Grandma and Grandpa visit!

 

The week we had been anticipating since before Sister's birth finally came this month when Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Chuck got to come visit.  Besides getting to meet their new granddaughter, they had quite a bit of catching up to do with Peanut!  It had been 7 months since we last saw them and that is just too long!  It was a happy reunion to say the least.

 

The weather was gorgeous and we took full advantage! 

Peanut flying a kite by himself for the very first time.  Curious George Flies A Kite is his new favorite book.  Every time he asks me to read it he proudly says, "I did that". 

Peanut and Mom preparing the salad for dinner.  I think this was the night Best grilled steaks.  He was at the grill all week making us great meals.  Thanks babe! 

 This was probably the last meal eaten at this little table.  Later that week we found a fabulous new set with a high top table, umbrella and really comfy chairs.  A great upgrade!

 The new patio set!

 Mom and Peanut crafting.  Mom and Dad are so good about sending Peanut care packages filled with fun things for him.  It was such a treat to get to watch them have fun with some of the toys together.

 They made a nice collage with some stickers sent to Peanut from Great Grandma Gene.

And after crafting Peanut was ready to go exploring with Grandpa Chuck.  They saw a chipmunk underneath a canoe in someone's side yard one day and Peanut looked feverishly for it the rest of the week.  Here he is examining an ant hill.

There is a little wooded lot close to our house that makes a perfect "forest" for exploring.  Peanut learned to be quiet and listen for birds...well, quiet for him.  Smile.

One of our activities for the week was the annual city wide garage sale.  I think we all got something, but Peanut definitely made the best haul with Grandpa Chuck a close second.  Here he is enjoying a treat from the new treat machine Grandma and Grandpa bought him.

 

And here he is on yet another new toy...this little ride on tractor is a big hit with him!

 

And I couldn't resist getting him this Busytown airport game.  It's based on the Busytown stories we love and Peanut loves airplanes too.  It was brand new in the box for 2$!  I love a bargain.  He wanted baby sister to play too.  She is the yellow plane and he is the blue.  He is always blue....

 I think little sister had fun that week too.  She had plenty of extra hugs and kisses and was full of smiles!

 Thanks Dad for taking this picture of our little family.

 

 Backyard fun. 

On Sunday we went to the horsetrack.  It was kid's day and there was a petting zoo.  Peanut was a bit hesitant at first, but finally worked up his courage to pet the animals.

Later that week we hit the Children's Museum in Mankato.  I love this place and I'm so sad they will be closed for almost a year while they build a new location.  It is just a great place and so age appropriate for Peanut.

At the "grocery store".  He saw it and ran off yelling "I have to go to Coborn's now." 

At the "vet".  I wish I had gotten a picture of him when he was wearing the stethoscope on his tummy... too funny!

Looking back it seems like we did a lot for just 9 days, but it didn't feel rushed at all.  It was a very relaxing time and having Mom and Dad there helped me so much.  They bathed and read Peanut stories, played with him outside, watched a movie, and Mom was folding our laundry everytime I turned around!  Thanks so much for all of the help, it was a great break for me.  We are usually breakfast cereal eaters and so are Mom and Dad, but Peanut wanted to make something special on one of the last mornings they were here.  So here he is making blueberry muffins.

He did most of the work himself and he was so proud.  He has such a loving heart.  He was so sad when they left.  He just kept asking when they would be back and why did they have to leave.  I told him that they had to go home to Texas to which he replied in his most authoritative voice, "TEXAS IS CLOSED!"  Ha!  He makes me laugh. 

I'm glad Texas isn't really closed because I have plenty of friends there I'd like to see again someday, but I understood how he felt.  It is so hard to say goodbye. Thank goodness for Skype and airplanes and email and all of that...but nothing is the same as being together.  My wonderful husband knows that.  Which is why when I spoke to him the afternoon they left he had already been checking plane schedules for their next trip.  I love that about him.  We are looking forward to a great summer and baby sister is just getting bigger and happier every day.  I am so fortunate to have the family I do.

  Have a great week friends and family!

Catching Up

I knew that the blogging would slow a bit when Sister arrived and I was right, but I have no plans of giving it up.  My posts may be a bit less frequent for awhile, but I want to keep documenting our family's growth.  I love going back to see our early days and I know that those memories will only be sweeter as time goes on.  It was a great first month of bonding for our little family of four.  Here are a few of the memories we made:

He loves to hold her and is so gentle.

tummy time with Sissy...

 

First family baseball game.  We had so much fun riding the train there.

 

Baby slept through the whole adventure.  Smile.

The "real" baseball fans.  Sister and I just enjoy getting out of the house.

He loves to take care of his baby too.  Now if I can just get a picture of him "nursing"!  Ha!

This past Saturday morning was so exciting when the workers showed up to install Peanut and Sister's new playset!

 He was so happy and talking and waving to them.  He even got busy in his sandbox building a sand playset.

 Best making sure it holds up to it's claim that it's sturdy enough for adults!

 We have the sweetest little neighbor girls and we were so happy that they came out to play too!

 I couldn't believe it when he immediately made it to the very top of the rope ladder...yikes!

 Needless to say, we have waited for this beautiful weather for a very long time.  We are enjoying it with outdoor playdates and picnics.  Every night when Best gets home he and Peanut are outside playing ball or on the playset.  We have had several nice walks to the baseball game too.  Now if the winds would just die down a bit!  Below is a picture of Peanut trying to enjoy his picnic on the patio in the wind.  Right after I snapped this he picked up his plate and yelled "Bring the picnic inside! Bring the picnic inside!  Too windy!" 

 Have a great week friends and family and don't get blown away!