Day at Lagoon

The end of babyhood? Eva at 14 months

 

My little Eva is growing up.  No amount of wishing, crying or trying can stop it.  She just turned 14 months old an is an absolute doll.  She loves to give sweet open mouthed kisses and little cuddly hugs.  "Mommy" is her favorite word.  Mommy means not only Mom but accompanied with a point or grasping hand signifies " I want that."   Eva gets just about anything she wants, including to be picked up, kissed and hugged, and carried about by mom.  At night when she wakes she still comes to bed for snuggles and nursing with Mommy.  She loves to be outside riding in the stroller, scooting in the grass or bouncing lightly on the trampoline.  Eva is fascinated by animals and quick to point out the birds, cats and "Doggy"s that inhabit our neighborhood. 

Eva is a timid little walker.  She has been standing well for almost 2 months now but she still will only venture out 3-4 steps before sitting down and scooting to her destination.  This day at the Spray Park she was fascinated by the fountain and toddled closer for a better look.  She loves to push her toy ride on car around like a walker.  "Crash!" we exclaim as she bumps into furniture and wall.  This provokes a string of lovely little giggles from Eva.  "Ccccc" she says as she points to her car.  Eva is using a spoon pretty well by herself now.  She feeds herself cereal, noodles, rice and more.  I thought that she might be a lefty at first but is now showing definite preference for her right hand.  Her favorite foods remains fruits and berries.  I know that she ate the lion's share of our raspberry crop this year because she would go out to pick with me in the mornings and rarely would a raspberry make it back into the house.  ( In her defense we had a horribly small crop this year.)

This past week as Eva started out really walking on her own the realization began washing over me that my baby, most likely my last is growing up.  This thought initiated a torrent of tears for several days of course.  Oh how I have loved and cherished the baby years, especially of Leah and Eva my last two.  I continue to nurse Eva about 4 times a day, morning, nap and bedtime, as well as middle of night, because I love that time to snuggle and sing to her.  While I continue to be excited as each new step and phase of my children's lives, the tears spring quickly to my eyes as I feel this era of my life drawing to a close.  It is almost like grieving a love that has changed and passed on.  While I think I could never miss the overpowering nausea and sickness of my early pregnancy, I will miss the flutterings of life growing inside me.  My arms will yearn for the weight of a sleeping baby.  I will cherish the scent of  baby hair just shampooed only to be kissed with one million mommy kisses whenever I pick them up.  I will remember the sweet smiles and kisses, hugs and snuggles, soft skin and bright eyes of my growing baby.  And I will hold in my heart the hope and desire that this role, new motherhood, will be mine yet again in the eternities. 

Out of the mouths of babes.

So we were driving to the library last night.  Leah was telling us all about something when Kris said,
"Oh, how do you know that?" 
Leah - "I looked it up on the Internet." 
Did I mention that she just turned four?

Fife Family Reunion 2012

 

In mid August our Fife Family ( Fifes, Meeks and Howells) gathers together for a weekend of food and fun.  This year our reunion was at a rented cabin in Island Park, though I almost hesitate to use the word cabin.  Our cabin was tongue and groove pine throughout, 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, top of the line appliances, 4 flat screen TV's, game room, hot tub and more.  It was luxury far beyond our usual home.  But that is not to say that we didn't enjoy it :)

On Friday we ventured into Harriman State Park to enjoy a little hiking.  We looped along the Henry's Fork and Silver Lake then up through the old Railroad Ranch.  Along the way we enjoyed the views, wildflowers, and a little wildlife not scared off by our noisy troop of kids plus adults.  We found two of these fuzzy caterpillars which enchanted everyone including Eva.

Later that afternoon hunted for Geocaches.  We all love the hunt but the kids especially love swapping little prizes hidden inside.

Friday night we enjoyed our second season of Minute to Win It - Fife Clan.  With a little coaxing everyone got in on the different games.  Face the Cookie was a hit with everyone because no matter if you were successful or not, you got to eat your prize.

Jared was the only one successful at Don't Blow The Joker.  I tried a couple of different times but almost passed out.  Other favorites were Bucket Head, Balloon Vs Cups, and Shake What Your Mama Gave You.  The kids of course were the superior shakers. 

