Children's museum and other weekend fun

We went to the children's museum with Grammie and Pamp on Friday. Kennedy had a blast playing in the kid's town. She loved the grocery store with all the different foods and checkout counters. Other favorites were the magnetic building shapes and the helicopter. We had so much fun that we went back today with daddy. Macy was awake and observant both times, and she seemed to have a good time, too.

On Saturday after Jake got back from a motorcycle ride to Evanston, we had a game night. We got two new games for Kennedy - Hi Ho! Cherry-O and Honey Bee Tree. She doesn't quite have the attention span for "cherries" yet, but she loved the "bee" game! We tried to put Macy in the highchair to watch, but she's not big enough yet.

Back to school

I opened the door to the girls' bedroom this morning to wake them up, and Kennedy sat up and the first thing she said to me was, "You startled us!" I asked her how she slept and then her next question was, "Where are we going?" To school! Kennedy's preschool started today. She's been really excited to go back, but this year she will only be there for the half day program. When she was there for the full day she loved being able to take her lunch to school, but maybe she won't miss nap time. All the friends in her "stars" class will be new, and she has one new teacher and one teacher from last year. We went to an open house yesterday (when I took this picture) and Kennedy sat right down to start working on some jobs. I think it's going to be another great year for her.

Pamp called to give me a report of the day when he picked her up. She went right in this morning with out any problems. It wasn't quite as easy for some of the other children. Kennedy was helpful to the new kids, showing them about the rugs and the jobs. She now recognizes her name and she spotted it on her cubby (knowing that it starts with a K) and found it in the stack of name tags. When it was time to go home, she put away her job on the shelf and then told Pamp, "Wait, I need to wash my hands before we go." Macy got to visit with the nice ladies in the office, and I'm sure they can't wait until she's big enough for school too!

Visits to the doctor's office

Macy had her four-month checkup yesterday and she is doing so well. Her growth has slowed down a bit, but she's up to 13 pounds 13 ounces (50th percentile) and 25 inches (75th). To compare, at this age Kennedy was 15 pounds and 2 ounces and also 25 inches. Just looking at Macy's chubby cheeks and legs, you know she's a healthy baby. Her doctor was impressed that she's already rolling over and pushing up on her arms. 4-6 months is usually about trunk development, but she's just about mastered that. Now we have to start baby proofing the house again! The doctor thinks she'll probably be an early walker, just like her big sister. Kennedy was excited to come along for support (and to get a sticker). She kept saying, "Macy's going to get a shot and she will cry." It was true, she did cry, but not very much. Kennedy also brought along her own pink baby to be a patient.

Kennedy and Jake had been to the doctor's office the day before because we suspected she has another UTI. She tried and tried to pee in the cup, but just couldn't get it. Finally she did go, but in the diaper - ugh! The nurse put in the catheter, but nothing was left. Luckily Kennedy got two otter pops and some stickers out of the experience. That afternoon I spent 30 minutes with her on the potty trying to get a sample. I painted her nails and read stories to help pass the time and to keep her from getting up, and at the same time Macy was crying about something. I think that I need a sticker for all of this too!

Staying busy!

Daddy's been working nights, supervising a sewer line repair project, so we've been trying to stay out of the house during the afternoons to let him sleep. Kennedy gets the idea of being quiet, and she even says, "Shh! we have to be quiet because daddy is sleeping!", but actually keeping her voice down is another thing. Last week, the girls had lots of fun outings with Pamp, Grammie, Grandma Sue, Grandpa Brent and Mama to keep busy:

Monday - zoo!

Tuesday - Grandma Sue's!

Wednesday - playground and the farm!

Thursday - natural history museum and a visit to mom's office!

Friday - zoo and swimming at Pamp's!

Saturday - aquarium and the toy store!

Sunday - farm, family dinner, and swimming!

It feels like we're trying to cram in all these last minute adventures before school starts! Jake has the night shift again this week, so I'm sure we'll be visiting many of these places again. It's been a fun but exhausting week.

Spruces camp-out

We spent the weekend up Big Cottonwood Canyon at the Spruces for the annual family camp-out. Friday night when we drove up it was pouring rain. It had cleared enough for us to set up the tent by the time we got there, but it was cold, muddy and wet! We ate our Lonestar takeout in the tent and then ventured out to sit around the fire and roast marshmallows. Even with the rain hitting the tent roof, Macy slept all night long, but Kennedy woke up a few times. We all shared one big sleeping bag, so it was warm enough but not exactly comfortable. Saturday we woke up to more rain and some hail! We waited for breakfast, but decided to leave before it was finished cooking. With the two kids and the weather it just seemed better to head home for a while. I wish I had taken some pictures to show just how hard it was raining, but the idea of leaving the shelter of the tarp to get the camera seemed crazy! We had our own pancake breakfast and then everyone got a nap. After the storm had cleared we went back up for a steak and potato dinner. All the aunts, uncles and cousins sat around the fire telling favorite camp stories - mine was a trip Jake and I took to the sand dunes and his was our snowshoe trip with Lisha, Armando and Skip to the yurt in McCall, Idaho. Sunday we woke up to beautiful weather and the kids all had a great time running around the campsite. Huck and Kennedy were so cute playing ring-around-the-rosies and then falling down in the dirt. Jake painted some faces, we read books, made necklaces and hats and spent time chatting with the family. The weekend ended with a delicious dutch oven turkey dinner...and then the kids fell asleep in the car on the way home. When they woke up, it was straight to the tub!

A proud mommy moment

Hooray! I got to see Macy roll from her stomach to her back for the first time! She was napping in her crib tonight with her legs tucked up under her. When she woke up she was able to plop herself over and then gave me a huge smile! I felt so fortunate to be there just at the right moment! She's really mastered the back to stomach roll, so now that she can go the other direction too we really have to watch her more carefully! Macy is just growing up so fast. It makes me a little sad each time she outgrows something. When we started establishing a more normal bedtime routine, I really missed her falling asleep on the couch next to me while we watched tv at night. When she moved out of our room and started sleeping in Kennedy's room last month, I was sad and lonely for a few days. Jake took down the bassinet this weekend and I almost started crying. I love each new stage and accomplishment, but at the same time I want her to stay just as she is. Everything about our family feels perfect right now, but I know we're in for many more exciting things to come!

Goldilocks

Grandma Sue put Kennedy's hair in curlers. Doesn't she look adorable!? Let's get this girl entered into a beauty pageant (I've been watching too much "Toddlers and Tiaras" - there's no way that I would ever be that kind of mom!!!) Let's see, what could her talent be? She loves to sing, especially in the car, sometimes with actual words and a tune and other times in her own Kennedy language. If you sing with her she might say, "I asked you a question. Don't sing with me, mama!" She loves to dance, but it's mostly spinning around in circles until she falls down. She can recite way too many lines from her favorite movie "Ratatouille". The other night we were having dinner and she said to her dad, "Go to work, Little Chef!" She'll tell you that her favorite parts are when "the man dumps the wine on the rat's head" and when Little Chef smells the soup "he gets really big, fat cheeks and he goes bleeh." (We always have to rewind and watch that part at least three times). Kennedy will also let you know that " I don't like the scary parts" and she covers her mouth when they come on (even though I skip past those scenes). I love this girl!!! It's so much fun watching her mind at work. You never know what she's going to be talking about, but it's always an interesting conversation!