Summer Vacation 2009

So we just came back from a great summer vacation - we spent a week up in Jackson, Teton NP, and Yellowstone NP. These are some of our most favorite places! Mason did really well and only had one short relapse of pneumonia. He toughed it out and we had a great time.

We started with an important stop in Star Valley on our drive up to see Aunt Mary Isabell. She's one of our most favorite relatives. It was really good to see her!

She sent us across the road to the local dairy. Of course, being city boys, we thought the tractor was cool and had to take our pictures with it. I'm sure the local farmer thought we were silly!

We got to pet the calves. Mommy especilly liked this one on the left - he reminded us of our dalmatian dog, Copper (except that Copper is liver-spotted: brown and white instead of the typical black and white).Cousin Barton stopped by in his big semi and let us hop in to test out the driver's seat. I was just a bit nervous about the whole thing - it was sooo much louder up close and personal!We had our timeshare condo up in Jackson for the week. Grandpa and Grandma G. spent a few days with us before leaving for a reunion and then to head home. This is a picture of me and Sam out in front. We ate at all our favorite eating places and shopped at all mommy's favorite shopping places.We had to take the required picture under the Jackson Elkhorn Arch. See Aunt Jen Jen's blog for a quick story about catching us there on the local web cam. We took a spin around the town in a stagecoach too. We loved it! We also got away from town and spent some quality time in the Tetons. We tried to take Grandpa and Grandma on the tram to the top of the Tetons but we got rained out. Here are daddy, mommy, and the boys on a hike around Jenny Lake to Moose Ponds.

Even though we had the condo all week, we decided to spend a couple of nights up in Yellowstone NP so that we didn't have to make the long drive up and back each day to sight see. Yellowstone had lots to see and do.

Here is a picture of me on our hike at Pelican Point. It was so green and pretty. And yes, I actually hiked this whole hike - on my very own legs.We saw some of the great Yellowstone sights - we love the Canyon area. This is upper falls. Unfortunately this was my pneumonia relapse day so we didn't do some of the hikes we planned for this day. Just seeing the sights and taking a nice long drive up and back through the Lamar Valley was enough for my little body for this day.Here is a picture of me peeking over the edge of the Canyon of the Yellowstone. Mommy (who has a nasty fear of heights) barely let go of me - - just one small rock between me and the deep, deep canyon!Here is a picture that daddy snapped early one morning at our hotel in Yellowstone. Don't ask!

We drove up to Mammoth Hot Springs at the very north end of the park. Mommy and daddy said it wasn't nearly as active and colorful as it has been in the past, but it was still pretty cool to see. One lady we overheard as we walked around thought that this was all man-made! We saw hot pots! Crazy stuff if you ask me - definately not man-made! We took a great hike on our way back from Yellowstone NP to Jackson . . . it was to Ice Lake. It was in the middle of a burned area that had really come back nicely with new pines. Not all of the burned parts have been this lucky.Here's a picture of me and daddy balancing on a big fallen log. Daddy tried sooooo hard to catch a frog for me here. He said they were the fastest frogs he's ever seen. We did get to see some great animals on our trip. Moose . . .Big Horn Sheep - which are rare for us in these parks.Buffalo - definately plentiful this year. This guy liked to rest among the pretty purple flowers.We also saw some elk, antelope, and osprey. This coyote jumped out onto the road right in front of us as we were driving between Mammoth and Tower. He was spooked by something but we never did see what scared him out. We FINALLY saw our bear for this trip. Sadly it was a big wooden one near our condo in Jackson. We'll have to take it for this year.

And this is mommy's favorite view in all of the Tetons NP - - Oxbow Bend. It is a great place to see wildlife and just to experience peace and beauty!

Sam Alert: Hey there - what a great summer vacation! I could get used to these things! I love the wind in my hair and mosquito bites all over my head. Yes, mommy forgot to put bug spray on my head - it's hard to find good parents these days! And this is a picture of me in the cab of cousin Barton's truck. What's there to be scared of? I feel quite at home! If someone could just help me with the pedals! And a cup/bottle holder please.

Sam out!

A Slow Summer Week

I guess if we have to have a slow week during our "summer of fun" this was it. Who knew a little guy could get pneumonia in the middle of summer? I sure didn't - and boy it hit me hard! Sunday morning I was feeling great and by Sunday night I had a 102 degree temperature and was miserable. Monday was worse. By Tuesday morning, we were at the doctor's office and they were running all kinds of tests. Finally they said it was pneumonia and gave me some great drugs and sent me home to be miserable in my own bed.

The good news is that I'm feeling a little bit better every day. I still have to take it easy but things are looking up. Here I am getting the newspaper and mail for mom. I am quite the good little helper!

The other fun news of the week is that Grandpa and Grandma G. came to visit us. I had a fun time introducing them to my naughty gnomes. This is us under daddy's giant sunflowers.

Sam Alert: Hi everybody. This week's pictures of me are all about food - - I don't really know why since I don't eat a lot of the stuff, but the family finally found a few food items I did want to partake of. Ever try banana bread batter - trust me - - super yummy! It's even better with two hands!

And really . . . can you blame me for loving fresh corn on the cob from a farmer's roadside stand? Who doesn't love this!

I'm busy taking care of Mason (and playing with all his fun toys while he's resting) and we'll be back in strong form next week!

Sam Out!

More Summer Fun!

I know that we keep saying how much we're enjoying our summer - and it still holds true for this last week. So much to do - and it's going by so quickly!

