Vacation: Canada 2010!

This summer we all enjoyed another trip north to Cygnet Lake in Ontario, Canada. Leaving a few days after Grandma Rittgers funeral, we headed up north by RV on Thursday afternoon (July 22). Judah enjoyed sitting on the floor of the RV playing with his bucket of toys or sitting with mommy and daddy watching Baby Einstein videos from the library to pass the time. The others stopped at Cabelas to look around. We crossed the border right before midnight before settling down for some sleep. Waking up around seven the next morning with little sleep from Judah tossing in bed next to us, we stopped for some breakfast, then stopped again later at Sioux Narrows to shop, and finally arriving at camp in time to unpack and make lunch meat sandwiches.

As soon as we could unpack, find our fishing poles and sunscreen, we were ready to breath in that fresh Canadian air and do absolutely nothing. Most of our days were filled with much of the same - a big breakfast, fishing or playing, fish and sweetcorn for lunch, naps and swimming/skiing in the afternoon followed by more good food for dinner, campfires, and games. Add in some good reading and relaxing, a nice fishing tan, a three pound- 20 inch Walleye, tubing on pondom, blueberry picking, smores with Peanut Butter Cups, and Canadian fairy (or I like to refer to Grandma as a great babysitter) - and you have a good vacation. Now multiply that with activity from everyone else - Trunnells, Heubners, Papa and Gigi Rittgers, Uncle Andrew and Aunt Amy with cousin Jacob, and Harold Munson - and you also have some serious good times and fond memories.

The fishing was not as good as last year but everyone still had a good time. Muff seemed to catch a lot in the beginning of the week at Camel Back as the other boats skipped around to just catch one or two. On the last day though, everyone else finally had a good day especially as our boat (Larry, Harold, Tim, and I) brought in nine Walleye plus White's five. Mark did get a quite a few Northern and Perch from others as part of his quota for the trip. Tim even caught a Small-Mouth Bass. The best catch of the week was my three pound - 20 inch Walleye, Muff's 19 inch Walleye, and my other two and a half pound - 18 inch Walleye. Still everyday we managed to eat Walleye and sweetcorn for lunch. The highlights of fishing were Tim losing his fishing pole at Camel Back and the green boat almost surrendering its anchor at Seagull Island.

The weather was just perfect this year as the days were warm enough for washing your hair in the lake and the nights were cool enough for sitting around the campfire eating smores. A few storms brought hail and washed out the roads but we just stayed indoors and played games. The weather also permitted a successful berry picking year with little bugs. On nice days, Andrew got his boat out so Addie could learn to ski. Then Jacob and Judah went tubing.

Not sure what to expect from our toddler, Judah really enjoyed his vacation and did very well. He seemed to sleep better (started sleeping through the nights again), ate better (would sit for an hour in his seat at a time), and had plenty of activity to do. Judah tasted fish and sweetcorn for the first time and never grew tired of eating it, especially the clumps of cut corn. Inside the cabin, Judah would love being chased by Addie back and forth down the hall. She entertained him for hours while he seemed never to tire of the giggles and tickles. Other times, he would spread out his toys all over the cabin floor with Jacob or try to get Jacob to play "Duck, Duck, Goose (Jacob had no clue what why Judah kept hitting him on the head)." Then outside, Judah played with cousin Jacob in a corral we put up with a water table and toys, splashing around and having lots of fun. He also liked to walk around the campground picking up rocks and sticks (Tim?). Gigi even had an alligator pool with a sprinkler for the boys. Then the Canadian fairy brought toy cars and flashlights. Judah took a few trips out in the boat to help "Papa" fish (more like tangle up the poles) as his little fishing buddy. Finally, Judah got his first tube ride with daddy. With a life jacket and only going 15 mph, Judah laughed as he took his tube ride behind the boat.

Thankfully, Judah only got fussy on the way home as the 10 hour drive turned into a 9:00 in the morning to midnight long drive on Friday (a week later). He went between playtime in the RV to nap time in the Ford Yukon. Finally arriving at the farm after one, we all fell asleep. Then we enjoyed a leisurely day at the farm on Saturday before heading back to Des Moines on Sunday morning. Surprisingly Judah adjusted back into the routine and our toys at home were new again.

Here is our week in pictures (of course backwards from when they happened).

July Summer Fun: Month 13!

Judah has become quite the talker this month and even more so is interested in the meaning of sounds and words. Pointing at everything, he says “that,” expecting you to respond with the name of the object. You can see his curiosity in wanting to know what things are called. He also often mimics your sounds as best as he can. You will sing “La La La” and going back and forth, it becomes a game to copy you. This month he learned to say “fish,” “truck,” and “plop.” All these words have become associated with related play activity.

You can see the wheels turning as he learns to communicate more and more. He can now find his head, ears, toes, clap, blow a kiss, wave hello and goodbye, and sit down on demand. Each day he discovers what mommy is saying and tries to communicate back such as holding out his hands for more, throwing food when he is done eating, and coughing when hungry among many more things. He is finally at the age where you can say come here and he (mostly) comes when you call like walking out with you to the car.

