We almost forgot we were in Missouri.

Since Spring Break ended, we were all feeling a little cooped up in the apartment.

 Some of us, a little more than others.

So we decided we would take advantage of a three day weekend and find somewhere to go camping.  Gizmo was very excited as it was her first camping trip.  I found a campsite at the "highest point in Missouri" called Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.  Yes, you read that correctly, Mountain State Park.  I was also unaware that Missouri had mountains.

When we got to our campsite, we went to the nearby scenic overlook to check these mountains out.  You can observe below that signage at aforementioned scenic overlook.  It clearly identifies mountains...

However, these are the "mountains" that we were supposed to see.  We laughed....a lot.

It was a still a good photo-op.  Mountains or no, it was a nice view.

 

At the campsite, we all got a lot of much needed relaxation.

I built a fire... 

...and Gizmo enjoyed sitting by it.

No camping trip is complete without the proper beverages.

Megan wanted to make sure that Gizmo was comfortable, so she put a blanket outside for her to lay on.  Gizmo, was much more interested in rolling in the dirt...everywhere.

The next morning we got up and went on a little 3-mile hike.  The hike took us to Missouri's "highest point" and to the biggest waterfall in Missouri as well.  

We made sure to take plenty of water breaks.

Here is the biggest part of the waterfall.  Above this is a series of "shut-ins" which is a term used to describe water that flows through a series of rocks.  There were probably 50 or so of these shut-ins above the waterfall.

Here is one such shut-in, right above the waterfall.

The view from the top was gorgeous!

You can see some more shut-ins right behind me and Gizzy.

Megan snapped this cool shot of me and Gizmo, looking like bosses.

Gizmo even did some exploring of her own.

Here it is, the highest point in Missouri.

Gizmo loved every minute of our trip!  She is a beast of a hiker and completely fearless when it comes to scampering around on the rocks (much to my delight and Megan's disappointment).

Gizmo was super dirty from all of our hiking.

When we got back home today, we decided an easy dinner would be frozen pizza.

At least until Megan broke the pizza cutter with all of her might!

Sorry it has been a while since our last post.  We hope this extra long one makes up for our lack of March blogs.  We'll be seeing all you Denver folks soon!  Megan heads back home in about a month with her first year of law school complete!  I will follow a couple weeks after that having completed my first year of teaching!  

- Luke, Megan, and Gizmo

Pizza

Hey, its me Gizmo. Finally got back on the computer, I'd been pretty busy napping and chewing so blogging took a back seat.

I watched them make this delicious pizza. I watched them put the cheese and peppers and sauce and such good things on it.

Then surprise surprise they ate it all. Humans are so predicable, keeping all the good food for themselves and then put some kibble in my bowl.

Oh well, I've been keeping snacks in a mini fridge in my kennel. I guess what they don't know won't hurt them.

-Gizmo

Almost Half Way Through the Semester...

If anything, February has included a lot of relaxing for our little pack.  Gizmo especially likes her post-dinner pet sessions as seen below.

The most recent Gizmo casualty was a coupon advertisement.  At least she was nice enough to leave it in a pile this time.

However, she still knew she did something she wasn't supposed to.

As always, no one ever says no to a nap in this loft.

Also, it FINALLY snowed.

The snow stuck around just long enough for Gizmo and I to go on a little night-time adventure.  She was beside herself with joy.

However this past week, Gizmo found out she has an ear infection.  No need to worry, it isn't anything that can't be cured by cuddling with her hedgehog toy Sonic...

...or by up snuggling under a blanket.

We also had some pretty awesome breakfast on Valentine's Day.

For aforementioned holiday, I made Megan a kid's book.  You can check it out here. Just click "Read."

Not that I am counting down until spring break or anything...

I thought February was a "winter" month.

After watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 1 last weekend, I felt compelled to start reading the Harry Potter series again.  I probably haven't open my copy of the Sorcerer's Stone in six years so I was quite surprised to find a little present waiting inside for me.

My footwear lost another battle this week with Gizmo.  So far the score is Gizmo - 3, Luke's Shoes - 0.

Last weekend, we went to a "W" party where you had to dress up as something that starts with a "W."  I went as "White Trash."

Megan went as "Water."

After hearing about all the snow that Colorado has received these past few days, Gizmo has started a vigil to watch for when we will get snow again.  She is quite disappointed that it is only raining today.  So far this winter St. Louis has received a whopping 2 inches of snow fall.  

Speaking of Gizmo, we found a kid's story online about a corgi named Gizmo!  It's a good read ;-).

I saw this picture of I-25 while I was trolling around on the internet the other day:

It made me miss home a lot.  Just five more weeks 'till I'm back in the Mile High City for a visit!

Splish Splash

Gizmo took a bath this weekend.  She has a most unique way of drying herself off.

Loft Days

The temperature is finally cold enough to encourage us to stay inside most of the time.  We have come up with unique ways to occupy our time inside.

Gizmo has been our #1 form of entertainment since we got her over a year ago.  Last week when I came home she started sniffing around inside one of my flannel shirts.  I assumed (incorrectly) that this meant she wanted to wear it, so I helped her put it on.  Given her small stature, she fit the best inside one of the sleeves.

I thought she looked cute as a button.  She did not agree and gave me a look that seemed to say "Really dad?" until I took it off of her.

Last night Megan and I decided to have a movie night with some adult smoothies.  They were delicious!

But no movie night is complete without a blanket fort and tons of pillows!

I have recently discovered an awesome record store in the Delmar Loop area of St. Louis called Vintage Records.  This discovery has prompted me to start listening to my small collection of vinyl again.  On Saturday while Megan was studying at the library I went to Vintage and got mentally lost in vinyl.  I came home with two records: Diana Ross and the Supremes (for Megan) and Belle and Sebastian's most recent album "Write About Love."