Time for Our Weekly Update!

Hi, All. Well. Let's get right to it! Ton's of pictures and a few updates. We are overwhelmed with smoke here in Colorado Springs due to the Waldo Canyon Fire. This is a very sad scene, and is burning the beautiful mountains that we get to see every day. Our air quality is pretty poopy around here, and we are hoping that they get this fire under control soon. We have some friends and Mom and Dad have some co-workers who have been evacuated, and they find it very "weird" that they just can't...go home )-: Very sad. We are doing what we can to help by taking some snacks and non-perishable food items to our local food bank this afternoon. We have also had some record high temperatures here and it is SUPER dry...that mixed with some wind and we have ourselves a doozy. Folks around town are hot, but can't open their windows due to the heavy smoke (this morning it was so strong it smelled like a campfire). We are glad that we decided to go ahead with the central air conditioning installation at the beginning of June, and are really feeling for the folks that are uncomfortable right now.

Mom did manage to snag quite a few pictures of our weekend, so here it goes!Saturday we decided to fill up my swimming pool in the afternoon so that I could cool off and get out of the house. This was right about the time we noticed there was a fire going, but we didn't have much information at that time. You can see the orange hazy reflection in some of the photos Mom was taking below.Having fun cooling off in the pool:

You aren't going to believe this! As I was playing in my pool...I asked Mom "where are my crackers and my toys?" Well...what I was referring too...were the crackers that we enjoyed by the pool, and the swimming pool balls that Mom and Dad purchased LAST SUMMER when I was playing in this same pool. Mom's mind was blown...that I remembered such details...from over a year ago. I have quite the memory (and was about 21 months old the time).


Hot fun in the summer time!

Alex and Daddy sat in the shade while Mom and I splashed around:
You probably don't notice the haze much in this picture, but the smoke was starting to creep right over our heads:

Ms. Alex enjoying her time in the shade:


Molly trying to talk me into handing over a few Cheez-Its:


NOW you can see the orange haze. Phew!

Mommy and Alex doing self portraits:

Silly baby!

Mom and Dad had these terrific plans to go have a nice dinner, while Grandma and Grandpa came over to the house to hang with Alex and I. Well, Alex and I both decided that their plan should be VETOED. Alex started crying and I started crying and that was the end of that! So we all went to have BBQ as one big happy family and it turned out wonderful.Dad and Alex enjoying the BBQ (Actually, Alex was enjoying Sophie):

Having fun with a straw:

It really did turn out to be a great evening (minus all the crying in the beginning).

On Sunday, we had plans to join The Loomis Family at the Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, CO. The last time we went, I would have been 7 or 8 months old and we took Devin along with us (pictures are posted in this very blog back in the summer of 2010). Well...Dad wasn't feeling so great, so he decided to stay back with Alex while Mom and I went up to meet my buddy Gavin and his family for a HOT day at Ren Fes. Gavin and I scoping out the map and deciding on a plan of attack:

Baby Gwyn isn't too sure she signed up for all the heat (it was 99 degrees):

She sampled some meat on a stick!

Gavin and I having fun "watching" the jousting (although we are clearly having more fun watering the grass with a water bottle and eating crackers):

Goof balls!

BFF's:

Mom and I had the privilege of going to the restroom with THE QUEEN. She had an entire group of royalty waiting for her while she was using the restroom! We felt pretty special when she handed us some paper towels to dry off our hands after washing them.
Pretty cool!

Gavin and I got to see some more chickens, pet a cow and say hello to a goat!

We also got to ride in a self-propelled butterfly ride (two nice ladies were going around and around in the middle making it spin):

Weeeee!

