Camping, Cousins & Children's Museum!!

The last few weeks have been BUSY BUSY BUSY! Two weekends ago, we got out for our first, and last, camping weekend of the summer. With Mason being born and visits from family, we were very limited as far as time away this summer. But we did manage to get away, and Papa, Geez, and Miles were even able to take an extra day off of work so we had a three day weekend. While it was kind of stressful and time-consuming to pack up five people, coordinate food between all of us, and actually get our feet out the door, making the memories and being away from home made every second worth it!

Our favorite place to camp is El Vado lake in Northern NM. The lake is generally cold, but also not very crowded and big enough to ski, wake board, jet ski, tube, etc. When we arrived on Friday night, we were SHOCKED to see how low the water level was. It was so sad... the lake was probably 70 feet down from where it normally is. Here's to a wet, snowy winter so our 2013 skiing season is better!

Miles and Max both got out on the jet ski and the tube... and while the littlest boys were napping during the day, Miles V came out on the boat with us while Geez held down the fort at camp :0). Here are just a few pictures from that weekend! Our first camping weekend as a family of 5 was a huge success!!!

So handsome!!!

Awesome skiing!!

Miles loved playing with the soap bubbles from the wake board!

Mason loving the outdoors, and his Geez, as usual!

Playing outside the camper on our beautiful lake

And of course, S'MORES!!!

Thanks PapaGeez for making it such a great weekend!

Labor Day weekend our sister, brother-in-law and nephew came into town from Tucson for a much overdue visit. It had been way too long since we had been together! Friday we took the kiddos to the zoo:.

Waiting for Amber, Charlie, James & Gma Jean!


Watching the monkeys!

Now if you know me at all, you know I have an fear of birds, bats, butterflies, really anything that has the potential to fly at my head. And no, it doesn't have to start with a B. :0). Irrational fear, yes, but fear none-the-less. So when Amber & Charlie wanted to take the kiddos in to feed the birds at the zoo, I was very happy to sit outside, hold Mason, and take pictures. And I was very thankful that I did stay outside after a bird decided to land on Amber's head. Let me tell you, I would have needed my diaper changed if that had been me in there!!! :0) Anyway, below is a picture where you can kind of see Miles V feeding the birds.



After the birds, Miles read his first word! He is very interested in sounding out words lately, so he walked over to the Koala sign, sounded out the letters, and then said "Kooooaaaaaalllllla". "Koala!" I am so proud of my big guy!




Of course the weekend wouldn't have been complete without some sprinkler and Costco fun :0)

Finally we rounded out our busy weekend with a trip to the local children's museum, Explora. I have been wanting to take the boys for over a year. Somehow we just never made it. Miles wanted to go with us too, and Monday mornings they have 'Toddler Time' at 9am for kids 4 and under. Since Miles was off for Labor Day on Monday, it was the perfect time to go. The boys LOVED it so much that we bought an annual pass... they could have stayed for hours. Can't wait until we can go back!

Mace had a blast too :0)

Did I mention that this place has the biggest, coolest elevator that I've ever seen?!?!



Daddy got in on the action by riding the high-wire bike!



I love the pure joy and wonder in the boys faces in these two pictures!

I could go on, and on, and on in pictures but frankly, this post has taken me a span of four days, and WAAAY to long to complete so I'm stopping here. Hope you enjoyed it... until next time.....