Burgess Falls

On Saturday afternoon we headed to Burgess Falls. When we first moved here we went down there, but were not very well equipped for hiking. Somehow I had gotten the impression that you walked to an overlook and could see the falls. But there is an approx mile hike to the very bottom of the falls. So when we went the first time we were wearing flip flops and had forgotten water and bug spray. I kept slipping and so was Dominic. The trail goes straight down on the one side and would be a deadly fall to the river below. It made me pretty nervous to have Dominic jumping around on the trail filled with roots. He's not great at paying attention.

So I told him that I wanted him to hold my hand so I wouldn't slip and fall into the river. He held on tight. We walked to the first two sets of falls and then returned to the car with plans to come back later when better prepared.

When we started down the trail Dominic ran over and grabbed my hand. He said he didn't want me to fall in the river. He kept holding my hand the entire walk. He was very insistent that he keep me from falling even when the trail was flat on both sides. It was so precious.

At the beginning of the trail. 

My precious little man.

The first falls or small falls.

The old bridge for the flume.

Grammy and Dominic standing in front of the bridge.

Caitlin had a very easy hike. She was so excited to go on a hike and "talked" about it the whole way there.

The middle falls.

The observation deck for the high falls.

View from deck.

We hadn't intended to hike to the bottom, but the falls were so beautiful we couldn't help ourselves.

At the top of the falls. The sun had gone behind the some clouds a bit.

The walk down.

 

Dominic wanted to take a picture of me. I thought he did pretty well.

Navigating the rocks at the bottom.

 

 

The water created a beautiful rainbow.

 

Walking back on the road with Grammy and Gramps

Business trip

Jon had to be gone for two days this past week on a business trip.

He left on Wednesday morning. Dominic has gymnastics on Wednesday and his class gets out at noon. So we always eat lunch with Jon. I hadn't completed my errands when I had to pick him up so we went ahead and ate in town. The kids kept asking where Jon was the whole meal. Dominic kept saying how much he missed his Daddy.

Then that night they both missed him again. He is usually the one who gives them their bath and puts them to bed. I get to supervise tooth brushing and get hugs before they head to bed. When I did everything for them it really confused them. 

I also missed him when I was alone at home in the dark. =)

The puppies never asked for their supper and so I was ready for a shower and bed when I remembered that I needed to feed them and let them out to potty. I put their food in a bowl and put it in the kitchen. We usually feed them outside, but it was a bit cold. I was in the shower when I heard someone knocking on the door. I yelled for Dominic to come in and nothing happened. I was pretty freaked out by the time I opened the door to discover my dogs were bumping their heads on the door. They wanted company while they ate supper.

The girls love their cage. They will go in and fall asleep before they've even had supper.

 Josie asleep on Jon's lap.

Jon's parents arrived for a visit on Thursday afternoon and much to our delight Jon showed up right after supper. We were so happy to have him home again.

My marvelous kids

Just a few things my kids have been doing!

Caitlin's vocabulary is expanding so much every day. She's always saying "Wats dat?" Then if she hasn't heard the word she'll repeat it after us.

Dominic was at gymnastics and she was shopping with me. She pointed at her nose and said

"Me nose"

"Ook Mommy"

And her finger goes up inside.

"Oh, a boogie"

Then she promptly eats it.

"Yum"

Then she bursts out laughing. 

I couldn't help it. I laughed with her. It was obviously something Dominic had taught her. Silly girl.

She giggled for several minutes. A lady a few minutes later commented on what a happy child she was. 

I didn't think I should share why. =)

The kids were eating a piece of Halloween candy the other day.

Dominic was eating his and started choking.

"Dominic, are you okay?"

"Yes. I just choked on Skittle juice and it went into the wrong stomach. It was my supper stomach and it wasn't ready for it."