We also happen to be at the right spot at the right time when the beginning of the parade started. So, Mom captured quite a bit of it on video:

Did you see the King and Queen go by? Mom just LOVES the sound of the Bagpipes. Too cool! After checking out a few more things...grabbing some fresh-baked cookies and COLD water...it was 2:00 PM and it was HOT out and we were all getting tired...so we decided to call it a day and head home. Great fun was had by all. First thing after we got home was a shower for Mom and a bath for me! We were covered in dirt and mud. Dad was feeling a little better...but not much...so we just took it easy the rest of the evening. Dad actually ended up staying home from work on Monday because he just wasn't feeling well at all, but he is feeling MUCH better today, so we are super happy about that.

Mom wanted to note a "cute" thing I have been saying lately. I'm the first to tell you if you have made a "sad choice," (something I learned at school). Mom spilled her water the other night at dinner, and I told her, "That was a sad choice, Mommy." Mom also accidentally let our car door blow into the side of Mr. Shawn's car one day last week (the wind actually gusted the door when she was trying to strap me in my car seat), and again..."That was a sad choice, Mommy." I'm the first to point out any "sad choices" she might have made. LOL.

We have a SUPER busy week ahead of us! A trip to drop off all the non perishable food items at our food bank this evening...haircuts coming up for Dad and I on Thursday. We are going to get down to see Mr. Jason and Ms. Junior and their new baby and bring them some food hopefully on Friday night...Grandpa has a Birthday we are going to celebrate on Saturday...and our tenants move out of the townhome on Sunday! So...lot's to do! We also caught word last night that Devin might be coming out soon for a visit. Hope everyone has a great week. Send some rain vibes our way...we sure could use it.

Father's Day Weekend!

Happy Monday! We had a FABULOUS weekend. Everyone was healthy and happy and we have grown to really appreciate that! Let's see. OH! Our good friends welcomed their daughter in the world on Friday Morning! Camille Marie Gump was born at 9:12 am weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19 inches long. She is healthy as can be, and so is Ms. Junior! Alex is super excited to have a new playmate! Mom and Alex went to the hospital Friday evening for a short visit to say hello to the new baby.

It is hard to believe that Alex was just 2 ounces bigger than Cami only 5 months ago!


On Saturday morning, Mom went to her exercise class. After she was finished...Dad took off with Grandpa to a place called Harbor Freight here in town. It is basically the "Dollar Store for Tools." They had a great time looking around the store while I hung out with Mom and Alex. We did things like "play in the bathroom." My stool allows me to stand and look in the mirror and make funny faces:

Silly munchkin:

We had The Loomis Family over Saturday night for pizza. Gavin and I had a great time running around and going pee in the potty! Didn't hurt we were rewarded with Hershey Kisses. & you know what? Somehow Mom managed to not capture a single photo of the evening. She was slackin...what else can I say?Mom caught some video of Alex "talkin." Actually...she was really just making a lot of noise...but she tends to be fairly quiet...so she decided to get some video of all the screeching that was going on:

Sunday was Father's Day. We celebrated by appreciating all of the great Dad's out there (and grandpa's) that I'm so lucky to have in my life. Of course there is MY Dad...

Grandpa...

& Granddaddy...

& we can't forget Adie who was just out to visit us recently. Hope you all had a wonderful day! Alex and I actually decided to sleep-in as a gift to Dad. We didn't FULLY wake up until around 8:00 AM. Unheard of!!! After having some breakfast...we went to REI to see if we could find Dad a new pair of sandals for the summer. Well...he ended up leaving empty-handed...but Mom found a pair she really liked and decided to buy! Ha. I love checking out the camping tents they have set-up. Ahhhh...I could totally do a camping trip!

Dad ended up joining Mr. Shawn and Gavin's Grandpa for pizza and beers over at Old Chicago. They also took a nice leisurely stroll around Best Buy. We gave Dad our gifts, and he really enjoyed them: A picture book capturing some of Dad's greatest moments, and Godiva Dark Chocolate. I of course...decided NOT to nap yesterday...so Mom had fun entertaining Alex and I while Dad enjoyed his afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa joined us for dinner. Shrimp and corn off the grill with Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes, green salad, fruit salad...and THE BEST part...French Silk Pie. Mom forgot to snap a few more pictures...but at least she got one of the pie! Yum.

