August 2013

We have just been crazy busy since Canada trying to cram in summer activities before Fall is upon us. Even though the weather turned cooler and the leaves have been falling, we continue to enjoy summer until we were hit with a record heat wave. We biked or walked to the the nearby water fountains and have picnics with our friends. We explored some natural playscapes with our play group. We continue to grill out once a week and even hosted a fish fry with our neighbors making some great feasting and fellowship.

This month we went to the Iowa State Fair twice as a family celebrating the end of summer. On our first trip, the kids really enjoyed doing chores on the Hands on the Farm activity. Judah rode his produce around in a tractor while Krissy carried her baskets full of vegetables. Each got to buy a special treat with the profit they earned. We also watched dad participate in the storytelling at the kids stage. Then Judah took his first ride on the chair lift with dad. We finished the day with the fish exhibit at the DNR building and feeding animals at the petting zoo. Krissy even had her first corn dog ever.

The second weekend we started out at the John Deere tent to learn about the farming process. Judah and mommy then went into the snake and reptile building. We paused for some delicious Lamb Burgers at the Sheep Association. Next, we followed Judah through the barns stopping at the sheep show and touring the Hall of Breeds. We trekked up to the cultural building to see the balloon exhibit and then the Ag Building for the Butter Cow before we made our way to the Dairy Barn for some ice cream. We finished the long day with a camel ride.

Once the heat wave hit, we all came down with the flu which put us out mid-August. It was a good time to stay inside with 100 plus temperatures watching television and resting. Luckily we celebrated Emma's birthday with dinner and a movie before the flu. Tim took a day off to recover himself about a week after the kids came down with the flue. All the neighbor kids got also had the flu at the same time. By Labor Day weekend we were much better to enjoy family that came to visit. Emma's family came Saturday to watch football as the girls went shopping. Tim's family came down on Monday for shopping and some grilling out.

We also had to get our car fixed this month from a fender bender. Emma also got a new bike for her birthday cause her old high school bike was stolen out of the garage on night when we accidentally left the door up. Mommy tried many new recipes though this month and got her craft area all cleaned up for some card-making. Tim continues to work hard at Principal Financial even though he moved over to a new department to do business analysis. 

Krissy's vocabulary increases everyday and more and more she talks to us in two syllable words or short sentences. She says "bubble" when she puts bath bubbles on her belly button. She rolls her tongue when she says, "I love you." Other words she repeats are puppy, doggie, mommy, daddy, Papa, Gigi, Nana, up and down, Amen. She gets excited when she sees an animal and responds with what they say: sheep is "baa," kitty is "meow," doggy goes "woof," and duck (which is her favorite) says "quack." She also points to her eye, saying "eye," and nose, saying "nose," and mouth saying "mouth." She loves to play "peek-a-boo" with you as she hides behind the couch and then hops out or puts her hands on over your eyes. She also rolls her "L" sound in "hello" as she walks around with her play phone. By the end of the month, she has learned so many words and phrases (if you listen carefully), that we cannot keep track. Here are a few common words "apple, yes please, shoe, sorry, ball, kitty, baby."And she started saying the infamous, "why."

This month Krissy sported pig tails for the first time. Her hair has grown so long down her back. Mommy can now pull her blond hair back in the entire front. She however, still pulls out any ties or bows mommy tries to put in, often taking them out again and again, and looking like a ragamuffin. At her 16 month appointment (even though she is 17 months), she weighed in at a healthy (but small) 18 pounds, 12 ounces. She continues to grow as she outgrew shoe size four and literally fashions all her size five sparkly shoes that she borrowed from a friend. She likes to take her shoes off in the car and puts them on in the house, hanging out at the shoe basket often. She also is working on another set of molars keeping us at nights or forcing us to drive her around in the car to help her fall asleep. She appears to be advanced in all her motor skills too making mom laugh when the doctor asked if she was starting to climb and say a few words. If he only knew how this girl keeps mom on her toes.

She prays with us now folding her hands inside. Bowing her head, she shouts Amen after we finish. She cuddles her babies, giving them smootches and rocks them. She also likes to put them in her stroller (with her little purse draped on her arm) and race them around the house as fast as she can. She continues to bring two books, one for you to read and one for her to read while you sit next to each other. She spends most of her day looking at books, pulling them off on the shelf, and flipping through them quickly before she gets another. She has also learned to stack her blocks by herself, making towers. Sometimes you will find her playing with her farm animals and tractors too. She still helps vacuum and fold laundry (maybe unfold). She still loves to play ball tossing it to you and going after it as you toss it back. And she runs behind her little car pushing it around the neighborhood or scooting it down the road.

