No Pokies

Johnny is really good at taking it easy:

He had a doctor's appointment this morning (crazy me thought 10am would be fine after a flight that got in at midnight). It was his 2 year check-up, and the doctor said everything looks great. He's growing big and strong, and is just a little over 31 lbs. Johnny needed 3 last immunizations, and was not pleased with them. He told me no more pokies, and really milked it for all he could when he got home. He laid out on the couch with his popsicle, and asked to watch Marco Polo.

Monkey was brave through it all, and even got a puppy sticker.

Monday and Tuesday 6.28 and 6.29.10

We purposely jam-packed our first few days of our vacation so that our last few could be spent just relaxing with family. Johnny's dream come true would be living next door to Emma and Stevie so he could play with them every day. Whenever I put him down for a nap or for the night, he'd always say, "Wake up and see Emma." My sister's house has such a fun backyard for kids to play in and I felt so safe just sending Johnny out to play with his cousins.

We were sad to leave, but are so happy we were able to visit my family so much recently. The kids did so well on the flight home, I felt bad that it was such a late flight. They both miraculously fell asleep and stayed asleep from the flight, to baggage claim, to the car, and then into the house. We were definitely blessed. Aren't they so adorable?

Sunday 6.27.10

We wanted to visit with my Grandma and Grandpa again, so we came back over on Sunday for dinner. Johnny and Bela had a blast playing at their great-grandparents house, especially outside on the deck.

Johnny brought monkey and his duck outside to play

My grandpa is very good at giving instructions from the chair

Baby Bela was being so sweet with her great Grandpa

Johnny always thinks it's hysterical to crawl with Bela

I just know she's going to just stand up and walk soon. It's so crazy how fast she's growing.

Grandma is very good with her great grandchildren

Like I said, we are very good at family pictures

Saturday 6.26.10

On Saturday morning we went to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Goodrich. Brad and I had decided to not tell my grandparents we were coming into town so that we could surprise them. My grandma always has a hair appointment on Saturdays, so we showed up as my grandparents were walking out of the salon. Boy were they surprised, I don't think my grandma realized who we were until I started hugging my grandpa. But she sure was happy to see her great-grandchildren. We did get some great video from our visit, but somehow in all the excitement, forgot to snap any pictures.

After Bellevue, we headed over to Emma's rocking 5th birthday party.

Baby Bela kept me company while I was on door patrol

Emma picked these glasses out as part of her party favors
They were a hit

As were the kazoos

We had a great time at the party, thanks for inviting us!

Friday 6.25.10

Friday we headed out to Seattle for a little more sight-seeing. It was a little cool and cloudy in the morning, but by the afternoon it was a beautiful day. After driving through pioneer square and along the waterfront, we headed over to see the Fremont troll.

The troll lives beneath this freeway overpass

Thank you Stephen for this awesome shot of me climbing up

Johnny thought the troll was pretty cool, and seemed to enjoy himself. Until we left and he kept crying to me that the troll was going to get him. It's a good thing we have these pictures, because he also told me about a million times that he is never going back.

We drove over to Alki next for a little walk along the beach

Doesn't the jelly fish look like an egg?

Johnny trusts his Uncle Stephen to not feed him to the jelly fish

We are very good at family photos

Cubs vs. Mariners 6.24.10

We missed the first game of the series, but we had a great time at the second two. My friends Dennis and Amanda came to the Wednesday night game with us (Cubs lost), and Brad and I went to the Thursday day game together (Cubs won). It was Brad's second time at Safeco, but the first time we'd been able to see a game together, and I had a lot of fun. I know Brad had a lot of fun on Thursday when the Cubs won in extra innings. After 14 to be exact. That's a lot of baseball.

In front of Qwest Field

the most important directory at the game

Yes I love my man and wore cubs gear to the game

Nothing more entertaining than Lou coming out for a discussion. Unfortunately no base-throwing this time.

My handsome husband

Wednesday 6.23.10

We flew into Seattle Tuesday night excited for our adventure. Fran was nice enough to pick us up, and Johnny was thrilled beyond belief to be riding in Emma's truck. After playing with cousins at my parents' house, we all went to bed for some much needed rest.

The next day we headed out to Seattle to the Ballard Locks. I haven't been since I was little, and I was really excited for Brad to be able to see them in person. He is an engineer after all. Thankfully my mom has a stroller at her house, it is not exactly somewhere I'd feel safe having Johnny just run around.

The locks starting to open

The water is now level so the ships can pass through

The engineers who designed the locks also designed a fish ladder for the salmon. Johnny loved the little observation windows down below where he could see tons of fish

Just hanging out

So Much Fun

We celebrated Henry's 2nd birthday yesterday. It was good food, good company, and good fun. Johnny played his heart out and fell asleep before we were even on the freeway to come home.

The Hat

Johnny loves his baseball hat. He wanted to wear it last week when we met up with Melinda and Henry, so they could see how much he loves it too.

This was his excited face when he saw Henry walk in the door:

Pounding a few things out

The two rules when Johnny wears his hat are: he has to put it on himself, and it has to be worn backwards.

so helpful

Henry went to take it easy in this chair, so of course Johnny had to jump in right next to him.

They're very good at taking it easy.

Sleeping Arrangement Update

It's going great. Ever since I laid Johnny down on the big boy bed he's slept in it every night. Sister loves the crib. They love being in the same room. We love that they're learning to sleep through so much more. Before the new arrangement, Johnny was a pretty light sleeper and would sometimes freak out if you came into his room after he'd fallen asleep. Now he barely even makes a peep and just rolls over if you come into the room.

I especially love it when I can hear them on the monitor talking to each other before they fall asleep. Sometimes Bela will cry a little, and Johnny will say "Bela cry for ba-ba?" Or in the mornings if they wake up at the same time, they'll be jibber-jabbing back and forth to each other laughing.

There have also been no attacks whatsoever, for which I'm sure Bela is grateful.

Tortillas

Tonight we ventured to the park down the hill to share some tortillas with the ducks.

Johnny was pretty excited

There were even some cute ducklings

Sister kept an eye on things for us from the stroller

and then decided to join in the fun on the swings

and even challenged Johnny to a race down the slide

Overall, it was a pretty great night.