Odds & Ends

Mark it on your calendar as a day to remember always! Yesterday, June 27th, 2008, Ben and Ryan became neighbors! See previous blog entry...it is now official.

In other news...
We finally got our new dining room table. Don't worry - I've already got a plastic seat cover on Jonas's chair, and the tabletop is carefully protected with a vinyl tablecloth.

We've finally been enjoying the summer I envisioned since I've been off work now a few days. Lots of family time! Miles enjoys hanging out with the fam in the exersaucer. Today's strange 65 degree weather put a damper on our Saturday, though. Swim lessons really weren't very fun this morning!

Still haven't figured out how to put videos from our video camera on the computer. But, it turns out, our new camera takes great videos, too!

Here's Jonas trying to figure out how to pedal (he's getting pretty good!)

And here's Miles in his new favorite activity.

Swimming, Biking, and a Birthday Party

Well, I'm already behind on my blogging for the summer! I can't believe how fast summer is flying by.
So far, our summer has been busy.
Saturday mornings are spent at parent/toddler swimming lessons (very cold here on our first Saturday in early June!)

Miles prefers to catnap on the pool deck while Jonas swims.

We've also been doing some biking. Ben has to alter his biking expectations a bit when Robyn and Jonas tag along, but I think we all still have fun. Miles is still too little to ride in the bike trailer, so we have to find something for him to do while we're out.

Here we are on Father's Day at Grandma and Grandpa's after our bike ride. The highlight was seeing three bald eagles in their nest along the Cannon Valley Trail. Apparently, it made quite an impact on Jonas because the following week when we pulled into the parking lot of a different bike trail in Lanesboro, Jonas announced "I'm going to see eagles, mommy."

Miles is turning out to be another happy little boy...and seems to be growing even faster than I remember! He's always so smiley!

And, finally, last weekend we had Jonas's belated birthday party. Well worth the wait, I think. Here's cousin Noelle helping Jonas prep for the candle-blowing event!

Jonas got a picnic table from Grandma and Grandpa...

squirt guns from Uncle Nic (just wait 'til he has kids some day!)

and a basketball hoop from Papa and JuJu.

He is really ready for the rest of summer...T-ball from Uncle Russ, Aunt Jenn, Noelle, and Joshua and a cool sprinkler from Ryan and Emily will give us lots of choices for summer activities! And lots of opportunities for more photos!

2nd Birthday!

Well, I can't believe my first-born turned 2 today! Everyone tells you they grow up so fast...you just don't believe it until you actually experience it! The day started with Jonas waking up at 6:15am...sounds early, but Miles was up with the sun at 6am anyway. We serenaded Jonas with "Happy Birthday" while he grinned ear to ear. Then he proceeded to say "Happy Birthday Mommy" for much of the morning.

Later, playing soccer...

in cowboy boots...

with the new neighbor.

Daddy and Miles were just too tired to play after they trimmed the branches on the tree in the front yard. (Ben is really just faking sleep here - although, I think he is still recuperating from the marathon daddy daycare he had Friday, Saturday, and Sunday while I worked. Welcome to summertime!!)

Then we went to Cabin Coffee for lunch with "Uncle" Ryan and Emily. I brought my camera, but forgot to snap any pictures. Jonas ate potato chips and a chocolate chip cookie for his birthday lunch. Nice, mom.

After nap, we scrubbed up the kids and took them to a photography session with a photographer in town. Thought the 2-year birthday would be a good milestone to capture professionally...and since Miles is the 2nd child, we haven't even gotten any Sears Portrait Studio pictures of him yet!! They both did great, and I think we'll have some really nice photos to choose from!

Finally, back home for some birthday presents. Although his party isn't for a few days, we let him open some gifts.

He got some dinosaurs from Miles.

And a really cool kids digital camera from Uncle Alex, Aunt Katie, Abbie, and Izzie. See below for some Jonas photography.

And here he is dancing to the Spanish DVDs he got from Mom and Dad. Yeah, I know, seems like a lame birthday present...but my new mommy-paranoia is that I've already missed out on some of his language formative years. Mommy is muy loca!

Here are some of Jonas's photos:

And to prove that the camera can actually take decent pictures when aimed at an object and held still:

Thanks Uncle Alex, Aunt Katie, Abbie, and Izzie! Someday Jonas can show you the other 59 pictures he took on his new camera tonight! It was a big hit, to say the least!

So, there it is...I'm now officially the mother of a 2 year old! Keep me in your prayers!