Freemont Lake

We have found the Golden ticket of Lakes. It's this beautiful lake in Wyoming in the small city of Pinedale. So small they don't even have a McDonald's. (There is a subway in one of the gas stations, but that's the only chain or fast food they have up there.)

The lake is almost always glass since the water temperature is anywhere from 65-67 degrees (Nothing a dry suit can't handle!) so we are the only ski boat on the lake,(Oh and the guy who owns the purple ski nautique who sets up a buoy course. Thank you very much!) I believe, it's one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S. I don't have to spit out the water I inevitably swallow when I crash like I would at Utah lake. Since it is from a glacier run off it's crystal clear and is a sight to behold.

They have cabin like rooms right along the lake, a beach for the kids and a really expensive restaurant in the the lodge that has the best French onion soup. (Hold the onions)

My Dad bought a new boat, I think last year, and we went out in it one afternoon to Utah lake, but it was really choppy and I only got to wake surf, so I was so excited to be spending a few days only boating. That was until we were getting ready to launch the boat.

We had everything ready and were driving down the partially dirt road and hit a pot hole. I was relaxing on the bench seat and all of a sudden had the wakeboard slam into my face. I jumped up and realized my brand new sunglasses were broken in half, and my face was throbbing. My little brother asked if I was OK and when I pulled my hand away, I realized my vision was blurry due to the blood that was coming down my face. I said NO! And Rick tried to get Dad to stop but he couldn't hear us due to the loud diesel, so Rick jumps out of the boat to the street and runs up to the window of the truck. Dad stops and comes back to see "the Damage," He said it looked like I'd been shot in the face, but when we wiped away the blood, it was just four little puncture wounds from my glasses; which I think saved me from stitches!


This was the next day,













And these are day two or three, I had two black eyes, and people were giving Nate bad looks when we walked together. But that didn't stop me from enjoying my weekend of boating.




Other than that the rest of the week was near perfect, I was even able to utter the famous words from val, "It was the best water we've ever had..."

I haven't been on a ski in over five years due to being pregnant, C-sections, winter, bad weather/water and was really worried that the near 30 and out of shape me wasn't going to be able to get up, but it was just like riding a bike and I popped up on my first try and even got in a good cut or two. we also did a little wakeboarding,some wakesurfing,and even some sky skiing (pictures of that to come.)



Nate somehow improved his wakeboarding skills over the last five years (I'm going to look into whether or not he is really in residency or wakeboarding everyday on some lake in Hershey???) Unfortunately I only have the one picture of him since I took all the others with my Dads camera, but when I get them from him I will post his awesomeness!

The boys enjoyed making a hot tub with uncle Morgan at the beach, burying Liam in the sand until Owen was "helping" and threw it in his eyes, feeding the huge ground squirrels, "fishing", falling into the lake twice, and even a sleepover with Lexi.



















It was so much fun to spend time with my family and get to know my Nephew Graham a little better. He is such a good baby. Even though we had a little disagreement about some Guacamole, we became fast friends.
I got the boys matching Baja hoodies for the occasion and Grahmbos birthday since we'll not be there for it in September, and I wish that they made them for women too. I was jealous seeing them all nice and warm after skiing in the cold lake at night.


























But one of the highlights from the trip was watching my little brother be a dad and the difference between Moms and Dads. This is how Chris watched Graham while Mom was wakeboarding:




Totally safe right???

Thanks to all for the best week we've had in a long time! We miss Newtah like crazy, and I am reminded of that every five minutes.

Camping and such

A few weekends ago we went camping with the Banzhaf family.
Because of work schedules, we didn't make up to the site until after 6:30 that night and had to set up camp pretty quick!

Nate set to work on the tent, and I to get dinner started. I pulled out our double camping chair to set near the fire and when I started to pull out the chair, I noticed there was a bunch of debris coming with it.

It occured to me that it wasn't debris, it was where our friendly family of mice had set up there camp this last winter. I couldn't believe it. The chair has a few holes, but I guess it will still work for camping, but won't leave PA when we do, so if anyone wants it in two years, call it now!!! (Or maybe we will send it to Aunt Amy, she LOVES mice.)