First I realized that I haven't shown you the Gnomes that have come to live in our garden. They showed up about a month ago and must like it here because they have stayed. A quick background - one of my favorite Thomas the Tank videos involves a "gang" of "Naughty Gnomes" and they have been a joke in our family since we saw that episode. Then one summer morning, our own Gnomes showed up. They stay still during the days but move around at night and I always find them in different spots in the garden every morning. Sometimes they bring new friends - they're sneaky little gnomes. We love having them in our yard!

Our Monday activity this week was Bowling. We invited our friends Bart and Randy to go with us. We had a great time. I bowled a 112 and a 117. This is a picture of me, Bart, and daddy.Sam even got in on the bowling action! He was pretty good for a little guy!Here's an action shot of me bowling - good form, huh!Me and my friend Bart! Uncle Randy is bowling - you can see his back.Boys and a bucket of balls - dumped down the stairs. I think this is called stair-surfing! Don't be alarmed - I'm wearing a safety diaper.

We did a cool craft this week - we made some new animals. Sam got in on his first craft. He made this giraffe.And here are my dog, dinosaur, and chameleon.We got a fun new yard swing this week - it's daddy and mommy's anniversary coming up. They say it's been 16 years that they've been married - and I'm pretty sure the first 13 weren't nearly as fun as the last 3 years with Sam and me around.Daddy has been growing some giant sunflowers this year. Look how tall they are getting! I've been working on my roller-skating skills this week. Who knew that skating took so much concentration! Sam Alert: Hi there - Sam here. I love being outside - - beautiful flowers (to smash or pluck or eat). Mom and dad keep saying that I'm the trouble maker. I say that I'm "adventurous" and that I love to try new things. I'll let you be the judge!

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

Oh how we love summer! This summer just keeps getting better and better!

We took care of some "required" things this week as well as had a lot of fun. I had a dentist appointment. They took pictures of my teeth and counted them. Then they polished them and flossed my teeth. I actually quite enjoyed myself. I wasn't scared or anything (most of the time)! I got a new toothbrush and some dinosaur flossers when I was done. Dr. Dunn said I passed with flying colors - no cavities or anything!

For arts and craft time this week - I decorated up a safari hat. It's my Curious George hat. Very cool!
Then for our Monday activity this week, mommy chose swimming at our local aquatic center. This is where I took swimming lessons, but during open plunge they turn on all the fun stuff.
We had a great time - just relaxing . . . . . . playing in the fountains and squirters . . .
and going down the water slides (little ones just my size and a big, big one for mommy and daddy!).Then one afternoon we decided to find a new park to play at. This one is a few blocks from our house and we've driven by it lots. I always ask to go play at it and we finally got our chance. They had lots of fun stuff to play on.After the park, we went to get ice cream. Yum!I still love to help mow the grass. I'm pretty darn good at it too!

We got out our bucket of balls and played. Sam thought this was really fun - when I wasn't sitting on him! Mommy called this fun activity - Ice Treasures. She made a big block of ice with lots of little "treasures" frozen inside of it for us to melt and find. It was really fun!

Oh how we love summertime!

Sam Alert: Hey there! Good times are being had by everyone this summer. Who knew a bucket of balls could be so much fun!

Ice cream is always a big hit with me! I still can't figure out why my head hurts after I scarf it down?

And summertime means we get to be outside lots - LOVE IT!

Happy Independence Day!

Can you believe that it is already the 4th of July? It seems impossible that our summer is flying by so quickly. We LOVE summer time - we generally stay up later, play hard, and do fun things.

I finished up my first session of swimming lessons this week. I did really well. Here is a picture of me jumping off the deck in to the pool.Our newest tradition is to have a family activity on Monday evenings. This Monday was daddy's choice - and he chose fishing. We found some cool fishing ponds down in the river bottoms near our house - unfortunately it was super hot out and the fish just weren't biting. We had fun trying though.Then we stopped and had a picnic at a park near our house. This is Sam and me and daddy wrestling on the grass. Daddy let me drive the truck when we moved it into a shaddy spot. Mommy said she about had a heart attack when she saw this!I've also been getting in some arts and crafts this week. Daddy brought home some modeling clay and we made a snowman family out of the clay. Can you see us all? There's daddy, mommy, me, Sam, and Copper. I even made our house.Then daddy picked out some fun wooden cars for me to paint. I really, really like to paint. These little cars already have about 5 coats of paint on them as I decide to change colors every time I pick up a brush. Sam and I can play together really well - most of the time. Here is a picture to document our good times!

Our Independence Day is all about traditions. Our tradition is spending the day with our neighbors for a big block party. We started out with breakfast with Aunt Lu, Uncle Randy, and Bart on their deck. We were the only ones who were able to make breakfast this year (Aunt Cindy snuck over in her pajamas for a quick bite too, but don't tell anyone). Then after our naps it was food, friends, and fireworks out in our circle.Here is me, Sam, and mommy watching the fireworks. Boy was our circle full of lots of trash after we were done. It was worth it!Mommy taught Sam and me the proper way to express our appreciation of a good fireworks display - - - "Ohhhhhhh, Ahhhhhh".Sam Alert: Hi everybody! Sam here - I'm finally into the 17 pound range now . . . packing on the pounds - that is my summer job. Life is great. My most favorite place to play is on the stairs - wouldn't you know. I'm really enjoying summer time. I've finally gotten used to the feel of grass on my skin. I still don't love that feeling, but I can stand it enough to get around as fast as I can. For some reason I love to pluck mommy's flowers - maybe it's their pretty colors and soft petals. I love to cruise around and to do anything my big bro is doing!