Denver Adventure

We are such jet-setters.  At least it seems this way with the summer we have been having.  While Julie was off having vacation in Seattle with her mom and Anja, Kyper got to stay with Grandpa and Grandma Phillips for the week.  This is because I was in Denver for my roommate's wedding (Dustin).  It was a quick trip.  I flew out on Friday night and was back in town already Sunday evening.

My friends Tim and Melanie were invited to the wedding as well, so this became the beginning of their 2 week road trip out west.  Timing worked out perfectly that they picked me up from the airport as they drove through Denver to the hotel in Lakewood.

Tim and Melanie had a Jacuzzi room

We got to the hotel and met Chris, Jon, and Canaan--all friends from college.  Chris, Jon, and I shared a hotel room to split the cost; it was just like collage again, having roommates and all.  Later that night, we headed over to Dustin's house to meet the rest of the guys who were going to be in the wedding.

The next morning, the guys (plus Canaan and Melanie) took Dustin out to breakfast.  Melanie commented, "Wow, the groom's morning before the wedding is a LOT less stressful than the bride's!"  Seriously, I think anyone would take bacon over a makeover when given the choice.

The wedding itself went smooth, especially since 2 of us groomsmen were unable to make the rehearsal and one of those didn't realize he was in the wedding until the night before.  Jon just thought Dustin had funny dress code.

The wedding was outside, at an inn in the mountains.  The bridal party had to cross over a bridge to get to the ceremony, while the congregation watched from the near side.  Pictures turned out great after the ceremony.

Canaan

Chris (he also left his family at home)

Tim and Melanie

College Friends!

Afterwards there was a great reception with good food, it a quiet mountainside atmosphere.  Some of us got wet in the creek, and everybody had a fun time.  Too bad Julie couldn't make it.

Somehow, after the party, Dustin and Megan's apartment got filled with balloons and ribbon, not quite sure how that happened.

In the morning, Rick and Monique (our friends from IA, who recently moved to CO) picked me up from the hotel and we had a good morning catching up over a hot breakfast. They are studying to become marriage and family therapists.  They make a great team! Then, it was off to the airport and home.

Julie finally came home from Seattle on Tuesday and we were one big happy family again.

Kyper still says he missed us.

Me, crafty? Why yes!

One of my best friends came and visited last week.  It was so much fun!  The night before I had done a little shopping since we were going to get the kids' pictures taken.  I only went to Target and they really didn't have a lot of options, but I did find a nice shirt for both Kyper and Anja.   Kyper's outfit was complete, but Anja's was missing something.  An accessory!  My friend who came to visit is one of my go to people in regards to fashion, so I thought that she may be able to help.

I showed her the outfits I had and told her I wanted a little hair accessory, but I didn't have one.  I had thought that we may go shopping for something or with her creative side that she may have another idea.  After a couple hours, an idea struck her!  Why don't you sew buttons on to some of your headbands you have.  I had a few headbands for myself, which I hardly ever use.  So, we dug out my sewing kit and found some buttons.  As she prepped a salad for her next activity, I went to work and started sewing.  Here are some pictures of my craft and my super cute model!

Thanks for the great ideas Steph!  Anja looked super cute in her picture outfit and headband.  And, I felt like a pretty cool momma that made a fun girly accessory for her little girl!

3 Years/ 3 Months

I took both kiddos to the doctor yesterday for their well child check ups.

Kyper is now the big 0-3.

He is 38.5 inches tall and weighs 34.5 lbs.  He was so brave at the doctor's this time.  He normally cries when we get to the exam room, but there were no tears!  He was a little anxious at times, but he listened well to me and the doctor.  The doctor even made him laugh.  He had to get poked 2 times.  Once to check iron levels and the other to do a tb test.  Again, no tears.  He told me it didn't even hurt!

Anja is now 3 months old.  (I saw a 2 day old baby while at the doctors and she looks so big already compared to a 2 day old.)

She was 23.5 inches tall and weighs 11 lbs 9 oz.  She is an excellent nurser and her growth is encouraging to me--I know she is getting enough. She only had to be poked once to check for the iron levels.  I think it was more that they had hold of her hand, but she did cry while they drew her blood.  Who can blame her though.  But, her big brother was there to help comfort her.

Seattle Trip

I stood up in my friend Becky's wedding on July 14 in Seattle.  When she asked me to do this, I was pregnant and I knew it would be hard to travel with a newborn by myself.  Joel couldn't come due to three reasons a)we couldn't really afford two tickets, b) he didn't know his schedule and c) he was in another wedding on the 14th.
So, I said yes to being in her wedding not really sure what I was going to do.  At first I asked someone from my church if she would at least want to travel with me, because she had a new grandson there.  But, she had already booked a trip for August and couldn't do two.  I was chatting with my mom about the trip and she said "I've always wanted to go there".  I then said "you and dad could come with me."
Well, my dad couldn't really go due to vacation time at work, but my mom ended up going.  It was great.  She was incredibly helpful to have around especially while traveling and during the wedding events.  Since she is a teacher and not working during the summer, we decided to add a few days to our trip for some sight seeing.  So, what did we do?

We got in on Tuesday the 10th.  Wednesday we headed downtown Seattle to Pikes Place Market.  We waited for them to throw a fish, but unfortunately while we were there no big fish was thrown.

Anja and I by the fish market

The famous gum wall--it is actually pretty disgusting.  It is people's chewed gum.

The famous shot of Pike's Place

The first ever Starbucks

Thursday, we went to Ballard locks and saw the boats coming to and from Lake Washington and/or Lake Union to the Puget Sound Bay.  That evening the bridal party and their plus one's went to a wine release party at the winery that Becky and Kevin are members of. 

They crammed boats into the locks

Proof Anja was there

The boats going down.

Friday, my mom stayed at the house we were staying at while I went to a bridal shower for Becky and then we had rehearsal.

Becky painted Anja's toenails.

 Saturday was the wedding.

Anja and Momma with the bride

 Sunday we met up with one of my mom's friends that lives in Seattle.

I thought we were in Seattle?  A little touch of NY on Alki beach in Seattle.

  Monday we traveled home.

It was a very fun trip.  Anja was a great traveler and did very well on the plane rides.  Kyper had fun at Grandma and Grandpa Phillips' house while I was gone.

Smoke bombs, birthdays, and bean poles

We have been quite busy over the last week and a half.  I have started my neurology program, now that internship is done.  But we have still managed to get outside and have some fun with the kids.  I had July 4 off and we recently celebrated Kyper's birthday early.

July 3 we lit some smoke bombs.  Kyper loved those.  Then, we tried a nice, mild fountain-type firework called The Dinosaur.  The label said "emits fountains of sparks".  What it faild to tell us, is that the dinosaur had a roar.  Kyper was excited as I lit the wick, and Anja was as content as could be.  A half second later, there was a loud whistle, Kyper screamed and ran around the house, bursting into tears.  Meanwhile, Anja also began to scream in her bouncy seat.  I must have looked like the worst parent in the world.  Needless to say, we went back to lighting "smoke bottoms; no more dinosaurs, Daddy."

"Smoke Bottoms" as Kyper says

The 4th turned out to be a hot day.  It was 90 degrees when we woke up, thankfully we had air conditioning, unlike the power outage of last year.  It peaked at 101.  So we got the pool out early, and got creative.  What started as a nice waterfall into his pool turned into an elaborate waterworks.  I love having a kid; it gives me a good excuse to play with toys again. If people look, they will say, "look what that dad is building with his kid." A few years ago, they may have said, "why is that grown man playing with toys?".  Anyway, you can watch the progression from a simple watering can on a ladder, to an entire waterslide of sorts.  Maybe next time, we can float a few bugs down it.

1 Hose + 1 Watering Can + 1 Ladder = A whole day of fun

Marble Works turn into Water Works when it gets hot outside

During naptime, I had a chance to run to Lowe's an spend my birthday money.  I ended up getting tools!  Thanks, Julie, for putting a bug in your parents ears.  I ended up with a nice ax, a wedge to split wood, and a bow saw.

My new tools I bought with birthday money--Thanks Mom and Dad K.

Even though it was 100 degrees, I had to use my new tools!

 

On Sunday, we had Kyper's birthday celebration a little early--due to our schedules.  He turns 3 this year, so we hung 3 balloons from is doorway to surprise him when he woke up.  We had a white birthday cake (his favorite) after eating a pancake dinner.  Then we opened presents.  He got a mini hockey goal.  It will be a lot of fun, because now there is an actual net, rather than shooting the puck between eachother's 5 hole.  We went to the park by the Detroit River in Wyandotte, where Kyper got to blow bubbles and we got to see life size replicas of Christopher Columbus' boats docked by the boardwalk.

 

Anja dressed for the occasion with her sailboat dress.

 

  

Finally, here is the garden update.  My beans grew right up their 7ft bamboo poles (I am glad I cut them down from 12ft!).  Now, tomatoes are growing into beans, and beans are growing into tomatoes.  We are starting to get tiny beans, and some tomatoes are ripening.  The corn  may do something, I am starting to see tassels.  All but 2 plants are only 1 1/2 ft tall...we will have mini corn this year.

The corn is growing, 2 stalks are waist high, the others are much shorter.

It looks more like a jungle than a garden

Cucumbers found their way out

My beans are taller than me!

Our one strawberry flower...we got 2 more today!

That is all for now.  I hope that suffices for the next week or so, then of course, there will be more to come.