Mus @ 14,264'4.5" - Mt. Evans

::: echo lake :::

::: mt. goat mus :::

::: mt. evans summit marker @ 14,264'4.5" :::

 ::: Mus & Andrew w/ summit lake below :::

info @  http://www.mountevans.com

Monkey

At 7 months old, Alekzander is truly a little monkey. 

Mia caught him doing this yesterday:

Pulling up on his own.

To reach a desired toy.

I think it is cute, but it is also TROUBLE.

Remember the song?  You can sing it.

At our 6 month well-visit with the pediatrician,

the doctor commented on Alekzander's strength and flexibility.  

He also said that Alekzander could be a little gymnast.

"Or a monkey," I said.

Andrew later corrected me by saying that Alekzander will never be a monkey.  

Not even when he grows up.

But...he certainly does act like a little monkey.

Best Friends

Best friends taste each other, right?

Drama in the 'Wood

During a pre-Pops in the Park dinner party tonight, we experienced some drama.  Very calmly, in the middle of a forecasted storm, Ryan informed me that a tree (our tree) fell on our neighbor's house.  Not once, but twice.  According to our resident meteorologist, Brad Panovich, our little area of the 'Wood experienced 40-50 mph down drafts (of wind/air).  Enough to take down a large tree in our back yard ... in three pieces. 

Alekzander slept through the entire storm even though I ran upstairs to make sure that the crepe myrtle outside his window wasn't threatening to force its way through.  We finished our dinner, and then witnessed a parade of people stop by to see the damage.  Luckily it is not bad structurally, but it will take some muscle and (professional) ingenuity to remove the tree.  Unfortunately, my muscle man is in Colorado enjoying these views, 14,000 feet high.

Oh, how we wish he was present to un-dramatize the drama.

Mus is loose! - Denver

Leaving a 7 month old (and wife) for almost a week is going to be tough.  I know Alekzander will grow up and change even more than I can imagine.  I'm looking forward to the conference and will be excited to see Alekzander when I get home but not looking forward to how much he'll have changed in my eyes.  Although, maybe he'll be driving and can pick Dad up from the airport?!

Well... Alekzander's (Ikea) 'Mus' (pronounced like moose) must have thought I'd be lonely in Denver at the ISTE conference without either of my "little a's" (ashley & alekzander).  Stowing away in my luggage, he decided to come along and keep me company (I hope he told Ashley and Alekzander first!).

Mus will be a guest blogger to show his experiences around Denver.  Mus is sure to be spending a lot of his time in "blogger's cafe" at ISTE.

Mus at an IT conference... can't you just see his excitement?!

Hardly Starvin' in Marvin

On the menu:

Homemade chicken salad with grapes and walnuts

Fresh greens salad

Couscous and black bean salad

Black bean cakes

Strawberries

Decadent chocolate pie

We visited Marvin, NC today for lunch.  Marvin is a breath of fresh air with horse farms, gravel roads, and wooded land and is home to our sweet friends, Diana and her cute baby, Oliver.  We enjoyed a yummy, healthy (large) lunch and watched the boys play together.  Alekzander's idea of playing included tasting his little friend, squealing at his little friend, and stealing his toys.  Oliver was not entirely pleased with these interactions, but they sure are cute together!

Big, busy 7 month old!!

Alekzander trying to steal Oliver's toy

Sweet "Oz"

Get Down Low

Even though I was partially hidden behind the camera during this photo shoot, my favorite part of this challenge was seeing the world through "Zoo's view" ... down low.  I don't love that the camera picked up glimmers of every single animal hair on the floor or the smeared carrot on the left side of Alekzander's head, but I do love Alekzander's eyebrow (and expression) in the first picture.  His open mouthed excitement in the second.  And his sweet, curious smile in the third.  And the dimple on his chin.  Pretty adorable.

Love, love, love the view.

You Capture - Get Down Low