When Cousins Collide

Kayley and her cousin Soleil finally got to meet this last weekend! Alright, so they aren’t related by blood at all, but Soleil is my best friend’s little girl. We think of ourselves as sisters, so thus Kayley and Soleil are cousins. We had a fun packed home when Alison, Tony, Soleil, Lindsey and Andy came to spend the night with us. Alison, Tony and Soleil all the way from Cali, and Lindsey and Andy all the way from Canada! This was Kayley’s second time meeting her Aunty Lindsey and Uncle Andy, but her first time seeing  Aunty Alison, Uncle Tony or Soleil in person (we video chat).

It was sweet to watch the girls try and figure out how to play with one another and gives hugs. Kayley being almost 6 months, and Soleil being a year old made it so their comprehension of these two things is still growing. A couple sweet hugs ended in the girls both on the ground looking like they were in the middle of a wrestling match!

Sweet hugs

And then they fell over and weren't sure what to do

It was also fun to see Soleil trying to pet and play with Hoshi. Hoshi is so great with children. Even when Soleil accidentally toppled on top of Hoshi, all Hoshi did was meow. Of course she then realized that unlike Kayley, Soleil can walk to her and she scurried away. It shall be interesting to see what Hoshi does when Kayley starts crawling. 

Watching the Hoshi. Soleil also shared her toy cell phone with Hoshi

Right after Soleil fell on Hoshi

"Wait, kitty! Come back! I didn't mean to fall on you!"

 It was great to catch up with everyone and watch the babies play with one another. The boys had fun playing some sort of statistics math game with Kayley’s toy while we girls chit chatted, made dinner and cooed at the babes. 

Alison with the babes. Looks like Kayley wants the phone

Making dinner for the gang.

Soleil playing with Aunty Lindsey

The boys playing their game with Kayley's toy

Even though we all could have gotten an extra hour of sleep, we of course stayed up late instead catching up with one another. The next day after church we all went to see Gram Bell in her new place that she just moved to a week ago. She was very excited to see us all and watch the babies play. Kayley and Soleil really loved playing with Gram’s Swedish and Danish wood horse.

Visiting Gram Bell

We all love you, Gram Bell!

Soleil giving Kayley the Danish horse to chew on

 We had a wonderful visit with our extended family and can’t wait until we all can get together again.

The gang together!

Grandparents

This last weekend we had the joy of all of Kayley’s grandparents here to visit. My mom came up mainly to help with my Grandma moving from one care home to another, but she did of course have some Kayley time. Andrew’s folks came up just to see Kayley, and I guess us as well.

They arrived Friday night and were tired from the drive from Cali, so we took it easy the first night. But Saturday we went on a zoo adventure! Kayley got to go with her Grandpa and Grandma Vogel to the zoo for her 6^th time. Every trip to the zoo is different and special. Of course having her grandparents there with us was the highlight! It was also fun, as always, to watch Kayley look at the animals and people. We even got to witness a few animals do things that we haven’t seen them do. For example, we all got to see the lion stand up and stretch before he laid down again, the sloth was actually out and about, both anteaters were being active instead of sleeping, the animals were all given their food in or with a pumpkin and the komodo dragon ate a rat out of one, the poisonous dart frogs were eating, and the jaguar was carefully watching Kayley.

Kayley watching the jaguar with her Grandpa Vogel

The jaguar watching Kayley

The frogs being fed

Time to play with the gorillas!

Watching the penguins swim

All that to say, it was a wonderful day at the zoo. I’m really never sure if Kayley enjoys looking at the animals most, or the people. I could say the same thing about Kayley’s grandparents; I’m not sure if they enjoyed watching Kayley most or the animals. Okay, so I know the true obvious answer to that. ^_~ They loved watching Kayley!

Riding a hippo

Kayley with her grandparents and a gorilla

For dinner on Saturday night Andrew and I took our parents out to dinner at Buca Di Beppo. Though Kayley slept through the first part of the evening, you can bet she liked going out to dinner with her parents, her Maimie, and grandma and grandpa Vogel. All through dinner Kayley was showing off her skills of reaching and grabbing as she reached and grabbed for any and everything! I was the one holding her during most of our meal, and I felt like there was a “no man’s land” right in front of me. We had to keep moving things out of Kayley’s range and remind her she had her own toys to play with. But who wants their own toys when they can reach for mommy’s water, pasta, salad, napkins and more?

Grandma and Grandpa Vogel, Andrew and Kayley

Me, Kayley and Maimie

We had a delicious dinner at Bucca Di Beppo

Sunday was a full day as usual. We all went to church, and then afterwards we were all off and running doing errands and a few other things. Andrew and I prepared our home for our Bible Study’s potluck. Since we had finished studying Colossians chapter 1 the week before, we thought we’d take a break and have some great fellowship with amazing food that everyone brought. We added in the opportunity to wear a costume and planned a few games, and a fun night was born! There was a crossword puzzle that contained words from our memory verse, but no list of words, we played pin the nose on the pumpkin, and lively game of Pictionary that included Halloween themed things to draw, along with things relating to our bible study. 

People putting our their food for the potluck

All dressed up for a bible study photo!

