Owen was sitting on Tom’s lap watching him play a game on his phone…so of course Katie had to get up there, too. 🙂
Month: June 2013
Back at the park
On the way home Owen asked to go to the park so after a pit stop to drop me and Katie off, they went back to town.
“Here I am!”
Then he approached a boy who was playing on the bouncy alligator…so they bounced together for awhile.
And then made fast friends with a little girl… She apparently gave him a Twizzler and while he did try it, he also tried to give it back to her when he didn’t want it anymore! (We’re still working on that.)
He has SO much fun with other kids…it’s awesome to watch!
At Grandma Marsha’s
Looking out into the countryside
We went to Kalkaska today so we could go with Grandma Marsha and Uncle Rob to see some relatives who live out in the middle of nowhere. Katie enjoyed standing in the breeze and looking out the front door.
Sharing his B
Katie was getting a bit cranky on our way home from Kalkaska (after dinner in TC) so Owen threw his B up to her and she loved it.
“We’re sharing!”
Katie is the same as Owen—she has to find the corners with the strings.
Dinner in Traverse City
We took Grandma Marsha and Uncle Rob out for dinner to Traverse City and we picked Harrington’s On The Bay. It was quite yummy—and while Owen was really good, Katie was pretty good but got a bit antsy/squawky towards the end. Owen was a MUCH better diner than Katie is so far…but she’s a MUCH better eater (tonight she ate calamari, French fries, asparagus, filet mignon, yogurt, and chocolate cake).
Outside, after dinner:
Katie’s New Old Doll
This doll was Gramma Jean’s when she was a little kid…and she’s saved it all these years in case I had a baby girl. 🙂
She’s still a little young, so Gramma will hold onto it for a bit longer.
Katie likes corn on the cob!
Out and about with mom and dad.
We went to the playground at Hanson Hills—which was really nice equipment but all sand (which Owen doesn’t care for).
He’s also getting really good at climbing!
Sliding, sand, and more climbing!
More climbing! And I don’t even get nervous!
Then we went to Camp Grayling to check it out since I haven’t been there since my 10-year reunion (in *cough* 2001 *cough*) and we stopped at the beach. I bet Tom that I’d be able to find a Petoskey stone and he didn’t think I would…I found the first one within about two minutes. 🙂
Owen had fun wading and trying to skip rocks like daddy (so, basically, just throwing them in the water).
Then it was off to the AuSable Park in downtown Grayling where he had fun running around, playing with other kids, and drinking from the water fountain by himself.
And it all wore him out…because he took a three-hour nap once we got home!
The Monkey Shirt
I remembered to get out the Monkey Shirt in plenty of time with Katie…and Gramma Jean dressed her in it while we were out and about with the boy.
This is a tee that Grauntie Marge made for me when I was little that says “Auntie Marge loves Jenny” on the belly…and it got saved all these years. I forgot about it/had it well put away for Owen, so he didn’t get to wear it until he was a little too big for it.
And Owen, from September 11, 2011 (which, interestingly, I SWORE I blogged about, but it’s nowhere to be found).
Owen and Gramma being silly
Yes, they’re wearing pool-toy squids on their faces. 🙂
Happy Early Birthday, Katie!
Her second first birthday onesie!
Her birthday balloon and bib at the hotel for her party!
Making faces with Papa.
Amazingly, she didn’t dive into the cake.
Singing Happy Birthday and big brother helping blow out the candle! (Yes, it’s a little blurry. I have a FAIL every now and again.)
Also amazingly, she didn’t make much of a mess. Yes, SHE got messy, but she ate the whole piece and none hit the floor!
Her new suit and coverup from Grauntie Rose!
Up and out completely on her own!
She would have dove in had Tom let her.
It was impossible to get all three looking at me at the same time.
She kept trying to drink the water!
She loved playing with Papa’s toes!
Drying off with Grandma Marsha.
Waiting to open presents!
A fun game Katie had with some grandparents…
Playing with the grandparents
I want to go outside, too!
Playing music!
I’m free!
No fear!
Papa and Grannie taught Owen croquet today!
And of course it turned into a gun!
