We started July off with a bang and spent The Fourth in Winter Park, Colorado! A great friend of mine from high school was getting married and we couldn't miss the celebration - not to mention it was a great excuse to sneak one more vacation in this summer! Thanks to Charlie's frequent flyer miles, our whole family was able to fly to Denver for free. And by free, I mean fifteen dollars, but you can't beat that!
 |
| Bruce packing his suitcase after reading some airplane books |
Abby was in a great mood for her first plane ride and didn't cry at all! Although Bruce has been on an airplane a few times already, this was his first trip to really know what was going on, and he thought it was fantastic! When we started off down the runway he shouted out, "one...two...three, four, five, six - BLAST OFF!" That's my kid.
After a two hour plane delay, and a two hour drive from Denver to Winter Park that with traffic turned into four hours, we arrived at the condo just in time to put Bruce and Abby to bed. We were sharing the condo with another long-time friend of mine, Kim, and her family, and they arrived shortly after we did. Naturally, we stayed up way too late that night comparing bridesmaid dresses and catching up on life. Worth it, but morning came way too early...
Abby woke up at 3:30, and then again for good at 4:45... In her defense, that would be almost 6:00 Oklahoma time, when she normally wakes up. Since we were sharing space with others, we decided to take the opportunity to go on a morning mountain walk. It didn't disappoint. The air was dewy and chilled and fresh. With Abby strapped to me in the Bjorn carrier, we walked down the road through the condo complex to the bottom of our part of the mountain. There were purple lupines and yellow sweet peas in bloom, and with no one else around, it was blissfully peaceful. When it was time to return to the condo for breakfast, we decided to walk up a small, narrow footpath that ran parallel to the road. I was kind of lost in thought, meandering up through the sparse trees, when I glanced up and saw it. A black bear. Maybe 60 feet away? I'm not too good with estimating distance, but we were close enough to each other to lock eyes. We both momentarily froze, and I begin to rack my brain for bear encounter protocol... Run? Definitely not. Stand perfectly still? Raise my arms above my head to seem bigger? Since it wasn't acting aggressive at all, backing away slowly seemed like the best choice, so that's what we did. When I got back down to the road, close enough to the condo's club house and a safe distance away from the bear, I got my phone out for a short video. Not the best clip, but enough to validate my tall tale.
Once everyone else was awake, we spent the morning wandering around the touristy part of town. The kids played on a playground for a bit, we went for a short stroll on a walking trail, and then had lunch at a small deli before going back to the condo for naps. Then, it was time to head out to the wedding site for the rehearsal! With the Rocky Mountains for a backdrop, the grassy meadow ranch location was quaint and majestic at the same time. It was beautiful. We ran through all the usual who-does-what where and when's, and then enjoyed some great seafood at a local restaurant. We next-to-never bring the kids to restaurants because dinner is so close to their early bedtimes and meltdowns almost always ensue, but they held it together decently. Afterwards, I helped Charlie get the babes in bed and then I joined back up with the wedding party for a concert in the park. Another late night, but it was nice to be away from the baby monitor and couch, and it was good to be with people I love but hardly get to share space with.
The next morning Charlie and I took Bruce and Abby on a mini-mountain hike that ended with a pocket full of rocks and a McDonald's for smoothies and coffee. Then, we split up guys vs. girls for the rest of the day. I took Abs back to the condo to catch a quick nap before heading back out to the ranch with Kim to help set up for the wedding and reception. Charlie and Bruce played in the down town area some more and then after lunch got passes with Joe and Jackson to check out the Winter Park resort. There was a chair lift that brought you to a huge alpine slide along with a lot of other entertaining activities - they had a blast! I know he won't remember any of this, but I hope we're cultivating a spirit of adventure that will stick with him for a lifetime.
 |
| Bruce finally found his mountain snow! |
 |
| snow ball fight with Bruce's new best friend Jackson |
All the gals got ready together at a house on site and thankfully there was someone willing to help me with my hair! Abby had fun crawling around and exploring while we were primping, but unfortunately her adventures ended with getting stung on her finger after she tried to pick up a wasp... She recovered well though and was back to smiles by the time Charlie came to pick her up before the wedding started.
