Hot Springs Pools

One day in Steamboat, we went to their hot springs pools. They had 5 or 6 different pools, different temperature and different sizes. We had a great time and the pools felt wonderful!

The best part though at least for the toddlers was the kid area that they had. There was water spraying everywhere out of the ground and animals, little mini water slides, etc. Addysen and Cassandra had a ball! When we got there, I wished I had my video camera with. As soon as Addysen saw the play area she kept making all these extremely excited noises...it was hilarious! Her noises indicated that this was the most exciting thing that she had ever seen in her entire life and she didn't know how to contain her excitement!!

Walk

We took a bunch of walks in Steamboat...enjoying the beautiful weather and beautiful scenery being right in the mountains with a river going right down the middle of town. A few pics from our walks...

This cracked me up...Addysen figured out she had pockets in these shorts and started walking with her hand(s) in her pockets. :-)

So glad I was able to borrow a Bjorn before Steamboat! Haven wasn't sure what to think at first and got upset...but ended up getting comfortable in it and fell fast asleep in it.

The double stroller came in handy for more than just the two toddlers! Auntie Em decided to take a ride too! :-)

The clouds in Colorado are seriously the most beautiful I've ever seen anywhere. Steamboat was no exception...we saw some amazing clouds while we were there!

Daddy with his girl

My Dad had planned to take Addysen and Cassandra fishing while we were in Steamboat. I had told Addysen this and she kept asking about Papa "finding" fishies instead of catching them. :-) So we had to laugh on one of our walks, when they literally did "find" this fishie...on the wall. :-)

Cute cousins...

Steamboat Springs

At the beginning of the month, my family took a vacation in Steamboat Springs. I'd never been to a ski town in the summer so wasn't sure what to expect...but we had a ball! There were so many things to do and we had absolutely beautiful weather while were there!

The "fam"...the Platts, Johnny and Emily (brother and sister in law), my parents, and Cornel, Natalie and Cassandra (sister, brother in law and niece)

Sadly, this was the best picture of the 4 of us we got on the trip...getting a posed picture is not the easiest thing to do with a 2 year old and 2 month old!! :-)

Thanks, Mom and Dad for all you did to make this trip possible! We are so thankful for such a wonderful time all together before we all went our separate ways this year! We love you!

Lots more pictures to come...

Funny Sayings

Addysen has me cracking up all the time at the things she says. A couple funny things she's said recently...

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In one of Addysen's Bible story books, there's the story of Jesus telling Simon to go catch fish after not being able to catch any on his own. When Simon goes and he does catch lots of fish, the book goes something like "Big fish, little fish, wiggly fish, Oh My!" Addysen picked up on the "Oh my!" part and now says that all the time at the funniest times. She'll see something interesting and will say "Oh my!" So funny in her little voice and she says it so exaggerated!

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A few weeks ago I was concerned that Addysen had an infection and so I scheduled an appointment with the pediatrician. I had told her that we were going to see the doctor and he might give her some medicine. In an attempt to have her not be scared, I decided to show her a picture online of the on call doctor so she would have at least "seen" him before we got there. I pointed him out online and told her it was "this guy."

She ended up combining the fact that the Doctor may give her medicine with my description of him online as "this guy" and she now calls Doctors "Medicine Guy." She must have said "Medicine Guy!" at least 50 times when we were at the doctor's office that day...so embarrassing and I just kept hoping no one would understand her! Even when we went for her well visit I told her we were going to the doctor and she said "Medicine Guy!" :-)

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Last week, I put Addysen in time out for throwing a toy in the area of Haven. I explained to her that we have to be gentle around Haven and can't throw things around her or she could get hurt. When I went to get her out of time out, I asked her to tell me why she was in time out to which she responded "I have to obey Haven." :-) It took everything in me to keep a straight face and explain, no, you obey Mommy, not Haven...we just have to be kind and gentle to Haven. :-)

Various

These sunglasses look a bit goofy on Addysen, but I couldn't bring them back to the store because she fell in love with them! She absolutely loves these sunglasses!

Snuggles from Big Bear

Addysen's last night as a 1 year old

Love this girl!

Addysen with her Daddy at Garden of the Gods

Ok...these pictures crack me up...what a little poser!!

Haven with her Uncle Johnny

Haven with her Auntie Natalie

Escapee

One afternoon, Jeff had been playing with Addysen and went in the kitchen for a couple minutes to clean some things up. He was literally gone 2 minutes and came back in the living area and didn't see Addysen. He looked around and saw the front door was ajar. Apparently, Addysen had figured out how to open the front door (it was locked, but unless you dead bolt it, you can still open it from the inside). I'm sure there was a moment of fear until he opened the door and saw this...

I'm sure the reprimanding for going outside by herself happened later, but I think at the moment all he could do was laugh and grab the camera. In those 2 minutes alone, she figured out how to get outside, grabbed her paci, sunglasses (which she put on upside down), baby doll and some books and went out on the front porch to read. Ha! :-)

(And yes...we do now always make sure the door is dead bolted!)

Corn on the Cob

In my family, whenever there is corn on the cob on the table, you better grab what you want quick...because they get eaten up before you know it! It's a bit of an obsession with some people in the family (not naming any names Papa and Cornel).

As it turns out, this love for corn on the cob apparently this is inherited...

She ended up eating the entire thing herself...and then asked for more!! :-)

Reading

Addysen wants to make sure Haven gets to read books too...

Love that at this point in the story, the book is upside down :-)

Family

This was Addysen's idea...wanting me to hold her and her to hold Haven. Not much better than this...

This is what it's all about...we are so richly blessed...

Ladybug

When we were at the park a few weeks back, we found a ladybug that was crawling around the grass right near us. Ladybugs are probably the only bug that I'm not completely creeped out by and Addysen is enthralled with them. Fortunately this ladybug was a patient one and kept crawling on Addysen's hands and arms when we would transfer it there from a grass blade. Addysen sat so still while the ladybug crawled around and just stared at it...so excited it was crawling on her!

Big and Little

I found these outfits before Haven was born and couldn't resist. Haven now fits into hers so of course we had to do a photo shoot! The funny thing though now is that Addysen LOVES wearing this outfit...and getting to wear the same outfit as her sister! Addysen is constantly pointing to their shirts and either saying "Addysen" "Haven" or "Big Sister" "Little Sister" when they wear them. Yesterday I had them on the girls and when I went to get Addysen ready for bed, while I was trying to get her sleeper on, Addysen was trying to get her Big Sister shirt back on!

Auntie Jess

The girls' Auntie Jess (Jeff's sister) came in town for a few days over Addysen's birthday to meet Haven and spend time with the girls. It was so special having her here...the girls got a ton of extra love and attention!! Plus, for a tired Mommy, it was invaluable having her help for a few days!!

Jeff and Jessica

She's pretty comfy with her Auntie already! :-)

Walk in the Garden of the Gods with Jeff and Addysen

...and with Addysen, a run is always involved as well! :-)

Auntie Jess got to enjoy one of Addysen's favorite activities also...playing with rocks and dirt!

We honestly can't thank you enough for how much you invest in these girls' lives, Jessica. You are an amazing Auntie and these girls are so blessed to be able to call you that. Thank you for always making an effort to spend time with them (and us!) even across the miles and for all the love you show to them and for all your help for me while you were here! We love you!