The Keene Family

Since gaining more confidence in his mobility skills, JT is interested in everything he can get close to. He is pulling (or pushing) himself to standing and can climb up the two stairs from the lawn to the deck without any help. Here he is helping with the laundry and getting ready to go in the car. Since the weather has been so nice, we have permanently moved his portable high chair to the deck. We eat lots of meals out there in the summer, and JT enjoys having his own spot at the table. He has figured out he can rock the chair, but other than that it is business as usual. He is pictured here eating diced chicken, shredded carrots, and cheese. For dessert he had watermelon and LOVED it. Since Jim is allergic to watermelon, it's not around our house very often. Grandpa and Grandma Cole pulled out the wooden rocking horse from when I was little. He loved it! He even rocked a little bit back and forth. Later on, he crawled over to it and tried to get on. He was able to stand next to...

Everyone in western Washington is pretty excited about the nice weather we've been having. On top of it all, it looks like Memorial Day will be seventy and sunny. This is very rare, and we are thrilled. The first Flip Clip this week is of Slider, who I'm sure you all think is very neglected. On hot days, she loves to chase the water from the hose. There was a whole two minutes of this, but really, how much can you watch someone else's dog chase water? :) On to sunny weather... we've been enjoying the backyard and our neighborhood park. Some outdoor shots this week: Thanks, Hollanders, for the awesome new play balls! Checking out the kids going by on their bikes from the slide Pulling weeds in the backyard with Mom Dad says the hat is pretty dorky... Helping Dad barbecue dinner means swinging in the hammock until the steaks are done! We can't believe we've been going to swim lessons for six months already. In the fall, JT will move up to the next class. For now,...

That's right, we're into double digits. We decided to take some pictures in the backyard to commemorate the occasion. That's Grandma Cole's hand helping JT keep his balance. He loves to stand up (and loves to push himself up to standing) but is still a little wobbly! Lately, common household objects are the toy of choice. I clean and save all sorts of containers: yogurt, coffee, Pringles, whatever. JT loves to stack them, roll them, take off the lids, put the lids back on, and put them inside of each other. Endless entertainment. He also loves the artificial flowers in our living room. He will crawl out there and take them out of the basket any chance he gets. Hooray, flowers! Playing in the bathroom while Mommy gets ready Love those "big boy" pajamas! Ah, the vacuum cleaner hose - a good distraction from the ironing board :) You may have noticed the buzz cut. JT was sadly overdue for a trim, and Jim got out the clippers and the same guard as last time. We h...

It was sooooo fun being a mother on Mother's Day. At church, there is a whole tradition that I got to be a part of this year. Our pastor came up and told me, "Happy first Mother's Day." I got a flower from JT when I picked him up from nursery. The checker at Safeway congratulated me on being a mother. I got three "Happy Mother's Day" text messages. I got cards from my parents and in-laws. And that was all before noon! Jim, JT, and I went out on the boat on Lake Sammamish today. We packed a picnic lunch and books and just floated around. We oohed and ahhed over some of the gigantic houses and watched a float plane take off and land a few times. Jim took this great picture of JT and me (my new favorite, I think) right before I opened my present and card. The boys even got some relax time in... JT fell asleep in his life jacket and we moved him to his nap spot, a cozy little place in the shade that we plan to utilize much this summer. We got home and had pi...

Poetic picture of the week - did you know balloons don't make shadows? Anyway... we had a great time skiing this week, as usual, and our friend Vivian rode along to take pictures. Here's a couple. And yes, we're wearing dry suits. The water temperature has barely broken sixty! (Jim) (Becky) The weather was nice later on in the week and JT and I had a picnic in the backyard. He loved munching on green beans and puffs. JT has also decided that crawling outside is really fun. Today he took a header off the patio and landed in the beauty bark - no tears, though, and the bark in his hair brushed right out. Usually he goes straight for underneath the table on the deck. Maybe it's like a little fort. For Cinco de Mayo (but mostly because I love to host), we had a dinner party. Recognize anything? About a year and a half ago, the same four women posed in a picture, but all four were pregnant with the kids that they're now holding! Click here for the original picture from J...

Sunday: Grandpa and Grandma Keene come babysit while Jim and I have a date with the Skagens for Adam's birthday. JT is so tuckered out he falls asleep on Grandma Keene... who doesn't seem too bothered by it. :) Monday: JT and I invite Jen and Asher to the park to play with us. The boys enjoy the slides, the swings, and, most of all, the daisies, pinecones, and leaves in the grass. Tuesday: JT figures out how open the CD player part of the stereo in his room... and I take a picture of his pajama feet while he's trying to put the CD back in. Wednesday: JT isn't hungry at breakfast. I give up and hand him his spoon and dish, and he knows what to do with it. Why am I surprised? He's been watching me do this for five months. Thursday: JT gets to hold his own spoon during breakfast. He thinks it is pretty fun. He also gets to help drive the boat when we go skiing. Friday: Jen and I hit the JBF sale and loaded up on toys, books, and clothes for our sons. I get a great ...