Flaming Geyser State Park

Yesterday we took advantage of some nice weather and went for a hike at Flaming Geyser State Park. We were expecting to see some cool geysers, considering the parks name, but they were pretty disappointing. One of the geysers produces methane gas which is where the flaming part comes in. The other geyser is called bubbling geyser and it wasn't very active when we got there.

 

 Green River

Gavin dressed himself for the hike. Blue shirt layered with a husky jersey, paired with red plaid shorts over black long underwear. All combined with white socks and blue/orange checkered vans. WOW!

 

Olivia was a little bit whiny about having to walk because she's still fighting a cold but she did hold her own. It felt great to get outside to explore. We're hoping to visit as many state parks with the kids as we can over the years.

Gavin: On Marriage

The other day Gavin says to me, "Mom, are you really the boss?" I said, "what do you mean?" He explains, "Well, Dad says that he's the boss of Olivia and me but you're the boss of everyone." He then continues to tell me that he never wants to get married because he always wants to be the boss of himself. I told him that I am not the boss of his dad but he was not convinced. After some thought, he decided that he was ok with me being the boss and that he wants to just live with us forever.

Cuggle Me

I hadn't planned on starting another blog. I felt like once we closed the chapter on our time in New York, it was time to wrap up the personal blogging. After all, we are home in the Pacific Northwest again and able to see people more regularly. I have my gardening blog, which has been completely neglected. The last thing I need is yet another blog to neglect and/or waste time. Yet, every night when I go to bed I find myself thinking about some small thing that one of the kids did or said. I consider going downstairs and pulling out their baby books to make a note, but I never do. So I am starting this blog to capture these moments. These seemingly insignificant but wonderful parts of my day that make my life special. Also, there are times when my mind is bogged down and I need an outlet to work through whatever funk I might be in. I am not sure that this will capture readers, but this blog isn't about that. Someday when the kids are older, they might want to read about their childhood (or try to figure out why their mother is whacked!) and I will be glad I did this for them.

So let me tell you about Olivia's latest bit of adorable. Liv loves to snuggle and cuddle, which she has combined and renamed a "cuggle." Whenever I am busy around the house, cooking or picking up after the kids, she'll wrap herself around my leg and beg me to go cuggle on the couch. "Cuggle me, Mommy!" It's so dang cute that I cannot resist. I will scoop her up and we'll sit on the couch for a few minutes. It's the greatest reminder of why I love being home with her all day.