Minnesota!

We missed out on all the drama rain here in Atlanta. Instead we were
enjoying record highs in Minnesota.

Even I can see the resemblance in this photo. Sorry kid.

Eli discovered apple juice!

Ely Sunset

For some reason, Eli also ate a lot of crayons on this trip.

Club Kawishiwi

Seasonal clothing

Lucy's favorite new pair of socks is a pair of old mittens she found in her closet.  Always keepin' it spicy 'round here.

First Day of Preschool '09

Getting ready

One more round of 'taking advantage of your 13 month old brother' before we leave. She really was pulling him around like this.

A little too much to handle as we walked into her school. She walked very slowly past her old classroom from last year.

Patient Eli

Taking note of the room. Hardly noticed I left. I actually told her twice I was leaving, just to make sure. Kid didn't blink an eye.

The Simple Life

Sometimes all it takes is a ride on the Merry Go Round, a 25 cent gumball and rubber boots.

Spectators

This was a few weeks ago. Ken ran a little 5K race in our town, and the route was just one block down the hill from our house. I grabbed the kids in their P.J.'s and we walked down to cheer Ken on. Lucy passed the time by leaving small piles of cereal for the squirrels to eat. I love Lucy's goofy smile and her shoes on the wrong feet. Always on the wrong feet. I usually tell her, but she casually mentions that it's okay, she likes them that way. Eli is looking so cute, and happy and handsome. He'll be glad when he can get out of that stroller on a more regular basis and run around with his sister. Although, she's almost killed him a few times, she really does like having him around.

The park down the street...

The Walker

Worth All Twelve Ninety Nine

Today's activity involved going to Marshall's to buy cheap toys.

I'm out of ideas.

We've hit the dog days of summer.

Eli is teething something fierce and his mood, and the boogers and the heat
rash meant it was time to stay inside.

Lucy bought this doll and it kept her happy all afternoon.

She named it Trader. Most awesome doll name ever. Probably after Trader Joe's. But Ken thought she named it Traitor and I'm all, NO - TRADER!

All hell broke out about 4:30pm. I sent an S.O.S. to Ken at work. Nothing
really new. Usually I can keep the house somewhat together, but not today.
This is what just ONE ROOM looked like BEFORE dinner.

Lucy's Solution to Getting Kicked Out of the Jogger

A Day on the Deck

Back by popular demand -- Baby Coffee. And photos. And stories about
Lucy's antics when I have time. For now, a few shots of today and Eli's
introduction to the popsicle.

I'm also testing to see if this emailing a post actually works.

Email posting test

breakfast on the floor. Classy.

Summer '09

Lucy is done with preschool, and we are just waiting for summer camp to start. Two mornings a week. Let's hope she likes it and thrives.

























Eli is still a very happy baby. This is how he greets you after a nap. The smile to die for.

















































But he can be a grump too. Especially around the late afternoon. Also, when he sits at the bottom of the stairs and complains that he would like me to move the gate so he can crawl up.



















Ken and Lucy have a very serious project in the works. A swanky swing set/jungle gym. Lucy doesn't like the sound of the drill, so we have provided her with some ear muffs. I think these will come in handy for the 4th of July fireworks. Last year = disaster.

Catch Up

Busy busy busy. Eli is now 9 months old and weighs almost 22 pounds and is 30 inches tall. He's in the 92nd percentile for height and the 65th for weight...He's crawling, but would prefer to walk if he could.

Here are a bunch of photos I've had but never took the time to post:

Our house at night:













Our Sky:











































Cell phone photos:

































Family Shot - Easter '09

Help Me.

These pictures are so indicative of what it's like here on an hourly basis. Insane three year old, mixed with an innocent, teething and learning to crawl 8 month old, tossed with a few hilarious toddler observations, topped off with WAY TOO MANY TOYS.

Warmth

A week ago, it was snowing here. Today, it's warm enough for a baby diaper photo shoot. A week ago we were all sick with the stomach flu. Yes, all of us, even the baby. Today, no one is on antibiotics or throwing up. I think it's going to be a good week!

I live in a Zoo

We had a reprive over here from The Germs and The Allergies and enjoyed a day at the zoo.





























































And then today The Germs retuned in the mutated form of vomit and other smelly things coming out of Lucy's body.

Ambushed at Walnut Pass

Hey look - this is what happens when Lucy consumes a minuscule bite of walnut disguised in the form of an oatmeal raisin cookie!



















(This is Lucy passed out in the ER after about 4 doses of Benadryl).

I knew as soon as she took a bite of the cookie, there would be a problem. She started saying something along the likes of 'my mouth, my mouth'. I gave her some Benadryl and she seemed fine except for a swollen lip. An hour or so later, as Ken was putting her to bed, she started coughing and wheezing. I gave her an additional antihistamine and took her to the ER. by the time we got to the ER, hives started appearing on her entire body and the wheezing was very bad. An IV, Steroids, more Benadryl, 2 rounds of breathing treatments and 4 hours later we were on our way back home.

I guess she REALLY is allergic to nuts!

She is fine today, barely even talked about it. I'm more traumatized than she is. She'll be on steroids and antihistamines for 5 days to prevent a rebound attack....

Never a dull moment over here.

Delirious

I am so sleep deprived, this is what we now do for entertainment: