A is for Alchohol.

We're working on letters around here.  Guy has them down pat.  Eddie- not so much.  We've been singing the Leap Frog Alphabet Sounds song (who knows what it is REALLY called...).  Yesterday while prepping leftovers for dinner- aka tossing them into the microwave- we were singing this said song.  "The A says "aaah." The A says, "aaah." Every letter makes a sound, the A says, "aaah!""  The song continues- and would have- had Guy not interjected, "A is for.... Alchohol!" 
Me: What?
Guy: ah- ah- Alchohol! It starts with A!
Me: How did you think of that?! (We are a non-drinking family after all- aren't we?!)
Guy: King Noah was bad- so he probably drank alchohol!
Me: Um- I think it mentions something about that. Yes.  Moving on!  The B says "Buh!"...

You never know what they will say!

Speaking of which.
Eddie is proudly 95% potty trained.  This excludes nights which are touch and go- and right before bedtime when she mysteriously and miraculously HAS to go potty seven or eight times before she can actually fall asleep... grrrrr...
Some days she is the classic TWO and wants NO help.  Fine by me!
Other days she is the most dependent person on the planet and NEEDS help!
Yesterday she called me in the bathroom. "I NEED YOU HELP!"  So I came.
"Oh, do you want some help? I'll help you."
"Thanks, Mommy! You such a good helper!" All said in the exact tone I use with her with I'm trying to encourage good behavior.  Did that have a hidden meaning?

And since we're on the subject of bathrooms- can anyone tell me why babies (toddlers, kids) have SUCH a fixation with bathrooms?!  The SECOND that door opens Millaker makes a bee-line for the bathroom!  She just HAS to be in there.  The tub- the toilet- everything is fascinating!  This morning I was helping a soaking wet Emma (she was in the tub when she pronounced she just HAD to go!) sit on the potty.  I was busy focusing on keeping the two year old wrapped in a towel from falling in the toilet when Millaker rushes in and puts HER hands behind her sister RIGHT into the toilet! EEEEWW! GROSS!! MILL!!  Why can't her room hold such a sway over her attention?!

Politics

I am not the most politically informed or minded person.  I'm just not.  I care, I try to be aware, but I get the feeling I'm always miles behind what is really going on.  That needs to change.
Now, I happen to be a registered Republican since I think their platform aligns the closest to my values and what is important to me, but I am not against Democrats in general.  I know, am related to, and like many Democrats.  Big deal.  I see nothing wrong with voting across party lines.  We should be voting ideals and principles after all, not Party based plans. My husband is KING at this policy of voting based on principles and ideas.  He (proudly) is NOT registered with either party. 
Last night, the most politically savvy of my siblings and I were chatting. (He's one of my main sources of keeping up-to-date on political happenings!) He mentioned how the Democratic Platform had removed all references of God from its wording.

...THEY WHAT?!

It was shocking to me.
Have we as a country come that far?  How can we forget, or neglect to give God credit for upholding and preserving our liberty, for helping us become who we are,for inspiring the founding fathers to create a system of government unique, and powerful in its structure and its liberties?  Do they forget they are presenting a platform for Democrats EVERYWHERE and not just themselves.  If they feel fine taking references to God out, they do- but that is NOT a reflection of every Democrat's beliefs!  I watched an interview where the Senate Whip was questioned about this and he seemed to sidestep answering and instead became furious that the question was even asked.  I am not saying Democrats are not God-fearing people.  I know too many for that to be true and I know sweeping generalizations hurt more than help.  ... but how could they do that?!  And why isn't there more of a stir?
I decided to read some things for myself.
I looked up the Democrat and Republican Platforms for this election.
They're loooong.
Someone in one of the interviews called them the biggest produced, unread political documents.  I believe it.  I didn't read the whole thing.   But a few things DID catch my eye.

The first:
The Republican Platform stated in the Preamble that it sees the Constitution as sacred.  That's a big word.
As in: regarded with reverence
          devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose
          consecrated
          entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things
          holy.
I think they hit it square on.  
I believe the Constitution WAS, IS an inspired document.  Not inspired by man, by God.

Second:
Another quote from the Republican Preamble states,  ""The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained."  Values matter.  Character counts."
True Again.

