Thanks Great Grandma!

Skyler got a present in the mail on Wednesday this week.  Great Grandma from Nebraska sent him a truck, mittens, a book, and a movie!  He hasn't stopped playing with the truck or wearing the mittens since he opened the box on Wednesday. :)

Helping in the woodshop.

On Monday, Skyler and I went to Grandpa's to work on a quilt frame for Mommy.  Skyler got to observe, help and play in Grandpa's woodshop.  He was probably most excited about playing in all the shavings.

Sawdust makes a great material for scooping!

Loading the truck.  Notice his hearing protection.

Helping to run the sander with Grandpa.

More!  Better get closer to the sawdust.  He had to run upstairs to find his tractor and wagon.

He was scooping so fast, his hands are blurry!

Time to clean up, using his hearing protection while vacuuming.

I think he enjoyed running the vacuum. :)

How To Be A Mountain Biker

As promised, here is the mountain biker parody video.  Stickers!!!  Plaid flannel!! 


Altair says I'm guilty of everything mentioned especially the bike storage. :)

How To Be A Road Biker

So this came across my Facebook page from MTBR.com  It's facetious, and only makes fun of roadies in a humorous way.  My father is a die hard roadie and I mean no disrespect to you Dad.  Love ya Dad! :)  I can relate to all points mentioned.... 

There's a "How to be a mountain biker" that I'll share at a later date to keep things even.

A trip to the mountains.

On Saturday, Skyler, Altair, my sister Karen, Maizey dog and I went up to Park City to escape the horrible valley inversion air.  We didn't do anything too exciting or strenuous, just a walk on the Union Pacific rail trail.  Skyler and Maizey were just happy to be able to run and enjoy temps in the 40's.

Beautiful blue sky!

Gotta have a snack before your walk!

It took both Karen and Altair to pull him out of the snow when he ventured off the packed trail.

Looking south.  We really need fresh snow.

After the walk, everyone wanted to go shopping at the outlet mall.  Skyler wanted to see the loader.

Wrong brand, but it's still pretty cool.

Back on the main line!!

The 4014 Big Boy locomotive is back on the national rail network after 51 years!!  I had planned on staying up most of the night and watching UP cut the Metro track and move the locomotive, but having a kid makes me appreciate my sleep even more than an historic event it seems.  UP had everything completed by 3am our time.  Ed Dickens even has the locomotive electrical working!  The whistle is hooked up to 100 psi train air so it doesn't quite sound as good as 300psi 700 degree steam.  The plan is to get 4014 to West Colton for more mechanical work and inspection for the net 30 days or so.  In March we should see it come through Salt Lake City on its way back to restoration in Cheyenne!!  Skyler and I can't wait!

The number boards look spectacular lit up at night!

THIS is how you make breakfast!

Skyler got to cut his own bagel this morning.  He also used his heavy machinery to move it around.

Watching Caillou...

And relaxing on the arm of the couch!  He's seen me sit up there, why not him? :)

Bubbles , bubbles, bubbles!!

We need a happy picture today.  Skyler got to have a bath in the big jetted tub last night.  As you can see, jetted tubs make awesome bubbles!

Now we're talking!

Skyler can help dust the house!

The Ferris wheel.

Skyler and I took a trip to Scheels yesterday to ride their Ferris wheel.  I wasn't sure if he would be scared or like it but, he LOVED it!

Mmm, bean dip!

We had a get together at our house with our birth group friends Saturday evening. I made (among many other dishes) home made Frito's spicy bean dip.  Skyler had some last night and decided it was "spicy and good!"

Bean dip recipe here.

Floor farming.

I cleaned out my room upstairs Friday.  Skyler was thrilled because he was in my room helping and got to see just how many diecast toys I have. (I figure my collection that I started at age 4 or 5 is worth around $30,000.  Ridiculous I know.)  He managed to sneak a couple out so he could "farm the floor".  His favorite is the 7760 cotton picker or "cotton pickle" as he says.

Using the 850K dozer to "grade" the rug.

Lift up the blade...

Make another pass...

Turn it around!

The "cotton pickle."  Note that I gave him the Deere brochure to look through while he plays.

He would say "ploop!" every time the bale would leave the chamber.

For more info on the real JD 7760 that is a cool $750,000(!) click here.

Work your abs!

Using watercolors and playing trains.

We had a mini art class using watercolors yesterday.  Skyler was fascinated when 2 colors mixed to create a new color.  Towards the end, he was just happy to dip the brush in paint and wash all the color off in the water.  After about 20 minutes, he had had enough and it was time for blocks and trains.

Dip in the water...

Paint!

Add more color...

Move your hands really fast so Dad doesn't help.

Ta dah!!

Starting to build a tunnel.

Go Thomas!

Finished tunnel installed on the main line.

Thomas just barely fit.

A trip to the Olympic oval.

During winter break, Altair took Skyler to see the speed skating Olympic trials.  I stayed home (again) because of being sick.  He had a wonderful time and the highlight for him was the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine.

He always has to climb on the snow piles.

On the road to Sochi.

ZAMBONI!!

Looking mighty grown up.  :(

Well put.

As I deal with my 2.5 year old testing his limits more and more every day (and being awake half of last night), I found this posted by a friend on Facebook.  It is written by a mother but I thought it worked in my case since I stay at home and am the primary caregiver to Skyler.

I signed up for this.

It's not just me having a rough time lately, my little sister has been roped into living at her work trying to meet a deadline.  As stated on the movie Full Metal Jacket, "In other words, it's a huge shit sandwich and we're all going to have to take a bite."  

Swimming.

I'm kind of playing catch up with the pics and events from Christmas break.  Altair took Skyler swimming that week (while I was home sick) and he couldn't have been happier!

After swimming.

I think he got a little cold.