First Major League Baseball Game

Tuesday was a big day for the Campbell family (no, AC isn't here yet!). LT went to his first baseball game and I finally got a real camera. I've wanted a digital SLR for many years now but have been too cheap to actually get one (I like to call it practical because it sounds better than cheap). Our old compact camera died recently*. So with AC due to arrive any day now and a little encouragement from my wife, I decided the time was right to be a little less 'practical'. I got the battery charged just in time to take the new Canon T1i on its maiden voyage to LT's first MLB game.

We've been called fair-weather fans but it's still fun to go to a game every once in a while and thanks to Kari's parents this is the second game we've been to since LT joined the family (the weather was better this time). LT paid attention to the game long enough for me to get the shot of him above watching like the true fan that he is.

But there was also a lot of squirming in his seat and climbing on mom and dad (mostly mom).


And probably his favorite part of the night, besides dinner at Noodles of course, was walking downtown between the car and the game.

Exploring the stadium was pretty fun too. A nice Coors Field employee gave him a little Rockies pin that he was very exited about. It says, "Loyal Fan 2006" which is before he was even born but, unfortunately, he's too young to appropriate the irony.




* The old camera, a Canon A720IS, had previously survived being dropped several times, getting wet with water, juice, etc., and even being chewed on by Bowen. After all that and more I'm not sure why it just up and died now with no apparent traumatic indecent. Kari swears that she "didn't do anything" but it died on her watch so readers at home can draw their own conclusions**. Kari's now using an even older Canon A510 that I originally got for my first, and so far only, trip to Moscow for work.

** I'm honestly glad that I finally had a good excuse to upgrade and the stubborn engineer in me still holds out some hope that I can fix the old one. It's nice to have a few backups and something that'll fit in a pocket.

Painting

LT and I decided to paint some rocks the other day, just to mix things up from regular paper. We had just read, "Everybody Needs a Rock", one of my absolute favorite books.

Cruisin'

LT loves going to the little park by our house to dig in sand. He occasionally walks there, or is carried, but his more regular mode of transportation for the few blocks is his trike that cousin Nicholas handed down to him! Bri even figure out a way to have him carry his sand tools on the bike.

Lair o' the Bear

Our regular Thursday morning playgroup decided to step out of the box this week (great idea MC!) and head up the hills outside of Morrison for a toddler hike. I have heard about this hike for years and years and always wanted to try it. The trail is perfect for two year olds, wandering along a shallow, slow creek, shaded by lots of trees and plenty of picnic spots to enjoy some snacks. Sadie, Z and LT searching for hiking sticks in the parking lot. The boys had already had theirs taken away for improper usage, but Sadie knew how to handle it properly.
Probably the best part of the hike were the apples that Nicole (Sadie's mom) found and gave to the kids to throw in the river. LT still talks about throwing apples in the water, it was a huge hit!
The second best part for LT was of course snack time. I am pretty sure he ate nothing I brought for him and everything that the other moms brought for their kids. Although it all worked out, the other kids wanted each others food as well.

Z and LT practicing their harder core climbing skills.
LT and I had to make a fast exit back to the car because of hunger. Snacks don't always cut it with LT, sometimes he just needs a meal and of course I didn't bring one for him. I hope Brian and I can take both boys back here soon, it truly is a magical place (on the weekdays) for toddlers!

Paddleboating

All summer we have talked about taking LT and Z on paddle boats and of course, we waited until the last second to do so. Yesterday was a perfect day, no afternoon plans, the weather was cooperative and the dads had other things to do. We headed to Wash Park and rented a paddle boat for the 4 of us. A few weeks ago Renee and I took our kids swimming at Anderson Pool. The little pool was closed and so the lifeguard offered/gave us life jackets to take them in the big pool. LT wanted nothing to do with it. I was afraid the same thing would happen today on the paddle boats, but he put it right on and was ready to go. Z wasn't so sure about the coolness of wearing a jacket, but we managed to get it on him as well and off we went.
I have to admit, these little guys don't know how to swim and the lake is deep, I was slightly afraid one would try and swim, but they were really good! Both boys sat perfectly still completely entranced by the calmness of the water in the midst of a chaotic park. Z did the steering and LT attempted to peddle. His legs were going around and around like bike peddles, but were 12 inches away from the peddles.

We rented the boat for an hour, and were pleased when we managed to squeeze thirty minutes out of two two year olds. It was a fun adventure!

Train Museum... again.

Saturday morning we woke up with no plans for the weekend (maybe because we are waiting for a baby to come???). Regardless, at the last minute we asked LT if he wanted to go to the farmers market or the train museum, he instantly replied "Tain museem" and headed upstairs to get ready. Most mornings getting him to want to do anything is a struggle. His usual reply is, "NO, stay hewe mama". Apparently the train museum has an attraction like no place else for him because he was ready to go before we were! I was chatting with Shawn at the time we made this decision and asked Z to join us. He and LT's mornings are usually pretty similar (not too sure about anything and not wanting to get dressed), however, Z instantly got himself ready too! Albert and the boys.
Thomas the tank is coming to Denver (or is in Denver already as we learned yesterday) for a few weekends this month. The ticket man told us that Thomas was actually in the roundhouse already, just with his face covered up. We went to check it out. Despite not having a face, both Z and LT recognized the famous blue train immediately. We got a little sneak peak :) Above is a picture of the four boys after observing Thomas behind glass in the roundhouse.
*** Funny side note. I just noticed that the dads have the same shirts on in this picture as they did on the day Z and LT met.

