I learned something new today!

Swimming

The princess being pushed in her carriage to the pool. She is such an uptight baby...ha ha ha.

I think she really liked her first swimming experience. She crawled all over the pool. She also walked along the inside.

Lee was a good sport and sat with her. She even went down the slide. Everything was great until Lee went inside to use the bathroom. The girl was standing at the edge yelling, "dada, hi dada," at the door. And then in slow motion (or at least it seemed like it) she went nose first out of the pool and onto the cement driveway. oops. I ran to grab her, but I was too late...while on her nose, she tried to crawl and further skinned it.

Being comforted by dad.

Poor little nose. She will probably have a permanent scar and hate me when she is 17 and going to prom.

It doesn't hurt and she has no idea she was injured. She has bounced right back. She even went for a long walk with the family (me, Lee and Tuni).

Happy Belated Earth Day!

Since it was Earth Day yesterday, the Girl and I went for a long walk and enjoyed the warmer temperatures and sunshine (we would have done it had it not been Earth Day but oh well). She wore her "organic cow" shirt for the occasion. For some reason I equate saving the earth with organics...

Since Lee is almost 100% Dutch, he thought that the Girl needed a photo op with a tulip. After about 20 tries, this was the best we could do.

Snaggleteeth

LuEllyn, Lee's mom, got Lulu a cute purple outfit for Christmas. The pants and the jacket are too big, but the onesie and headband are just perfect.

The girl now has 3 teeth...but none of them are next to each other. She got the bottom right middle one first. About a week later she got the bottom left outside one. About 2 weeks ago she got the upper right side one. She looks like a jack o lantern. I have tried and tried to take a picture of her teeth the normal way, but I had to resort to pulling her lips back and snapping a shot as fast as I could. I am sure they will all fill in...right?

Dancing and Talking

Easter

Sunday morning started with dressing the girl up. It was so fun; from the lacy bonnet to the ruffle socks with pink patent shoes. Saying hi to Nanny after church (and showing off her teeth).

We went to Lee's parents for the afternoon. Lulu had to show off her purse.

Smiling with her dad.

Making new friends/saying good-bye. Pepper (their dog) is not long for this world.

Walking in her slippery, fancy shoes.

Finding some eggs. They were filled with Cheerios, so they made fun noises as she shook them.

Lee and his strange form of bonding with his dad.

Getting comfortable after the festivities.

Thanks to all who contributed to her outfit. She is quite a recessionista...Her dress, socks, and shoes came out of an Amelia/Haddie hand me down bin. Purse and Bonnet thanks to Nanny. Chunk, the girl's knees thank you for the babylegs.

Easter Saturday

Saturday we attended our first Easter celebration. Nanny and the Harkers were also there. We liked the two baby lambs. They were bleating by the end of the afternoon.

If you recognize this manse, you are a very astute blog reader. You saw it here. I had a baby shower last May hosted at this home. It was originally built in 1889 as a barn for the nearby quarry. The couple who own it have 7 kids and 18 grandkids.

If you click on this picture and enlarge it, you can see all of the eggs for the 4-6 year old hunt. I talked to the lady who plans all of the events and she said that in the 5 hunts (1-3 year olds, 4-6 year olds, 7-11 year olds, the "extreme" hunt, and the family meandering through the trees hunt) they have filled several thousand eggs.

The Girl eyeing her first conquest.

She was more than happy to have both hands full. Who really needs more than two?

She would not let go of her two eggs for anything. She even held them while walking with her dad.

She has just learned to put things in and take them out. She kept putting her egg int he basket and then grabbing it like she found it for the first time.

Lee and Nanny doing some unusual bonding on the lawn.

This was the walk through the trees. We tried to get some cute shots of the girl, but she wasn't that into it.

Nanny said baby girls need to wear bonnets. I think she looks a little bit like Nelly Olson, but cuter.

Nanny wanted a picture of Haddie and Lulu in their bonnets, but I think Haddie was mad at Lulu for stealing her style.

Family shot from above, courtesy of Nanny.

Uncle Lee helping Hanker with a big bubble wand. Hank kept yelling, "Uncle, Lee! Look, it's still alive." I wonder if that is a Lee phrase referring to a long-last bubble...

The bleating lambs. Haddie was the lamb-whisperer. She sat so quietly and just watched and listened to them.

All worn out. I don't think she even made it out of the driveway before she fell asleep.

Our New Pet

Tardy

I feel like I have been so negligent for so long and now it is too late to catch up with the blog. Since I last posted so many things have happened. Here is the abbreviated version:

1. Real World Meets Blog World:

Blogyn came to visit/house hunt in Iowa and the Girl and I decided to surprise (stalk) her at the airport.

Lance and Blogyn meet the Girl

2. Girl tasted her first lemon

I don't know if she liked it, but she kept putting in back into her mouth.

3. Saturday March 28th was Lee's golden birthday. We celebrated by going to Chuck E Cheese with his family.

Lee's sister, Laine and her son, Jared climbing in the tubes.

Lee and his dad did some free throw shooting.

His dad won.

4. That evening Lee and I went out to celebrate. When we left the restaurant this is what greeted us. I love late March snow, don't you?

5. Sunday Nanny was hosting a birthday lunch/welcome Lance and Blogyn to Iowa dinner. Girl helped Nanny clean out her cupboard.

Girl and Mac bonded.

Nanny and Papa with their 2 youngest grandkids.

Nanny got Lee a special ladybug birthday cake. When I asked why ladybugs were special for Lee she replied, "well, the kids will like it better." If you enlarge the picture, you might notice that the frosting is a little messed up. One might think that Nanny dropped it on the floor and put it back together so Lee could blow out the candles.

I think Katie was excited to hang out with her new state-neighbors.

Uncle Scott (with the birthday boy) enjoyed the cupcake a little too much.

Cousin Haddie also enjoyed her cupcake.

Mac and Blogyn hung out.

6. Papa and Lee taught the babies about billiards.

7. Mac got hungry and decided to snack on Nanny's chin. Yum.

8. Girl learned how to give "kisses."

I think I am all caught up, phewy.