Chilly sprinkler fun!
Owen heard the sprinklers going so of course wanted to go out and play in them. However…he didn’t realize that the water temperature is NOT the same as at home in North Carolina so he was a bit shocked at how cold it was. He still managed to get a little wet, though!
He likes the tractor now!
The last time we wanted Owen to sit on the tractor he was scared of it (May 2011). This time, he loved it and wanted to ride around with Tom.
And Katie didn’t mind it at all!
Katie’s first birthday shirt
Since we were on vacation with access to all the grandparents (and Uncle Rob and Grauntie Marge) we decided to celebrate Katie’s first birthday a little early (just three weeks!). She has a few “first birthday” shirts to wear so we started with the same onesie Owen wore for his first birthday:
With Gramma Jean…
Then hanging out and watching TV with Owen:
Then outside in the backyard with the really nice grass—one of my favorite shots of the day! 🙂
Bedtime story with Papa
Playing outside
Tom and Owen were playing outside at Gramma Jean’s…
Yogurt Beard
I wanted Owen to try a new flavor yogurt before I dumped the whole container in his bowl, so I told him to stick his finger in. Without hesitation, he bowed his head forward and stuck his tongue in instead. He didn’t get much on his tongue, but he did get a nice beard.
Hotel fun with Papa and Grannie
We were on our way to the Ramada to go swimming with Papa and Grannie.
Tom (jokingly): We have to follow them—I don’t know where we’re going.
Owen: We’re going to the hotel, silly!
Tom taught him “time out!”
Playground at the hotel:
He climbed up all by himself! Grannie was a nervous wreck…me, not so much. 🙂
Daddy did most of the work but Owen understood the process.
Tom waiting to surprise owen!
In Grannie Lin’s socks to be more slippery for going down the slide!
Then in her sweatshirt so he could more easily go down head first!
Grandmas and kids
Katie’s Cookie
Papa gave Katie a cookie after lunch. I think she liked it.
Muffin time!
Burrito Baby
Family Reunion
Since we typically miss the Christmas get-together, we got everyone together for dinner in Bay City!
Owen did okay getting back in the car again but Katie was. not. thrilled. and let us know. 🙁 However, during one moment in which Katie was momentarily quiet, we heard Owen pope up: “Good job, Katie. You’re being patient.” 🙂
Everyone adored Katie and most of them said she was a mini Jenny (we still don’t see it).
A birthday balloon for Katie from Grauntie Rose:
On the move…
Rocks taste good:
First beer!
Owen LOVED playing with Jessica and Alex…but obviously liked Jess just a little more!
With cousin Aubrey, who is six months older—can you believe it?
The gaggle of young cousins:
And the same group two years ago (April 2011). Nick (almost 7), Gracie (almost 5), Aubrey (almost 3), and Owen (just turned 2). Owen outweighs Aubrey by at least 12# and is about 5# less than the 5yo.
An attempt at a family photo:
Timmy did the grilling!
With Aunt Lori:
And Gramma Jean:
The whole family (minus Greg, Aunt Sue, and Uncle Marv…plus friends Chris and Pete):
Katie in a fancy dress… Lisa brought a few bins of 3T clothes for me to sort through for Katie—a bunch of which were winter clothes and fancy dresses (which we don’t need) but this dress was SO cute I had to put her in it just for a few pictures. She loved it!
Owen had SOOO much fun he didn’t want to leave, but we had to drive back to Grayling… The big test was to see how the kids did sleeping in the car and being taken directly into bed…which they both passed with flying colors!
Sharing with Maggie
Gramma gets to see daily life.
Gramma Jean got to experience the full effect of sibling play today.
Sitting Pretty
We jokingly sat Katie up there just for a photo op, but then she sat there and sat there and sat there…for at least 20 minutes.
Katie playing in mama’s cup
Needless to say I didn’t want my water anymore. 🙂
The pool at gramma’s house!
Grandma knows the kids love water, so she got a pool for them! However…it’s a big pool and their ground water is COLD (a few gallons of boiling water didn’t even help much), so it was a very cold and brief play time…but they both loved it!
