Vonderschmidt's "to the rescue"

With Jan headed out of town for a long camping weekend, we were called in for assistance.  Kacee, Zack, and I arrived the evening of the 19th and were greeted with cautious looks by Miss Freja.  By the next morning though, we were all playing and at home with everyone.  Freja is very chatty and often easy-going.  She does love books; we read throughout the day (every day).  When it was Vida's feeding time, Freja would offer to help Kelly out by saying, "Feed me the baby"...cute toddler sayings (Kelly, I hope you are finally writing them down).

We spent an afternoon at Redstone - enjoyed a picnic lunch, throwing pebbles into the river, feeling the cold water, and window shopping for unique crafts/gifts in the old, coke mining village shops.  While we were there, a tour bus of about 35 stopped by.  We learned a little about local water conservation efforts - Freja was more interested in the rocks.  On Saturday, we headed to Glenwood Springs to attend the Strawberry Days Festival Parade.  While Freja enjoyed her first blue-raspberry sucker, I had Vida in the Baby Bjorn - overwhelmed by sights and sounds, she was asleep.  We hit the Basalt Farmer's Market on Sunday, as well as the library.  Love the library - games (both computer and board/puzzle options), a play area, and built-into-the-floor dioramas!  

Vida is quite a joy.  She was sleeping thru the night (12 hours +/-), but resisted a morning or afternoon siesta.  We could get her to nap either in short snatches or a total of about an hour.  She just didn't want to miss out on a thing.  She coo's and goo's a lot, loves to look at the jungle animals on her musical play mat/arches, and was fascinated by her cousins.  Freja is an active toddler - absorbing everything she sees and hears.  She loved playing with Zack - he's big enough to pick her up/carry her around.  

We headed home the day after Jan got back.  It wasn't easy to leave those bright, happy little faces.  So darn cute and bubbly.  But, it was harder to leave Kacee behind.  She's staying on to help out and so she experiences a little independence at the start of her teen years.  How quickly time flies...weeks become years become memories.