This year, we went to Gifford Pinchot, and there were a lot more campers and the sites were really close together. I love how close Gifford Pinchot is, but I think I like the setting of Pine Grove a little better. Or maybe it was better because Owen was only six months last year and went to bed on cue, slept through the night, and didn't try to continually TOUCH the fire?

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Or Maybe it was better because our neighbors in the campsite adjacent to ours didn't hook up a spotlight and keep it on ALL night so it felt like it was day? (But who knows, maybe we hit PG on a quiet weekend last time and GP on a full weekend???)

Liam however did GREAT! When I told him not to touch the fire, he obeyed, when he got tired, he told us he was ready to go to sleep, and did...And this year, we remembered to bring a spatula for our pancakes, but had a new grill and were testing it out, only to find, you CAN'T cook pancakes on tin foil. They stick to it, so don't try it.

It was still fun, to be with friends and let the kids take in some of the great outdoors, even if it was for less than 24 hours. Nate had to work the night shift that day so we had to break down camp, do some swimming and head home so Nate could get in a quick nap before work at 6.

Thanks again B's it was another night to remember!

Oh The Garden's they don't dissapoint!

We did the yearly PIM trip to the Hershey Gardens last month, and the kids loved it as usual!

It wasn't near as hot as it was last year, but still hot enough.






But this was my FAVORITE picture from the day!

I hope they stay friends like this. But I fear that in a few years they will act like most boys/girls do and pretend they don't know each other so no one could tease them about it, and NEVER would have taken a picture like this without being forced to. But HERE is the proof kids!

Calling all super readers part II

This last month FLEW by, and the best part is that we are now on the downward climb of our residency hike! Only 723 days left to go until Nate either decides to do a fellowship for a year or hang up his white coat and get a job (Like Anesthesiologist wear those things anyways...)

So here is our month in detail.

First you know how I spent HOURS and HOURS on Liam's Super Why party since there was nothing out there other than coloring pages from the website?

Well, They now have a whole line of Super Why accessories, toys, books, puzzles...Almost anything your little super reader could want and more, much more.

In honor of them being, oh a month or so late on helping me with his party, Toys R Us had a Super Why day and had activities and such and 20% all the new items.


We of course HAD to go, and came home with happy little faces. Even Owen sings the theme song and walks around going WHY WHY WHY...He'll still don my homemade costume, but Liam told me his cape was the wrong color and that he needed this one to make him an OFFICIAL Super Why to which I told him he will also be using for Halloween this year. There were NO objections!

But don't you worry Super Hero's still get tired and have to take naps now and then!




I also just wanted to point out how well thought out the location of this particular store is. Just click to enlarge and look to name of the building to the right.


If you can't tell, Here is a better shot.


UM HUM, that's right the local prison. Who DOESN"T want to take their children to his favorite toy store gripping hi hand and looking over your should a few times just to check.

Or have him ask you: "Why to they have pokey's on that fence? Or what to they have that mans feet tied together?"

Well, babe, I tell him, "so no one can come and steal your Super Why toys." And that is answer enough for him!

I can't stop staring at the glowing...

One of my favorite things about where we live is during the summer months there are tons of Firefly's. We didn't have these where I lived growing up, so I am just like Liam and get really excited when they come out at night.

We thought we'd try to catch some the other night, but had a hard time doing it since it got too dark and you could only see them for the second that they shined, then POOF they were gone, and then right in front of you the next minute.

We decided the best time is when the sun has gone down, but you can still see them without them having to be shinning.

But while we were looking we found a little frog hopping through the grass instead. Liam named him Hopper and we had fun watching him jump in the container. But we decided to let him go cause his Mama would miss him and we didn't have any flies on hand to feed him.

I'm Super Cool!

Which is what he said when he came out wearing this...



I love how he utilized his shorts as a tool belt! Ingenious I tell ya!

You get what you ask for...

Tonight for dinner I cooked some fresh out of our friends garden Broccoli. It was perfect! Our rule at the Poulson house is you have to have ONE bite of dinner...

Liam knows this rule and has reluctantly over the last year choked down a countless number of different things. He is so obedient. He almost always gags, and then with tears running down his face says, "I did it!"

Tonight was a little different. I put the Broccoli on the table and he said, I don't want any trees for dinner.

To which I countered, "But how do you know you don't like trees if you've never tried them?"