I think the kids spent more time in the hot tub than out of it.  With all of the splashing and diving, I'm surprised that we didn't have to refill it.  Little Bella was probably the most insistent, " Bella Swimsuit, Hot Tub" she would beg several times a day.  Kris and I got our hot tubbing in after the children went to bed.  On Saturday night we even caught about 10 shooting stars from the Perseid Meteor Shower at we soaked. 

On Saturday we drove up to Quake Lake.  Unfortunately the Visitor's Center and Lookout Trail were being remodeled so we just kind of looked around.  Quake Lake was formed back in 1959 when an earthquake caused a huge chunk of the mountain to slide down into the valley damming up the river.  A score of people died in the landslide and a lake subsequently formed behind the dam.  Since then an outlet has been cut out for the river to reflow but the lake still remains. 

Saturday afternoon the more adventurous took a float down the river.  The too little and less adventurous stayed back at the cabin.  Really I do love to float, but someone had to stay with Eva. 

Saturday evening we celebrated my upcoming birthday with my favorite, raspberry cheesecake.  My mom has made it for me every year since I was probably 8 or 9 years old.  I could have eaten the whole pan, but settled for just seconds.   Yummy!!!  We also enjoyed watching the Olympics on that nice flat screen in the main room. 

Sunday morning we washed off the dirt and headed for church in Island Park.  The kids enjoyed the experience of sitting on the lawn for sacrament meeting though I'm not certain if they were easier or more difficult to manage outside.

On the way home we stopped to dip our toes in the cool water of Big Springs.  The fish weren't biting at the bread or fish food other visitors were throwing but we did spy four monstrous trout languidly swimming in the shade of the bridge.  Thanks for a great weekend family, we are looking forward to next year. 

Tendoy Reunion 2012

 

Each summer we eagerly anticipate the end of July and our annual Hayes' reunion in Tendoy.  This year was the first year Eva attended as well as the first year that the whole Meek clan spent in a tent.  Too bad I missed a picture of our tent.  Remarkably after the first night of adjustment we all slept really well.   The Tendoy cabin is a little hunting cabin on a 2-3 acre wooded lot nestled against the Lemhi river.  We have some luxuries like a fridge, flushing toilet in the outhouse, shower in the bully barn ( where the lawnmower is stored) but still enjoy the camping experience of sleeping in a tent, cooking over a fire, playing hard and getting dirty.

 

Our favorite activity up at Tendoy is riding the trails and roads that abound in the area.  The kids all clamor for four wheeler rides.  This year Kris bought a dirt bike from his cousin Sam so that he can now ride with the Big Boys on the single track trails.  After a Superman style dismount from his bike he was a little bruised and beat up, but jumped back on the bike the next day for another ride.  Even little Eva would squeal with delight to ride, very slowly, around camp and down the road.  Some of our favorite trails are up to Chief Tendoy's gravesite, Copper Queen, and the Lewis and Clark Adventure Byway.  

  

After a day of riding the kids and adults loved to soak in Sharkey Hot Springs.  Abi, Talmage and cousin Walker would splash, dive around in the water and play like crazy.    

 

 Over in the other pool, the adults could soak and relax.  Eva enjoyed floating back and forth from mom to dad in her little baby boat.  Wearing her life jacket, Leah also was a little fish.

 

While the Big Boys did their trail ride on Saturday the rest of us took a jaunt up to Copper Queen.  The kids all love collecting the green tinged rocks and bits of quartz.  We also discovered wild raspberries to pick, eat and enjoy.

We repeated the Sailboat Regatta this year.  Our creations this year were made from Styrofoam bowls, sticks and paper sails.  They floated really well, as did one of Abi's flip-flops which escaped down the ditch.  We were so excited to be joined by a larger group of our family this year.  Our kids especially loved playing with their Monk, Funk, Meek and Hayes cousins.  And then every evening we would pull our chairs together around the campfire to share dessert and conversation.  Campfire Eclairs were a big hit this year.  Thanks to all of our family who shared this fun time with us and we look forward to seeing you up in Tendoy again next year. 

Fourth of July Fun

This year Kris and Abi started our Fourth of July off a little differently.  Abi challenged Kris to run a 5K this summer and so they signed up for our Firecracker Fun Run.  They had trained hard this summer so at 7:00 am not even the nervous butterflies could keep them down. 

Sprinting to the finish line.  

