Oh the Stories. . .

Hi Everyone!  Boy have I got a lot to tell you about today!!  We have been so busy this last couple weeks.  Before Daddy's Marathon, My Mommy's Aunt Gayle and Uncle Ed came to visit us.  They were on their way to Las Vegas, and thought they would stop in and chat!  Wasn't that nice of them.  They wanted to drive out there, so Daddy gave Uncle Ed some pointers of where to go and what sights to see along the way.  I hope they had fun!!

 Then Daddy had his Marathon, so Here are a few pictures from that.  Me and Daddy before the race:

 Daddy at the Start:

 Coming through the Blue Sky Trailhead:

 Daddy's knees are feeling much better now.  He even ran 13 miles yesterday and said he felt really good.  So he's still on track for trying the marathon again, just without all the hoopla of a race.  He just wants to accomplish it!  Mommy said that she and I would be there to cheer him on at the finish again!!  He's so cool!! 
Then on Monday Mommy and I went to church for her MOPS planning meeting.  We've been running around all week collecting stuff because for the craft at Monday's meeting the MOPS are packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  (Click on the words to find out more if you aren't familiar with OCC) We have been to every single shoe store in Fort Collins looking for shoeboxes!! 
On Tuesday, Mommy and Daddy took me to Rocky Mountain National Park!!  We went to see and hear the elk bugling, but we must have missed it, or come at the wrong time of day.  We only saw one herd of elk, and they were kinda far away.  But that's ok - the day wasn't a total loss!!  Fall River Road was still open, along with Trail Ridge Road, so we got to drive up there and get some pretty pictures.  This is the latest in the year we have been able to get up to the Alpine Visitor Center.  And Daddy said it was nice going on a weekday for a change because there was no one else there!!

 On Wednesday I went to Story Time at the Library with Greg and Jaxon.  We went to the park too!!  It was so much fun!  I like playing with Greg!  Mommy wanted to show Lacey Jayce's room since she finished one wall of the mural.  Here's what it looks like. 

 Mommy says I should tell you a little about how She and Jayce are doing now.  She's 30 weeks along, so only 10 weeks left!!  She's excited about that.  She's having trouble sleeping now, and has the bed FULL of pillows - I don't know how Daddy sleeps in there too!?!?!  But I like sneaking in there and playing with all of them!  Anyways, at her last Dr.'s appointment the Dr. said her belly was measuring a couple centimeters bigger than usual.  This can mean a couple things: -Jayce was stretched out that day, throwing off the measurement, -Jayce is going to be a big baby, -The measurement is off only because Mommy saw a different Dr. last week and she measured different than Mommy's usual Dr.  So we'll have to wait a couple more weeks to see if it holds true to any of these theories!!!  But everything else is looking good, Jayce is still kicking up a storm and driving Mommy crazy!!  That's one reason she's having so much trouble sleeping.  She gets up to go potty between 2:30 and 4 am usually, and that wakes up Jayce too.  Then he thinks it's time to play and keeps Mommy up for the next hour and a half or 2 hours while he has a party in her belly!!!  Mommy's hoping that's not going to be a permanent addition to his schedule! 
Let's see now . . . back to other things!!!  Oh, Daddy's been refinishing our Deck.  The stain he did a couple years ago wasn't looking too hot, and after a massive hail storm in August it was about toast!!  So he sanded down the WHOLE thing and is going to repaint it!  Here he is working hard:  (I'm helping too - see me sweeping on the deck?) 

On Friday, Mommy and I went to the Fall Festival at church.  Daddy was working on the deck, and Mommy was working at the Pumpkin Decorating table so I had to sit in the nursery most of the Festival.  But then Mommy's friend Cathy was so nice to come and get me!! I got to decorate a pumpkin with Mommy and jump in the bounce house for a little bit.  Sorry we didn't get any pictures. 
Then yesterday we went to Greg's Birthday Party!!!  It was at the Park in Windsor.  Now he's 3 like me!!  He had a Car's party like I did!!  We got him a cool remote control tractor!  I can't wait to go to his house and play with it!! 

So as you can see we've been doing a TON of stuff since Mommy is done with work now!  Oh, which reminds me, Mommy says to pray for the rangers she worked with and people living around Horsetooth Reservoir.  There's ANOTHER wildfire at Horsetooth this time (the last one was at Carter Lake in Loveland).  It's still pretty small, and conditions are better - we had some sprinkles a couple days ago and temps are a lot cooler.  But the wind is picking up and there are houses in the path.  Mommy's sad that she can't be there to help - these kind of situations are what Rangers are trained for, and she can't help out at all.  We'll try to keep you updated. 
Next week is going to be just as busy!  I start Swim Lessons with Mommy!!  So twice a week for the next 4 weeks Mommy and I get to go swimming!!  I'm so excited!  Then next weekend is the CSU homecoming parade (more candy- yay!!!).  After that Mommy says we need to work on my Halloween Costume.  I'm going to be Mickey Mouse with the ears that Mommy got me when she was in Orlando.  Well, Mommy's painting in Jayce's room, and I have to help Daddy pick up my toys, so I'll update you on more later!!  Have a good week everyone!!!

