Let the Vacations Begin!

We're heading to Kansas tomorrow...just me and the kids...for a 3 week stay visiting friends and family.  Ash has too much going on at work to leave, and an intern to...intern. :)  I'm glad we're able to go for such an extended period of time....my hope is that it will be a little less stressful than visits past in terms of seeing everyone adequately.

Anyway, we're very excited to see my sister & her family and all of my grandparents who we haven't seen since Christmas.  And some lake time is sorely needed....and I think it's been warm enough (or maybe too warm) for lake time.  My sister and I are going to Lawrence for a couple of days...just us, no kids (a big thanks to my mom and aunt for watching all 4 kids for us while we're gone.  May the force be with you!).  We're very excited for a little sister mini-break.

I'm going to try to post from Kansas a little so that I don't forget things and hopefully make it a bit more interesting for my 10 readers than one big Kansas post at the end of it all. We'll see. :) Internet is a little sketchy in Burrton....

Hopefully I'll see some of you around B-town and beyond.  :)  I'll be the really pale one at the lake who is sweating profusely since it hasn't been more than 95 with no humidity here in Utah all summer....


-Emily :)

Headbangers

Who knew John Lee Hooker-ish music would be such a hit with the kiddos.  One of their favorite while-mommy-is-putting-the-laundry-away activities is having a dance party in Harper's room.  Hopefully next time I tape Harper there won't be a near-injury moment captured.  :)

-Emily

Stats

Cow tipper in training. Ha!

In honor of Harper's recent milestone, a little list of stuff he does / digs.  This will be so useful when I get around to filling out his baby book properly. :)  Yes, I use my blog as a cheat sheet...
Physical stats:
Weight- 20 lbs. 10 oz. - 25th percentile
Height - 31 in. - 75th percentile
Head - enormous, the doctor measured it twice because he thought that the first nurse measurement was surely a mistake.  Nope.

Communication:
Words: Dada, Mama, Helena (Lay-nah), drink, cat, Dill, Uh-oh, this, that.  Signs for 'all done' and 'night-night' and shakes head yes and no.

Playing:
Water table, playing catch, climbing stairs, trying to jump off stairs, reading books, playing with Helena, riding along on hikes, splashing in the bathtub, cars, riding on cars, squashing bugs, chasing bugs.

Physicality:
Sleeping through the night. Yes, mostly.  Naps - still 2 most of the time, but mom only lets me nap for 45 minutes to an hour in the mornings or else we get messed up.

Not walking yet, but can stand on his own and has taken 4-5 steps by himself several times.

Currently has 3 teeth on top, 2 on the bottom.  Working on 3 more at the moment...ugh.

Eating:
Still eating just about everything enthusiastically -- meat, broccoli, blueberries, yogurt, cauliflower, cherries, strawberries, green beans, oatmeal, peas, spinach, mashed potatoes, waffles, apples, pears, blackberries.  Not a big fan of bread, carrots, cheese or fish.

Personality:
Very fun-loving, jovial, friendly and easy going at this stage.  He's starting to get a little clingy to mommy sometimes.  Loves following Helena around and kind of wonders where she is when she's at school. 

End of the hike around a lake at Brighton ski resort.

Love ya little buddy!

-Emily :)

Harper's First Birthday



Dump truck cake made by myself, Helena and Meghan.

Harper turned one last Friday.  Hard to believe it's already been that long!  We had a good time on his special day -- my mom, Ash's grandma Claudene and his cousin Meghan all came to help us celebrate.  We tried to go to the zoo on his big day, but it was so crowded we ended up going to the children's museum downtown.  Then we opened presents once Ash got home from work and had cake.  Harper took down the cake...it was hilarious. 

Some pictures from the day -- Happy Birthday little buddy!  :)

Post-cake smile.

New truck!

Playing outside in the water table.  Very very fun.

At the children's museum just chillin'.

I'm very good at splashing.

Rare moment of not being too wiggly.

-Emily :)

Jayhawk in our Basement

We've got a new roomie this summer.  And jeez, he's already halfway though his stay and I've yet to blog about it.  I suck!  This summer is just kicking my ass and I've had no time to write.  Lots of visitors, swimming lessons, park dates, etc.  :)  Good times.
Anyway, my cousin Jonathan is living with us this summer and interning with Ashford.  He just finished up his first year at KU and is planning on getting a degree in Civil Engineering.  We're having fun with him and I appreciate someone else around the house to wrangle the kiddos while I cook dinner.   I hope he's having fun, too...he's definitely working hard and learning a lot, I think.
I'm also teaching him how to cook this summer....so far we've conquered chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and salmon.  This weekend we're moving onto cherry pie and enchiladas.  :)  Hopefully these cooking skills will impress his future roomates and girlfriends! 

The kids love him...especially Harper.  And Helena would boss him around all day if he let her.

Intern and pack mule for the summer.

Harper likes to cuddle with him. :)  So cute.

- Emily :)