Sunday, September 29, 2013

Wyoming

We spent my last week of maternity leave climbing up in Wyoming. We rented a house, which was definitely the way to go. Its funny how our standards have changed over the years. We used to camp. Then we moved up to crappy motels. Then to nicer hotels. Now we have to have a whole house. We got a place with 3 bedrooms, and thought it would be perfect because everyone would have their own room, but then we ended up all sleeping in one. Oh well, it was still nice to spread out during the day.

We weren't sure how climbing would go with 2 kids, but it was surprisingly good. I think we're in a narrow good climbing window, where Logan can entertain himself pretty well and Amelie is happy to sit in her chair.  As soon as she starts wanting to move around, climbing will get harder again.

Amelie at the Killer Cave.  She was content to just sleep or watch us climb.  She loved watching Mark.

Logan at the Killer Cave, in his hand-me-down tent from Lucas and Axel.  He occupied himself with dump trucks, his bucket and shovel, and the iPad.



We went shopping at the local climbing shop, and Logan got a little nerf ball shooter. Logan has gotten to the age where he's very susceptible to all the stuff they put right next to the checkout aisle, and its always a struggle to get him out.  Its really annoying how they put that stuff there-- but here we are with a nerf gun, so I guess it works.

Amelie cozy at the crag. 

We found some pretty aspens at Wild Iris

The beginning of the week was really hot, but by the end it was snowing. Hanging out in the Killer Cave during a snowstorm

Amelie's view from Sinks after the storm.

Mark and Logan on their pirate ship



Family at Sinks


We went in search of pretty aspens on one of our rest days and found a stand of really vibrant ones at the top of Sinks Canyon. 




Another rest day activity- Logan riding at the dirt bike track

As Logan would say, "this makes me boring".  Lander has great climbing, but the rest days can get pretty old.  The highlight is usually going to Safeway... sometimes we go twice.  It was particularly bad on this day when the snowstorm knocked out our power and all the trails were snowy/muddy/icy.  This was Logan's self portrait as he tried to entertain himself while we charged our various devices and caught up on internet time at the Lander library. 


We spend most of the week in Lander, but also went over to the Tetons for a day. The Tetons are my favorite, and I love going at this time of year when the leaves are changing.


Leigh Lake.  Despite the fact that the rest of us had our puffy jackets on, Logan thought it was perfect conditions for jumping in the lake.  He never misses a chance to jump in water.


Mark & Logan on the boat ride across Jenny Lake.

Hiking up to Inspiration Point

We lured Logan up the trail with M&Ms

The final M&M at Inspiration Point

Inspiration Point

And the hike down.  Logan jumped the whole way down. Except for the parts when he would stop and refuse to go and Mark would pick him up and carry him down the trail screaming.


Logan found a caterpillar, and we spent about half an hour in this spot staring at the caterpillar and searching for his family members.




I think this picture is funny because Logan looks like a giant.




Saturday, September 28, 2013

Amelie: 3 months


At 3 months, Amelie loves to watch Daddy, and loves to hear him sing.  She likes to talk to the fabric peacock my mom made that hangs over the changing table.  She's sleeping pretty well, and doesn't cry as much as Logan did at this age.  Amelie has started daycare and I am back to work.  She and Logan go to Tammy's house together, and I like to think they watch out for each other. I remember the night before I left Logan there for the first time, when he was 3 months old, I was worried that Tammy might steal him.  I was seriously concerned that I would go back for him at the end of the day and they'd all be gone.  That's how much I thought everyone loved my baby.  Thinking back at how much he screamed, its hard to imagine thinking someone might want to kidnap him. 

Amelie is approximately the size of a large zucchini.


Sunday, September 15, 2013

Rainy days

It rained for a solid week here, which is unheard of.  There was terrible flooding, but we were fine at our house. Just stir crazy and kind of depressed by the end of it.

The river reclaimed Hwy 34 near Loveland.



Logan's had these boots for 2 years, and this was the first opportunity to wear them. He loved jumping in the puddles.

Puddle jumping

Luckily we'd just gotten a big shipment of diapers and Mark transformed the box into a fort. Logan decorated it.

Logan & Mark in their fort.

Miss Amelie


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

September birthdays

My mom is on a cross-country road trip, and came through Denver just in time for Ginny's birthday. We celebrated both my Mom's and Ginny's birthdays while she was here, and Amelie got lots of grandma & great grandma love.

Grandma Z and Amelie


Kenny, Ginny, and me at Ginny's 95th birthday dinner

4 generations. Amelie with her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother.
Amelie and Grandma A

Ginny and Amelie

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Wizard's Gate

Mike came out for a climbing trip disguised as a work trip, and we got to spend a day climbing with him at Wizard's Gate near Estes Park. It was a beautiful spot and fun climbing, though kind of  a rough hike with 2 kids and all our kid stuff. We had an exciting trip on the way out as the thunderstorms moved in and then soaked us.  
Amelie was pretty happy most of the day, though not here.  Logan took this picture-- not bad for a 2 year old!

Logan is in love with Uncle Mike.  This was taken after Mike got down from his climb.  Logan went over and sat down next to him, and then put his arm around him.  "What are we doing Logan?"  Logan: "Just chillin'."

I made Mark sit down for a picture of all the boys

Logan is unable to smile normally for the camera these days.  


Amelie slept most of the day in the buzzy chair. Logan looks like he's plotting something here.



View from the crag