Experimenting in Photography...

Just experimenting with my new camera on these. Ava is so willing to cooperate and do whatever I ask. If only Owen were...

Addie's 5th Birthday Party...

Owen (his first very sick day) & Daddy at the play gym

We traveled to Sioux City last weekend to celebrate Addie's 5th birthday. Ava couldn't have been more excited. Addie's friend party was at a gymnastics place so all the little girls got to play on all the equipment. Ava thought it was really fun and followed Addie around every where she went. We then went to Shelly & Jason's house for cake and ice cream with the family. It was their first official day back in their house after the evacuation. We were so happy to get to celebrate Addie's birthday back at her "home".

Our Messy Eater...

Messy Eater = Cute Grinner!

What Time Is It?

Ava is singing a song with her "accompaniment"

Ava has been obsessed with the clock lately. She kept asking me what time it was and I would tell her every hour of the day it seemed. Then we had the talk about the big hand and little hand, and before we knew it, she was telling us what time it was. She's not very good at the minutes yet, but she can tell us what hour it is. We had no idea she could even recognize all those numbers! She never ceases to amaze us. The bottom pictures are of her singing her made up songs in the toyroom. She often uses the drum, triangle, or symbols to accompany her vocals...quite the imagination!

The Little Man (more 11 month old photos)...

Owen is 11 Months Old...

Without consulting me, Owen has gone ahead and turned another month older. How can this be that he will be one year old so soon? His eleventh month has been marked with some change. He no longer moves around by "army crawling"primarily. Instead of only "regular crawling" a few steps, he now crawls as his primary mode of transportation. For the last few weeks, he has also been pulling up on everything and taking steps along furniture. He's even taken a few steps between pieces of furniture. He has stood a few times briefly all by himself in the middle of the room. I'd say walking is in our near future.

Right at 11 months, Owen came down with his first major sickness. He has been running a fever off and on for a over a week now. He's been to the doctor twice and apparently has an ear and upper respitory infection. He has been waking in the night at around 1:00 am every night and just not himself during the day. He was eating two meals a day, but hasn't eaten much solid food for the past week. We are hoping he is back to normal soon!

More Anniversary Party...

Owen finally gives up and falls asleep Ava & Carly

Some of the guests

Nick & Bill Layne, Roy, & Lisa

Our family with one exhausted little man

Leon & Delores

Happy 40th Anniversary Gary & Joyce...

We had a small party for Gary & Joyce to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. We attended church with them in Wilmont and then met at the Countryside in Adrian for dinner and cake. It was not a surprise, but I think they enjoyed seeing and visiting with all the family. Lisa, Roy, Layne, and Carly made the trip down and decorated the room for the party. Also in attendance were all their brothers, sisters and spouses along with Leon and Delores Sieve. It was a gorgeous day outside and nice to see all the relatives that we don't get to see very often.