Snow, Snow and more Snow

This winter has been great. We have a bunch of snow on the ground. It seems like every week we have been getting a snow storm. I have heard that we have already surpassed last years totals and it is only January.

Uncle Mike and Aunt Mindy got me this cool Dora shovel for Christmas so I can help Daddy clean off the side walk. The snow has been really fluffy so it isn't very heavy. I can pick up big shovel fulls.

This was one of our earlier snow storms. I was helping Daddy clean and I got tired. So I decided to sit in the snow and take a little break. I got thirsty from all the hard work so I decided to eat a little of the snow.

My First Tooth

What is the big deal!!! Why is Mommy and Daddy always sticking their fingers in my mouth and feelin around. Hey...Did you at least wash your hands first!!

It is not only a tooth....It is my very first tooth. It popped thru the skin just after New Years. I spent the few weeks before it came thru drooling all over the place. I would wear a bib most of the day so I wouldn't get my shirt all wet, but when it finally came thru, I didn't drool anymore.

Now I think the one next to it is about to come thru.

Christmas 2008

Christmas this year, started off with my Mommies side of the family. We had everyone over to hour house for a big celebration. We ate a late lunch or early supper, depending how you looked at it, and then opened presents. First, we had to take a picture off all the kids. This was the first Christmas for both me and my cousin Ian (upper left). He didn't seem to like getting pictures very much. I think that he was just tired. He brought his Mommy and Daddy all the way from Grand Rapids. It is on the other side of the state. I had to make that trip a few times, and let me tell you, you get a really good nap in.


Christmas morning, Maya and I got to have Christmas with our Mommy and Daddy. It was so much fun. We also took a few pictures of my sister and me in front of the tree. I wasn't really sure what to do with the presents when I got them, so Mommy, Daddy and my sister helped me open them. I liked to hear the sound of the paper tearing so I would grab a hold of it and try to rip it. It was a great Christmas. We had lots of snow out side so it was what everyone calls a "White Christmas".

We left our house around 11:30 am for my Papa and Grandma's housing in the center of state. I got to sleep all the way up. Once we were there, we ate a meal and then had more presents to open. Again, we took more pictures. Here is all my cousins on my Daddy's side of the family. From the top row left there is: Jessica, Taylor, Makenna and Sarah. in the bottom row from the left is: Elizabeth, my sister Maya, and me. My Aunt Wellie was also taking pictures of us, so it was a little confusing on who we should look at. I just put a big smile on and looked at however was looking at me.

Decorating the Tree

It was late when we finally got back home and set the tree up in the living room. This year, we put it in the corner of the room where Evan's swing use to sit. He wasn't using it much now that he can sit up so Mommy and Daddy put it away. We did however, get to snap a few pictures of me and my brother, before we had to go to bed.

A couple days later, we got all the Christmas ornaments and lights out and started decorating the tree. We had a great system this year. Daddy was taking the ornaments out and putting hooks on them. He would hand them to Mommy and me to put on the tree. I got to decorate the bottom half and Mommy got to decorate the top half. We put lights, and ornaments on it and then finished it off with fruit flavor candy canes. I got to eat one after it was all done.

Our Christmas Tree

Last week, we made our way to our local Christmas tree store and bought our Christmas Tree. This was my first trip to the place. Mommy, Daddy and Maya have been getting trees there for the last 3 years. It was a cold day, so we all bundled up in our warm clothes, hopped into the van and drove the mile down the street to where the trees were being sold.

There were alot of Christmas Trees to choose from. We looked at a quite a few different ones before we decided on the perfect on for out house. It wasn't to tall, it wasn't to big around and it would fit perfect in the corner of our living room.

This is my sister Maya in front of our tree that we bought. She helped pick it out this year. It was hard to get any pictures of here because she was running between all the trees. She would stop and Daddy would try to take a picture and before he could click the button, she was off again.

Once we bought the tree, the nice people at the place tied it to the top of our van and we drove home and set it up in the Christmas tree stand. We didn't decorate it that night, because it was getting late, Maya and I didn't get a nap and we were getting pretty tired.

Guess what I am doing!!!

GUESS WHAT I STARTED DOING????

I am starting to eat solid foods. Well, sort of solid foods. It is rice cereal. So it is still pretty liquidy. Mommy started feeding me this just before Thanksgiving. At first it was a little hard getting the food to go down. I kept pushing it out of my mouth with my tongue. Now I am opening my mouth as the spoon gets closer and eating like a champ.

