Mountains.

Sometimes dad goes for a bike ride with Uncle Andy while mom and I trek through little mountain tourist towns.

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.

Well, at least that happened last weekend while we visited Rocky Mountain National Park.

We saw t shirt shops, taffy machines, yellow aspen trees, bugling elk, and big horned sheep!

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Trail Ridge Road and some sheep. And mountains.

We got in the car to drive up a road, and I was abruptly woken up from my car nap when mom and dad ran me through a cold windy parking lot, rushed into a building called a visitor center, and stamped my new little book they told me was my national parks passport while the park ranger told them the center was closing for the year. It was all very sudden and confusing. Then they tossed me in a snow bank and pointed their iPhones at me.

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Is snow usually this deep in September?

I highly recommend seeing your local mountains up close, especially if they include high alpine roads and year-round snowbanks.

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Ten Months.

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Ten months old today!

I am kind of unable to sit still for these monthly pictures anymore, but mom insists that I do. She pulls out all the tricks, offers me illicit items, makes funny noises and even tries to hold me down. Can you believe she thinks she can get away with taking two more of these photos? Good luck next month, mom.

Two More.

I got two more teeth.

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Nope. Not gonna let you see them.

It wasn’t easy. I have been working on the top four all week, and it has made me rather cranky. And, even though two came in, I am still waiting for the other two in the middle to show up. I hope it happens soon.

In other news, it has finally stopped raining.

That is news worthy of a four tooth grin.

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No longer the two tooth wonder.

Getting out in the rain.

It was raining again yesterday, but mom and dad were tired of being cooped up in the house.

So this is what you do when you are in town and it is raining and they close down the canyon road to your house for repairs after a historic flood.

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First, go to church.

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Then help mom and dad run errands...

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.. at a store that gives away free raincoats.

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Then spend time reading at a bookstore.

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And when you finally make it home, curl up with a good cloth book and your favorite dad and twizzle.

I am just glad we have a warm dry house at the end of another rainy day.

A very big rain.

It rained a lot last week.

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Rainy isn't my best look.

And I really do mean that it rained a lot.

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This was a creek near a road. Then it rained.

There was so much rain that it triggered what mom and dad called a 100 year flood.

Mom says that doesn’t mean it happens every 100 years, just that there is a 1 in 100 chance that it could happen in a given year…. at least that is what she said. I don’t know what she means.

All I know is that dad wouldn’t let me play with ducky in the new giant pool at the bottom of our road.

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This pool was not here before it started raining!

We are safe and dry up on our hillside, and counting our blessings. Mom and Dad said to remember that a lot of people were not so fortunate.

Maybe I could send them my ducky?

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To trek.

To trek, one must start with a reliable set of shoes.

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Find some shoes that will do the walking for you.

To trek, one must find trustworthy companions.

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My mom and dad are my favorite trekking companions. For now.

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Twizzle isn't trustworthy and he didn't carry anything, but he still makes a good trekking companion.

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Grampy and grandma trek very well.

To trek, one must have protection from the elements.

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A portable roof is highly recommended.

To trek, one must rest when one is tired.

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I got to rest and continue to trek. Best shoes ever.

To trek, one must follow a reliable path.

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It helps if the reliable path is also beautiful.

To trek, one must have an end goal.

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This lake is named Isabelle. It is lovely.

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I wouldn't know, I slept right through it.

So, go have your own trek…. just try not to miss the beautiful lake at the end of the trail.

Equal time.

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Nine months old.

This morning during my obligatory photo shoot mom informed me that I have now been out as long as I was in. I didn’t know what she was talking about, and sitting still with a sticker on my onesie is just too much to ask of a mobile nine month old, so…

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Sorry, what did you say? Sit still? Um, nah.

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That was the end of my nine month photo session.

Good luck next month, mom.

A big box.

A big box arrived the other day. It was addressed to me, and came all the way from Nantucket, and weighed almost twice as much as I do!

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Aunt and Uncle KandK had packed up a whole collection of used toys that are now delightfully new to me! They rock.

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I can use this to stand up, whatever it is!

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I especially liked all the musical instruments. Mom claims she does, too, but I think I might change her mind after a while.

Thanks, AuntandUncle KandK! Next time throw a little Nantucket beach into the box, okay?