Take Me Out to a Ballgame

Last night we took our kids to their first baseball game. Our friends Kelli and Daniel were nice enough to share with us some tickets they had received through Daniel's work. It was a bit chilly for May 2nd (considering we'd seen snow that morning) but we decided to fare it anyway. It worked out because there was hardly anyone there so we got the no lines at concessions or bathrooms frill and didn't have worry about annoying people around us who weren't fans of the runaway toddler. For Hayden's part, he did really well. He even sat and really watched the game for an inning with his Daddy who was attempting to explain some of it to him. He got to hi-five the team mascot, Orbit. He couldn’t decide whether Orbit was a dog or a bear and really neither one of us can really tell either. And, whilst Hayden didn't get the full experience with the food, he did get some nacho cheese-less nachos. Our little Nacho Libre often asks for "chips." Chips is in quotations because he says it just like the character in the movie Nacho Libre. Rent it if you haven't seen it. Many quotable lines. Anyway, back to the original content of this entry. Overall we had a great time. In one of these pictures you will see Hayden snuggled up with Kelli. I think he was happiest at this point because, well, Kelli is his first crush. I kid you not. He asks for her all the time and cries for her when she leaves. He even woke up last night crying for her. That’s awesome for a 4am wake-up call, your two year old son crying for another woman. When he found out she was married and met her husband Daniel for the first time, he said to me "Mommy, who dis guy?" Needless to say, he was a little disappointed that he had some competition for her affections. So I think that Kelli was probably the cherry on top of the whole baseball game extravaganza for him. So add another first for Hayden...and we'll repeat it for Clare because while she was trash talking the other team with her babbles, I just don’t think she have even the tiniest recollection of this event.

Happy Easter with Jesus (and a Famous Bunny too!)

Easter 2011 was a blast as Hayden is old enough to understand some of the cultural traditions like Easter egg hunts and the Easter Bunny. He is also starting to understand Jesus and who he is to us as His followers. As Hayden would say when giving a fist bump (or knuckles) to someone else, "Knuckles for Jesus" [too]. We enjoyed church followed by brunch out. We then came home to find the Easter Bunny had been here and enjoyed an Easter egg hunt. We shared our Easter dinner with a nice young couple relatively new to town. Later in the afternoon we made Jello jigglers in the shape of bunnies and eggs. We have to be creative since we're working with some allergies. No dyeing eggs for us or making festive cookies or chocolates. Its better for Mommy anyway, easier on the waistline. The evening was a relaxing time, just enjoying each others company and catching up with family from far away thanks to Skype.

The whole family complete with Sadie before church

Before church with the Easter baskets with our Easter Bunny treat behind the kids.

Seeing and enjoying what the Easter Bunny left inside the house and that our lettuce and carrots were gone after church.

After the Easter Egg hunt with the videographer for Easter 2011

Making bunny and egg Jello jigglers (or jig-a-ders if you ask Hayden) and trying them. They were a hit.

Clare's version of kissing Mommy which was a little wet.

Zoo Shenanigans

So we love the zoo. We have a membership and we often go for a couple hours at a time, enjoy what animals we want to see and then have a picnic lunch. This time of year is one of the best. The mornings aren't too cool and by lunch it is perfect outside. We had two great outings this week. I went with the kids once this week and for Family Day Fridays on Daddy's day off, we all went again by request of Hayden. The animals were particularly active and we got to listen and see the lion roaring and the seals interacting by swimming up to us. We watched tigers playing in the water and the baby elephant and its mama eating grass a mere 5 feet away from us. Hayden loves animals and is a sponge wanting to learn more about them. We often start in the stroller but his seats gets taken over rather quickly by discarded jackets and purses.

6 months, half a year, oh my where does it go?