I can polish off a few ounces of rice cereal and then almost a whole container of carrots.

I also did the most amazing thing today. I rolled over on my tummy for the first time. I have been really trying for the last couple of weeks, cut couldn't quite get all the way over. I wasn't strong enough to get my body over my arm that was underneath me. Today, I was laying in the hallway while Mommy was working and I did it. I rolled over to my tummy.

Apple Spider

At the beginning of November, Daddy, Evan, and I made the trip up to the farm because Mommy had a Spanish paper to write. It is much easier for her to write her papers if we are not around, and it gave us a good opportunity to see PaPa and Grandma. Our main focus of the trip was to make apple spider (apple cider). PaPa made an apple press a couple of years ago and we have never seen it in use. I got to hold the container that the cider ran into when it was being squeezed out of the apples.

Every once in a while, I would accidentally put my hand under the stream of cider. Of course I had to lick it off.

Halloween 2008

A few weeks ago, was Halloween. This was my first Halloween as I was only born in June. Halloween is this funny holiday that you dress up in goofy outfits and go door to door and say "Trick-or-Treat". Then the people at the house give you candy.

Since this was my first trick or treat, Mommy bought my this cool bear outfit. It was soft and fuzzy and everyone loved it. Unfortunately I didn't make it very far thru trick-or-treat because I fell asleep in the van when we were driving from house to house. It was still fun. We went to see our friends and family that are in the area.

I am on a perfect 4 hour schedule now. I wake up from my nap and eat, then I am awake for about 2 hours and then take a nap again for 2 hours. WHAT A LIFE!!! How can it get any better than this.

This year, I got to be a beautiful pink and purple butterfly. Since Mommy bought my brother Evan's outfit, Daddy got to pick out my outfit. He looked a few different stores until he found the perfect butterfly outift.

We made our usual trip to Uncle Ryan and Aunt Megan's to see Colin. This year he was a monkey. We took lots of pictures at their house and visited for a while before we were off to the rest of our stops. We are going to make it a tradition that every year we take pictures, so everyone will be able to see us as we grow up.

Not much has been happening. The weather is getting colder so I don't spend as much time outside, but I still bundle up and go out and swing and go for walks and drive my jeep around.

An Update from Evan

Hi, this is Evan. I thought that I would give you a quick update on what has been happening around here. My big sister has been teaching me to read. Just kidding. She was spending tummy time with me in our bedroom. We were playing with toys on the floor.

Mommy and Daddy are starting to use this new toy, now that my legs are getting stronger. I still can't spend a long time in it, but it occupies me for a while. There a lot of cool things to play with on it. I spend a few minutes a day in it. Usually when Mommy or Daddy is making supper and can't play with me.

I was at the doctor's the other day for my 4 month checkup. Luckily there were no pokies this day. I have dropped off on my weight a little bit. I am only in the 50th percentile now. Last time I was around the 75th percentile. The doctor said that there was no need to worry. I am 26 1/4 inches long and I weigh 15 lbs. I can roll over to my side, although I haven't figured out how to roll over on my tummy yet. I also found something else new. I stick my tongue out a little past my lips and blow air out of my mouth and guess what, all this liquid stuff comes out. It is so much fun, I tend to end up with a very wet chin.

A Warm Fall Weekend

A couple of week ago, we went to an apple orchard. It was really busy that day. Probably because the sun was shining and it was warm out. When we were there, we went thru a barn that had pigs, chickens, lamas, and an ostrich. We also got to see them make donutes and apple spider (cider). Of course we had to sample it. We bought three donuts and 1/2 gallon of spider and sat down on a picnic table and ate our donut and drank a few cup's of apple spider. It was a great day to spend with my Mommy, Daddy, and Evan. We also when for a hay ride around the apple orchard. That is were the apples are grown.... On trees... When we got done with the hay ride a nice lady offered to take our picture so we could all be in it.

We also washed the van that weekend. I got to help. I was the rinse girl. Daddy would wash the van and get it all soapy and then I would come along and rinse all the suds off. Now you can just image the kind of fun that we had that afternoon. I am only two years old and my Dad let me have the hose all by myself. The hose with water running thru it...........and sometimes, he would kneel down to wash the bottom of the van.........in a position that he could not get away very fast.....and I was standing behind him.....with the hose....that has water running thru it.......are you getting my drift here. Needless to say, we were both wet by the end.

