Liesl's wild week of overnights

Liesl got to spend a lot of time with the Oma's this week. 3 days with my mom, not to mention all the time I was with her. Overnights galore and 2 overnights with Veronika. She had herself a blast being the one and only. Veronika took her with her to visit little baby Robbie. While she was watching a movie over there she came partway down the stairs and announced that something was very wrong. Why were they still there? She got to watch too much of her movie because she had been told not to get too comfortable that she would not be seeing all of it before they left for home. She got some
Laughs out of it. She has been making some kick butt drawings and really coming into her own with it and making stories of her drawings. In one of them daddy is captured by aliens and he is up in a spacecraft. Pretty sweet. She likes to draw her and Jeannie following me around, all her friends in their Halloween costumes, and animals galore. I love the loopy legs and feet on them. She is really into the emotions in the drawings. Jeannie is now grown out of most of her 6-9 month clothes... And she is only 6 months. Can't keep up. She is in a little of everything in sizes 6 to 12 months. I bought a Halloween costume at a mom to mom Saturday for a dollar. Cute little pepper costume. 9 month for size and I had to stuff her in it for a picture. It won't last the month. She has been a little fussy lately. Maybe teeth? Tried to take her to her hip appt this week and circumstances were not with me. Liesl has an appt with a pediatric eye dr later next week. Hope that doesn't have issues too. Mom will be gone for 5 months need to squeeze it in before then. I swore I heard Jeannie say mom today to me when she was talkin. Took the girls to the orchard today when we picked Liesl up from her overnight. Had a fun time picking out out pumpkins. Daddy has something planned. Liesl had a great time as usual there. Aunt Gloria met us there for a little and then came back to our place for chili. What a nice evening. Tomorrow Grady is supposed to come visit. Looking forward to hanging with the man and having some mommy chatting with Miss Dee.

Jeannie tried out some of my home made apple raspberry sauce and it didn't make it far. She still has quite the gag reflex. Maybe next time baby. Momma and daddy got to go on a date this week. We did a little best buy looking around and Dubin fish and chips and holy cannoli-ing. Yum yum! It was nice to take a break. Thank you Oma.

Babbley baby

Jeannie woke up really babbled this morning practicing her ohhhhhs and ahhhhhs. She has also been doing a lot or raspberries to everyone. We are visiting Oma today again because daddy has some major schoolwork to do this afternoon before class. She is always happy to hang out with Oma and visit her other toys. Yesterday was the same and she and Liesl helped me put up shelves from IKEA in her den. She does well here because she also has her own rocker and bed here. This morning while Liesl and I were cleaning up the kitchen Jeannie was busy exploring the family room rolling around and spinning to see things. She does well with letting me accomplish things during the morning hours but she gets a little fussy in the evenings. I will have to push more napping later in the day. She has some favorite toys lately. She likes her mermaid dolly with the mirror tail and her table toys with the suction cups. She does really well in restaurants and plays now and lets us all eat. I hope it lasts. Was watching some videos of Liesl from her first year or so and laughing that we could not understand her anymore. They are both fun little bouncy kids. Liesl is so helpful. She entertains her sister while I am busy. She loves to make up crazy songs for her sister. Jeannie always gives her giggles in return.

Renaissance Festival: Sweet endings and sour pickles

Sunday Oma went with the 4 of us to the festival. Liesl was all geeked to visit the mermaids. It was all that she could talk about on the trip out. There had to be at least 50k people there. The parking lot was crazy full. Liesl went to the festival in her Snow White costume which I thought was quite appropriate. For the festival but her Dirndl might have been better.... And warmer.... We got super lucky when we walked in people were handing out all kinds of comped tickets so we got in for free! Yay free! Liesl enjoyed the fairie houses and we took notes for our next year's garden. Liesl was overwhelmed with the weirdness of the festival. She loved seeing everyone in their costumes. Jim found a pickle stand immediately and bought us a couple. Jeannie took over his sucking on it like it was going out of style. We should have charged admission because everyone that saw her was crazy about the pickle eating baby. Everyone commented how cute it was how she was going to town on it. Liesl shopped a little with Oma and picked out a hair twist for her braid (basically hair jewelry). Wish I got more than 1, I might order one online. When we got to the mermaid line it was wrapped around like crazy so Jim and mom decided to go try to get a turkey leg..... They were sold out.... Seriously..... I stayed in line with the girls when they foraged for more food. Liesl of course made friends with the people in front of us. It was a good thing too because that pickle was making my stomach turn. I asked the lady we had been talking with if there was one nearby.... It was clear across the park! I was starting to sweat..... All the cell towers were busy and no one could get through. She told me she would save my place but what was I gook g to do with Jeannie? She agreed to go with me thank god. She held her while I visited the latrines yuck! Thank god for a friendly preschooler! It was a dilemma let me tell you. The wait was worth it all. We got to the front of the line when we came back and saw the mermaid. They did a super awesome job on her. She was swimming and diving and giving out pebbles. Both girls got one and she even blessed them for the girls by kissing them and touching Jeannie's forehead. Loved it! Mom even snuck in to see out new friend holding Liesl up to see her. Mom and Jim had brought us back apple dumplings ( you guys rock). I am sorry daddy missed out on the mermaid. We then went to see a piping rock band as Liesl would put it. Tartanic. Liesl insisted on 2 CDs and she even got them signed. The band adored her and took a picture with her. What a bunch of awesome guys. We then cought the end of a jousting match and a bird of prey show. I think the falcon was trying to swoop down and take Jeannie away. It could have literally touched my head quite a few times on the swoop down. Liesl quite enjoyed the show. We actually were there for 5 hours and it was the first time I remember closing out the festival! Liesl jammed a little to some tribal music on the way out managing to lose Jim and I. They weren't too hard to find. Mom put her on her shoulders so we could find her. We finished off the late evening at Sagebrush. Mom's first time. Hope she liked it.

