The Fair Only Comes Once A Year...Thank Goodness

I took JW to the State Fair today. I thought it would be fun and maybe he would enjoy the animals since he is always so enthralled with Gramma Nay's chickens. I can see now why my parents never took us to the fair. First of all, you either pay big bucks for parking or you park 3 miles away. Have you ever seen where the fair grounds are located? G.H.E.T.T.O. You risk losing your rims if you don't pay for parking {I took the risk and LUCKILY I still had all four tires when I returned to my car}. Second, it costs $9/person to get in. Think about the cost for a family of six! And once you're in, it's more $$$ for cotton candy, hot dogs, unsafe rides, a glimpse at the most gigantic alligator in the world, never mind the endless booths of crap that appeal to every little kid. The one and only time we went to the fair I can remember my mom saying, "We aren't spending ANY money." I bet you can imagine how much fun we had that day.

Fortunately JW is small enough that he is free admission, loves to cruise in the stroller - so he didn't complain once about the 3 mile walk to and from the car; could care less about the rides or the most gigantic alligator in the world and hasn't tried a corn dog to know just how enticing a FOOT LONG corn dog can be. So we looked at animals, art and people. I especiallly loved the lady in the Creative Arts area who had gigantic painted on eye browns. She should have entered herself. I would have given her a blue ribbon. Holy cow! I was impressed. JW could have cared less.

Little lambsy wanted some attention. I gave the little guy a pat on the head. Once again, JW paid no attention.

Zuckerman's famous pig was some serious bacon. Never mind for JW. We strolled through the chicken barn too. JW thought, "Whoopty damn doo. I get to feed Gramma Nay's chickens whenever I want."

Do you see a theme here? I'm glad JW humored me even if he could have cared less. I think we'll do it again next year :)

For the Stalker in You

I don't know if you link from my blog to another in my Blog Stalker list...? If you do, I've moved this list to the bottom of my blog. I kind of want to feel a little less cluttered without actually deleting this list (I'm a hoarder) and besides I use Google Reader to stalk now {highly recommended}, so this list isn't even close to up-to-date for the number of awesome people that I know everything about, but don't really know a thing about. Is that creepy? Hey, takes one to know one {wink wink}.


Stalk this: You know I can't post something without a picture of JW cuteness. This was captured a few months ago at Omi's birthday party. Gotta love the binky chap and the party pooper expression.

While camping in Jackson Hole over the weekend, Bullwinkle Moose decided to wander through our campground while we were eating breakfast. He came frighteningly close to where we were sitting. I don't think I've ever seen the Cushing kids sit so still and silent. After Bullwinkle walked away and we could all breath again, six year old Clara gleefully declared, "That was better than first grade!"

Dubster and His Balloon

While at my sister's house celebrating her little guy's third birthday, JW became fixated on this balloon. His pure excitement and a brief moment of disappointment has been captured right here for the record.

8 Months!

Happy 8 months old birthday, baby boy! You are becoming quite the little boy. I think this is because you have figured out how to crawl and you are certainly on the move. This new found freedom has its pros and cons. While this is still a new endeavor for you, you currently only manuever around the small area you occupy with your toys, however I can tell you are on the verge of discovering that your little arms and legs can get you places. This can be dangerous since you are quite inquisitive and mama hasn't exactly JW-proofed the house.

This month you spent several days on the shores of some body of water - Bear Lake, Island Park Reservoir and a swimming pool. You seem to like the idea of getting in the water, but once you're actually IN the water, you're a little uncertain. If I had to guess I'd say this uncertainty stems from the temperature. You definitely don't enjoy being cold and said lake, reservoir and pool weren't exactly hot springs. I don't blame you for being leary. I didn't exactly jump in myself.
You did like the beach though. The sand was especially entriguing and...tastey? You were somewhat content on the boat too - your first boat ride ever - as long as I didn't get too excited and start yelling {like when Grandpa Ted flipped Auntie EZ off the tube and I laughed and hollered. My excitement freightened you}.

Thank you for being my sweet pea. While you have your cranky pants moments, your schmoos and loves, laughs and drools make my days.

Nature's Harvest

Earlier this spring my mom gave me four tomato plants for my garden. She's given me tomato plants before and as soon as I plant them they disappear. I've always blamed little bunny foo-foo for eating them, but I have a second, even better theory that G has pulled them out of the ground thinking they were weeds.

Anyway, this year I planted the four plants and lo and behold I have tomatoes! Here is one I picked {on accident} a few days ago. A little window-sill sunshine ripened it right up. And I turned it into my favorite summer treat - an open-faced tomato sandwich. Holy cow, that was one awesome piece of fruit. You can't buy that flavor in the grocery store.

In other great news...JW officially has a highchair! Isn't this a beauty? I would guess circa 1987. Totally vintage. I had mentioned to my neighbor that I needed a highchair. I had made a trip to IKEA to get their cheap-o delux set and they were out! Two months on backorder! I guess IKEA underestimated the Utah baby mill. Anyway, when I got home from work last night this was waiting on my porch. What a difference it has already made in my life. JW eats soooo much better now that he's trapped without distractions.

And in case you can't tell from the above photo, there is an awesome heart sewn right into the vinyl. By the shape of it, I wonder if it was an after thought in the Chinese factory, or maybe someone's first day on the job.

