the Chico life Reid style

Summer time for us has meant a more chill schedule, camping, swimming, and a lot of naked time! Wiley is getting so chubby and holding him and nursing can make us quite sweaty.  Maia is resisting our attempts to persuade her that the potty is where it’s at, so more naked time lets her notice a little more what her body is doing…plus it’s hot and dressing is always a battle anyway.  (PS today, she came and told me, “Mom, I peed on the drum!” It all stayed on top because of the ridge around the edge.  I am trying to see these things as positive steps toward potty training!)

Here are some shots from camping with Luke’s family at Butt Lake. (No, I didn’t leave off an E). Cousin Lauryn carried Wiley around in the baby carrier a lot and future cousin Kaden (son of Dawn, Jeff’s fiance) and his friend caught crawdads and wrapped the tails in bacon and basil. We also drove up to Yellow Creek and hiked along the beautiful meadow and freezing cold creek.

While Luke went to a work convention in SF, the kids and I spent the week (getting help) at my parents’. We went to Clovis Lakes (or I guess what they’ve been calling it for 20 years, Wild Water Adventures) and Maia enjoyed the water slides. I got scolded after going down a slide with her, then I sent her down alone, not realizing the pool below wasn’t shallow enough for her.  The lifeguard pulled her up and I ran down to meet her, apologizing for a horrible mother moment! Wiley chilled out in the kiddie pool with Papa.

Finding things to do at home. Naked. Notice Wiley in the bouncer behind.

Enjoying a new hobby, painting. Note to self: need to monitor this better!

Some of Wiley’s new buddies, Austin Gravette and Jacoby Nevens, both about 2 months and the same length as Wiley (uh-oh, he may have the Falk-Weeks height). Luke says the second picture is just like what they’ll look like hanging out when they are old men!

Maia sometimes gets jealous when we’re holding Wiley and just climbs up and sits in between. Wiley doesn’t mind.

For my 30th b-day, my friends took me to a great houseboat in Lake Oroville (near where I’ll be back to work part time in the fall). Of course Wiley came too, lucky guy with ten girls!

One more shout out: our dear friend Katie Raley has been living in our basement this summer as she just finished school studying abroad in Germany and is now getting ready to move to Australia to start a non-profit in Malaysia with a friend, IAEDF. She has been great help and company, and the kiddos love her!