Balloon glow 2011

This year we dragged Brad, Amanda, Brielle and Kaelyn to the balloon glow. The weather was perfect and the bugs were few (and funnel cakes were plentiful.) Half of the city was there. Alena and I managed to get a little lost on our way back to our chairs from the balloons. Don't worry--we eventually made our way back. It was a late night but we all recovered. Nora doesn't like to go to bed until 11 on a normal night.

A very enthusiastic "cheese." The girls refused to get a group shot.

Daddy experiences the fun of changing a diaper on his lap. Brad was there critiquing his every wipe. After all, what are friends for!

Nora had a great time people-watching. The more excitement the better for this kid.

After we made it back to our chairs. We walked down to the balloons and Alena freaked out every time the fires would blast. But she thought it would good scary. As her big cousin would say: "scary and fun."

Happy Father's Day

Ben got to play golf in the morning and watch golf in the afternoon. Between the two was a sprinkling of food. And of course his two sweet girls. A good day to be a dad.

Grandma and Grandpa and all of their granddaughters. Nora couldn't manage to stay awake. She is not quite 2 months older than Lucie but looks pretty giant next to her.

I have a very small clean spot on my car now.

Now who is having trouble staying awake?

Two months--so big!

Nora had her two month check up today. She weighed 10 lbs, 4.5 oz and was 22 1/4 inches tall. She had three shots which she took like a champ and seemed like she would have liked a little more of that sugar medicine.

She enjoys a good thumb sucking and is less sold on her pacifier now.

Nora still loves to kick. Alena likes to join her on her play mat. Alena just received a painful punch in the arm from a baby. "No hit, Nora."

Peace has been restored. But for how long...

Raptors!

The weather has been unseasonably cold lately. Alena's swim lessons were canceled on Saturday because it was too cold. Fortunately, it makes for perfect weather to go on a hike and have a picnic. We met Grandma and Grandpa at the Raptor Center to check out owls and raptors that had been injured and couldn't return to the wild. Alena wanted the birds to "make sounds." An eagle obliged and Alena jumped away from the cage scared. Be careful what you wish for.

Alena dressed "self." She always puts her shirt on backwards when she does that. She is wearing her owl shirt for the occasion. Alena also learned how to pee in the woods, which is a valuable skill. Now she wants to pee in the grass in our yard instead of going in to the potty. She is working hard on potty training and showed several neighbors her new big girl underwear last night. They were impressed.

Three generations of cool

Baby Nora slept the entire hike.

Eagles are big!

Mommy's little helpers

Nora helps check my email

Alena helps make monster cookies. Whenever we cook together, she samples every ingredient and says how it tastes: flour, not good; butter, good. Here she is sampling peanut butter (yes, good.) Cooking usually ends up with her grabbing a handful of whatever is in the bowl and shoving it in her mouth as fast as she can. Which leads to her having to get down.

Abs of steel

The amazing tongue. I don't know if Nora ever keeps it in her mouth! She loves when you blow raspberries at her. She smiles and smiles, then sticks her tongue out like she wants to give it a try.

One more from the weekend

The big news over the weekend was the birth of sweet little cousin Lucie. Nora no longer looks like a tiny baby--she is about three pounds heavier than her new cousin. Swim lessons started on Saturday for Alena. She is taking them with Daddy and Brielle, Kaelyn, and Tillie. She is excited for another summer in the water and was happy to run straight into the pool. Nora has been sleeping well lately and slept 9 hours straight Sunday night. She fell asleep in the car from Grandma and Grandpa's house and I moved her from the car seat straight to her crib. She was exhausted. Last night she kicked and smiled herself to sleep. There is nothing cuter than a baby who smiles herself to sleep (and then sleeps 8 hours.) Great Grandma Grace would have approved.

The love bug hanging out in her chair and vibrating

Mama Kitty is so fat and cuddly now after her spa treatment

We had a fun weekend with Angela, Lily, and Finn, plus Nora got to meet Julianne and Sam for the first time which she really enjoyed!

The big kids ran through the sprinkler

The toddlers blew bubbles (and Alena rubbed bubble stuff all over herself)

Nora didn't get to play, but she had plenty of people who wanted to hold her and didn't seem to mind!

A party isn't complete without some homemade ice cream!

Aunt Julianne meets Nora. Can't you tell those are her hands?

The red couch

Jessica, Charlee, Kaden, Alena, Nora, and me. It was hard to get the kids to all look at the camera, but Jessica and I look good!

Alena and Maren built a house out of all of our toys and blankets to keep out monsters.

Cute stuff

In her sleeping bag getting ready for bed--but Nora is not tired!

Looking at stuff

Holding big sister's hand makes her happy

That crazy tongue is always sticking out

Nack

One of Alena's favorite new nacks: apples. She would eat the core if you let her.

It was raining, but she wanted to eat her apple outside on her new Dora chair.

She finally relocated to the garage where we waited for Daddy to get the food going on the grill.

Growing bigger

Nora has grown out of her newborn clothes. Hopefully we get some nice weather so she can wear all of her cute new summer outfits.

Jones is still significantly bigger.

Her first time in the Bumbo. It was a lot of work to hold her head up while sitting in it but she liked being able to look around.

Our other baby

Nora never wanted to sleep in the bassinet, so we put it down in the basement. When she is not eating a pair of my shoes, it is Ruby's favorite place to hang out. What a sweet little baby!

Sisters

Alena and Nora have been getting along pretty well. Nora's favorite person is definitely her big sister, and Alena likes to get on the ground and kick next to Nora.

Finally, she will hold my hand!

This is a much more entertaining way to eat

Now what is big sister up to?

Ooh, opening presents! I hope she lets me keep this one.

While you were sleeping...

While Nora enjoyed a nice nap...

...Alena raided her closet. She really had to stuff herself into these newborn shorts.

Happy Mother's Day!

The big day has come and gone. Here I am with my two sweet girls. Today is Nora's 4 week birthday. What a big girl!