Hard at Work

Yet another outgrown blessing has come our way ~ a desk, just as Adley is beginning to love "kerrs" (colors). She sits at the desk for periods of 10-15 minutes at a time which is fantastic! She loves to color, on paper, and on the desk top. I believe her favorite thing at the moment, though, is storing her "treasures" inside the desk. Oh, and I shouldn't forget that the desk top, when lifted up makes a great screen for playing "peek-u."

Orange crayon ~ right handed.

Using both hands.

Our Friend Mena

"Cheese!"
(I think she's mimicking Mommy's pose with the camera)

Orange top for Mommy and surfboard, board shorts for Daddy.
Atta girl!

Mena is our next door neighbor and a source of delight for Adley.

They enjoy each other's company.
Lately Adley has been rather insistent about going to see "Mee-ma." It makes Mommy feel silly to call our neighbor Lisa and ask to borrow her dog. Anything for Adley!

What's Cooking? with Adley

Great Aunt Karen found this adorable kitchen for Adley last summer (that's right when she was just a couple of months old). Adley, you are loved!

Adley was able to play with it at Grandma & Grandpa E's house when we visited them in May. Grandma Mary taught Adley how to fill her cupboards (Adley opened up Grandma's cupboards and helped herself to some soup noodles and one of Grandma's dish rags). Then Grandma Mary showed Adley how to clean her kitchen with the dish rag and she's been doing a superb job ever since.

Then, we made just enough room in the car for it on the way home. We keep the kitchen on our lower level and it has been tremendously instrumental in allowing Mommy a few minutes on the computer whenever we are downstairs.

Of course, I'm horribly late in posting pictures of Adley and her kitchen. We've had it set up almost 3 months and she loves it. Thanks Aunt Karen!

Heading home - 8/6/08

We had a great week at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Its hard to believe that is 6 days and approximately 40 relatives later. What a week. Thanks Grandma & Grandpa for all your hard work. Thanks Uncle Drew and Auntie Anna for all their mulch work (see photo below).

Remember: if it gets too quiet you know where to find us!

One last chore before getting in the car - feeding the horses apples.
Every morning after waking up Adley would head to the window and call "Nell, Nell, Nell" until someone would relent and take her outside to see the horses. On one occasion Daddy took Adley outside to the fence on the south side of the house where Adley promptly started calling for Nell. When she didn't receive a response she continued calling while marching up the hill to the fence at the west side of the house (where she had seen the horses earlier that day). She wasn't about to take no for an answer!

Adley pushes the apples through the fence so Brago can eat.
She likes both horses but prefers to call "Nell" since its easier to say. Brago is dubbed "B-go."

The long trip home.
It was so far home that we had to cross the Mississippi aka "Sipp-ee."

"Gimme that camera!"

To Grandma & Grandpa's House we Go (4 of 4)

Sunday night - Daddy arrives!
No caption needed, that smile says it all!

Taking a walk with Grandma.
It was quite warm out - Adley just loves her jacket.

Two eggs today

"Color!"

Gotta love all that orange!

"Where's the beach?"

Great Aunt Karen & Great Uncle Gary came over for dinner.

"That's silly Aunt Karen"

Great-Grandpa Don's last night in Iowa.

And finally a picture with a smile!

Family Reunion - 8/3/08

This beautiful dress brought to you by Jan in St. Louis.
The color is even better than the pictures. Thanks Jan!

Uncles & cousins - what a fun place!

Kissing cousins!

Monkey see, monkey do - frown!

Monkey see, monkey do - yawn!

Monkey see, monkey do - smile!

Lets try again:

Monkey see, monkey do - yawn!

Monkey see, monkey do - look away!

Monkey see, monkey do - smile!

Family Reunion - 8/2/08

More time with Molly.

"Thanks for this new outfit Grandma!
There's even room to grow into it and I already have the shoes to match."

Adley's new look.

Our branch of the Anderson family.
(Anna had to work & Jared arrived later that night.)

When all the group photos were taken, Adley jumped back in front of the reunion sign and proclaimed "CHEESE!" to the photographers who were all still standing there.

"Such a beautiful hat and matching purse from Great Aunt Karen. Thankfully, someone knows how fashionable I am."

"What's next?"

To Grandma & Grandpa's House We Go... (1 of 4)

On Thursday, 7/31/08 Adley & Mommy got a ride to Grandpa & Grandma's house just in time for the Anderson Family Reunion. We both arrived safe and sound and no worse for wear after an 8 hour journey. One of us was ready for bed after a long day. The other was "wired" after a day spent napping in the car. Can you guess who?

Let the festivities begin! Auntie Anna is the official tour guide. Anna doles out sugar cubes to anyone willing to feed them to the horses. Adley is fascinated but not quite ready to pet the horses, much less feed them....yet.

(Getting braver)

Playing with Auntie Jill. Actually, that's Great Aunt Jill who was a big surprise, coming all the way from South Carolina on short notice to be at the reunion.

Great-Uncle Noel is having fun with Adley. Adley, on the other hand doesn't look too sure. Check out that scowl!

What to do? What to do?

Cheese!

Auntie Anna!
(Our first morning in Iowa Adley woke up on the dot of 6am calling "Anna, Anna, Anna." Its usually Mommy, or Daddy, but she found a new playmate. Unfortunately, Auntie Anna wasn't ready to play at 6am despite Adley's attempts to wake her by knocking on her bedroom door. This photo was taken MUCH later in the day.)

Molly, Adley & Ellie
2nd cousins, once removed - but who's counting?
These three had a blast!
Is it really a reunion if you've never met the people before?