Winter Thrills

Today Z asked me when winter would start. I told him probably in about 3 months (if we're lucky). His response was great joy. My response to that: puzzlement. When I asked him why he wanted it to be winter he said, "Because then I can wear my new boots that Steven gave me!"

Apparently still thinking about winter when we got home from our walk, he asked to see his Spiderman coat. We both were thinking it would be too small this year, but when we put it on him, it still fit! Z was thrilled -- just one more reason to look forward to winter. I left him looking at himself in the mirror and went to get dinner. When I came back a few minutes later to call him to the table, he was still gazing lovingly at his reflection. I told him to come to supper and he said, "Just a minute, Mama. I'm trying to see if I look awesome."

Summer Vacation Part 2: Mexico

After a week in Kansas, we went to Mexico to visit Lee and Cindy for just a little over a week. They live in a little village named Ajijic on Lake Chapala. Below are some pictures from our visit.

This is the street we stayed on.

Our little house had a very pretty little courtyard.

The inside was very comfortable.

Z looking out over the lake as we waited for our breakfast.

Eden looking startled about something.

Nathan and Z went for a hike with Grandpa. I think they're examining a dung beetle in this picture.

Z and Grandma.

Me and Cindy.

Nathan and Lee on a hike. The village is spread out below them.
(Yes, Nathan's shirt says "Buckbo.")

Z and Grandpa on the way down.

Z and Nathan.

Nathan and Z watching Airplane on TV. Z loved having a TV but could not figure out why we couldn't just fast forward over the ads. He kept saying, "Mama, I do not like these!"

Me and Eden.

Z on the lake. Unfortunately there was no swimming, but it was very beautiful.

We ate at what seemed to be a little hole in the wall restaurant, but once you got through the front door, it opened up into beautiful gardens with little tables scattered around. Z explored as we waited for our meal.

Nathan and Lee took a trip to Tequila and sampled its wares.

Z getting sunscreened up before swimming in the pool at Grandpa and Grandma's.

Fun times in the pool!

Grandpa and Grandma gave Z a birthday party since they wouldn't be able to be with him on his actual birthday. We had pizza and a tower of little fruit tarts. Delicious!

We also had a pinata. Of course. We were in Mexico, after all.

Looking for goodies.

Family portrait.

Eden's Stats

Eden had her 4 month doctor's appointment today. Here's what we found out:

Head size: 42 centimeters (75th percentile)
Height: 25 and 1/4 inches (77th percentile)
Weight: 13 pounds 6 ounces (33rd percentile)

Photo Shoot

Last week I decided to do a little photo shoot with Eden. Before she was born I bought her several very sweet little dresses, which she is now big enough to wear. Plus, she's very smiley these days. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to record on film my beautiful daughter and her cute little wardrobe.

Things didn't quite go as planned. In Eden's defense, it was very hot outside. (We were outside in an attempt to get some natural light.) Nonetheless, she was decidedly uncooperative.

First she refused to smile.

Then she stopped making eye contact.

Then she began gnawing on her fists. I don't know if she was trying to irritate her cameraman or was just feeling nervous.

And then it all went bad. The dress came up . . .

and the screaming started.

In the end she was just really ticked off.

Speaking of clothes we bought before she was born, here's the outfit Nathan purchased for her:

A close-up:

We both think this onesie is hilarious, but no one else does. They either don't get it or don't appreciate it . . . maybe both. All we've gotten so far are polite smiles and puzzled looks. I guess that's what happens when you're reformed and go to a pentacostal church.

Yeah, I can't get rid of this picture. Isn't that just like a crying baby?

Happy 4th!

No, not the 4th of July, but Z's 4th birthday! Z turned 4 on July 15, and we had a birthday party with folks from church the next day. Here's the birthday boy telling us how old he is.

We had a pinata, so the kids are picking up the candy and squirreling it away in their bags.

Our good friends, Mitch and Jennifer:

Myself.

Z specifically requested cupcakes. (Thankfully last year's cake did not fool him into thinking that's what he would get every year!) He picked strawberry cake with strawberry icing.

Enjoying the cupcake:

Although I specifically told everyone they did not need to bring gifts, everyone still brought one, much to Z's happiness.

Our gift to Z was too big to wrap, so it was hidden in the basement under a quilt.

The joy of discovery!

Now he just needs to learn how to pedal!

And a video of the pinata:

Summer Vacation Part 1: Kansas

We were gone on vacation for nearly three weeks during June. The first part of the trip was to Kansas to visit the Stegall clan. We stopped in Omaha for the night to make the trip a little easier and so we could go to the Omaha zoo. We had reserved a hotel room on-line that was supposed to be a suite. When we got there, they led us to what was actually a fairly small single room. After complaining, we were told the hotel had no suites at all, but they would upgrade us to a jacuzzi room. We decided to take the offer. The room was not the greatest, and Nathan and I were a little put out by the whole thing until Z prayed over our dinner. His prayer went something like this: "Thank you God for our room. Thank you that it has all sorts of cool things in it. Thank you that it has a TV. Thank you that I get my own bed. And thank you that it has a swimming pool in the room!"

Here are a few pics of the Omaha zoo. There's a three toed sloth behind Nathan and Z. (The fish picture at the top is also at the zoo.)

My parents' house in Kansas:

Z and Quentin having fun outside:

Caleb is now special counsel to the Kansas governor, so he works in the state capital and gave us a tour. Here we are outside at the top of the front steps:

Z is sitting in what used to be the chair belonging to the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. The room is no longer used for the court, though. We told him to point as if directing our eyes towards justice. Unfortunately, it looks more like he's doing a disco move.

Here's a larger look at the room. You can see Liz joined us for the morning, which was very nice.

This picture was taken in the room where the Kansas state senate meets. Z found this Jayhawk cutout on the desk of one of the senators. He came running up to me with it on his head and said, "Is this a king's crown?" Only in Kansas, Z, only in Kansas.

We also had a day at the Topeka zoo with many (but not all) of the cousins. This is Katy and Charis looking adorable in their pigtails.

The boy cousins getting in on the photo op. That's Quentin and Theo.

Katy and Uncle Micah:

A bunch of cousing -- Z, Charis, Grady, Theo and Quentin:

And there they are all in a row:

And finally Eden. Look at those big blue eyes!

I'm realizing we took very few pictures of the adults. We'll have to remedy that next time we see everyone!