Brie hiking

A couple videos of Brie hiking in the Adirondacks...she's loving it!

Adirondack fun

Last week we joined Mat in going to the Adirondacks - High Peaks region. 

I am so glad we did.  It was beautiful.

And peaceful. 

Hardly anyone was around because it was mid-March and there wasn't any snow or ice to ski or climb.  Which was perfect for Gabriella and I as we hiked around.  Brie did some hiking on her own, but mostly she was carried in the backpack.  We played at the Lake Placid playground, then Brie had a lovely nap at the Cascade Lakes day use area and then we hiked up towards the waterfall there.  I showed Brie how to throw rocks in the lake and she seemed to like that even though she couldn't quite get the rock far enough to land in the water.  On Friday, we hiked along the Jackrabbit Trail and then Pitchoff Mountain.   

Mat enjoyed his Wilderness First Aid training on Thursday and Friday. After his training on Friday, we hiked up Owls Head and on Saturday we went for a hike up Baxter Mountain and were rewarded with long distance views of the High Peaks.  We love the mountains and we hope to make it back often to visit. 

Getting our Vitamin D quota!

Heading out for our adventurous day!

checking out the view

Can you believe this weather?

This is awesome!

Lunch was good.

All righty, let's get back on the road.

Hard to believe that it is March!  We took advantage of the weather this weekend and did our first long bike ride with Brie that included road and some mellow trail action.  She loved it!  We were out riding for 2 1/2  or 3 hours and she didn't complain once.  While out at Wehle State Park, we had a picnic at our favorite spot and let Brie run around to stretch her legs.  We left Maddy at home for this ride, because we just go too fast on the road for her to keep up while on a leash and it was a pretty long ride.  But Maddy has been getting out running around quite a bit this past while, so she is getting spoiled with this weather as well!

Beautiful times

I know, I know.  I keep talking about the weather.  But it's been beautiful here and feels like spring has arrived early!  Enjoy these photos from the fun we've had the last few days.

We measured and weighed her this morning.  She's a healthy 24.4 pounds and 30.5 inches tall and 17 months old.  We are loving her and her inquisitive nature.  She's also starting to repeat more and more words back to us, so her vocabulary is growing.  Soon, she'll be starting to say short sentences.  :-) 

Stair climbing master

Gabriella masters climbing stairs out at Wehle State Park.

17 Months!

Playing with her pack...trying to figure out how it works.

Gabriella is getting so independent now, she can sit herself down to slide down the slide and she can now hold herself in the swing by herself!!

We are at Wehle State Park and Gabriella is trying to follow Maddy everywhere.  She is trying to give/throw Maddy the stick but Maddy hasn't noticed. 

Brie and I were walking back to the car and she was just a little bit behind me, when I turned around to see how she was doing, she had climbed to the top of this picnic table! 

We made it back home and after all that fresh air, we deserved a snack.  Brie ate the whole container on her own.  Some did fall down into her fleece and get all over her face, but I think she probably ate 90% of the container!  I can't believe Brie is 17 months old now - Brie has changed so much since we brought her home from the hospital.

Exploring a new spot

that is actually just north of us by about 10 minutes.  Mat did some birding and Maddy got some energy out.  Gabriella and I just moseyed along.  We enjoyed the snow geese sighting.  (Can't really see them in the picture, but it was neat to see them flying in formation!) And it was nice to get out in the heat wave and walk the loop.  As you probably noticed, Brie was pretty tired by the end.  When I set her down by the car she didn't even wake up! 

Then we went back home and Mat did some fishing and pulled up several large brown trout.  See below pictures:

A very nice day indeed.

Sunny times...

 

This past Wednesdsay it was 60 degrees.  Yes, 60 degrees and March has barely begun!  It was also sunny and blue skies.  Gabriella, Maddy and I took advantage of this fabulous weather by going to Southwick Beach State Park.  It has two key things we like. 

A sandy beach and a playground.

The water is really high right now, so the beach wasn't as wide as it normally is, but still plenty of sand for us to wander on.

And, of course, Brie loved the playground.  Most especially climbing the stairs.  She just loves to climb and go up.  When we walk over to the post office, there is a step up and she like to step up, step down, and step up again (several times) before we are allowed to walk back home.