Matias en los EEUU

I know, I know.  I need to stop blogging and writing so much about my nephew.  But I can't help it.  I love him so much and am grateful every day for the time I get to spend with him.

A mwaa for Nana

and a mwaa for Papi

I was flying into Denver from Spokane, Washington the same day Collin and Matias flew in from Bolivia, so I got to meet them at the gate.  I heard Matias wailing way before I saw him, which turned out to be one of the only times on the 36hr+ trip that he got upset.  It was so much fun to watch him warm back up to my parents and to soak in everything new in the States.

We visited my mom's parents first, walking down to see the ducks, playing with Granddad's trains, and then going to the ZOO.  Matias, animal lover that he is, loved the zoo.  Especially the fish and penguins.

BIIIIG FEEESH

penguins

discovering the spray nozzle for the first time

plotting with Nana to spray Tia Katie

readin' with Papi

and readin' with Nana

feeding puppy breakfast

playing with the water tornado Collin & I grew up with

We went to my other grandparents house for a few days around the 4th of July for a family reunion, water fights, meals together, fireworks, soccer, and table games.  Matias loved chasing my grandparents' dog and watching the hummingbirds while we were eating in the solarium.  He would call loudly, "Hummy birds, 'mere!" and wait excitedly for the birds to come back.

meeting great-Gramma

meeting great-Grampy

learning to pump water on our camping trip

CAMPING!!!

first backpack trip hiking almost all the way

We also took him on his first Colorado camping trip and his first official backpack.  He loved the outdoors and was obsessed with the streams, rivers and lakes.  He's a true Colorado boy at heart!

and Nana carrying me most of the way out the next day

And like a good Bolivian, Matias looks serious in almost all of the family pictures we take. This was taken the last day we were in the States with some of my mom's side of the family:  Matias' Papi, Nana, Tia Katie and Aunt Anne (back row) Granddad, Dad and GG (front row).