Walk in the Woods, part deux

Paul & I had so much fun hiking with the boys around Sprague Lake, we brought back mom, Sam & Keith with us later in the week. This time we went farther down the path, into different parts of the woods and just explored more than rock climbed. We saw a woodpecker up close and a HUGE elk. It was so massive and so up close. Mom & I even examined some scat trying to figure out if it was from a bear. It was too big to be deer, but it might have been elk. We all enjoyed the relaxing walk in the woods.

This picture I took to show a real estate agent what I want my backyard to look like someday. It's going to be in Colorado. It's going to have plenty of land that looks like this

Brave Noah crossing the stream on a log

Jumping on rocks. I warned him he might get wet. He told me he wouldn't. He was right.
Never underestimate Noah. He can do whatever he puts his mind to.

Nice jump, buddy.

Mom walking on a fallen tree to cross a stream

Playing with sticks

Balancing on logs is fun

Paul & Elliot joined us late. Elliot fell asleep in the car and took an hour and a half nap. They were just coming back in time to see the big Elk!

Hey there, big guy

Keith said "I've only seen those stuffed at Bass Pro" and wanted a pic with it - haha!

I love this pic of Paul & the boys having a picnic

Sam & Keith

Paul & Elliot - Hallet's Peak & Flattop Mountain in the clouds behind them

Walk in the woods

After Noah's successful hike to Alberta Falls we wanted to find a place he could just explore, climb rocks, etc and also let Elliot wander around and get out of the backpack. We decided to go to Sprague Lake which is just a flat walk around a lake (wheelchair/stroller accessible). It wasn't really Elliot friendly we found quickly when he walked right up to the lake ready to go into it. He was crying as we tried to hold his hands and keep him back from it, and it just wasn't a smooth start. We put him in the backpack as we walked around the lake, letting Noah jump and climb on rocks and then went off on a path towards a campground. That is where the real fun began!

It was just what we needed for both boys. A forest with lots of trees and rocks and things to explore. It was a fun family hike and we have decided it is the PERFECT place to camp.

Our little Elliot so bad tries to keep up with Noah. He had more than his fair share of bruises and scrapes. He climbs really well actually, but he would lose his balance at top and fall.

"Well Noah did it. Surely I can too!"

Noah made it his mission to climb every rock in his path

Checking out some ducks on the path around Sprague Lake

Good job, Elliot! This is a little more 1 year old friendly climbing material!

My sweet Noah

Oh yeah, no biggie. Just scaling a steep rock with a buck in the background. You know, just another day in Rocky Mountain National Park.

This is that steep rock he was climbing. I thought it was too steep and he INSISTED he could do it. Paul followed behind him in case he fell. He totally did it by himself.




Noah always makes it his mission to find the "perfect picnic spot".

At one with nature

Sprague Lake

That is SO my boy. Walking off the beaten path.

Boulder jumping

The start of Fall

I realize we're still officially in the throes of summer, but Saturday was such a Fall-like day, we couldn't help but be reminded that our favorite season is upon us. Even better, it was one of those days that is just enjoyable from start to finish.

The morning was crisp, cool and perfect. The kids were up at around 7:00. We started with a little breakfast, and after a quick trip to the farmer's market for some fresh eggs, we decided to go on a run with the kids to Loose Park. As Mandy pulled out the double jogging stroller, Noah quickly declared that he was going to run with us. Mandy and I rolled our eyes at each other, thinking that our opportunity for quality morning exercise was over before it began.

Noah started running with me while Mandy started jogging with Elliot in the double stroller. After less than half a block, Noah said he was thirsty. This is a standard excuse of his when he gets tired of riding his bike with us and wants us to stop for him, while he gets a drink from one of our water bottles. This time I told him he'd have to wait until we at least got to the end of the first block. We did a quick stop, and then he surprised us both by taking off and not really stopping for almost a quarter-mile, and then only because he "needed to catch his exercise" (his breath). After, literally, about five seconds, he jumped back up and took off again. We repeated this four or five times until we ran the entire 1.5 mile route to the park, and even then he wasn't quite finished, as we ran another quarter mile or so to the duck pond. At 3 years old.

We explored the park a little, and visited the Rose Garden, then headed down to the Plaza for a treat of chocolate milk at Starbucks for the boys, and to pick up my car that I'd left there overnight.

Loose Park Rose Garden

Afterwards, we drove home, got a bag packed, and went to the Zoo. We weren't the only people with that idea, as the weather was perfect and there was a new Polar Bear exhibit to see. Given the crowd at the exhibit, we skipped it and went on to see some of the other stuff. We took the train to "Australia", poked around there a bit, and had lunch on a nice big rock that Noah picked out. Elliot was winding down and getting ready for a nap, so we decided to walk back to the entrance and ran into Mandy's sister, who decided to visit the zoo with Charlie and Jason & his boys. We invited them over afterwards for a cookout, and left. Along the way we walked into what we thought was some kind of underwater exhibit and instead found that we'd walked into the below-water viewing area of the 140,000 gallon pool, and got to watch the bear swimming laps (ahead of all the people waiting in line, apparently). He'd swim underwater right up to the glass, put all four paws on the glass and push off again.

