Echo Lake...see you next summer!

I can't believe summer is almost over! It felt way too short this year...doesn't it always! We made it down to Echo Lake 3 times this summer and it was a blast. Mat's dad and uncle share a lot on Alpine drive, about a 5 minute walk right down to the lake. We are so lucky to have such a great place to go in the summer months. We always have so much fun with all the family when we are down there.

It was much different with a baby this year than in the past. Not quite as much freedom to go on the boat (and tan ;). But there was definitely no shortage of entertainment for Cohen. His cousins just love playing with him...and Cohen LOVES the attention! I can't wait till next year when Cohen is running around!

We took Cohen for his first boat ride...and he was great! No tears at all and by the end he was falling asleep. Mat loves to Wake Board and surf, but I'm quite content just watching. Mat is convinced Cohen will love these things as well...that scares me a little bit. Mat has a reputation for hurting himself alot...although he is getting much less daring at his old age!

We took our last trip down there on the September long weekend...not always the best weather. We did get one good day on Saturday, but was pretty rainy the rest of the time. Oh well...one more reason to go shopping!

Here are some pictures from July, August & September down at Echo. Lets hope next summer comes quick!!!

Yes...i have a monkey hanging from my ear!

Fast asleep on the beach with Grandma Darla

How do I look?There is really no comfortable way to wear those life jackets!
Standing....much better!



Snoozing!
Lookin Hot in their sweet sun glasses!

Cheesy smiles!!!

Ok, this may be ridiculous...but i couldn't resist dedicating a full post to Cohen's new cheesy smiles! I am amazed everyday at how much he is changing, and how quickly they pick up new things. Since the beginning of summer Cohen has gotten his first two teeth, started crawling and now has perfected the cheesy smile. He only pulls out these smiles when he sees the camera though! It is soooo funny!!


He is crazy!!



Nothing cheesy about this smile...just darn cute!
Like father like son!

4 Stinkin Cute Babes!

It had been while a while since we got all four babies in a picture together. So we took advantage last weekend at Ryan and Courtney's family dinner and took a few. It never seems to fail...there is always one unhappy baby in the picture. This time it was Cohen! Oh well, I think the pictures still look pretty darn cute.

Cohen trying to unsuccessfully pry the spoon from Phoenix's hand.
Cooper, Jordyn, Phoenix & Cohen (Phoenix may have a little bit of an ear fetish)
I love those blue eyes!

Mandy, Jordyn & Marty (I tried to get Mandy to put the Coke down just for a second...but she wouldn't part with it!)
Great Dad! But sometimes I worry :)

Swimming

We are so lucky to have a pool to swim in all summer long whenever we want! The pool is at my Grandpa's house, and we have been swimming in it since we were all little. It is so much fun to now be able to bring our own kids there. Since both my Grandma and Grandpa have passed away, we weren't sure if the pool would be used this year. But thanks to all their kids (Dave, Jane, Jim, Karen & Cam) they made it possible! Thank you sooooo much...I know Grandma and Grandpa are smiling down seeing how much joy all of the grandkids & great grandkids are getting out of it!

Cohen was a little unsure of the pool at first. It definitely isn't as warm as the bath water he is used to. But it only took a few minutes and he seemed to get used to it. Once the warm weather hit...we were there 4 days in row!

I'm not sure if he was crying because he didn't like the water...or because he didn't like the funny looking hat I was making him wear :)
Much better...but still wearing the funnly looking hat. I tell everyone I only make him wear it because I love him...I have to protect his bald head from the sun!
Cooper quite enjoyed just floating around the pool...he even had a little snooze!

Cohen was pretty relaxed in his floaty...it may have been past his nap time ;)
Enjoying the water with mom!

6 months and growing...

I never imagined how much a baby could really change your life...until we had Cohen. Everyday I find myself thinking how lucky we are to have Cohen as part of our family!! He is such a happy little baby, especially at 6:30 in the morning. He insists on being an early riser, and if it wasn't for all the smiles and giggles, I would find it much more difficult waking up with him everyday :) He just got his first tooth this week, and I think there is another coming soon. I sure am going to miss that gummy little smile! He is also starting to learn how to crawl...he is only moving backwards and in circles for now, and always manages to get half his body under the couch. Last week he finally started getting on his knees and rocking back and forth. I'm sure he will be motoring around in no time! Here are just a few pics of the last month.

Anyone who knows me...knows that i LOVE candy :) Thanks to Geoff & Nicki...i have started Cohen very young. I thought it was necessary considering this sucker will take 5 years to finish!!

This is one of Mat's favorite pairs of pajamas. They are little "Thor" pj's...he seems to think it brings Cohen that much closer to riding a dirt bike. I don't see that happening for at least 10 years!!!
Cohen loves to horse around on our bed!
Cohen was so happy to have Auntie Breann come and visit.
Some great pics Aunt Nicki took

Yummy...real food (if you can really call it that!)

6 months came WAY to quickly for me. It was fun starting him on the rice cereal. Watching him slowly get used to this mush being shoved in his mouth :) Then came the veggies...so far so good!

First time trying the rice cereal


Wasn't too fond of the peas


He insisted on doing it himself

Moving!

It has been way to long since I have blogged...but moving is a lot more work than I anticipated. First came the packing in the condo...not fun!! Packing really sucks, and packing with a baby sucks even more. Moving day came very quickly though, and with lots of help from all our family...we finished in less than 5 hours. We are so lucky to have both our families so close. Thank you everyone! We have been in the new house for 3 weeks, and it is slowly starting to feel like home. I am LOVING the extra space, especially in the kitchen. It is amazing how much more enjoyable cooking can be when you have more counter space...and a dishwasher! Needless to say, we are loving our new house! The only bad thing about moving into a house with more space...is having to get more things to fill it up.

Cohen's attempt at helping us pack some boxes