You have always enjoyed looking at our pictures as soon (and sometimes even sooner) as we take them. On our recent trip into the Andalucian region of Spain, you took it a step further and actually began taking your own pictures. And amidst the close-ups of your shoes, gravel, and blurry tourists you managed to take some very nice photographs. You were insistent enough to get your turn with the camera that we will be sure to get you your own sooner rather than later. Here are a few of our favorites.

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We took you swimming in the Mediterranean sea this afternoon. As promised the water was clear, warm, and quite calm (quite a difference from last summer on Ocean isle eh?). While you are still very adamant about not going under the water, you continue to get braver and braver with each visit. Today you even swam around on your own with your water wings, and after the first couple didn’t even mind the small waves that splashed in your face.

The highlight of the day, however, was while we were playing in the sand where I was teaching you to make drip castles. Three minutes in and you made the declaration “I’m Poopin’ on the Castle Daddy”. Made up several chants about poopin’ on the castle, and wanted to know “What’s the princess say when I am poopin’ on her castle?”. As I howled your mom just shook her head and muttered something about the trials of being in charge of two 3 year olds.

Before we left you also rode your first carousel which you enjoyed very much after having your fill of slushy and ice cream treats.

Other than revisiting the Monkey’s and Elephants we didn’t really tread new ground. Although you did manage build up your courage to let the Flamingos eat from your hand! You were tickled.

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Just wanted to put up these pictures of wayne

Before our day trip to Segovia

And after our day trip to Segovia

This Sunday marks our second outing into the Sierra de Guadarrama range which separates Madrid from Segovia. This time we went to the Parque Natural de Peñalara for a relatively easy hike to the Peñalara Laguna Grande. Which is a rather small glacial lake located ~2K meters above sea level. Other than the first 15 minutes, which were pretty steep, the hike was quite easy (as noted by the number of grandmothers we passed) unfortunately being a nature preserve there was no swimming allowed, in fact a cable barrier kept you from getting any closer than a 100m to the lake (rather pond) itself.

Your second focus on the day was pointing out the cow poop along the trail, of which there was no shortage as the park is apparently home to herds of free roaming cattle. Thankfully your mom was able to find us a suitable picnic spot amongst the rocks and cow poop while you and I took our sweet time (thanks to the rock climbing) covering the last 300 meters or so.

This setting also, finally, provided you with a chance to get in some good “echos”, of which you have been entranced with ever since the first reading of “Little Beaver and the Echo“. And despite the large number of other people enjoying the day by the lake we couldn’t help but allow you to get in some good “ECHO!!”s, though we did manage to get you to only do 2 or 3 at a time and put some time in between each set.

After a couple of hours we made our way back down the mountain, slowed only by your unsurprising desire to go bouldering. At one point you just sat down and randomly started making faces, starting off with both forefingers stretching the corners of your mouth, then a few “blow-fish” looks, then just as quickly on your way again. Your mom wasn’t quick enough to get the former but she got a good one of the latter.

Towards the bottom of the trail we found a mountain spring where you happily washed your face and hand with the cold water and helped mommy to refill our water bottle.


Mountain Climber
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The hike up

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Picnic

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Heading home

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I can't see

We left the restaurant about dusk yet you insisted on wearing your shades. Immediately you complained about not being able to see and then “walked” into 3 trashcans and a sign post to drive home the point. I wouldn’t say you sold it very well as you did stop short and kind of leaned into them before looking back and laughing [Note from Camille: well she did more than lean into the garbage cans; she crowed "whoa, can't see" "look out" and "hey, how this garbage can get here?"], but we can work on that.

Camille finally got around to getting some plants for the apartment, apparently a snail was thrown in for free. Well Lilah has adopted him as her pet being that our apartment will not allow dogs or cats.

And without any further delay,heeeeeeeeere’s Beee (munching on an apple):

(When Lilah named him we asked whether it was spelled “B” or “B-e-e” and she responded with “B-e-e-e”)

Today, Lilah, we made our way out to Parque Regional Cuenca Alta del Manzanares. Which is about a 30 minute drive just north east of Madrid, where you participated on your official first hike. The weather was perfect, a nice breeze and enough clouds to keep the temperature bearable.

The park was free to enter and a lovely drive up to the trail head. You probably walked a good 40% of the time all on your own, mostly the flat and downhill portions, the rest of the time you were either on my back (the way up) or your Mom’s back (the way down) talking about any and everything that popped into your little head. As is your habit of late, you were most concerned with what any and everything was saying (what’s that Rock saying daddy? What’s the ground saying mommy?) as well as hunting down your echo, luckily we eventually found her towards the end of the trail, not so sure the rest of the park was equally pleased with your discovery, and certainly not with the hunt.

You found and commandeered a hiking stick about 5 minutes after being let out of the backpack which stayed with you through the end of the day (actually it might still be in the Premacy) along with the requisite bird feather. Around the halfway point we stopped for some oranges, apples, and sesame seed treats. A wrong turn kept us from making it to the summit, but that should provide enough of an excuse for us to go back (along with the swimming hole).

As we neared the end of the hike you pointed out that you had dropped your hat….about 500 yards UP the trail, I guess it could have been worse…. One guess who had the pleasure to back and retrieve it….

And of course no hike is complete without a stop by a cold mountain stream to cool off and relax, and today was no exception. You were not to keen on the whole idea at first but eventually you warmed up to the idea as you can see in the pictures below.

On our way out of the park we stopped by the village below for a bite to eat and a look at the local castle as well, needless to say your were OUT like a light by the time we got home (well after your first roadside poop).

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Third trip to Ikea and your first “playpen” experience.

At long last the remaining pictures from our visit to the Madrid Zoo (you know, where Lilah got kissed by Eddie the sea lion?)

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