Abi set the pace and Kris stayed with her the whole time.  They clocked in at 28:30, a personal best for Abi. 

After a little rehydration and some breakfast we got these two showered and then were off to the parade and a BBQ at a friend's house.

We had another BBQ out at Nana and Papa Fife's house before the fireworks.  We loaded everyone up and headed downtown to watch the fireworks over the river.  Eva was not too impressed but the rest of us Oohed and Ahhed. 

On Saturday we joined up with the Meek Clan for another BBQ and our backyard fireworks.  This is Kris's favorite part.  We really had quite the show this year.

The sparklers captivated Eva.  Kris had a hard time keeping them out of her reach.

Look Who Is One!

 It is so hard to believe that my little Eva turned one.  Where did the last year go?  That year of babyhood flew by in a blur of kisses, hugs, cuddles, smiles, new tricks, adventures and of course many a sleepless night.  But it was a year to be cherished as I will cherish all of the years to come.

 Kris was out floating the Salmon River on Eva's actual birthday so we celebrated a week later.  At first Eva was puzzled by the piles of presents with their wrapping paper, bags and bows.  But after a little coaxing from her brother and sisters Eva got into the groove.  She loved each new surprise but was then confused when her new toys would be whisked away and she was presented with a new gift to open.  She loved all of her new presents, especially the babies.  She also received new books, clothes, sippys and snacks, and a playful toy puppy.  Talmage also made her an airplane mobile for her room.

 Eva was so excited to receive her very own cupcake with no restrictions that she dove right in before I could get a good picture.  She kept trying to grab the flame on her candle while we were singing "Happy Birthday" so Kris had to douse the flame.  Eva surely enjoyed smashing and eating that strawberry frosted cupcake though.

10 Things about Eva

1. Her nickname is Eva MaGoo.  But she also gets called Sweetie, Bug-a-bug, and Munchkin.  I doubt she even knows her name is Evangeline.
2. Eva is learning to say a few words, including: Mama, Daddy, Abi, Leah ( Eeah), Buddy, Baby, Be (Please or I want that), This and we swear we have also heard Car, Ball, and Juice.  
3. She has the brightest, beautiful blue eyes.  People always comment on them.  Those eyes are so quick that she is always pointing at "This" object that catches her eye.  She is especially enraptured by birds darting about the lawn.
4. Eva loves to go outside.  She points and "Uhhuhh's" out the window to play on the swing or be gently bounced on the trampoline.  She also loves riding about the neighborhood in the stroller.  
5. Her favorite food is strawberries.  She will pick them no matter the color, green, white or red from our patch and our neighbor's and stuff her little mouth until the juice is running down her shirt.  Strawberries are her favorite for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.  Mom buys them just for her as well.
6. Eva still cruises along the furniture but is getting very quick.  She has become quite the climber and pulls herself up on chairs, couches, stools, beds, tables and more.  Eva remains too timid to strike out walking on her own but giggles and grins if we hold her by the hands and walk her around.
7. Eva loves music and songs.  At each nap and bed I sing her Primary songs while she nurses.  Our favorites are: I Am A Child of God, Teach Me to Walk in the Light, I Love to See the Temple, Whenever I Hear the Song of A Bird, and I Like to Look for Rainbows.  
8. I wish she was as good of a sleeper as a nurser, they are probably interconnected.  Eva is down to one nap a day, usually from 1:30-3:00.  At night she goes to bed about 9:00 pm but is up between 1:30 and 3:00 when she gets pulled into bed to nurse and snuggle until morning, about 8:00.  Thankfully the frequency of the middle night parties is drastically reduced.  We have a little routine going and the other night when I forgot to turn on her fan she wiggled and pointed at it until I remedied the discrepancy to the routine.
9. Eva is a baby on the move.  I try to read her books but she will rarely look at more than a page before she is climbing and rascalling about.  She climbs and scoots, wiggles and worms, and loves to be in the middle of the action all day.  
10. Mealtimes continue to be an adventure for Eva.  She hates to be confined to her booster chair and will fight and wiggle against the tray.  She is the messiest eater; her food always ends up covering her from head to toe.  She loves a variety of food, but when she is done watch out.  Eva signals completion of her meal by dumping the contents of her plate onto her tray and rapidly throwing it onto the floor or flinging it in all directions.  

I Love You My Little Eva!!!