Kentucky Lake Vacation

Last week, we took a road trip to Kentucky Lake for a family reunion with all of Becky's aunts and uncles (on her mother's side), along with their kids (Becky's cousins) and their kids. Boy was it fun! Of course, the highlight was seeing James and Anna play with their cousins. Other highlights, as depicted in some of these photos, include:

• Anna putting on my hat and sunglasses in the car and declaring, "I'm daddy!"
• Both James and Anna bravely riding the waterslide out of the boat into the lake
• James, Anna, Ceci, & Caleb parading around the cabin with a pool noodle (I'm not sure exactly what they had in the mind for this, but boy was it cute)
• A boat ride with Grandma and Grandpa
• Anna taking a bath in her ice cream cone in our last night in St Louis (where we stopped to and from Kentucky and stayed with Becky's aunts and uncles)

Enjoy the photos!

Kentucky Lake

First summer concert!

Most Sunday evenings in the summer, we head down the street to a free, outdoor summer concert at our neighborhood park. This past Sunday was the first of the year. The kids kicked a ball around, did some dancing, and of course found...a mud pit!

First Roosevelt Concert of 2013

A Monumental Morning

Anna had a big morning, doing two things that sure made her father proud: 1) She learned to say "Boba Fett" in reference to the famed bounty-hunter, and 2) She demanded that I turn up the volume as we listened to The Tragically Hip on the way to daycare this morning. I'm beaming.

Pony Tail

After 2 years of growing, Anna's hair is finally long enough to make into a little pony tail. Her teachers at school did this for her yesterday and she loved it. This morning, she ran around the house pointing to her hair saying, "Pony! Pony!" Becky captured some of her cuteness:

Pony Tail

Anna keeps on dancing!

Anna keeps on dancing! We had a Family Movie Night on Thursday and watched "Cars" (which, amazingly, we hadn't seen in a while). In the cross-country driving scene featuring "Life is a Highway," Anna insisted we have a dance party. Watch her and James get down!

More Dancing!

Vander the Crested Gecko

This week we are lizard-sitting our friend Alex's crested gecko while he is on a spring break vacation. This morning, the kids were intrigued by this unique lizard and we snapped some photos in the morning sun (inside, of course -- while the sun was out, it is still not quite 20 degrees outside in this extended Iowa winter). Vander's skin appears rough, but feels soft, almost velvetine. Here you can see Anna and her brother getting to know this amicable little lizard.

Vander the Crested Gecko

Anna Turns Two

On Wednesday, Anna celebrated her second birthday. When asked how old she is, she will hold her hand in the air, raising three fingers (usually) and say either "one" or "three." The inclination to never want to be exactly how old you are must start at a young age. While we haven't had her party yet, Anna enjoyed opening many presents from her family, including some great gifts picked out by her brother. She also had a Winnie the Pooh cake, for whom she has recently developed an affinity (though we're unsure if she actually enjoys the animation and characters or if she just thinks it's dandy he's called Pooh). In some ways, it's hard to imagine that our girl could be so big. On the other hand, it's hard to believe she's still so little. Her vocabulary has increased exponentially in recent weeks and she regularly strings two or three words together. She also has a mischievous streak (if that wasn't already evident) and especially enjoys messing with her brother's toys (see the video Becky accidentally caught of her picking up one of James' planes and throwing it and notice how funny she thinks she is). Of course, she can be exceptionally sweet, especially when she comes up and offers a spontaneous snuggle. Anna celebrated her birthday in true Anna form -- first wearing a lovely dress (courtesy of her Nanna and Poppa) all day, then donning her birthday suit at the first available opportunity. We have some photos and video posted here:

Anna's Second Birthday

Thanks to everyone who's offered their birthday wishes! Anna sure is lucky to have such friends and family. And please accept our apologies for the clip including Slater/Gangloff singing.

Anna Busts a Move

Anna and I stayed home sick together on Friday. But a little fever and runny nose didn't stop this girl from busting out the dance moves!

Anna Busts a Move

Visiting Cousin Tracy

Before we left Chicago last week, we had a great visit with Becky's cousin Tracy and their beautiful daughter Aven. They live a lovely apartment on the 23rd floor, which in retrospect I realized was probably the highest building the kids have ever been in. Tracy is a professional photographer (see http://tracypetersen.com/ for some of her great work) and took some amazing photos of the kids and what is probably the first photo of Becky & I together, without kids, possibly since our wedding. See them here:

Tracy's Pictures

Anna Wears a Dress

Anna just received a handful of very cute dresses from her older cousin Cecilia. As I was folding the laundry this morning, she pointed to this one enthusiastically, so we tried it on. Anna rarely wears a dress, but maybe she should start more often. This photos capture here demure and charm.

Anna Wears a Dress

Saying Sorry

January 8, 2013: Anna does not hide her emotions. This has been her personality since she was very young. When she is happy, there is no greater sight on earth (at least to this very biased parent). When she is pissed, though, watch out. Sometimes she'll swat at us out of frustration, often when we're trying to wrangle her into some awful task, like putting on shoes or wearing a coat. After this, we insist that she apologize before getting what she wants next -- picked up, a certain toy, her drink, etc. This has never been easy for her (or her brother) and often the event gets dragged out for thirty minutes or longer. Lately, she's taken to playing a game where she'll utter the first syllable ("Sah...") and stop there, then look at you as if to say, "What? You want the whole thing? Damn I'm cute.") After trying this endearing tactic for a time this morning, she went even further, saying "Sor..." but not adding the second syllable. What a stinker. What a smart stinker. Last week-end after one such game, Anna ran some errands with her mommy. Pulling into the parking lot of the store, at least a full hour after she had swatted her father's face (and with him still at home with James), Anna clearly declared, "Sorry, daddy." I guess apologizing is easier when the subject of your transgression isn't around.

February 19, 2012: I (Becky) just wanted to add a little note. James quickly caught on to Anna's sneaky ways. One day Anna owed James an apology but she was reluctant to give him one.  All she would say was "Sor..." over and over.  To this James replied (with a fist slam onto the table), "I demand a "re" with my "sor". Sometimes he is just too smart for words.

Christmas, etc.

Given that my last post was on Halloween, it seems that my parents only like to write about me on holidays. But so much has happened since then! I've learning hundreds of new words and, most importantly, learned how to remove all of my own clothing so that I can be in my natural naked state (as I do at home, but also at stores, parties, etc.).

This Christmas I had lots of fun celebrating. First was Gift Rhino day in Ames, then pre-Christmas in Buffalo, then Christmas in New Jersey. I got some cool stuff but mostly just went after whatever my brother happened to be playing with. Unfortunately, I got a little bit of the pukies on my second day in Buffalo. I'm tough, so it wasn't too bad...but it spread to most of my dad's family and then through my mom's family. Oops. Good thing I'm so cute!

Speaking of cute, there are some very cute photos of me and my brother here:

Christmas 2012