Sunday, August 21, 2011

Party at Monkey Business!

We hosted Kate's birthday party at Monkey Business, a creative playroom where Kate has loved taking art & music classes with her Grandpa for the last year. At Kate's request, we implemented a Hawaiian Luau theme.
Yummy cake to eat!

Big mountains to climb!

Monkeys wearing leis!

What more could a girl want?


We're so glad that Gran could be here to help celebrate!

Fun with Nolan!

And the rest of the gang, too!

Matthew loved the music & movement class! He had so much fun that we signed him up for his first class starting in September!


Maracas are fun to shake... and to eat!

PARACHUTE!

Time to re-fuel after so much fun!

Party with the Gleasons!

One of our favorite things about living in Northern Virginia is the proximity of so many family members! It's such a blessing for the kids to grow up spending time with their great-grandparents, great aunts & uncle and cousins! They all came over to help us celebrate on Kate's Birthday Eve! Here's Kate squeezing in some special birthday time with Great Pop!


Fun opening presents!

The Fam was really kind to help us blow up the little monkeys we planned to give as party favors at Kate's "friends" birthday party the next afternoon!

Great Aunts Ingrid & Karin

"Happy Birthday to Katie Bug"

Happy 3rd Birthday, Kate!

I can't believe our Katie Bug turned THREE on July 30th! Our time with her has been such a blessing. She is growing up to be a sweet little girl. She loves spending time with her family and friends and would be happiest if she were surrounded at all times by her entourage - particularly, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Papa, Gran, Pop and each of her baby-sitters. Kate is certainly strong-willed but also tender-hearted and has an amazing sense of humor. Her favorite activity is working on art projects. In particular, she loves making cards for the people she loves... and sometimes dicates hilarious messages. (If you want to make her day, send something in the mail!)


Anyway, we had a wonderful time celebrating Kate on her birthday!

Kate's birthday wish list was fully developed before Christmas. (Guess I should've mentioned above that she is definitely a planner!)
#1 - Dollhouse
#2 - Cupcake toy
#3 - Twin dolls (in honor of cousins, Anna & Ben)
Kate also received a wonderful red wagon from Grandma & Papa! Matthew loves it as much as Kate and they have already spent hours playing with it together!




Saturday, August 6, 2011

Matthew at 10 Months

At 10 months old, Matthew weighs just under 23 pounds (75th percentile) and he's just over 30 inches tall (95th percentile). He is such a sweet baby! He gives THE best hugs and slobbery kisses. He waives "hello" and "bye-bye" and lights up the room with a smile whenever one of his favorite people walks in. Matthew loves to eat and always wants to try whatever we are eating. He loves to giggle and babble. His first word was "go!" and it's just so fitting because he is our little explorer. He always wants to be on the go - and has been know to crawl up the 2 flights of stairs in our house as many as 4 times a day. (With close supervision, of course!) Matthew crawls as fast as he can towards loud noises, open gates or uncovered electrical outlets! He's always running headlong and with exuberance into danger. He understands "no" and sometimes complies. He loves to go for rides in the wagon, to swing and to play "pat-a-cake" but his favorite entertainment by far is watching his big sister! A moment of her attention is heaven.

Home Sweet Home

We had such a wonderful time on our vacation but it was definitely good to be home! In our first few days back, the kids spent plenty of time playing with and loving on Grandma and Papa.

We had a fair number of tea parties...

And we kicked Kate's birthday party planning into high gear.

Can you guess this year's theme?


Wintergreen Retreat: Family Photo Shoot

Our final event of the vacation was an attempt at a family photo shoot!

My parents with all their grandkids!
Kate and Matthew with Gran and Pop

Gran and Matthew

Pop with the boys

Gran and Pop with Uncle Jon, Aunt Loren, Anna and Ben

Our family with Gran and Pop

Handsome Ben

Gran with the girls

Anna and Ben

Beautiful Anna

Anna, Matthew & Ben

You try to take a picture of a squirmy 10-month old!


Wintergreen Retreat: Playing Inside

After so much time spent in the great outdoors, we also needed plenty of time to relax and unwind indoors! The kids played really well together!
Gran and Pop with Anna

Gran read to each kid almost every day

Matthew became fully mobile

Matthew and Anna interacted a ton!

And Matthew loved to push Anna in her walker!

Pop built many a tower!

Look at Ben's gorgeous blue eyes!

Gran and Ben

Tim and Anna

Uncle Jon teasing Kate

Adorable Anna

Gran and Pop started most mornings with a visit from Kate and Matthew