Happy First Birthday, Huxley.

Katherine, Gabe and Huxley returned home on June 23, so we were not actually with them to celebrate Huxley's birthday on the day itself - June 24.

But Katherine and Gabe planned a party - a cookout in their own back yard - and invited their friends over to celebrate Huxley's first birthday.

Wedding visit at Fernandina Beach

Gabe, Katherine and Huxley came to Florida for David and Kati's wedding. We spent several days before the wedding enjoying Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island.

We had a great view of the beach from our balcony. We really enjoyed Amelia Island where there were no cars on on the beach and where they left much of the natural sand dunes in tact.

This time at the beach Huxley got to play in the waves with both his Daddy and his Poppy 

This furrowed brow was a new facial expression for Huxley. He looks so much like Stephen in this picture.

Huxley loved the water and laughed when the waves lapped against his face. 

Spring visit

I can't believe I never wrote anything about the spring visit we had when Katherine and Huxley came to Florida. The original plan was for them to come when Gabe was on an Alaska ski trip, which was to be part of his fortieth birthday celebration. But this year the snow where Gabe planned to go was not safe (I later learned that there had been a fatality due to an avalanche). But since we had already purchased a ticket for Katherine and Huxley to come, Gabe did a ski trip but closer to home and Katherine still came with Huxley so that family in Florida could meet him and we could celebrate Katherine's 32nd birthday. Eating avocado was till high on Huxley's favorite things to do.

It also was Huxley's first visit to the beach.

It's clear that Huxley's first love is his Momma.

Huxley does everything with such passion and commitment.

The little guy was definitely working on standing up and moving around on two legs, not four. 

I love this picture. His eyes and beautiful angelic face are perfection.

The best moments

Before I left Idaho in January, Katherine took some great pictures of me with Huxley. He is such a happy little guy it is easy to get him to smile. Someone asked me, how do you get him to smile, and I had to laugh. For our little guy, it just happens automatically.

Not sure if Huxley's face indicates that all of the kisses I want to shower on him are welcome or not. But I know this is the best time to get as many in as I can. 

Send in the snow!

When I first arrived in Idaho, everyone was complaining about how warm it had been - in the 40's! And everyone was hoping that the snow would soon arrive. When Charleston and Savannah and Atlanta were shocked by the cold temperatures including snow and ice storms, Idaho had a snow storm too, but not nearly as much as these snow lovers would have liked.

Katherine and Gabe and Huxley's backyard on the morning after the snow.

Katherine's street - Belmont.

The duplex on the right is part of the duplex where Kath lives - their section is further on the right.

Sun Valley Lodge is due for a renovation which is scheduled for next year.

Katherine was hoping the snow would cover the mountains, but it didn't happen this time.

We bundled Huxley in his snow suit and went for a walk along the bike trail.

A friendly guy offered to take our picture

January in Ketchum

In January, Gabe has a work trip - one week  in Aspen at the X-Games,  and another week in Denver for a trade show.  So last summer, I told Katherine that I would come to help her with Huxley for the two weeks. I flew home from Doha, Qatar, on Jan. 18, spent one day at home and then flew to Idaho on Monday Jan. 20.

Huxley is now seven months old and so much fun. He is sitting up, eating lots of different foods, and expressing his likes and dislikes very clearly. One thing he really hates is to have his face and nose wiped. He also is not sleeping through the night, and I promised I would help Katherine with that, but I am afraid I haven't been much help. It is hard to listen to him cry and so I often go in and rock him a bit, and some mornings, I have brought him in to sleep with me awhile. I don't think sleeping alone is fun for anyone.

In his Mom's words,  "Huxley  is just so dang cute right now."

He likes to put everything in his mouth - phones and cameras are especially exciting.

Katherine and Carrie went skiing one day and Huxley and I walked to the Warm Springs Lodge to meet them for some hot mocha.

The Schroders of Idaho

A white Christmas season on Galena

Christmas in Idaho and Huxley is six months old

I made an ornament and sent it to celebrate Hux's first Christmas.

I got to enjoy Huxley's Christmas through the pictures Katherine sent. Here Hux is in his new hat. 

We sent Huxley a carving of an elephant we bought at the Souq in Doha. I hope he is not putting it in his mouth.

A celebration of the New Year

Hanging out with Huxley and Charli

Having everyone together at Thanksgiving was so much fun. 

Charli likes it best when she's the baby too

Family portraits

 Over Thanksgiving, Alan Fraebel, photographer and Ashley's fiance' took some great pictures of the whole family. Here are some of my favorites of the Schroder family.

This is a favorite image of Dad and son.

I love this picture of Katherine and Huxley

And one with all of us