Boise Idaho

There are a bunch of places in the world that I never expected to visit but I must say that I am thrilled  that Chris, the girls and I got to go to Idaho a few weeks ago.  Why on earth Boise?????  Our dear friends Megan and Robbie and their beautiful little girls Sydney and Simone are from there.  We met them in Hawaii during a quintessential time of our lives in our natural child birth class.  Both of us were in our 2nd trimester and due within weeks of each other with our 1st children.  One of my other great friends Nikki said that I would probably meet some of my most closest friends during this time period and she was right.  We all hit if off quickly and dished about things like poop (baby and pregnancy lack of), fears of birth /parenting, babies sleeping and whole bunch of other things that you can't speak with just anyone about.  I promised I would visit her in Boise when they moved back and being in Cali made that a whole lot easier.  I wish we had a longer time to visit but we sure did pack it in while we were there.  Even if we stayed longer, it would not have been long enough.

1st off, Boise itself was beautiful.  I would like to think that the fall leaves held on for our benefit as they just received their first bit of snow today.  It was very clean and the people seemed nice.  Their downtown was a bit hipper than I had expected and we ate some great food.

The girls hugged and kissed a bunch.  So sweet.

I think Indi is doing Zoolander here and of course Helaina is eating

But even if Boise was a dump, I am fairly certain that we would have had an excellent time.  The girls played together as if no time had passed since they had seen each other --- and so did our children ;o)  We got to meet each other's littlest ones and I think either of us would have kept the other's if allowed.  Megan and Rob were the most thoughtful hosts.  Every detail was covered.  We didn't need lug as much stuff as Megan went out of her way to borrow and make sure our load was light.  She prepared meals that can put most restaurants to shame.  She even sent us home with snacks for the ride and clothes that didn't fit her kids anymore.

Taking each others baby for a spin

It's hard to pick a best part of our trip but Helaina and Sydney playing together was up there for sure. It was so sweet since they had spent so much time together when they were itty bitty.
We went to a huge Fall Festival with a corn box (like sand but with corn), horse rides, mini cow tractors, and best of all a HUGE air pillow buried in the ground (think bouncy house with no walls).  We got our fun on for sure.  We took the girls to a play place and fun was had by all.  Meg and Rob live in a great neighborhood with a beautiful nature trail that we walked in despite the cold.  We spent time in their house which is open, warm and inviting like a home should be.  I can imagine their girls will have fond memories of their childhood home especially the cool "cave" that their daddy built under the stairs and their mommy decorated like dream room for little girls (complete with a play wall phone).

We were honored to be with the Gerichs for their 1st Chick - Fil-A experience.
No shocker but they really liked it.  

While there, we got to take pictures with Megan's mom Mary, who I have longed pined after the photographs she takes.  The pictures came out perfect and she was joy to 'work with'.  I know where Megs get's her creativity from.  You can visit the link to see more of our pics at:

www.fairlycandid.com/the-higgs-family/

I excluded the one that we will be using for our Christmas photo :o)

The oldest kids (that would be us) took advantage of not having to leave at bed time and we stayed up playing games, having 'some' libations, and talking/laughing.  Robbie was a trooper as he threw out his back and still hung with us though often from the position of laying flat on the floor.

You may never have the chance to go to Boise but if you do, GO.  You may never get to meet the Gerichs (or you might) but I do wish that you have a couple or family in your life that is as loving, honest, and inspiring as they are.  It's good for your soul.

Fortunately for us, The Gerichs and the Ohuchis (The other part of our friends from our birthing class) are coming to Cali in January and we can all be reunited again.  5 girls and one boy!  How lucky are we to know such great people?

By the by, Megan is the one who inspired me to start writing a blog.  You can check her rendition of the visit at Gerichs.Blogspot.com Now that I have finished writing mine, I'm going to check it out.

"Luxury trip" to the "North-ish East" Coast & Picture Palooza

In theory, with the girls being so young and me staying at home, I have the 'luxury' of being a able to pick up and travel when I want to.  And by luxury I mean, they do not have school and I do not have work.  However, the plane ride itself, without my hardworking husband, was anything but luxury (and it still costs a lot being on this coast).   There is nothing like taking two small popcorn machines and sticking them in small seats (or a lap if you are Indigo) for 5 hours.  Good thing the man next to me had three children and was understanding each time I looked over and Indi was grabbing on him or she was practicing her vocal skills.  I could write a 3 page essay on the pains of my flights but I will save you the time and hopefully help myself forget enough so I will be able to fly again (like next week to Boise, Idaho - but I will get to that later.

Once we arrived to NJ, we got the royal treatment.  I was forbid from doing any work such as cooking, clearing dishes etc...  My dad steamed and pureed all of Indi's food.   He and Caroline made Helaina feel like she had gone to two and a half year old heaven.  She got to ride lawn mowers, a gator, listen to TuTu (Caroline) play harp and even drove the back hoe.  She pushed plastic Santa in the cat stroller (the cat was hiding from the harassment, but enthralled with the visitors), bug hunted and pretty much ran the joint.   Helaina even vacuumed the garage with Pop Pop which was mind blowing for me since the noise of the house vacuum bothers her so much, that Chris has to be home for me to do so.  They even treated us to Story Book land - a really clean and not that packed amusement park perfect for kids Helaina's age.  She had the time of her life.

Peek A Boo

Tea time with Tutu

Run princess run

Can't run with shoes on

Bug hunting with Pop Pop

Our first H that was legit.  Go sidewalk chalk!

The little sister is a force to be reckoned with.
"Are you talkin' to me"

This was as close as Pop Pop got to holding.  