Do I think Democrats have it all wrong? No.  Do I think they were wrong to take God out of their Preamble? Yes.  Do I think they had a RIGHT to remove God? No- they don't just represent the committee of writers, they ought to be representing all who claim to be Democratic.  Am I pleased as punch that right off the bat the Republicans referenced God and the sacred responsibility we have to uphold His will? Absolutely. 
I did read through the agendas of both Parties.  Both have well-stated, good intentions.  Both want the economy to recover.  Both want jobs for families.  Both want America to be great.  Good goals.  But how can I know that what is represented is the view I want- the WAY they'll go about achieving these goals is what is in line with my values?  Are a few committee writers expressing their points of view, or what the party believes in as a whole?  Is the Democratic party really trying to pull away from Christian values in order to appeal to a bigger/more modern audience?  Is the Republican party going to uphold its promises and stick to its stated values?  
In defense of Mitt: I think He will.  I am placing my trust in a man who seems to have an upstanding moral character and some budgeting skills to boot.  The word frugal should not be a four-letter word.  DEBT is.  If we can have a family of five on a tight (as in we watch what we spend and plan carefully) budget and still manage to save, have no debt other than a mortgage- why on EARTH can't the federal government do something similar?!  I'm showing my ignorance here- I realize that.  
I want to see a President who reflects my values.  Whether or not Mitt was Mormon would not change how I voted if he lived the principles and values he has today.  Being a Mormon is just a bonus in my opinion.  I like the what Piers Morgan said, "Criticize Romney all you like but he doesn't drink, smoke, take drugs or womanize. And he has a delightful wife and devoted children."  Well said.  I want to see someone with a track record that doesn't include drinking or drugs of any kind.  A record that shows faithfulness to God, to his family, to his children.  I'd like to see restraint.  Self-governing.  Thoughtful, quiet service to others.  
Oh, politics.  I don't like you.  I DO- I mean, I love the freedoms I enjoy. But I wish things weren't so argumentative and hateful sounding at every turn.  Compromise.  Work together.  Be honest. Set goals.  Stop taking bribes or creating gridlocks.  Step up and be a leader by example.  I could go on.  Both parties are guilty. Not all individuals, but certainly both parties.
I digress. Or ramble. Or both.
I hope Mitt wins.

...Interesting development...
Just as I was wrapping up I flipped to CNN.  Apparently the Democratic party has changed its mind and is adding (ONE) reference to God and stating that (oh, yeah) Jerusalem should remain the capital of Israel.  
I'm glad.  
There were some glaring problems, and they fixed them.  Good.
But I still wish neither of those issues- especially the reference to Deity- weren't an afterthought.  I KNOW this country has many God-fearing people- and they need to be represented (and heard) despite which party they vote for.

Once, a long time ago, a man of God and a leader of his people (Moroni) saw a change happening.  A man came to his people using cunning and flattering words which deceived many.  That man led the people to forget their God and do that which they KNEW was wrong.  When Moroni saw this he tore his coat and upon it wrote one of my favorite patriotic, God-fearing messages to inspire his people to change their hearts and defend what mattered most.  I quote,
"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children..."  -Alma 46:12, Book of Mormon.

God. Freedom. Families.  That is what counts.

How I hope this Presidential Election- no matter the outcome- leads people to remember what matters most.  Not to spend time squabbling or being distracted and mislead by flattering and cunning words.
I'll be praying.

Hobos

I just counted.  In the last month and a half I have been home a total of 15 days. I'm not complaining.  I've loved it- but it's been more draining than I initially thought it would be.
If you take a broader scope, I had one sister here for six weeks (meaning half my time is spent an hour away visiting), another here for about that same amount- same visiting included, a sixteen day trip to Thailand, a six day trip to Montana, and I'm SURE I'm missing other things. 
I've had two friends remark, "Do you live here?" 
Maybe, maybe not.  But tonight all I can think is, "It sure is good to be HOME."
I can't wait for Guy's preschool to start in a week- it marks an era of stability.  Friends, I'm back!

What Guy Eats:

Binkis

Paper

Straws
SOME baby foods
Dirt
Hands
Shoulders
Clothing
Shoes.
The last few are currently undocumented, but pictures forthcoming.

*I found this under drafts.  A bit outdated, but fun to reminisce.  Maybe I should document what my other two love to chew on.

Grateful Meanderings

I have no aspirations of ever becoming a well-known blogger and/or writer.  My all-time record of thirteen (yes, 1-3) views in one day is evidence enough of that.  If that qualifies me for being an under-achiever- so be it.  However, to the bakers dozen who DO happen to listen in to my inner-rantings, I need to share with you some thoughts. I need to be accountable to someone- if not many- to share my gratitude and show that I will do something, SOMETHING, to better myself and others because of it.
Now that I've lost you, I'll continue.
You see- I've recently discovered something.

