Tradition: Camping and Strawberry Day

We just got home tonight from our annual trip to Pleasant Grove for Strawberry Days. Since we're 6 weeks away from having baby #3, we combined the annual family camping trip with S-Days; and made it my final trip for a while. Chris asked the kids when we were approaching St. George if they were excited to be home and they piped, "yes!" But I nearly broke down in tears because I know that I will be strapped to my house and the scorching heat for the next several months. I love my babies, but I hate feeling stuck at home. It is good to be home after a long trip. But we had a great week in PG and didn't have enough time to see and do all we hoped.

When we arrived to town on Tuesday last week, it was a rain/snow mix! My kids got dropped off with Grandma and Grandpa Alldredge at the theater and saw How to Train Your Dragon 2. Chris and I did some shopping. The original plan was to start camping this night, but no one really wanted to sleep in the snow, so we postponed the camp out.

Kids are dressed for warm weather, while it's pouring rain outside. They LOVED the movie, popcorn, being with G & G!

The next morning was beautiful and the skies were clear, so packed up and headed up to American Fork Canyon to camp. We got the best site at Granite Flats (#55) and started to get the tent and kitchen areas set up. The kids were automatically in Heaven! Everything about camping is funny with little kids running around trying to help and Grandpas and Dads trying to not cuss in front of them. The kids were stoked about their matching toddler beds to sleep in and told up they were ready for bed at 3 pm. Our tent is huge! We all sleep on inflatable mattresses and have room to spare.

Then we went on a little hike where Oliver had to be the leader. We encountered a little blow snake. Oliver knows I'm scared of snakes, so he tells me he will be brave and Ruth doesn't seemed phased by the disgusting creature at all. Glad my fear isn't rubbing off on them. It helps that Chris and Grandpa loved seeing it and tried to catch it.

Grandma and I made some dinner. Lots of sugar was consumed. It got cold, but no rain or snow. Chris and I had a leak in our mattress that night and my parents snore and have to go to the bathroom 100 times each, but other than that, it was a nice first night. I think everyone stayed warm. Ruth woke me up at 6:00 and was super sad. Thank goodness for the greatest car ever invented, the minivan, cause I just put her in the van and drove her around for an hour while she watched Bambi (I figured that was ok to watch while camping cause it takes place in the forest) and we warmed up while everyone slept another hour.

So Thursday was eventful. We drove down to Timpanogos Cave to get tickets to hike to it. That was educational. Didn't know that you had to have a ticket and that they sell out. So we went back to camp to give Ruth a nap. Grandma and I read magazines and talked all about how we're gonna remodel our houses. Oliver took Grandpa and Dad fishing at Tibblefork. He was SO excited to fish. They caught 2. Oli was bummed that his Mickey Mouse pole didn't catch any. After nap time, we all met up again headed to Timp Cave for the hike. Grandpa kept telling me it was an easier hike than the G. I've never been to the cave before and have always wanted to, plus everyone else was going, so I decided that my 8 months prego body could do it! Grandpa was wrong. It took us 2 hours to get to the cave.

It was a really big deal that a little 4 year old guy, a Grandma, and an enormous pregnant woman hiked the cave. For Grandpa and Dad, it was no big deal at all. Chris threw Ruth on his shoulders and practically ran up the mountainside! I'm not exaggerating! Grandpa wanted to stick with Grandma at the rear. And Oliver couldn't run up it, but he was pretty frustrated with how many breaks I wanted to take and told me to just keep going - a natural hiker! I actually did just fine on the way up. I enjoyed feeling my body exercise again cause it's been so long.

Timpanogos Cave didn't disappoint. We'll have to do it again sometime. It's small, but it's cool. Chris is a nerd for stalagmites and such, so he was thrilled to be in there and wants to do some Intro to Caving course next summer. He took a bunch of pictures inside of the formations.