While Charlie was manning the fort solo and getting both kiddos fed and off to bed, I was enjoying a fabulous wedding. Every detail of the ceremony and reception was carefully thought out and perfectly suited the couple. A celebration like none other, just like Susie.
You could see the local fireworks show from the ranch, which aside from, you know, the marriage, was my favorite part of the evening. The spontaneous singing of every patriotic chorus you can think of definitely added to the enchantment. The party carried on well into the night, but unfortunately I had to catch my carriage home early - we had to be up by 4 am in order to make our flight back to Oklahoma.
The only hiccup with our returning trip, was when we first got to the Denver airport and were trying to check our bags. In an attempt to make things quicker and smoother, Charlie took two suitcases and went to the Express Lane because he already has his boarding pass. I had both kids, some carry-on bags, and a suitcase, snaking my way through the regular line, when Bruce decided he didn't want to walk anymore. So, I was "that mom" with a baby strapped to me, pulling a suitcase with one hand and dragging a small child with the other... I'm sure we were quite entertaining for on-lookers, especially because Bruce squealed "wheeeeeeee!" every time I dragged him forward in line...
I was expecting a crazy, stressful whirlwind of a trip - and it was - but it was awesome! I am so thankful to have been present at the wedding, and I am so incredibly thankful that the kiddos were amazing. Stretched beyond max capacity, but they surprised me beyond belief and were great little travel buddies!
The rest of the month kind of melded into a blur of chasing Abby and Bruce around, trying to soak up summer while it lasts!
The mornings are the best time to enjoy the backyard, and since our kids wake up so early, we've got plenty of morning time before the sun gets too strong. Bruce makes his rounds checking on the plants, picking tomatoes and too-small peppers, showing a lot of restraint to not stomp the baby okra plants (too much), and playing with his construction trucks in the dirt section we left empty for him. Abby likes to crawl around in the wet grass and swing in the rocket. Until Bruce decides that he *needs* to swing in the rocket, and then she enjoys the slide. Bruce is still afraid of the slide, so there's no quibbling over that. She would love to dig in the dirt with Bruce all morning, but she's still eating too much of it, so she can't stay for long...
In the hot, late afternoons, we've made several trips to the splashpad here in town. It's just a collection of simple fountains, but it's perfect for Bruce and Abby. And strangely enough, it's almost always empty, so we usually have the whole park to ourselves. Abby doesn't like the sprays, but she enjoys crawling around, splashing in the inch or so of water that collects between the fountains. Bruce just runs from fountain to fountain shouting, "Look at me, I am so wet!"
Another local hangout we visit frequently these days is what Bruce calls "the park with the trees." He would really like to go to "the park with the monster bridge and fire truck," but unfortunately there is no shade there, and Charlie and I are wusses and don't like to go there in the summer... The park with the trees is really nice though because it stays relatively cool, even in the heat of the day, AND it's really close to our house. It's not hard to convince Bruce to go there, either. There might not be a monster bridge or a fire truck, but there is a merry-go-round (which no playgrounds have these days it seems), a neat old railway tunnel, plenty of bean pods to smash, and swings with incredibly long chains that allow you to fly crazy high. And it's shaded.
And when it's too hot to play outside, we've been finding ways to enjoy ourselves indoors, too.
We made a trip to the farm in Kansas toward the end of the month so Charlie could help his dad with some odds and ends. We missed harvest this year between both of our vacations, but it was still nice to be there when they were using the big tractors to disc fields and what-not. It was a short overnight visit, but it was enough to satisfy Bruce for the time being.
While everyone else was out working hard, Abs put on a nice sun dress and we played photo shoot...