My life is near perfect.


Wow. THAT'S a discovery.
There were glimpses of that reality from time to time- moments when I saw just how lucky, and how blessed I REALLY was.  But the fallable human me let those slide.  I forgot.  I fell into what we Utah-Mormons call the Paper-clip-pride-cycle.  Once upon a time- and over and over again since then- the Lord blessed those who followed him.  They were grateful.  They were obedient.  The Lord blessed them more.  This cycle continued until one day the people forgot to be grateful.  The stopped spiraling the inner-paper-clip-circle and headed off the end.  They lost sight of how blessed they were and they ceased to acknowledge God in all their blessings.  They got prideful.  They started thinking they didn't have enough, weren't enough, weren't as good as Mr. Jones next door, and didn't they deserve to have at least as much as he did?!  See where they messed up?  I'm just as guilty.  My neighbor may not have the last name of Jones and I might not see many things and think, "Gee! I want that!"  But I'm not so innocent either.  My life has been so blessed throughout- that I forgot how blessed I truly was.  I didn't know how good I'd had it.

And then I took a trip.
And I started thinking.
And tonight I listened to two cousins share their recent experiences in Jordan and China and reflected on how similar their impressions were to mine. 
And I knew I'd better write this down.

So here is a far-from-comprehensive list of what blessings I have recently overlooked but I am OH, so grateful for. I don't have time to list the experiences that triggered all of these- but know in some cases there were many instances and they were very memorable.

• I am grateful for clean, running water. That tastes good.
• I am grateful for a nice, well-built, multi-roomed, fenced-yarded, air-conditioned, heated home.  With a normal toilet. And running water. And windows.  That feels safe.  And has WONDERFUL friends and neighbors ALL around it.
• I am grateful for clean, good food.
• I am grateful for a whole, functioning body.
• I am grateful I can bear children, that I HAVE children, and that my children are, overall, VERY healthy, very kind, and have every comfort imaginable.
• I am thankful for an education- the basics: such as the ability to read and write, and for the complex: the chance I had to go to college, CHOOSE a field to study, and have no opposition to my choice, my right to education, or my talent. 
• I am grateful for the education experiences available to my children.   Even with them being too young for public education we have internet programs, the library, joy-school, a public preschool and endless resources on the computer!
• I am grateful for technology.  How I'd MISS my family without the convenience of emails, texting, calling and instantly having a conversation no matter the miles between us, video chats, conference calls, etc.  The internet is a miracle I can't quite get my brain around.
• I am grateful for a working, heated/air-conditioned car that SAFELY gets my family around (in a timely manner I should add!).
• I am grateful for my religion and the freedom it offers me.  I met some AMAZING people on our trip. I also saw how trapped some were by their addictions.  Though some might find it restrictive to limit alcohol, drugs, tobacco etc and I'm sure many more thought our married status- with kids!!- was far from normal... I became so grateful to be WHO I was and WHAT I was.  Mormon. Mom. Me.  (Hey- my new mantra!).  I was grateful to have "limited" myself by choosing to live a different lifestyle.  I felt so much free-er.  I was proud (hopefully not in the wrong way) of who I'd become thus far, and still inspired to further internalize who I wanted to be.  I learned a LOT from the people we met in Thailand and hope I keep in touch with a few.  I hope to become more like them in so many ways.  And I hope I can stay being ME while doing so.

My sister said it so perfectly.  We have the perfect life and we don't even realize it.
But I'm starting to.  And I'm going to try my darndest to help my kids see it.  And to try and be grateful and to be worth those many. many. blessings. 
Don't let me forget.

We went on a little trip...

or a big one.  But lets not haggle details.
*I realized that without inflection (or being able to read my mind) what I wrote previously might not always come across as intended.  I revised a bit.  I want those reading and me reflecting back on this experience, to know how much I enjoyed and loved this trip- not how my non-witty comments reflected it as being.
So- a slightly different version:
 

King and I just got home from a fabulous two weeks in Thailand. It was a lot of things: refreshing, eye opening, fun, hot, insightful... I could go on...