Daddy's First Marathon

Good News: MY DADDY ROCKS!!!!  Bad news: He wasn't able to finish all 26.5 miles of his first marathon. 

We left this morning about 5:30 am.  Mommy and Daddy woke me up a little before that and let me go in my pajamas.  it was about 42 degrees outside.  We got there and Daddy signed in.  The race started just after sunrise at 7:00.  It started kinda in the middle (map Here), and Daddy ran North into Horsetooth Mountain Open Space for about 5 miles, then back to the Blue Sky Trailhead.  Through the trailhead and then south down the Blue Sky trail and into Devil's Backbone.  These trails are ones that Daddy really likes to Mountain Bike on, and here he was running a Marathon on them!!  Mommy told me that the route has over 3,000 ft of elevation gain/loss, which means a lot of hills for Daddy.

So anyways, we were there at the trailhead to watch Daddy start.  Then we waited around until he came through on his way south.  He came through at about 9:00, still pretty good time considering the majority of elevation change was in that first 10 miles.  He told us later that his knees were hurting him by this point already.  When he got to the Indian Summer South aid station he tried to get some Motrin for his knees, but no one had any.  He knew at this point that it was not going to be easy to get around the Devil's Backbone Section of the route - Laughing Horse Loop is rated as a Difficult Trail (one of only 2 in the entire Larimer County Parks System).  By the time he got back to that station on his way north again, he was walking and hobbling pretty bad.  He thought he had missed the cutoff for that checkpoint and wouldn't be able to finish, but he made it by 1 minute!!  Yay Daddy!!  So he iced his knees some, rested, and headed out again.  But soon his right knee said "No MORE - I'm all Done!!"  Poor Daddy, he had to hobble back to the aid station and call it quits.  Thankfully, one of Mommy's Ranger Friends was there and he called Mommy to say that Daddy was coming back in a car, so that we didn't have to keep watching for him and worrying.  Daddy was so disappointed in himself, but Mommy and I reassured him that he did a great job and we were so proud of him!!!  Overall, he still made it over 20 miles, and up until he turned back he was still within the time frame to finish.  He said he felt good enough to finish, endurance-wise, and everything else - it's just that his knees couldn't take the battering. 

So, Mommy and I are going to cheer him on next year!!!  He still wants to run the Colorado Marathon (which starts in the Poudre Canyon and runs downhill the whole way into Fort Collins) next May, and do this one again so he can accomplish it.  He's even thinking about getting a friend (experienced marathon and ultra-marathon runner) to run the Blue Sky route again this year with him.  Mommy and I both think he can do it, he just needs to give his knees a good rest before he tries it again.  That's what Daddy thinks happened, he worked them too hard two weeks ago on his 20 mile training run, and didn't give them enough time to recuperate before doing another big tough run.

So Good Job Daddy!!! We are so proud of you!!!  You are the Best!!  And We Love YOU!!!
(Sorry there's no pictures we're having trouble uploading them!)

My New Room!!

So Here's My New Room Everyone!!!  Didn't Mommy and Daddy do a good job!!  I love it!  It's so cool to have a big boy room!!  Now Mommy just has to finish Jayce's Room - but she's still got plenty of time. 

Well, Daddy had another phone interview this week, but that's the latest news on the job search.  Mommy only has one more week of work left, so Daddy's getting a little anxious.  I hope he gets a job, but I'm gonna miss him staying home and playing with me!!  He plays with me a lot more than Mommy does, she just usually sits and watches me!  Today Daddy took me and Greg to the playground.  It was so much fun!!  He pushes really high on the swings.  Then we went to see Mommy at work.  Daddy dropped me off so Mommy could take me home and he could go running.  Did you know my Daddy's gonna run a Marathon!!!  That's 26.2 miles long!!!  I can't believe it!!  It's coming up in a couple weeks (not this Sunday, but next Sunday).  AND - It's a trail run, so he's not running on paved roads in town, he's running on mountain trails - the same ones he goes mountain biking on!!!  This weekend he did a training run and ran 20 miles!!  Mommy and I are so proud of him!!  He's worked so hard to get this far, I really hope he does a good job on race day.  And even if he doesn't, WOW - can you believe he ran 20 miles!!!  I can't - that's really far!!  My Daddy is so cool!!  I really love him a lot! 

