Labor Day Weekend with Maimie

This last Friday my mom flew in from Cali to visit us. You can bet she was super excited to see Kayley again, and we were all excited to see her too (I missed my mom!). Kayley and I went to the airport to pick my mom up, but instead of picking her up on the street like planned, we surprised her at the baggage claim area. And that is how our fun packed weekend began. 

*Maimie is the name all my mom's grand kids call her. 

Friday we didn’t do much but hang out and eat some great food together, but Saturday we spent the day at the zoo together. We spent the extra money to walk through the Dino special exhibit, where there were animatronics dinosaurs, some that even spit our water to simulate how they would spit out acid on their prey. Andrew, Kayley and I even ran in fright from a T-rex. Thankfully he was stuck in place otherwise I am sure he would have out run us.

Some of the rules for seeing the dinos

AAaaaahhhhhh! Sharp Tooth!!!!

My mom and Kayley had fun looking at some birds in the tropical rainforest. And my mom, Andrew and I had fun watching how excited Kayley got about being close to goats and being able to pet them. She was laughing and squealing with delight as she reached out for them. It was so cute! She really seems to like animals. She loved looking at the leopard too.

Watching the birds

Goats!

We had a wonderful day at the zoo!

That night my mom babysat Kayley for us so we could have our first movie outing since Kayley was born and finally see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2! We went all out on our theater snack, which for us means an icee to share and two types of candy. It was a great birthday gift and my mom loved spending the time with Kayley. Kayley even took a bottle from her (yes, yes. The bottle battle goes on).

Harry Potter time!

Sunday we went to church and Kayley was able to spend some time with her little friend Kaylin. After that we spent some time at my sister’s house enjoying the beautiful sunny weather before going to my cousin’s little one’s first birthday. It was very cute to watch Cadence try to figure out why everyone was watching her when a huge piece of cake was put in front of her. Sometimes it seemed like she was asking “Really? I can eat this? Then what are you all looking at?” But she finally got into it.

Kayley and Kaylin

Enjoying the sun!

Cadence and her cake.

 That night we went out to dinner with my sister, her hubby and their two girls to celebrate Katie’s birthday. We ate at the Zen Garden where we all picked a dish to share with everyone. They had some pretty good food (basically the weekend was full of wonderful food). And some fairly interesting dishes that ended up being quite tasty. After dinner we went to a frozen yogurt place for dessert that is basically like Menchies. Katie approved of her birthday outing, and we all had a great time together. 

Kayley picking what she want to have us eat

Katie approving of her birthday

On Labor Day, part of my family got together for a BBQ at my aunt’s house. It was the first time all the little kids were together on that side of the family. Kayley loved watching them all run around and play, and it looked like she was wishing she was bigger and more mobile so she could join them. The food was phenomenal! Everyone brought a side dish and something to BBQ to share. What a tasty assortment of food! Oh I could always eat like that! Plus, it was great to spend so much time with family. The extra bonus was that my mom was there to spend it with us, and that the sun was out. Of Mr. Sun, how I have been longing to enjoy your warming rays of light!

BBQ family hangout

Kayley, her aunt Heidi and cousins Hattie and Roland

My mom’s visit ended with my mom, Kayley and I spending yesterday together. We started the morning slow and easy since Kayley slept in again. Then the three of us went up to Mukeltio to eat at the Ivar’s restaurant on the waterfront. We had a beautiful view, and Kayley was in a great disposition. A little squirmy, but that’s just because she loves to move around. My mom enjoyed holding Kayley in her arms while she ate, and while Kayley babbled and sang for us. We then took a walk down to the park to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and waterfront. It was such a lovely day that we also went down to the Edmonds waterfront to enjoy God’s nature there. Kayley loved watching the waves and bubble on the shore. It was a great last day hanging out with one another.

Enjoying the beautiful view and watching the ferries

Ivar's lunch

Watching the waves and bubbles

Oh! Friday we let Kayley have her first little taste of solid food. We first gave her a tiny mashed up piece of banana. At first she wasn’t so sure about it, but as she moved the piece around in her mouth she began to get really excited about it and wanted more. We also let her suck on a watermelon cube to get some of the juice out of it (though she tried to gum it too), and she seemed to really like that as well. We’re not switching her over to solids quite yet, but that doesn’t mean she can’t get little tasters.