Pictionary: The word was "Paul" the author of Colossians

Pin the nose on the pumpkin

Snow Queen, Pumpkin and Air Force (part of the Stargate branch)

Monday was our last day with Andrew’s folks. We took it easy just hangout out around the house mostly and playing with Kayley. Andrew had to go to work, but was able to meet up with us at Panera for lunch. We ate dinner at home, but took Andrew’s folks to Menchie’s for dessert (a place I would love to take any of you who come and visit!). It was a nice relaxing last day and Kayley was able to spend a lot of time with her grandparents.  

Vogel love! Kayley was not too sure about having to say goodbye to her grandparents

Kayley wasn't too sure about saying goodbye to her Maimie either.

The weekend was great and we look forward to seeing our parents for Christmas. I’m sure Kayley can’t wait to see them all again either!

Solid Adventure

In the beginning of September we introduced Kayley to solid foods. Since then we have given her a small taste (1-2 ounces) almost every day. She really seems to enjoy it. Every time I show her the small bowl of food and her spoon, she gets really excited. During her solid food feedings it’s also been a time of learning for her. Not only are we trying to teach her etiquette for eating solid foods (keep your hands down and off the end of your spoon, don’t chew on your bib, don’t try to lick or bite your highchair, etc.), but we talk about what she is eating. We tell her what she’s eating, what type of food it is, how it grows, what it looks like before it’s made into puree, how we prepared her food (I make all her food), and may other things. Plus we’ve been trying to teach her a few hand signs for all done, hands down, and no. It’s a fun time during our day. 

Here’s a look at what Kayley had tasted thus far in alphabetical order:

Apples: Uh, a bit more please

Avocado: Mommy doesn't like avocado, but I do

Banana: I love bananas!

Carrot: So good! I'm so happy!

Golden Acorn Squash: I'm really not too sure about this one, but it's okay.

Green Beans: Te-he, green beans are tasty

Pears: Pears! Oh my gosh I love them!!!

Peas: I love to get peas everywhere.

Pumpkin: Hmm, pumpkin is alright.

Rice Cereal: I don't like rice cereal! I want something else!

Sweet Potato: Sweet potato is yummy

No allergies so far! We'll continue her solid adventure.

What October Brings

The start of October has signaled the start of activities for me the past couple years, and I’m glad I’ve been able to enter October with confidence that I can do these activities while being a new mom with a sweet baby girl. October is a time where I continue to be a Sunday school teacher, but I also take on the role of being one of the Christmas Musical directors for the Children’s Christmas Musical. Sometimes this also means creating backgrounds, props, etc. I’m not sure how involved I will be in that area this year, though I know I’m at least going to be giving input. Andrew marks the start of October as the time where he loses me and finds himself somehow painting something or making something. Though he just realized this happens twice a year, because I love helping out with Vacation Bible School during the summer too. ^_^

It’s also a time during the year when we plan the next two big holidays; Thanksgiving and Christmas! Whoohoo I’m looking forward to them both! Especially since they will be Kayley’s first!!! We haven’t figured out what we’re doing for Thanksgiving yet, but our Christmas plans are starting to come together more. We will be celebrating Christmas in California this year. We’re even making a little road trip out of it. I know, some of you probably think we’re crazy to do this during winter with a baby who will be 7 months old, but it’s a lot cheaper to drive to Cali from Seattle than it is to fly. Plus, I really enjoy road trips and we want Kayley to enjoy them (or at least begin to get used to them) too.

Christmas this year is going to be one to remember! Not only because it will be Kayley’s first, but it will be the last Christmas we will ever have in the house I grew up in. That’s right, my mom is moving! After being in the same house for just over 26 years, she’s moving. How do I feel about this? Well kind of sad. I mean she’s moving out of the house I lived in until I went off to college. It’s where I learned how to walk, celebrated my first birthday, rode a bike for the first time, had my first pets, and accepted Christ! It’s where I helped oversee the construction of the playhouse my Grandpa built for Tim and me, I helped remodel the kitchen, I sponge painted my old bedroom with my Grandma, Smokey the rabbit is buried in the backyard (and I believe at least one hamster is lost in the walls…), it’s where I got ready for my Jr. and Sr. proms, it’s where I did summersaults down the stairs and my head hit the wall (not the most brilliant idea), a hundred sleepovers with tents built out of sheets and clothes pins took place there, I had my first cake fight with my best friend (all in good fun of course), I put on dance, singing and modeling shows with friends for our parents, it’s where I performed and recorded puppet shows with my friend Cindy. It’s where I grew up!

Me and my mom and dad. Kayley totally sleeps like that.

My first birthday cake being stolen from me. And I thought my brother and two dear friends loved me. ^_~

My first real bike. I named it Shorty

Dressed-up for Halloween, but I wore the Rainbow Bright outfit with friends on many other occasions.

Dressed-up for tea

My first two rabbits, Smokey and Chocolate

Sr. Ball photo op!

After the cake fight with my best friend.

 But… I’m not that sad about it all because my mom is moving to the Seattle area! Now that I am truly excited for! So, planning for Christmas is different this year because it involves planning for Kayley and I to stay in Cali longer to help my mom pack up a bit and go through some things. I don’t know how much longer we’ll be in Cali past Andrew, but probably to at least mid-Jan. We won’t be working the whole time. This also gives Kayley and I extra time to spend with Andrew’s folks, and an opportunity for Kayley to meet some of our Cali friends in person.

October this year brings lots of things to plan for and look forward to.

Me and my mom