The same weekend as Daddy's race is Elk Fest in Estes Park.  That's when we go and listen to all the elk bugling in Rocky Mountain National Park.  I really like going to see the elk.  It's a lot of fun. And that's all we really have coming up.  Oh, Mommy wants me to ask everyone to pray for my Grandma Wilson.  She's been kinda sick, and so she's in the hospital trying to get better.  I wish I could go visit her and give her a kiss so she'd feel better, I always feel better after Mommy kisses my owies.  So please pray for her, and we'll catch you all later!!

Jayce Moway Louie

After much back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth, I think we have finally settled on a name for the baby.  Jayce Moway Louie.  Mommy has liked the name Jayce for a while, and Daddy finally decided he couldn't find another name he liked better and agreed, with the condition that he can call him Ace!!  Daddy also picked out the middle name Moway, which means Fearless, after some help from Grandpa Louie.  We are all very excited to be able to call this little guy something other than "little guy", or "baby"!!  We've also decided to go with a more narrowed down version of the nursery than when Riley was in it, and have the theme of "Ten Little Monkeys".  Mommy is going to paint a chocolate brown mural on the wall of silhouetted Monkeys and Trees, making the room more brown and green as opposed to the green and blue that Riley had.  That way it's a little more personal for Jayce, and not just all leftovers from his big brother!!  Most of the bedding and everything will stay the same, since it matches with the theme, with the exception of a few additions like the mural, accents, blankets, and possibly curtains. 

Similarly - Riley's room is almost finished!!  The mural is done, including his name in Chinese Characters on the opposite wall, and most everything is cleaned out.  Mommy and Daddy are adding a shelf (high up) so that we can keep some of the more breakable things displayed in the room, and some blackout curtains under the current sheers to help with the heat and sun in the east facing windows.  These will be a trial to see if we want to add them in Chocolate brown in Jayce's room, and perhaps some other rooms as well!!  ;)  We are hoping to get these things accomplished this weekend and have pictures for everyone to see next week - with Riley moved in within that same time frame.  Then we will be starting on Jayce's room!! 

We also wanted to mention Riley's massive growth spurt this summer!!  We didn't buy him any new summer clothes this year, since most everything still fit him from last year (it's amazing the difference in clothes sizes that diapers make!!).  But we knew that he would definitely need some more stuff this fall and winter.  Well, we have barely made it through the summer with his current clothes, and this weekend we decided it was time to try on winter stuff and pack up the old and go get some new.  And it couldn't have come soon enough!!  Over the summer this boy SHOT UP!!  I had supplemented his wardrobe with a few 3T t-shirts, but the long sleeved stuff we had was way to small (I'm talking cuffs closer to elbows than wrists!!).  And pants . . . well, thankfully a friend of mine had given me a pair of 4 slim levi's that she bought but didn't fit her boys, because those are currently the only pair of pants that fit him!!!  Last year on clearance I had bought some 3T and 4T thermal pajamas (thankfully thinking ahead), and we found that the 4T's are doing just fine!!!  So we went to Carter's at the outlet mall (big 50% off sale + Mommy had a coupon = Cheap winter wardrobe for Riley!!), and shopped til, we dropped!!!  Riley got 5 new shirts (size 4T) and 3 new pairs of pants (3T - and adjustable waist - poor skinny kid is so hard to fit!!!) and we even got Jayce a onesie that matches one of Riley's t-shirts - Big Brother/Little Brother.  SO cute!! 

Anyways, that's what's up with us this week.  Hopefully we'll get Riley's new room done this weekend and pictures of it up for you all to see next week!!  So check back by later!!!

Dragons & Parades

Did you have a fun Labor day weekend? I did!!! Mommy got the whole weekend off work so we got to spend the whole time together!! We didn't do anything special really, but that's ok - it was still fun!! Mommy spent most of the weekend on my new room. She painted me a Chinese Dragon on the wall!!! it's sooooo COOOOOlll!!! She even put the Chinese Character for Dragon next to it!! Didn't she do a good job!!! She wants to put my name on the wall too, but she's still deciding where. Cuz there's some other pictures that she and Daddy want to keep on the walls that they got on their trip to China with Grandma & Grandpa. So once they figure all that out and finish it, and then clean out the room and put my stuff in it, I GET MY NEW ROOM!!!! I'm so excited!! I already love it! Mommy and Daddy don't like me playing in there with all the stuff right now, but they don't know that I sneak in there when they aren't looking!! hehehe!! My Favorite part is jumping on the bed!!
Anyways - On Monday Windsor had a parade for Labor Day . . . yep, ANOTHER parade!!! This one was a LOT bigger than the one in Severance, and so I got a lot more Candy!! Yum!!! My favorite things (other than the candy of course) were the tractors and the horses - and there were a lot of horses, but I didn't like the bands and the loud music floats. Those hurt my ears! And guess what, I get to go to ANOTHER Parade in a couple weeks!!! CSU's Homecoming parade is soon, only Mommy won't get to be in it this year. But that means she can sit with us and watch it!

