**** Omi Annie: 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Sometimes it's just about the Omi & the Papa

We did a Christmas photo shoot recently and struck this funny pose reminiscent of American Gothic. What do you think?

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A Visit from Papa

Claire and Brody show Papa their matching
dress up outfits. Oh, they remind me of someone we love to watch on Sesame Street every day.

Claire and Brody love to hold hands.

What was I supposed to say, cheese, or what?

Papa is experiencing Sesame Street with the grandkids. (they all love to snuggle)

Papa was showing his artistic talent, drawing tractor after tractor (with hay). Claire was busy directing him, Brody was oohing and aahing over the results and Max was pulling Papa's hair. Overall a very fun visit!

A Visit from Papa

Max thinks blowing bubbles is FUNNY!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Max

Our Max is not a baby anymore.
He is a toddler.
Here he is drinking from his cup
like a big boy.

He has a big boy haircut, isn't he handsome?

He loves to stand by things and make them go.

I think he said something like, don't bug me
right now.

OK, another smile ready to go. I think
his sweatshirt is a big boy sweatshirt, too!

Love Max's smile! I was trying to sneak a peek
at his teeth, oh well! His eyes are so bright and
expressive and his eyelashes are amazing!
Love you, big boy!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

5:00 Wind down

5:00 is sometimes a rough time of the day, for all of us. Today, however, all is calm.

Today, Max is napping, it is dark out and we don't have any lights on. They asked for Sesame Street, so we put it on. They wanted to sit next to each other. On the Sesame Street segment they are watching, the bears are talking about their baby dolls, so Claire and Brody wanted to hold their baby dolls.

I couldn't decide which shots were the best, so I had to include them all.

The little baby boy doll Claire is holding is Max's new baby. This is the baby Claire was diapering today. She was very gently and thoroughly washing his bottom and trying to get one of her own diapers on him. It was so adorable to watch.

More Painting

The kids don't seem to tire of projects, painting, coloring. Today they are making a welcome home sign for Mommy, Auntie Whitney. She is returning from a 12 day trip to Asia!!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

"PROJECT"

I finally got my video camera back into action today. The kids were working on an art project. Claire likes to call them "projects" and wants to do them all day long. They painted a paper plate orange (fall color) and then let it dry. Part 2 of the project was to spread glue stick on the plate and then sprinkle scent (cinnamon) on it. It's their own little air freshener for fall. (Claire loves to smell everything - and Brody got cinnamon all over his nose when he smelled his!) (I made a paint smock for Claire a long time ago, time to make one for Brody and Max as well - out of a pillowcase)

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Claire and Brody love to use my lip ice. They put it on themselves and each other, most often when I am leaving for the day. They see it in my bag.

Bethanie reported on her blog that she could neither confirm nor deny that Max had tasted a frozen yogurt cone - well, I believe the proof is here for everyone to see! They love them! Claire licks and chomps on hers, and then needs to be reminded to turn the cone and eat the other side. Brody takes the TINIEST licks known to man and it takes FOREVER to eat his cone. Max just enjoys being part of the gang finally!

(Sometimes I just have to give up trying to get a photo to turn.) Here, Claire and Brody are working on an art project, a bird made to attach to an empty paper roll. They always want to do another "project".

Cordoroy Jumper Mini Photo Shoot

Claire looked so cute in her little dress and tights that I wanted to do a mini photo shoot. I asked her to put her hand on the arm of the couch (thinking this might look nice, and distract her). Boy, did she take it seriously. We went back later to try again, since many shots didn't turn out, and she ran over and laid her hands on the arm of the couch again right away! I was going to publish the best one of the group, but these five kind of tell the story of the shoot, so had to include them all!! (side note: I had chosen a cute pair of shoes for her, but these are the shoes SHE wanted to wear!)

These are the days...

Max is learning to drive the new tractor, while Claire watches from HER "jump seat".

Claire and Brody are relaxing and reading in their reading nook at Omi's house.

Auntie Bethanie gave Claire a backpack that exactly matched her outfit today - pink and brown cordoroy!

No, we did not mess up the shoes in the closet, why do you ask?

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Miss You Dad, wish my grand babies could have known you

Friday, November 4, 2011

News from the Park Family!

Yes, Brody will be a big brother

in May 2012. He couldn't be

happier!

Monday, October 24, 2011

!Boo!

3 Scary Grandkids
in matching jammies

What can I say about this cuteness?

Perhaps they are taking their new
technique of "cheese" too seriously?

Max woke up for the photo shoot,
but all he wants to do is WALK!

Ah, excuse me, where did my
other shoe go?

Boo to you!

I think I shoulda shut the lights off, these
babies glow in the dark!

The days go up and the days go down. There are happy moments and sad moments and proud moments. Claire is learning so many new words, sentences and concepts each day, it is hard to keep up and impossible to document. We have all just started watching TV together, Sesame Street. The kids love it, even though they don't necessarily focus on it the whole time it is on. We watch it over and over throughout the day and some segments "click" with them at different points in the day. They are learning so much, and certain segments trigger me to teach new things that I hadn't thought of (like separate, or over and under). Brody is busy learning about sharing and dealing with frustration. He loves Max, pays attention to him face to face, keeps track of his pacifier for him, as well as bringing him toys - but, in the next moment he is tripping over him and is unaware that he has hurt him. Max has decided to rev up his "road to walking" and wants to walk behind the stroller or car all the time - and he GIGGLES EVERY TIME he does it! He also participates in our crafts, but it isn't always pretty! He does not like being left behind - and he is constantly left behind!

Kind of a long post, but it felt like I was just posting pics and not telling any stories of the joys I have every day with these little ones. And I didn't even mention the fun they are having in the backyard on the new playground - the bumps and bruises don't stop them for a minute!

They have all been sick the last couple of weeks with runny noses, coughs and fevers, which makes me so sad, but I am so glad that I am there to snuggle and cuddle and "hold you". We have amped up our craft times. Lots of fingerpaint and playdoh, colors and chalk. I think glue is next!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Grace

Something to think about:

You say grace before meals.
All right.
But I say grace before the play the and opera.
And grace before the concert and pantomime,
and grace before I open a book.
and grace before sketching, painting,
Swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing;
And grace before I dip the pen in the ink.
G.K. Chesterton

The Bahbie (Barbie) Car

The two big kids
cruising the farm.

Max is excited to be
cruising, Claire shows
him no mercy.

Brother and sister,
with cousin in the
back seat!

The kids had an awesome time in the Barbie car on a crisp fall day. They had the run of the farm, nothing much in their way, the driveway was theirs! Claire giggles the entire time, like she's on a wild ride at Valleyfair (well, with her driving skills, that is pretty much what it is like).
Brody takes it all in stride, and Max was just happy to be invited along!