Round 2!

It seemed a little funny to us that a small town, Monte Vista, would have a circus 2x in a month. But since our last experience left a bit to be desired, we tried number 2. It was fabulous, live animals included. Lions and Tigers and Bears, and bendy people! Mere I know you love the bendy people. And the ring-leader had hot pink Aladdin pants. Like I said, much better this time. It was really fun!

Thanks Nana for the green dress, she looks adorable! And loves it.

We went to Del Norte this last weekend to see Aaron's grandpa who is in the hospital. A hard time for the family but an amazingly peaceful place to be.

Bagel Days

We love our Saturdays. It usually involves walking to get bagels and coffee. Which means the local grocery and toasting and spreading at home but it's cheaper and they are delicious. If anyone wants to open a bagel-house in Alamosa we would be more than happy! And we do still love Dallas.

Memorial Weekend

This weekend we went camping at the sand dunes. It was rainy and cold and beautiful. There's just something about a storm in the mountains. Addie and Gabriel did wonderfully on their first of many camping trips. Ilon got dirty the minute we got there and stayed that way until we got home. That's the way she likes it... She also climbed about 3/4 of the way up to the top of the sand dunes by herself. She'd like to change her status from a swingin' girl to a climbin' girl.

note the homemade cinnamon rolls Michelle brought warming on the grill. Very tasty!

Hard at work!

The deer in our yard are still not annoying to me. They can eat every lilac bush around for all I care. This will probably change in the future, but for now I love them.

Oh Aaron. He loves to go carpin'.

Backyard camping

Just a little practice for the weekend

Climbing

Friday night we went to dinner at some friends who live out in the country. They have a beautiful house that has amazing views of the stark valley floor with mountains on all sides. It was cloudy and really really beautiful. We are appreciating being able to drive just a few minutes and feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.

We went climbing at the Rock Garden Saturday night with our friends Matt and Amy. It was our first chance to go, we've been anxious to get outside and breath the mountain air! Kim and Dave watched the babies, they are still a bit too small for a harness and I think it's better if Gabe learns to walk first. But we have our eye on the kids climbing club in a couple of years...

Matt and Aaron (and my feet)

Amy (she's a great climber)
Funny rock face

Izzie in a crack

Aaron in a crack

Our House!

These are some pictures of our little house. We love it! We have lilac bushes all over that have bloomed and smell wonderfully, and a little aspen grove in the corner of the yard. Ilon loves having room to run and scream and roll in the grass. And of course the hammock, we all log some time in that every day, even the Gabe-man. Who by the way is getting to be a stocky little chunk, very very adorable.

Aaron's man space. He loves it, sweeps it out once a day and piddles around. Quite a change from apartment living.

cousins

the happy drooler

So many pictures and no camara cord.

Today we went to the Hooper Hot Springs swimming pool where Gabriel tried out the pool for the first time. He floated around like he was born in water or something... Really he loved it, just grinned. Ilon goes back and forth between scared and loving it, guess that's 2 for you! She went down the slide by herself over and over and over.

We went to the park where the kids have soccer games and asked Ilon if she wanted to be a soccer girl, she said no I'm a swingin' girl. Wonder if that's a real sport yet...

Hopefully pictures tomorrow!

Alamosa

We've made through the first week. We were all sick and very tired but are enjoying our new home! We have a cute little house that's bright with a great yard and a nice spot for the hammock. There is a herd of deer that seem to live across the street and Ilon calls them moose and looks for them every day. The weather is cool at night and 70's in the day and full of sun. We have walked all over town and run into many old friends.

The pace here is much slower than we're used to! The daily paper has a police report of everything that happens which includes speeding tickets, elderly women failing to signal, and reckless backing into the main street. So if you do anything wrong in this town be ready to hear about it the next day. From everybody.

We got a warm welcome at church, a basket of goodies and home-making necessities. Friends came over to help unload, it was finished it 30 minutes, much less time than it took to load.

Ilon loves her cousin Addie. She talks endlessly about her and when she'll see her again. I hope Addie survives her sometimes rough lovin'! Gabriel is healthy and happy. Pretty easy going, only complains if his mouth is empty.

Ilon and Grandpa

Ilon and Addison

Our new home

We went to a circus in Monte Vista with Andrew, Michelle, and Addie. They advertised wild animals from Madagascar and we thought we were in for quite a treat. The animals turned out to be costumes from the movie Madagascar, worn by a collection of 4 year olds. One minute there would be a guy selling popcorn and the next minute the same guy would be the main act. It was pretty funny, a night to be remembered.

Preparing to be amazed by the circus

Wild animal from Madagascar

We went to the Sand Dunes one morning. It was gorgeous and windy, the water was warm and perfect for splashing around. Ilon was terrified of the logs, of all things, but loved the sand and rocks and mountains.

More pictures and stories to come!

Thank you for your patience

We just got our internet hooked up today. We have a lot to share so please continue to stay tuned. Peace out.