In Other News . . . Daddy has a job interview on Friday. It's for a Temporary job (Daddy calls it a Contract job - whatever that means), but it's better than nothing!! So wish him good luck!! And Mommy does NOT have Gestational Diabetes!!! YAY!! She tested "borderline" at her 1 hour glucose test, so they made her do the 3-hour test!! (she said it was way sucky!!!) She couldn't have anything to eat for more than 15 hours!! But everything came back normal, so she's got a clean bill of health! YAY!! That means my baby brother is healthy too!! Mommy and Daddy still can't agree on a name for him . . . I hope they decide soon! But they did find some really cute Monkey things for him and his room. I can't wait to meet him!! Have a good week everyone!

Mt. Evans with Grandma & Grandpa

Well, Grandma & Grandpa Louie are back home again in Indiana now. I really miss them! We had so much fun together last week! On Sunday it was supposed to be super hot again, so after church we all drove up into the mountains. In Fact, we drove up to the top of Mount Evans, a fourteener outside of Denver. (it's called a Fourteener because it's elevation is above 14,000ft above sea level). The road goes up to 14,130 ft, and then you have to hike the rest of the way to the 14,258ft summit. And we all Made it!!! I was so proud of Mommy (23 weeks pregnant) and Grandma & Grandpa ("flat landers" as we like to call them!!) hehe. We made it to the top and took a bunch of pictures to prove it!! This was my second time up to the top - Mommy and Daddy took me when I was just a few months old. So I don't remember it at all. We also saw a herd of Mountain Goats!! Mount Evans is known for it's Mountain Goats, and we finally got to see some. Mommy and Daddy have been up three times, and only seen 1, and we got to see a whole herd!! Then on Monday we went to a MOPS park play-date. I had so much fun playing with my friends! Greg came, with Jaxon of course, and Harrison was there too. I even got to play with this girl named Makenna!! She was a lot of fun, but Mommy keeps calling her my Girlfriend. Well duh Mommy - She's a girl, and she's my friend - what else would she be! Later on on Monday, Mommy and Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa did a lot of talking. It was really boring, but Mommy said they were picking out possible middle names for the baby. Grandpa was helping them translate character qualities into Chinese so they could get some ideas. Boring!! But Mommy and Daddy said that they have narrowed it down to a couple names. We'll see if any stick!
Anywhoo - Things are getting back to a normal routine around here! Mommy is starting to clean out the spare bedroom slowly. That's going to be my room after Mommy paints me a big mural on the wall. That way the baby can have my room now. Mommy's going to paint a mural on that wall too. She said she wanted to do that for me when I was a baby but never got the chance. So I get a dragon on the wall in my new room (YAY), and the baby gets a jungle scene, or maybe just trees with Monkeys in them - Mommy's still trying to decide. I think she wants to narrow down the nursery theme from jungle to just Monkeys to make it a little more special for the new baby. She's still deciding though!
In other news - Mommy gets to work for 4 more weeks (at least they need her to work that long), but she's getting really uncomfortable and doesn't really want to work that long. She's back on the 6 am shift, so it's hard for her to get enough sleep. But the good news is Daddy may have a couple of job opportunities lined up!! One is the phone interview he had last week (he's still waiting to hear about that one) and the other is a job that he applied for earlier but didn't get. Apparently the guy they did hire isn't working out, so the posted the job again!! Daddy's just waiting to hear back on that one too. So keep you're fingers crossed!!! Talk to ya all later!!

Tie Dye & Severance Days

Grandma & Grandpa Louie are visiting!!! We are having a Blast!! They take me to the playground, and give me yummy food like Strawberries, Raspberries, Candy and Doughnuts!! And today we went to Severance days. It's a festival that the tiny town of Severance puts on every year. So this morning we went to a parade, and then we looked at all the booths and cars in the car show. (Mommy says that Unkie Rodgie should bring his cars next year!!) Then I got to ride on an old time firetruck and a train with cars made out of barrels. Then I played in the jump house and we all ate hot dogs!! Most of the time Mommy sat in the tent in the shade cuz it was just too hot for her, but I had fun with G & G and Daddy!

Me and Grandma & Grandpa at the paradeThat's me in the 2nd barrel

Also, one of Mommy's friends from work/church has his own tie dye business. He was nice enough to make some for me and my new baby brother. Here's a picture of the shirt he made me.