Today the girls and I visited my little nephew. He lost a little weight and was down to 5 lbs 15 oz. I was happy to finally be able to hold him as Liesl got the flu earlier on the weekend keeping us from visiting them when they were discharged. Cute little peanut. Even took a picture of him next to his cousin Jeannie. Liesl thinks he is so cute. More Doctor appointments this week. Ugh! I have been putting them off too long. Jeannie has to get her hip checked out by the orthopedic and liesl has to go to the pediatric eye dr at the end of the month. No fun. Maybe he can work out her prescription better.

So proud of my new little nephew

Melisa went into labor Wednesday night and by Thursday morning mom and I knew we had to go to the hospital. We made the slow trek down to Detroit to go see the little man while she was in labor. Later we found out that we might be able to see her before she had him. We stopped at babies r us to shop a little and Oma bought Jeannie a new bedroom set. She now has a princess lifetime bed with a canopy. Can't wait for it to go into her room. When we got to the hospital we didn't have to wait too much longer to see the little guy. Jeannie and Liesl were very good to let me snuggle with him. He looks just like Scotty in my opinion but that can all change. ADORABLE. Can't wait to see him again. Liesl asked me how he got out of Melisa's belly and I played on one of her stories and said that he came down a slide and they had to vacuum him out ( because she heard uncle Scotty say that). She said poor little guy got vacuumed up.

Stoney creek

Fought the wind and a cross country meet to play on super cool stoney playground. The HS kids drove us crazy enough playing in the 2-5 yr old zone. It was great fun and I hope the weather holds through October.

Such a happy baby.

Jeannie is so laid back and happy. We are so blessed to have it so easy. She sleeps so well in her crib, waking up and playing at times, sits in her high chair, plays with all her toys,  and she loves the bath. I made curtains for her room last week and finished up the girls quilts. They are so nice. Liesl calls hers her family time quilt. I can't wait to make another. Jim has already bought fabric for one for him. I also got fabric for baby Halsall's. I know I keep swung Jeannie is going to crawl soon. She is on the ciao of it. She rolls accross the room now. She could just do that. She is getting really good at sitting up. Shouldn't be much longer til she doesn't need assistance. Soon she will be 6 months and be able to try some solid food. She is getting more in her vocabulary. Loves to give Liesl the raspberries. She is getting much better hand coordination spinning things  and pushing buttons. Prospects are good for fall for us. Liesl looking forward to raking leaves. Going to do pictures with the girls soon. Probably going to wait til Jeannie sits on her own. Made more salsa again from the garden. I have probably made over 10 quarts now and still counting. What a great season

Sorry for the radio silence

B

I have been meaning to upload my blog from our vacation to the UP but that has not yet happened. Hopefully coming soon. Our computer fried a little over a month ago so we lost quite a few pictures of Jeannie. Hopefully my friend Moussa can save the drive for me. He has some crazy stuff planned. Hope him not calling for so long means he hasn't exhausted all means to save it. Liesl had a fun week last week. Went to the zoo with Barb and Colton because of a butt dial. So happy for that butt dial. When we all got to the zoo Jim and I raced the kids to the giraffes to feed them because we got there just in time. It went by quick but the kids really enjoyed it. We rode the train twice! Colton was very happy about that. I got some cute pics of the kids. Jeannie also had a good day and they both enjoyed the new double stroller. What a great find at the mom to mom that was among many others. Jeannie has been sitting up in high chairs alot lately. Restaurants have not been too hard as long as I bring toys and sit her up in one with them. She is close to sitting on her own and will soon be crawling. Get ready for action kids. Thank god for the new vacuum! Today Liesl came home from 2 overnights at Oma Ronnie's she had a great time and they pretended to camp out with liesl's tent and sleeping bag in the living room. Even had smores! Less than 2 weeks and I will be an auntie and Jim an uncle! Our first! I'm gonna spoil the crap out of that little man. Already have his Christmas quilt started. Jeannie is so cute. She went down for a 2.5 hr nap today and woke up and played by herself in her room. We didn't even know she was up. She allowed me to clean everything. Good girl. Today we are going to stoney to play with Colton last minute. Colton is so excited to play with liesl again and to see the new playground finally. Pictures to come Visited the ren fest yesterday with mom. liesl was with Oma Ronnie. Jean got us all to herself was a great day and saw all kinds of fun stuff including fairie houses. Bought some fun soaps and sage to cleanse the house. Have been visiting the cider mill a lot and picking raspberries. Almost forgot about the wonderful day we had with Scott and Melisa at the zoo. Thank you Scott for all the piggy back rides. What a great September it has been so far.