Mountain fresh air and great friends

On Labor day we went with some friends of ours, the Russell's, to Lost Lake up Poudre Canyon outside of Fort Collins, it was beautiful- but very windy!!

Here the kids are getting up close to the lake to see if they can see any fish, I am pretty sure that they saw several minnows swimming around

James and Brinley being so cute despite the awful wind gusts that kept sweeping by. While I was trying to nurse Lucas, my friend Jill was so kind to let James climb up on her lap and hide from the wind under a blanket.

All of our cute kids sitting on a big log by the trail. I think they all have great smiles, except Shawn who of course has a goofy grin. This was the best one out of all the ones I took. Shawn was not in a picture mood today, nor has he been for a while now. I guess I have to take what I can get.

Isn't it beautiful!

I think this picture is hilarious, both Chris and Derek with all their fishing gear, I guess Chris looks a little more funny with the shorts, jacket, wool socks and sandals. Oh well he loves to fly fish so whatever works.

James was so proud that he was climbing to top of this rock over and over, it was very cute. It wasn't a very large rock, but I guess for him it was.

Shawn and Chandler whittling while we waited for the guys to fish a little bit. The boys both got their whittling chip pin at scouts this Summer, so Shawn was excited to use his pocket knife that his uncle Jake got for him for Christmas.

It was so nice to get up into the mountains and feel the amazing fresh, cool air, I am so very glad that we live so close to them again, and you will see in posts to come that I have been going up to the mountains as much as possible lately.

James is potty trained!!!

(This was September 15th-18th and he has been doing great- barely any accidents!!!)
Well, the first day was pretty funny because he was sitting on his little potty in front of the TV watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (with his Ninja Turtle underwear-of course) drinking lots of Gatorade, soda and water. Chris got quite a laugh with this picture and I am sure he will hate me for taking it when he is 16, but I could not resist. Even thought the first couple of days were hard he finally got it by the third day. The first day I could only handle the underwear for a few hours and after 4 accidents we were both done. The second day was difficult because he remembered the first day and didn't want anything to do with the underwear. But I persevered and tried again, and I also read some more online stuff to make it so I didn't cry all day again:) I read Dr. Phil's potty train in 1 day and wow- it actually worked! By the third day he had done it and was thrilled about doing it from then on.

As you can see lots of sitting on the potty really helps that muscle memory and and he was so proud!! He didn't go all those times that is just if he sits on the potty and "trys" to go.

Yea James I am so proud of you!!