Northwest Vacation 1 of 5

We returned home on Labor Day from our 18 day vacation to the northwest, we had a really good time, and amazingly were able to cram almost all of our plans in, even with the two little ones. The weather could have been better for a summer trip, but looking back at the 300 some photos that I took, we still had a lot of fun, and got to partake in quite a few adventures. Like I said before, I took over 300 photos not including the ones that other family members took, don't worry I will not post them all, but I have divided the trip up into 5 blog entries, hopefully I will get them all on within the next week, so check back for more adventures if they aren't all here.

We arrived in Oregon, August 15th after a mostly successful 2 hour plane ride, we then made a quick trip over to my friend Janel's to see her new house and meet their new son Dylan. Unfortunately I wasn't in camera mode, so I only got a few photos of Caleb and Jonah playing, but none of Dylan and Rachel.

Get your motor running...Jonah and Caleb playing, unfortunately the camera came out too late to catch them riding in the jeep together. Caleb like driving it from the wrong side and in reverse...maybe he is destined to move to Australia

We spent Saturday and Sunday at my parents house in Forest Grove, we did some horseback riding, then Caleb had a turn riding Austin and a jeep ride with Papa around the lake.

Erin on Austin, Doug on Feather, and me (taking the picture) on Hank, Yes I was riding, but Hank liked Feather a little too much for us to be in the same picture frame

Caleb riding with Auntie "Rin", he protested until Austin started moving, then it was fun

riding all by himself

That night we attempted to play disc golf at a course on the lake, we had a fun time, but the disc golf course had been somewhat dismantled and a little difficult to follow. I think it was a success that no one came away with poison oak.

Driving Uncle "Jew" Joel's jeep, complete with motor sounds, after this everything was Joel Car or "jew cay" in Caleb language

Jumperoo Debut

Not too much has happened since my last post, we are busy getting ready for our vacation to the northwest, our first time in the summer months, since we were married. We are really looking forward to seeing friends and family and having them meet little Rachel. I have been staying up far too late watching the olympics while doing laundry and all the other household chores that I don't get done during the day. I got the jumperoo out the other day to see if Rachel would like it as much as Caleb did...he spent hours and hours in it. I think she did, she even fell asleep in it just like Caleb did on his first day. I put a couple comparison photos up of the two kids as well.

Rachel's jumperoo debut at 3 1/2 months

Caleb's jumperoo debut at 10 weeks

Caleb at close to the same age

Rachel played herself to sleep

Fun times are not forgotten, Caleb wanted back in on the jumping

Rachel playing on the floor, lots of smiles and giggles

She likes to play & chew on link a doos

The olympics are not quite keeping her attention...or Doug's for that matter

Unconventional bedtime routine

Although Caleb is starting to appreciate books being read to him, he still loves his routine of bathtime followed by dance to the 80's before calling it a night. Here are a couple videos from a couple nights ago of bathtime and Caleb's different dance styles.

The Zoo and the Champions

The end of July was busy for us, we made a trip to the zoo with Doug's cousins and a friend and her two little ones. We said goodbye to the cousins and then headed up to Vail, CO for Doug's men's soccer tournament. Caleb got to stay behind and spend some quality time with his grandparents, while Rachel got some quality time with her parents without her brother constantly butting in. Denver recently broke a more than 100 year old record for the most consecutive days at or above 90 degrees...the old one 18, the new one 23 or 24, I lost track. It was nice to be in the mountains for a few days where the temps were more reasonable. Doug's team the "Internationals" played 5 games including a sudden death penalty kick session to end a tie in the championship game, but they reclaimed the championship after a couple years of falling short. Walking at the zoo

Rachel is tuckered out from having so much fun

checking out the hippos

one of the hippos eating

Today's elephant demo was bathtime as the temps soared above 90, Caleb was very excited to see the EEEEE's

watching the monkeys

Sitting on the bronze gorilla's lap

Rebekah and Caleb in the stroller...snack time

The whole group, minus my friend Erin who took the picture

Checking out the fish

A parting shot of a giraffe, seeking some shade

Rachel during the semifinal soccer game

We are the champions!!!!

The Internationals squad

Doug and friend Bundy with the trophy

Life of a busy 12 week old...and her family

Rachel is 3 months old already, my how time flies. I took her in for a weight check, she is slowing down, but still growing and now weighs 12 pounds. The last three nights she has slept anywhere from 8 to 11 hours without waking up to be fed...knock on wood, and we are all happy that my getting up nightly might be coming to a close. We have been keeping busy camping on the weekends, playing sports during the week along with all the other requirements of life. I began showing the condo for some new renters, good news looks like we have it rented out again already. Doug's cousins, Sarah, Emily and Jason came back to Fort Collins with Doug's mom after the 4th of July and have been a great help playing with the kids while we have been trying to show them a good time for a couple weeks. We went camping up at horsetooth again with them the first weekend, they have been watching the kids while we play softball and soccer as well as Doug's 10 year high school reunion. It has consistently been in the 90's here now for a couple weeks, so we have been spending lots of time in or near water.

Little miss blue eyes!!!

Rachel loves sucking on her fist, and when possible the bottom of her dresses

Caleb and Jason playing in the water

Rachel is mesmerized by the flames from the camp fire

View from our campsite in Dixon cove on Horsetooth Reservoir, you would never know we are only 5 minutes from home

Rachel's first official time swimming, and it's a packed pool

Sooooo relaxing, but a little too bright for my sensitive eyes

Watch out Rachel, Caleb is trying to run you over with his boat

Caleb on his slide

Rachel and Caleb hanging out in the shade in the backyard

Pretty in pink

Caleb is ready for a surf competition after boating with Grandpa and Diane

Happy 4th of July week

We made our second attempt at camping this year for the long holiday weekend, for the most part it was a big success, the kiddos did great, and we had fun, but the boat suffered some mechanical issues, luckily our friend Jeff "Bundy" had his boat for us to fall back on. I dressed Rachel up in her 2 different holiday outfits, but since we were camping the festive photos are from a couple days before and after. We spent the weekend up at Horsetooth Reservoir, which considering the gas prices is a great place to get away from home, but is actually only 5 miles.

Smiling for the camera, or maybe babbling

Enjoying an evening outside

Diaper dandy Caleb with his "I Love Mom" tatoo

Rachel cruising or should I say snoozing in the boat on our way out to the boat-in campsite

Happy 4th of July! I am spending it sitting in the water playing with boats, how did you spend yours?

Rachel in camping mode, she loves to lay in the chair and watch the wind ruffle the insta-shade

The camping set-up...what's for lunch

Bundy holding Caleb in the bow, while pulling a wakeboarder

Rachel's post holiday photo shoot

Hanging out with Dad

Close up of Rachel with Doug, and Caleb jumping up and down for "more choo-choo" which he says everytime one of us sits down at the computer. He loves to watch train youtube videos

Caleb's response to the question "Can you do a sommersault?"