Day 4/30: I can't show you the photos.

Owen had so much fun swimming yesterday that he really wanted to go again today. Being that our pennies are limited, I thought I should break out the inflatable pool our neighbor gave us.

Upon opening said pool, we realized that by inflatable it means something (or someone) will have to force air into it (duh). We also discovered that the cap to the valve through which air passes was missing. Hoorah, a challenge, like that's going to stop stubborn me.

I searched everywhere for my hand pump that came with the excercise ball (which, is now my "birthing ball"). I'm thinking I must've left it at a birth at sometime, b/c it's no where to be found.

Matt wanted to throw in the towel (metaphorically speaking--throwing a towel literally into the pool would not have helped our situation at all), but I wasn't giving up (especially b/c Owen was hoping around the backyard screaming "Oh, boy! Oh, BOY!")

I grabbed my blow dryer & ran to the backyard. Okay, this worked, but now how do we keep the air in without a valve cover.

I yelled to Matt "TAPE." He didn't budge. "Seriously, hon, go get some tape." After a short discussion on whether or not the physics of tape and high pressure air where really going to work, and me INSISTING IT HAD TO, Matt went and got tape.

Meanwhile, I commenced orally blowing up all the little sections of this inflatable pool. (It has a little water slide, a smaller wading pool within the pool, and a palm tree sprinkler.)

After a lot of deep breathing, and 3 pieces of packing tape, our pool is functioning. Owen filled it with water & ran for his swim trunks.

After awhile of being in the pool, Owen declared that he wanted to take of his trunks--I kid you not. If you haven't been to our house (shame on you--we have an annual open house chili party in October--get it on your calendar now), the backyard is pretty much open to a large green belt and several other neighbors' backyards. So, basically, anyone & everyone can see what's happening in the Cramer's backyard.

Before I had a second to reason with my 3-year old (like that ever works), his trunks were off, and he was squealing with delight (and how cold the water was on his bare bum).

Of course, I took video, but I love my boy too much to post those videos online (no, no, I'll save those for the future girlfriends).

He came inside after a grand time of playing in the nude in the pool, but continued to streak his bare bum around the house for the remainder of the morning & through lunch (pb & honey must just taste better naked). We did have a long talk about how it's okay to be naked at home, when it's just us, but his trunks are to stay on when at the city pool.

Just before nap time my two kiddos decided it was time to wrestle with their momma. Owen (still naked) pounced upon my belly--which, some of you know, makes me giggle uncontrollably. Eden thought she should get in on the action, & crawled over. She proceeded to play pat-a-cake with my face while Owen bounced. This, and more (imagine me flat on my tummy, hair sprawled everywhere, while two giggling babes swish my hair around and blow raspberries on my back) continued for quite some time. I remember thinking I wish I had a picture of this, but alas, I was having too much fun to stop & grab a camera.

During this attack on my, I also hollered for salvation from my dear loving husband, but where was he? Enjoying a nice, hot, quiet shower. He just doesn't know what he's missing.

Okay, so photos. Not going to show nude photos of my baby boy, and didn't take photos during the mommy-attack, so these will have to suffice:

The aforementioned inflatable pool:

Me--after a great morning with my kiddos:

Day 3/30: A Day at the Pool

Today my friend Kendra invited us to join her & her kids at the city pool. Owen starts swim lessons next week, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to introduce him to the pool.

Owen had a blast! He was timid at first, but seconds later he was splashing over to the "deep" end (about 2ft), and running under the mushroom fountain. He did not want to leave! I even took him into the "big" pool to try deeper water. He was very happy as long as I had an arm around him.

Eden wasn't too excited. I think she prefers her warm bath water to the cooler pool water. She did get quite excited when I took her in the big pool--kicking & waving her hands. Not sure if it was a happy dance, or a panicked "get me outta here" type dance.

Swimming with one arm around each kid is a talent I didn't know I had until today!

I almost forgot to take pictures, so at the last minute I had Owen run back into the pool (funny, he didn't complain), so I could get a few shots of him playing.

We're planning on making this a weekly adventure.

Day 2/30: Paperwork

I debated on what to post today. How we spent our morning wasn't all that glamorous or fun, but thankfully not painful.

This is a stack of paperwork we had to prepare before going down to the county offices to apply for medicaid and WIC (and anything else the state was willing to give us.) I kid you not, it's 1 1/2 inches thick, and that's only about half of it. The other half we left with them.

We stayed up until 11:30 p.m. last night completing paperwork, and gathering all the documents they require. We headed down to the offices at about 9 a.m., only to discover that we still had yet MORE paperwork to complete. We finally saw a case worker at about 10 a.m., and she was really nice. Long story short--the process is started, but we still have more paperwork and more meetings to get everything complete.