Isn't it good!! My New Brother has one too, it's a little smaller, but it has the same colors. Mommy says we can wear them together next summer and get more pictures. I can't wait!! Thanks Marcus!!

Tomorrow we're going to go up Mt. Evans (it's a 14er) with Grandma & Grandpa. It should be very exciting!! Mommy and Daddy took me when I was a baby, so I don't remember it. I hope I get to see a mountain goat, there are supposed to be a lot up there. More pictures and exciting events with G & G to come . . .

ANOTHER BOY!!!

Profile Shot

Face

Face and arm/hand (he was playing peek-a-boo)

Definitely a BOY!!!

Yawning or Screaming (Mommy's hoping it just yawns!!)

We're having another boy!!!  Riley gets a baby brother!  We are all so excited!!  Baby and Mommy are both very healthy, and happy.  Some little quirks from the ultrasound: Baby is laying completely horizontal in Mommy's belly, He's also laying completely folded in half with his feet up by his head, and he has his arms and hands in front of his face - like he's playing peek-a-boo!!!  This boy's got personality - just ask Mommy - she already knew that by how active he is and how much he keeps her up!!  Add that to Riley's already "Active" lifestyle and we could have one heck of a household!!! 

The tech gave Riley his very own picture of his baby brother, so we took this picture of them when we got home.  Afterwords I asked him if he was happy to have a baby brother and his reply was "I don't have a baby broder", So I tried again, yes you do - are you happy?  He Lifts up his shirt and looks at his tummy and says again "No, I don't have a baby broder, Mommy have a baby broder!!"  So I guess we're going to have to explain that to him too!! 

We have a short list of names that we're still trying to decide on, but you all will know as soon as we decide (hopefully soon!!)  And luckily we already have a bunch of "boy" stuff, so I think we are going to stick with the "safari/jungle" theme in the nursery.  At least we can save some money there!!  Speaking of which . . . Cameron has a phone interview next week for a job possibility - so keep your fingers crossed!!!

Grandma & Grandpa Louie will be here in a week!  And I think Grandpa Louie is going to help us pick out the baby's middle name.  We will stick with a Chinese name or origin for the middle name like with Riley.  So look for updates then to see what all we're doing with them!!!

MOPS Convention

What a great weekend!!  I just got back from my FABULOUS trip to Orlando to hang out with about 4000 Christian Moms!!  I had a Blast!!  I went with 3 other moms from my MOPS group, and we met up with Gillian - one of the Coordinators for MOPS at First Baptist in Fort Collins. 

Who knew that going to Orlando without any kids could be so much fun!!  I got to hear from a lot of Great Christian authors and go to some very uplifting concerts including Mandisa (YAY!!!), Richie MacDonald, Christy Knockels, and The Katinas.  I even got to Meet Mandisa!!  It was such a blast.  They had workshops all day on Friday and Saturday, so I learned a lot about different strategies for raising kids in a Christian environment.  It was so wonderful - I came home with WAY too many books!! 

We also had a little bit of spare time to hang out at Downtown Disney and do some shopping, and hang out by the pool (very exciting sans kiddos)!!  I got Riley some Mickey Ears (which he found in my bag a total of 3 seconds after I walked in the door and screamed "MICKEY MOUSE HAT!!!")  and the new baby a little Eeyore (what a bummer we didn't find out the gender before this trip - I would have loved to get a little Blue Baby Mickey or Pink Baby Minnie instead!!)

Me and my Favorite Disney Princess!! 

Me, Julie, Emily, and Mollie

Me and Mandisa

At dinner in Downtown Disney (Gillian, Emily, Julie, Mollie and Me)

Riley in his Mickey Mouse Hat!

I am already looking forward to the next trip!  Although I think it is still a couple of years out.  As much as I liked going with only other Moms, I know that Riley and the next kiddo on the way would enjoy it a ton too, so I guess we should wait until they are at least old enough to remember the trip! 

Be sure to Check back in on Wednesday evening for an update on the ultrasound and if Riley gets a brother or sister!!  That is if the baby sits still long enough for us to find out!!  I thought Riley was an active baby, but this kid is making me a little nervous!!  ;)

Where has this summer gone!!

I can't believe that's it's the end of July already!! Mommy says only a few more days of swimming weather, then it will get too cold out. That makes me sad!

Well, not a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. Daddy's been searching for Jobs, and Mommy's been working. Daddy's not finding much out there - only a few he is qualified for and can apply for, and even less that will give him interviews or anything. But Mommy and Daddy are starting to consider other options, since Mommy's job will only last a little longer. Daddy's thinking about going back to school, either just for some certifications, or a whole second degree. It all depends on money and how many options pop up soon. We'll have to see!! Mommy's job is still going good though. She got moved back to the 6-2 shift, since a lot of people are leaving for the summer now, and she really doesn't like getting up at 4:30 in the morning to be at work!! The heat is starting to bother her too. She says by the time 1 or 2 o'clock rolls around she's ready to go home!! Hopefully things will slow down for her in the next couple weeks when school starts back up and people don't come to the parks as often.

