Quick Trip

Did you know we have alligators in Idaho? I didn't until a few months ago. This isn't exactly their natural habitat but someone thought it was a good idea to raise them in the warm water springs near Hagerman. I was thinking they would be sickly looking or small but it turns out alligators really thrive when they are fed the leftovers from the hatchery. These beasts are huge!

The guy who raises them also runs a warm water fish hatchery and graciously lets the public come and see the fish and alligators for free. Ellie loved it and absolutely did not want to leave. The only way we got her into the car was the promise that we would see more fish at Clear Lakes Hatchery. They have huge trout and sturgeon and they have an underwater viewing window so you can get up close and personal with the fish. It was so fun to see Ellie get excited about all the fish and the bugs and everything.

Checking out the huge trout and sturgeon

Looking for more fish at the upper pond

Hiatus

So all two of you who read my blog may have noticed that I haven't posted in a while. I've realized these last few months how much I reach for the computer throughout the day to kill time, relieve boredom, avoid housework, the list goes on and on. It was becoming a small problem. Not a huge one, mind you. I didn't sit in front of the computer for hours on end leaving Ellie to her own devices. I didn't forget to feed my family or do laundry or anything like that. Our home was still functioning like a home should. But each time I sat down to check my email or read blogs or check facebook, the few minutes I intended to take always turned into an hour here and an hour there. I would get sucked into anything and everything that looked interesting to me. So I decided to have my own little 'internet fast' for five days. Also, since I'm pregnant and can't do a regular no food or water fast I thought I would choose something I enjoy to give up for a little while. So I chose the internet.

I was actually looking forward to this little internet break for many reasons. I wanted to see how much more time I had (turns out there are lots of hours in the day when you don't waste them sitting in front of the computer!) and I also wanted to see how much willpower I have. My track record for self-control and willpower hasn't been the best so I knew this would be a challenge for me. Especially since my first day without internet was a Monday and on Monday mornings I work for my father-in-law at his auto repair business where I'm at the computer much of the time I'm there, working on estimates and invoices and the internet is just a click away. So I thought Monday morning would be pretty hard but it absolutely wasn't. I wasn't even tempted and I came home for lunch and told Rob how proud I was of myself :)

Anyway - I will spare you all the little details of the rest of the week but just know that I did it and I loved it and it was hard. But now that I am back on the internet I've found that I am much more aware of the time I spend on it and my most surprising discovery is that I find myself a little bored with it all now. I still enjoy reading emails and blogs but I rarely do much more than that unless I'm researching or shopping for something specific. I've really learned a lot and I encourage anyone out there to try it and see what it does for you.

Little Chubba Wubba

I was looking at old pictures and videos of Ellie the other day while she was napping and I thought I would share a few. I can't believe how roly poly she was!

Little cherub



Our little thumb-sucker


Daddy's girl

Giggle