But, I am not tall enough to rinse the top of the van so he did help me out with that part of it. We made a good team that day. Mommy enjoyed watching us so much that she snapped a few shots of us. I even tried to get her wet, but she could move a little faster than I could drag the big hose....with water running thru it.

The End of Summer

Sorry it has been so long since our last update. It has been really busy. There has been a lot going on. But now everything has calmed down and Mommy and Daddy are in the full swing of their fall college schedule and work. That means that Evan and I get to go to Miss Cindy's house two days a week, while Mommy and Daddy are working.

I still get to go for walks with Mommy during the day and Daddy in the evenings, when it is warm outside. On this particular occasion, I took little Elmo for a walk with us. Usually I am riding my bike to the end of the side walk. We go down the street, past the scary house and the poky tree (pine tree), around the corner to the end of the side walk. There used to be flowers growing in an open lot there, but someone mowed them down.

When Aunt Mindy comes over, we terrorize the neighborhood in my Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane. We remove the safety screw that only allows us to use the slowest speed (don't tell Daddy) and then we race down the side walk and back home again. I am getting really good at driving it. I have only ran into the garage once and smashed the downspout. Daddy didn't get mad, he just laughed.

At night it is mostly the same ritual. Evan or I get a bath, depending on which night it is, and then for me it is a nice sippy full of Leche Chocolate (that one is for you Uncle Dave and Aunt Monika) or Chocolate Milk. Sometimes I also get a snack depending on when we ate supper.

I am getting stronger. I can stand up on my own legs if someone holds me so I don't fall over. I can grab at things if they are in my sight. I can follow people as they walk past me. I can turn my head to whichever way the voice is coming from. I can roll over on my side, but not all the way onto my belly yet.

As you can see, by hair is filling in nicely. Mommy and Daddy trimmed it a while ago just to even everything out. I smile alot, and I mean alot. Especially at my big sister. She is fun to watch. she does silly things to make me smile.

I did find this little friend that helps me go to sleep. It is my thumb, and the best part is...........I have two of them. So when I get tired of the right one, I just stick the left one in my mouth and work on that one for a while. Daddy is glad that I found my thumb. He said that way they won't have to try to take a paci away when I get older.

My doctors visit

Ok, someone could have warned me about this. It isn't fare. I had to to have two shots today at the doctor. Oh sure, they butter you by taking your weight, which by the way is 13 lbs 12 oz, and your height, 26 in.

They check you all over, talking to you in that sweet, high pitch voice, which makes me smile and then....

WHAM!!!

it hit me in one leg. I let out a yell and...

WHAM!!!

it hit me in the other leg. I thought "what is going on, we were having so much fun". Did you not like the way I was smiling at you? I thought we made a connection?

I didn't know what going to happen next.

I got my Pokies

Today, I had to go to the doctor for my 2 year check up and get some of my pokies. I don't like getting pokes (immunizations), they hurt. The doctor gave it to me in my leg. I only had to have one poky, my poor little brother had to have 2 pokes, one in each leg.

They also weighed me while we were there. I weigh 30 lbs and 8 oz. I am 38" tall which the doctor said was off the charts for my age.

A few more vacation pictures

This was actually a bug. It hung out on our screen tent for most of a day. I was really cool because it looked like a branch. Daddy had to look twice at it because the first time he didn't think it was alive. Its head is over on the left.

Here is Evan in his car seat. We were packed in the van pretty good. If there was any available space, we put something in it.

This is my big sister and my Uncle Tracey (family friends). She was sitting on his lap eating popcorn one night.

Here are our tents. The campsite was a little unlevel, but we dealt with it. It wasn't to bad
although we did tend to slide a little bit in our sleeping bags.

Summer Vacation 2008 (Evan's Perspective)

This was my first summer vacation, and my first time sleeping in the tent. It was really cool. We got to spend all day outside for a whole week. We had campfires, and roasted marshmallows, and made our food over an open fire. Although, I slept thru most of it and I am on a pretty strict diet. We also got to go for a hike in the woods at the campground. It was so neat. I stayed awake for most of that. Mommy front packed me for a while and Daddy backpacked my big sister Maya. We got to see trees, and leaves, and bugs, and toads, and ferns and all sorts of stuff.