A Lot is going on in the month of August for us though!! Next Wednesday Mommy is going to Orlando for her MOPS convention. She is so excited!! (Excited about hanging out with 4,000 other Christian Moms - not about spending 5 days in August Florida humidity while 20 weeks pregnant!!!) Then the week after that Mommy has her ultrasound for the baby!! Daddy says we get to go too, and SEE the baby!! I don't know how that works, but I can't wait to see my new baby brother or sister!! Daddy says we will find out then if it's a brother or sister too!! YAY!! Mommy says whatever this baby is (boy or girl) they are going to be a great soccer player!! The baby kicks Mommy all the time!! And it's not always comfortable! Daddy has felt it, but I can't be that patient and wait for it.
THEN - Grandma & Grandpa Louie are coming to visit!! I'm SUPER excited for that!! I love when people come and visit me!! We get to do all sorts of fun stuff!!

So look for lots of updates to come next month!! See ya'll later!!!

All in the last week!

First I have to say Happy Birthday to my Daddy! Cuz Last Friday was his birthday. For Daddy's birthday we took a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. It's a Ski town, so there wasn't a ton for us to do, but we still had fun! They have a restaurant called Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Mommy and Daddy thought that was so funny, but I can't figure out why! Anyways, Mommy really likes seafood, and doesn't get it that much, so we went there for dinner. My favorite part was playing with the signs - they have this sign at your table that says Stop Forrest Stop, when you want your waiter to come back!! That night we did some shopping too. I got a new winter hat (remember - it's a ski town!!) that looks really funny!! Mommy got a t-shirt and they got something for the new baby too. It's a bib with a cow on it. It says "udderly delicious". Mommy just had to get it, and I don't know why! Then on Saturday we were going to go on this hike, but that didn't last very long. I heard Mommy say that she read the hike was 2.8 miles (no problem for me cuz the Horsetooth Falls hike is 2.4), but then we got there and the sign said 3.4!! And then we looked at the map and found out that was just one way!!! So I decided I was not going on this trip - even though Mommy and Daddy said we weren't going all the way. So we went on a 4x4 trail instead. Daddy wanted to do this real easy trail (since we brought the X-terra instead of the Jeep) that used to be a old railroad line. They even had cars still up at the top!! It was really cool (and cold too). Then we could have taken the highway back to Breckenridge, or another 4x4 trail. The Trail was rated easy/moderate in the book Daddy had so we decided to take the trail. It forked about 3/4 of the way through and both forks were pretty much the same except one had a small section of "difficult" called #10 hill. Some other people called it S.O.B. hill, but I don't know what that stands for. Well, that section was no fun for me!! I had to stand outside in the mosquitoes while Mommy helped Daddy drive the X-terra down this very scary looking hill with BIG Rocks everywhere. (Note: this picture was taken in an easy section where Daddy felt comfortable stopping so Mommy could take it!) Then it got even scarier because it started raining and the car was sliding all over the place. But they got it down in one piece, with just a few scratches on the rockrails and a couple busted mudflaps - not bad for a stock vehicle!! Daddy said that the Jeep would have just crawled right down (or up) that hill with no problems!
Then on Sunday we did some more fun stuff!! We went to the Country Boy Mine. It's a gold mine, that still has gold in it! But no one can get to it anymore because it's too old and falling down that far back, and it would take more money than the gold is worth to get it out. So now they give tours of the mine, and let you pan for gold in the spring that comes out of it! It was cold and wet in there - I didn't like it too much. But then we got to pan for gold and that was fun. I also liked sitting in the carts that they used to use for hauling stuff. They also had this big hole they called the Ore Shoot, but it looked like a big slide to me! So Daddy took me down it, and then Mommy did, cuz I wanted to go again!! Then after the mine we took a Gondola ride (like in Telluride) up to the ski hills. Since you can't ski right now, they have some other stuff you can do up on the mountain. Some of it is like a mini-carnival, but you can also ride the chair lift up and either ride your bike down the ski hills, or take the alpine slide down. Daddy did it, and he wanted me to go too, but that slide looked really big and scary for me! But Mommy and I climbed the hill a little bit to where the ski jumps hadn't melted yet and played in the snow while we waited for Daddy to come flying by us on the slide!! It was a long day!! Mommy and Daddy said that it was good they got to go, but we probably won't be going back. Well, Maybe once to do that slide again when I'm bigger!!!

