting spoiled with attention by all his grandparents. This year he has really gotten into the fair. Especially the food - the first hour on the first day he drank a smoothie, had an ice cream cone, and shared a giant cinnamon roll with his uncle. Today he saw Grandpa Hong and shouted, "Hi G-Pops! Let's go buy stuff!" Maybe we'll keep him away from the fair at least one day.

Every year at the fair there is the standard food fair and then the new, unique, questionable fair food. I love to eat corn on the cob, scones, tiger ears, caramel pull aparts, a prime steer burger, curly fries, ice cream, cheese curds, paninis, and a corn dog during the week. That is my standard favorites. Today Matt tried the new wacky food of the fair, and I trust his taste buds enough not to try it. Chocolate covered bacon. YUCK! What is the weirdest fair food you've ever tried?