Reunion

A couple intern friends from the University of Virginia were recently in Denver for a nutrition conference. We got to have dinner together and reminisce! It was the 1st time I'd seen them since Derrick and I moved back from VA in 2006 and the 1st time I'd been downtown in FOREVER! An all-around good time (as you can see).

Add-ster

Addalyn is 5 months now.

Her screaming continues. She screams for FUN and when she's MAD.....but no doubt we hear it! She's starting to get long wispy hairs on top of her head (you can see in the pic below). So cute. I'm excited to do the Pebbles hairstyle from the Flinstones with cutsy barretts.

Thought this pic captured it all. Kai is stealing Addie's toys and she is screaming......and so it begins.

She's really starting to enjoy the Johnny Jump-up seat now that she figured out how to keep her feet on the ground for leverage. She doesn't jump yet, but she'll extend her legs and then let them go to fall to the side or spin.

Addie's the perfect age for our backpack now. She loves to be up higher than the stroller and able to look around. We took a family hike on the mountain last Sunday afternoon....she sang on the way up and slept on the way down!

Kai-man

"Kai-man" is used frequently by Derrick and I in reference to Kai....... and now he's started to call himself that too! It comes out sounding more like "Kai-men."

Kai has always played independently very well. However, now he's starting to ask for me or daddy or Addie or Scout (the dog) to play with him. "Play trains mama" or "let's build a tower Scout." But the funniest thing is his newest suggestive phrase "should we........." Here's some common suggestive phrases we hear daily: "Should we watch the news" "Should we play trains" "Should we color a picture" "Should we read a book" "Should we have a snack" "Should we play outside" He's also directing the phrase toward someone: "Should we watch the news mama" or "should we read a book Addie." It's pretty stinkin' cute.

This pic is one of the times Kai was playing trains with Scout on the carpet. Scout is obviously a good sport about it!

Derrick cleaned up this old school desk we found around camp for Kai. He routered his name and a pencil tray on the top. Kai thinks it's pretty cool. The other day I was telling Kai we need to call Grandma because she's sick (H1N1 we think) and she wasn't feeling good. Immediately Kai ran to get his colorbook and crayons and said "Kai draw Grandma picture." He knew this would make her feel better. I walked to the back of the house to grab my phone and I could hear him yelling "Grandma get better. I draw you a picture." Kai loves his Grandma. Now we just need to get those pictures in the mail.........

Keeping Warm

Out comes the snowsuit for Addie, hat and mittens for Kai, and our winter coats. Scout is practically hairless and inside. It is ridiculously cold in Colorado. Frost and ice cover EVERYTHING. It's alot of work to get everyone bundled up to go out.......but kinda fun at the same time!

Today we're sipping hot cider, having soup for lunch, and staying cozy at home in our pj's (until 5pm yesterday). But how long will it stay fun?........honestly we hope winter is only a few weeks.

We have to entertain more indoors. It's fun only in small doses...we all tend to get a little stir-crazy! Kai and Addie are cozied up watching a movie. Obviously they're into it.

Addie has been her own entertainment lately on the floor. The video clip is some of her best vocals! She mainly likes to sing alone, but she gave me a little show this day.

She'll be 5 months next week and is getting to be quite the pudge-ball. She's solely taking formula these days and seems to love whatever kind I surprise her with! Good baby. She can roll but rarely does. She's just content to lay on her back and roll to her sides to grab cups, rattles, or whatever. She is starting to want to sit supported and always prefers to stand while you are holding her.

Kai is 2 and acting like it. He's so adorable you want to kiss him or so naughty you want to smack him! We are knee deep in lessons on unconditional love. It's a learning curve for us and with the Lord's help, "this too shall pass." He still loves trains. He is either asking to watch them on TV or demanding on bringing one with us wherever we go. He has an awesome new selection of books from his birthday and has been wanting to read more often (like while we think he's napping in his room with the door shut)! He also is starting to voice his preferences.....mainly with food or activities. Goodbye to the days of eat anything and play with whatever is available.

Others....from the birthday weekend

Too cute to not inlcude. Addie and Grandpa. Wear those pretty sundresses when we can from now on!

Grandpa brought Kai some apples from his tree at home. These are the same SUPER sour apples Kai ate this summer when they WEREN'T ripe. Much better now.

Enjoying their apples together on the picnic table.

Here's Kai munching the SOUR apple this summer with Henry and Julia! Funny....never seems to like apples that much other than right off the tree.Grandma and Kai sporting their pj's and reading some new books! (Sorry mom)

Grandpa and Papa posing with Kai at his 2nd birthday party. He was taking a watermelon break on his picnic table.....alone. I guess when you are hungry, you're hungry!