In other news! It's been SUPER HOT here!! We almost hit 100 a couple of times already. Daddy and I went to Spring Canyon park one day to play in the fountains. And today Mommy took me to City Park Pool. That was SO MUCH FUN!! She didn't want to get her camera wet though, so we don't have any pictures. They have a big kiddie area that's only 2 feet deep at most with fountains and slides everywhere!! Mommy laid in the zero entry part half in the water to keep cool while I ran all over playing with the water fountains. Then I got to jump off the side while she caught me (well, not really, cuz it was only 2 feet, so I didn't have to worry about going under. It was so much fun!! I can't wait to go back there!! Maybe we'll get to go next weekend too!! And maybe Daddy will come too!! Talk to ya later!!

2 4th of July's

We got to celebrate the 4th of July twice this year!!! It was a crazy couple of days!!! We just hung out and were lazy on the 4th, we went to church and just relaxed. Mommy took a nap in the afternoon and when she woke up we decided we better start dinner (the sky was looking kinda yucky!). So Daddy went out and fired up the grill and put some brats on to cook. about 5 minutes later, the sky opened up and just poured on us!!! It rained so hard - we had rivers in our street!! it hasn't rained that hard in a long time! So Daddy decided we better bring the brats inside and cook them on the griddle instead. So our 4th of July cookout, turned out to be a cook-in!! We were also planning to go to Loveland's Firework show because we haven't been there and heard it was pretty good. But with all the rain (it was still raining late into the night), we didn't want to drive all the way into Loveland and have it get canceled - so we just went to Windsor (where we went last year). We parked in a pretty good spot where we could see from the car, and waited. And waited, and waited!! They didn't start the fireworks until 9:45!!! (So I got to stay up REALLY late!!!) In fact, it was so late I could barely watch the fireworks I was so tired!! Here's a picture of me and Mommy near the end of the show. Boy are we tired!Then on Monday morning Daddy and I were watching the news and they said that Loveland (and a bunch of other places) had canceled their shows and were having them Monday night!! I was so excited - I told Daddy we just had to go!!! So he called Mommy at work and she said we should go too, so we got to see more fireworks on Monday!!! We drove into Loveland and found a spot along the lake to watch. I even got to throw some of my "snap-pop" fireworks while we waited for them to start. The fireworks were so cool!!! We were so close some were right over our head!! Mommy got some really cool pictures of them. But it was another late night!! Even though the Loveland show started 30 minutes before Windsor's and was about 20 minutes shorter, we still got home at the same time as the night before. Traffic was AWFUL trying to get out of Loveland (and then we still had the 25 min. drive back home!) So Mommy and Daddy decided that we will stick with Windsor's Fireworks Show! It may not be as fancy or well-timed, but it's longer and easier to get in and out of, even if it does start super late. That's good enough for us!! I hope everyone had a good time this holiday weekend, and was safe!! (oh yeah, and all that rain created some real bad flooding in Masonville, just west of where Mommy works - so that should tell you how bad it was!!!) Next update - Breckenridge!!!

Grandma & Aunt Anna Visit

Hey everybody!!! I had so much fun this week with my Grandma Wilson and Aunt Anna!!! They came late last Saturday night. Mommy and Daddy let me stay up to see them get here. They kept telling me they were coming, so I kept watch out the window and let Mommy and Daddy know when they were here! Sunday we just hung out together, we went to church and then played outside in the back yard. Aunt Anna is so much fun to play with!!! She chases me around the yard, Mommy and Daddy don't do that!! And she played sidewalk chalk with me, and bubbles, and everything!! I think Mommy & Daddy like the break too!
Then on Monday, we went to a MOPS playdate at the Spring Canyon Park. It's the best place!!! The playground is all handicap accessible, so Grandma go to go on the play equipment too!! I liked being able to chase her around on the jungle gym!! They also have water fountains to play in. I liked those the best. Aunt Anna played in those with me! I got so wet that I had to go play on the jungle gym again just to get warm!!

