Some More Ridiculous Cuteness

My Bro

I only have one brother, and this is him. Good old Brandt. He spent a great extended weekend with us in RS, and just went home yesterday. He made some sweet cash washing windows and then entertained us in his spare time. We are so excited {yet sad} that he is going to be living in Jerusalem until the end of December. He always wanted to study abroad, we thought he meant he wanted to study women... But, I guess he was serious about studies after all. Thank goodness for email and phone, at least it won't be as bad as having him gone for two years...we already did that!

My Triplets

Cali, Carter, and Caleb all nine months old. I think they resemble each other.

Pure Hilarity

It's no secret... I think I'm pretty funny. In fact, most of the time I crack myself up. It's a talent and gift...really. However, from time to time I find someone that thinks I'm as funny as I think I am, well...almost. For example, my friend Amanda. Upon meeting her a total of 1.5 times I immediately called her a "skank". Something I thought was pretty funny...and luckily, so did she. Since then, we have spent many hours laughing at and with each other.

She and her husband are off to seek their fame and fortune {aka go back to school} in Laramie. So I knew I had to make her something ultra hilarious as a tribute to Rock Springs. I went back and forth between "Don't Knock it 'til You Rock It" and "Don't Knock the Rock". My brother even suggested "Rock Out With Your *ock Out"....sorry Brandt, bad suggestion. I finally settled on "Don't know it 'til you rock it". For a few reasons:

(1) I thought it was funny. I even called two family members {thanks Brandt and Bethany} to make sure it was funny.
(2) If you even mention that you live or are moving to RS people immediately cringe, gag, gasp...It's a common response, but one that's not needed. It's really great here...Hence the "Don't knock it" part of the saying.
(3) If there is anyone that rocked Rock Springs it was Amanda for sure.

So like any good humored friend, what did she do upon receiving such a hilarious gift. She took off the shirt she was wearing, and wore it with pride.

We will miss the Scott's terribly. Cali is already planning a visit to play with Mulon {aka Milan as she is more commonly known}, so I am sure that our paths will cross in the future!

Worth Mentioning

Better Safe than Sorry: The past week the RSFRC opened their much anticipated leisure pool. We've already been there several times with rave reviews from the kids. One of the rules of the new pool requires that all children under the age of 5 wear a life jacket. Apparently even if they plan on sitting in ankle deep water and splash in the bubbles.

If You Need Me, I'll Be in the Bathroom: In an attempt to drink more water I purchased this lovely water bottle at the local Smiths. To provide some perspective I photographed it next to a 32 oz. Powerade bottle. My new water bottle is 2.3 liters of hydrating fun, and I get pretty strange looks when toting it around the rec center, to say nothing of looks I got whilst sipping on it at the Honda dealership. However, I managed to drink 1.5 of these bad boys yesterday!

Only in RS: Where can you go to get your oil changed {over-priced oil change}, climb in a brand new car, sit on a motorcycle, and admire gigantic elk {see background}, deer, mountain goats, buffalo, and jackalopes? At the Honda dealership, and only in Rock Springs.

Nine Months

Amid all of our traveling and summering, Caleb turned nine months old on August 3rd! It's official, he's been out as long as he was in! Why did nine months of pregnancy seem like a ridiculous eternity, but nine months on earth goes by in a flash? It's just not fair...on either end. So, what has a nine month old accomplished in life?

• Crawling...everywhere all the time.
• Standing...with the help of furniture or a nice human leg.
• Cruising...walking from object to object especially from the couch to the fireplace {this will be a problem when it gets cold.
  
• Talking...not full sentences {yet} but he's got "uh oh!" "mom" "dad" "no" and "Cart" down pretty good.
• Eating...whatever he wants when he wants.
• Drinking...a bottle like a champ
• Sleeping...through the night {finally}
• Going...all the places that we drag him during a day and week.
• Biting...my shoulder all the time.
• Smiling...a giant grin with 7 goofy teeth.
• Dancing...at the first sound of any music, even the theme song for the nightly news {Cali style}
• Injuries...bruised head and split lip, standing and cruising are both very dangerous.
• Climbing...up stairs, but not down {the couch is usually in front of the stairs for most of his waking hours}.

