Welcome Baby Fiona!

On April 11, 2011 we welcomed in a new addition to our family. Fiona Ashley Lausten was born at 9 lbs 5 oz. She is beautiful!! Lauren, Hadley and I feel like the luckiest people in the world. These pictures capture the first few days in the hospital with Fiona. These are such wild days - it really cannot be described what it feels like to welcome a new person into the world and spend the first few days with them. Looking back on this time in the hospital, it feels like a blurr. The doctors and nurses at Boulder Community Hospital will forever be in our debt for helping us through this time. We had ups and downs in the first month - as Fiona caught Pneumonia 3 weeks after birth. Again, the nurses and doctors helped us through a challenging time and everyone has turned out stronger and tighter as a family because of it.

Enjoy these pics - this is one of the most memorable times in our lives.

Vancouver Trip

We took a fantastic trip to Vancouver in the Summer of 2010. We spent 3 days in the city of Vancouver - what a great spot. Wonderful people, great food, clean & interesting city. We spent time exploring Stanley Park, the streets of the city, the great food, the first class aquarium, and had a sampling of their excellent selection of local beers and wines and enjoyed some excellent gelato.
We also were fortunate to spend 3 days on Bowen island, which is only 45 minutes away by car and another 30 minutes on a ferry. We rented a cottage on the water in Bowen Island and had a very relaxing time. We hiked a great trail to the highest point on the island, spent some time exploring the various ports, and putting our feet up on the back porch watching the boats go by. We hope to be able to go back again some day

Hadley at Camp

Hadley has been going to camp in Shelter Island a few days a week. This place is great! She sings songs, plays on the slip-n-slide, goes on hikes and plays games with a bunch of other kids her age. all this in a beautiful seetting by a lake with some great young ladies that act as camp counselors. A photographer came by camp and took some amazing photos of our little one. Some of the best photos I've seen. Just great!

Shelter Island, 2010

We had a fun filled trip to Shelter Island this summer. All the standard activities including beach time, barbecueing, croquet, bike rides, night swims, delicious meals, kayak trips etc. Some highlights included getting a seat on the back of the bike for Hadley so she can go for rides (which promptly leads to naptime), lobster cookout with Jenny and Jane, and the brilliant bacon-infused vodka Bloody Mary at the North Fork Inn and Table restaurant. Always fun to get back east in the summer time

Hadley and Aiden

Hadley and her good friend Aiden got a chance to spend some time together in NJ awaiting Matt and Nicole's engagement party. Here are some photos of them have a blast with some toys at Nana & Pa's house

Spring photos

Shown below are some nice photos from the Spring. We've gotten some good weather lately and have been fortunate enough to spend a good bit of time outside. Hiking and paying with Buddy at the park have become the norm. Lauren is off on a trip to Peru with Diane, so I have some time to focus on updating the blog with the recent pics. Thanks to Jim (Pa) and Mom (Grammy Sue) for helping out while Lauren is gone.

Haddy walking around the house in daddy's sandels.

These are two of my most favorite photos of Hadley. She learned how to say 'mountains' on this day. Such a happy little girl.

'E' providing a flower toHadley after a day of hiking in Chautauqua. 'E' is Erik Anderson, Hadley GodFather. We are hanging out in the field by the dining hall after a relaxing day in the mountains.

Haddy and Grammy Sue playing together in the kitchen. Keep in mind Grammy Sue has a broken leg at this point. She's amazing! Hadley's pretty special too.

This is where we had lunch during an excellent day of hiking on the Gregory Canyon/Saddle Rock trail loop. What a great day. The view from our position here is amazing. When this picture was taken, Lauren is saying 'Don't take my picture'. Right.

Playing in the backyard (notice the new fence!) with BuddyTheDog

Playing in the field down the street with Buddy. Haddy realized this day that she likes to run down hills REALLY FAST.

Birthday party at Max's place across the street.