It was mom’s birthday a couple of days ago. She begged to go to the zoo, so dad and I took her.
We saw real elephants.
We saw real giraffes.
We saw so many animals, but mom said these are the two she enjoyed watching the most:
It was a good day. Happy Birthday, mom.
I hope you enjoyed my first time at the zoo.
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.
First, go to church.
Then help mom and dad run errands...
.. at a store that gives away free raincoats.
Then spend time reading at a bookstore.
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.
It rained a lot last week.
Rainy isn't my best look.
And I really do mean that it rained a lot.
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.
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?
To trek, one must start with a reliable set of shoes.
Find some shoes that will do the walking for you.
To trek, one must find trustworthy companions.
My mom and dad are my favorite trekking companions. For now.
Twizzle isn't trustworthy and he didn't carry anything, but he still makes a good trekking companion.
Grampy and grandma trek very well.
To trek, one must have protection from the elements.
A portable roof is highly recommended.
To trek, one must rest when one is tired.
I got to rest and continue to trek. Best shoes ever.
To trek, one must follow a reliable path.
It helps if the reliable path is also beautiful.
To trek, one must have an end goal.
This lake is named Isabelle. It is lovely.
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.
This weekend we all went up to Copper and Vail.
First we waited at a finish line in Copper for Uncle Anders to ride past on his bike.
We clanged these bells at bikers as they finished. I don't know why.
It was exciting when we finally spotted Uncle Anders crossing the finish line.
He biked 78 miles, which is a lot. He let me sit on his bike, but probably only because he was sick of sitting on it.
Then we drove up to Vail to walk around.
Me, dad, Uncle Anders, Grandma, and Grampy! Just walking around Vail.
Mom told me that she and dad had their picture taken at this very spot while they were on their honeymoon.
We stopped for some play time in the water.
The water was quite chilly at first.
There is nothing as refreshing as wading in a mountain stream.
Well, okay, maybe this is just as refreshing as wading in a mountain stream.
On the way home we had dinner at the best pizza joint, ever. It was a perfect ending to a very long good day.
Beau Jo's Pizza. Apparently it is a mountain classic. As am I.
Mom and dad got ice cream cones the other day and thought they would get away with giving me a little tiny taste.
I let them know the error of their ways.
Fortunately, the situation was mended.
And, yes, dad did have to give up the last few inches of his cone. And, yes, I did turn into a sticky mess.
Welcome to parenthood, guys.
So when mom or dad skates I am a spectator, because I watch them from the boards of the rink. But mom says there is a difference between being a spectator and making myself a spectacle.
I don’t understand what she means.
I got to do something very special this morning. I went ice skating with dad for the first time!
The penguin on my shirt is also skating.
I actually skated for real. In socks.
We even did a press lift! Mom wasn't as enthusiastic about it as I thought she would be.
On the way home I heard the story of how that was the rink where mom and dad met. Sounds both romantic and cold, but I love that story now.
Today was my first Father’s Day. Well, I guess it was dad’s first Father’s Day, too.
We went to Vail and drooled over skis,
I have no clue how to use these things. Mom says you need that white snow stuff first.
and ate at a Little Diner, (which is both the name and the description),
The Little Blogger made an appearance at the Little Diner. So fitting.
and then we hiked on something called a mesa. It was like a big flat table top.
Riding on dad's shoulders. Classic.
Happy First Father’s Day, dad! It was a good day, wasn’t it?
Today was a holiday known as Mother’s day. From what I can tell it involves dad taking me out first thing to get flowers and scones and lattees for mom.
I picked out those flowers. They looked tasty.
It also involves dad rolling out grass in the garden and mom taking pictures.
Twizzle had to be bribed to sit calmly next to me.
I don’t know if this is how all mom and dads celebrate mother’s day, but it was a nice day.
I love the new lawn dad planted today.
Happy Mother’s Day, mom. Aren’t you glad I made you a mother?