Lake Blanche

We hiked up to Lake Blanche this weekend with some friends.

The big waterfall that comes out of Lake Blanche. (ish... I think it might actually come out of some of the lower lakes.)

Self portrait 

Sundial Peak. We hear there's a trail that goes all the way to the top once the snow melts. We plan on going back some day.

We made it! Some nice guy offered to take our picture. It's funny hiking with a baby. Everyone wants to talk to you.

So this is Madelyn's new face. Haha. She does it when she's excited or hungry or anticipatory or surprised or.... basically all the time! It makes me laugh a lot.

Looking down from a waterfall that flows into Lake Blanche. Rory and I were trying to see if there was a lake further up that this waterfall flowed from but there was too much snow. Unsolved mystery.

Madelyn really enjoyed playing in the dirt. She got it all over in her hair.One of the little boys we hiked with decided she needed to be washed so he got his hands all wet and came and rubbed them all over in her hair. That made a glorious muddy mess. Rory ended up just holding her over the lake and swishing her hair through the water.

Happy Birthday Pete (and Mark)!

They're one year older and...well, one year older. Happy birthday guys!

Madelyn's First Backpacking Trip

We took Madelyn, Pete, and some friends up Fifth Creek Canyon this weekend for a small backpacking trip.

Waiting to suit up.

Off we go! We hiked about six miles the first day and found a lovely meadow to camp in.

Cooking dinner the first night.

Poor baby didn't sleep too well the first night and her poor parents didn't sleep at all. We figured out how to help her sleep happily the second night though so it wasn't too bad. We heard a forest grouse drumming in the wee hours of the morning. It was really cool! It made the ground vibrate.

Helping pack up the next morning.

Kim was such a good friend to our baby. She kept her very entertained.

Off we go again. We went a little over ten miles the second day and that was about all Madelyn was willing to handle. That's a long time cooped up in a pack!

She did manage to sleep on the trail a little. Mostly she entertained herself by ripping my hair out. I'm pretty sure I have bald spots now.

Taking a rest.

We found an alien rocket! It was being used as a watering trough.

Tired baby at the second day's camp.

We played a few thrilling games of Poopy Head.

Teeny exploring.

We passed some beautiful waterfalls.

There were some hot pots along the river on the last day. It was nice to soak our aching muscles. Overall it was a really great trip and Madelyn did so well! 

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

What a sweet husband and baby I have. They got me just what I wanted!! It probably helps that I picked it out but they are so sweet anyway.

(Look how good Madelyn is at standing!)

Rock Canyon

Rory finally had a free weekend so we called up Pete and some old friends from Mississippi and went rock climbing!!! We haven't been for a year due to pregnancy and winter so it was awesome getting back into it. We climbed The Wild. It was a fun wall with some really varied routes.

Teeny had a fun time tasting every rock she came across.

All the rock eating really wore her out. She was such a trooper though! We were out there for hours and she was totally happy.

Tulip Festival

We went and walked around Thanksgiving Point's tulip gardens this weekend. It's amazing how many flowers they have growing.

Madelyn had a good time crawling all over the place.

Some of the tulips we saw.

Rory helping Teeny sniff a few tulips.

Madelyn enjoying a beautiful fountain. 

Don't Blink!

There was a pond fiiiiillllleeed with koi. Madelyn learned pretty fast how to throw her cheerios to them.

Walking around the koi pond.

Jolene's friend Carolyn was nice enough to get us all in to the gardens. Thank you!