He didn't say anything and finished ALL but the broccoli and I said come on each this tree in a silly voice and making it walk like a little tree person..."Mmmm Liam don't I look good?..."

He took the bite swallowed (Gagging all the while) then a few minutes later up it all came. And it wasn't only the broccoli.

I needed up getting to do a load of wash and telling my self, you have to give him credit. He said he didn't like it, ate then showed me how much he really didn't like it...

I think next time I will let him pass on that bite!

Mama can you find me a Rainbow?

It's been raining here A LOT, the last couple of weeks and we've seen a few rainbows as the result.

While we were driving home yesterday, Liam said "Mama lets go find a rainbow, oh and a unicorn too."

Ehhhh???? "Buddy, rainbows only come out after it rains and it's not been raining today so i can't find us a rainbow. I'm sorry. But we'll try next time it rains..."

Liam: "Oh, then can we get a Unicorn instead?"

Me: "Probably not."

Liam : "Why?, I'd really like one."

Me: "Well because, Unicorns don't really exist they are mythical creatures and they don't live on the earth."

Liam: "Darn, then how did Samantha get one?"

Me: Stumped....

Kristen can you answer this for me? LOL!

"Mama you're a good tissue"

Which is what Liam said as I was holding his hand crossing the street and felt him sliding his nose up and down my arm.

"Thanks I said, I get that a lot." then I shuddered and thought I wonder if that is a real job somewhere? I have really soft skin that I'm sure wouldn't chafe, but then again if anyone else tried to wipe their nose on my arm, I think my response would have been much different!

Do you hate to clean the shower???

Owen's theme...

No need for an explanation, (and yes he is sitting on top of a table and this is how I found him...)

The perfect summer treat!

My Friend Mandy, who is also the ever so talented Gourmet Mom on the Go, brought the most creative Jello treats that I have seen in awhile to our Memorial day get together. I had to take them for WACAMOA a few weeks ago, they didn't turn out as cute as hers did, but they were still a BIG hit with the Kiddos and the Mom.

Want to do it too, well here you go...ENJOY!


(Directions taken from Gourmet Mom on the go website.)
Ingredients:

Watermelon rind
4 large boxes red jell-o (6 oz., we used cherry)
5 cups water (DO NOT follow the water instructions on the jell-o box, your "watermelon" will not hold its shape)
1/4 c. mini chocolate chips

note: this recipe is for ONE half of a large watermelon. If you want to use both halves, double the jell-o and water.

Directions:
Cut melon in half and scoop out fruit with a melon baller or spoon. Make sure to get all the way down to the green rind. Stand the melon on its end. You may have to shave a little bit off the bottom to get it to stand upright, just don't cut all the way through and make a hole in the rind.:)

Boil water, add jello, and mix well. Pour into prepared melon rind.

(I ended up putting mine right inside a mixing bowl to set since I don't trust my shaving technique, it worked out perfect!)

Place in the refrigerator.

When mixture is firm but not completely set, push mini-chocolate chips into the jell-o with a chopstick. Let set completely in the fridge. (here is what it was supposed to look like:)

(I ended up modifying this step too, I didn't make this until 10pm so I figured by midnight it would be to the firm not set stage," but I was WRONG as you can see by the pool of mini chips at the bottom.

Instead, once I cut them into the triangle, I just sprinkled the mini chocolate chips on top and I still think it turned out great!)

When ready to serve, slice with a sharp knife and enjoy!

Fun huh!

Mama that makes my ears hurt...

This morning Liam asked if he could watch Beauty and the Beast while I took a shower. I said sure, that's my favorite. He said, "I know! But don't sing it this time K. That hurts my ears, and I can't hear..."

Thanks bud!

Nate vs. the Honda

Many of you may have already heard this story, but if not, here it is. And for those of you who have, here are some pictures to go with it.

Last week, Nate had to do a 24 hour call shift (Which really is more like 26-30hrs before he gets some sleep.)

He didn't get more than maybe an hour that night and came home ready for his bed. He parked the car on the street in front of our house and came inside to get a drink before jumping into bed for a few winks. (This was at about 7 am and the whole house was still asleep, surprisingly!)