Hey! Hay!

Fountain Green, Utah. August 7, 2010. Cali Pollastro, Zoe Cook, Harry Cook, and Carter Pollastro

Cook Reunion

On Saturday {August 7} we met up with the Cook side of our family in Fountain Green. Being in Fountain Green is a little bitter sweet, with no grandparents around anymore I felt a little out of sorts. However, it was fun to meet up with cousins, uncles, and aunts that we don't get to see very often. And eat treats that we don't eat very often....Like these Push 'Ems from the Schwan man. My grandma always had a huge supply of these, especially the orange sherbet ones. My cousin's wife Tara chased the Schwan man down to have these for our reunion dessert.

My cousins Tina Cook, Nikki Cook, and I were beyond excited...as you can see.

Here's another generation of Push 'Ems lickers and lovers. Left to right my cousin Doug's kids Kenna Cook, Ellie Cook, Zoe Cook, and Harry Cook with Cali and Carter. Minus Caleb, he took a few licks, but was too tired for a photo op.

And here is the majority of my Cook cousins. From L to R Jayna Miller, Brandt Peacock {my sister and brother}, me, Joseph Cook, Doug Cook, Weston Cook {back}, Talita Cook, Nikki Cook, and Tina Cook. We were missing Bethany Gilson and Dory Peacock {my sisters}, Jana Cook, and Paul Cook. We especially missed my dear cousin Thomas Cook who passed away March 2006. Things are just not the same without him.

My mom checking out her gift from the Middle East. My cousin Doug picked up these cool Arab nesting dolls for her in Abu Dhabi where he teaches for NYU. .

Background

I've found that sometimes the background of a picture is just as important as the image in the foreground. These pictures are not the most professional, but they provide a background to a large chunk of my childhood.

During the Cook reunion Christian and Caleb took a little nap in my grandma's chair. Obviously, they both just woke up...I was really trying to sneak in the living room and take a picture of two soundly sleeping boys. But, what I really like about this picture is the chair and little bit of lamp post on the right. My grandma had thousands of conversations while sitting in this very chair. Eventually, when the fate of her house and possessions is decided this chair and lamp could end up in any number of places. I would never have thought to take a picture of them. But I'm glad I have this one.

This is a cute picture of my sister Jayna holding Caleb. She just happens to be standing in front of the stove and oven where my grandma cooked several meals a day, and baked countless treats.

Gathering around the kitchen table. When we were growing up my mom had this wall hanging that read, "no matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best". Such a true statement. Once again, not the best quality photo, but very nice to have a picture of a family gathering place. And, as an added bonus, my most favorite and hilarious uncle Dean, with his wife Ruth and daughter Nikki.

My grandparents would love for us to remember their house as full of family and FOOD!

Family Bonding

My dad has a favorite game he likes to play with his grand kids called, Farmers go to Market. Who am I kidding...he likes to play it with any kids, he did it to us as kids and countless nieces and nephews. I the funny thing is...It never gets old. Check out all the smiles.

We also had a fun time with my sister Jayna and her husband Mike. Here they are with their three kids! Not really, but if they ever needed a family picture, this is a pretty convincing one.

Me, Jayna, and Cali. We don't get to see Jayna very often because Mike is in grad school in Washington state. We were glad that they made the long drive to spend a few days.

Me and Brandt. Don't forget ladies he's single and he likes to mingle. However, he is going to be out of the country from August-December. He's studying abroad in Jerusalem, I will miss this little baby brother!

Aquarium

The last week of July Christian had to work in SLC. We went to visit him and stay for a day. While we were in the area we stopped at the Aquarium. It went something like this...
Caleb...Elated
Carter...Terrified
Cali...Excited
Caleb...Hungry
Carter...Comfortable
Cali...Inquisitive
Caleb...Pooped
Carter...Sharks
Cali...Screaming
Caleb...Tired
Carter...Penguins
Cali...Silly
Caleb...Exhausted
Carter...Crying
Cali...Helping
Caleb...Car
Carter...Car+Toy
Cali...Car+Toy

Sting Ray....Touched

...You Don't See That Everyday

Here are some things you don't see everyday.