That afternoon, most of Mandy's family came over for a grill-out of hot dogs, fish tacos and salmon. The five older boys - Charlie, Noah, Cole, Elijah and Luke all played tag and hide-and-seek and other games outside while the adults chatted inside.

Kid table

Cole chasing Noah

Elijah giving Charlie a ride

Cole giving Luke a ride

Having 4 boys over to run wild with makes Noah a happy boy!

They were hiding here

Elliot riding his favorite little bike (hand-me-down from our neighbors) excited about Grandpa Rick's truck

Happy Charlie

Noah & Elijah

Elliot generously sharing his drumstick with "uh-suh" (Aunt Sam)

Yummy!

Poor Cole hurt his ankle

Trying to get every last drop of ice cream

Grandma Anita was singing "Wheels on the Bus" and E was cracking up

As if the boys weren't dirty and tired enough, around 7:00 several of us headed down to Edgevale Park to let Charlie, Noah and Elliot play in the dirt and sand.

We finally got back to the house after 8:00, and after a tub-blackening bath and a few bedtime stories (where both boys actually sat quietly and listened), Noah and Elliot slipped off to dreamland quickly.

Just a little dose of Elliot

Elliot has been busy lately, so I thought I'd post an update. He still isn't talking and prefers to let us know what he wants by whining or screaming and pointing. He has different intonations and we are all very good at interpreting, including Noah who will often say things like "Elliot said he wants his window down. Elliot says he wants his vitamins", etc. But, he is getting much better at imitating us and trying to talk. When he whines for something I won't give it to him and I make him either ask for the item, sign or say help. He now is attempting to say words, but his first instinct is still to whine/gesture.

He is a climber. I have always heard people talk about their kids being climbers and I didn't see what the big deal was. I thought Noah was a climber, too, and it wasn't that hard to manage. Now I get it. Noah climbed outdoors and on more appropriate things. Elliot climbs e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g! I have to lock him out of the kitchen often because he will climb up to the counters. I can't leave a knife on a cutting board. I have to be so careful if I'm cooking to keep him out of harms way. A couple of weeks ago I moved puzzles from an ottoman that has storage in it, to the top of his storage shelf in the playroom. Oh yeah, today I found him on the top of the bookshelf getting a puzzle down. Thank goodness Paul bolted them to the wall.

He is very social. He smiles and socializes with anyone. He still begs for food from strangers and gets it every time. He has no shame. He loves to tag along with Noah and his friends. He likes to paint and do everything Noah does. He loves the water still and loves playing outside. He is overall a pretty easygoing kid and is a sweet, loving boy. He loves to make people laugh and will do things over and over just to get a laugh. He likes reading books and his favorites right now are Goodnight Moon, The Wheels on the Bus, and Duck on a Bike. He hates wearing shoes and takes them off all the time. He has lost at least 3 shoes (not pairs, individual shoes) that have never been found.

Happy in a rare morning bath. Love his wild bed head.

Being silly with "wuh-wuh" in his mouth (Woody)

He loves busses

So typical. Hat on backwards. One shoe on. Climbing on a stool to get into the water and make a mess.

Chasm Lake Anniversary Hike

Chasm Lake is a special place for Paul & me. We first hiked there in August of 2003. The lack of oxygen and beauty of the place apparently got to Paul when he asked me to marry him. Not being into big-fancy-overpriced-weddings, we decided to hike back the next August 2004 and get hitched on that same rock we got engaged on - the "Rock of Commitment", as my family calls it. It was fun, free and you just can't beat the view.

We went back in 2005 for our 1st anniversary and decided we'd do it annually. Between pregnancy, nursing, etc, we just haven't been able to make it happen. This was the first year, since our 1 year anniversary, we were able to hike it up again together. We are so thankful to mom for watching the kids, so we could celebrate 6 years of marriage by hiking our favorite hike together again.

We hiked up in about 3 hours and really enjoyed our time at the lake for almost an entire hour. We saw some marmots in the boulder hill area you have to climb, but they left us alone while we ate and sat and just enjoyed our view of the beautiful lake and Long's Peak. We really just enjoyed the hike and didn't break out the camera much except at the top. Can't wait for next year!

This is Peacock Pond in the background. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the hike. It's very demanding uphill for the first couple of miles or so. Then you get to walk on a fairly flat area and have views like this. Next time we are thinking of hiking down to Peacock Pond on the way. It's not far, but the rocks slide so you have to be really careful.

This is the waterfall that feeds into Peacock Pond


Sam & Keith came along on the hike, too


This is on our rock

Long's Peak famous "Diamond" face is behind us. Paul has summited the top of this peak twice, RMNP's highest mountain at 14,259 feet. It is a serious hike that a few people do die on every year (at least 3 this year). So proud of my mountaineer husband. I'm good just below it ;)

Paul was using his water filter to fill up our camelbacks with fresh water. The water is clear, we just had some orange gatorade left in the camelback.

You can't see in this picture, but if we looked closely at certain times we saw itty bitty people at the top moving.

Sam & Keith on our rock
Stuffing our faces/meditating on the beauty on our rock
On the way back at my favorite area (flat and pretty). Love the sky here.