The video post

Arjen was into the fishing while we were in Elkhart Lake, but once we got to Lassen, Gus really got into it:

Perhaps Arjen was too busy learning how to ride his pedal bike!  The last week we were in Elkhart, he wanted to try riding his bike instead of his strider, but still needed a little support to keep him going.   At the campground, there were some older boys riding their bikes, and Arjen thought that looked like a good idea, so he gave it another go.  In a matter of about 1 day, he went from needing full support, to barely needing support, to pedaling 5-10 feet on his own, to riding circles around the campground:

Then, during our quick stopover at Baba and Dave's, he upped his game and started doing curbs and turns! (And come on, you really think we made him wear the motorcycle helmet and goggles??):

He's pretty much decided that finding a patch of dirt or a little incline is the best way to slow down to a stop though.  I guess we still need to work how to use the brakes...

Our first family camping trip!

Since I was 6 or 7, summer vacation always included a trip up to Mt. Lassen for a week or so of camping at Hat Creek.  The last time we were there I was pregnant with Arjen, so it was really exciting for me to get back, and to be able to share it with our kids finally.  To make the trip even more fun, we had a whole bunch of extended family there with us!

Somewhere west of Salt Lake City driving back from Wisconsin

First glimpse of Mt. Lassen (looks smallish from so far away, but that's it dead center with the little bit of snow on it)

The boys didn't waste any time getting set up for fishing as soon as we got to the campground

Catching the first fish with Baba

Camp Anderson-Keane-Miller-Crossman (minus the RV in the center back - that's our neighbors)

Hanging at Jo and Bry's

"I'm a tree!"

Blowing kisses!

Party at "the beach"

Selfies with Auntie Casey

Almost selfie

"I got the big one!"

The house Arjen and Gus built

Arjen saw some other kids walking their dog, and decided he needed to walk a dog too...only Pole-dog is "too big for me" so "I need to walk Callie.  She's the right size for me."

Gus thought it was fun to help Baba do dishes every morning...let's hope that one transfers to home!

Shannon and Arjen testing out the wedding presents

View from the hammock :)

A few Keane ladies - Patsy, Eileen, Joanne, Kathy

Having fun getting into something

Baba and Gus go fishing

When you have this much family/help around, it's nice to just sit back and relax!

And when you're camping, there's a fair amount of time for just relaxing (Brian's asleep in the hammock back there too)

Chow time!

Roasting "boulees" with Baba (no clue where he got "boulees" from, but we finally figured out that he was talking about S'mores!)

The Cave Crew, minus Keith, our photographer!  We went for a mini-hike through "Subway Cave" - a tunnel formed by lava from Mt. Lassen thousands of years ago! 

My snuggle buddy!

We're both pretty proud of our fish.  

When camping, you also find new fun ways to entertain yourself!

The whole famdamily

We made a stop over in Davis on the way home from Lassen - apparently the kids missed being in the dirt.

Happy Half Birthday Gus!!

18 months!  Gus, you are quite an awesome little dude.  Your life continues to take you all around the country, and you just roll with it.  You continue to be a loveable, huggable, little man.  You impress us daily with all the things you can do, the things you understand, and the care you show for your family!  We're pretty sure you'll be a pitcher or a quarter back one day...you have an impressive throwing arm! You also still hold true to your sometimes nickname of "monkey" as you find your way up to the top of tables and places that I would not think you could get into!  You also still like to shriek a fair amount, earning you the additional title of "howler monkey".  You know where things go, what they do, and how things work.  You watch and learn (example: I just found you feeding Pole-dog all by yourself!).  You can put puzzles back together.  You give us kisses.  You like to read books.  You take Arjen's juice cup to him, or his shoes, or his hat, or whatever it is you think he needs.  And you are talking! The rest of the world may not understand you yet, but we hear you.  You sign thank you, please, help, more, eat, drink.  You say Arjen, night night, hi, bye, "where'd it go" and "there it is!" - the last four with hand gestures included and very specific intonation.  You know your animal sounds (dog, pig, duck, cow).  You say up, juice, banana, mama, dada, backpack (yes, much of your vocabulary is influenced by your big brother), belly button.  You're even attempting to pee in the toilet like your big bro!  I know you'll keep on amazing us every day!  Here's looking at you kid!

First steps towards learning to windsurf

At least five minutes have passed, time to eat again!

Always climbing onto things!

His camping look

"ish!" (yes, the 'f' is silent)

Pretty sure this was the day we were packing up to leave from Mt. Lassen...poor kid was so tired, but he still wouldn't put down the fishing pole!

Who says you need to go camping to have a dirty face?  Just feed me!

"I put the helmet on so I can carry the bike, right?"

This was all him...climbed up on the sofa, set the pillow, and grabbed a blanket.  Kid knows how to chill out.  

Happy 18 months Gus!  We love you!

Gus's first haircut! (and Arjen's first major haircut)!

Before:

The Process:

"Oh his hair is so beautiful!  Look at those highlights!  But yes, it is too long."

"We're really doing this?!?"

Still not really sure about this whole idea...

And the after!:

"I have Aden hair!"

"Look at me! I'm a real boy!"

The post-cut lollipops were also a huge hit, but not enough to distract Arjen from feeling his new 'do!