The Great Sand Dunes = the greatest place on earth

I don't know many 10 month olds, but I can tell you that for this 10 month old, a giant sandbox is pretty much the best thing imaginable.  Photographic and video evidence follows.

I should start by saying that even if we had only gone to the visitors center, Augie would have been quite happy.  Mom, there are CHAIRS in here!  He also loved playing with the blocks that spun around on a rod with pictures of animals on them and the topographic map of the mountains, but those were very hands-on experiences for mom and dad.

Outside the back of the visitors center, we got a nice view of the dunes that we'd be driving closer to before starting our hike.

He's so serious for most pictures.  He just can't help it.

 We drove closer to the dunes and had to cross this stream before we could climb them.  Dada was carrying Augie in the Ergo baby through this part and we were trying and failing to not get our feet wet.

Once we got maybe a little more than halfway up, we decided (I decided) to stop and play in the sand instead of going all the way up to the top.  Dada took some photos before making his way to the top.

Whoa, mom, did you know sand feels really cool in your hands?

Wait, there's so much sand!

There's more of it over here!

Mom!  So much sand!

Then he started just crawling around in it and loving it.  

After this, dada took off for the top of the dunes and got some great photos while Augie and I kept at what we were doing.

When dada got back, he saw how things had deteriorated, and caught Augie with what can only be described as about a tenth of the sand he probably swallowed on his face.

Augie learned another valuable lesson yesterday -- going down is way more fun that going up.  Mama has known that one for awhile.

Also, there's daddy's shoulders.