Just like...Daddy?

Lately Emma has been using the phrase "just like..." a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean it's all day long 2-3 times per hour. I'll tell her to do something or she'll ask to do something and then say "just like Grandma" or put someone else's name there. Trust me, she uses everyone's names. Just today she's already said "just like Grandma, Daddy, Timothy, Kayla, Hannah, Mommy, Papa, and Emma." The best part is that it doesn't always make sense. For example, we were talking about girls and boys. I told her she was a girl, and she said "just like daddy."

The Great Outdoors

Over the weekend we took a quick trip to Colorado. We met Eric's parents in Glenwood Springs and on Saturday we hiked up to Hanging Lake. It was beautiful. It was absolutely amazing. It was also the hardest 1.25 mile hike I've ever been on (and I've gone on quite a few hikes in my time). During this mile and a quarter hike we gained 1,000 feet in elevation. The whole time we were climbing over rocks etc. And any time we stopped to rest (which we did several times!!) Emma would chastise us from her comfy seat in the backpack. I'm going to have to explain to her that when we're on a hike that requires her to ride in the backpack, she needs to be more patient. And if that logic doesn't work, I'll tell her that mommy is old! Hanging Lake is well worth the hike. And if I can say that, you can trust that it's true. The setting is very picturesque. Emma loved it up there. You can go up a little further and see what is called Spouting Rock, which is a hole that lets the water spout out (hence the name). This time of year though, there is a lot of water which doesn't all fit through the hole, so it was also gushing over the top of the rock. Emma enjoyed the boardwalk around the lake and liked looking at fish with Grandma. She also made a new friend - a very friendly white butterfly that kept landing on her hand.

That afternoon we went up to the Fairy Caves on top of Iron Mountain. It was nice and cool inside the caves, and they were pretty. Eric loves caves, so it doesn't really matter to him what's inside - he just wants to go. There were some longer more adventurous tours you could take in this cave that had Eric practically drooling at the sound of them. I of course am slightly claustrophobic, so crawling and sliding through miniscule and practically non-existent crevices in a dark cave is not my idea of fun. Eric and his dad also rode on the alpine roller coaster they had up there. It’s like an alpine slide, but on tracks, so it’s smoother, faster, and apparently a lot more fun too. After a nice (and much needed) dinner, Emma was tired, so I went back to our room with her while everyone else went to the hot springs and soaked in the giant hot tub.

The next morning we went up to Aspen. I had never been there. That was always the elusive trip my family was going to take that never worked out. We always ended up going someplace else (which was probably more fun for kids anyways, so don’t feel guilty dad!!). Aspen was really pretty. It has a very quaint feel to the town. We drove up to Independence Pass, of course stopping for pictures on the way (and so Eric could stand in near freezing water - for some reason he loves that), and stopping at the Ghost town of Independence. Emma didn’t quite understand the concept of a ghost town… she wanted to see a witch too.

It was a short but fun trip. Emma hit the jackpot and got some clothes and books from Grandma (thanks again!). Luckily Eric had today off, so he can rest up before going back to work tomorrow. Maybe I’ll sneak a nap in today too! Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Meadows for a great weekend. We miss you already.

Reading in Bed

Last night around 9:30 we went in to check on Emma. Her bedtime is 7:30, so she should have been asleep. Instead this is what we found...

She had a stack of 12 books with her in bed. She had gotten up, grabbed the books, put them on her bed, and tucked herself back in. When she went to bed the room would have been light enough still to see, but when we went in it wasn't very light at all, but she didn't seem to care. I'm surprised she didn't just turn the light on. I guess if she's going to stay up doing something, reading is just about the best thing to do. I love how much she loves reading.

Recent Obsession

Okay I admit it... I am in love with a Lego toy. Well, not exactly in love, but seriously obsessed with. Lately I've been playing Lego Indiana Jones for the Wii and loving it. It's soooooooo much fun! Come over and you can try it out. Eric, who still loves legos, bought a small lego set the other day of Indiana Jones and his dad in the motorcycle and sidecar from the 3rd movie. I told Eric that the Indiana Jones figurine was the sexiest lego character I'd ever seen. I know how this sounds, but ladies let me tell you, that cute little hat is chalk full of extreme awesomeness. Hee hee. You be the judge.