The hike down was rough for me. The pressure of Baby hitting my pelvis was painful and gave me contractions that I had to stop many times. I decided that I needed a good night's rest after that. I went to Grandma and Grandpa's house after dessert that night so I could sleep in a real bed. Chris and Ruth came with me. We went back up in the morning. Grandpa already had everything packed by 9:30. Oliver had a great time with his grandparents. We stayed up and played for a while longer. No one was too excited about going home and unpacking. So the kids played a game that Oliver made a name for, called Throw things up in the air and watch them fall down. And Hide and Go Seek. We all played and it was fun.

The final 2 days of our week were Strawberry Days traditions. We went to the Rodeo. It was such a better experience for Chris and I this year. I think because we weren't surrounded by my brother's friends. We also met up with my old friends there. I was grateful my parents could help me out with Ruth and Oliver because they were tired. The fireworks at the end were awesome. The next morning, Chris went on a 10 mile run in his new shoes, then met up with us at the parade. Again, great to see my old neighbors and friends. I love my neighbor Kate! She's always so fun. I held her new little baby Burke and Ruth doted on him so gently the whole time. 

While the kids napped/hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Saturday afternoon, Chris and I had to run errands. He needed to switch his new shoes for a better size, and I ended up next door to the shoe store at a baby store. Immediately, when you walk in, you feel the sweet calmness for babies. There were overpriced crib sets and baby accessories. But I was falling for it! I suddenly needed $1000 - and I already have everything! It was the first time this pregnancy that I've actually sat down and been anxious to meet my new baby. I made Chris take a minute in the store and rock in the $400 rocking chairs with me to just take in the mood. And it was a good way to start to wind up our trip, cause now I'm excited to set up the nursery again and nest! We ended up actually buying a dresser at IKEA for the big kid room.

Last night, I got to see my very best high school buddies! And I love that it worked out that we got together at my parents' house - just like old times! Our kids had so much fun playing with each other! We all brought our own food; everyone ended up getting Taco Amigo. My mom served strawberries and cream. It was a perfect night! The kids were filthy afterwards from playing so hard. Made me wish we lived closer and these nights could happen more often. I feel very blessed that God surrounded me with good friends in high school and college. They have always been great examples to me, especially my dear Marietta (who is probably going to be the only person to read this blog!). 

This morning was a mess of laundry and packing, but we finished the trip with a stop to see my very favorite people alive, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Alldredge. Grandpa is getting old, but he's still so happy and loving. They are wonderfully sweet to me and my kids. Wish I could convince Chris to name Baby #3 Heber if it's a boy. 

Well, that's the long-winded report on our annual trip. We did the same things, with practically the same people, but it's always special! I love sharing camping and Strawberry Days with my kids and I feel complete when I watch them enjoy everything as much as I did! I appreciate my good husband for coming along every year too. He talks about how we need our own family traditions, but we're not creative enough to come up with anything better at this point. So we'll stick with what works! 

Ruth's TWO! But she doesn't wanna be a big girl

Ruth's birthday was last week. In case Ruth is reading this and making judgements about how I was 6 days early blogging about Oliver but 9 days late blogging about her, I just want to remind her that she got a birthday party and Oli didn't. But I love you both, equally and forever and always-no matter what! Also, I was trying to get Chris to blog his first Ironman experience first so that it'd be sequential. Anyways...

Ruth's birthday 2014

Pretty Ruth is finally 2 years old! This FUN and WILD girl is really the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! And we're not the only ones that think so. Everywhere we go, we have total strangers tell us how beautiful Ruth is. But Ruth had to be beautiful to make up for how loud and wild she is! She roars at us and says she's a baby lion. Ruth yells for almost everything she needs. Grandma Potter loves how outspoken she is and thinks she's going to be a strong woman that will be able to speak her mind. My Grandma Rietz just told me this week that my mom was the same way as a kid, which I never knew. Ruth yells so loud whenever she spots a dog or a baby. "PUPPY!" or "BABY!" and she seems to find these things in the most unexpected places-spots them in a picture or in the back of a truck. I love her sweet, tender heart for babies and puppies.

