tiger rag

Here's photos from our recent long weekend trip to Wisconsin. The first ones are of Sam's parent's house, recently moved into, and quite spectacular (designed by Sam for those who don't know). I realize this is technically Eleri's blog, but her daddy gets some bragging space too :-)

at the airport on the way back home

with recently married Grandma Anne at House on the Rock

helping make cinnamon rolls in the new kitchen

family portrait after the wedding

base jumping

Eleri jumped off this rock in Yankee Boy Basin about a hundred times. And it never got less cute. She likes to count these days, and a good thing too. It's the only thing that keeps her from launching off rocks, or the side of the pool without someone being there to catch her.

susan

imitation is the highest form of flattery....

Brought to you by the letter "D"

Eleri's list of words continues to expand. Just this last week she decided to start saying "mama", which warms my heart. She also has started to say "up", "help" (which sound the same), "water", "eleri". The most prolific words, though, are of her own design -- all of which start with the letter "D". "dawa", "dewiss", "dewhadis", "dow"(cow), "do"(go), "dall"(ball). And she can string them together, "da da da doooo". She continues to be very selective about which words she chooses to say ("boba", "no"), and those which she has no interest in saying, but could probably say easily ("nap", "more"). Go figure.



Last weekend we had fun in Ouray with Becky, Drew and Debbie. Did some hiking, soaking, and lounging. Here's some pics and vid.










close up of the hiking boots from grandma anne. she got them all muddy, and thought they were great.

pigging out on ice cream. she ate all of susan and samuel's strawberry scoop, refusing several times to share.

We just returned from a week in South Carolina visiting Grandpa Hans and Nana Sandy, having a grand time. Eleri got to play with her cousins Koty, Tyler, Vinnie and Baby Jaxon and snuggle with her Uncle Jeff at Myrtle Beach. Where's the pictures, you ask? Silly mommy forgot the camera. Maybe Grandpa Hans will have some on his blog. Thanks Grandpa and Nana for having us, it was great to see you!

Does blogging more make me miss her less? Of course not, but I certainly have more time for it. The short kid is spending a long weekend in WI with 3 of her grandparents, her tio and tia. Sam and I are working long hours most of the weekend, although I have had today off. I finished painting the blue wall in the backyard, cleaned up the garden, and had some quality alone time. Here are some non-Eleri photos (gasp!) mixed in with some cuties. This is the current state of our backyard project. The shade structure over the patio will get finished probably sometime in the next couple of weeks. Hot tub in place, crepe myrtle in bloom, garden full of bounty (I picked 2# of mixed greens and 33 cherry tomatoes today--26 ears of corn are gestating) -- a regular "paradise" as sam would say.

looking fly in daddy's shoes and socks

this is a good squinky eye caught for posterity

modeling the new shoes that grandma sandvig sent her

Pics from our long weekend in indiana. see susan's blog for details and more. the last photo is eleri in the jeep on the drive to the airport-- a little sleepy, a little breezy, a lot of snuggly.

Here's some pics from the second half of the trip. You may notice a lot of pool pictures, that is representative. There are a few videos on youtube as well.

At the house in Sayulita

In a store in Sayulita, that inexplicably had a floor of sand. On purpose.

Pouring with the cups, probably her most favorite activity in all the world. Well, maybe after eating ice cream.

beach bum

The aforementioned most favorite activity, which was enjoyed every morning at the beach, and always, an ice cream sandwich was chosen from the freezer.

again at the house in sayulita. You can see the waterfall in the background, and the noodles in the armpits.

This is at the aguas termales (hot springs pools) in San Juan Cosala, near Ajijic. There were several different pools of different temperatures, a vapor cave, and a very sweet set of kiddie pools, connected by a river channel. We spent a long time here, wearing lots of sunscreen.

Pumping up at the park by the lake in Ajijic

Feeding the giraffe on safari at the Guadalajara zoo

At the Museo de Cultural Cabanas in Guadalajara, a very cool modern art museum

Participating in an art installation in Guadalajara

In front of a beautiful fountain in Guadalajara with Grandma

goofin' off in the car on the way to Guadalajara

Back from the beach

Holding the 2 week old jaguar baby at the Puerto Vallarta zoo.

Moving the furniture around in a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta

After 24 hours back in the country, time to make a blog post. We just returnd from a 2 week trip to Mexico, visiting Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Ajijic, and Sayulita, and having a grand time. Lots and lots of pictures taken, many of which will be posted. Videos will be on Youtube in the next few days. Eleri is really an aquaphile, and enjoyed lots of swimming on the trip. She also very much enjoys the giant sandbox called the beach. The mexicans were very doting on the little guera, and I'm sure we got star treatment because of her. More photos to come.....