Camping

We just spent the weekend camping in Jackson, WY.  We went up there to visit Lance's sister Kristy and her hubby Bryson who is a River Guide on the Snake River every summer. We got there Saturday night and it had been raining all day so we decided to go out to dinner. We went to an Italian Restaurant in Teton village called Calico which was superb.  We thought if we delayed long enough it would stop raining but no such luck.  Lance and Kristy dutifully set up our tent in the pouring rain at 11pm.  We fell asleep to the sound of the rushing river and we were so tired we slept right through the rain falling on our tent.  

The rain stopped by morning and we woke up to a wonderful view of the snake river.  We ate some breakfast and went to check out Kristy and Bryson's "house." Let's just say there is something to be said about being young and in love. Because when you are newleyweds I guess it doesn't matter where you live or what you live in.

Later that day they took us out to Teton National park.  I rode through there a few years back with my dad on our motorcycle trip but this time we got to hike in.  It was sooo beautiful.  We hiked in to Bradley Lake and we also saw Taggert Lake.  It was just such a great hike the whole way. Darren made a new best friend along the way. He bummed a ride on Bryson's shoulders and bombarded him with his incessant questions the entire time.  Darren said he wants Bryson to be his dad now.  

Kristy and Bryson (who are pretty much the coolest couple ever)  also took us out to see the Buffalo.  It was so neat to be out in such wilderness and think that it could have been just like this a 100 years ago.  
Thanks you guys for a great weekend.  We had lots of fun despite the rain. And my hat goes off to you, Kristy.  I could never do what you do and still be so fun to be around.

My little genius

My first born babe is getting so smart.  I am so proud of my Darren.

What was he doing with a knife anyway?

So here is what happens when a 2 year old gets a paring knife.  Are you more shocked at the condition of the couch or the fact that a mother would keep a paring knife in a place where a two year old could get to it?  If you are like most people my husband has told they want know why he had access to a knife anyway.  Well, here is the answer to all of you who think I should be turned in.  I. Don't. Know.  Honestly, I didn't think about it. I have all the big knives put away but didn't really think about a little ol' paring knife that was handed down to me 6 years ago. I really didn't think it could even cut a hot dog but apparently I was wrong.  This post was originally going to be about all the times people have thought it be necessary to scold me about my mothering. Like the time I was cussed out at the mall by a lady that thought it was Bull**** that I would let my kids out of their stroller.  Or the perv in the hotel room next to us who had his erotic show turned up way to loud that wanted my kids kept quiet at 4 in the afternoon. Or the security guard at the hospital that yelled at me for letting my kids come in and out of the automatic door insisting that it was very dangerous for them to do that.  COME ON!  I thought that was the point of a door.  Annoying? Yes. I get that, but dangerous?  My kids can be annoying, yes, but give a mom a break here.  And for those of you who are thinking that they lack discipline "How does a cold shower with all your clothes on sound to you?"  So instead of spending my time going on and on about that, my husband (who BTW thinks I am overprotective) wants me to try and get these "tears" covered under warranty.

Tonight I am going to dish up a bowl of vanilla ice cream and I am going to 

sit in my chair watch the news and let my ice cream sit on the side table until

it is perfectly soft. then I am going to eat it and be a little bit sad but also be a 

little bit happy because it means something to me.

The pampered life of a doctor's wife

So I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time...just haven’t gotten around to it.  

Last month Katie went to St. George with the Barker girls.  I thought it would be a good time for some Barker boy bonding.  During my last year in med school I had quite a bit of time off, 6 straight weeks at one point.  Luckily this occurred while Katie was pregnant with Cordon so I was able to help out a bit more with Darren.  This was my first and only experience as a stay at home dad.  It wasn’t too bad.  At the time it beat the heck out of an ICU rotation or sitting in a classroom all day.  So It was with these memories that I kissed Katie goodbye for her 2 day vacation.  I had made the decision we were going to potty train Cordon while she was gone so we headed out to buy Kung Fu panda underwear and some treats.  Got home, had dinner and tried a couple times to use the potty, without success.  Put the kids to bed and basked in the knowledge that I had lasted my first 8 hours without Katie pretty well.  

The next day the potty training began in earnest.  We sat on the toilet every 30 minutes ALL FREAKING DAY LONG!!!  By the end of the morning Cordon would no longer scream when sitting on the toilet, which was a pretty big success in and of itself.  The rest of the day consisted with a few drops in the toilet then getting off for a treat then soaking whatever he was sitting on about 15 minutes later.  I couldn’t believe how this happened every stinking time.  By that evening I just wanted an adult to talk to...no I just wanted Katie to talk to.  I was discouraged, lonely, and somewhat bored.  I tried to keep a stiff upper lip whenever she called but I really wanted her home.  It was about 7 o’clock that night when I realized, more than ever before, what a freaking steal she was.  Taking care of a year old was pretty fun but taking care of 3 kids, all at different stages of development is HARD.  You’ve got Darren asking 100 questions/minute, most of which don’t really make sense.  You have Cordon erupting like Vesuvius whenever something doesn’t go his way.  Then Cameron trying to stick his face in the toilet whenever the door is left open for a split second.  And all this without anything to look forward to for the next 2 days.  

As soon as Katie got home the next day I had to head south to cover an overnight ER shift.  Then 2 weeks ago I was gone for a week straight, 1st for 48 hours in Delta, then 48 hours in Panguitch, then 3 days in Moab.  Katie never complained once.  She does it all with a smile.  So my hat is off to you Katie.  You daily do what I never could.