 My sister offered to help fund (100%) a plane ticket if we'd help her travel home to Bangkok with her three young children.  We figured all the stars had aligned. 1) Tickets were now "half off."  2) It was summer and my mom VOLUNTEERED to watch ALL of our children for two weeks! 3) I wasn't pregnant and Millaker was old enough she could be done nursing. 4) King had enough time off from work! 
Now tell me- when were all of THOSE stars ALL going to line up again?
Exactly.  We went!  

 It turns out it was a good trip to have extra adults for.  On the way out- instead of roughly 24-30 hours of travel time, it took us 45 hours to go from Utah to Bangkok.  After a delay departing from Portland, then a mid-Pacific turn around due to a medical emergency, then a necessary night at a hotel in Narita, Japan (we'd missed connecting flights from Japan to Bangkok), we FINALLY made it. 
My first impression?  Wow- Bangkok is hot! 
That statement stayed true the whole trip- despite the fact that it was the rainy season.

 A few things are VASTLY different in Bangkok.  Not necessarily bad- just... different.   Prime example: their wiring.  This is a common sight walking the streets. It was surprising to see a man climb a rickety bamboo latter leaning against the pole (or wires) to fix things.   I don't think I would have volunteered.  It looked terrifying if you ask me! 

 We got a few surprises from their sidewalks as well.  In the smaller side-streets poles aren't always on the edges and the sidewalks aren't as wide as I'm used to. 

 It took me a few days to get used to everyone driving on the LEFT.  It's a good thing I wasn't behind the wheel- we'd have been in numerous wrong-way accidents for sure.  King and I thought this photo was an accurate depiction of the motorcyclists.  See that car turning right with the swarm around him?  The motorcyclists are allowed to drive between lanes of traffic (or in their own personally created lanes) and certainly seem to be the fastest- though not the safest- way to cut through traffic.  Tuk tuk (three-wheeled, large motorcycle) drivers do this as well.  Traffic is busy and the road signals didn't seem "mandatory."  Despite the fact that navigating through traffic made me a tad nervous, you couldn't beat the service.  Our driver, taxi driver, and tuk-tuk drivers were ALWAYS kind and polite.  I think we only EVER saw one mad Thai.  Not a bad ratio if you ask me!
In case you forgot, it was rather hot over there.  I'm not terribly fond of sweating, but just walking around I was dripping. Gross.  Even had I not been toting a camera, I think the sweat alone marked me as a tourist.

 Speaking of walking around.  We saw some fabulous sites!  For instance, their are statues everywhere . . . dragons, Buddhas, gnomes, random animals, etc.

 As you can see, Buddha is more popular and prevalent in Thailand.
Though we saw a lot of tourists as we visited the Temples, we also saw a lot of devoted Thai.  It was interesting to have people explain the meaning or reason behind some of their traditions and religious customs.   I've become so accustomed to my own little life that these experiences caused me to reflect a bit more on why I believe as I do and why customs are important.

 Flora and fauna look fantastically exotic! I'm pretty sure this flower came from the Buddha tree.  The tree had vine-like appendages under the bigger branches.  At the end of each vine was this flower.  At first I thought the vines and the trees were different plants- not true.  It's just unique. Our Buddhist driver who was a monk for three months picked this flower off the tree for us.

 Their architecture is so detailed and ornate!! I took SO many pictures of their Temples (Wats).  They are exquisite!  So many of them looked grey from a distance but were colorful and intricate from close up.

 See?

 We spent a whole day going on a river tour and getting off at various stops to look at Temples, China Town, etc.  This wasn't our boat, but I wished it was! This is exactly the kind of boat I'd have envisioned had you asked me about Thai boats. In reality, most are fairly regular looking.

 King and I were able to go on a bike tour one evening.  It was about 13 km long through the main part of Bangkok.  They took us down side streets around town.  It was neat to see streets we normally wouldn't have gone down.  We stopped at the Wats which were all lit up at night. 

 We also stopped by the flower market, which sells THOUSANDS of flowers of every kind every night.  A dozen roses would cost you roughly a dollar! I wish this were by my house!!  They had flowers I'd never even imagined.  There was row after row of exotic flowers being set up and unloaded as they prepared for the evening market.  Some new friends of ours were brave enough to try the local cuisine: grasshoppers and crickets!  We passed.  Call me boring.  Our guide swore we were missing out. 

