My sister is in the country!

Last week Sunday, my (younger) sister Liselotte and her boyfriend Dennis arrived for a vacation here. They'll be here for almost 4 weeks, two of which they'll spend on their own camping around Wyoming, visiting Yellowstone etc. (for which they just took off this morning). Even though the weather didn't necessarily cooperate all week, we had a blast. We went hiking in Happy Jack, hiking in Vedauwoo, we went down town, visited the Territorial Prison, chatted lots, they cuddled Andi lots, and we went camping for 3 nights in Medicine Bow.

Here's a few pics of the week (we have many, many, many, and I'm sure some more are to follow):

Aunt Liselotte playing with Andi (or the other way around?).

Hiking in Vedauwoo - Can you tell we're sisters?

Thursday night we took off for Medicine Bow for three nights of camping. We wanted to camp at Sugar loaf CG, but that was full when we arrived, so we headed to the not so pretty Ryan Park instead. Ben dropped us off there as of course he had to work on Friday. Friday morning, Liselotte, Dennis and Andi and I headed over to the Medicine Bow peak area to go for a hike. We checked Sugar loaf CG to see if a spot had opened up, and praise God it did! We immediately went back to Ryan Park to pack up the tent, and set up camp at Sugar loaf. It was a pretty chilly, rainy, windy day, with enormous thunderstorms coming and going, but still, off for a short hike we went:

Liselotte and I hiking the trails - Andi is under my coat.

Later that evening Ben and his parents joined us at the campsite, and in between huge thunderstorms and ice rain we cooked some massive T-bone steaks on the fire.... Mmmm.

Buddies :) Again, Andi is hiding under my coat, tucked away from the cold and rain.

Campfire atmosphere. It was so chilly that night! (ltr: Marilyn, Andi and I, Dennis and Tom)

Liselotte and Dennis on a snow patch.


Liselotte and Tom having fun :)

Sunday was a gorgeous day, so we were just going to take a short hike after breakfast, before returning home. Well, with two Mooiweer girls (Ok, one ex-Mooiweer) in the group there is no such thing as a short hike :). It turned into a pretty long one, as we all climbed up Medicine Bow Peak!!! It was so much fun! It's a little over 12,000 ft., so it was quite the climb! I also have to say it is pretty interesting climbing all those loose rocks with a baby in a front pack, all the while trying to protect her from the wind and intense sun!

Liselotte on top of the world!

Grandma Marilyn made it up there too!

Of course Andi, talented that she is, managed to make quite a mess of herself on the way to the top, so she ended up mooning the world at 12,000 ft., getting her diaper changed. (not easy either, finding a level, wind/sun protected, changing place on top of a rocky mountain peak!)

The family.

And climbing back down ...

Rubens baby - a short lesson in art history.

Rubens was a Flemish (from Belgium) painter that lived in the era of the mid 1500's to mid 1600's. He is very well known for painting roly poly naked people, and roly poly naked angel babies. When I was in high school - about 15 yrs old - two girl friends and I went to Antwerp, with a set of parents along. Of course the only thing that we were thinking at that age was - "we're going to a big city - that means SHOPPING!". But, the stipulation of my friend's wise parents was that we could indeed spend the afternoon shopping, as long as we would visit one museum with them in the morning, so we wouldn't be total culture barbarians. We picked the Rubens museum. To this day I will never forget it - I will always be able to recognize one of his paintings - I have never seen so many paintings of roly poly naked people :). Reason I bring this up, is Andi, of course. She has become a true Rubens baby - she has 5 - five! - rolls on her arms! Her legs are almost too fat for her bumbo seat, and I have trouble submerging her in water because she floats! I love it! :) Rubens, eat your heart out!

