I'm a very messy eater...

Spaghetti

Blueberries

Pasta again (with strawberry residue from snack time)

Cal's First Birthday (and word update)

We celebrated Cal's birthday with our traditional Sunday afternoon party.  He was a champ--I didn't know how he was going to act after not napping and being all "wonky" with his schedule, but he didn't fuss too much.  He seemed to enjoy the attention of his many grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings.

The birthday boy!

3 kids and Daddy's arm, attempting to create smiles

With his new bus from Auntie Sarah

What is this?  I don't want this.

Okay, maybe I do want it.

Got my cupcake and my foot propped on the table--pretty good day!

Now that Calvin is 14 months old, here's a bit about what he can do at age 1:

Words: Mama, Daddy, Oma, Opa, Annie, Bobo, doggie, ball, nonnie (banana), baba (drink), dues (shoes), birdy, deedee (Westphall name for blankies), bus, boo (book)

Tricks: waves hello and goodbye, dog says "uff uff", cow says "boo", follows one-step directions VERY well (Cal, get your deedee.  Cal, go to your chair.  Cal, get your cup.  Cal, wait by the door), he walks proficiently, climbs up stairs no problem, goes down stairs easily, slides backwards off of couch or bed, does a stompy "happy dance" when he's excited, knows the answer to "where's your tummy?", blows on his hot food

General Info: loves books these days, grins like a madman at the NHL Network, can eat 4+ bananas in one day, points at things and then to himself (I want that!), refuses to baby-sign (stubborn!), likes to take a bath and play in the sprinkler but hated the public pool, wants to feed himself always, loves fruit of any kind, hates garlic bread, is my kid who "gets into things" the most and pushes the boundaries the most :)

Oh, Cal-Pal, you are my feisty guy!  Your snuggles and book love make up for all the times you run down the driveway.

May--everything but Cal's birthday

Cal broke into the fridge to get an orange and eat it himself

Chubsy-Wubsy enjoyed a ride on the bike trail

Exhibiting the "2 out of 3" rule--If 2 out of 3 are doing what they should be, I call it successful

Anne finished preschool!  Mom cried.

Naked baby en route to the bathtub

"My shirt says my name!"

Cal colored for the first time

Anne and I went to Winona on the train with her preschool class

We also went to Lark Toys and rode the carousel

Sambo told me he could make the vegetables by himself.  He did!

Mom put some duct tape on the white coffee table to make a "hockey table"  Sambo is thrilled.

We had a blizzard!  Our tree is still dropping branches 2 months later.

April--Group

This was how the shaving cream incident progressed.  It started with just writing on the table, but I soon lost control of the situation.

Rockin' the goggles at swimming lessons!

April--Cal

I can climb the stairs!

Whoops.  No I can't.

But I can get in the cupboard

And the fridge!

I like bubbles

and my highchair

and my bear hat

and the sandbox

and crawling

and swinging.

Also, I am a good news-delivery device for my parents.

April--Sam

With his best bear

A simple science experiment with shaving cream turned into this

It was all fun and games until I had to wash him off--then he cried!

April--Anne

Anne finished AWANA Cubbies in April.  This is her class

With her best girls Elsa, Riley, and Liviah

She earned all her patches and ribbons (and I sewed them all on!)

Photo bomb by Cal

Anne with her "best friend" Katie at preschool with their favorite horse toy

Modeling her Keens from Auntie Erin

Blog Catch-Up: March (Easter, mostly)

Happy Cal

Happy Anne

Nope

Not gonna do it

I'm distracted...

A weepy smile after a threat from Dad...

Anne channeling Billy Joel with her sunglasses and piano "microphone" (the vacuum attachment)

This brotherly love lasted approximately 6 seconds