Ruth takes a dog treat over to the Akins' dog, Duke, almost everyday. I've seriously bought 2 boxes of dog treats now. She fell in love with Tyler and Sherry's dog, Annabell when we visited last month. Annabell was about a week away from delivering puppies, so that was even more thrilling for Ruth that there were babies inside Annabell's tummy! I thought Sherry was gonna strangle Ruth from how loud she'd call out Annabell's name all day long. Ruth would sit right on her and snuggle. So it was no surprise that when we gave Ruth a big stuffed dog for her birthday, she named it Annabell on the spot! Ruth is usually pretending to be a dog as well. She licks us, barks, and likes to eat her food like a dog, sometimes off the floor. Her love of puppies runs deep and my heart breaks that we can't get her a puppy just yet.

Ruth and Annabell in Houston

But we are giving her a baby very soon! I was so sad and nervous to find out I was expecting this third baby last December. My heart ached that my pretty Ruth wouldn't have more time to be the baby and I felt like she needed more attention with her wild ways. But about the same time as finding out about the pregnancy, we discovered Ruth's love of babies. We gave Ruth her first baby doll for Christmas and she takes such great care of it! When she opened up the gift and started to love it, Grandma Potter assured me that this little baby #3 is probably the greatest gift I could've ever given Ruth. She is a natural at nurturing. Ruth will point out characters in books as the mommy, the daddy, the baby, the brother - whether they are animals, people, or random things like stars or food. She sees family units in everything. Ruth is convinced that there is a baby in her belly too. Our OB/GYN doctor and ultrasound technicians have really fuelled the flame by putting instruments on her tummy and making it look and sound like there's a baby inside. So whenever I ask her for extra help at home because of the baby inside my tummy, Ruth yells back at me, "No, MY baby!" and holds up her shirt to show me that she's the one growing the baby.

For how excited she is to be expecting a baby, Ruth still doesn't wanna give up her throne as "The Baby." Maybe it's because Baby Ruth just slides off everyone's tongue so well, and we call her Baby Girl most of the time. But she is fully refusing the Big Girl title. In her broken language she tells us, "No, I no big girl. I a BABY!" On her birthday we told her she was two, and she told us, "No, I a baby!" I don't really blame her. It would be tough to give up bottles, diapers, and your nursery. We're slowly working on all of this and encouraging her to be a big girl. So far, so good!

The past week we've been testing the waters to see how Ruth and Oliver do sharing a room. Ruth has been sleeping in an inflatable toddler bed, which looks like a little raft, and she loves it! She also loves sharing a room with Oli. I think she sleeps better in there than on her own. So we bought a new bed tonight and set it up for them to be official room mates for the next few years. They're both pretty stoked about it. Yesterday morning I heard Ruth wake up first. I was still getting up myself, so I didn't run in there at first. Then I hear her yelling, "Get up, Oli! Get up, Oli!" over and over. I run in so she doesn't wake him, and she's sitting on top of Oli, jumping and yelling for him to get up! The best is that Oli was still completely asleep. It was actually super adorable. There's no competition. Ruth's favorite person alive is Oliver! She is sad when he's at school. She misses him when he's got things going on. Ruth copies him shamelessly. She cheers his name over and over when he's scared to go down the waterslide. Ruth and Oliver and great buds. Even though she totally knows how to push his buttons. They are great for each other and completely balance each other. Heavenly Father knew exactly what he was doing when he designed the personalities in our family.

Daddy is Ruth's next favorite person (maybe it's me, depends on the day). This morning she found a toy ring and she showed it to me. I asked if it was for me? "No, it Daddy!" We needed to go into the office, so I told her to hang on to it we can give it to Dad. She sure did! I didn't know she was squeezing it in her tiny palm for whole 30 minutes before we got there. Right when we walked in, she handed it to Chris and told him she loves him and put it on his little finger. Then she climbed up on Dad's lap and helped him with his phone calls. I told Chris that I think Ruth's likely to follow in his footsteps and be an ambitious business woman someday. But Chris disagrees and reminded me of how much Ruth loves to be a mommy and take care of everything. Hard to know, and we don't really care. We just love how affectionate and sweet she is. Ruth woke up from her nap today and told me, "I need Daddy." Took her some time to finally come out of her room and hang out. Then tonight, Chris was worn out and nodding off on her bed while I was getting things ready for bath time. She climbs right up on him and lays on his chest and shoulder, and plays with his beard. She snuggled with Chris for about ten minutes! She's so totally adorable and loving!

