Monday, March 10, 2008

Jeff, Erin, & Caden's Visit!

December and Caden on the first morning after Brad's brother Jeff, his wife Erin, and their their 18-month old son Caden arrived. They drove down to us during Jeff's Spring Break, and we spent four days together -- it was a TON of fun!






I bought this hat for December when she was about four months old...she has refused to wear it every time I've tried it on her -- until Caden showed up! He was wearing a hat, and seeing him, December insisted on wearing a hat, too.





We walked to the nearby grocery store, which is about a half-mile away, to pick up a few things.





We also went to the mall later on that first day they were here, to pick up December's 2-year pictures and to look around. They have a pet store in the mall, and they've got some pretty cute puppies there (there's some ugly ones, too).





This puppy bordered on the cute-ugly line, but he had spunk! December and Caden LOVED watching him.




Ahhh...relaxing in the hot tub.






A live-action shot of December's favorite hot tub game -- being lifted straight out of the water and HIGH into the air!





Erin and I bathing our babies!





We took December and Caden to a couple of different parks, and they loved running around and going down the slides! Thankfully, the weather was really nice all of the days that Jeff and Erin were here, so that meant we could do lots of fun things with them!




December in the tunnel...I've learned that they definitely make these teensy-tiny tunnels for small children and NOT parents!


A cute family picture of Jeff, Erin, and Caden



December really likes the swings! I started doing something that my Dad did with me on the swings -- and it was my favorite! It's called 1-2-3-Underdog! You just push them three times, and then give them a great big push as you run underneath the swing. December loved it!


Here's a bit of a view of the park. This is my favorite park to go to.


Happy December


December and Caden coloring





We went to the beach! The kids really liked it, until Caden slipped and fell...then he wasn't so keen about the sand. But other than that, they had a blast!



December and Daddy going down to the waves. I really think December is the happiest when she's at the beach.


This day was pretty windy and a bit chilly, but it didn't phase her or Caden very much!


Another live-action shot!


Brad and December looking at a passing "choo-choo," as December calls them






Caden and December all bathed and ready for bed



Here's what our van looked like for those days! Here we are on our way to the Wild Animal Park


December at the Wild Animal Park, wearing the new shirt Uncle Jeff and Auntie Erin got her for her birthday -- with princesses on it! She likes the shirt ALOT.


December, Samuel, and Caden at the petting zoo, petting a deer.


Della and Samuel came with us, too. We all really liked going there!

Brad, December, and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with Jeff, Erin, and Caden! We were all sad to see them go. I think December is bored now that Caden has left. She has been getting into all kinds of mischief and doing things she doesn't normally do, like shoving my toothbrush down the sink drain, thereby making the bristles completely black with gunk. Gross. She asks, "Where Henny go?" (Henny was her name for Caden). She also fell in love with Auntie Erin and many times wanted Erin to hold her instead of Mommy. It was so much fun to have them here!

Brad got sick on Friday, which hampered how much he could do with his brother. He actually has been quite sick, with a high fever, chills, sore throat, stomach problems -- you name it, he's got it! He went to the doctor yesterday and now has various pills he has to take. It's an unfortunate time for him to get sick, because it's a busy week at the seminary with alot of things due for him. AND we leave for Michigan on Thursday! YAY! We're super excited about that. I'll try to put another post up before we go to Michigan, but it may get pretty busy. So we'll have to see...




Saturday, March 1, 2008

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice; That's What Little Girls Are Made Of

December the Bucket Girl strikes again!



We save our ice cream buckets, and they work as great toys (and helmets) for December. Aren't they cute as bucket-heads??


I thought Brad looked especially adorable ;o)


Here is what Daddies get when they have a little daughter! Girls are so fun to have around! December hasn't learned the boy-girl distinction quite yet...she's always trying to get Samuel to wear her purple tu-tu, and here she is, wanting multiple hair-ties to be put in Daddy's hair.


Isn't Daddy pretty?? December was thoroughly enjoying herself! It really is fun having a little girl.


Brad's a good sport!



This picture I put up especially for my Mom. We always laugh at how December's cousin Markus lines up his cars and trucks (and other things) in a big, long, organized row. We always thought how interesting that was, seeing Markus' personality come through as he was so methodical. So when December lined up all of her kitties (plus one lamb and one dog), I was so surprised! I didn't know she had organization in her!


Here's December relaxing in the rocking chair. She's wearing her pink fairy outfit, which was what she got her 2-year pictures taken in a couple of weeks ago! We get to pick up her pictures on Tuesday, and I'm really excited about it!


More pictures of life with a little girl! She enjoys watching me put on makeup and insists that she gets some put on, too. BUT it's not good enough that I put some on her (probably because when I put it on, I don't really put any makeup on her), so she likes to take the kit and do it herself.


She climbed into a box (of course) and was very happy to sit there and play with makeup...and she protested loudly when I took it away!