A Walking Prodigy

What we're learning...when you child does something that he's naturally supposed to do through the cycle of maturation, it seems supernatural to first time parents. As if taking first steps is the equivalent to flying. About a week ago Dude figured out how to put one foot in front of the other and is now walking from furniture to other objects he desires to visit with. Today he started getting up on one foot and one knee in the middle of the room and would get SO frustrated when he couldn't make his way to a standing position. He wants more than anything to just stand up and go. That's progress!

We still giggle like school girls every time he walks toward us. "Isn't he so smart and athletic!" we say to one another. He giggles right along with us and has to stand for a while when he's laughing too hard to balance adequately. We also laugh when he bails, so today he started falling as hard as he could and looking at us with glee, waiting for our chuckles. We had to force a non reaction to avoid the game of falling overtaking the actual walking. What a joy the dude is. Enjoy the flick..

Dude's Life is Now One Big Yawn

The dude is in with drawl. His Nana & Papa were here for almost 2 weeks and changed his reality a bit. He was spoiled both in material items and in full blown attention. He became the center of the universe and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread (literally...he loves sliced bread). We also thoroughly enjoyed having them here. It's pretty cool that they got to spend every waking minute with the dude. That's a lot of quality time. They did a lot of babysitting, which was awesome. Free babysitting round these parts doesn't typically occur. We ate well, played a lot of Settlers, hung out with the Jansen clan and completed a lot of projects around the house that we never would have gotten around to on our own (the laundry room no longer has a cute clothes line border and powder blue walls, the patio chairs no longer sink your behind to the ground when you sit down and our dead pine tree landscape theme in the back corner is now a beautiful perennial garden). THANK YOU my dear parents!

Dude sat in this box for an hour just talking to himself and the birds.

They also taught the dude a few key life lessons. He now knows how to go down stairs. "Knees first!" He backs up to all stairs now, often way to early, but that's humorous to watch.
Since crawling is hard on his knees on the cement, our new method for walking looks a bit like an ape. See the video for evidence. Just recently, the pool has become dude's most favorite place to be. Getting thrown around and splashing provides endless entertainment. Right when we thought the dude wouldn't ever say anything other than "ball," he started randomly repeating words. That's fun stuff. The night Nana & Papa left he also took 4 steps, which was exhilarating for us as the parents of a 15 month old kid who can't yet walk. No pressure Dude.

We miss Nana & Papa already, but our week in Chi-town will be here before we know it! Thanks for the visit guys...it was 2 weeks of heaven for us all.

Soon after this shot, our buddy Brady jumped in the pool and found himself at the bottom. Luckily his mom is a quick responder:)

Using Our George W Money

After finding out that we would be gifted with a check from our fearless leader (I called it Bush money), we decided that we deserved a luxury vaca. Once we lined up my parents to come out and stay with the Dude, we explored many options...Seattle, Boston, Maine, Wine Country in California...the possibilities thrilled us. The plan was to travel with friends from Chicago but when they got prego with twins, those plans changed. Unfortunately the Bush Money wasn't going to pay for a trip to Wine Country for just the two of us footing the bill.

Never fear...we always have backup plans in place. Our friends Cara and Wes were on board to join us instead, but only had 3 days available rather than a week, so we choose the next best thing. A decision that I think many of you would have made. We went to Nebraska.

Most of you probably aren't aware that there's a large body of water in Nebraska...the one attraction that causes folks like us to get in the car, drive through a whole lot of nothing with bathing suites, towels and a lot of alcohol filling the trunk. When you finally see the 14 mile stretch they call Lake Maconahay, the heavens open and you're filled with a sense of relief that there truly is a reason you just drove to this land of a whole lot of very white people who use words like "aint" and "shit no."

We resided in the unit on the far left and had views of the lake from our balcony.

Lucky for us, a lovely couple just recently built a set of charming little townhouses for rent. The trailer park rentals were the other option and it might have been enough to cause our little Volvo to turn around without looking back. We rented a power boat, minus the power...not enough to get myself or Wes up on skis, but who's to say that was the boat's fault. Tubing was the highlight, along with the rare occasion where we saw another boat on the lake.

My better half looking oh so athletic.

This is the vehicle that dumped our boat into the water. They have their own ways of doing things in Nebraska.

You see, most people figure it's nuts to participate in water sports when the water temp is 45-50 degrees. We were there to party, so we had to buck up and deal. My chicken self even took the plunge and jumped in oh so elegantly. I've never been coined a swan for good reason. The first day was a blast. We all fried and enjoyed the great outdoors...even when we stopped to remind ourselves that we were in Nebraska on vacation. We grilled, played games, slept in and when we woke up on day #2, it was 50 degrees and rainy. Naturally we went home. There was literally nothing else to do. The town of Ogalalla doesn't even offer a movie theatre, let alone a Walmart. Bummer, but all in all a good time was had by all.