Abby had her nine month well baby check up toward the beginning of the month and everything is looking good! She's currently in the 81st percentile for height and the 18th percentile for weight. The best part of the doctor's visit was that she said we can start table food! I can't remember what Bruce had for his first "real" meal, but being a second child, Abby got Chic-fil-a. It helped that her appointment fell on "Cow Appreciation Day" and we could get free food if we dressed up like cows. So we did. Except for Bruce. He wanted nothing to do with that. We bribed him with a mint to wear a cow print bandana while we ordered our food though, and at least we were still able to get his dinner free. That boy.
Abby is definitely more mobile this month! She can sit up on her own, pull up on her own, and is starting to take some first steps along the coffee table edge. She can crawl on her hands and knees, too, but she seems to prefer army-style still. She has a super independent and determined attitude until she gets "stuck" somehow, and then she remembers she needs her mama around. She of course is getting into everything, but that comes with the territory, right? Every day she gets stronger, braver and more confident - it's exciting around here! Any guesses as to what she likes to use for a stabilizer as she's creeping around? If you were thinking, my hair, you'd be correct... On a related note, Abby now has enough hair to wake up with "bed head" and she's finally lost all the dark hair that lingered in the back for a while. She doesn't seem to care about her own hair though, just everyone else's. Long hair, short hair, cat hair, stuffed animal hair... She also laughs over hats, sneezes, and anything her brother does to her.
She's always used a pacifier when falling asleep, but now that she can put it in her mouth by herself, she's wanting to have her nuk more often. I have mixed feelings about that because we're so close to when I would want to phase out a pacifier, and I'm not sure upping the usage now is the best idea. But, it helps her not be as fussy during the day, and it's a great plug that keeps all the other random things out of her mouth. So, I guess we'll trade easier now, for harder later.
Now that Abby can get around, she's getting into all of Bruce's stuff too, much to his annoyance... She just wants to be where he is, doing what he's doing. And he wants to be where she is, too. And by that, I mean, he feels it's necessary to sit exactly where her hands are holding on to the couch, or push his shopping cart exactly where she's sitting. Just when I start to worry about the challenging days ahead as these siblings work things out, Bruce restores my faith.
When Bruce isn't being obnoxious towards his sister (or the cats), he's quite the charmer. He's really trying hard to be a "big boy" and insists on climbing into and out of his car seat by himself, into and out of his booster seat by himself, on and off the swing by himself, etc. He also is getting really good at creative problem solving. For example, the other night when Charlie was giving him a bath but had forgotten to bring a towel with them, Bruce looked around the bathroom and suggested that he could use his shirt to dry off with. Or when I told him he couldn't bring home all the toys from the toy store because we had no where to put them, he informed me that we could store them in Daddy's bedroom closet. He often starts a conversation these days with, "Hey, I have a good idea..." And they usually are pretty good ideas. He really is growing up. He always has questions, and his questions keep getting more complicated. Lately he has a lot of questions about what songs are about as he's noticing more of the lyrics. That sounds easy enough, but we listen to wide variety of music, and some of his favorites happen to be about war, or lost loves, or seeking God's face. It's been a fun challenge to try and explain concepts with such depth to an almost three year old in simple truths that he can understand. The other question he asks all the time is, "Is it the weekend now?" This boy lives for the weekend, because that's when Daddy stays home. He can't get enough of his Daddy.
Bruce would like to add a note in conclusion:
666fgfdx q56TGH KM,J,
\
''ktwwqio89,9erfr7gfdffffffffffffffszgvv ggt5iit;;;'''';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;90,miyv aa yt654te331``
?Q>2.1`6÷i
4;..
