Early Fall

Where to start?  We have had a full fall already.  Busy as can be, we have tried to take time for the incredible autumn colors here in the valley and in the mountains.

We hiked a great way up the Bells Canyon trail a few weeks ago, to the first waterfall, with Dad Marshall, Abby, and Tyson.  Peter rode on Mama's back, and Cameron manned the camera.

We had a nice photoshoot at the falls, and drank our fill as well!  You've never tasted anything so pure.

An artsy shot of Abby and Peter, with Tyson in the background for perspective.

Grandfather in his element.

And some more nice water macros from Cameron:

 In other news, Meredith made some delicious pineapple chips last week by pureeing and dehydrating pineapple cores:

 

Peter received a new rocking horse, lovingly crafted especially for him by one of Meredith's Hebrew students.  This particularly brilliant and versatile student has now made a plethora of beautiful wooden toys for Peter, and they are our favorites!

Peter is really crawling now.  And climbing!  See either video for a sampling.  In the first, he scales the dresser and gives a smile.  In the second he goes on a hunt for the little guitar Nana gave him... and even demonstrates a little walking action.  Don't worry, Meredith eventually gets the focus right!  Now you know one more reason why she and Cameron are so good for each other.  :)

And last the best... Peter has finally cut his first two teeth.  Whew!  Hard work.

Going Mobile

We have officially downloaded the mobile version of Peter 6.0.  (6 months old!)

He's been doing a worm/frog crawl the last few weeks (in which he leaps with his back legs but does not know how to move his hands, and thus ends on his stomach).  But yesterday he started moving his arms!  You can see he is his father's son ... he ignores the stuffed giraffe and doesn't start moving for real until offered the camera.  Wait for the smile at the end!

In other news, we spent a brilliant Labor Day weekend at the cabin with a few members of the Marshall family.  Cameron and I snuck out one night around 11:00 for some night photography.  He snapped some beautiful long exposures!

 Shiprock Mountain

The Cabin (were any of you getting dizzy inside there?)

We also spent some time down by the river...

And I can't decide which of the following photos is cuter, though of course we won't be framing the second one. :)

The drive home was beautiful!  I did not know Cameron shot this first photo at all until I saw it later (I thought he was aiming at the hills), but his mother and I agree it has very nice composition --- even if I look a little mad.  I actually felt very content that day, as I always do when I'm in the mountains with my boys.

The last little while

We had a wonderful visit from Uncle Dylan of Boston two weekends ago.  We spent one day and night at the cabin, during which we hiked up the lumber road to the top of Slater's Ridge and back down (10 miles in total), and I tried out our new baby backpack.

 We saw a beautiful sunset at the top, and ended up getting back to the cabin well after dark.  But we had some hearty lasagna waiting at the cabin for us.  Cam was kind enough to run back ahead of the rest of us to put it in the oven, and Dylan protected mama and child from moose.  There were a few sightings that weekend!

Meredith, Peter, Dylan

 

Dylan shooting at Yellow Lake

Cameron and Meredith hiked most of the way up this same trail back when they were "just friends."  Well, one might say the hike is what changed all of that, since it was the first time we held hands.  We found a rock that looked just perfect for sitting on, and M took the following picture of C.

We found that same rock this time around!  We tried to take the same picture, but the sun was in just the wrong spot so it turned out horribly --- despite the incomparable subject matter.  Still, it brought back good memories.  We'll try again next time. :)

In other news, Meredith baked her first loaf of banana walnut bread ever, and it was so easy!  Turned out very delicious.  Now we want to let all our bananas get too ripe to eat plain (pleasantly).

Just looked good in b&w for some reason.

And now, a children's poem about Peter's feet, written by mama.

I heard a bird sing twit twit tweet.

That little bird had sweet small feet.

But Peter's feeter sweeter!

I saw a frog hop to the beat.

A froggy's flipper feet are neat.

But Peter's feeter neater!

A cheetah's one I'd like to meet.

A cheetah's feet are fast and fleet.

But Peter's feeter fleeter!

An alligeeter might compete

For toughest toesies on the street.

But who would beat her?  Peter!

Finally, some footage of our almost-mobile little boy.  He'll give you a smile if you watch to the end!  Since this was filmed (over a week ago), he has gotten even more daring.  More to come!

Visits from CA!

Finally!  These past two weekends Peter got to meet his paternal grandparents.  Grandpa visited us while kindly delivering some of Cam's grandma's furniture to us (which we have had in storage in CA), and the next weekend we were treated to a visit from Nana and Aunt Anai, Cam's 5-year old sister adopted from Guatemala.  Anai, of course, insists that Peter is her little brother and not her nephew.  We love it!  Peter has a big sister.


Grandpa Stuart's Visit
It was a surprise visit from Grandpa, who only told us a couple days beforehand that he would be driving a truck out with our furniture.  He caught SLC on a beautiful weekend, and we were so glad he finally got to meet the grandson who inherited his smile.

These two got along just fine

We went together to the State Special Olympics to see Uncle Thomas (Meredith's 16 year old brother) compete in the softball throw.  He got third place!  We missed his earlier races, in which he won a gold.

Grandpa Stuart, Grandmama Jan, Mama, Peter, Great-grandpa Maynard and Great-grandma Nonie (Grandfather Stephen was there too)

 

After witnessing Thomas's amazing feats, we took a drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon to hike to Dog Lake.  Stunning greenery!

 

 No moose will charge me in my camouflage Moby wrap...

Nana Cinde and Anai Visit

It was so wonderful to have Nana and Anai (nana'an'anai) for a weekend.  Anai was an enthusiastic companion chef in the kitchen, and Nana watched Peter a few times while I got things done that I usually have to do with one hand.  It was a hot weekend.  We visited the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, hiked to Doughnut Falls, and played in the water at Liberty Park.  We miss having both of them around!

We took a walk on the Jordan River Parkway the evening they arrived.  We saw many birds, an otter, a raccoon, geese, a few deer, and of course cows and horses.  It was a lovely sunset, if a little threatening.

We burned something in the kitchen...

Cameron had a little fun at the museum with the new prime lens I got him for Fathers' Day

Peter and Mama at the Fathers' Day dinner we joined in at the Marshall house

First picture ever with all three of us smiling!

Miss Photogenic

Barefoot is best

Liberty Park with the Marshalls

Finally, we returned to Liberty Park this weekend so George could play in the water (his favorite pastime), only to discover they turn it off at 7:00!  Drat.  But we still had a great time together.

George of the jungle

We love our families!