Grandma Audie's

We were able to spend some time with Matt's Grandma a couple of weekends ago and had a very fun visit. The kids spent more time than usual exploring in the front room. Miles had fun trying to open and close the front windows. Brooke and Matt played "camera tag", where he tried to get a picture of her as she ran around the house. Not the safest game, but she had a blast.

 Miles checking out the plant. Future arborist?

 

Brooke helping with the meal she always looks forward to when we go over - summer sausage, cheese and butter bread, sometimes with ice cream.

Miles catching up on his current events.

The kids were also able to go over to Grandma Audie's on her birthday to celebrate. Happy birthday, Grandma Audie! We love you!

15 Months

Miles was 15 months old last week, so I'll give some updates. He's getting more and more "words" and "party tricks". He has several animal sounds down pretty well (elephant, cat, dog and tiger). He's also saying "Daddy" more. When we go to pray, he knows to hold out his hand to the person next to him and for awhile was saying, "Ah-me" for amen, but that's stopped recently. He knows to clap when someone is being introduced or is done singing. The joys of having an older sister, I guess...

He's completely a mama's boy, but when I'm not around he does pretty well with others. Dad and Grandparents are his obvious favorites, and I think Grandpas are winning in the "reaching for" department. He gets really tickled at yawns and hiccups and will try to imitate them. He's really getting into actually reading books, especially ones about construction or transportation. Here's a picture I took to try to capture the pink eye misery we endured last week. Poor guy. I say this alot, but he really still had a pleasant disposition despite being sick.

Here he is playing with his buddy, Kellen. He really likes anything musical. The other day, he picked up a toy bat and started "singing" into it. He dances pretty much anytime he hears music.

He loves taking things out of containers or cupboards, but is also pretty good about putting things back. I was doing stuff in the kitchen the other day when I heard Brooke say, "Uh, Mom, is he supposed to be doing that?" and this is what I found. I'd seen all kinds of pics like this in the past, but Brooke never even came close to trying to climb onto the dishwasher door. He was really proud of himself.

No walking yet. He's cruising and moving from object to object. I don't think he's in any hurry, though. He's trying to back down from things on his own more often now, without great success.

His eating is becoming more finicky. Some meals, he'll demolish everything I give him, but others, he'll only eat a few bites, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which happens when.

He's funny and adorable and perfect and we're so blessed that he's ours!

And just because she's cute, here's a quick update on Brooke. She's becoming much more of a "girly girl", taking interest in what she wears, her accessories and how her hair is done. She's constantly saying hilarious things. A post on some of those is in the works. She's a legitimate pooper on the potty! She's napping a couple of times a week still. She continues to be very loving and sensitive, but also fairly strong-willed and sometimes short-tempered. She has virtually no interest in riding a bike and loves singing/performing/"gymnastics". She's also hilarious, smart and sweet and we couldn't love her more!

Independence Day

We had a great Fourth of July this year. We had a relaxed morning, with Matt and I both going for runs. We were going to go to the pool, but decided to forgo it and save the kids' energy for the afternoon/evening. After Miles woke from his morning nap, we went out to lunch and to the playground as a family.

She's really starting to look like a "big girl" when she pumps her legs.

 

   

  

Then, ike last year, we headed out to Medinah for their festivities. Our friends, the Bordners, joined us and we also saw Mike and Jane and Matt's parents out there. Brooke was really excited to meet up with her long lost pal, Zeus the pony.

Clown car?

They had some water rides and Matt (who has been a member at Medinah his whole life, so I withheld my opinion) told Brooke she could take her dress off and go on them. She had a blast.

With just the shorts on, she said, "I look like a boy!"

They also had some games.

And a t-shirt making stand. It was fun, but not really worth the 45 minute wait.

Miles trying to photo bomb Brooke and Zach's picture.

After Medinah, we headed to Matt's parents' for a barbecue. Miles had fun hanging out with the squirrel.

And of course, the kids loved playing with Will and Jamie.

Photo shoot.

After dinner, Matt, Brooke, Jamie, and Will headed out to Medinah for the fireworks. Miles and I headed home. I'm kind of regretting that decision because I would have liked to have seen his reaction, but I think he would have fallen asleep on our way out there.

Happy Independence Day!

A Very...Contagious...Visit

 

Brooke had a great time with Lexi, Grandma, Taylor, Gigi and Grandpa Charlie in Branson the week before last, and Miles and I were excited to meet her in St. Louis that Wednesday. Matt had a bunch of golf plans, so we decided to stay for the week and get some solid visiting in, including seeing friends we don't have time to see on our shorter visits.

We went to Krissi's aunt's pool on Thursday and I was able to have dinner with my friends from OT school. While I was out, Krissi took the kids to a fireworks display (at a nursing home? Apparently that's fairly common down there?).

All that day, I had noticed that Miles' eyes seemed a little irritated, and in the back of my mind thought, "I hope that's not pink eye." Then he woke up with his eyes almost gunked shut on Friday and I knew that it was. So, we went to visit our friends at Urgent Care down there. Seriously, I feel like we deserve a "frequent visitor" card - or at least a first name greeting when we walk in. We got our diagnosis and eye drops (nearly impossible to give to a 15-month old, btw) and headed back to Tim and Krissi's. We tried to be diligent about keeping the kids out of Miles' face and washing hands, but the damage had kind of already been done. Again, SO sorry, guys! 

 

We then headed over to my parents' pool where the kids had a great time playing.

 

Look at what Krissi did to Brooke's hair! Maybe someday I'll venture away from the standard pig-and ponytails. But then I see it fall out after an hour (her hair is VERY fine) and think, "Pigtails are great!"

That night, a friend of Krissi's daughter was starring in a production of "The Sound of Music," so we took the girls. It was Brooke's first grown-up musical and she did a really good job. Although she did whisper, "How many more songs?" to me about 10 times.

The next day, Luke and I both woke up gunky. We were supposed to see Amy and her kids, but she was wise and decided to stay away. We had fun hanging out at the house. The girls played doctor with me. Forget drops, a band aid can fix anything!

Side note: I'm not sure if it was just this particular strand, but pink eye is BRUTAL. I have a pretty high pain tolerance but this lasted in Miles and me for almost a week. It was painful, itchy and just gross.

After cancelling plans with several other friends that I was excited to catch up with, we pretty much hunkered down at either Tim and Krissi's or my parents. Lexi and Tim also got it, and Brooke got it the day we headed home. Thankfully, hers was gone within a day.

My best effort at a decent group shot.

I mean, if they've both already got it....

We did get a trip to Target in the day before we left. Why we thought taking all 4 kids to the store was a good idea, I'm not sure...

Like all the kids do, Miles loved Prowler. He even started saying his variation of "Meow, Meow" when Prowler would come in the room.

The band aids on her shoulder are for a little sunburn she had. She insisted they would help.

Miles also got in some cuddles in with Gigi.

 Goofing off.

It wasn't quite the trip that I was hoping for, but as always, it was great to spend time with my family. And I'm happy to report that we all have clear eyes up here, although I intended to keep using the drops until they run out.