Castlewood Canyon, CO

So on 8-31, we flew across two time zones to spend two weeks in Parker, CO, at Grammy Sharon's. Aunt Manda flew with Mommy and the twins, and soon after arrival, we visited Castlewood Canyon State Park. Don't know how anyone can look at the creek and rocks and plants and trees and NOT want to climb and wade and explore! Heaven. Mommy's idea of fun!

Aunt Manda and Gracie at an overlook.

Wading into Cherry Creek. Chance gave Mommy a flower when he bravely entered the Creek.

The four of us wading in the creek--same pic: one far away and one cropped close-up. So proud of Gracie for coming in too! In the far-away shot, you can see a person standing in the creek behind us. We decided to investigate and waded down the creek (yes, the twins too--Mommy and Aunt Manda carried 'em through the deeper places). We we found 3 kids, with their grandfather, fishing for crawdads.

Mommy held Gracie up to see one (taken with Aunt Manda's camera phone). Can't wait to go back again when the twins are a bit older and catch our own batch of crawdads--to release afterward. 'Course Daddy says he ate a crawdad barely cooked over a campfire when he was on Canoe Trail week at Lutheridge--maybe we'll try cooking one and eating it . . . or not.

Surprisingly, the twins hiked the whole way up the trail (kinda steep!) by themselves--Mommy didn't think they would have enough energy to do so. On the way up, we stopped to rest inside this refreshingly-cool little cave (pics also taken with camera phone).

At the top of the trail, a pic with Uncle Sam and Grammy Sharon (camera phone).

A short video of the twins' amazing hike up from the creek (camera phone again). Uncle Sam and Chance lead the way, and Mommy walks Bovril on his leash.

The Grace

Grandma and Grandpa (Boespflug) bought this adorable dress set at a craft fair--one for Gracie, one for her doll. 'Course, she puts the dress on any worthy stuffed animal too!

She's such the "little mommy," putting her dolls/bears to bed, then closing her bedroom door to let them sleep for a few minutes. Sometimes, she cuddles them, saying, "She's crying" and comforting them. She diapers them, gives them "medicine," gives them "drinks" (which Grace drinks, if Mommy or Daddy have given her actual water), dresses them (infrequently), UNdresses them (more frequently--lots of nakedness in our house!), etc., etc., etc.

At the Newberry (i.e., Mayberry) High School reunion weekend, the grads gathered at the Newberry Country Club for an afternoon picnic. Food: good ole southern fare that clogs every artery, pore, and hole in your body--sweet tea, fried chicken, white rolls, buttery green beans, greasy macaroni and cheese! Grace chomped down on the green beans, but I don't think Aunt Manda ate too much of it (neither did Mommy). Don't know what Chance and Daddy actually ate--probably everything!

The twins luxuriated in the kiddie pool, borrowing water guns from other kids. Aunt Manda coaxed Grace into this little float--her first--but she didn't stay in it long.

Back in Chas, at the Children's Museum, Grace chose a new name for the pirate ship--among the many options, she decided upon Black Pearl.

Ah, but we can't forget the BOY! And he's definitely that. I couldn't resist a quick clip of Chance's typical play . . . flying a plastic jet plane around the house. In between Chance's fly bys, you'll see Gracie with yet another doll--Minnie Mouse. "Say Cheese!"

Misc. from June!

Here's a sweet family pic, taken by Shannon and Paul at the beginning of June. Locale: The Battery in downtown Charleston. More pics by Shannon below.

Love that tongue! She actually likes Craisins better than Raisins.

Taken circa 1789 in downtown Charleston. (Chance is trying to coax stubborn sis into walking with us instead of lagging behind.)

VIDEOS: Alex brought her son Chase (about 6 wks younger) over for a playdate, and he and the twins had a blast using the couch as a trampoline. Mommy thinks it's blissful that the twins now play by themselves and with other kiddos so well . . . prior to age 2, it didn't seem like we'd ever get to this point. :-)

Grace and Chance sounded a lot like Mommy in this bathtub video--and now I hear and see myself played back over and over again on this video, kinda creepy. (If you're wondering, Gracie's "phone" is one of those foam letters that sticks to the bathtub when wet, and I actually never get a "nap last night," and "Robie, Riley" are kids from her Mother's Morning Out program. And we're always discussing "Mommy's coffee"--as opposed to the twins' drinks--around our house.)

Whirlin' Waters n Da Beach

What else to do when it's scorching hot in Summerville/Charleston, SC? Go to Whirlin' Waters with Aunt Manda!

Often, Grace is the risktaker before Chance, like this time when she headed over to the water gun before Chance would try it. He then follows and demands his turn.

And, of course, we made a BEACH TRIP with Aunt Manda too!

She's a beach baby. Strikin' a pose.

The four of us made a groovy track in the sand for the twins to drive cars/trucks. It ended with a tunnel -- one that didn't fall! (See it in this pic -- it's below Chance?)

Aunt Manda took 'em in the water, holding them and jumping over the waves with them too.
We all trekked to Newberry (aka Mayberry) for Daddy's 20th high school reunion. We stopped by Grandaddy Baumgartner's church, Redeemer Lutheran, where he pastored for several years, and played on the playground (well, the gate was unlocked, y'all). Chance apparently likes the sensation of the tire swing movement when he closes his eyes and shakes his head (see VIDEO). Aunt Manda babysat while Mommy and Daddy went to the Sat. nite shindig. It's always a mystery what takes place during these times. :)

Hair and Teeth at Salon Haute Manda

We counted down the days till Aunt Manda finally arrived in July (23-31). Ahhh, the joy of settling in to the comfort of craziness for several days of vacay with her! I mean, Chance happily allowed her to give him a new Bam Bam 'do.

And Grace took to her dental training like . . . well, Pebbles. She ain't gentle but she's sincere. Aunt Manda (actual, certified, real dental assistant) coached Grace in "brushing" by letting her neice brush her teeth.

Grace inspected her aunt's mouth carefully for "bugs," jabbed brush into back (causing gagging reflex or flinching from pain), pinched cheeks (we don't know why), insisted on multiple more inspections during each cleaning, etc.

A more patient, fun, crazy aunt never walked the earth. More posts with Aunt Manda to come . . .

Catchin' Up on Summer

Whoa, we're way behind on our summer blogging!

In June (20th), we went to the Lowman Home to see Grandmother and Grandaddy Baumgartner who had nearly finished packing up their cottage, with help from the family, so that they could move into an apartment.

Grace doled out kisses. First to Grandmother.

Then a couple more to Grandaddy.

An added bonus: Uncle Paul and Aunt Debbie were also visiting. Favored playmate Aunt Debbie got on the floor with the twins. (Thank you for Grace's first Raggedy Ann doll and Chance's flashlight in the shape of a tow truck; the twins slept with those toys for at least 2 weeks afterward and still play with 'em.)

Baumgartner men have a genetic predisposition for madras shorts.

On the way back to Summerville, we stopped in Lexington for the Gugel twins' 1-yr birthday party. Pic (L to R): Daddy, Grace, Chance, Mommy, Cousin Dylann, Aunt Stephanie, Uncle Scott, and Cousin Carson.

The Baum twins absconded their cousins' toys at the party. Carson shared sweetly. And the cupcakes were YUMMY!

Ahh, Summer. Our activities frequently include water and eventually end up with naked babies in our backyard. A few blades of grass and a bit of dirt sometimes get stuck in not-so-comfy places. :)

Mommy tried to coax the twins into putting their heads in the sprinkler to cool off. They refused at first, but after seeing Mommy do it, they now don't hesitate a bit.