Dominic's reading skills have really taken off. He's asking how to spell everything and is sounding out the words the cereal box on the mornings we have cereal. He's not quite reading, but it's going to happen very soon. The other day he was writing a letter to someone (a favorite activity of his) and he asked me how to spell marvelous.

Caitlin was all ready to go to church. Jon and I were getting dressed and she must have gotten into the bathroom and decided to bring a few things into the living room. She's sitting on her potty stool with her toilet seat on her head. Jon thought she looked like Mary Poppins.

So he's calling her Mary Poopins

Dominic is helping Jon with my library. They are really close to having the first wall done. I'm so excited.

Jon was on a business trip (more on that later) and so was gone when I took the kids to Subway. The kids meal comes with a sandwich, apples, juice box and chips. Caitlin ate everything including a sandwich full of vegies, turkey and cheese.

Dominic finished it as well, but he's twice her size. When he finished his sandwich he smiled and said

"Guess what mom? I finished in an eating race before you. Do you  know why?"

"No, Dominic."

"It's because I didn't talk."

Jon has been telling him this forever. Guess it's better late than never.

He was cold so he went outside to sit on the sidewalk to finish his chips. He didn't realize that everyone inside could see him as he made faces at his reflection.

We asked Dominic the other day where he came from.

"I came from Lowes. No wait. I came from TACO BELL."

I was getting breakfast ready a few days ago and Dominic was sitting at the bar talking to me while he waited.

"Mom, when I grow up I'm going to have a very important job."

"What is your important job going to be?"

"I'll run important errands, mail important letters, and do what my wife says."

I've trained him well, haven't I? =)

Our week!

Helping make pancakes.

At the Children's Museum

Caitlin found these items in the dress up box. The cape is Super Man.

Then she decided to wear this outfit. She proceeded to wander all over the museum dressed like this.

 

Dominic is a knight.

Caitlin chilling in her high chair while eating supper. Notice the missing shoe?

Grandma told Caitlin to smile for the picture.

Dominic told me that he wanted to play with his skateboards and watch a movie during quiet time. I didn't realize he meant both at the same time.

Dominic was reading a story to Caitlin this morning.

Dominic is doing really well at sounding out words with a bit of help from me. Today he asked me what letters certain sounds made and then I found this by the dining room door.

"Danger puppies must not pass this paper."

Wishes!

Dominic was testing my authority and I was explaining to him that I was the mom and the one who made the rules. He was the person who had to obey, no matter what.

"WELL! That's not what I wanted to hear."

Every morning I wake up about an hour before the kids get up so I can have some quiet time to myself. After Jon leaves every morning I spend some time reading (devotions). A couple of times Dominic will wake up before I'm finished and he knows he can't talk until I have finished.

Today he was supposed to be in his room getting dressed. But he kept coming into the living room and messing with Caitlin.

"Dominic, go into your room and get dressed. Now!"

He immediately dropped into a sitting position, closed his eyes, folded his hands and said

"Please be quiet! I'm having my devotions and talking to Jesus."

Poor kid just thought that would get him out of trouble. Unfortunately for both of my children I was the queen at manipulating (or at least trying) when I was growing up.  
I'm on to them! =)

"Me Piyat"

Dominic had so much fun with his pirate costume. I'm guessing he'll ask for it again next year. What I didn't expect was to have to go grocery shopping with two pirates today. Dominic wore his eye patch and Caitlin had the sword. They borrowed some old red handkerchiefs that I use for dusting and were calling each other matey and captain. Dominic taught Caitlin how to sword fight. (sigh)

Caitlin was so proud of herself for putting the eye patch and ear ring on by herself.

"Me Piyat"

Jesus talks to us

We were driving back from rock climbing and it was getting close to supper time. Dominic had mentioned several times that he was hungry and wanted us to stop somewhere and eat. 

But the Obed River is out in the middle of no where and there just weren't any places to stop.

We told Dominic this, but apparently his stomach couldn't hear us.

We heard this voice from the back seat.

"Listen! I hear Jesus telling you to feed your children."