He said he looked out the kitchen window and thought to himself, "Wow, that car going down the street looks just like mine." He then looked to the spot where he parked the car, and realized with horror that it WAS his car rolling down the street. (You see Nate had run in with a parked car that lived up the street a year and a half ago, they had to do some serious repairs and somehow the mechanism that keeps you from being able to take your keys out of the ignition unless it's in park, no longer works. So this is how this tale of another parked car ready to meet it's doom was made possible.)

All of a sudden I hear someone RUNNING through my house, grab some keys off the banister and run down the stairs at FULL speed. My immediate thoughts were, "Either someone just stole my car, or stole my kids." So I jump out of bed at Lightening speed and look down the stairs in hopes to see the said offender, but all I see is the light of day coming in through the open front door and Nate's work shoes. I then decide that the offender has to be Nate, and WHAT is he doing???

I run to our window just in time to see Nate running alongside his car in socks while his I pod ear phones flap in the wind behind him.

I understood immediately what has happened and look a little further down the street to where the unsuspecting parked Green (I don't know the model.) car sits just awaiting it's doom. I start to think: "Great I already know what the insurance agent is going to say when I tell him Nate has hit ANOTHER parked car, but this time while running alongside it...and I already know his reply. "This is why insurance companies have discussed not insuring Doctors that have to work shifts longer than 12 hrs, cause stuff like this happens all the time after a post call night...Oh and this will raise your premiums another $15 a month for the next two years..."

I can tell Nate is using all he has to stop the car from rolling, but comes to my same conclusion and in a last ditch effort, jumps in between the two cars in a side football stance bracing for the blow. BAM!!! I flinch ready to hear the crash, and open my eyes a little wider to take in the full damage, but to my surprise neither car seems to have touched each other and this might have worked. He slowly pushes the Honda away from his pinned legs and lets it kiss the other car ever so slightly. Then he is able to unlock the car, turn it on and slowly back away from the scene.

I run down the stairs to go and see if what I saw happen really happened and find Nate, head on steering wheel clinching his teeth in pain. I ask him if he is OK and he says "yeah, but I'm hurt." I immediately ask if he needs to go to the hospital and he replies, "No if it were broken I couldn't have walked on it." (Talking about his femur that is already growing in size as he sits there.)

So I help him inside the house. We asses the damage to his legs and decide we will wait and see if he needs it looked at any further.

At this point his adrenaline was running so high and his legs were causing him so much pain that it took hours for him to actually get some sleep. Then I worried the whole time he was going to throw a clot and die...

When he woke up we had a good laugh and I asked him; if he'd known the outcome would he have still jumped in between the cars and his reply was, "If it meant saving us from getting two cars fixed and a $500 deductible then YES!" MEN??? You see I never would have even thought to jump in between the cars no matter how much it would have saved me...

But Thanks Babe, you are my Super Hero, Edward Cullen wanna be (If only I could have been the one he was saving...)

I can run from inside my house and halfway down the street in all of 30 seconds and, will do almost anything to save myself $500 kind of man!

But Don't kid yourselves. He isn't immortal and unbreakable like Edward Cullen. He is very much Human and has the bruises that would make a Vampires mouth drool to prove it!


Sexy isn't it!

Liam's Pre-school graduation day

Well this year flew by. I have an almost 1 and a half year old and Liam finished his first year of per school. (Sniff sniff)

He LOVED his teachers this year and they worked so hard with him. He tells me all the time how we need to call Miss Colleen and tell her something...

As always our super supportive pseudo aunt and cousin Molly and Hazel came to watch Liam's big day, and dad was able to slip out of the hospital for a few minutes too!


This is mostly for the grandparent's to see, so don't feel like you have to watch the whole movie, but a funny side note: Liam's teacher said that during the school year Liam didn't really participate when they'd do singing time, but she was shocked come graduation day when he performed like this!

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I guess all he needed was an audience!

Memorial Day fun!

We had a great Memorial day this year. We went to the circus (again.) and the boys loved it. I was a little disappointed but mostly because it was the same show as last years, but Owen was glued until about the last 20 minutes so it gets my vote.














We also went to a fun picnic with some friends. There was good food, good friends and good fun...




The best was slingshotting (is that a word?) fruit snacks and getting to hit a few softballs, something that I haven't done in a really long time!




And a little Hershey Parkin during the long weekend.










Best part of all though was Dad was able to be there for all of it.