The Keene Family

Since the Coles were due to arrive just a week after JT's birthday, we waited to have a family birthday party. It was so fun to have almost everyone here, including JT's cousins! Preston and JT waiting for the party to start The birthday boy and his mom Oops - lost the frisbee over the fence Dinner time! JT's favorite part was the watermelon. After dinner JT opened his presents. He did a great job keeping up with the demands of being two and opening your own gifts. The funniest part was when I would say, "What do you want to open next?" and he would point to an opened present that he wanted to play with. So I started rewording it to, "Pick a present to find the surprise inside!" and that worked a little better. The lucky guy got lots of cool stuff: a train set, Lego set, kitchen supplies and a latch board, books, alphabet cards, and his own beach chair (pictured above). He has been sharing his room with Preston this week, so he knew just what to do wi...

We were so excited to have my brother's family (without my brother) from North Carolina come visit us again this summer - three whole weeks! We spent the first few days relaxing and just hanging out... On the tire swing with Madi and Ali Becky, Gena, and Terrie Outdoor movie in Bellevue

Thirty-two weeks! Only seven to go until the big day... unless she comes sooner. I had a checkup last week (every other week now) and everything looks just great. I suspected that she had turned from head up to completely sideways, and my doctor agreed. It is a little uncomfortable in a different way - like waking up in the night to something pushing with arms and legs extended out my two sides. It is a little bit "alien." Here's hoping she turns before she gets too much heavier! Newsflash: pregnant women don't like getting comments on their sizes. At least once a week someone says I look too small to be due in September. I am measuring exactly the right size, I am now the exact same circumference as I was with JT, and he was 8 1/2 pounds and 21 inches. So there. The next time you see a pregnant woman, if you feel like you must make a comment, try something like "Wow, you look great," or "Those are cute shoes." Jim got a bit crazy doing my picture ...

When the weather was cooler, people kept saying to me, "You must be enjoying the cool weather." I guess because I'm pregnant. Why do people automatically assume that because I'm pregnant I'm enjoying 60 degree weather in July? I smile and say nicely, "Actually, I'm a sun girl. Bring on the heat!" This weekend it has finally felt like summer: hot, home all day, reading a book, outside with JT... loving it. We started Saturday with some laundry. JT brought his own sheet and pillowcase down to the laundry room. :) We ate breakfast (and every other meal, in fact) on the deck. You know it's going to be a great day when you have to wear sunglasses at breakfast! After a few morning chores, we headed outside for the day. First we gave the dog a bath. JT actually helped hose down Slider but it was nearly impossible to get a picture of that... Slider kept walking slowly away from JT, and then by the time I got to the camera I didn't have a shot anymor...

We took a trip to the park to meet our friends Carrie and Emi this week. The kids had fun splashing in the water park and playing on the play structures. We ended with a snack and made it home before nap. :) JT "driving" Emi JT riding the whale JT showed Emi how he could stomp in the puddles of water and she wanted to join in the fun! Across from each other on the teeter-totter I took my little point-and-shoot camera that day and, when I downloaded the pictures, I found some pictures from a month ago in Seaside at a different park! I love a few so I had to post them too. Love this one! Oh, to be a kid again. Got a little bored... my belly four weeks ago. :)

Our celebration started on Thursday: the big day! I woke JT up with a song, just like last year ... Then his very first birthday present was watching the garbage truck come down the street. :) We did errands in the morning and I tried to get a picture of him after lunch, but he was too distracted (here he is pointing out an airplane). This picture is second best. I think he is saying, "This one's for you, Mom." I did manage to get this one and I love it even though his hand is blurry. He looks so tan and blonde! We enjoyed a yummy dinner of kebabs, corn on the cob, cherries, and blueberry muffins. Then he got to open his only birthday card: from Great Grandma Hall. (We are doing a family party later in the month...) Just before bedtime Jim got home from his work trip and we had JT's first ever dessert together: homemade peach ice cream. Yum! It was only JT's second experience eating something cold and he commented on it a lot. He ate about half of his small scoop...

As you may have noticed, we do the same thing every Tuesday: we ski on Long Lake. This past Tuesday we invited our friends the Skagens to boat with us. Of course, we had a wonderful time! A common sight on the lake Adam gets in a good ski run Jim and Aly go for a swim Adam and Cole dipping their toes Aly enjoying the bow The kids loved the trampoline! JT's post-lunch nap in the shade

On Monday, we moved JT into his new room. He says it "new oom!" which is kind of funny. It used to be our guest room, and it is much bigger than his old room. I didn't paint... but I did assemble a new toy shelf and a toy box and hang wall art and his curtain. There is a lot more space to play and it feels much more like a room he'll use for a long time. Here is the view as you walk in the door: And to the right: And to the left: And don't forget behind the door... where he has a new coat hook for his jackets, hats, and backpack. I loved asking him to go get his brown jacket and having him able to run in his room and get it.