Happy Four Months Birthday, Huxley

Huxley is four months old

Huxley Stylin'

I am trying to upload pictures that Katherine has sent me since I left Idaho. Not sure if this is one or not, but he sure is cute.

This is one I know I have received since my return to Florida. Since Gabe is in the eye wear business, I am sure Huxley will have many opportunities to try out the latest fashions in sun glasses.

Huxley in his bear snow suit

I love this video of Huxley that Katherine sent to us. I love that he is clearly trying to verbalize a response to her questions and comments. Kath says he'll be skiing before we know it, but clearly he will be talking soon too. Not sure the video is working correctly. Still not clear on what to do to fix it. 

Home sweet new home

Katherine and Gabe's new home. The first change Gabe plans to make is to take the star down. 

Before the fires started, Katherine and Gabe had put in an offer on a house (duplex) in Ketchum. They were scheduled to close while we were away, so their banker, Maggie, another great friend and refugee we spent time with in Boise, arranged for the closing to take place in Denver. When we got back to Ketchum, Katherine  went by the house for the first time as an owner. Kath and Gabe want to do quite a bit of work on the house before they move in, so we took some pictures to document the "before" stage. One exciting feature of the house is that it has a great backyard where Hux will get to play. Gabe has been telling him all about the snowmen they will build together and the games they will play in that backyard.  I keep imagining all the flowers I will help them plant. Peonies to start!

This shows the back of the house and the backyard.

A view of the living room from the kitchen. This will be the first time Kath will have a fire place in Idaho.

A view of the kitchen from the living room. They plan to redo the kitchen as soon as possible.

A view of the master. They want to redo and expand  the closet and the bathroom.

A view of the master bath - this is the first project they want to do.

Colorado Rocky Mountain High

On Thursday we drove up to Idaho Springs, Colorado, and had lunch at a barbecue place and then we drove further up the mountain to see a glacier.

When we first started to climb the trail to the glacier, there was some steady rain, so Katherine and Gabe turned back to protect Hux, but in a few minutes, the clouds cleared, the sun came out, and we all made it to the top. 

Hux needed some nourishment before we hiked back, and Augie and Miles were perhaps more amazed by the miracle of mother's milk than they were by the glacier. 

Family and friends in Denver

On Tuesday we all took a walk together in Max and Katie's new neighborhood -  the boys - including Max and Gabe -  were all on skateboards or scooters. I am surprised none of the many skateboards, bikes or scooters can be seen in this picture. Toby the dog is missing too. 

The Schroders - Augie, Max, Miles, Katie, Gabe, Huxley, and Katherine.

Andrea's neighbors James and his mother Molly got to meet Hux too.

Ketchum Refugees

To escape the smoke and fire, Katherine, Huxley and I spent four nights in Boise, in the air conditioned comfort of a Marriott Hotel. There were other Ketchum refugees in Boise too. On the first night, we had dinner with Margot, Carter and Angus. I forgot to take pictures of that dinner, but it was lots of fun, especially meeting Angus. Margot ordered some french fries to start and Katherine was eating a few, and Angus commented, "Katherine, you're killing those fries." It was pretty funny and proof that not much gets by Angus. Hux did his normal reaction by sleeping through the whole event. 

The next night we met Liz, Josh, Robert and Anna for dinner and drinks.  This time Hux awoke and participated a bit in the socializing. There were other folks from Hailey there too, so it was quite a gathering. It was a fun way to alleviate some of the stress of being away from home due to the threat of a forest fire that eventually burned over 100,000 acres of forest.

After we spent four nights in Boise, Gabe, who had been working a bike event in Whistler, BC Canada, decided that we should all head to Denver for a few days. His brother Max and his family were scheduled to arrive in Ketchum on August 19, but instead we arrived in Denver to visit with them. Katherine, Gabe and Huxley stayed with Max and Katie, and I stayed with Gabe's Mom, Andrea.

A visit to Denver was a last minute decision, but it ended up being a wonderful time. Max and Katie and their two boys, Augie and Miles got to meet the newest member of the Schroder tribe, and Gabe, Katherine and I got a chance to visit Colorado.

Huxley did great on his first air plane rides. Other passengers complimented him since they hardly knew he was there.  

Katie, Augie and Miles met Huxley on their own front porch.

Katie, Max, Augie and Miles had presents for Huxley including a coon-skin cap and a children's book written by Aldous Huxley