Judah's favorite past time this month has been the water and sand. As the temperatures have increased, so has our trips to the wading pool to cool off. Going several times a week for an hour or so, Judah just loves to play in the one foot pool and water fountains. He is not afraid to get his head wet often walking through the fountains. You will see him carrying his beach ball (which is usually bigger than him) around or walking in the water. At Ashby Park (where we often go), we can dig with a shovel in the sand getting dirty and swing at the playground equipment. At home, Judah also likes raking in the big turtle we filled with sand. Occasionally we will take a friend along to the water park and have a picnic. At Papa's Farm, he especially enjoys the pond where you have both sand and water combined, leaving one messy kid. Always, Judah wears himself out enough for a nap afterwards.

Judah has starting developing his own habits and routines. For example, he likes to sleep with his green blanket (with a silky edge) and sometimes he even sleeps with his elephant pillow pal (that is almost as big as he is). After the bedtime routine of getting cleaned up and stories (with dad), we tuck our little “pookie” into bed. As you are reading him a book, he has learned when you are near the end and will point to the next book so that you can squeeze just one more in before bed (he knows it is coming). Checking on him later, you will find him sleeping on his tummy with his backside in the air hugging his blanket or pillow. Judah also loves to brush his teeth. He has a toothbrush for each hand and you will see him walking around chewing on them, stopping to look at himself in the mirror. He also likes to brush hair whether your hair or his. He will have the comb and gently (sometimes) runs it across your head.

Judah has developed a hungry appetite during the growth spurt surrounding his birthday. More and more he eats table food along with mommy and daddy and is starting to eat again from a spoon and now a fork. He has taken a break from his yogurt and cheerios to eat bananas and yogurt from a spoon for breakfast. He really enjoys eating out as he sits better in his chair. Usually he has a mid-morning snack during our morning activities followed by lunch around noon. After his nap he will have another snack, often an early supper, and a snack before bed all depending on what time he wakes up and sleeps throughout the day. He still likes his peas and carrots. However, now he eats more fruit like blueberries, grapes, Mandarin oranges, apple, and watermelon. Perhaps his favorite snacks have become freeze-dried fruit and vegetables that I have found in the health section at Hy-Vee. Lunch meat and cheese have become additional yummy tummy fillers. Judah also still likes his French Fries, chicken patties, macaroni and cheese, and/or hamburgers. And of course, he wants his bread or crackers to curb the high metabolism required by all his energy. Getting him to not throw food has become another story. Mommy has learned too that you give him the most healthy food first before showing him the fun food (otherwise he won't eat anything after the cookie Uncle Dan gives him). Judah also really likes to eat cat food (almost better than his own food).

This month Judah got his first haircut. It worked out to have our family friend Becky Schwartz do his hair since we were north in Cedar Falls. On the drive up to Waverly, Judah fell asleep not knowing that his curly mullet was to be cut. Waking up, Judah watched them put the cape on mommy and silently sat in my lap as his locks were trimmed. Of course, daddy came along to take pictures and Grandma Kreis held the envelope to save the curls. Cutting a couple of inches off, mommy watched in the mirror as he transformed into a big boy. Barely noticing the scissors, Judah remained interested in the gal sitting in the seat next to us who looked like an alien with tin foil in her hair setting her color. In less then 15 minutes, Judah grew up with a new look and no crying. He officially looks like a boy again....but still mommy's big boy.

Judah also went to his first funeral. Great Grandma Anna Rittgers passed away on Saturday, July 17, in the early morning. We were expecting the worst when age had caught up with her and she just did not want to eat or drink. As soon as we heard the news, we scrambled to pack for two weeks on the road for the funeral followed by an already scheduled vacation to Canada. Working half day on Monday, we were able to leave town by afternoon in time for the visitation at Richardson's Funeral Home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Great Grandma (I am sure) got a kick out of Judah trying to play in the water fountain and flowers next to the casket while mommy tried to occupy Judah with some toys. The next afternoon a nice funeral service was held at the Lutheran Home. Fortunately, Grandma Kreis watched Judah in the next room looking at the birds so that we could enjoy the service and listen to Tim sing. Afterwards, we had a slight meal in the cafeteria before heading to the Fairfield Township Cemetery. During family pictures and a brief ceremony, Judah enjoyed tearing a part the rose and exploring the headstones. By this time, Judah was ready for another nap and so like the rest of the family we headed back to the farm for some quiet time, food, fellowship with cousins, and swimming that evening.

This month has been full of activity. The week was busy with work for Tim as his new job still brought surprises that needed to be taken tackled. Judah and I filled our time with water, digging, and enjoying the sunshine. If we could not be outside, the usually we went to the Des Moines Public Library. On weekends, we would try to make it to the Farmer's Market in Des Moines for some breakfast burritos. Other times, we were busy cleaning the house for family or packing to go north to visit family. The Kreis family came down prior to the 4th of July while we went north to the farm to visit with Dan and Shannon and play with Cousin Gabe on the 4th of July. The second half of the month was filled with a two-week trip for Grandma Rittgers funeral and then vacation to Canada.