Working with Dad at the office

Ruth and I have a great connection too. She's my little buddy. I think she's spunky and challenging and beautiful. I'm loving all the cute girl things and learning how to style her curly mullet. I could snuggle Ruth all day. She loves having her back tickled. Ruth gets into my make-up and nail polish. She's fun to play mermaids with and she pretends to call me on her cell phone. She and I go to a Mommy and Me yoga class while Oliver's at school which has been fun to do together. Ruth is so very different to raise than Oliver because she doesn't really care to please anyone. There is no bribing her or tricking her into doing something. Ruth is just a good, helpful girl all on her own. She cleans up spills and throws away trash simply because she likes to. She's wonderful to have around the house.

Ruth putting my lip gloss on

I think Ruth has a great connection with Grandpa Alldredge too. There was a time when Ruth was about 14 months old where Aunt Kami and Grandma were pretty frustrated with how loud Ruth would scream. It was waking up little Baby Kingston. (Grandma Alldredge told me that I should start to wipe soap in her mouth every time she did that to get her to stop - which I never did.) But Grandpa was patient with her. He'd just snuggle her on his lap and sing songs to her for an hour. Ruth loved it! I couldn't believe she'd stay that long. From then on, Ruth preferred going to Grandpa over Grandma. She just liked his calm lullaby's and snuggling. Of course, Ruth adores all her grandparents though!

There's just something about music for Ruth though. She loves to sing. Ruth sings so loud! The Frozen soundtrack songs are her favorite. She'll sing "Let it go! Let it go!" all breakfast long as loud as she can. We love it! We ask her to sing like a mermaid too; and she lights right up at the request as she sings like Ariel in the Poor, Unfortunate Souls song. I tip my rear-view mirror down while driving so I can watch her sing along to her toddler tunes. So much joy in this tiny little girl.

Ruth could sit in her swing for hours. I've been able to get lots of yard work done while she sits in the swing with very little pushing, although she asks to go higher and higher. Ruth has even fallen asleep in her swing twice.

About 2 months ago, we finally figured out that Ruth's body doesn't do so great with dairy and sugar. Since cutting these things out for a while, we got rid of her thrush (been a problem since 2 weeks old) and Ruth's really slimmed down. Her mood has been so much more pleasant and she sleeps better at night. I hope to someday make sense of all of this, but it's beyond me right now. If we could really be strict and get her off of sugar (all of us would really benefit from this) altogether then I think we'd always have a happy girl. But it's not reality for us. She loves treats! She is a much better eater than Oliver is, but she copies him too much and won't eat foods she likes if Oli won't. Ruth is officially a two year old and has lots of ups and downs within a 5 minute span. So maybe the sugar thing wouldn't make a difference after all. ;)

Also wanted to mention that loves The Little Mermaid. She had an Under the Sea swimming birthday party where we dressed Breya up as Ariel, Chris was King Triton, and Grandma Alldredge was Ursula. Ruth was giddy over every part of the party, especially making a potion in Ursula's cave. Her cake was so fun to decorate and she appreciated it. Most of the gifts she got were little mermaid dolls and dress ups, so we're set for while with her mermaid fetish.

Ruth already has that beautiful glow to her that makes everyone turn their head and watch her when she enters a room. She is confident and brave. We look forward to the terrible twos with Ruth because she always makes things fun and she's so sweet. Ruth has a big brother that dotes on her, and several neighbor boys that watch out for her. We know that so much of her personality will change and evolve over the next year, but we hope she keeps that confidence and sweetness. Ruth, we love you! You're our girl and we're lucky to have you in our family. Heavenly Father really knew how perfect you'd be in our family. Thanks for all the you add to our lives!