We have ourselves a walker!

Trevor has been taking 5 steps here and there for a few weeks now. Finally before we left for Courage Classic, he decided to go for it! He is so proud of himself and usually has a big smile on his face as he goes from the living room to the dining room to the kitchen. When he gets to his destination, he sits down, looks around and gets back up again. YEAH Trevor!

Our 9th year volunteering at Courage Classic

Joel and I had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Summit County thanks to the annual Courage Classic bicycle tour. We skipped last year because Trevor was only 3 months old. We did it with Gavin at 4 months but I left early because none of us were getting any sleep that year! Grandma and Grandpa Beam drove to town on Wednesday and stayed with the kids for the weekend. They kept the kids busy - pool visits, WOW Museum and running around the backyard with the red wagon!

Joel and I got to wake up early each morning (5:30) and head up the hill from Copper to Leadville, into Keystone and back to Leadville. We have fun seeing a lot of the same families riding each year. Some of the kids we met 10 years ago are now headed off to college in the next year! WOW. The weather was great in the mornings as usual with the afternoon shower and thunderstorms.

I thought I'd document the beautiful views of where we stood for 5 hours a day. (We marshal - AKA standing on the side of a busy rode and make sure the cyclists know where they're going) I pulled out the standard grass skirt and extra large hat.

A big thanks to grandma and grandpa for chasing the kids around all weekend!

Gymnastics Classes

I got my hands on the rec center catalog this spring and thought I'd sign Gavin up for a few classes this summer! He took one called Jump Bunch - 45 minutes every Monday for 5 weeks. He got to run around the gym with 8 little kids - they did some silly activities. His favorite part was at the end when they gathered and cheered "JUMP BUNCH!" 

Then we took a mom and me gymnastics class. 5 weeks of learning to tumble, climb the rope ladder, parallel bars, etc. It was a fun class. Daddy, grandma and grandpa came to the last class so we have some photos to show! Gavin enjoyed the mini-trampolines and hanging up-side-down on the bars. 

The last class was actually a week long morning camp. The theme was Dr. Seuss. It was a hit. Gavin has us read these books just about every night before bed - to the point where he can "read" the pages pretty well. Just like dropping him off at daycare, I walked him to the door, greeted the teacher and he was off. Didn't look back, just went in and was ready for his activity. There were 12 3 and 4 year olds in the class. They read 1 Dr. Seuss book first thing, then did a craft that went along with the book. At the end they would go outside for 20 minutes. Gavin brought home some cute art projects - Horton Hears a Who - elephant ears and snout, Cat in the Hat - foot print in the shape of the cat and his hat, Green Eggs and Ham - on a paper plate. The teacher must have glued a fork to each kids plate after they were done the project. Gavin didn't realize this til we were in the car on our way home. He was quite upset when he found out the fork was attached.

Bottom line. The kid really enjoyed learning new things and getting out of the house!
Next adventure: Preschool begins on August 15!

I don't want to walk. I want to climb the stairs!

7-15-12: Trevor has discovered the stairs. He figured out that he can side step up them and hold on to the railing with both hands. We put the dog bed at the bottom just in case. Yes, Joel is just out of sight in this video!

He doesn't just climb the stairs, he also likes climbing up the steps on the mini sliding board. He has gotten confident enough to carry something in one hand while climbing. We keep talking about getting him a football helmet but not sure they come in 15 mos. size!

He will take 3-4 steps on his own but sits down after that. He has excellent balance and can stand still for long periods of time - just not interested in walking... yet!

A visit to the Butterfly Pavilion

Daycare was closed after the Fourth of July so mom had to figure out how to tire out the kids! On Thursday we went with neighbor and her grandson to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. We got there when they opened and ran circles around the place!

There is a room with large, live bugs and spiders. We went there first and saw the cockroaches, walking sticks, bee hive and other things that I'd rather only see behind glass. Gavin let Rosie, the tarantula, walk on his hand not once but twice. (Sorry, no photos of that). He said she tickled as she walked from his hand back to the handler. By far the most exciting thing in the room was the machine that you can insert two quarters and a penny into and turn the handle to make an impression into the penny. We didn't add money it but it was still fun to turn the handle over and over again!

Next we visited the room with fish! There is a tank with huge starfish and a few places for the kids to walk up and touch the sea creatures. Gavin touched a starfish and a horseshoe crab.

Next it was on to the butterfly room. It was much more humid than I remembered it in the past. I carried Trevor while Gavin and his buddy ran on in (after stopping in the blower room to make sure no butterflies escaped). We were off. Gavin and Zachary buzzed around and around - finding butterflies in the air, on the trees and plants and on the ground. Trevor enjoyed looking up to see what was flying above his head then at the plants where the butterflies were landing.

Gavin stopped and watched the butterflies when he wasn't chasing Zachary around the room. We had to leave a few times because the humidity was starting to bother Gavin (and mom) but after a short while, we went back! We also saw little turtles, coy and a tortoise.

The last room we visited was a play area. There was a maze, some large flowers and butterflies for the kids to climb on and a net walkway to "walk across the rain forest" on. Gavin and Zachary wore holes in the carpet with their speed from one activity to the next. Trevor enjoyed crawling on and around the flowers and watching the big kids!

After our visit we stopped at Jamba Juice (compliments of Uncle Bruce!) then headed home. It wasn't long before the chattering in the back seat stopped and there were two sleeping boys behind me! Success at last! Got em both home and into their beds for nap time!

The boys playing together!

 Gavin is showing Trevor how to put the ball into the coptor! Like this Trevor.

 They also taste good. See Trevor!

 Trevor got into the fire truck on his own last night. Gavin saw it as an opportunity to drive him around the house. 

 Playing grocery store with the fire truck and play food. Gavin does the shopping and Trevor drives. Sometimes Gavin says he goes to King Soopers and other times he goes to Costco. He brings me the food to unpack and I put everything away! 

Gavin also got a haircut that day. We seem to think his personality changes when the hair gets shorter! We have to do this more often!

June photos 3

 Gavin playing with his Wedgits birthday gift from Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Lee!

 Daddy and his boys!

 Elmo, Cookie Monster and that crazy haired lady.

Trevor and the recycling bucket - eggs and milk cartons are the best!

June photos 2

 Trevor playing ball at the tower!

 Gavin actually let me take a photo of him AND he smiled! What a cute kid!

 Silly Trevor!

 Trevor showing off his "Future Ski Dude" shirt!

 Both boys looking at the camera at the same time!!!

 SEE FOOD!

 Trevor learning his alphabet. B, b, b goes Buh! Every letter makes a sound... I hear that in my sleep sometimes.

Gavin being a stinker!

Future Basketball Star - Trevor Martin Beam!

Daddy and Gavin went for a walk one evening and Trevor and I decided to hang out and play ball. Trevor searches out balloons and balls wherever we go. Luckily we have plenty of them at home! I showed him how to put the ball into the basket earlier in the evening so he thought he'd give it a try! He made a mess of his clothes during dinner so he's enjoying naked time - with sneakers! 

Father's Day!

I've been wanting to make ice cream pie for a while and what better occasion... Father's Day! We got daddy some new clothes since he keeps saying when we look at old photos he is still wearing the same clothes! They're classics, what can I tell ya!

Gavin connects cake and pie with birthdays, which means we need to stick a candle in it and sing. So, we sang "Happy Father's Day to you!" The pie was a success!