Summer is over, says the calendar. I mean, summer and I sort of called it quits once I returned to school full-time, but today, summer officially left. I’m not completely heartbroken and I have no regrets; it was good while it lasted and we made incredible memories. I’ll let the pictures tell the story….

Here I am, Mr. Helpful, watering mom’s flowers while she was out of state for a work conference.

Look at how young Genesee looked at the beginning of summer!

We went to BRF a lot for biking, walking, and playground excursions!

Pit stop along the trails

Lunda Park was our go-to place.

Genesee developed a love for swinging

Dipping our feet in the water!

Moments after this picture was taken, I puked in the river.

G loved going hiking

G did not love when Dad would leave the house.

I made a new friend!

I even got to pet Bambi.

Soooo cute!

Me and my boys (Dad & Grandpa) went fishing a lot in our new-used boat.

I loved my fishing morning!

We caught a lot of fish!

I even caught Grandpa once, but he still loves me.

We had a blast on the water!

And goofed around a little bit.

But mostly, we just enjoyed nature and quality time with eachother.

Even my ladies joined us a couple times!

I also played Red Light Green Light with Cha Cha & Ernest!

I went to a Minnesota zoo with my classmates.

Mom even came with as a chaperone!

We visited with the Docan-Morgans as soon as they returned from South Korea

G became a cookie monster.

G rocked her pudding mustache

I took my sister for rides around the house….

…she loved it!

G learned how to ride a bike

And when you play hard, you eat hard!

Especially when Cha Cha makes Mexican rice, guacamole and quesadillas!

Or when mom and dad make a fancy meal.

Or when you pick enough blackberries so Dad can make smoothies and Grandma can make pie!

And after you eat hard, you sleep hard.

Zzzzzzz

Zzzzzz some more.

Dream team.

Drool fest.

Because summers are for being lazy

And for snuggling!

Dad got a new bike this summer and Grandpa took it for a test-drive!

I went on my first ride this summer – a ferris wheel!

I loved putting puzzles together.

Sometimes I was so excited to play with puzzles that I refused to waste time getting dressed first.

I graduated to a booster car seat this summer!

Sadly, we lost Great Uncle Windy.

It was nice to attend his funeral to celebrate his life.

When it was hot, we played with water balloons

and sprinklers!

It was so much fun!

And of course summer is the best time to prevent forest fires.

I spent some of my days pretending to be Captain America, usually when Mom tried to get work done.

We went to Jellystone a couple times…

I love a good camp fire!

Genesee learned how to climb the stairs!

And she graduated to the big bath tub!

Having a little sister means sacrificing some of your ice cream. Because sharing is caring.

We had lots of dance parties!

I played with my marble run and “wished I was a marble.”

We wrestled on the bed

And acted silly a lot!

We went out to eat a few times too! (I hate when I order a “dog bone” instead of a “corn dog.” Oops!)

I grew taller!

I learned how to change my phone’s screensaver.

I enjoyed Mom’s annual ATP show.

And we even went on a family bike ride…

because Mom got a bike for her birthday.

And Genesee got a new seat!

As you can see, I experienced a lot with summer, even some firsts, and I grew so much along the way; I will be forever grateful for how warm summer was to me. Although I’m having to move on to fall, trust me when I say that although summer and I had to weather some storms, it was worth every rainbow!

On September 9th, we celebrated my cousin/babysitter-extraordinaire/best friend’s 15th birthday. One might assume that a super-cool 15-year-old high schooler wouldn’t want to hang out with a cute, little, still-need-my-butt-wiped 4-year-old, but Ashlee’s something special. She always has time for me and even invites me to sit with her and her friends at high school sporting events. I’m lucky to have such a beautiful soul in my village. Ashlee is kind and patient and loyal… and it’s like she never grows too old to love me.

Happy birthday, cousin! As you make another trip around the sun, I hope you get to feel its warmth every day because that’s the gift you’ve given me.

September 4, 2018 marked my first day of 4-k! Since mom and dad have busy/commuter work schedules, they decided to open-enroll me into the Onalaska School District so that I can continue taking field trips learning at the Children’s Treehouse.

Genesee and I attend CTH together, and this year, we have new teachers, a new building, a new playground, and even some new friends! That’s a lot of transition for two, cute, melt-down-prone kiddos, but guess who survived drop-off without any tears?! Yep, yours truly: Genesee. But also me, for the most part, just 11 hugs later.

I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for us; we’re already off to a great start!

We’ve missed our friends…

…So we invited them to our property, lured them into the basement, and then captured the moment with my phone camera and selfie skills in case they attempt to leave the country for an extended period of time again.