1. I giant tower of Barbies in the backseat of a car. Or you shouldn't see this everyday. You see, it took great skill and quick camera reflexes of the multi-talented driver to snap this picture whilst driving down a canyon.

2. Me, in awkward positions nursing a giant baby. I know my friends and family are sad that they won't be seeing my boobs in random places any longer. Caleb is officially a bottle baby, so you won't see me in this {just one of many} nursing position anymore!

3. A gigantic hot air balloon with the UW logo floating peacefully through the sky on a Saturday morning. I took this picture from our deck as Cali and Carter screamed "Go Pokes" into the sky. Come to find out this balloon is owned and flown by my baby sitter's father. Like I said, you don't see this stuff everyday.

4. A beautifully decorated cake with a little girl's head on top.

July Birthdays

Us July birthdays are pretty awesome. Cali and I love that our birthday's are in the same month, and we love the month of July. Over the last couple years we've let Parker join in our birthday fun.

This is the kind of birthday party everyone should have. One where all the birthday kids get their very own cake. mmmm.cake.

And a birthday with the Pollastro's wouldn't be complete without a stack of presents from Grandma Vicki {& Grandpa Carl...but we know who does the shopping!}.

New outfits are always a birthday must have!

Days of '47 Parade

We were in SLC over the 24th of July this year, and were able to watch the gigantic-camp-out-for-days parade. Lucky for us, there was NO camping involved. Carl's company apartment is right on S Temple. So, we had a front row seat. We could've watched it from the fourth story window...my choice. But the kids wanted to get down where the action was. Here's what Caleb thought of parades...he also felt the same way about being carried {stroller and all} over and through piles of people.

Cali popping up in Carter's picture.

Us girls trying to look hot at the parade. Which wasn't hard, it was 90+ degrees....which for us, is VERY HOT! By the way, my one big complaint about parades is that they are so hot. Someone should get smart and have a fall parade. I can think of nothing better than sitting outside on a nice fall morning. Seriously. Fall. Parade.

Carter shared his water with the flowers.

Just Trying to Fit in

This is probably as close as my kids will ever get to riding a real horse, or being a real cowboy. But I think these two look like true Wyoming kids, no?

For Bridger July 23rd, 2010

Fort Bridger

Here we are visiting historic Fort Bridger, WY. We stopped along our journey to SLC on July 23rd to pay homage to Jim Bridger. To be a true Wyoming-ite you have to know the story of Fort Bridger. So, as far as I can gather, he was a trader/trapper who made a large fortune selling animal skins from Wyo back east. He established a Fort where he traded his goods. Later the fort became a stopping place for pioneers, settlers, and military. Later Brigham Young bought the fort for $8000.00, and then burned it to the ground. Apparently, when Johnson's army was coming to Utah to further persecute the Mormons, Young ordered it to be burned so that the army wouldn't have a place to regroup. {I need a real Wyoming native to verify those facts!}

It was a fun place to visit, full of history and cute little shops. Mom and dad bought Cali a beautiful bracelet, which I have borrowed several times, and Carter got a wooden sword. We have since named the sword, "Jim Bridger". And I have been know to scream..."damn you Jim Bridger". For obvious reasons.

This is Cali standing in front of the first school house in Wyoming.

And here's Carter holding Jim Bridger's leg bone. Kidding....just some old cow bones.

Cold, Creamy Crack in a Cone

I've never done Crack before, but I can imagine that the ice cream cones at Little America, WY have a similar effect. Honestly....The best $0.50 ever spent. Just ask these little addicts.

A Seven Year Old

It's hard to believe that I am the mother of a seven year old. It seems like only yesterday....and all that.... Cali had a great birthday, scuffed face/broken teeth and all. She loves this dress that her friend Milan gave her, and has worn it at least once a week since.

After the birthday party extravaganza with the friends, we settled down to give Cali our gift and to take her out to dinner {Applebee's....her choice}.

This was a very suspenseful moment....And then!

Her very own Ipod shuffle. Or as she calls it, "my mini Ipod".