Not much going on this week...hope everyone has a great one!

Daniel Turns 3 and Trip to the Zoo!

Happy Monday, All! Last week was pretty uneventful...minus the Ear Infection Mom was diagnosed with. Weird, right? She had some minor pain and a "muffled" feeling in her left ear, so she decided to go get it checked out last Thursday at the clinic down the street, and YEP. The doc took one look and decided that it was indeed an Ear Infection. She can't remember the last time she had one of these! Maybe when she was a toddler? It still hasn't gone away even after a few strong doses of antibiotics. Mom claims she doesn't mind not hearing as much of my daily noise. But watching TV or having a conversation gets tricky!! OH, and By The Way...this weekend was MUCH more pleasant than last weekend (in the meltdown department). I was in a MUCH better mood and didn't spend hardly any time in "Recovery." I guess it will remain a mystery as to why I was so irritable and unhappy last weekend! Let's see...my buddy Daniel turned THREE on Friday. This means my Third Birthday is just 4 months away! We met his family at ITZ Friday night to celebrate. We ate pizza, sung Happy Birthday, opened his gift, and had a blast playing games. Singing Happy Birthday to Danny G:

Blowing out his candles!

Having fun playing games:

A brief moment where we sat still long enough for Mom to capture a picture:

Alex having fun enjoying all the sights and sounds:

Auntie K hanging with Baby Kay:

Ms. GG and Mom with our little sister's!


Daniel and I riding in a fun and intense video game:

We managed to enjoy our evening thoroughly! I'm growing quite fond of celebrating Birthday's! They usually involve sweets, presents, and activities. I keep reassuring Mom and Dad that "MY Birthday is coming up." It has to be, right? On Saturday morning I ran a few errands with Dad at Lowes. It was hard to peel me away from all the cool tools. Looks like Dad is going to have a good "tool shopping buddy." On Saturday afternoon we had some of our old friends from Atlanta come to visit at the house. They brought with them their new baby, Carter (8 weeks old). Mom didn't capture any photos of the new baby...but she did take a quick photo of the "afternoon treat" that we enjoyed together. I forget the name...but it had graham cracker crust, chocolate pudding, cool whip, and mini marshmallows. It was good!

On Sunday, we woke up bright and early and left for our 2nd zoo trip of the year!


As always, I had fun visiting with my Giraffe buddies:

I wasn't too crazy about feeding the giraffes directly...so I made Mom or Dad hand over the lettuce.

Alex enjoying the giraffes from her car seat:

Something new that we haven't done yet while visiting the zoo...feeding the chickens!!

(I may have been a little distracted looking at the grass while feeding them...what can I say...they were taking FOREVER!).

"Hmmm...this is some nice grass."

Yep...still eating.

Alex decided she had enough waiting around for the chickens to finish eating...so she decided it was NAP TIME.

Dad snapped a couple pictures of the gorillas that came right up to the glass for us to see.

Mmmmm...lettuce and carrots.

After seeing a part of the zoo we normally don't make it to, we parked at some picnic tables for lunch with The Loomis Family (and Gavin's Grandma and Grandpa). Then, it was time to leave. Mom decided that she was going to keep me awake in the backseat the entire way home so that I would take a LONG nap (usually I fall asleep on the way home from a morning out...and that is the ONLY nap I take all day...and it usually isn't nearly long enough). Well let's just say it was NO easy task keeping me awake. Mom kept pulling my thumb out of my mouth and bribing me with PEZ candies. I nominate her Mother of The Year! But after arriving home...I promptly went down for a solid 2 hour nap. Success! Hope everyone had a great weekend. Father's day is next Sunday...and we got to figure out the plan for showing my Dad what an awesome Dad he is (but I think he already knows).