The is the best invention ever for babies!

This baby was a huge life saver when our little Maya had her ear infection. It was the only way we could get medicine in her with out her puking it all up!

Happy Half-Birthday!

Maya Isabella Ontiveros is 6 months old (plus 2 days.., but who's counting)! We had our 6 month well-child check-up today to even prove it. Maya is full of cuteness and we have loved adding her little sweet personality to our family! She is 97% for weight at 18.1lb and 80% for height at 26 1/2 inches. Mason only has 10 lbs and 10 inches on her! She's catching up quick! Our doctor said we need to start thinking about moving her out of her little carrier here soon because she's busting out of it! Here's a few Maya tid-bits for you all.
Maya HATES baby food. Do you see her scowl at her dad as he's trying to feed her? She'll eat a banana that I peel and mash up.., but not pureed baby food bananas!?! How does she know the difference? She's SO little!
She'll always take crackers and any other 'real' food. She likes applesauce, mashed potatoes and zwieback toast.
Maya is all over the place these days. She's twisting and turning and doing all sorts of rolls. She likes to smile and has started a high pitched giggle of sort when you tickle her.Her newest trick is sitting up. Maya does well in the tri pod stance, but typically tumbles over after a minute or two.

We love you Maya! Happy Half-Birthday!

Burley Boating

We had a great weekend up in Burley, Idaho with Dan's brother and his family. We have loved boating on the river and are kicking ourselves that it's already the end of summer and we've only been up to Burley once! OK.., twice if you count the super quick day trip for Quinny's baptism.

Mason continues to do so well on the boat and our little Maya barely fussed in her life jacket. Maya mostly slept on the river's edge while other's boated. Can you see her in the pile of blanket. I tried to keep her in the shade.., but the sun kept shifting and our little princess ended up with a sun burn! I felt horrible! Thankfully.., the Mexican in her came out and she was brown by the following morning!Mason thoroughly enjoyed playing with his cousins. This is his little partner in crime, Gage. Give them a few more years and they'll be getting into all sorts of trouble together. Gage informed his sister that they can no longer call Mason, 'Baby Mason', because he is now a kid and his name is just 'Mason' now!
The boys are tried to figure out the DS.., but I'm thinking it's a little above them still.

The cousins with mom and Mason on the tube. We were going so fast that I was worried I would let go of Mason. He loved it though and had a smiled on the entire time.I was shocked Mason did so well on the jet skis. He actually even fell asleep when I took him out in the after noon. It was funny because I had to hold his head up. I so wish i had a picture of that.

We had so much fun with the Ontiveros crew! Thank Dave and DeAnn for your hospitality!

A few things I've learned from our garden

Our garden has been so much fun this year. Though I grew upo with my mom having a huge garden.., this is only the second year for our family to have one, so I'm still learning from my mistakes. This year I've learned that I do not need 5 zucchini plants and 5 yellow squash plants. 1 or 2 plants of each is enough to feed the entire neighborhood. Let's just say..., we've had zucchini and yellow squash in abundance all summer long. I've also learned that when the back of a seed packet says to space each plant 2 feet apart.., they really mean it. I now have a 'tomato hedge' instead of 12 individual tomato plants! I've also learned that things ripen in warp speed during the night. I checked on tomatoes last night and there was one or two ripe ones. Today, I went out to the garden to get a tomato or two for salsa and came in with this??? Don't they look pretty?Branching out from my norm of canned tomatoes.., I made this..., spaghetti sauce. It easy and it turned out pretty tasty. I think I'll try salsa with the next batch or tomatoes.This summer.., I've also learned that I have to look under all the leaves to check for veggies. I had close to a zillion little cukes hiding and had no idea. So I made some dill pickles. The funny thing is..., I HATE dill pickles.., and the even funnier thing is.., so does my husband! I wish I would have realized that before I came up with the great idea to make them. They could become Christmas gifts for the neighbors!I've also learned that herbs works better for me if I keep them in pots so they don't spread all over the place..., i.e. mint! Here is Herb Row as we call it in our home. It's hard to differentiate the herbs..., but I LOVE them all. I tried a few new ones this summer.., dill, lemon thyme, lemon balm, cinnamon basil, and Thai basil are the new ones. I'm trying to figure out how I can bring them all inside when the frost comes. Perhaps the addition will be done and I will have lots of extra space. A girl can dream, can't she???I've learned that if you plant corn for the sole purpose of using the corns stalks in the fall because you're too cheap to but them any more.., that actually ears of corn will grow on them. I had no idea I would actually get real corn! In fact.., I have dozens of ears! Here's my questions..., how do I know when it's ready to be picked????

I've learned that pumpkins as well as my squash and tomatoes require more space then I allowed. Pumpkins and gourds spread like crazy! Can you see this beauty hiding beneath the leaves? I have about 5 pumpkins now and tons of gourds!
Lastly.., I've learned things pop up when you least expect them to. here's a honeydew melon. I really wasn't expecting this to actually grow. Not only has it grown..., but i have a couple growing!
Oh how I love my garden. Mason and I planted everything in it this past spring. He was surprisingly a great help and enjoyed throwing the seeds in each hole. I'm sad it's already the end of August and fall will be coming soon. That means that the garden will be ending soon. I am, however, excited for the crisp fall air.., pumpkins.., sweaters..., oh.., I do love the fall too!

Isn't he too young????

Mason's had his first day of preschool. He, of course, loved it. He loved playing with the kids and the whole idea of 'school'. He was so excited to get his backpack on and head out the door. He sees his school from a distance and will start cheering, 'SCHOOL, SCHOOL, SCHOOL' at the top of his lungs. He's so ready for it. I, of course, sat in the car and cried after I dropped him off. I really wasn't expecting that. I mean.., Mason is such a active, busy kid. He's constantly on the go or thinking of what he can get into next. I've been looking forward to mornings with just the girls and now here it is and I'm sad about it. I know he needs the stimulation and will thrive in preschool..., but can't a mom just want her little boy to stay little just a touch longer. Preschool marks the start of a new chapter in his life. He'll be in some sort of school now for years to come. He's getting so big.., so fast. I know I say that all the time.., but at times it seems like his life is flying by. Though I'm excited for this phase in his life, I still at times miss my baby boy.

So....,

...., this is what happens when the mom isn't feeling well and tries to nap while the kids are awake?!?!?! Thankfully..., no pottery was damaged :)

Seriously.....,

...., I love yard sales and bargain shopping! I get a huge thrill from finding a killer fix-er-uppers or great deal. This past Saturday I went yard sale-ing with my fam, my dad and niece, Rachel. Besides having a fun morning.., we found some great finds. I'm trying to pass on the fine art of seeing beyond the ugly color to my niece. We got her a few hideous gold decor items for her room that we spray painted a hammered metal and they turned out pretty neat. The best find of the day was this gross beat up bed that my dad bought for me for $16.50. As soon as I saw it, the wheels started turning and I pictured it red and in my son's room.A few coats of paints.., a little sanding and some stain and...,
VOILA! I'm quite happy with it. His once nursery is now completely a little boys room.

I love Saturday mornings!

The kids come into bed every morning about 6:30am to cuddle.., drink milk and watch cartoons. Typically, by that time Dan is up getting ready for work. Saturdays, however, are great for lazy mornings and we love having Daddy to snuggle with as well. We love it!

New Boots

Grandpa Ketchum is here and got Mason some new boots. Mason, of course, loves them and wears them 24 hours a day...., with or without clothes!