camping, but not really

We took the peeps to Vogel State Park last weekend.  The last time we went camping was a few  weeks before Noah was born (at one of our favorites, Sylvan Lake - everyone in CO should go there)!  That was a long time ago.  When we considered camping this year, we decided that a cabin was gonna have to cut it.  Maybe we'll reconsider for 2015, but for now it was the way to go.  Everyone was safe and in one place (our tent is too small for 6, and S&P aren't yet ready to break in their "kids" tent) and we had a sweet 3 days.  I loved all the bridges over creeks, Paige found caterpillars, Seth mastered marshmallows, Adam had pockets continuously full of rocks, Noah scampered about, and Dustin reveled in the breezy, cooler weather.  We came back both tired and rested at the same time.

And look!  God grew peas in our garden.  Seth is all about their timely consumption.

two-turning

Suddenly it got all sweltery a few weeks ago and the kind of humid that makes you remember why you wanted to go back to school right after Labor Day as a kid (can you believe school years used to start then?!).  Sticky-icky, jump in the pool and stay until your fingers and toes wrinkle kind of summer days.  We are so thankful that Adam was put into a boot (which is now off, wahoo), so he could still swim, shower, and rest easy at night.

In an unexpected twist, the flowers all started profuse blooming in late August.  And by that I mean - there were no blooms until late August, at all.  Not one!  Apparently I was still on Colorado time and planted them a wee bit late.  And I just noticed there is an iris (an iris!) blooming just this morning by our bedroom window.  Tennessee or Colorado, that can't be right.

Noah turned 2 and it was clear right away that he totally understood that it was his day.  On the way home from donuts, we heard him singing the Happy Birthday song - only a parent could understand those lyrics, but the melody was distinguishable.  After his nap he pulled a chair over to where my bag hangs and liberated the 2 candle and lighter.  He brought them to me and blew that candle out at least 30 times in 8 hours.  He got a scooter and a 2-year blanket and cupcakes and so many kisses.  Oh, Noah.  My giggly, wiggly Noah.  You are wonderful.

boot boppin'

Adam is getting around quite nicely in his boot.  Sometimes I think he gets around a bit too well (would it be so bad to sit and be still?!) but there is little that slows him down.  He goes back to the doctor in another week.

I did hear this entertaining conversation a few days ago...
Sibling:  just pretend your leg is a caterpillar
Adam:  'kay, like this? *wriggles his toes and waves foot from side to side*
Sibling:  I'll just make this nice and cozy.  *sound of velcro, lots of velcro* Look!  Now you're a pupa.
Adam:  Yay. Yay!  What's a pupa.
Sibling:  It's a caterpillar's sleeping bag.  Just wait.  Be real still and then we'll take off the boot and your leg will be a butterfly!
Adam:  I hope it's a blue one.  Or green.  Green is my favorite color.
Sibling:  This is taking a long time.  *sigh* Let's see if the toothbrushes will stick down in your boot too.
Adam: Mammmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaa!!

The other peeps are desperate to add his boot to their doctor kit.  Think of the adventures they will have once that hits the rotation!

busted lips and book nooks

The playdoh lizard is wearing a top hat.  Did you notice?

Noah digs scooters.  Fortunately, he thinks helmets are an everyday accessory.  Unfortunately, his rides are not always smooth.  He was a sad puppy after this crash - understandably so! - but is definitely a back on the horse kind of kid and beelines for it whenever possible.

His birthday is next week and he has upped his mess-making game in a big way lately.  This morning I was carting Adam down the stairs (he broke his leg - more on that later - and I am trying really hard to keep him away from stairs) and in his 126 seconds of alone time, Noah...unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper, colored on my planner and then threw 60 markers on the floor in the dining room, took a red dry erase marker to the beautiful blue-grey wall that used to have a marker board on it, and pulled open the dishwasher to climb onto the door in a futile yet clever attempt to consume crackers just out of his reach.  I came down to see his small hands waving about wildly - 6 inches higher than I would expect.  After surveying this handiwork, I thought to myself, "Now this, this is a contribution worthy of a two year old."

Adam sleeps in his book nook all the time now, but really, wouldn't you too?

self portraits and shoe hugs

I keep finding Paige-portraits on the camera.  I like that she was still enough for the auto focus to work - those blurs can be difficult to interpret. Adam has started making "shoe hugs" (his term).  He typically does this when he is supposed to be picking them up, so no surprise that he turned the situation to his liking.  He clasps his hands together in delight and proclaims, "They love each other with their big hugs!"

We have been blessed with beautiful weather lately and we are thankful to fall into bed each night tired from lots of sunshine and blue skies.  The peeps are all back to room sharing and everyone is sleeping much better.  Adam has fantastic dreams and often wakes up in the wee hours and comes to find me, certain that the dream is real and happening that very moment.  "There is a teeny tiny orange dragon in the mailbox!  And if we go check for our mail he will sneeze fire on us.  I turned on the front porch light.  Let's go get the mail, Mama.  I think he is waiting for us - with hiccups!"  The clock reads 2:28.  Oh, I love him.