14 months and keeping us busy...

I thought I'd share a few pictures of what it's like living w/ a 14month old - in case a few of you may not know or remember... I was tired of William dragging out all the cookie sheets and cooling racks, so Dave installed a baby-safe latch. This is the SAME DAY it was installed. Dave snapped a picture of WD figuring it out!!! He's just too smart!!!

Not only did we get William a playset for outside that is HUGE...I couldn't resist getting him one that is a bit more his size this year (and hopefully next). On the plus side I can bring it inside too. He likes to get a toy or 2 and climb up, then play there for a while, before sliding down the climbing side. (So he's not that smart at times...) It took a day or 2, but he now knows to slide down the SLIDE side, but he also likes to try and climb up the slide as well. He's a little clown.

Speaking of clown. He is teething and wanted to chew on things so badly, he was making sores on his fingers. So I offered a pacifier (which he's never been attached to) and he loved it - for a day. I guess I can be thankful he won't likely get attached to them now at his age, but it's better than the alternative (following Mama around fussing and wining). Can't say he's not a cutie though...

A good deal = a BIG job!

Last week I was browsing through CraigsList and found a play set for $1,000. I forwarded it to Dave, thinking this would be nice and looked like $1,000 wouldn't be a bad deal for it. This snowballed, and well...we now own a playset - that our 14-month-old is a little young for. This is the play set and we we got it for quite a bit less than the $1,000 asking price. Dave had been pricing stuff out for a while, and the slide new would cost $600 let-alone all the hardware, wood, swings, etc. we'd have to buy. Dave and I worked Friday night with my Dad and our friend Nick to disassemble it from the former owner's backyard in West Des Moines. We got half of it home, and Sunday Dave went back and got the remaining portion (the double-decker play house portion). We have to do some dirt work in our yard to get an area level. We're considering if we might have to cut a tree in that area down as well. The next steps are to restain the wood, replace a few boards and some hardware...then we can start the reassembling. YIKES - this will be a BIG project!
Feel free to stop anytime...many hands make light work. :-)

The Big Egg Hunt & more

Here are some shots from our Easter Weekend. Beautiful weather and fun with the family at Grandma Karyn's and Grandpa Ray's house. Waking up Saturday morning, Grandpa and WD check out all the kitties that came out from hiding since the dogs were all inside.

Karrie (Amy's cousin) takes her little ones (Ella and Kael) out looking for eggs.

Paige (Amy's cousin) takes her son Cooper over to check another spot for eggs.

Aunt Deb (Amy's Aunt) reassures her grandson (Nathan - AKA "Nater-Tater") that it's OK to get down and look around. (He wasn't too sure about the Easter Bunny either.)

William checks out his basket - most of which his mommy and daddy had to find - since he was more interested in just looking around at all the kids, and playing in the dog 's big water bucket.

Ella, Kael and William enjoying the nice weather. Ella and Kael liked to snack on their candy, and William just liked to bang his eggs together. :-)

When who should come hopping down the road - but the Easter Bunny!!!

The EB Gives the little ones hugs and candy (some are less interested than others).

The EB greets Huck (Amy's cousin's Curt's friend's?).

The EB takes time to pose with all the kids who were at the Easter Egg Hunt.

(Front L-R) Emma Bradley, Ella Hutchison, Kael Hutchinson, William Kluver.

(Back L-R) Beau Baker (Friend of Sutton), Sutton Forsythe, EB, Rowan Forsythe, Pete Sarver (Friend of Rowan), Austin Cosgrove holding Huck.

A fun picture of Raspberry and Buddy just this past week - they were so excited for a treat - I told them to go lay-down and Raspberry laid on top of Buddy and neither of them cared...they just wanted their treat!

Bubbles

William discovered bubbles this weekend thanks to Grandma Karyn. At first he wasn't sure what to think of them, but then he would get so tickled when one would come close to him and then "POP" - it would disappear.

Then he decided he'd try to chase them. This resulted in circling, and circling, and finally falling on his tush.

While the Cat's away...

Just a few more pics from last night (most of them are from last night anyway) while Daddy was away working on the church. After hearing that a certain blog "follower" complain about me only updating with one picture I thought he might be right. So enjoy.

"Weeee....." A little fun time w/ Uncle Rob.

"Hey - you got that thing out again?!? LET ME SEE IT!!!"

"I'm so sweet and innocent. I'm not doing anything wrong Mommy..."

"What's this? I don't know what the big deal is...but Buddy Too sure seems to like it..."

"Well what am I suppose to do with this??? Maybe it's a potty?"

"Ooops....I've fallen and I can't get up!"

"Well...maybe it's not so bad after all."

This is actually from a couple days before. William was "loving" Raspberry....she takes it so well - but not without payment (she usually gets a few licks to his face for each hug she gets)

Hoppy Easter (a little early)

Just can't make this kid look bad - can I???