Happy Friday!

This morning, Tyler woke us around 5 am with a bout of ... stomach issues. I woke him late morning and now he appears to be back to normal.

Aubrey and I went on a mid morning walk. Not too far away, she fell and scraped her knee and hand. We came back to clean her up and she cried to take a nap. So, she is up from an early nap.

It's been a strange start to a Friday. I hope that the afternoon is uneventful for them this afternoon while Grandpa and Grandma babysit and we go to a movie.

A few more...

A few more pictures from the Showalter visit, photos courtesy of Sue Stuckey. :)

Super Aubrey to the rescue!

Tyler and Grandpa Ted playing Gubs.

Trying to get up the courage to touch the lobster at Red Lobster.

There was lots of jumping on the trampoline.

Rachel and Reid at Jimmy's Egg.

All of us, after church Sunday morning.



Showalter Visit

Hollins, Rachel, Jillian and Reid visited last week. Every time we have a chance to have a visit with family, I wish we lived closer. We relaxed, took in a couple of movies, went out to eat at Red Lobster, enjoyed a date night while Grandpa and Grandma watched the kids, went to the YMCA water park, Botanica, and the Hesston splash park.

Aubrey and Jillian, our 2 1/2 year-olds, loved playing together. They enjoyed a nightly tea party in their bath...complete with lots of shrieks and giggles.

They had their share of two year-old arguments ("mine" "no - mine!"), but really did love playing together.

Reid is such a good baby. He was starting to sit and is scooting around.

Hollins reading to the girls.

Enjoying some time at the Hesston splash park on the last day of their visit.

Aubrey thought the water was too cold, so she sat out most of the time.

"Cheese!"

Hmmm, I'd really rather go play on the swings or slide, Mom!

Trying it out...

Ending with Popsicles ... still trying to beat this Kansas heat.

We had a great time!

The last 3 weeks...

...have been busy. Exhausting, really. Our goal - to paint the house. Here's what it looked like 3 weeks ago.

We hired someone to put new siding on the front of the house, the chimney and a few places around the bottom of the house. This is Day 1 of demo - June 4.

While we were at it, we replaced the windows in Tyler and Aubrey's rooms.

It seemed that we found lots of other projects that needed attention...like a section of the front railing...

that Wayne rebuilt.

My poor children. One day, Aubrey slept through the pounding as siding was being put on outside her bedroom. Another day she refused to nap and fell asleep sitting up in the kitchen.

My fear of heights and being up high on the ladder got much better after a couple of days of working.

And here we are. Three weeks later. I'm so glad it's done!
(Well, of course there are still more things we're working on...but the painting part is done). :)

Aubs

I was taking pictures of the house tonight. Aubrey wanted me to take a picture of her. I said "open your mouth"

Add caption

 Then I got it right :)

Jumping

A little Aubrey jumping...Wayne caught her playing a game by herself today. (Chasing a ball). She falls a couple times and says she needs a bandaid. I also liked that he caught her self-taught method for getting off the trampoline.

My Tummy Hurts

Aubrey complained for several days that her tummy hurt. I finally figured out what she was really talking about.

Aubrey

Aubrey, of course, continues to grow and change quickly. She is spunky and sweet. She's also a ham. Here's a little video of her entertaining me while in her bath tonight:




Some of her often repeated lines:

"Wait a minute (look thoughtfully away)...I an idea!"

"A ______ so cute!" (Usually, "A baby so cute").

"I a choppa chips!" (chocolate chips)

"I a ban-aid too?" (I need a bandaid too).

Since we got our trampoline last weekend, "Jumpa jump?"

She is often asking to watch Umizoomi.

She points to her belly, "Belly screen!"

Every now and then we get to do the "Craaaaaazy shaaaaaake!"

Weekend Visit

About a week ago, my Mom called and asked whether Dad could fly out for this past weekend for a quick visit, as he had a funeral to attend in Hutchinson. Um, of course!

My sister, Lynette, (who I haven't seen in 2 years since they moved to Thailand) happened to be visiting in Indiana at the time with her husband, Rusty, and my 4 month-old nephew, Henry. Mom added an extra special bonus: Lynette and Henry would come along too.

I'm pretty much the luckiest girl in the world.

I love my family. Unfortunately, we live all spread out from Washington to Delaware. So, we treasure the time we have together. We did a little  shopping, caught up and played with the kids.

Here are a few shots from our weekend...

Henry getting a little ride in the backpack. He is such an expressive, giggly, smiley little love.

Lynette and Henry 05-12-2012

Tyler rides, Lynette and Henry walk along

Aubrey tries out the new trampoline

Bright eyed Henry playing with Sue

Tyler got to spend a couple nights in the hotel with Grandpa Norm. He had a great time. On Sunday, for Mother's Day, Dad took him to the store to pick out his own Mother's Day card and they came back with some roses too. How sweet. We went out to eat at Gindi for lunch - Thai and Japanese. Yum!

Mother's Day 2012

Afterwards, we headed to the park.

Grandpa pushing Aubrey 05-13-2012

Henry 05-13-2012

Lynette and Aubrey 05-13-2012

Dad and Wayne 05-13-2012

Dad and Henry 05-13-2012

Aubrey was a little jealous when I was holding Henry. It kind of surprised me - but I guess there are not many times when she has to share me.







Sisters






Love you guys! :)

Wednesday, Wayne got all of our bikes ready for the season and began working with Tyler on increasing his confidence on his bike. We spent a long time watching Tyler go back and forth between driveways. Aubrey excitedly cheered "Go Tyler, Go!!" over and over. I didn't have the video camera, so I tried to capture it again the following night. Of course, Aubrey's enthusiasm was not nearly as high. However, she did mutter a few of her often repeated phrases. "Go get 'im!" (It's going to get him). "It's winny!" (It's Windy). "I see dat!" And, she did throw in a "Go Tyler, Go!" for me too. She often says that something is cute. So, I needed to include this one... She says, "awww, baby so cute." I don't remember what baby she was talking about. Then, this morning she didn't want me to get her out of her crib, so I was cleaning up. I had pulled out a package of diapers to put away and she wanted to play with them. I pulled out the camera... I liked that I captured some of her love of her "Lamby."