Hiking and Splashing

The girls and I took the Keystone gondola to a hiking adventure this morning.  They had so much fun forging a path through the forest, playing in the river, and eating sandwiches in the gondola.  It was truly a perfect Colorado mountain day.  

Mountain Sleepover

Since Nick had a conference in Summit County, we joined him for a mountain sleepover.  The girls shared a pull-out bed and watched shows.  Clearly, this is a new thing because they didn't know how to fall asleep watching TV, and we finally had to turn it off.  Nick and I sat on the back deck eating pizza and drinking beer.  Everyone won.

New Threads

Thanks Nana!

It Takes a Nana...

Since Nick and I have been negligent in teaching Norah to ride her bike, Nana picked up the slack.  While it took a little cajoling, you can see Norah (and the others) are getting the hang of it.

Potty Time (and a Little Sandbox)

Little Julia loves the potty.  She loves to take out the middle potty portion, to sit on it with her diaper on, and to ask for Jelly Bellies when she's done.  Who wouldn't love that? 

Vocational Aspirations

The girls are having so much fun playing at home on my first day back working at home.  All the same, they wish it was still summer with Daddy.  I was told this morning that I made oatmeal wrong because I didn't make it like Daddy.  

Lollipop Land

The girls loved lollipop land... except that there were no actual lollipops.  

Big Girl

Julia wants to be as big as her sisters, so she's taken to sitting at their table.

Summer's Last Gasp

Since it is Nick's last weekend before returning to work, we spent every last minute at the pool.  The girls made some new friends.

Summer Camp Games

Our family helped lead summer camp games for Somali refugees this afternoon.  It was fun... and hot!

Fondue Fun

It was date night with Etta tonight, and we had the best time.  She was so excited for our undivided attention and for melted cheese and chocolate that she kept jumping into my lap.  We started the meal by giving her a bracelet.  She enjoyed the cheese and entree (especially the ravioli, surprisingly) but seemed to be wearing down.  Then the chocolate arrived, and she was back in the game.  While she dipped marshmallows in chocolate, she jumped up and down and squealed, "This is my favorite part!"  Considering she was a three-year-old at a 2.5 hour meal, she did a great job.  We took some chocolate covered strawberries home, and she was so excited to give them to Nana and Popos before we went to pick up her sisters. It's so much fun to give the girls the one-on-one time they clearly crave!

Julia had a happily uneventful 15-month appointment.  Dr. Bryan noticed her molars had just broken through which makes perfect sense given her diaper rash lately.  What a sweet, growing girl!

Height: 31.5 (76%)

Weight: 22 pounds, 4 ounces (62%)

Finding Their Way

More Pool

There is no overstating how much we love our days at the pools.  All of the girls have become experts in napping at the pool, so we don't have to return home to sleep.  Julia happily curls up in her little tent and takes a solid nap.  Then she uses the tent as her own private fort for the rest of the afternoon.

Home Again, Home Again

Before flying home, the girls burned off a little steam playing at the SeaTac playground.  Apparently, it did the trick.  Nick said they were all terrific on the trip home - in spite of the nasty cold Julia picked up in Lynden.

Beach Time

Today Nick, the kids, Alexa, Jorja, Jazmyn, and their grownups went to the beach.  When I talked to the girls, they were most excited about their shells that they spent the morning collecting.  Norah told me she wanted to start a shell collection.

New Dos

Thanks to Aunt Lia the girls have new hair cuts.  So cute - and so ready for the start of preschool and kinder!