Found the Photos

For those of you who REALLY know us...you know we are a high tech family. We have about as many computers as people living here. So, when I couldn't find the photos of our trip to Idaho this past summer, I was a little perplexed. then I remembered...they were on the OTHER computer. So, these are the photos from our working vacation to Idaho. Steve remodeled his mom's bathroom which was a TOTAL tansformation.

Charles just LOVED the horse nextdoor. He climbed the fence with reckless abandon whenever we left the front door open.



working...
here's Charles helping with the demolition.



Daddy teaching Charles the tricks of the trade....measure twice, cut once.



VACATION




Charles WORKING on the ranch


Daddy showing Charles around his old stomping grounds.


vacation

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I'll just do it myself

So...we ALL know you're not supposed to leave a baby unattended in the tub. So, I ran the tub, went to get a towel and probably a cup of coffee, while Charles got busy with the usual ritual of tossing his bath toys from the bin into the tub. Only THIS time, he decided to divert from the usual S.O.P. and skip the toy toss, step up on the bin and literally dive into the festivities early. I told you...he's our little water baby! Loves the stuff!!!


I'm still a little curious as to how he climbed in without tumbling head first and crying for help...but where there's a will, there's a way.

HELLOOOOO SEPTEMBER!!

We spent all day (& most of the night) at the state fair yesterday. We used to go every year but it has gotten SOOO crowded and it's always over 100 degrees here..the novelty wore off. We hadn't been in about 4 years. But now with the baby, maybe we'll start going again. Steve took off Friday and it was soooo nice. Cooler, absolutely no crowds, it was such a pleasant day. And Charles, well, Charles. He was his usual pleasant self. The families we were with kept commenting how good he was, "that he never cries." mmhmm..mums the word!

Charles's first experience in the midway..rides, darts, toys etc.



Then on to the petting zoo. Charles LOVED the animals. He was fearless, the bigger and closer they got. He pet and fed them all. The donkey was his favorite. Which surprised me as it was so big. It started braying at one point and lots of little kids went 'a skattering in sheer terror...Charles just stood there staring him down...when he was finished...in went Charles's hand to pet him some more.





But our fine FEATHERED friends....ahhh, not so much. Charles showed plenty of apprension toward these little guys. Look carefully at his hand with the chicken here. We'd pet it, he'd start trusting us and admire our interest and all that, but then we'd put HIS hand up to pet the chicken and...not gonna happen.


Later it was the same thing with the other birds. Look at how he's backing away from this little parakeet. It was funny.

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LEARNING CURVE

So, I started this new job which I can mostly do from home. One day, I was making some phone calls, playing a little with Charles, researching on the internet, playing a little with Charles. Then he got quiet and was playing on his own...so I got a little more work done...but then I turned around and realized WHAT he had been playing at....

The paper shredder...

I guess we could call this...the human snow globe.

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BYE BYE AUGUST!!!

Besides swimming and water parks...this summer saw A LOT of this.....

Quit "hosin' around"

Then...one day, Charles decided all on his own that he knew exactly how to water a garden...

and shower at the same time.


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throw the dog a bone

Sorry, I've been so remiss in my duties to keep you updated on our goings on. What a month July was!!! Don't get me started....it's 1/2 way through August.
Hmmm. Now I can't find my pictures! We had a lot of fun in Idaho...here are 2 highlights.
Give a baby a cupboard and you're good to go for hours!!

New Job Update

Hi everyone!
The summer is winding down and I haven't updated the blog in a month.
There was a day last week that I do believe Charles grew overnight and awoke an inch taller, wider, etc. His hair was still the same length though!

I'll get to the photos this week or weekend.

Now...to pick your brains and resources. Well, the brains of all our California fans anyway. I have been hired on as the area rep. for Kaplan Online School. It's for middle and high schoolers. Think "homeschoolers" but the difference is that with Kaplan students are assigned a FT teacher thus the parents are not the primary educators. The parents essentially play the same role as if their children were in conventional school..."Did you do your homework? let me check it. What work do you have to 'turn in' tomorrow/this week? etc"
I would appreciate any leads you have for families interested in homeschooling and might consider this type of alternative. ANY student who would homeschool would be a potential candidate. Families who travel a lot, kids who train in a competetive sport lots of hours a day, kids who excel in school, kids who are at risk, teen parents, teens who have to work to help support their families, kids with a physical or mental disability in which the parents would rather them school at home at a different pace.

Thanks for the thoughts...