Monkey was a sport to the harassment

Indigo has had a really big mommy attachment as of late which I believe is typical for this age however, I would not know since Helaina has never shown the slightest -- so it was kind of nice for me.  But not so nice for my family who were itching to love on this little cute new member of our family.  She did finally came around a bit to Pop Pop and to one of my second cousins, Gabriella.  Other than that, she was attached to Momma the whole time.
The rest of us enjoyed our time with our family that we don't get to see more than once a year at best.  It  makes me warm, happy and sad all at once to see cousins (and 2nd cousins) playing together.  I am grateful to have grown up with the notion that there is nothing like family!

Dad sent us off properly by driving us **"down south"and personally delivering us to Chris (who had flown on the red eye to DC), his mom and brother (who trekked up from SC).  The girls did great in the car to my delight.  We all had lunch in Alexandria and said good bye to dad.  After driving 3 more hours in DC traffic (thank you Jeremy for driving) we arrived safe and sound in VA.  

**Since marrying I have been informed that VA is south of the Mason Dixon line 

and therefore part of the south.   History aside,  I know it's 'more south' in attitude 

than NJ but after living in Georgia and South Carolina, I still have a hard time calling 

Virginia 'the south'.  I know my husband and 'in laws disagree but this Yankee girl is

 entitled to her opinion!  ;o)  

Once we arrived it reinforced mine and Chris' desire to live in a house with a yard again for the girls.  We all had so much fun doing a whole bunch of stuff in the yard and outside.  We all played duck duck goose, soccer and blew bubbles until we were silly.  Both girls were tickled pink.  Mimi helped Helaina climb a tree, we took a couple family walks, and explored acorns and sticks - and even tried to dunk a basketball.  Squirrels and birds were both fed and watched.  It was all so very nice.  We went down to Richmond to visit Nena (Chris' grandmother), his Aunt Ann, and his cousins the Lawrence clan.  And since we haven't touched on much food yet, (and you people know that I chowed down on some of my Jersey favorites including Crabs, tomatoes and prosciutto), we got to indulge in one of my new favorite VA traditions, Carls.  It quite possibly is the best soft serve ice cream that I have ever had.  Dad Higgs was kind enough to make the late night Carls run for us.  Yummy!

Its also worth mentioning that whatever apprehensions Indigo had about being held by family were shed for the Higgs and especially Nena.  She was quite fine with being held by others besides mommy.  Maybe she had time to get used to this travel thing.  Maybe it was because daddy was back on the scene.  Or quite possibly she is a "Southern girl" at heart.  Whatever is was, it was nice to share the love.

4 generations of ladies

The Matriarchs

Uncle Jeremy was a slam dunk

walking "softly" 

Brother from another Mutha'

Static head

Obligatory Mimi slide shot.  She's a kid a heart

Heyyyyyyyyyyy

Are we going to eat some delish Southern Ham Sandwiches?

Uncle Jerm giving camera lessons

This is my favorite picture of Nena EVER!

Bye Mimi

As usual, the visits were too short so every minute was capitalized.  Alas, it came time to say see you later. -- For a few, later this year in Florida.    Fun was had by all -- until the plane ride but again, we must not speak of these things.

We will speak of the girls and their goings on.  Helaina is potentially coming around from the terrible twos.  She has much more pleasant and FINALLY catching on to some of the things that we have been going over repetitively for an eternity. (ok  just a year but it feels like it).  Sure we still put our hands and everything in our mouth still but potty training has turned a corner!!!!  YEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! The last 2 days she has gone on her own accord without us asking her if she needed to go.  Light. Tunnel.  Hello. (Hope it isn't the train coming!)  Her going to bed has been notably easier, especially at nap time.

As a side note, I had a dream of my mom the other night.  It does not happen very often but I am over the moon when it does.  It always the same... I never remember what we have done but know that we have spent some extensive time together and that I don't want it to end.  We embrace and then I wake with one of the warmest and most grateful feelings you can imagine.  I was sharing my dream experience with Chris and Helaina.  Helaina was looking at me intently.  I reiterated that I was dreaming of Grand Mom Angie and asked if she dreamed.  She said Yes but didn't take it any further.  In her pause I had wild thoughts in my head that maybe my mom somehow visited her in her dreams or something of that nature.  Me:  "Helaina, what do you dream about?"  Helaina, very seriously looks at me and says deadpan as she stuffs more cereal into her mouth, "Food."  Now while that changed the mood drastically, it was all good.  Bless that girl and her love of food!

Indigo is moving quite rapidly in her new skills and tricks, as little ones do.  We still only have 2 teeth but I believe we are working on 2 on the top now.  She is sitting on her own and pulling herself up on furniture.  She is quite strong and determined when trying to get into things -- usually trouble.  She has been putting her hands up for "how big are you?, SO BIG" for a month or so.  She sort of gives high five, claps regularly and is turning light switches on when enabled to do so.   Besides Momma and "Dadda" she can say "Uh Oh".   She is even taking a few steps with the push and go.  We have been working on animal sounds and body parts with her.  Poor second children!  We were doing this with Helaina since birth.  Hopefully her determination will drive her to make up what we have lacked in doing equally.  She has a super sweet disposition and is a great eater like her sister.

We are so very lucky to have an upcoming trip to visit our friends in Idaho who we met in Hawaii.  They have a little girl 2 weeks older than Helaina and another little girl almost 5 months.   We are so looking forward to  seeing our friends that made during one of the most pivotal times in our life.  Stand by for a recap of that trip.  But for now enjoy some of the pics from our trip that didn't make it into the text above and some since then.