I'm pretty sure we traveled on EVERY form of transportation available: Train (1st, 2nd, and 3rd class), taxi, tuk-tuk, motercycle, scooter, bicycle, van, truck, bus, sky-train, metro, car, boats big and small, raft (rubber and bamboo), elephant, and our own two feet.  Above is a picture taken on the third class train we rode to Ayutthaya.  It wasn't the fastest mode of transportation, and the trains seemed to stop for cars rather than vice-versa, but it gave us a good chance to try and talk with others and meet new people. On other trips we took first and second class berths so we could sleep, but this was good for a short trip.

It was new for me to see so many people living in such humble circumstances. This picture was taken from our train.  I'd go out of my mind with worry if I lived there with my kids.  It sure made me grateful for my house and fenced yard!  The Thai people are a very patriotic and loyal people.  If you look carefully, you can see a picture of their king on the far left.  It seemed that no matter how much or how little the people owned, they made it a point to have a place or picture to reverence Buddha and their King.

 

 This is at Ayutthaya.  Its the old Thai capital that was destroyed by the Burmese a couple of hundred years ago.  It was fascinating to walk around!  We rented bikes for the day (for about a buck apiece) and biked to all the different ruins we wanted to see.  It was a good way to go! Most places you could walk in and around the ruins.  We had to see some ruins from afar due to preservation work that was being done.  The ruin in the picture below had a steep, narrow staircase you could take.  Two floors below there were old paintings on the walls you could still see. 

 Here's proof that I ate authentic Thai food. This fact might need to be documented for future posterity or they might not believe it.  

To be completely honest, I was a little nervous about the food heading into this trip.  I tend to like all things plain and not spicy.  King's favorite joke for me is "the less flavor- the better."  He might be right.  All things considered, I was pleasantly surprised!  Thai food (when not overly spicy) was great! My favorite dishes from the trip include Pad Thai, chicken and basil in oyster sauce, sticky rice, mango, smoothies, omelets on rice, and rotee (a fruit-stuffed pancake, sort of).

There were a few occasions I chose my boring food though.  King and I ate out one morning. Can you tell who's plate was who's?

 We went to the island of Koh Tao, which is South of Bangkok. It was amazing!
If you're going to get in the ocean, it might as well be warm. . . and warm it was!!
We rented a scooter (200 baht= $6 for a day) and rode to a little beach.  While looking at the water was nice- turquoise water, beautiful scenery, looking IN the water was incredible!  You couldn't see much from out of the water, but BOY were there a lot of fish.  We swam right next to several schools of fish and saw some with amazing colors!! I wish my camera could have gone under water!  This was one of my absolute favorite things about this trip.  I wish we could have done more.

We meant to- and had decided to go to another beach on the island called Mango Bay and snorkel there- it was rumored to be one of the best places to see fish.  We hopped on our scooter (which I was refusing to drive since I'd tipped us over already) and went about six feet... then hit sand.  Thankfully we were ok.  A little road rash (which hurt plenty) and some scratches on the scooter.  Those scratches cost us a little heartache and a pretty penny!! Lets just say we returned the scooter, nixed mixing our wounds with salt water, and took it easy the remaining day in Koh Tao.

 What we missed in snorkeling, we made up in eating! I have a new favorite treat thanks to this trip.  Its called Rotee (stuffed pancake).  

Y.U.M.

This is it below.  You spread dough out REALLY thin.  If you're good at it, you do this crazy fast  turning/flipping thing to thin it out. I want to try this, but have a feeling I'll have to revert to the rolling pin.  This took obvious talent.  Then you put it in the pan, add an egg, a banana (or any other fruit combo: mango, coconut, pineapple, chocolate, peanut butter, rasin etc) and fry it up, folding the edges over.  Then they put sweetened condensed milk on top.  We're trying this tonight with our kids, I'll let you know how it goes! (addition: it was good- but not as good as the original.)

A few days later we took the night train up to Chaing Mai.  We signed up for "Flight of the Gibbons." 

ZIP-LINING in the jungle!! Awesome!!!

 I'm fairly certain there were more than 25 zip lines- one over 800 meters long! (That's nearly a kilometer!)  We met the nicest people!  Our favorites were a family from Belgium!  I'd do this again ANY day.

 The day after, we went on a "trek."  Along with 11 others and two guides, we rode out to the jungle and started our day off by riding elephants. This baby followed us around constantly begging for bananas.We learned that the end of an elephants trunk is rather moist.

The first half of the ride was excellent- even if our elephant wandered a bit off-trail. The best picture isn't scanned in yet- so hopefully that will be up soon.

 The second half has no pictures since it was dumping buckets of rain. Nothing like riding an elephant in a down pour.

