Sunday, August 31, 2008

A 1st Place Ribbon!




























We entered Arseny in the "kiddie parade" this year. It was a lot of fun. The "kiddie parade" precedes the actual fair parade that happens on Main St the Saturday of the fair weekend. They had categories such as costumes, pets, floats and wheels. We entered the wheels category with his little buckboard wagon my dad made and he wore a cowboy outfit my sister gave him. It was a sight to be seen. It turns out he won a first place certificate and ribbon for his category. He was so excited to see all the people waving at him. He's generally a shy and anxious little boy around strangers and people he doesn't know so we didn't know how it would go but he was so excited about all the other kids and just lived it up while perfecting his parade wave. At the end of the line grandma was waiting with uncle Jonny and cousins. Arseny got free tickets to the fair, cookies and juice for participating. Then we got to watch the rest of the parade go by and Arseny loved it. We can't wait to do it again next year! I must say, Matt and I were pretty excited too and thought it was a lot of fun.

Fair Days!





































So it's that time of year again. The Fair is happening in Walla Walla and this year it was pretty exciting! Arseny is so much more interested in all of the activities and animals. Kyra even loved them...she squealed with delight upon seeing bunnies and ducks and chickens. They both especially loved the little pen of baby chickens. Kyra is reaching over her stroller to get a better look at the babies running about. Of course we had to ride the mini John Deere tractors again this year. Arseny's favorite of all. Of course then there is the Fireman picture...Arseny wouldn't have anything to do with putting his face through the hole so that he could be a Fireman...so mama did and Arseny stood in front and thought it was all pretty funny. All in all it was fun but very HOT on the day that we went. last pic is Kyra walking around in the shade with Auntie Priscilla in the background (who was such a good sport and helped me tote the kids around since daddy was at work) Thanks Auntie! It will be even more fun next year when they're just a little bit bigger.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Helping Momma in the Garden





Ok more like eating dirt and hanging out while mom works in the garden

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Saturday, August 2, 2008

...and she's off

Official 1st Steps!!!

FOOD




Did I mention my daughter loves food? I haven't been able to keep up with her. Arseny wasn't even remotely interested in food but his sister on the other hand is a little munch mouth. She can't seem to get enough of it. She also wants everything Arseny eats and has started to fuss about it. I often get this look that says "I can't believe you gave him some and not me". Needless to say she's an avid eater and I've had fun introducing lots of new fresh veggies and fruits --it's the perfect season right now. She also loves yogurt and cottage cheese, beans and blueberries. Her favorite place to hang out is under Arseny's snack table. She often gets a hold of food she's not supposed to have. I've caught her stuffing macaroni and cheese into her mouth and just recently got ahold of a pb&j. I shot across the room to retrieve it. Of course she wasn't letting go of it and as a matter of fact had death grip on it and threw a squealing tantrum. By the time I got it away we were both covered in peanut butter and jelly. She licked her fingers all the way to the sink. With your first baby your so careful, but throw a toddler in the mix and you have a constant battle. So, no reaction to the peanut butter but it did give me a scare. Here's my little munchy monster covered in beans (my own little beanie baby), the second one is Kyra caught red handed devouring and painting the kitchen with Arseny's leftover bowl of cottage cheese and applesauce from snack time.

If she's quiet, theres a good chance she's eating or tasting something she's not supposed to including non food items. Just yesterday I looked over to see a green earring hanging out of her mouth. Of course there was only one so I immediately panicked thinking she had swallowed the other. I was mentally preparing myself for Xrays and a trip to the doctor when Arseny pointed right to where the other one was laying. I tell you what, she keeps me on my toes! Other favorite non food items are paper and carpet fuzz. We also have to keep all shoes out of reach...she loves to lick shoes and chew on flip flops...YUCK!

Cousins


Here's the crew...well not really there are a lot more cousins but Arseny has been hanging out with his cousins Dominic (far left) and Alexander not shown. My sister is in town this summer and so we've been learning how much fun it is to play with cousins!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Rockin' out with Tigger





I couldn't resist...we recently just sold this little Tigger rocker in our yard sale this summer. One of our favorite pics of Arseny is him on the Tigger rocker (seen below). So as a tribute to the well loved Tigger rocker before it went to a new home, we got a picture of Kyra on it too. In these pictures Arseny is 10 months, Kyra is 7 months.

A new toy!

Well I'd say it's a new toy for daddy but we all use it...we got a brand new Mac and it has this really great fun feature of built in camera with a little photo booth program...it has been a lot of fun recording Arseny. Here's a favorite!

Where did we go?




Well, we didn't really go anywhere I just haven't gotten around to updating the blog. Life got really busy all of the sudden and somehow June and July whipped by! Now here it is August! Well in the mean time the kiddos are getting bigger and bigger. Arseny can't stop trying out new words. He's been such a fun kiddo this summer. He knows his colors and is working on counting to 10 and we've recently been discovering shapes. We've been going to the pool, getting ice cream cones, going to the park, playing in the back yard (we have a new fence!) and trying to keep cool by going to kmart and looking at the bikes. The library has been a lot of fun too! Kyra is changing so quickly. She learned to crawl around 6 months to our surprise and then shortly after pulled herself up and started to learn how to cruise. My life got really complicated. She puts everything in her mouth! She LOVES food. So now we're waiting any day for her official "first steps" and expect them shortly. She's tried but right now only will walk holding onto my skirt or keeping one hand safely on something. However she's gotten pretty good holding onto the little grocery cart or walker. She says "Da Da" and kind of says "all done" she can sign "more" and "all done". These two keep pace with each other playing chase and toys. Its so much fun to see them playing together. Ok so more pictures to follow here...so Arseny looking like a very big boy in his "beesball" hat, the kiddos having a snack, and Kyra asking for more cheerios...big surprise!