We are still alive!

Apparently we haven't posted since Aug. 31st. Sorry all you Petra fans out there. We will have to start at the beginning and this will not be one big post but a series of smaller ones, so you just have to keep coming back for more. We'll do our best to keep it updated from here on out.
We've had visitors, birthdays and fun places to go this Fall and Petra has been enjoying it all.
Jeff had his 30th birthday and the big gift was a Chariot for both Petra and Jeff. It is a bike/ski child carrier. It was a blast this Fall and we are really looking forward to it's capabilities this winter. We should get to use it soon on the snow!
Our great friend Chad has visited us a couple times from Philadelphia. Petra loved his water bottle, so much so she has one of her own now.
In mid-September there was a festival in Boulder and they had a bunch of fun things to do for kids, most of which were for older kids. Well, for a couple bucks we were able to spend 5 minutes on this inflated slide. Taking as many rides down as we could. Petra definitely didn't want to stop and although we took probably 30 rides down in that 5 minutes she still cried when we had to vacate the slide. It was pretty cute.
The other visit we had was from Grandma Peggy and it was a good one! The leaves were starting to fall and Grandma and Petra had lots of quality time together.
(more pics to come soon!)

Mina and Bumpa take a trip with Petra

From Boulder to Colorado Springs Mina and Bapa (Bumpa) took Petra on a few adventures. They hiked and drove and visited the chairs above Skunk Canyon in Boulder, the Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs and the Zoo down there too! Petra had a ton of fun! In fact I think everyone did.

I see you looking at my icecream..

Mina? Bumpa?

For some reason, I never take pictures of my mom and step-dad when we visit. They'll be here in August, so this is my public vow to take quality photos of them with pdog.

IA!

Petra had some QT with the grandparents in IA over Bix weekend.

Petra likes to eat dirt.

Backyard Bliss

The Stangrets!

MN!

Riddle: How many cousins are pictured here?

(Hint: One in the oven)

How many cousins pictured here?

4

The Paulson's

This is a little past due, but these are picks from hanging out with Auntie and Uncle Meghan and Joel, cousing Gretta, Auntie Jess, and Grandma Peggy in good old MN. Gretta and Petra are too little peas (princesses) in a pod.

Little Homemaker! (Minus the dreadlocks:)

This cupboard was made for my mom by my great grandfather, Fred Matz. This apron was also my mom's when she was little. They suit Petra well!

The Denver Zoo

Our good friend Greg and former resident of Denver is an avid Zoo goer. He told us a while back that the Zoo in Denver is a good one. Today, Joseph, Petra, Jeff and I decided to do away with naps all together and check out the wildlife. Petra can now say "monkey" with great accuracy. We saw a lot of cool stuff and will surely be back.

More friends from the hood....

This is Jocie and Sarah. They are our good friends that live on our block. Sometimes Jocie comes over to play, and Jeff and I watch Petra's world slowly crumble as she realizes that she is no longer the center of our universe. These visits make us see the importance of maybe having at least one more child.

The man pictured here is another neighbor. He and his wife own the exact same van as Jessi and Jesse, and you can find pictures of the sibling vehicles on their website at spacevan87.blogspot.com. Neighbor: "Oh what a special rock you brought to me. It's special because it's smooth and shaped like a moon!" -Petra then walks away, walks back, hands him the rock, "Oh what a special...." and this was repeated about 20 times. Petra loved it.

4th of July Block Party

Since September, we have lived in this really cool neighborhood on the edge of town. Every year, the neighbors have a big potluck, beginning with a parade, and ending with games for the kids.

Petra walked up to a woman that lives across the street from us (who she has never met before), demanded to be picked up, and would not come to Jeff or me willingly after that. It was very funny.