Mommy had to work on Tuesday, so we went to Rocky Mountain National Park on Wednesday. It was so fun doing that too!! I got to run around again with Aunt Anna! She saw how much I like the chipmunks there, so she bought me a little stuffed chipmunk!!! Daddy named him Rocky (cuz we got him at Rocky, and he's technically a Golden Mantle Ground Squirrel (says Mommy) - as in Rocky & Bullwinkle!!) Anna also got me a cool Park Ranger Vest!!! Just like Mommy!! We haven't gotten a picture of me in it yet, so you'll have to wait on that! That was my late birthday present. Since it was easier to buy it here when they came rather than ship it out to me on my birthday. Grandma did that too - She got me a BIKE!!! It's so Cool!! It's Hot Wheels - just like the hat Unkie Rodgie and Auntie Kathie got me, but I can't wear the hat when I ride the bike - Mommy and Daddy say I have to wear my helmet. But that's ok - cuz it's a Lightning McQueen Race Car helmet!! Thank you so much Grandma & Aunt Anna for my birthday presents!! Other than that we just hung around the house and played outside. Mommy, Aunt Anna, and Grandma had a Girls' Night Out last night and went and saw the new Twilight Movie: Eclipse. Mommy and Anna really liked it, But Grandma said it was a little weird - she didn't quite understand it. Daddy was just happy that he didn't have to go with Mommy to see it!!
Anyways, things are quiet again in our house. I'm gonna be so bored without Aunt Anna to play with!! I hope she comes out to visit me again soon!! I like when people come visit me!! I hear that Grandma and Grandpa Louie are coming soon too - YAY!!! I can't wait for that!
Well, now we just have to figure out Which Fireworks show we want to go see tomorrow night!! There's Windsor, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Denver, The Rockies Game . . . so many choices!!! Have a Happy 4th of July Everyone!!! Look for pictures in the next couple weeks from our trip to Breckenridge for Daddy's Birthday (he's turning 30!!!)

Father's Day and more!

I hope Daddy had a great Father's Day!!! I love my Daddy! We didn't do a whole lot of special stuff, but Daddy did get some new BBQ things - like a basket for veggies, and a new fancy spatula. Mommy and I made Daddy French toast for breakfast, cuz that's what he wanted, then we just played bums the rest of the day! It was fun. On Saturday we were really busy. We spent almost the whole day cleaning carpets. We cleaned the carpets and the futon downstairs. Now Mommy has the futon mattress leaning up against the wall (like a tent) so that the doggies won't lay on it and get it all stinky before Gran Wilson comes. I like playing in it!! Saturday night we went to Olive Garden for Dinner. It was Mommy and Daddy's Anniversary. Mommy said they have been married for 9 years. I don't know how long that is, but it must be a very long time, cuz I'm only 3 years, and that seems like forever!
Mommy and Daddy got some good news today! They still have insurance - the same insurance that they had before, and it's even gonna be cheaper than when Daddy did have a job! They said that the government is subsidizing it (whatever that means) so it's really good, because that frees up a lot of money for other stuff!! YAY!! Daddy's still looking for a new job. He's got a possible one in sales, but he won't find out if he gets it until next week at the latest. Mommy's not sure if its a good job or not, there's good things and not so good things (like Daddy will have to buy a new car since he doesn't get a company one to drive) . Oh well, we'll see.
Gran Wilson and Aunt Anna are coming this week!!! I'm so excited!! I can't wait to see them!! We are going to have so much fun together I just know it!! Well, not much else going on right now. Here are some pictures from recently:

Piper Getting brushed: Mommy always says we could make a whole 'nother doggie with all her hair!!

Mommy giving me a haircut (we coulda made a whole 'nother Riley too)

The after shot- nice and short for summer!!!

Have a good week everyone - I'll update you later with all that's going on with Grandma and Aunt Anna

Rain Rain Go Away!

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't kept up, but things have been kinda boring around here! Mommy works all the time, Daddy stays home with me since he lost his job, and the weekends we play lazy family! We've had some really hot days, like in the 90's, and some really cold days, only in the 60's. Last week was really hot, and the mountain snow has been melting really fast. Then this passed weekend it rained a bunch too, so there's lots of flooding going on around here. The Poudre River (that runs through Ft. Collins) is the highest it's been in a long time, and the Reservoir where Mommy works is already FULL!!! It's at Maximum Capacity - which means that they can't let any more water in, and that hasn't happened in 30 years!!! So yesterday we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park to see the Big Thompson River and all the wildlife. It was snowing and The road up to the top was closed, but we still got to see all the waterfalls, and a lot of animals. We saw big horn sheep, lots of elk, a marmot, and lots of chipmunks and ground squirrels. Here's some pictures from our trip:

Me and Mommy at the Alluvial Fan

A Waterfall up by Rainbow Curve

Me at Bear Lake
I've also been able to play in the sprinklers some on the hot days. Greg got me a big beach ball that squirts water - it is so much fun!! I like chasing the doggies with the big ball. We haven't been swimming yet, but it's suppose to be back in the 90's by Wednesday, so maybe Daddy will take me to the lake then and Mommy can come over after work. That would be fun! I think Mommy's going to give me a haircut this weekend. She wants me to be clean cut for when Gran Wilson and Aunt Anna come in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited for that!! Mommy says we've lots of fun stuff planned!! Well, have a good week everyone! See ya all later!