South Dakota 2017

After years of saying we needed to meet Brandon's family in South Dakota, we finally did it!

When the boys and I went to North Dakota in June for Brandon's cousin's wedding, Aunt Paulette and I started talking more and more about making the trip happen (and how Brandon was even saving vacation time so we could go!), so after getting home, Paulette started looking at Black Hills cabins and found the PERFECT one!

Fast forward 3 months and we were on the road to Rapid City!

Mal and Evie walking around the roads near the cabin

Jackson wasn't excited at all about being in South Dakota!

First night at the cabin!

We ate like KINGS the entire trip -- each family/group took turns cooking breakfast and dinner, and on the first night the Petersons/Dekkers grilled steaks. 

This was a tough day... after MONTHS of our little history buff (Jax) reading/talking/watching documentaries about Mount Rushmore, he ended up getting a 24 hour bug and was a mess the entire day :( He didn't feel like doing much of anything, cried a lot, and just wasn't himself. 

Not even the bust of Gutzon Borglum could get him excited.

After about an hour, I took Jax to take a nap in the car. I got him bundled up really well and he fell asleep right away.

Gabe with his wonderful Great Great Aunt Paulette and Cousin Evie

Daddy and Gabe checking out Mount Rushmore while Jax and I stayed in the car.

Spongebob popsicles from Great Grandma Bonnie

After Mount Rushmore, we took a trip on the old 1880 Train...

...and poor sick Jackson literally cried and panicked the entire trip, especially when our window was open. 

Gabe did great, too! *eye roll*

All-you-can-eat crab legs in Deadwood... yum!

Feeling MUCH better in Deadwood (the second day of the trip)! 

Walking around the casino while the dads gambled

Photo by Jax

Everyone took it easy on Day 3, so we made the trip back to Mount Rushmore... Jackson enjoyed it SO much more when he wasn't sick! 

Last night :(

Cousins Paulette and Sandy

Birthday boys and their birthday kuchen

Craft night!

Gabriel's 10 & 11 Month Updates

To my dear second child:

You turn ONE this Saturday and I often wonder how our family ever got by without you... you bring SO much joy to everyone you encounter, and are the smartest, cutest, and funniest little 11-month-old I have ever known. All of this being said, you are also extremely mischievous and curious, and keep me very busy... so busy, in fact, that I am just now getting your 10 and 11 month updates written and am combining the two since you are sound asleep and I don't get opportunities like this to blog very often.

These last two months have been both lots of fun and utterly exhausting, so let's get to it:

UPDATE (8/1/18): I started this post literally 11 months ago and am finally finishing it... Here's the getting most of the last year updated/posted while we are having a sick day at home and the boys watch The Incredibles!

Grammy came down for a night and we went backpack shopping for Jackson AND went to see Despicable Me 3 in theaters (which I believe is your 4th or 5th movie to see at a theater)! 

A fun morning at the park

At Joshua's birthday party with your best friend/Joshua's little sister, Natalie. 

This month we had your appointment with an allergy specialist at Children's Hospital... since your hives and eczema breakouts are so sporadic, the doctor didn't think it was anything food related and ended up not running any tests. In hindsight (a year later), I wish she had, as I still think your eczema stems from something food related. 

Berry picking with the Behnkes!

Daddy's lasik moral support

Best friends at the library (Bennett Martin is only 10 days older than you!)

Jackson's first day of PK3

The boys' first visit to the Capitol! After walking around the Capitol/downtown, we surprised Aunt Nancy at work and took her out to Noodles for lunch. 

Gabe's first trip to the Denver Zoo! 

A fun Denver day! We visited the Denver Museum of Dolls and Miniatures and took a picnic to Denver City Park. We kept throwing Goldfish to a curious squirrel, which both you and Jackson got the biggest kick out of! 

South Dakota trip! I am going to dedicate an entire post to this :)