Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Serious Catch Up - the Lake

I'm long overdue and behind on the blog, hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come when baby # 3 arrives in just 2 weeks and 2 days!  So, here are several posts from the last 2 weeks.  Grammy is here visiting for Alec's bday and they are busy in the kitchen making carrot cake cupcakes, so hopefully I can get all caught up.  We headed to Michigan for Labor Day weekend and enjoyed a long overdue vacay with our BFF's the Wolfes.  As always, the weekend was filled with lots of laughter, fun, food and family.  One definite bonus of living in IL is being within 5 hours of the lake house.  Thanks guys for another awesome weekend. 
The jet skis were a highlight of the weekend for Alec
 Alec and Logan played together non-stop.  We woke up every morning and looked out the window to the two of them happily stomping all around the beach. 
 You better believe these 3 flipped this jet ski, and both boys thought it was the coolest thing ever.    You should have heard the banter when they got back to the beach.
 Even Charlie got to take a ride
 Charlie checking out Pearl, the wild peacock who lives in the neighborhood, and was up on Julie's brother's front porch.
 Headed to Clam Diggers for some mashed potatoe pizza
 The whole gang.  It's always fun to have so many kids around, this pic includes all 4 of Julie's nieces and nephews.
 Big Alec (who is actually our Alec's namesake) and Charlie.  I have NEVER met a sweeter teenage boy.  He was completely enamored with Charlie and played with him all weekend.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

2008 vs 2012

Alec at 20 months
Alec at 59 months

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Another CO vacation

We got back last week from another great summer getaway in CO.  We were there almost 3 weeks, well the boys and I were, Matt only made it for 5 days, but time flew by and we did all sorts of fun stuff and all really enjoyed ourselves.  Matt and I agreed that this year was the most low key and relaxing, which we both really appreciated.  I have a ridiculous amount of pics, so there are a ton here.  Some highlights of the trip included hosting Abby's baby shower, Alec learning to mountain bike, tons of hiking and time spent outside, a trip to Lake Dillon to ride a pontoon boat, my annual girls' weekend with my mom, sister, Aunt and cousins, a Rockies game, lots of Olympic watching (especially by Alec) and a wedding at the top of Emerald Mountain in Estes Park.  We also spent a lot of time just relaxing and catching up with family and friends.  As always, we love you and miss you CO and CO family and we promise to be back soon.  A special thanks to Grammy and Papa Ross for hosting us and all our craziness for 3 weeks.
Alec was very helpful with preparing for the shower.  Here are he and Grammy's homemade cupcakes
Causing trouble while the rest of us got ready for the shower

 Soon to be cousins 
The boys on our first hike in Elderado Canyon.  Alec was a true outdoorsman hiking and impressed us all with what he was able to do.
Enjoying drinks and apps at the St. Julien in Boulder, one of my favorite summer treats
Alec and his CO bff James, they were adorable together
A playdate with all his CO pals, crazy that these are all kiddos of friends I had growing up
Rockies
Our pontoon boat - the boys loved it and Alec spent the entire time pretending we were racing other boats around the lake, especially "Team Italy", a la his Olympic obsession
The pool with cousin Reid - these 2 had such a great time togther, you would never know they live 1000 miles apart, they are the best of friends
Charlie was obsessed with Miles and spent a ridiculous amount of time climbing all over him.  Unfortunately for Charlie, Brody is not at all interested in playing these games.
At the base of Mt. Sanitas.  This hike has almost a 1,000 ft elevation gain in just over a mile and Alec hiked the entire thing, even after tripping at the start and cutting his knee really badly.  He definitely impressed everyone on the trail.
The last time I did this hike with Alec he was in a pack on my back.  Man is he growing up.
With my cousin Jenny, who joined us for the hike
Reid, Alec, Quinn and Charlie enjoying Alec and Grammy's homemade cantalope popsicles
Loving Grammy's big bath tub
Stomp rockets with Uncle Jim.  Matt's sister and Aunt, Uncle and cousins were in town for a weekend, so we also got to spend some time with them
Girls + Charlie weekend - he fit right in
Emma Rose, my cousin Reagan's daughter, and Charlie, they are just 6 weeks apart in age.
An evening with all the cousins and the cousins kids, here are my cousin Chad's daughters' Avery, Ansley and Caronline, my cousin Reagan's kids Porter and Emma Rose and Alec and Charlie:)

Monday, August 6, 2012

Mountain Biking

We are having a blast in CO and have been very busy doing all the Colorado things we miss so much in Illinois.  Alec loves hiking and we have taken several great hikes with him and he also discovered the sport of mountain biking, thanks to his super cool Uncle Ross, who was also cool enough to make us another awesome video.

Here's our fearless boy on his first ride.  Enjoy!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDXGqS4KdlA&sns=em