/
\gv zm nnnnnu.77765331`≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥///////////////////////////////////s///≥
He told me it says, "Dear Mama come to my birthday party tonight." We've been working on his birthday invitations this week so I think he's got party on the brain. I can't believe he's turning three years old in less than a month!
 |
| photo credit: Abby Mortenson, Love Roots Photography |
While Charlie was manning the fort solo and getting both kiddos fed and off to bed, I was enjoying a fabulous wedding. Every detail of the ceremony and reception was carefully thought out and perfectly suited the couple. A celebration like none other, just like Susie.
 |
| photo credit: Abby Mortenson, Love Roots Photography |
You could see the local fireworks show from the ranch, which aside from, you know, the marriage, was my favorite part of the evening. The spontaneous singing of every patriotic chorus you can think of definitely added to the enchantment. The party carried on well into the night, but unfortunately I had to catch my carriage home early - we had to be up by 4 am in order to make our flight back to Oklahoma.
The only hiccup with our returning trip, was when we first got to the Denver airport and were trying to check our bags. In an attempt to make things quicker and smoother, Charlie took two suitcases and went to the Express Lane because he already has his boarding pass. I had both kids, some carry-on bags, and a suitcase, snaking my way through the regular line, when Bruce decided he didn't want to walk anymore. So, I was "that mom" with a baby strapped to me, pulling a suitcase with one hand and dragging a small child with the other... I'm sure we were quite entertaining for on-lookers, especially because Bruce squealed "wheeeeeeee!" every time I dragged him forward in line...
 |
| literally climbing up the walls... |
I was expecting a crazy, stressful whirlwind of a trip - and it was - but it was awesome! I am so thankful to have been present at the wedding, and I am so incredibly thankful that the kiddos were amazing. Stretched beyond max capacity, but they surprised me beyond belief and were great little travel buddies!
 |
| slept the whole flight home... |
The rest of the month kind of melded into a blur of chasing Abby and Bruce around, trying to soak up summer while it lasts!
The mornings are the best time to enjoy the backyard, and since our kids wake up so early, we've got plenty of morning time before the sun gets too strong. Bruce makes his rounds checking on the plants, picking tomatoes and too-small peppers, showing a lot of restraint to not stomp the baby okra plants (too much), and playing with his construction trucks in the dirt section we left empty for him. Abby likes to crawl around in the wet grass and swing in the rocket. Until Bruce decides that he *needs* to swing in the rocket, and then she enjoys the slide. Bruce is still afraid of the slide, so there's no quibbling over that. She would love to dig in the dirt with Bruce all morning, but she's still eating too much of it, so she can't stay for long...
 |
| finding appropriate things to stomp... |
 |
| first eggplant of the season! |
 |
| floral design: still a fun hobby for Bruce, and the sunflowers are going nuts these days! |
In the hot, late afternoons, we've made several trips to the splashpad here in town. It's just a collection of simple fountains, but it's perfect for Bruce and Abby. And strangely enough, it's almost always empty, so we usually have the whole park to ourselves. Abby doesn't like the sprays, but she enjoys crawling around, splashing in the inch or so of water that collects between the fountains. Bruce just runs from fountain to fountain shouting, "Look at me, I am so wet!"
 |
| Abby's first snow cone |
Another local hangout we visit frequently these days is what Bruce calls "the park with the trees." He would really like to go to "the park with the monster bridge and fire truck," but unfortunately there is no shade there, and Charlie and I are wusses and don't like to go there in the summer... The park with the trees is really nice though because it stays relatively cool, even in the heat of the day, AND it's really close to our house. It's not hard to convince Bruce to go there, either. There might not be a monster bridge or a fire truck, but there is a merry-go-round (which no playgrounds have these days it seems), a neat old railway tunnel, plenty of bean pods to smash, and swings with incredibly long chains that allow you to fly crazy high. And it's shaded.
And when it's too hot to play outside, we've been finding ways to enjoy ourselves indoors, too.
 |
| making a forest after reading A Tree is Nice |
We made a trip to the farm in Kansas toward the end of the month so Charlie could help his dad with some odds and ends. We missed harvest this year between both of our vacations, but it was still nice to be there when they were using the big tractors to disc fields and what-not. It was a short overnight visit, but it was enough to satisfy Bruce for the time being.
While everyone else was out working hard, Abs put on a nice sun dress and we played photo shoot...
