Cousins

How hard is it to get cousins to all look at the camera at the same time?

Aunt Liza with Alena and Tillie. Maybe people think they are twins because they pose the same way. But I don't think they look too much alike past that.

Alena met Finn for the first time this week. She thought he was a cool dude. And of course Lily is always fun. She tells really funny jokes.

Hanging with Dad

Alena and Dad have been having extra fun together the past few days. Alena seems to enjoy saying "dadadada", which gets her whatever she wants with dear ol' Dad. Seven months, and he's already wrapped around her little finger.

Alena loves the outdoors. When she's not actually outside, she likes to keep tabs on what's going on out there. Here is the "throne" that Dad constructed so Princess Alena could keep watch over her squirrel and sparrow subjects.

On a beautiful Friday afternoon we went to Daniels Park, near Mount Mercy (as a reward for being so good while I unloaded the gas kiln) and went swinging. Alena loves to swing, but does not yet say "wheee" like big cousin Lily. She did however enjoy watching another little girl play on the slides nearby.

Playing the piano

Alena had a busy weekend: she went to two graduation parties and an art fair. She was a good sport about everything and even stayed up until 9 on Friday night. There were plenty of kids to observe and play with. Monday she went to the park with Mom and Grandma Dee and went swinging for the first time. And we don't have a single picture of any of it.

Dad took Alena to the store and told her she could pick out one toy. She chose this little piano. She is very good at playing it. Soon she will have mastered "Hot Cross Buns." As there are only 4 notes, there are not a lot of other song options. When she graduates from this piano she is going to collect on Kirstin's promise to give her lessons on a real one.

Grooving out

A pause for applause

Alena working her way through a teething biscuit. It was her first one and she really enjoyed it. After eating it, she enjoyed a bath.

Mother's Day gift

It has been a week since Mother's Day, so I guess I am a little late with this. But here is a picture of Alena giving Mom a slab with her hand prints. What a big girl to stick her hands in the clay without eating it! Thanks to Dad for helping Alena fire her artwork.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms from this award-winning mom! (Thanks for the nomination, Angela!) All I want for today is good baby behavior. That isn't too much to ask, is it?

Pinned!

Mom sat Alena down on the floor while she was getting the stroller ready for a walk. When she came back in it was to this terrible scene! Alena was trapped under the bars of her play mat, and was not too happy about it.

Crawling lessons

Alena has the arm motions down, but she needs some work on the legs.

Yard work

It has been a busy weekend so far. Friday night Mom and Dad went out and left Alena with Molly and Amanda, two of Dad's art students. They all seemed to have a good time, and Alena was sleeping like a log when we got home. Saturday's project was to remove a cement pad next to our garage. The perfect opportunity to rent a jackhammer! After Dad woke up all of the neighbors, Grandpa Steve and Uncle Andrew helped load the broken cement onto a truck to haul away to the dump, to the dump, to the dump dump dump. More than 2 1/2 tons of concrete were taken out of our yard!

Dad and the rubble

Everyone came over to play! Is Alena sharing her toys or commandeering Tillie's?

Safety first!

Grandpa wielding a pickax

Good job Dad! Now all you have to do is fix the siding on the garage, scrape it, paint it, plant some grass...

More power!

A video for all of the tool men.

Looking out the window

Alena loves looking out windows. She likes to watch cars, dogs, people, and stationary objects.

She also likes to lick the glass if given a chance

Did I hear a camera? I better give my tradmarked "smile."

Alena and Mom having fun

FORE!!!

Alena just started to say "dadada." She says it when she is happy and when she is mad. It is definitely not a word, but it gives Dad hope that her first word will include that new consonant vowel combination.

Dad just got a new putter so he set Alena up as the hole. He putted her the balls. If he hit one close enough, she would put it in her mouth. Then they got Alena's clubs out so she could work on her swing.

A nice athletic stance. Dad tells Alena, "Let the big dog eat!"

Alena misinterpreted the instructions.

Club selection is everything.

A visit to the farm

Today we headed out to Bever Park to check out the farm. Some of the animals just came back from their winter lodging this weekend and were ready to show off! Alena liked the chickens best out of all of the animals. When the prairie dogs are back she will probably like them--like a bunch of Leroys who live underground! We also visited the duck pond. There are a lot of pretty new ducks swimming around. It was so much to take in that Alena had to take a nap on the way home.

Checking out the goats and donkey

Chickens!

Those are some cool ducks! (For those of you who haven't seen her in person for awhile, she actually is growing hair; it just doesn't look like it in this picture.)

Rub a dub

Alena had her 6 month check-up yesterday. A clean bill of health! She weighed in at 14 lbs, 8 oz. She had to get 3 more shots which put her in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Fortunately, she is starting to feel better. Hopefully she wakes up happy, ready to spend a fun-filled day with Dad!

Alena's favorite room in the house is the bathroom. Here she is hanging out in her bathtub. Why is she fully clothed? I didn't want her feet to get wet (first person to get that movie reference wins.) Bonus question: What did Alena eat for lunch today? You will find your hint on the baby's clothes.

Playing with Leroy

Alena sticks everything in her mouth. One of her favorite things to suck on is Dad's hair. She licks it until there is drool dripping off of his head. She also likes petting dogs and feeling their soft fur. Is there any way that she can combine her two favorite things?

Look, it's Leroy!

His fur is so soft...

...good enough to eat!

Learning new tricks

Alena loves to watch people drink from a cup. She wanted to give it a try herself. She likes to hold the glass and lick it. When she gets water in her mouth, she just lets it flow back out down her shirt.

Grandma Dee shows proper cup-drinking technique.

Grandpa Ed teaching Alena how to slide down the bannister (just like Miss Hannigan!)

Shades

It was Alena's six month birthday on Saturday. Anyone who knows Mom knows that a half-birthday is cause for celebration, including cake! We went to the mall and couldn't resist these cool shades.

Joe Cool

Good thing Alena had sunglasses to protect her from the glare off of her candle! No, she didn't eat any of the cake, but we sure enjoyed it!

Alena's first Easter

Alena had a fun time for her first Easter. She started out the festivities on Saturday by dyeing eggs with Grandma Dee and Grandpa Ed. She got an Easter basket with baby paper, her new favorite thing! Sunday morning the Easter Bunny struck again! A book about bunnies and some new spring outfits were waiting downstairs. But Easter wasn't over yet! The whole Horak family made it to Mimi's for an Easter feast (twelve people and 4 desserts.) There was also an egg hunt. Afterward we went to Grandma Diane and Grandpa Steve's house for another egg hunt (Alena didn't feel up to looking for eggs, so she stayed inside and watched the Masters with Grandpa while Mom and Dad did all of the work.) That Easter Bunny sure was busy this year! It did not take much convincing to get Alena to bed after such a busy day!

The Easter Bunny came!

Alena in her Easter dress and bonnet.

The happy family!

Queen teddy bear

When Alena is wearing this sleeper she likes to be referred to as "Queen Teddy Bear." Here she is on her throne, surrounded by her loyal subjects. Doesn't she look stately!

Alena eating

Dessert!

Eating sweet potatoes

The sweet potatoes were a success! Alena ate half of the jar. Did she really like the food, or did she just want to chew on the spoon? Thank you to all who voted in this very important poll.

You saw it--she was wearing a bib. How did she get her outfit so dirty?

The results are in!

Which food will Alena eat next? Sweet potatoes is the hands down winner! Green beans received no support and there was one write-in for corn. Alena's excitement is mounting!

Alena helps Dad do the laundry (as she created the majority of the dirty laundry, it is only fair!) But then again, how much help does it look like she was lending?