Krissy also mastered climbing up the kitchen chairs. She likes to get in a chair, sit down, stand up, and get out repeating the process over and over again. She now likes to be in the table chair to color and eat snacks. She still continues to hang from the stove and dishwasher handles when mommy is not looking as she knows it is naughty. She also mastered walking backwards. She finally learned to go down the steps scooting on her bottom which makes mommy nervous. She also can climb up Judah's bed, to his dismay, to say good morning, and wakes him up. One morning she even climbed out of the exer saucer while mommy was in the shower, hanging out on the top of it. And she tries to peddle the tricycle or scoots along on her little car.

Judah keeps growing taller. He too grew a shoe size into 7/8. At his well-check visit, he showed a height of 38 inches. Still flirting with 30 pounds but really 28 or 29 pounds, Judah got new 3T pants and 4T shirts for preschool. He still remains in his car seat though, only now he can buckle himself in the car.

Judah's love for curiosity has us doing science experiments often. This month we made rock candy, watching how rocks crystallize and form. We try new recipes to decorate cupcakes. We tried moon sand and sidewalk paint. We made more play dough, which Krissy tried for the first time. He continues to practice with his scissors and draws pictures (in particular of Jesus dying on the cross). Judah implores us constantly with questions on how things work and why they work that way.

Judah likes to play outside. He is really into kicking his soccer ball back and forth. He also knows how to hit the baseball with his bat as mom pitches. His love for nature has us picking up rocks and acorns along with other treasures we find. He continues to show us how fast he is by running barefoot around the neighborhood.

Judah really has become a big help around the house. He dresses himself and brushes his teeth so well. He even washes his own hair now in the bathtub. He helps do chores such as dusting, dishes, and vacuums around the table, often doing them without being told.

Judah is so interested in reading. He is constantly asking what words say. He pretends to read his books to Krissy through his memorization of the story. He is always sounding out words telling us what letter they start with.

Judah went to his preschool orientation to meet his new classroom, classmates, and teacher at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in West Des Moines. He starts preschool every afternoon from 12:30 to 3:00pm. He told mom, that "I want to go to school because I want to learn."And learn he does!

July 2013

July went by so fast as we spent packing for vacation or in the car traveling to vacation in Branson, Missouri, and Cygnet Lake, Ontario, Canada. Both of these trips were nice as they were the first real trips for our family since Krissy was born. Both were needed too being the first down time since Tim changed jobs. All in all we enjoyed the month of July resting, relaxing, eating, and enjoying the summer breeze.

Our month started out with the July 4 holiday. We took Krissy to Yankie Doodle Pops for the first time and the weather was perfect. Both kids enjoyed eating snacks and playing with their glow bracelets as we listened to the Des Moines Symphony. Uncle Philip joined us as we enjoyed the outdoor concert and fireworks afterwards.

On the 4th of July we took a leisurely morning to enjoy breakfast together outside. Then mid-day after washing the car, we biked on the trail to Windsor Heights to watch the parade and snack on a picnic lunch. The rest of the day was quiet as we packed and loaded up for Branson, Missouri.

We left for Branson on July 5 in caravan with Papa and Gigi down to Kansas City. We stopped to join Cousin Gabe for lunch before finishing the rest of the trip south. Both kids did an excellent job in the car. Judah watch his movies while Krissy played with finger puppets, just chattering away. Every time we had to stop and open Krissy's door, toys would fall out from where she had thrown them from the side of her seat.

In spite the hot weather, our cabin on Table Rock Lake appeared refreshing with its five spacious bedrooms and four bathrooms, Jacuzzi tubs, deck and porch, two car garage, pool table, poker table, and (perhaps Judah's favorite) the theatre room. Our first night we ordered in pizza and just enjoyed the company of Dan and Shannon's family, Andrew and Amy's family, and Papa and Gigi. Soon we heard the pitter-patter of feet running running around playing together and setting up trains. Later we checked out the infinity pool.

Each of the three days that we spent in Branson were much the same. Some slept in and some got up early to beat the heat and go skiing. Then we would have a big breakfast, followed by taking the kids swimming at several different pools. We would have a late lunch of lunch meat sandwiches and all would rest for the afternoon. Each family would make supper one evening before the group would go out together to swim or boat again. Tired out the kids were put to bed before the adults had their chance playing trivia the theatre room.

