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And funny quote from Natalie who has a very minor case of pink eye (knock on wood), as I sprayed her room with disinfectant: “Thank you for cleaning up my germs Mama” Now THAT is a sweet 2.75 yr old!

I worked late one nigh last week and was greeted with this! I learned some things about myself. Who knew I like to watch birds?!?

You play tea party on rainy Sunday afternoons.

Anyone for a cup of tea?!?

Aunt Leah came in from Alaska for Mike’s wedding!  Once again, being in Chicago has its advantages, as it tends to be the easiest airport for Leah to fly in and out of on her adventures across the globe… New Zealand, Montana, Canada, Alaska.  After a red-eye flight, Leah and her boyfriend Lee (who is a professional brewer – Jordan clearly is happy about this) were on the floor putting together a 3D Minnie puzzle with Natalie.  Score one for Lee.

Whoa… you like Minnie too?!?

After Elliott’s morning nap, we went to the park.  Elliott was clearly THRILLED to meet his godmother.  This boy couldn’t open his mouth any higher… (P.S. He’s wearing his big sisters “park shoes” that were such favorites our former nanny Kaila even sewed the toe holes for us!)

HIGHER!!!!

The teeter totter was very thrilling as well….

I could get used to this!

Leah and Lee flew out of Chicago too, which meant that Leah had Sunday dinner with us.  Since we eat dinner around 5:30, and Alaska is 3 hours behind us, dinner was more like mid-afternoon tea for her, but no complaints from Leah.  Instead, more spelling power practice….

“N….”

Go Pack Go!

We wish we got to see more of them, of course.  When I told Natalie that Grandma was going to visit Aunt Leah in Alaska, Natalie she asked, “can we go too?”  She also said “I want to see Grandma”  She is a “little bit sad” that she doesn’t get to see Grandma and wants me to ask Grandma if Grandma can visit soon.  She also wanted to know why Grandma was visiting Leah (instead of her).  We FaceTimed with them tonight, and Leah invited us to Alaska.  Natalie responded, “Maybe tomorrow.”  My silent response was… when you get married.  A 6 hour plane flight, many other hours in a car, a 3-hr time zone change don’t sound like much fun with a 2.5 year old and 6-mo old.  So, until we have a really good reason, we’ll keep our visits a little closer.  (Truly, no pressure from me as the big sis… I’m just being the practical big sis, which I’m well known for.)

My cousin, Mike, (Natalie’s grandfather) got married last weekend to a lovey girl, Erin… (“that’s silly” Natalie said when she realized Erin’s name is the same as my name). I actually don’t have a picture of Mike and Erin (at least not on my iPhone, which is where 99% of blog pics come from), but I have a lot of pics of Natalie – who was the flower girl, Trevor and my cousin’s kid, Gavin – who is a month younger than Trevor. Erin and Mike were so great about including kids in the wedding, and they just had a blast playing together!

I’m Princess Pea… with spelling power!

We’re just taking a tiny little break. We’ve been running a lot!

I’m just enjoying a CUPCAKE with my bff Grandma!

Dad, you wouldn’t mind if I spit up right on your shoulder, huh?

Whoa… what’s going on. All these pics?!? I need a nap.

Congratulations to Mike and Erin! We’re excited to have Erin in the family!

We celebrated Labor Day weekend… with Thai food, made by Nana and Aunt Jira!  Yum!  It was Elliott’s first time meeting Clayton, since Elliott didn’t have a runny nose today.

Be careful Little C.... I'm known for rolling

Big Sister/Cousin Natalie wanted to get in on the cuddles too…. she was all up in C’s grill tonight, cuddling, kissing, whispering to him.  This girl is a natural caretaker.

This is my tiny little baby cousin Clayton

I got to hold Clayton for the first time too – I have to admit, I was too afraid to hold him in the hospital or on his first day home.  At just over 7 lbs now, and 6.5 weeks old (but still before his due date), Clayton is the tiniest baby I’ve ever held.  Where’s the bicep work-out / backache that I’m used to?

Hey, is that another baby's spit up I smell on your shoulder, Auntie Erin?

And, my guess is that for any of you who receive a Kathy & Bill Christmas card, you’ll be seeing this pic again in Dec!

I haven't decided what I think about this no-laps-available thing....

I can go high because I am 2 and a half

Wee!!!!!!

Going back and forth between these two cuties was a good 20 min work out for me! Speaking if which, this Mommy is down to pre-pregnancy weight! (Distributed differently, of course) I suppose once Elliott transitions to more solids, I will have to give up my nightly cookie(s)!