Rachel Zoe Round Up

The new season of the Rachel Zoe Project has started. In case you don't know who Rachel Zoe is she dresses celebrities because, you know, they are far too busy to dress themselves. It's ok, I didn't know or care about RZ either until her reality show appeared on my favorite reality channel and I got sucked in to RZ madness. Trust me, it's mad. And ridiculous. And flamboyant. OH the flames!

In case you missed tonight's episode, let me summarize in my best Rachel and Brad quotes possible {to be read in your best Brad voice because even if you don't have a gay entourage, this is how everyone on the show talks. You have to be stressed out too because this shiz is what stresses them out because OMG it's 4 hours before the Globes and OMG, there are MAJOR storm clouds rolling in}:

"What are Cameron, Kate and Jen going to wear to the Globes? Let's go to the Land of Styling. It's so major! Kaufman Franco, Versace, McQueen - a big, delicious present. OMG, there's shoe shortage. How do you pose without a train? It's tricky. OMG is it raining?! It's raining! How can it rain an hour before the Globes!? I mean, what can I do? I mean. This is like an nightmare. OMG, look at Kate! She is so major!"

My Friend Debbie

Please welcome Debbie Downer as my guest blogger.

JW just completed his first week of daycare. He's making a lot of new friends and establishing a routine. He's even brought home a crusty nose and smoker's cough that has spread across the entire family. WHUAW WHUAW.

The Dad is working hard; jet-setting to NYC for important meetings week after week. He promises to be helpful when he gets home then he reminds me of his golf date with his friends all day Saturday. WHUAW WHUAW.

Mama is feeling a little down and a lot lonely. Really just wants to chat with an old friend, but realizes her friend is by appointment only and costs $100/hour. WHUAW WHUAW.

Thirsty

I can't help but imagine this being JW in a couple years. The only difference perhaps is that this kid keeps trying with a smile on his face. JW tends to get frustrated after making several attempts at trying new things that don't go exactly his way - I could see him getting totally pissed off after soaking himself with the hose. Proof that he does have at least one strand of my DNA.



Little Kid Cant Figure Out How To Drink - Watch more Funny Videos

Lucky Number 7

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday dear JW,

Happy birthday to you!

Today you turned 7 months old. June and July are big birthday months in our family and oh boy, what a celebration we've had over the last month. Plenty of BBQs and birthday cake to last until you turn one! One thing I noticed this month is just how lovely our family sings Happy Birthday. I mean, we actually sing on key and harmonize. What a lucky boy you are to be born into such a talented family :)

This month we celebrated your first Independence Day by joining Grandpa Ted and Gramma Kathy in the neighborhood parade and picnic. This pretty much means all the kids who live in, or have ever lived in the neighborhood for generations decorate their bikes, strollers, dogs, whatever with red, white and blue streamers and ribbons then march around the neighborhood.
The coolest part of the whole parade was the big red fire truck that escorted us through the streets. The calendar-worthy firemen even let us check out the fire truck after the parade. You thought that was pretty special. I thought you were going to tumble head first off the bumper.

What wasn't cool about the parade was the guy juggling a couple sticks, which were on fire. He also happened to be walking right next to us when he DROPPED his fire sticks, nearly torching our entire entourage.

This month marks some big milestones for you, my little friend. First, you went to daycare for the first time last week. This was really hard for mama. As if handing you to a perfect stranger who in no way will love you like Gramma Nay loved you wasn't hard enough, the look you gave me as I walked away, a look like, "Wait, are you really going to leave me here?" really put me over the edge. I cried all day. Your dad tried to console me by saying, "Are you sure JW wasn't asking, 'Hey Lady, why are you still here?'" This did not help out matters or make me feel any better. Despite the booger nose and junky cough you now have (because I'm sure you've licked every inch of that viral daycare floor), you appear to be enjoying your new digs. In fact, I think you have a new girlfriend. Her name is Hazel - she is a real cutie pie.

Speaking of a real cutie pie, YOU are a showstopper. Everywhere we go I hear, "That is a cute baby!" "Oh, what a darling baby!" "Wow, that baby is adorable!" Yes, you are adorable. So much so that I have a giant head shot of you on my computer wallpaper at work so I can stare at you all day. What I have also heard is, "Well you know what they say...ugly parents make cute babies." I'm sure the two times I've heard this (yes, twice!) the people saying it were not intentionally trying to be jerks (or maybe they were?). If there is one thing I teach you in life it's going to be how to properly treat a lady. Rule number one is NEVER, directly or indirectly, implied or jokingly tell a lady she is ugly. I don't care if she's the spawn of Quasi Motto and Shrek, you just don't say that. That's almost worse than, "You are fat."

but I digress...

Your second major milestone this month - you have a tooth! While at lunch with Gramma Nay the other day you were sucking on a piece of bread, when lo and behold I noticed (or Gramma claims she saw it first) a little tooth popping through your bottom gum. We were both thrilled. You were more interested in sucking on that piece of bread which I eventually took away after you darn near choked to death).

I'm always amazed at how fast you are growing up. Before I know it, you are going to be crawling. You have been practicing your crawling moves like crazy. You especially like to practice your moves while I try to change your diapers. Or maybe you just like hangin' out.