Anniversary Party

LT went to his great-grandparents 65th anniversary party. They are truly an amazing couple and are great role models for Brian and I as we figure out this marriage thing.They had a very impressive attendance of all their children (4), grandchildren (8), and great grandchildren (8). In addition, my grandmothers 4 sisters were there and my grandfathers brother was there. In total there were 40 (just family with spouses!) I feel lucky to be a part of such a wonderful family.

Football or Reading, which do you prefer?

We invited Steve and Mad over for the Bronco game today. Maybe LT already knew the sad outcome of the game and thought it was too disappointing to watch, but all he wanted to do was read!
He read a few books with Aunt Mad...
Then with Uncle Steve...
And then with mom.

Fun times for all

While in Mass last week, Bri, my dad, LT and I headed over to the only real place in town for me to run each day. It is a big track with a huge field in the middle and a nice playground. From what I can tell from the pictures and stories, LT, Papa, and Bri all enjoyed themselves and I got to get some good running in.






























LT has gotten
pretty attached to my dad lately. He even cries and says "papa, papa" as my dad walks away now.

True Master Gardner

A few years ago I gave Kari the nickname of "Master Gardner" after she'd managed to kill a number of those kinds of plants that are supposed to be really easy to care for. In spite of the untimely death of so many of our poor plants, she still talked about big ideas to plant full vegetable and flower gardens in our front and side yards (at the old house). So "Master Gardner" was meant to be a loving joke not unlike calling myself a "master of spelling."

To her credit, Kari's gardening skills have improved since that time*. Our basil plant, for example, has enhanced many meals and is still alive. In spite of the improvement, I still use the title of "master" with a fair amount of irony.

Yet there is hope for her because her grandfather might be deserving of the title without any of the irony. He grows a pretty diverse selection of vegetables in his Massachusetts garden. During our recent visit I had what might have been the best green beans I've ever tasted fresh from that very garden. He also grows pumpkins, squash and watermelon and even adds a little personal touch for grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

LT showing off his personalized baby watermelon below.

* A college friend's blog, digginfood.com has been helpful in expanding Kari's gardening skills.

Great Grandparents

LT is really lucky to have met and spent some time with his great-grandparents. My mom's parents live in Massachusetts and LT has been to visit twice. He is the ninth great-grandchild of theirs!
While we were visiting last weekend for their 65th anniversary, my grandpa Robie took LT out to pick some flowers from his beautiful garden.
After pulling all the pedals off the flower and leaving a nice mess on the floor, he kindly walked over to my grandmother to give her the flower.
What a sweet boy.

My mom had already left when this picture was taken and we forgot to get a four generations picture while she was there, but this is three at least!

"Wa Ba"

LT's newest word is waba, shortened version of water bottle. He enjoyed all the small water bottles on the plane ride to Boston.
In Gloucester, we went into the Life is Good store. He started saying "waba, waba, waba", getting more and more frustrated each time he said it. I searched high and low trying to find the water bottle he saw and finally, imbedded in a pile of folded shirts, I saw the green water bottle LT had been trying to show me. Although the communication at this stage is pretty primative, I am amazed daily at how quickly such a little being learns language.
Happy kid.

Cute pictures

Sneak Attacks

LT loves playing a game that we called "sneak attacks". It is sort of like hide and seak, one person hides and the other one (carrying LT) runs to find them and "sneak attack". LT (with Bri's help) taught Nicholas the game this weekend.

Meadow Park

There is a small park close to Scott and Ying's house called Meadow Park that I used to take Nicholas to when he was LT's age. I have fond memories of playing with him on the playground there and wanted LT to experience the fun as well. LT was napping when Nicholas was ready to go, so he hopped on his bike with Papa and Scott and we met them there a bit later. Scott said that he took Nicholas's training wheels off when he was about 4 1/2 and anticipated Nicholas having a few crashes, but he never did. Must take after his papa.


LT liked the slide, it was one of the bigger, faster ones he has been on, but it didn't bother him a bit.








But his favorite thing to do was run down the steep, wet hill in the park as fast as he could (which meant more time spent on his knees than on his feet).





And of course trying on Nicholas's bike helmet.

Hula Hoop

Music Playground in Redmond

My brother and sister in law live in Redmond. In the Redmond town center is this really neat outdoor musical playground for little guys. LT had so much fun playing the first time that I took him back again when Brian arrived.



















Probably his favorite thing to do at the park was put his face through the gate.
















On our way back to the car, LT found a statue of a dog (of course) and had to pet it.

baconater

I always thought LT would be vegetarian. He turns his nose up at most meat we give him (with the exception of an occasional cheeseburger). Ying made bacon and eggs for breakfast and I sort of jokingly gave LT a piece of bacon, he loved it! It turned out that he not only liked the bacon, but everything and anything Ying made. I have never seen LT eat like this before.

Cruisin' for chicks

Cougar Zoo

On Saturday, Papa, Grandma, Scott, Ying, Brian and I took Nicholas and LT to a little zoo called the Cougar Zoo. It had a very unique assortment of animals, mostly birds, but also llamas, two tigers and all of Santa's reindeer. It was the perfect size for these two little boys, enough to see, but not overwhelming.


We had to make one pit stop on the way to the zoo (left).
Papa and LT.

In addition to the animals, the zoo had lots of these red signs, probably LT's favorite part of the zoo.They had a feeding section and so the boys fed llamas. Above, LT paying for the food and below the boys feeding the llamas.
Our last stop in the zoo was to see Santa's reindeer. LT posed in front of their names for us.

LT meets Eva

A few of my friends from college are still in Seattle and met LT and I for lunch on Friday. LT and Eva have been blog friends, but had never officially met until lunch.

LT chillin' in the park with the girls (Erin, Julie and Eva, Anna and Willi).

LT loves picking leaves off of plants. He was thrilled when Erin played with him by the plant.