2 of my fav pictures

I'm quite certain I never posted these pictures. And I really love them. And I miss the warmth of summer. And I love Lincoln. And ... hopefully this sort of makes up for posting the picture of him looking super goofy holding his 'projects' (turkeys).

Mom Fun

Taking these 2 pictures was a good exercise for me. I have been feeling huge and taking these pictures (while dark and of low quality) made me realize I have some room to grow. Dang it!

I think I will like being a mom as long as my kids think doing crafts with me is fun. (even if they make goofy faces when we're done).

A Few Cute Pictures

How have I not blogged for 3 months? Weird. Also, I thought I would post a picture of my belly at 32 weeks ... apparently I am the photographer and never the model (I am mostly okay with this). I will try to get a picture soon. Before this second wiggly boy is born, I hope. But ... here are some pictures of my cute boys from the last couple months.

At the pumpkin patch. We got to steal our daddy-daddy for a night! (Tyler has been working really hard and I'm super impressed with all he is accomplishing. Plus, when he comes home he takes care of Lincoln while I zone out, or he takes care of both of us. He is tough!)

The pumpkin he painted, and his dragon costume.

Riding the pig at Oma and Opa's house.

We were on a 'date.' Fortunately, we have had lots of fun outings to keep us busy while 'daddy-daddy' does his 'work at school'.

The Zoo

August and the end of July have been much less exciting than June and early July. I guess thats what happens when all your family leaves. Rhonda got us a zoo pass when we moved here (funny sidenote: it says it belongs to the household of Kimber and Katie Rice ... don't we sound like a cute little lesbian couple?).

Anyway, Lincoln and I go about once a week. His favorite things about the zoo have nothing to do with the animals, but he still really likes it there. His favorite things include the pictures of animals, the toy animals, the giraffe slide, the goats, the geese, the jeep, the drinking fountain, the special picnic tables ... he is a funny kid.

I let him ride the merry-g0-round the other day because he always looks at it longingly, and i finally thought I could stomach going with him. Turns out he loves it and we now have a little monster.

I often think I'm going to look back at this summer and think about the bike rides on the greenbelt to the zoo and think about how great it was. I've been feeling really good this week, and I might even agree to its greatness right now.

Thanks for the zoo pass Rhonda!

A Little Blue Today

No, I'm not feeling sad ... but we did find out the little guy inside me is a boy so all my baby thoughts now have a color theme at least.

I'm really excited to have another boy ... except one thing ... boy names are harder to come up with. Anyone have any good ideas? (I'm going to be sorry I asked, huh?)

Lincoln, meet Lincoln

Other Recent Events

Face to fish days at the MK nature center. Thats Tyler's dad, Tyler and Lincoln. 3 generations of silly boys.

Lincoln loves dogs- "the Doggie" or "the Pup." This one was at the park we walk to a couple times a week, and he was very friendly.

Posing at the Rose Garden in the park.

My boy loves to read. It melts my heart.

And thats my little bro who left on his mission last week.

July 2

The Rice family has a reunion every year on the 4th. This year we celebrated on the 2nd though. It might have been my favorite reunion yet. Mimi and Papa are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary this year so the reunion was a little bigger deal than usual. We had a private camp area and it was all Rices all the time. anyway, I actually took my camera to take pictures ... but the battery died so I only have a couple.

One of the traditional pastimes is for all of Mimi and Papa's kids to sing to them. (Okay, not all ... just those that want to). I did get a picture of that.

Isn't he cute in his little swimming suit and farmer's tan?

Alison Krauss

I really should have taken a picture of my cousin, Trish, and I ... Oh well. But ... we went to an Alison Krauss and Union Station concert on Friday night. It was REALLY awesome. I'm really glad I got to go with Trish and have a bit of a girls evening. It was really refreshing to me. It was at the Idaho Botanical Garden. You bring picnic blankets and low chairs, a picnic dinner and enjoy the show. The back of the venue is the old penitentiary wall. My fav venue thus far in my life. I highly recommend it. Plus, it was just chill, awesome music. I loved it. I wanted to brag a little. Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski and band are awesome.