In the video below you can hear Andi "Talk" some more, but it also really shows off her Rubens 5 arm rolls :)

19 weeks - "Talking" to Nijntje

I usually don't post videos of Andi on this blog, as she has her own blog dedicated to that. But, last night I shot two new videos, and wanted to share one here as well

Last night, after I had put Andi to bed, I left to go brush me teeth. When I came back 5 minutes later to check if she'd fallen asleep yet, I found her "talking" to Nijntje (stuffed animal) instead! I went to get my camera right away - here is the result. Of course she stopped right away when she noticed me. :)

Then, this morning when I was changing her diaper she began "talking" again - this time a little bit clearer because she didn't have her hand in her mouth - with the most serious face she was telling me all sorts of things. Then, when I talked back, she squirmed and laughed with joy - so cute!

Camping at Pelton Creek

We just returned from a great weekend camping at Pelton Creek campground. A real mini-vacation: fun, sun, great food and relaxing! Friday night and most of the day saturday Tom and Marilyn joined us, while the rest of the weeken it was just us. We visited around the campfire friday night, had a delicious breakfast saturday morning, and took a beautiful hike with a picnic along Douglas creek.

(following 5 pictures from T en M)

Happy Grandma!

Great fishing in Douglas creek ... :)

Hiking along the creek.

Resting our feet in the river.

Andi learning about the great outdoors :)

Saturday afternoon Tom and Marilyn had to go back home, so the three of us set up a nice spot along the creek for some relaxing: Andi and I on a blanket partly in the sun and shade, and Ben with his chair in the creek.

Playing and relaxing.

Being outside sure makes you sleepy! What a perfect spot for a nap though.

Dad napping in the creek.

4 Months!

Last friday, Andi turned 4 months old! Again, she is growing and developing so much - it's almost like we discover something new every day. She's loving her play gym, rolling over to her side to grasp and play with the dangling toys (where she is as I type - with her naked bum hanging out due to a slight diaper rash :)). She also loves to sit up (assisted or in her bumbo) as she can better observe what is going on around her. We recently found a ticklish spot on her chest, which makes her make the cutest belly laughs. She loves chewing on two or three of her fingers, or sometimes even a whole hand or both! She also discovered her tongue and loves to rub it on her gums, chewing on it, and sticking it out :)

4 month shot with Slungel.

This morning we saw Dr. Horst for her appointment. Though she cried a bit after her shots and during her physical, she did so great! Here are her stats:

Height: 24 inches (61 cm) , about the 35th percentile (up from 13th percentile).

Weight: 14 lbs 7 oz (6.55 kgs), about the 70th percentile (up from 50th percentile).

Head circumference: 41.7 cm, about the 65th percentile (up from 30th percentile)

Now prepare yourself for a picture overload :) ...

Sitting on the porch swing with Dad

First time swimming in a real pool with mom! (she liked it just fine, but it was a pretty windy day that day (what a suprise!), so it was too chilly above the water)

Chewing on my fingers.

Helping mom sort through the mail, looking for some coupons!

Watching mom get ready in the morning from her bumbo in the bathroom.

Though I know I've already posted the slide show with Rachael's pictures (www.serendipitiphotography.com), I still wanted to show these with Andi off :)

Pretty piggies

Laughing with Dad

Pretty in my sunhat.

5 Years!

5 Years ago on this day, this happened:

!!!!!

Last year on this day, this happened:

!!!!

Today, Ben is gone all day with the National Guard. :( But, he did send over the prettiest bouquet of flowers (with 5 tulips, one tulip for every year!), and I am able to post these pictures:

I'm one happy woman :)

Andi's dedication

On Sunday, July 5th, we were excited to dedicate Andi to the Lord in our church, Laramie Valley Chapel. We want to thank God for giving Andi to us, and for chosing us to be her parents - an important task, that we know we need His help with! A dedication is not a baptism, nor does it mean she is now saved. Instead, it is our public commitment to raising Andi in a Christian home, and teaching her about Jesus and what He did for her. Pastor Martin talked about Psalm 127, how children are a reward from God. Also, how Andi will hopefully one day chose for herself to follow Christ, something we have been praying for ever since we found out we were pregnant almost a year ago.

Mi familia

Ben's parents were there, along with Grandma Bryan, and uncle Jerel and aunt Yvonne.

Also something special: Andi wore the dress that I was dedicated in when I was a baby!