LT and Bri looking at Thomas from behind.
And of course, Z found some dirt to drive a train in. This was the first of several stops to drive trains/cars in for the boys.
Shawn with the boys on a train.
38 1/2 weeks pregnant with AC (my mom kindly suggested that I take a picture pregnant with AC since you can't really reverse time and take it later, probably a good idea, although not many pregnant women want their pictures taken!)
Two cute little guys.
LTs usual look with glasses.
More dirt to drive cars in and get dirty in! We all had a great time. The next time we head back there will be to see Thomas... with 5,000 other people, yikes! Probably a new baby too!

End of the Year Swimming

We managed to get quite a group of little munchkins to the Anderson pool Friday afternoon for one outdoor swim this summer. It was about 80 degrees, a bit overcast, but an almost completely empty pool besides LT and his buddies. Dylan, Sofi and Ofelia, Maike, Sophia and LT all had a blast swimming together. I have wanted to take pictures all summer of LT swimming, but unfortunately his daring attempts at swimming combined with his little knowledge of actually knowing how to swim have led me to focus more on keeping him afloat than on photography. However, I did manage to take just a few shots for the last time this summer.

Dylan navigating himself through the water.
Sofi and Dylan after a hard swim ready for some snacks and relaxing.

As usual, LT was nearly starving when we got out of the pool. As you can see, he's content eating a variety of foods and relaxing in a lawn chair.

Tenn St. Regular

LT doesn't drink coffee and is only recently starting to like iced tea, but he's a regular at the local coffee shop (Tenn St. Coffee). He probably hits up the place 3-5 times a week, sometimes more. I am not always the one to take him, in fact a few weeks ago, I took him for the first time in a long time. When we walked in, the barista said, "Hi Landon". Then looked at me and said, "are you his mom?" For being a stay at home mom, I felt badly that my kid goes there regularly without me and so we have made more of an effort to walk there together as well. On Sunday, LT took both his parents for a quick coffee before going to the zoo with dad. He rode his bike and, as you can see above, is usually a very happy camper there. This morning, LT and I cleaned the house, did some laundry and various other chores, played for awhile, fixed his stroller and then, as if he knew it was Monday (a usual Tenn St day with my dad), he said, "are we going now?". I said, "going where LT?" "Um, Tenn St? Wide bikes to Tenn St now?" Off we went. Last summer, fall, winter and spring, I took LT occasionally. He was a cheap date, he mostly wanted water, occasional piece of bread, but nothing else. My coffee is relatively cheap black. However, now he points to the treat he wants in the cabinet and is expanding his tastes from simply water with a straw to iced tea. While he still can't quite compete with his buddy Z's expensive food habits (Sushi, shrimp and various other college account breaking foods), LT is stepping up his tastes and "needs" at Tenn St.

Fun mornings with Daddy

Brian has been on lots of morning daddy duties the past few weekends. While I wasn't there to enjoy any of these events, I can only imagine from the stories told later to me how much fun LT has with his dad! Below, LT showed dad how he could ride on the chipmunk at Wash Park by himself. I am always amazed at how quickly he changes and becomes more independent. The last time I took him to the Wash Park playground, he wasn't able to get on the ride ons himself (granted this was a few months ago, but still!)

Bri and LT spent a morning playing at REI. This is one of LTs favorite spots, the "hiking" section in REI where there are "rocks" made to look like hiking trails for people to test how hiking boots.
Yesterday, LT took his dad and his bike to the zoo. While he's growing fast, he's clearly not quite as big as a polar bear! I am shocked by how big those things are!

Race!

Two of my mom's sisters visited her a few weeks ago and they stopped by to vist on their way to the airport to go home. We decided to meet and have breakfast at DJ's Berkeley Café which is only a few blocks from our house.

LT has been into racing lately and likes to 'wace Hay' [race Hailie] up the stairs. I'm not sure why he's chosen the fastest member of the household as his primary racing opponent but I guess he likes the challenge. He's yet to even come close to winning against her, at least when she actual participates that is.

Anyway, we were running a little late to meet my mom and aunts at DJ's and LT didn't want to be carried so we tried to encourage him to go a little faster by telling him it was a race.


Here's a little footage of the race. The ploy kind of worked.


And about the only picture I managed to get. Here LT is showing my aunt Margaret how to fly his spaceship.

Riley Turns TWO!

Riley had a small birthday party on Saturday to celebrate her 2nd birthday!
She has lots of boy cousins/family who are a bit older. LT mostly just wanted to do whatever they were doing, no matter how dangerous.
A little golfing.
A failed attempt at sitting on the ball and then crashing, but happily at least.
Racing through tunnels and tubes.


And working on his modeling career in his new "Camp Rock" shades.
But probably the best part was the yummy ladybug cupcake/cake!