This One's Dedicated to Ma Boys

Josiah, you have a great Papa - he loves you so much. This is so someday you can see how much Papa loved you when you were little, but growing big and strong.

Papa cuddles you,

holds you,

camps with you,

and dances with you.

He comforts you,

protects you,

kisses you,

and listens to you.

He hangs with you,

hikes with you,

laughs with you,

talks with you,

walks with you,

and washes your hair,

but most of all...

he's there.

We love you Papa!

Dirty Day

It was another gorgeous Fall day so we decided to get out so Papa could boulder. This was also an exploratory trip for Josiah who has previously watched us boulder form his carseat (ya, those days are over!). Baby Stone started out out on a blanket playin with some... Stones :)

and rocks

then Papa started his warm-up...


"warming up" on a V6


I was just thinking how great it was that Josiah was content to sit on his little 2X2 blanket...

and then he progressed to other objects such as twigs and foilage...

by the time we left he was like Pig-Pen - little dust cloud and all.

Papa got to do his V9 (which he down graded to a V8 after he did it the first time). I really should have filmed this differently - but it was my first try. So you'll have to tilt your head 90 degrees to the right and imagine Pete on a 40 degree angle in addition.

Another beautiful day with Mama and Papa

First Halloween

So I just happen to find a Halloween outfit in a box of items a friend passed along to me. It happened to be the perfect size for Josiah this Halloween, so again I thought it would be fun to go out and take pictures of him in the leaves with his adorable little "Tigger" costume on.

We headed out down 3rd Ave. after I got home from work about 5:00. I couldn't believe the swarms of parents and kids already on the prowl for candy. It was incredible - I thought you had to wait until after dark to trick or treat. I saw several people I knew with their little ones - so cute. The most adorable was a little lamby outfit with the big long ears. One of the parents reminded me that at this age it's more for us than them - so true.

Anyway I was determined to get some pictures of him in the leaves before the sun went down so I raced off down 3rd Ave toward the park on 12th St. I stopped briefly at this location but the sun wasn't right...

Playing with his pumpkin

We made it to the park just in time for the perfect twi-light

Tigger practicing his clawing craft

I had to take this one so you could see the tail - it was so cute

For his cooperation, on the way home I let him have a treat, a molasses teething biscuit that Grandma had sent. You can see he had a lot of fun with it...

Papa got home just in time to see Baby J in his costume before I cleaned him up

That was so fun!

Fall Days

It's been the most beautiful Autumn here in Durango since we moved here. The days have been gorgeous with mid 70 temperatures. We thought it would be fun to go take some pictures of Josiah in the leaves...He'd never played in the leaves before so he was quite interested - so unfortunately we didn't get many pictures with him actually looking at the camera!

Great Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary

This August Josiah and I were able to go to Yosemite to celebrate his Great Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary, how fun! He's only been with his extended family a couple of times so this was a real treat. Not to mention he was able to go to Yosemite for the first time ever (which is a very special place for Pete and I, and we hope will be for him too). I can't believe I didn't get a picture of J with both of his great grandparents so here is a picture of when he met them when he was 8 weeks old.So our trip started off in San Diego where my parents picked us up from the airport and took us out to lunch at a great little french bistro near the beach.

this was the first time Josiah was in a high chair so some extra acoutriments were required, thus the dish towel/boink padding/chew toy. I celebrated not having to eat with him on my lap :).

The next day was the whirlwind trip up to Yosemite. We all met in a Denny's parking lot outside of Los Angeles to car pool. Great Aunt Monique (and Great Uncle Bill in back)

2nd cousin Jess, Great Grandma and Grandma holding J

Cousin Scarlet - they can't wait to play!

Our first stop once in the park was the Wawona to check Great Grandma and Grandpa in - this is where they were married 60 years ago and where they would be staying one night.

Cousin Ariana and Uncle Reece

On the way into the Valley we went through the mile long tunnel. Josiah has always done this funny thing when he enters into the darkness. He thinks that if he opens his eyes wider he'll be able to see better -so I took a picture of him when we went into the tunnel.

Here's us at the tunnel view with Cousin Ariana, Auntie Annie, Unlce Barry, Great Grandpa, and baby J showin' some leg.

The next day my best friend Lily came to visit us in Yosemite with her daughter Chenoa - it was so great to see them. Lily and I used to work in Yosemite together and we have so many great memories of the Valley and climbing. She hadn't met Josiah yet, so this day was really special. Chenoa loved Josiah and was so great with him - she wanted to feed him, carrry him, hold him and love him and she also wants a baby brother or sister - hint, hint Lars and Lils.

J gettin' lots of lovin' from Chenoa

Me n Lils being are usual crazy selves

The next day some of us decided to hike half dome. My mom offered to watch Josiah so I could go - thanks Mom! It was nice to get out for the day and not worry about J's wake, eat, sleep schedule. Here's some photos from that day...

Half dome crew

base of Vernal FallsCrazy unclesPit stop

A swiming hole we would take advantage of on the way back

Just before the cables

Cables on half dome

My dad enjoying the swimming hole

Josiah in good hands when I got back

The next day we all went up to Toulumne Meadows which is my grandpa's favorite. Unfortunately we were stormed out. We tried to picnic at Tenaya Lake but it was cold and rainy - oh well, it was still beautiful.

This was taken in the 5 minutes between unpacking and packing back up again

Uncle Gabe and Reece at Tenaya

A stop at the meadow to play with great unlce Micah's mustache

The Greats

The following day was the big celebration we'd all come for. We all rode up to Wawona ( I got to ride on the back of my uncle's Harley which was sooo fun) to have a celebration luncheon. See guests of honor below (Great Grandpa Tony and Great Grandma Jean) with their children (Josiah's great unlce Micah, Grandma Deidre, Great Uncle Karig and Great Aunt Monique).

Josiah clearly having a good time celebrating - he said he couldn't believe how long he had waited for this : ).

I thought it was neat that almost none of the people in that banquet hall would have been there that day had it not been for my grandparents - what a legacy they are leaving with their growing family.

Our family picture, almost complete, just missing Pete

Once we got back to San Diego we went to the beach for Josiah's first sandy experience - he loved it. He has a thing for textures so he loved feeling around in the sand - something new.

He didn't mind that grandma's plum was sandy eitherAh, this picture reminds me of all the pasty white people I used to stare at when I lived in CA and went to the beach. California girl no more.

Uncle Reecie takin' J down to the water

This is actually a monumental photo that will be saved forever, to document that my Mom did indeed go into the water at the beach, while I was living.

Havin' fun with uncle Reecie.

We had a great trip -and now Josiah is stocked up on lovin' for the next year!