Swimming with friends!

We have spent some time this summer at our friend's pools. Here is John and the ladies - Caroline & Mercy. We also spent an afternoon with friends at the Boulder Resevoir, which was great fun and we so enjoyed being at a lake since they are few and far between here in Colorado. Lakes are definitely something I miss from living in Michigan!!
Friends, from L-R: Mercy, Betsy, Lauren, John, Me, Natalie, Julie & Isaiah.

John had so much fun digging in the sand. In the 2 pictures below, he is with Mercy (Mimi, as he calls her) and Isaiah (Iya, as John says) as they all discovered the thrill of sandy beaches!

Hiking & Splashing

Our friends from Michigan, Dan & Krysta, were in town this week. We went on a couple of hikes and then John had a chance to play and cool off in the Boulder Creek. He had a blast!

The Pitch...

Hummm...should I throw it at mommy or daddy?

Here we go...mommy, it is!

Watch out, mommy...here comes my fast ball!

Indian Peaks

We went hiking this weekend at a place about a hour from us called Indian Peaks Wilderness. It was a beautiful hike, as you can see from the pictures below. We made it to a lake and a waterfall before getting caught in the rain.

Enjoying the ride...with a stick, of course.

Action Shots!

Here are a few fun shots of John doing some of his favorite summertime activities...

Kicking the ball!

Climbing up onto his sand & water table!

Running through bubbles! Splashing in the pool!

The Stick Obsession

For our little guy, bright toys, cars & balls are all fun, but nothing beats the joy of a skinny brown stick. I am NOT joking when I tell you that John has sticks in both of his little hands at least 6 of the 8 waking hours of his day (other than when we eat dinner, yet even then he has been known to hold onto a stick with one hand while eating with the other - see picture below). John has figured out how to play with other toys while holding a stick in each hand. He will pick up a ball or another object with clenched fists, just so as not to let go of the sticks. He will wake up in the morning or from a nap asking for his "gicks" and quickly head to the sliding glass door and then outside to select the "gicks" for the day. Sticks go everywhere with us...in the car, in the bathtub, on walks, and even have ended up with him in the crib on occasion for a nap. We can only hope that John will make it through toddlerhood without any injuries from sticks, because at this point, the obsession with sticks is just too deep to go back.

More friends and Funny Faces...

Another one of mommy's friends came to visit, Malissa. I had lots of fun with her. As you can see below, mommy takes everyone who visits to this park to see the Flatirons. If you come for a visit, just know what you are in for. :)

Here are mommy and me on Pearl St. listening to music and having lunch.
I am quite expressive, as you can see here (and quite messy).

Who needs the Mr. Potato head when you can have a live one?