Liam Robert LaDuke

Welcome to the world!

We are so excited to meet you and know that you will be surrounded with love always.  

Congratulations LaDukes!

Avery, Gigi, Calli, and Liam

Hope you like to ski because your cousin, Dax, is going to make sure you come visit Idaho :)

Happy Anniversary

To the love of my life and very best friend, Happy Anniversary.  

Three years ago today I had never been more sure of saying "I do" to the rest of my life with you.  Thank you for the friendship, humor, love and life you bring to me everyday.

Sawtooth's and Symphony

A last minute decision on Friday led us to the Nickum's cabin (ca-bansion as we lovingly call it because it is more mansion then cabin) up North near Stanley.  We spent the weekend mountain biking, relaxing with friends, and soaking in the gorgeous view of the Sawtooth mountains.

Sunday night we rushed to attend the Summer Symphony in Sun Valley.  This annual week long event is free to the public and such a treat to enjoy.  A picnic dinner with good friends and their families on the lawn of the pavilion was outstanding.  Sarah Sundby's parents, Brick & Kim Wahl, were in town from Seattle.  I was unfortunately  more focused on eating then taking any good pictures but they were excellent baby holders.  We made it 10 minutes into the concert before we had to leave but it was well worth the pre-show festivities :)

Ian & Sarah Sundby

Sarah, Zach, and Dax enjoy the music...briefly :)

Won't You Be My Neighbor

I have to brag for a minute about our neighbors.  They are awesome!  We are constantly in our yard chatting it up with people across the street, riding their bikes or cruising by in their cars.  When Dax was born, neighbors not only next door but a couple streets over brought us gifts and food in congratulations.  On my first day back to work last week our neighbor, Carol, made us dinner so I wouldn't have to cook when I got home.  And last night the neighbors behind us, the Mary's, brought over handfulls of freshly pulled lettuce to share and insisted we come over for more.  Thank goodness because my lettuce has been lacking this year due to unintentional neglect.

It took me 40 minutes to clean all the yummy lettuce

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This September we are excited to welcome our newest neighbors, Kat and Bryan, to the neighborhood!  Can't wait to swing on by with something from our garden :)

Petit With Thijs

Dax and Thijs had a play date at Petit and made the most of their day.  They even got a boat ride around the lake despite a few tears. 

Not a bad view from the car seat.

The parents assembling the beach.

Dax and Thijs get down in the tent.

Rachel keeps Thijs's tank full.

Thijs' first boat ride.

Tahoe 2011

Ah, Tahoe, how I miss you!

Lucy looking out from our campground beach. 

Papa and Dax.

Lucy on Emerald Bay hike.

Pata-baby

Ali, Sarah, and Zach on the Powerline Loop South Lake bike trail.

We had a fantastic week camping in Tahoe.  

Here were some of the highlights:

Dax did a great job for his first camping expedition.

Lucy was rarely on dry land long enough to dry off.

Zach made sure to mountain bike as much as possible.

I soaked it all up :)

Visiting with Papa Bob and Sherri.

Ali stopped by the campground for my birthday dinner and a mountain bike ride.

Ben made sure to keep the camp activities efficient with cocktails.  

Gigi made her grandson laugh as much as possible.

A great time was had by all!

Ben demonstrates our knowledge of
disassembling the shade tent.

Gigi, Dax, and Sarah at the beach.

Happy campers :)

Sunset near campground.

Back to Work

Where did the time go?  And I can't believe my baby boy is 3 1/2 months!  We had an amazing vacation in Tahoe last week with family and I'm dying to blog about it but first things first gotta bring home the bacon.  If your out there blog world readers updates are coming soon :)

Weed Eaters

How does your community kill weeds?  Why not try goats!

Driving home from the grocery store I wasn't expecting to see this army of weed killers along the bike path.  About one hundred goats munching away on the noxious weeds that hinder the hillside.  They are pesticide free but require a big meal for their services.

I thought the unwanted weed seeds might get passed along in the goats droppings but apparently their gestational track is phenomenal for breaking them down.  Not a bad way to feed the army and remove Nap weed at the same time.

McCall Getaway

We had the opportunity to spend time with our friends the Sundby's (Ian, Sarah, and wonder dog, Winston) this past weekend on their boat in beautiful McCall, Idaho.  A hop-skip-and a jump north, McCall is centered around Payette Lake.  A usual vacation spot for Boise folk this little mountain community has great places to eat, shop, and enjoy the lake it's surrounded by.

Captain Ian and his chocolate banana popsicle.  

Weekend Warriors from the left:
Sarah L., Zach with Dax, Sarah S., Ian, and Winston.

Payette Lake sunset

  We had no problem having a great weekend cruising around town, skiing in the lake, laughing with friends, and soaking up some rays.

Sarah Sundby skis like a champ and it's only her 2nd time! 

So pregnancy does end and my legs still work...yeah!

   Dax (not to worry he was well shaded) enjoyed his first boat ride after adjusting to his new life jacket.

Dax falls asleep in his lifejacket

Winston is ready to pounce in case Zach looses his ski.

Captain Ian gets his turn at surfing.

First mate, Dax.

Thanks Sundby's for getting us out of the house for the weekend to enjoy McCall!  We are already fitting a water ski to Dax for next year :)

Ride Sun Valley Nationals

Yesterday, Zach showed some home town presence by competing in the National Mountain Biking competition being held at Bald mountain.  No stranger to the mountain or the sport he glided into the finish winning his age group and getting second overall.  I was toting Dax around on my chest and barely had time to jostle to the finish to see him come in.

Zach & Ian ready to ride at the start.

Mama and Dax cheering on daddy.

 Luckily, our good friend Sarah was alert and ready with her camera.  Her husband, Ian, also ran the course but was cursed with a flat tire mid-way thru the race.  Frustrated but always a good sport Ian changed his tire off a narrow single track and finished out the race still beating a majority of the field of bikers, and thankfully all the chicks ;)

Ian crushing thru the first part of the race.

"D" is for daddy & Dax at the finish.