Our little baby girl is just growing up so quickly and I can't hardly believe it. She sits on her own and has for several weeks now. She is finding her voice and likes to scream. Not just out of frustration and discontent, though occasionally she throws a little fit, but just because she likes how it feels. These are ear-drum busting screams to which Hayden promptly says to her "no screaming baby Clare". It just amazes us that these noises come out of her because she has been quiet and docile since she was born. She also enjoys blowing bubbles immensely which is not so fun when you are wearing white and she is eating peas or butternut squash. She is eating solid food but really wants what everyone else is eating. She will often grab off your plate, or more brazenly, out of your hand something which you are eating and try and shove it in her mouth. (Just today, some birthday cake that her daddy had in his hand...that was some nice blue frosting to clean off of her hand). I caved and gave her a cracker the other day which she promptly gobbled down. I would NEVER have done that with Hayden. It's funny, but the second one actually grows up faster than the first one because they are always chasing the first one. She really wants to walk and gets mad at us when we try to help her crawl. She still clings to us like a little monkey and does the cutest little things like laying her head on your shoulder when you carry her. We all just enjoy her so much and look forward to seeing what she does in the next month.

Derrick's Very Own Mini-Me

I believe the pictures speak for themselves.

Official Family Day

With our house remodel, we had left behind doing fun things together as just a family. They had to be wedged in between work and work around the house which seemed to be a never-ending task. So, Derrick has every other Friday off from work and I am officially calling it Family Day on that day. Our first day was at the Botanical Gardens. It gives us some green therapy to go there and Hayden loves the model trains and farm animals. Clare is wanting to take in the surroundings of wherever we are at so she got to ride shotgun for the first time in our front and back double stroller. We even packed a picnic lunch and share that together before heading home for naps all around. Yeah for naps!

Mommy Photo Session

I try to be consistent with taking pictures. I make the effort to always carry my camera in my now jumbo sized purse which doubles as a diaper bag. However, I get on kick occasionally, especially when my children are acting rather docile and looking especially adorable. I have to pick up the camera and begin a Mommy photo session. Hayden now runs at the sound of the camera turning on however, after taking cues from our professional photographer, who plays with Hayden while she takes the pictures, I was able to capture some of him that weren't a sour face or produced a blur in the image. This day wasn't particularly extraordinary, just a normal play-at-home after a nap sort of a day. But I hope my memory holds what these days were long many years from now






Then, I attempted to get myself in the shot (as I take more pictures than I am actually in.) That was a great cuddle.

Grandparent Parade

We are so blessed to have so many who love us and want to come and visit us and our kiddos. Just last week we were honored to have Grandma and Grandpa K (my parents) and our kiddos great-Grandma and great-Grandpa B (my grandparents) visit and at a separate time their Grandma B (Derrick's mom). It was a house-full for a few days but what is so special about that time is that they get to see the kids in their comfort zone. So it is a more real picture of who they are on an everyday basis. Our visitors get their best moods in the morning and sometimes their not so good moods too. But they just don't miss a minute of it because of transit time. I am especially touched by the great-grandparents making a 13 hour drive down here to meet baby Clare for the first time. It was very special and I will never forget it. I am also so grateful for the effort all of our family has made to be a part of our kids lives as traveling is not the easiest right now with two very small children.

5 Months!

I cannot believe we are sneaking up on a half of a year having our little Clare. She is such a joy to be around that it is flying by. Every night, though exhausted, when they go to bed, it makes me a little sad that I never get that day ever again. And that the next morning they are just a little bit different. Clare has accomplished sitting on her own at 5 1/2 months. She's loving having a new view. She rolls around and can often be found in crazy positions in her crib. She is pushing up on all fours occasionally and hates being left behind by everyone. So maybe she has a fire lit under her to learn to crawl. She's very grabby and will try and snatch anything anywhere close (including a chocolate frosted donut she grabbed right off of my plate one morning...apparently she possesses my sweet tooth.) She is laughing more and more and still enchants most she meets with her beaming smile. She is such a great baby girl and I am so privileged to have her as my daughter.