Also, my best friend from Moscow sent me a birthday card a couple days before the show that contained money to buy a T-shirt at the concert. It was probably the most heart-felt and heart-received birthday cash ever. So, here are crappy pictures to show off my new shirt. Thanks Jillaine! I purposely did a side shot so everyone can see that my belly has already begun to 'pop'. (15 weeks and counting)

For My Long Lost NC Friends

Here is a little update on our lives (although, I wouldn't mind hearing the same from you "Anne B" and Emily S):

Tyler is doing a joint program with the University of Idaho and Boise State. We were in Northern Idaho for the past 2 years (and I LOVED it). Now we are back in our hometown of Boise (and I'm liking a lot more than I expected after leaving a place I loved). So, we are no longer trailer trash. Its a big step down to being back in a regular old apartment. :) Its still fun. We live close to the greenbelt and parks and the zoo and my favorite grocery store so we go on lots of fun little bike rides and walks to fun places.

I've also started painting my fingernails, which I have never enjoyed before. Its going pretty well. I'm sure you are anxious for a status update on that. :)

Lincoln is one and a half, and he has been getting really big. Like he is a boy now. Not a baby. He is totally a mama's boy and I forgot how fun it is to show him off on the blog.

And I'm due the beginning of January. So ... I expect a baby around mid-January.

He totally looks like an Oakes boy here to me. (My maiden name). He is landing his 'hop.' He is really good at jumping for a 19 month old.

He got to pick his hat out of the treasure box at summer reading and he was really proud of it for a few days. He also loves to tote around his suitcase from his cousin, 'ZZuuzz.'

My lil' bro is leaving on a mission next week to Argentina. Tyler's sister's family just moved to London for 2 years. I should have lots of pics from recent family gatherings, but I don't ... yet. Maybe that will be next week's nap-time blog.

I love nap time because it turns into me blogging about this ...

Last night I decided that this baby is either the next karate kid

or I accidentally ate fireworks.

(thats right, I just went public)

Oh ... and have you seen how big this boy has gotten recently?

(Sussanah Warr took some family pictures before we moved and they are great! The above picture is compliments of her).

PSS- We have the internet again!

for Emma

We will miss you!

for auntie lindsey

so, I never watch videos on other blogs, so don't feel that you need to. but ... this is for auntie lindsey. that cutie pie nephew of hers' has moves. and his mom can't hold a camera level.

Baby Shower Season

Its almost here. This spring in Moscow it will be much more mellow than the last. (Seriously, last spring there was a baby shower every Saturday for 8 Saturdays in a row!) It also means I have been working on some seemingly small, quick projects. I always start thinking that a project will be so quick and easy and I always get so frustrated about half way through when it is taking me 30 times longer than I planned. Always! But this most recent project turned out pretty dang cute. Despite the broken needle and upside down sewing I had to do to complicate things. But I can't post a picture until I have given them away. So, Diana, let me know when you get it.

Stout

My parents came to visit this weekend (and it was really fun). They kept commenting that Lincoln looked a lot 'thicker.' 20 years down the road that won't be such a compliment. But ... here is the picture to prove the thickness.

Sin Dawg

About a year ago, more or less, my grandma introduced Tyler and I to Dave's Killer Bread. Have you had it? It is my grocery shopping treat. It is expensive, so I can't get it all the time, but its SO GOOD. I care very little about the organic-mumbo-jumbo. Its just simply delicious. Get this kind if you want to try it:

Anyway, I was looking for recipes on line to try to copy it a little. I didn't find anything that looked too promising. (So, if you know where I can find something PLEASE let me know). But I did find a little video and recipe of Killer Dave himself making a 'sin dawg.' Basically, a portland-health-hippie version of a cinnamon roll. I made them Saturday. Too much work to prob make again, but really good.

Thats right ... I even bake ... from scratch on occasion.

Thanks for looking at my post about my Killer Dave crush. Better to blog about it than to act upon it. Tyler might get jealous ... that I'm eating all the bread.

This is how much I liked that picture

I can now do small projects since my big one is over. Look what I did while my boys took super Sunday naps!

my hero

FINISHED!!!!

I started this quilt last July and I just finished minutes ago. It is made from recycled wool felt. I can tell you which squares used to be skirts, pants, jackets ... AND ... I hand quilted it. I don't know if you know, but that takes forever so I will probably never do it again.

Insult to artist?

I like this picture in real life, but I almost like it better as a coloring sheet.

What do you think?

Is Country going Punk or what?

Case and point - Thompson square

the band perry

taylor swift at times

I don't know how much I like some of the new music, but I sorta like the new style.

This is what my mind has been thinking about