Bwahaha! We got them right where we want them: back home and forever in our hearts!

…you make a return trip to Jellystone.

Because one time just isn’t enough. And because you can never have too many camping memories. And because if it’s wrong to enjoy those gooey s’mores in the great outdoors, then I don’t want to be right.

Thanks for hosting, Grandma and Grandpa Goodenough!

Last Saturday, we packed up the trusty Suburban and headed west for the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Dad rented us a cute Airbnb house in Ouray, a quaint town my parents visited over 15 years ago and fondly vowed to return to someday. That “someday” finally came on August 5th, 2018. Once we arrived in the “Switzerland of America,” we quickly settled into our vacation home before eagerly grabbing the keys to the sweet convertible-top jeeps that we got to call “ours” for the week.

I can see why Ouray found a special place in my parents’ hearts; our vacation there just concluded and I already want to return! I mean, Genesee and I had the absolute best time, despite enduring sunburn, whiplash, and 70+ hours of traveling. It’s no easy feat driving in mostly low-range to cover 400 miles of rugged terrain that reach upwards of 13,000 feet elevations, even with a small gang of good sports who span the age spectrum, but we did it like champs!

Apparently, the most beautiful scenery in Colorado is reserved for the brave souls who dare to venture up switchback roads, hoping they won’t meet another vehicle on the loose rock, one-lane, no guardrail trails. Therefore, we were constantly surrounded by absolutely breathtaking views, enhanced, of course, by mom’s favorite instrumental songs streaming through the speakers on repeat: St. Elmo’s Fire and The Ludlows. Trust me when I say the pictures hardly do it justice.

Our most memorable sights, however, were found driving along the Million Dollar Highway, climbing the mountain to Clear Lake, braving the dead-end that overlooked Silverton, and surviving Ophir Pass’ sheer-drop-off shelf road. If you add these routes to your bucket list, go with an experienced driver and be willing to shamelessly pee your pants a little. Genesee recommends diapers.

Overlooking Ouray

Silvershield Twin Peaks Trail (hiked by Joel)

Woohoo! Let’s get this thing started!

Last Dollar Road

G and Grandma take in the view at Alta Lakes

My happy dance!

Braving Ophir Pass

Elevation: 11,789 Feet

I just woke up… glad I missed that scary part.

Smile, since we lived to tell the story!

Heading to the Million Dollar Highway from Ophir Pass

I love our convertible top!

“Smile, everyone!”

Aspiring Jeep Model

Hurricane Pass

“Look ma! No roof!!”

California Pass: 12,960 Feet

The view overlooking California Pass

Lake Como

An old mine shaft at Lake Como

Lake Como from afar

See those cool lines? They’re actually roads!

Pit stop on the way to Clear Lake

There’s a waterfall behind my parents, but it’s hard to see in this picture.

Cuties!

We found the lake, 12,000 feet above sea level!

Group photo!

Brrr… it’s a little windy up here!

Me and sis

Breathtaking!

This jeep can go anywhere!

Grandma and Grandpa

Yankee Boy Basin

Stopping at a switchback on Kendall Mountain Road

Family Photo

A dead end, overlooking Silverton

Now what do we do?!

Mom and Dad take a selfie on top of the world

Dad took a picture of Mom and Grandma in case we didn’t live to tell about it.

Panoramic view of Silverton

The famous Silverton to Durango steam train

Still, although we truly enjoyed the ride, no amazing landscape or thrilling jeep route can rival the simple family time that Genesee and I treasured most. There’s just nothing quite like playing Scavenger hunt along the Interstate stretch with Mom, peek-a-booing in the middle row with Grandma, wrestling on the bunk bed like only siblings can, eating a ham-wrapped string cheese “sandwich” in a park with loved ones, opening daily presents from Grandma, exploring the fancy playground in Telluride, tossing a frisbee across the backyard with Grandpa, fishing in the cool Colorado waters with Dad, soaking in mineral water at the Ouray hot springs, “watering the flowers” in front of a mountain range backdrop, hearing the steam engines leave Silverton, and visiting the local toy store to find a red model jeep.

Getting gas at Story City

G playing peek-a-boo with Grandma

Stopping for lunch at Glenwood Springs

Exploring the rest area

Taking G for a walk

Me and G wrestling on the bunk bed

Breakfast in the backyard

Frisbee with Grandpa

Telluride Park

Swing time!

Slide time!

YAAAY!!

Lunch under the gazebo at Silverton Park

How did my hat get up this flagpole?!

“Here I come!”

“Catch me, dad!”