It's literally going to come down to pennies on whether or not we qualify, and we may not know anything for over a month.

If you're reading this wondering why on earth we're applying for assistance, you must not have received my very long email to friends & family about our current situation. If you want to get caught up send me an e-mail & I'll fill you in.

Also--Can anyone see the slideshow in the upper right hand corner of the blog? My mom said it wasn't working, but it seems to be working fine on my end. Let me know.

Day 1/30: The Berry Muncher

I've made a goal to post every day for 30 days (picture included). I got the idea from a friend, and after my mom told me she checked the blog every day for new posts--I figured I should give it a try. So here goes.

Our black raspberries are FINALLY starting to ripen. This time last year we had hundreds. So far, I've picked a few handfuls, but my little berry muncher seems to gobble them all up before I can even get a bite.

Can you see the berry juice all over his nose & mouth?

"More berries, please momma?" he says.

Into the woods

This past weekend was our annual anniversary camping trip. Matt & I were married in the woods, honeymooned in the woods, and it seems fitting that we seem to always spend the weekend of our anniversary camping.

This was Eden's first camping trip, and if I'm counting right--Owen's 5th or 6th.

We had planned on taking the camper (borrowed from our friends) up the Poudre Canyon to our usual camping site. We had planned on leaving early on Saturday. Here's to the best laid plans...

Problem #1: Owen woke up with a cold. We decided the family really still needed to go, so we continued getting ready.

Problem #2: The lights wouldn't work with the camper/truck, so pulling said camper would be illegal. We decided to tent camp instead.
Problem #3: Our tent is a two-person, and has a hole--hmmmm....yep the kids are small enough, but the hole...if it rained we'd be up a creek (no pun intended). My dad had left us a bit of cash last fall & I had put it aside for a new tent. So, we did a bit o' research on the net & headed to REI for a new tent. Just our luck--it was the annual garage sale. We got a great deal on a great tent & we were off.

For some unknown reason, at some point on Saturday morning we decided to be spontaneous & go somewhere new. I left it to Matt to be the guide.

Problem #4: The campsite was closed due to snow. Big bummer.

We pulled over close to some trail heads so that I could feed Eden, and we could decide on plan B. Owen & Matt took a walk while I fed Eden. They returned shortly, Matt grinning, Owen crying. Matt & Owen had found a beautiful site within the Nat'l Forest about 100 yards off the road. Being that it's the Nat'l Forest it has up sides (free) and downsides (no toilets--must use bush). Oh--Owen was crying because he didn't want to come back to the truck, he wanted to stay in the woods. We decided to do it--mind you, I had prepared for car-camping, not backpacking. I hadn't exactly "packed light." We strapped Eden on my back & began hauling gear down to the site.
We had a great time, despite all problems and can't wait to go back. (This time with a lot less "stuff.") It was stinkin' cold Saturday night, and after attempting to sleep with two children in our sleeping bags we've decided the next camp purchase will be their own sleeping bags.

Here are a few highlights in pictures:

Owen the Pioneer

On Saturday Owen visited a small farm, and spent the morning pretending to be a pioneer. He husked and ground the corn to feed the sheep and chickens, and he fed hay to the sheep and horses.

We had a blast!

[Feeding the sheep with dad's help.]

[In the chicken coop, feeding chickens. Owen also found eggs in the nests.]

Owen really liked the horses, though he wasn't quite ready to pet them. He did pet the sheep and chickens. I think his favorite part was the covered wagon ride at the end of the day.

What Grows in Colorado

Matt and I have this fantastic argument going about what will and will not grow in Colorado--at least what grows in our garden.
Being that he truly has the green thumb in the family, and comes from a long line of green thumbs--he is definitely more of an expert on garden growing. (Which of course, for me means that I don't have to do any yard/garden work--no complaints there.)

I, on the other hand, believe that nothing grows unless you attempt planting it (except for random weeds and seeds that take root of their own accord, but I digress).

Years have gone by of me suggesting wild things to grow in our Colorado back yard--avocados, bananas, cranberries (yes, I realize we don't have a bog), and the like.
This year I finally convinced him to attempt potatoes. Guess what? They appear to be growing extremely well (who's to say what's going on under ground, but if the top is any suggestion--we'll be eating fresh french fries soon).

Well, the other day I gave Owen the top to a pineapple I just cut & suggested he go plant it in the garden. (Owen takes after his dad when it comes to gardening, although he has his mother's humor and is willing to plant anything--coffee, pineapple, and random toy cars.)

This morning Matt comes in from watering the garden with a smirk on his face.
"The pineapple is growing," he says. I just smiled at him.