Afterwards we hiked about three hours up the mountain to a Lahu village.  The view there was amazing.  I'm using that word a lot.  I need a thesaurus- or on second thought- it was all just amazing!

 The showers and bathroom facilities were . . . authentic!  It sure made me grateful for hot running water and indoor bathrooms!

 These were our sleeping arrangements for the night: little mats and pillows with blankets on a bamboo floor.  Again, not the most comfortable, but it worked.  Its amazing how much I take for granted.

 Our guides were quite the comedians.  They were constantly making themselves (and others) things out of the local plants.  Here's king's hat they made him along the trail.  He looks thrilled doesn't he?

They even had a local "7-eleven" rest stop on our hike.

We hiked out the next day and stopped for some whitewater rafting and bamboo rafting.  Their version of bamboo rafting is different than we envisioned. It included sitting on a bamboo raft that floated a foot or so under water.  We were up to our ribs in brown water.  Some experiences you only need to do once- even if you're glad you did them.

 When we got back from our jungle trek, some friends we made on our trek took us back to their hotel.  The woman was a nurse from France.  She patched up our road rash that was getting infected.  My toe had five bites from some bug on our trek.  Lucky toe.

Completely unrelated side note: my toes are actually painted!  A head massage, hair wash, hair style, and mani pedi was around $15.  Hence- my first pedicure.  We also enjoyed an hour long Thai foot massage for just $7.  It was heavenly!
Alright, back on track.

 That evening in Chaing Mai we stopped at this store for a smoothie. We ate smoothies on a daily basis and they were delicious.  When we sat down to wait I did a double take.  Yes, that's a TREE TRUNK going through the roof . . . that's a new one for me.

 We took the "special express sprinter"  slow train back to Bangkok in time for one last day with A and D.  They'd been GREAT hosts and were kind enough to help King find spicy food and me the not-so-spicy food.  Somewhere in there I'd had a birthday and they treated us to an Italian dinner and the yummiest Icecream cake I've ever had!  It was great to visit with family, vacation with my sweetheart, and miss my kids so much I was motivated to come back and be the best mom ever!  It was interesting what things I MISSED about home, and what things I'd taken for granted, and also to realize that really, I don't need much to be happy.  My life is pretty perfect, pretty remarkable, and I am so very blessed.

Would I go back?

Any time.

Favorite camping quotes.

Though most of these come from my children (they're all from nieces and nephews), the quotes were too hilarious not to post.

#1: Our niece (as her dad was walking her to their tent to get put to bed for the night): Dad, I'm nocturnal!
Nice try!

#2: Our nephew to me: Look at my loose tooth! pointing to a very loose and wiggly front tooth. I already lost this one! pointing to a gap neighboring the loose one. 

Me: Oh, that's neat.
Nephew:  Did you know that girl teeth are rarer than boy teeth?
come again?
Me: And how do you know that?
Nephew:  Well, a friend of mine lost this tooth pointing to his gap in his front teeth and the tooth fairy gave her FIVE DOLLARS for her tooth!!
got it.  Smart kid.  Later I found out that was his dad's explanation to him as to why the Tooth Fairy was much cheaper when paying him.  He didn't think of the idea on his own- but that makes it no less funny.

 #3:  King and I were deliberating whether or not to take the kid backpack (I forget the real name- you know- the one you put the child in and then strap them to your back. Keldy Kid? Kelty Kid? Something like that.  I digress...).  We were only going to be hiking a short hike- or so we thought- so King decided Eddie would probably enjoy walking and he probably wouldn't have to carry her much.  I already had Millaker strapped to my front in the Ergo- so in the end it was his call.
Wrong call.
Roughly 100 yards down the road- just as we have rounded the bend and are out of sight of the cars- Eddie asks to be carried.
"It's too hard, Daddy!!"  
Thinking it would be a short break, King complied.
We ended up hiking over four miles.
I think he carried her over 95% of the time.
Every hike thereafter she repeated the same line.  She has got her daddy wrapped around her finger. She was carried most of the hikes.

Out-takes

Lest you think getting good pictures is easy...

For every good one there were 73 1/2 out-takes.  

Here's hoping they make you smile.

 Yoo-Hoo! Eddie! Over here!  Guy- who or what are you waving at?

 "Bah!"

 Oh Girls?!  Guy, tongue in!

 Now we've lost all three...

 What's with the toe?

Ok, that's a wrap.