I love that it gets dark before Everett's bed time!

es, the days are shorter... the mornings have a chill, but kids sure do sleep better! Its too dark to see the toys in the toy box or rummage through the closet and pull out all the too small clothes that mommy is too lazy to box up... might as well go to sleep! Now if only Corbin would take Ev's lead (as he is screaming in the next room... cry it out little man!)

So here are the highlights of our October so far:

We braved the 4.5 hour car ride and headed up to Portland for a little Cyclocross racing action, and family time. We got to introduce Corbin to the Aunts and both boys got some much needed Gma time! On Sunday Doug raced his first Cross Crusade Race, he and about 1600 others! It was quite the experience since we are used to competing against a much smaller crowd. It was wild... my ears rang cowbell for about a week!

Everett fell in love with Uncle Rick!

Ev helping Gma wash the veggies picked from the garden

Elliot showing off his chunk!

I envy Anne Geddes... baby photography is not easy!

Now that the baby factory is closed down (Yeah!) I needed something to motivate me to get back into shape and find those ab muscles that once existed, so I started a bootcamp class. Now this is not your sweet, ease into your new fit life class... this stuff is hard core (this is my trainer)! After my first class I dry heaved into the garbage can outside. Its fabulous!

Corbin's 4 month stats are:
14 lbs (25th Percentile)
26 inches (90th Percentile)
He is smiling all the time, laughing every once in a while and loves to play in his excersaucer.




We took Ev to the train park in Medford for the first time, he's been really into Thomas and trains in general so it was a great way to explore. He rode the train twice and even had the guts to let go of mommy's hands the second time around!

Ev and his friend Annie, peeking out the window

Feeling the freedom of ridin the rails

Everett received an early birthday present from Mama and Daddy. We'll just say he definitely takes after his daddy!

Just so you know, these "scoot" bikes are the latest way to teach a kid how to ride a bike, you'll notice it doesn't have pedals, this so the child learns to balance first... pedaling is the easy part!

End of Summer Wrap Up

You wouldn't know it by the 100 degree weather outside but today is officially the first day of Fall. Another Summer comes to a close... It's been an eventful one!

Summer Summarized:

MTB and Road bike race season come to a close with Doug winning another OBRA gold metal! Yeah!




We did a lot of hiking and camping with the boys this year, trying to get them excited about nature early on... Lets hope they don't turn into weird mountain people or anything.


Corbin is almost 4 months old! He is growing so fast and is developing quite a personality. I think we are going to have another character on our hands. He definitely will ham it up for the camera!





Everett is approaching 2 with a vengeance! He is loving throwing fits and screaming. We all love this stage, its fun. He is saying new words everyday which hopefully will lead to less screaming and more reasoning. He newest word is "pee pee". Yep that's right! The only body part my son knows how to say is his pee pee... I'm hoping this will lead to pee pee in the potty soon!


I'm looking forward to the routine the Fall seems to bring. I hope you all are too!

Trailer Trash Goes on The Road

Last weekend was the maiden voyage of "The Meteor" (for the Striley's anyway). We trekked up to Lake of the Woods and ate junk food, drank beer, and got incredibly dirty (at least Ev did) for 3 days. We had a great time and the trailer did great. It was a whoppin 38 degrees on Friday night which made me realize that the key word in tent trailer is "TENT" it was a bit chilly, but we got through it. Both boys did great, Ev had a blast roaming around all day exploring and Corbin loves the outdoors! He just would look and look and look... it was adorable :) Here are some pics of our adventure:

Not camping, but this kid loves corn on the cob!

Helpin mom make cookies for the trip

His very own smoothie on the way up the mountain

We've arrived!
Family portrait... with the top of Corbin's head

Mama and C
End of the trip amazingly dirty and now sticky

Corbin had is 2 month check-up last week, time is flying! He is doing great, his 2mo stats are:

10lbs 5oz
23 3/4 inches
Long and skinny just like his brother.

Trailer Trash

We are bound for the great outdoors now that we have a proper recreational vehicle. Some might not call a 1988 Starcraft Meteor tent trailer a recreational vehicle but I would have to argue! Are we not using it for recreation? Does it not have wheels? Therefore it is a recreational vehicle! Doug and I have been looking for a while for something we could use for camping adventures. With two little ones sleeping in the back of the truck just doesn't cut it anymore. We are so excited to head out!



Everett has discovered a love for "wading" we took him to Lithia Park last weekend and he splashed and kicked... we had a great time. He also has discovered the camera. He found an old camera in a drawer somewhere and quickly discovered the "shoot" button. He really likes to take self portraits but unfortunatly his arms aren't long enough for any good shots.




I did a quick photo shoot with Corbin and Carson the other day... They are so adorable, it is fun to see how quickly they grow and change! Corbin has started smiling. You have to work for em but they are awfully sweet when you get em!

Slacker

OK It has been one month since I posted our last blog, that officially makes me a slacker. (Although not as slackery as SOME bloggers I know) So I have been changing diapers, wiping faces, chasing rascals and jiggling newborns... I probably could have fit in a blog or two right? I can't believe it is the middle of July! This summer is flying by! This is going to be a long one since I feel like I haven't filled anyone in on the Life of Striley lately.

Doug has participated in 2 Duathlons this summer, the Evans Valley in Rogue River and the Granite Man in Jacksonville. He placed in both. What a show off!

Granite Man

Evans Valley

We have been doing some hiking as well, on Fathers day we headed up Table Rock for Corbin's first hike. Slow but sure we schlepped up the hill, Doug, Ev, and Kelty loaded on his back and me with Baby C on my front. We later did a quick morning hike on the trails behind the Ashland Watershed. We try to go every weekend but are not very creative about where to go so if anyone has suggestions we are open!

Table Rock

Toothpick Trail, Ashland Watershed

Corbin is doing amazing! He finally decided to "wake-up" around his due date. He is an alert little fellow and a bit demanding, he really likes being held and carried. He is an observer like his brother and does not want to miss out on the action! I try and oblige him as much as possible. He is around 8lbs now and growing quickly, he finally fits into 0-3 month clothes.






Everett is growing in every way every day! He loves his baby brother and we have officially deemed his first word "baby". He is trying to say new words all the time but they all seem to come out sounding like "DUH" Ha ha ... He is working on it though. He loves to run and climb and sing and dance. He is really good at entertaining himself and pretending, I'm pretty sure he is a genius... scary, you never want a child who can outsmart you at 19 months.

Big Boy!

Pouting

On July 5th we welcomed our new cousin Carson Duane Ray. Doug's sister Angie decided to brave the baby stage again and add a third little munchkin to the brood. He is precious and I am excited for Corbin to have a cousin so close in age! They are a month and 3 days apart.

Auntie Em and Carson

Cryin Cousins

Other Striley activities have included: Children's Festival, playing with Grammi and Papa, swimming up at Auntie's house, 4th of July parade and parties, and general summer shenanigans! I think that catches me up. If not well, there is always next year!

Tuckered out after the 4th of July Parade in Ashland

dads and their boys

Picnicking with Grammi and Papa

Children's Festival!

Oh! The garden... Well just like in this blog our poor garden has been a bit neglected. The Broccoli and Cauliflower bolted, though we did get several good heads. The Peas and Carrots did not produce the amount we thought and well the Squash never did survive. BUT, we have tons of Tomatoes ripening up, our Corn is as high as an elephant's eye with lot's of ears on it and we have several Jalapeno's growing! I am not posting photo's because it is embarrassing the amount of weeds we have allowed to grow, maybe after I am motivated to clean it up a bit!