Proof that it was a bit chilly.

No one said we were an elegant bunch.

If you're considering spending your Bush Money on a unique and not often thought of as vaca, please don't hesitate to call us. We'll put you on Highway 80 and guide you right where the farm land meets the most random massive body of water Nebraska has to offer.

Grub, Booze & a Pair of Red Shoes

It's not often you get to sit in your backyard, drink Smirnof Ice, eat PB&J squares, mingle with a random mix of fine folk and listen to an hour of live music worth talkin' about. We were fortunate enough to get that opportunity last night. If it weren't for the 8 houses within arms reach (okay, 2 arms reach) of our patio, you would have thought you were in a private outdoor arena under the stars.

A college friend of ours is touring the country doing “Living Room Concerts.” Essentially, he drives from state to state and performs original music for folks, both strangers and friends. He started this concept about a year ago and has only rested his head on his own pillow for 2 weeks since. The concept has taken off. We offered to host him at what we called our “Grub, Booze & a Pair of Red Shoes" party. And we're glad we did! This dutchman has talent and he was able to share his amazing songwriting, vocal and instrumental talent with a handful of Denverites.

His name is Jon Troast and he wears signature red shoes at every performance. Check him out at www.jontroast.com . You won't regret it! Samples of his music can be found on his website and can also be purchased on iTunes. If you want to host him in your living room (or back patio), just contact him and set it up. It's what he does and it's pretty darn cool. Thanks for including our abode in your nationwide tour Jon. The pleasure was ours.

A Beautiful Way to Spend a Weekend

You've gotta love opportunities to venture off to a place on God's earth you've never seen before and very well might never see again. Oregon was this place for us over the weekend. What a marvelous corner of the earth it is. You're surrounded by towering mountains, plush green trees & grass, flowers blooming like wildfire, rivers bubbling, waterfalls plummeting, quaint towns welcoming and the friendliest people on earth. And in the midst of all that you had Vogelzangs. Lots of them.

A slew of people from across the country joined together to celebrate Nick and Caylei's nuptuals in the mountains of Southern Oregon. They officially got married in Whistler, Cananda this past winter and organized a big event for family and friends to celebrate with them. We, of course, wanted to be there to take part in the festivities.

Like I said, there were many Vogelzangs. As well as ever flowing alcohol, delectable food, spa days, men paid to pump your gas, (it's required by law), bocce ball, meeting new folk, dancing, shuttle buses that couldn't make it up the mountain, Uncle Bob saving the day but nearly finishing off hikers in the process, a bed made up in white linens hanging from the trees, Dude sleeping in the hotel bathroom and Mom and Dad using the lobby bathrooms to get ready for bed, midnight PB&J's and cookies, quality time with Grandparents, scrubbing of automobile carpeting, 40 foot snow drifts at Crater Lake, a blissfully happy bride and groom, off-the-cuff wedding toasts, a well-deserved slap in the head, a Jewish Bill Gates wearing a blue tie, a romantic drive through the back roads of Oregon.....it was a great weekend.

Congrats Nick and Caylei! It's awesome to see you so incredibly happy. We wish nothing but the best for you. Vogelzangs, we look forward to our next rendezvous! It's always an adventure.

Slideshow from Oregon

Pre-Jack

Another couple friend of ours is due with baby Jack in the coming week, so photo shoot #2 for the week took place yesterday. Baby Burke James of the post below was born on Saturday! He's nearly 7 pounds and Mom and babe are doing great. Congrats to them on a tough but successful delivery! Here's hoping Jack decides to wait until we get back from Oregon this weekend to arrive. We've been anxiously awaiting his entrance into this world. Although I'm pretty sure his parents would welcome him any second now if he so chose.

Awaiting the Bebes

We have approximately 32 friends who are expecting at the moment. Ok, maybe more like 13. Still, a crazy number of little peanuts in utero. Adam and Kirst are a part of our phenomenal small group and are expecting their "bebes" literally any minute. Poor Kirst has been feeling regular contractions for a week now. We went out yesterday and took her mind off of the constant pain by doing a photo shoot. Above are a few of my favorites.

The Photoshoot

The Sweet Pleasures of Motherhood

My boys spoiled me today...well, most days they do, but especially today. I don't remember what it was like to wake up and not be a mom. I can't imagine life without this little stinker in it. We had some quality fam time today and then went to Oma B's house with the Denver family for a cook-out. It was 75 and sunny and the mountains were as clear and beautiful as I've ever seen. There were many gentle reminders today...chocolate pancakes, fellowship at church, a one year old's constant giggling, time with friends, good food, pampering from a phenomenal husband, etc. etc. of just how good God is.