We got this costume about 2 weeks ago at Costco and Jeffrey wears it constantly. He is very excited about Halloween and getting candy. He sleeps in his scrubs almost every night. And I think he looks really good in those scrubs (I'm already having proud parent dreams of my baby going to medical school)
I got this recipe from Food Network's Everyday Italian. Its called Garlic and Citrus Chicken and its YUMMY!! We all loved it including the kids. Its very simple just takes a bit of time since its a whole roasted chicken. Click here to get the recipe. Try it....love it.
On this the last day of summer (to which I bid a heartfelt adieu and a safe return), I am lamenting the loss of my dear friends, my black Reef flip-flops. Companions for nearly 6 years, they were worn almost everyday warm enough for them to be worn. Yes they were dirty, stinky, some said ugly, but by George they were comfortable! And that's what matters most to me-comfort.
If you have been overly saddened by the previous event please read the last post to brighten your mood.
Monday morning I went out front to get Jeffrey so we could go to playgroup and there he is with his pants down to his ankles, peaing on our front bush. When he saw me he smiled real big like he was proud of himself. Then says "Mommy, bushes are good for peaing on just like toilets!"
He's done it a few times more, each time I remind him that we have a bathroom just inside. Today Sammy was in front with Jeff, and I saw him walk up to the bush, lift up his shirt, then try to push his pants down just like his big brother does when he relieves himself. Sammy has done this same maneuver in front of the toilet so I'm hoping he will be interested in potty training early.
BYU and Arizona football played today and BYU won 20-3!! For anyone not aware of the history, John graduated from UofA and I graduated from BYU. Looks like Arizona will have another bad team. I'll be cheering for them again come basketball season.
Here's a shout out of thanks to the few blessed souls who have commented on my blog. I know some of you don't know how to leave comments so I will tell you: at the bottom of each post there is a "comments". If you click on it you can then leave a message in the comments box. You don't have to have a google account, but you can sign up for one if you want to under the comment box. So try it!
And for those of you who just don't comment because you are either out of time or lazy or maybe you don't like my blog (then I ask you why are you reading it?); well I take pity on you and if I were to die tomorrow you may feel guilty that you didn't leave your words. J/K, J/K its okay I'm not mad really.....
The latest victims of Jeffrey's habit of picking things. The one on the left is a library book!!! ARGGGGGGHHH!!!
We hiked to Piedra Falls (in the background). It was a short one mile hike perfect for the kids. John is sporting his new camping hat
This is everyone who came to Pagosa Springs. (We are missing half of my family) From left to right is my niece Danielle, my brother Brent, his wife Nicole, my Dad Dave, Jeffrey, my mom Betty, John, Steph, and a crying uphappy Sammy.
Playing in Grandpa's truck. We drove up to Purgatory Resort near Durango to ride the alpine slide but just as we got there it rained and they closed the slide.
Rafting on the Animas River in Durango. I'm in the front with John and my parents are sitting in the back. August is NOT the best time to raft. This was one of a few thrill rapids for the trip.
Jeff wanted to wear Daddy's tie. I tried to tie it but it didn't turn out. So this is after John saved me. He needs a clip on!
We went camping for the first time with the kids then the next day hiked to Devil's Head where there is a fire lookout tower that you can climb up. There is a man at the top who works there and has been doing it for 23 summers. He packs in his food once a week and gets water from snow melt. And he is real tired of people asking him the same questions over and over. The picture above is of John's sister Katrina, her husband Patrick, John, John's brother Spencer and Reno the dog. The kids are on the backs of Patrick and John but you can't see them, and I'm taking the picture so you don't get to see me (sorry).
Sammy fell asleep and this is him just waking up.
In the past few days Jeffrey has said the following:
"Hot dogs are good and yummy and not yucky"
"Food makes poop and poop is in my tummy and bottom"
"I like to poop"
Jeffrey also has this weird habit of picking at things. He can't seem to stop himself from picking all the paper off his crayons-he doesn't color with them, just takes the paper off of them. And its like a drug, if there is a crayon near with paper on it, he has to pick it! He does this with books too or anything that is peeling.
The Kjelstrom gang. The reunion was at our house. When we were all together, there were 16 people at our house. It was a bit cramped at times, but fun to have everyone. There was a lot of food, playing of the Wii, and Settlers. I think we all had fun seeing each other again.
Jeffrey and Jacob
Here we are waiting for the July 4th Highlands Ranch fireworks show. (I know its not a great pic) Jeffrey and his cousin Jacob were the most excited of all of us. 
John had a project for the some the family to help with, planting trees and shrubs in our backyard. Earlier in the year John cut down some trees and here he is with Earl using a stump grinder to get rid of the old stumps. You can see Jason, John's brother, taking a break in the background.
I actually took this about a month ago but forgot to post it. Jeffrey got candy while he was potty training and figured out he could stick it up his nose. (is that just a male instinct?) And the potty training is going great - now. We had ups and downs, but I wasn't going back to diapers and hung in there. Now he does very well.
Sunday morning I found him in Sammy's room hiding behind the glider with an opened bag of Starburst. He had climbed up onto the desk to get the scissors, which are up high, to use to open the bag. I was just glad there were not missing fingers.
Another Colorado wildlife encounter! I saw this fox in our backyard this week. At first I thought it was a coyote because that's what I'm used to seeing being a desert rat. Jeffrey was excited to see it, wanted to go outside and get closer. But I decided to keep my distance since it was already scared from seeing us behind the door.
Today a juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk flew into our neighbor's tree with a squirrel in its mouth. You can see the tail of the squirrel hanging over a branch on the right side of the picture. The hawk seemed very comfortable with humans as we were really close and took multiple pictures. In all of my time as an amatuer bird-watcher I've never seen a raptor so at ease with humans. It ate some of the squirrel, cleaned its feathers, then flew away leaving the carcus in the tree. I assume it came back for it because its now gone.
