The Haights are Great!

One fine day, Zach and I will no longer feel the need to prove that we can still do everything we want to just as easily as we did before Kidageddon. We receive fresh proof daily that that kind of simplicity is gone for the foreseeable future.  Children just plain complicate things.  But while they double (quadruple, millionuple) the logistics, they also multiply the joy and excitement.  This year's Haight Family Reunion was one such dichotomous experience.

On our way out to Manti we stopped on the salt flats, thanks to Eli's habit of declaring his desperate urge to use the bathroom minutes after passing the only civilization for 80 miles in either direction. It was fun to think that 10 months ago, we made our very last trip across the salt flats as a family of three. This time we took a picture to commemorate our foursomeness.

No, that's not a glare.  It's my amazing farmer tan.

Once we got to the Palisade campground Eli made a beeline for the water.  He would've slept in the boats if we'd allowed him to he was so enamored.

Porter, meanwhile, had to be held THE ENTIRE TIME.  The ground was covered in goose droppings and the water was unguarded, so someone was constantly lugging his hefty little body around.  3 AM was no exception- Zach (bless him) took Porter for a walk so that he would stop trying to serenade our entire extended family with his cries. I take this moment to publicly declare that I will never attempt to camp with a teething baby ever again.

Clockwise from top left: shock at being surrounded by so many affectionate people; Porter's true attitude about food revealed; evidence that Porter loves Uncle Gabe more than most; a Portrait of Exhaustion (mine, that is)

On the second day we took all willing cousins on a hike along the shore.  Nothing is cuter than a flock of excited children chanting nonsense while marching in a line (I think.  They only stayed that way for about half a second before stringing out into chaos).

Below we find a prime example of Zach being, in Eli's words, "super cool" on the hike.  Surprisingly he never did fall in.

We loved hanging out with this fantastic family.  The Haights really are a fun, talented, and welcoming bunch.  Special thanks to Rob and Stacy for planning and executing such an excellent reunion!

Oh what [on earth] do you do in the summertime?

It seems these days that on the rare occasions that Zach has some time off, we're out of town.  The days that he's working it's just me, Eli and Porter, from breakfast to bedtime.  All.  Day.  Long.  Some days we're crazy busy with errands and activities, and other days it's difficult to stave off utter boredom.  When the walls start closing in, we have a few stalwart options we can always turn to:

We hit that trampoline.  Hours of entertainment (with funny hats or otherwise) and exercise (wear them out! wear them out!) have been provided by this marvelous contraption.

Walks.  So many walks.  Nothing calms the post-feeding craze like a nice long constitutional.  And, when they're not poking each other, there's not a sight I love more in the world than looking down and seeing my boys sitting side by side with limbs overlapping and heads pressed together.

Dress-ups: totally not just for girls.  These fierce ninja turtles prove that.  Eli can turn into any superhero or animal at the drop of a hat, and Porter is always a willing sidekick.

 

Our backyard empties out into a park, and we can be found there nearly every day.  My friends and I agree that there's nothing like aimless running, climbing, and shrieking to get a kid ready for naps. 

  

 

But sometimes we get desperate for a change, so when our friends invited us up to Twin Falls for a few days I pounced at the chance.  It was my first time traveling solo with both kids, but they were fantastic for the 3 hour drive.  And although the night was rough (never again will I willingly share a bed with Eli- it's like sleeping with a bulldozer) it was totally worth it to reunite Eli with his beloved Gwen.

The kiddie pool.  After this trip we bought our own because the boys had such a good time!

 



It doesn't take much to impress 3 year-olds with science

On our last day we visited Shoshone Falls.  Eli fell in love with the waterfalls, but because Zach has taken to watching YouTube videos of tornadoes with him, he was absolutely terrified of the wind.

Hiking with his lady-love.

 

Much thanks to the Leavitts for refreshing our summer!  If you're looking to refresh your own summer, we've got two super cute attractions here in Elko for a limited time only.