The Durango & Silverton Train

#TrainLovers

Fishing at Alta Lakes

“Catch a big one, dad!”

“Watering the flowers”

Hot Springs at Ouray

We LOVE the warm water!!

Even mom went swimming!

A family that swims together, stays together

Check out my new ride!

G loves her floaty too!

The whole complex

Feeding the fishies

Panoramic view of Ouray Hot Springs

G snuggling with Grandma

Driver in training

Yankee Boy Basin

Last stop: Toy Store!

Ouray, you gained another superfan! So, this isn’t goodbye; it’s just “see you later.” And by “later,” I don’t mean 15 years…. got that, parents? Until next time, thanks for the memories!

On July 26th, Genesee became a 1-year-old! Guess what she got for her birthday?!

[Photo taken at school]

“Make sure you get my good side,” says G.

“How’s this angle?”

“Oh?! You wanted to see these cheeks, not those cheeks!?”

But, fortunately, that’s not the whole story. As a newly-turned 1-year-old, Genesee’s health is otherwise great. She weighs 19 lbs and 3 oz. (40th percentile), measures 29.3 inches tall (55%), and has a 44 cm head circumference (25%). Woot. Woot! Those are the doctors’ stats; here are my observations:

• Genesee is very mischievous and thinks “no” means “yes.”
• She can typically be found opening cupboards or playing in toilets.
• She LOVES ice cream, all of my cars, and a good game of peek-a-boo.
• Genesee is now drinking whole milk… no more formula… and sometimes from a sippy cup!
• She’s growing her top two front teeth.
• Genesee does seem to like her car seat a little better these days (we switched her to a bigger one since I’ve graduated to a booster seat), but her meltdowns instead take place in the mornings at school drop-off.
• She’s really goin’ places! She can pull herself up, crawl up the stairs, and zoom from one spot to the next.
• She is smart, sassy, fearless, and so stinkin’ adorable.
• And perhaps the most important observation: Genesee seems to have the best big brother in the world.

Pop Quiz: What’s better than a birthday party?  Answer: Two birthday parties!

In late July, we threw a double birthday party to celebrate Genesee’s first year of life and Momma’s last year in her thirties. We served up homemade cheesy-creamy-chicken enchiladas with cilantro-lime rice and ordered an epic, not-homemade, Sesame-Street-themed birthday cake with 4 options of ice cream flavors… it was DElicious!

Also delicious was the looks of Genesee’s smash cake before she, well, smashed it. Everyone placed bets that she would indeed destroy the cake, unlike me when I was her age… I wasn’t sure what to do with that thing and wanted no part in getting messy… which seems commendable if you ask me. But no one asked me. So when Genesee proved us all right and made a big mess, the crowd seemed enthusiastically impressed. Huh? It’s a strange world I live in.

After I helped Genesee open all of her presents (because I’m a helper, not a destroyer), I had the honor of surprising mom with her big birthday gift: a new bike! Woohoo! Now we can go on family bike rides… but only trails that are paved or smooth, gravel-less and have no hills or curves per Mom’s request. So, if you want to come along for a ride, meet us at our house, on the hardwood floor, where we can make several slow, safe laps around the kitchen island. “It’ll be fun,” said no avid biker ever.

Happiest of birthdays to the lovely ladies in my life!

Last year, we couldn’t attend the La Crosse Interstate Fair because we were being held hostage at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. So, this year, we went twice just to make up for lost fun. “Fair enough,” I said!

It was Genesee’s first time cheering on our cousins while they horsed around, and it was my first time going on the rides (the Ferris Wheel with Mom and the Dragon rollercoaster with Ash and Cortney)!  Of course, we also enjoyed the mini donuts, cheese curds, ice cream, deep-fried cookie dough, and corn dogs because it’s a fair… duh.

I’m sure glad we made it this year; missing out would’ve resulted in true heartbreak… Genesee developed a love affair with cotton candy and I fell head-over-heels for all the rides I’ve been deprived of my whole life. We’re both already looking forward to next year… when we’re taller (for the bigger rides) and hungrier (for the larger bag of cotton candy). Hopefully, our true loves will be there waiting for us.

Last weekend, we packed up our Hondas to explore the Mississippi River Bluffs in the great beyond. Sponsored by the Trempealeau County ATV Club, we joined 100 ATV strangers and embarked on an adventure that took us through 51 scenic miles of private trails. 6 hours of riding later, I had a slightly sore butt and a big smile to show for it. The only thing that would have made it better was if Mom and sissy could have been our passengers. But since the rugged terrain isn’t baby proof, Genesee will have to wait until she’s more mature, like me.