And after a hard day's work, here's Bruce's version of a photo shoot:
And let me tell you, this girl can eat. I think it's safe to say that she eats twice as much as Bruce does, and she eats it almost entirely by herself with her own grubby little hands. So far, there isn't a food she won't shovel in, but she especially loves mandarin oranges, cheese, yogurt, and hummus on crackers. I'm now sweeping the kitchen floor 2-4 times a day, but I'm not complaining if it means she's feeding herself! And don't think for a minute that having no teeth is slowing her down...
Abby is definitely more mobile this month! She can sit up on her own, pull up on her own, and is starting to take some first steps along the coffee table edge. She can crawl on her hands and knees, too, but she seems to prefer army-style still. She has a super independent and determined attitude until she gets "stuck" somehow, and then she remembers she needs her mama around. She of course is getting into everything, but that comes with the territory, right? Every day she gets stronger, braver and more confident - it's exciting around here! Any guesses as to what she likes to use for a stabilizer as she's creeping around? If you were thinking, my hair, you'd be correct... On a related note, Abby now has enough hair to wake up with "bed head" and she's finally lost all the dark hair that lingered in the back for a while. She doesn't seem to care about her own hair though, just everyone else's. Long hair, short hair, cat hair, stuffed animal hair... She also laughs over hats, sneezes, and anything her brother does to her.
She's always used a pacifier when falling asleep, but now that she can put it in her mouth by herself, she's wanting to have her nuk more often. I have mixed feelings about that because we're so close to when I would want to phase out a pacifier, and I'm not sure upping the usage now is the best idea. But, it helps her not be as fussy during the day, and it's a great plug that keeps all the other random things out of her mouth. So, I guess we'll trade easier now, for harder later.
 |
| she can actually play with the pinecone now instead of just shoving it in her mouth... |
Now that Abby can get around, she's getting into all of Bruce's stuff too, much to his annoyance... She just wants to be where he is, doing what he's doing. And he wants to be where she is, too. And by that, I mean, he feels it's necessary to sit exactly where her hands are holding on to the couch, or push his shopping cart exactly where she's sitting. Just when I start to worry about the challenging days ahead as these siblings work things out, Bruce restores my faith.
 |
| and asks to hold her |
 |
| or push her in the stroller |
When Bruce isn't being obnoxious towards his sister (or the cats), he's quite the charmer. He's really trying hard to be a "big boy" and insists on climbing into and out of his car seat by himself, into and out of his booster seat by himself, on and off the swing by himself, etc. He also is getting really good at creative problem solving. For example, the other night when Charlie was giving him a bath but had forgotten to bring a towel with them, Bruce looked around the bathroom and suggested that he could use his shirt to dry off with. Or when I told him he couldn't bring home all the toys from the toy store because we had no where to put them, he informed me that we could store them in Daddy's bedroom closet. He often starts a conversation these days with, "Hey, I have a good idea..." And they usually are pretty good ideas. He really is growing up. He always has questions, and his questions keep getting more complicated. Lately he has a lot of questions about what songs are about as he's noticing more of the lyrics. That sounds easy enough, but we listen to wide variety of music, and some of his favorites happen to be about war, or lost loves, or seeking God's face. It's been a fun challenge to try and explain concepts with such depth to an almost three year old in simple truths that he can understand. The other question he asks all the time is, "Is it the weekend now?" This boy lives for the weekend, because that's when Daddy stays home. He can't get enough of his Daddy.
Bruce would like to add a note in conclusion:
666fgfdx q56TGH KM,J,
\
''ktwwqio89,9erfr7gfdffffffffffffffszgvv ggt5iit;;;'''';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;90,miyv aa yt654te331``
?Q>2.1`6÷i
4;..
/
\gv zm nnnnnu.77765331`≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥///////////////////////////////////s///≥
He told me it says, "Dear Mama come to my birthday party tonight." We've been working on his birthday invitations this week so I think he's got party on the brain. I can't believe he's turning three years old in less than a month!
Time sure flies by!
