Pictures with a side of ketchup

When I was younger, I used to pronounce ketchup like "catch up" but then I stopped because I got ridiculed way too much. Also, once someone told me I had big ears and I've been self conscious about it ever since. I really hold on to insecurities from my youth. But who even cares about ketchup? Seriously, I hardly even like it and I can assure you it isn't at all relevant to the post at hand.

Since I last blogged, about a million things have happened. No, probably a billion. There was plenty of cavorting around in forest habitations, that's for sure. Plus a certain someone turned 1. It all started with Girls' Camp. And oh! I went white water rafting for my birthday—and I didn't even die. And then did I mention we went to Idaho? Twice? On top of Jackson Hole, twice? Mmmm-hmmm. Just slap a bow on us and call it the Giles' Summer 2013.

Okay. Let me start with Maren's birthday. As luck would have it, Tracy and the kids were in town so we had a little hoopla in the park with some friends and I made one of my famous ugly cakes. We also hired a dj—because only the best for our second little darling. Well, I kid. But actually, I'm not kidding, because there was a dj there who was having a listening party—and that's precisely what everyone did. Listened. It was weird. They just sat in their chairs and listened. This is getting more complicated than it needs to be. Okay: we didn't hire a dj, but we did kind of crash his listening party. But it all worked out in the end because Tracy used to work in the music industry. And that's the story.

 

 

I kind of can't believe how quickly Maren blew through year one. Maren is such a hoot and a holler. Boy howdy if she isn't just the resident comedian around here. She sure is a lot feistier than a year ago, too. Tom and I used to high five ourselves about how much of a mellow crier she was. But around 9 months, Maren discovered for herself that her lungs really had the capacity to be heard. Maren's scream these days is out of this world. And let the record stand, Maren is not a morning person. It's actually kind of hilarious. The instant she wakes up she starts up with this scathing squawk and even when we come in to get her she just furrows her brow and laments about how awful this world can be. At breakfast she scowls at me, daring me to give her food that she'll find acceptable. When Tom tries to give her a kiss goodbye before he leaves for work she does her angry squawk and flings oatmeal at him. But after her morning nap she snaps out of it—relieffully. And right at the 1 year mark, she finally decided that her legs weren't all bad, and although she isn't walking yet, she at least acts like she might want to walk. Someday.

So, moving right along, as previously mentioned, we also took two whirlwind trips up to Idaho. Tom had a reunion with a bunch of his high school friends, and Tracy and the kids were visiting up there also, so Clara got even more cousin bliss. During our second Idaho trip, Tom, Tracy, myself and Tom's Uncle John drove up to Jackson to go white water rafting. While our guide went over all the safety instructions and worse-case scenario situations, I was sure that my 29th birthday would be my last. But—spoiler! I'm totally still alive.

 

Wow, we're just blowin' right through nap time around here. Okay, so the last bit of partying we've been up to lately was up in Jackson (again) for a Smith family reunion. I'll let you in on a little secret: My grandma (you can call her Barbara) really knows how to throw a fancy-pancy awesome sauce reunion. This reunion, Smithapalooza 2013—as we so lovingly called it—had been in the works for about a year, and it did not leave anything to be desired. We had a blast. And the whole crew was there except for Linc's fam. Boo, Linc. Boooo!

Don't be fooled by all the smiles, there were about 10 arguments going on at the time. And here's another little secret I'll let you in on: when taking a family picture on a slope, make sure to be at the top so it'll look like you tower over your entire family. *Season and Tom high-five again.*

The week involved hiking, hot tubbing, marshmallow fights in hopes of attracting bears, crafts, an almost run-in with the HUGEST moose I've ever seen (sorry, no pictures), a trip to the ER for my 9-year-old nephew after an intense game of capture the flag, a horse-drawn wagon ride with whooping Indians that still terrify my 3-year-old, a stellar (and I do mean stellar) Gangnam style performance by the Purcell clan, a ridiculous amount of good food, and lots of laughs. Naturally.

 

 

Cannon's face is totally my fave.

Since arriving home we keep ourselves occupied by thumbing through all the pictures and lamenting the days of yonder that were more exciting. But get this, blogdom. *whistles menacingly* We're not even done yet. *said in the movie-guy voice* Come September—we're taking three more trips. Three. I mean, you know?! I know what everyone is thinking: Do those Giles peeps even know how to stop having fun?

Only time will tell.