Bug Bites, Sunburns and Swim Diaper Wedges

This last weekend was the annual camping trip with Jarrod's family. We go every year and every year it just keeps getting better and better. Lincoln did surprisingly amazing, even with us just getting back from our recent mega road trip to Colorado. He was not in the least anxious to get back in the car seat again. Thank goodness i'm not sure what we would have done if he would have revolted. 

Three families come together every year to endure 4 days of intense camping. When I say intense this involves cabins, air condition tents, microwaves, silly shirts and some pretty serious game playing. We all really had a fantastic time. The camping trip gives all of us a chance to really get to know each other and too see everyone more than just once a year. I'm so excited to share this tradition with Lincoln and maybe someday he and his family will be in the air conditioned tent next to us. 

A lot of stories, shit talking and just pure unconditional love is shared and felt by all. When I first started coming just after Jarrod and I started dating more than a decade ago all I could think was "what the hell did I get myself into", but by the time the weekend was over I felt like part of the family. Even though Jarrod and I did not get married until YEARS later. Blayne my nephew started coming with us a few years ago and this year over a cold cut sandwich he stated that he would not miss this time for the world. This small statement made my heart sing. If a 12 year old boy can come and spend a weekend with his aunt, uncle and his uncles crazy loud funny family out on the lake without his phone and still have a great time. I think we are doing something right. 

I know this tradition will continue, and I can't wait to see where it goes.

These girls are going to keep Linc in line. 

Linc helping grandma out with scrabble. He either stole the Q or he was given it. 

Good times!! 

2 Next Month

So today in gym another parent asked me how old linc was, and immediately I said 21 months. Then my sweet husband reminded me that his second birthday was next month. All I could think was HOLY MOLY he's right. Where the hell did the time go and how could I not process that? Sometimes it's still hard to believe that I even have a kid. I still feel like a kid myself some days. Not this adult that's had a full time job for 10 years, been married for 7, and is now a stay at home mom of a beautiful toddler boy. As his second birthday approaches I was going through my phone and there are some hilarious pictures of his year. I thought I would share a few. Enjoy

PEAS

Our favorite pastime is throwing stuff under the couch so mommy and daddy have to fish it out.

 oops frankie got away

short people problems

talking rocks

Bye Bye Buppy

May 31st is a day the Theriot household will never forget. On this day, we lost the last buppy (what linc called his pacifiers). We had been on a constant search for it everyday for at least a month, then we finally lost it for good. We got home late from a church swim party and did not even think about it until I was putting the little one to bed. After searching the car, tearing up my bag, and totally freaking out we made the decision to just cut cold turkey. 

The first few days were absolute torture and we just about went back on our decision. I talked to many parents that have dealt with this pesky problem and they ALL said to say strong and that it was the best choice we could have made. Once we got past the hell days it got easier. Not much but a little bit. Even now months later when he thinks my guard is down he looks for it. I would always keep one in my shirt or pocket just in case he would have a melt down (this was before may 31). 

I recently took a trip to Walmart to get him some cups and what do you think was right across the isle from the cups... Those dang buppies... I thought we were going to have the fit of all fits, but he really surprised me and blew it right off. All he did was point at it and mumble something incoherent. In my head I imagined him saying " oh look I remember those. I loved them more than anything. What a fun time we had together." I know it sounds silly but I know he totally and absolutely loved them, and we as parents had to deal with taking something away from him that we knew he loved.

I think we are finally past the relapse period. At least I sure freakin' hope so. I don't think I would have the strength to go through it again. An amazing thing did happened when he finally realized that his buppy was not coming back. He started talking. Now he will not shut up and some days I totally regret losing that precious piece of plastic, but I am so in love with hearing the beautiful words that come from his sweet little mouth. 

Enjoy some of the really sweet pictures of the buppy reign. It was fun while it lasted. 

20 months 4 days

We have been a family for a 20 months and 4 days and you know what, it has been by far the hardest most rewarding 20 months 4 days of my life. When we started talking about having kids we found out real quick how extremely unprepared we were and had no clue what we had in store for us. Lincoln is a ball full of personality and quite frankly sometimes a little hard to handle. If he is not tossing the ball around, he is throwing rocks, collecting sticks and playing in the dirt. We spend every waking minute outdoors. Outside is the one request he can verbally communicate with us. (Well that and cookies. You know the important things.) I'm hoping all this outside play will lead to an amazing imagination and one day an amazing human being.  

 Slowly but surely we are figuring things out. I think... Most days we are flying by the seat of our pants. I'm not sure if we are always right, but I know everything we do is out of love and that's what counts. 

In the short time we have all been together, we really have not taken any family pictures. (I would much rather be behind the camera, than in front of it.) So spontaneously I decided come hell or high water we were going to take some. Well, it was a crap shut the minute out the door. I really picked a bad time, Lincoln had gotten sick at lunch and we were both on edge from that, but we trudged on. During the shoot Linc started throwing a colossal fit and got sick again all over his Easter cloths. All I could think was GREAT JUST GREAT, ALL I WANTED WAS A FEW STINKIN' PICTURES!! In the end we did get a few beautiful ones, puke and all. 

It's all about the memories we make, and this one will stay with me forever. I am so in love with this sweet little family it takes my breath away. 

Even with all the tears he is still pretty stickin' cute in that bow tie.  

Muffin Monday Maddness

Sometimes the food we pick tells a lot about our personality. This weeks pick was from my dear friend, Rachel. I've known her her whole life, and there has yet to be a dull moment. Just this Sunday she payed me a great complement she told me that I taught her it was ok to act goofy. I thought that was so sweet, and if I was able to get through to her I can teach my son the same thing. Don't live life to seriously you don't get out alive...  I was so happy she thought of this silly little blog and sent me a muffin pin on Pinterest, and true to Kristin fashion I tweaked the receipt to make it my own. Speaking of personalities this one screams rachel. Fresh and sweet of the orange and then that bite of the raspberry. A lot like her, fresh and sweet and snappy when she needs to be.   I liked the Blood Orange Raspberry muffin so much that I am going to add it to my normal muffin rotation. Hope you give it a try and enjoy. 

Blood Orange Raspberry Muffin

Prep time is about 10 min.

Makes 12 muffins

1 3/4  cup all-puprose flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 beaten egg

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup cooking oil

1 tablespoon vanilla

Zest of one blood orange

2/3 cup of frozen or fresh raspberries (I used frozen. In a bag I beat them until they were broken up into small pieces. I thought it made it easier to spread them throughout the batter.)

Turbinado sugar (sprinkle over the top of uncooked muffin, gives it a nice crunch)

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Grease or line a 12 cup baking dish

3. In a small bowl beat egg, then add vanilla, oil, milk, and zest. mix well

4. In a large bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder. mix well

5. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture. stir until just combined. DO NOT OVER MIX!!!

6. Fold in raspberries. 

7. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Filling each 2/3 full. sprikle with turbinado
8. Bake at 400 for 18 min or until the tooth pick test comes out clean.
9. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 min. Best served warm, but just as good cold :)

Oh man look at that sugar!!! am I the only one that thinks this is beautiful :)

My little helper. Hopefully someday all this "helping" will come in handy.