Sleeping in a tent was a lot of fun. At night, it was really dark and a little chilly. Mommy and Daddy would bundle me so I wouldn't get cold, although my little nose got cold by morning.

The weather was beautiful all week long. We spent a couple of days at the beach next to the water. I had to stay in the shade, out of the wind and in my car seat. That way I didn't get sand in all my places that you don't want sand. Mommy and Daddy both took turns playing with me to keep me occupied.

This was the sunset across Saginaw Bay. We camped at the tip of the thumb at Port Crescent State Park. It was a nice little park with a big beach and we only had to walk for about 3 minutes to get to the water.

What a week. It is very exhausting getting carried around. Daddy snapped this picture of me one evening before supper. Mommy and Daddy have a canopy tent with screen sides that we put over the picnic table. It kept the bugs out while we ate, and made perfect place for me to take a nap.

Summer Vacation 2008 (Maya's Perspective)

This summer we traveled to the tip of the thumb for vacation. We stayed at a state park there that was right on the water. Our campsite wasn't directly on the water like last year, but it was only a short walk to get there. One morning, Mommy, Daddy, Evan and I loaded ourselves in the van and traveled down the road from the campground to the day use area and did some hiking. I found a log that had ants living in it. It was neat. They were red and they were crawling in and out of these little holes that they had made in the log.

Daddy backpacked me at first and Mommy was front packing Evan, my little brother. Then about half way thru, they switched and I got to ride on Mommy's back. Along the trail, there were places that you could see the water from on top of a sand dune. Here the trail went down the dune and back up the other side. Daddy decided to snap a quick picture while we were out in the sun.

On this day, at the beach, it was a little breezy. The wind was blowing toward the shore, which I learned was called an "On Shore Breeze". It was a little chilly so I just played in the warm sand. We built sand castles and dug holes, and then I would knock down the sand castles and have Daddy build them all over again. The sand felt funny between my toes.

Mommy and Daddy took my bike that Grandma Lisa (Gena's family friend) got me for my birthday last year. We did many laps back and forth past the camp site. When cars or truck would come, we would take my bike off the road and wait for them to pass.

I TURNED TWO YEARS OLD

On July 17th, I turned 2 years old. It was a Thursday this year. It was pretty low key since Mommy and Daddy were both in school. On Thursday morning, Mommy and I went to my buddy Collin's house where him and Aunt Megan had balloons for me.

Then we met Daddy for lunch. We went to the park and I got to go down the slide and swing. Swinging is my favorite thing to do. I can spend hours swinging. After lunch, Mommy and I went to see Grandma (Gena's Mom). We spent the rest of the afternoon there. That night, when Daddy got home from school Grandpa (Gena's Dad) was at our house.

He helped Daddy put up this swing in our back yard so I can swing any time that I want. I can go really high. It is a comfortable seat also. I think that Mommy and Daddy will wear themselves out pushing me before I get tired.

Then on Friday night, Mommy, Daddy, Evan celebrated my birthday with the cake in the first picture. It was a white cake with pink frosting.



On Saturday night. Aunt Megan and Collin, Uncle Jerry, Aunt Sheri, Jordan, Josh, and Uncle Tracey, Aunt Michelle, Christian, and Anthony came over for cake and ice cream. After I blew out my candles, Uncle Jerry got me to bite the edge of my cake. I think that he wanted me to smash my face in the cake, but I wouldn't do that.

On Sunday, we went up north to Papa and Grandma's (Steve's parents) where Aunt Wellie came all the way from Grand Rapids and brought Great Grandpa and Great Grandma. Uncle Chris, Aunt Sarah and all my cousins, Jessica, Taylor, Makenna, and Elizabeth were there. Of course I got to swing some more on Papa and Grandma's swing. We also had cake and ice cream again.



I got some clothes and some really cool toys to play with in the bath tub. This is my favorite picture of the weekend. It is of my Great Grandma and Great Grandpa. This also happened to be the first time that they met Evan, my little brother. He was just over 1 month old at this point. Since they live in Grand Rapids, I don't get to see them very often.

The fun wasn't over on Sunday. Monday morning, we met Uncle Will and Aunt Heather in a near by town and played all morning on the play scape at the park. The had a lot of fun things to play with, and of course, there were swings. Then on Monday night, when we sat down for supper, I fell asleep at the dinner table. I just couldn't hold my eyes open any more.

I guess looking back on the weekend, I was partying every night around my birthday. It wasn't such a low key birthday after all.