All in all the trip was enjoyable. The kids played so well together under the big screen with their train track. Krissy finally warmed up to everyone so that they could hold her. She really liked going to turn on the Jacuzzi in our big master bedroom. Everyone had some down time to relax and yet still got a boat ride on the water. On the last day the women went shopping at the outlet mall while the guys babysat. As we packed up to leave, Judah commented, "Mom, I like Branson; I do not want to leave."

In between trips, besides laundry and repacking, we did a few things at home and in and around Des Moines. We spent a lot of time at the park since Emma could bike the kids a few miles in the bike trailer. During these pleasant mornings, Krissy learned to climb up the slide and go down the slide all by herself (July 10). Judah climbed higher and higher then ever before. At home we played outside, making mud pies, splashing in the water or at the water table, drawing on the sidewalk, riding bikes, and throwing balls. During the hot days, we ventured to the library to check out a very large stack of books or play with the imagination blocks. In the evenings we spent as much time as we could grilling with our neighbors when we were all in town. We also enjoyed the John Morgan band for Jazz in July.

The kids still had time to do things around home. Krissy played with her finger puppets. In addition to learning to go down the slide and climb up again, she also learned to climb up her high chair to get in her seat. Rocks peeked Judah's interest and we not only found books on rocks at the library but made our own rock formation experiment and rock candy. We even did a solar oven experiment.

We barely had a week to do laundry and repack before we were on the road north toward Canada. As you head north to Canada, especially after the Twin Cities, the scenery starts to change containing more forest and less civilization. You watch rock formations and tall pine trees go by through the car window. And the temperatures start to fall slightly as the humidity lessens. By the time you come to Sioux Narrows, you take deep breaths of the crisp, fresh air. This year was no exception.

The first half of the trip we drove up to Duluth, Minnesota, where we met up with Pappa and Gigi. After six hours on the road, Krissy make it clear that she was done. We stopped to check in at the hotel and then went out to dinner at Grizzley's. We had time to swim that evening which both kids enjoyed after a long day in the car. The next morning we finished our caravan with Papa, Gigi, and Papa Harold (Munson). Judah rode in the Yukon while Krissy threw all her toys around the in the car and looked at her miniature books. We stopped for lunch at International Falls to play at McDonald's before crossing the border. We arrived in time for Muff Trunnell to have supper for us and with enough light to unpack and put the boats in the water. We even enjoyed our first smore's of the season together as a group.

Our first day in the boat proved a good year for fishing even though the fish was smaller and the weather cooler. Emma kicked the season off with catching a Small-mouth Bass. Judah enjoyed his time out in the boat passing several hours by playing in the minnow bucket and passing out minnows to Papa, Tim, Emma, and Harold. A few times Judah stuck his pole in and almost immediately while everyone was reeling in their own catch, Judah reeled in his very own Perch all by himself. Emma continues to hold the record for catching the biggest four pound Walleye at 22 inches. Tim probably caught the most Northern this year which seemed to be biting more than usual. Toward the end of the week, Larry, Bill Heubner, Tim, and Emma took an excursion by four wheeler out in the back woods to fish at a remote lake under a waterfall. In spite of reeling in a lot of sticks, the team managed 18 Walleye keepers.

Eating was as good as always. Judah even helped fry up his Perch to eat. And we certainly had no shortage of treats and boat snacks. Fresh fish everyday with fresh air makes everyone so restful and relaxed. Everyone enjoyed at least one good book or even several. The evenings we spent around the campfire or playing bingo for prizes. Others picked up a deck of cards or watched movies.

Krissy enjoyed her days on shore with Gigi, going shopping, taking walks around the campground, doing dishes, and playing in the rocks and sand. Addie proved to be a good play mate golfing and finding games for Judah. The kids tried a bit of swimming in the cold water. And we fed the seagulls.

The weather was beautiful this year even though we were in sweatshirts quite often. This made good sleeping and great campfires. Not until the end of the week, did we have rainy weather keeping us in the cabin playing games and doing some crafting.

Finally with chilly weather and running out of winter clothes, we were headed home. Judah carvanned with Papa and Gigi until we got to the Twin Cities where we visited our friends, the Anderls. We enjoyed pizza for supper before crashing at a nearby hotel for the evening. The next day we went to an indoor playground where the kids played so well together. Back at their house we grilled out before driving back during quiet time.