Fun Stuff...

Be sure to see the pics in the web album too...

Well, we sure have been busy this month. The weekend after we went camping in Grand Lake Brandon's uncle came in to town and invited us to a BBQ at a friends home. We headed down to monument and had a fun time visiting and making some new friends. Avelyn, of course, was just part of the gaggle of kids running around and enjoyed herself immensely until about 10pm when we headed home. The next day we were all exhausted and spent the day lounging around.

Avi and I created her bears from the loveable factory that Auntie Michelle had given her. She had a good time and really understood the concept of what we were doing. There's one picture that makes her look so grown up I can hardly stand it! The bears are named Nemo, Shark, and Saturday. All her choices! :)

We had our ultrasound on the 23rd. Everything looked healthy and happy! The baby was moving all around but the sonographer was able to find and measure everything she wanted to. We know what we're having but are keeping it a secret for about another week! Avi knows and couldn't be more excited. My doctors office is sending us a CD with the US pictures on it so those will be uloaded to a web album as soon as we get the disc.

This weekend has been a fun one. Friday Avi and I went up to the pool and and Amanda was there with Alexia and Matthew so we spent the late morning/early afternoon playing in the water. Avi was finally willing to wear her floaties in the deep end (Matthew had his on) and was jumping off the edge like a fish. Saturday a whole gang of us went up to the pool around 10:30 and spent about 2 hours there. It was a big group of us and we took up a lot of the deep end. When Avi was in the water this time she was all over the place and having so much fun. She was even trusting her floaties and swimming away and back and just hanging out floating next to everyone.

I had to work yesterday and Brandon and Avelyn spent the day playing in all of the neighbors yards and running in the sprinklers. That evening we had an impromptu BBQ and the kids just played all over the place while the rest of us visited and chatted.

We're so grateful we live in this block!

Camping at Grand Lake

Be sure to view the web album for more pics...

Well, I turned 35 on Friday. Thank you to all who sent "well wishes". :) It was supposed to be a scorcher here so we decided to go camping up in the mountains to one of our fave spots - Grand Lake. It's so gorgeous out there. Brandon found us a spot at a camping resort right outside the entrance for Rocky Mountain National Park. It had everything we needed to have a blast.

We left Friday afternoon around 3 so we made it to our site by 5. The first spot they had us in was too soft so we moved across the way. This campground encourages people to bring their own horses so our campspot had a corral. There were 3 horses next to us so of course we went over to visit. Avi loves horses and did a great job petting them gently.

We headed down to the water and threw the ball for Cabo a bit and then went to dinner. It was late by the time we got back to the campground so we just went to bed but first had to play with the glow stick a bit first - Avi's favorite camping pasttime.

We woke up the next morning and the elk were making their way through the outskirts of the campground so we went to watch them for a bit and take some pics. We ate breakfast and then headed down to the water for the rest of the morning. We found a great spot at the docks and had the kayak ready to go. Brandon took Avi out for a spin and she helped daddy paddle. We spent much of the day playing ball with Cabo and just relaxing in the fresh, cool air. Avi and I had a picnic on the docks too. We headed back to camp after lunch and it was time for a nap. Brandon went fishing with Cabo while Avi slept and I read. The horses around us were braying which was cool to hear and it didn't keep Avi awake which is a plus.

After napping we walked up to play in the playground then over to the petting zoo the resort had. Avi really isn't afraid of any animals (almost to a fault) so had no problem feeding them all grass from around their pens. We walked down to the river winding through the resort and caught sight of 2 moose on the other side of the river. The wildlife is present everywhere up there so you have to keep your eyes open! After that excitement we headed in to town for dinner again and then back to camp.

We made a campfire the second night and Avi had a good time rounding up the pinecones and throwing them in the flames. We made it to bed a bit earlier that night.

Sunday morning we got up around 7 and went to say hi to the horses next to us again and feed them some fresh grass while their owners were getting ready for the day's ride. After that we headed up to the "all you can eat pancake breakfast" the resort puts on. The pancakes were huge and delicious. We headed back to the camper and after relaxing a bit longer decided to pack up camp and head home. Of couse before really hitting the road we had to bring Cabo to the water once more to jump off the docks!

We had a great weekend!

I'm starting the feel the baby move a bit more but still not consistently and not from the outside. Still feels like butterfly kisses! We have the ultrasound next Wednesday and are getting excited for that and Avi loves to tell me that I have a baby in my belly and that she's going to be a big sister!

4th of July Weekend...

Be sure to view the web album of the same name for more pics from this weekend...

We made it through the week - thankfully! I got called out of work to pick Avi up Wednesday because she was coughing so bad and frequently she couldn't play or eat. The doc we saw thinks she possibly has "reactive airway disease" similar to asthma and using her inhaler 3 x/day since has helped the cough relax. She's back to her "terrible nearly 3". Just kidding! Brandon fixed our A/C on Wednesday night after having the correct part overnighted for us for <$100 vs paying the >$500 quoted to us by the repairman. That night he also had to help Steve pack up our camper so Steve and his gang could borrow it for the long weekend to go to Mt Rushmore. We were all pretty exhausted by Thursday.

Friday morning we headed to our town's parade and grabbed a spot along the route near the playground so Avi could keep busy until it started. We ran into our neighbors Linda,Dan,and Lucas and my friend Jessica was there with her husband Todd and their little boy Landon. The parade was a lot of fun. No high school band which would have been nice but I guess it is summer! A lot of political people so not sure what the parade will be like in a non-election year! Avi had fun and the Rockies coach - Clint Hurdle - even commented on what a great waver she is! Following the big parade was a decorated dog/bike parade for the little kids. They had a great time although I think a lot of the parents escorting their kids mis-read the downhil portion and we saw many kids go zooming by having a blast with worried parents racing after them.

We spent most of the rest of the day inside because it was so darn hot! That evening we headed to Brandon's bosses house after being invited to join in his block party. They had a large waterslide set up but it was too big for Avi to go down but she had fun watching the big kids. Most of the kids on the block had a motorized truck so she took her turn driving around too. We headed home around 7:30 and took a bath and went to bed.

Brandon went fishing today so I took Avi on a "mystery ride" - she likes to call it a "prize" instead of "surprise". She had a lot of fun finding all of the animals and there were about 10 peacocks that have the run of the place so we saw them everywhere. We rode the carousel and the train and did plenty of walking around. We were there for about 4 hours. She fell asleep on the way home but didn't take a full nap until later this evening.

Not sure what's on tap for tomorrow. Going to be another hot one but looks like more unsettled weather so we'll have to play it by ear. This weekend is kind of a big one for Brandon and I. We moved out here 8 years ago this weekend and got married in Cabo 6 years ago tomorrow (Sunday). It's amazing to think how fast time goes by when you look back at all you've done since the time you're thinking of!

I'm 17 weeks along tomorrow. I haven't had any nausea today - and just a little yesterday. I've been trying to hear the baby's heartbeat with my stethoscope but I think it's too early. We find out what sex the baby is on the 23rd. I can't wait to find out and to just see the little person again! We head back east August 5th and not sure if we can keep the secret for that long!

Happy and safe 4th to everyone!