The best kind of layovers

Grandma, Grandpa, and Great-Grandma Jane are driving down to North Carolina this week so we have been the lucky recipients of many layover visits. Grandpa and Great-Grandma Jane visited us on Tuesday to Wednesday and Grandma just arrived today. Anna had a great time showing Grandpa and Great-Grandma Jane all her fun new toys and she was able to give Grandma a quick tour before her nap today. There will surely be much more fun to be had with Grandma over the next few days.

Bowling

Matt, Anna, & I have been bowling a few times in the past month. Sometimes Anna uses a ramp to push the ball down. Other times she just rolls it down herself with Matt's help. Yesterday when we were at the bowling alley, there was a professional photographer taking pictures of a group of kids bowling and he took these shots and emailed them to us. Anna has just rolled the ball with Matt and she's waiting to see how man pins she gets down:

I think they are cute pictures of Anna, but I have to admit, they are really cute pictures of Matt :)

Thanks for visiting, Uncle Pete!

Romping on the National Mall

Uncle Pete is visiting! On Friday we took advantage of the warmer weather to stroll around the National Mall. We spent most of our time at the Washington Monument and even took the elevator ride to the top.

I see the Monument!

The finish line of Dad & Anna's race to touch the Monument

Yeah, Uncle Pete the Washington Monument is cool, but I love these benches!

Looking west at the WWII Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial from the top of the Washington Monument

WWII Memorial and Washington Monument

Mississippi Cat Dancin'

My intention with this video was to capture Anna and Daddy playing in the "wrecked" fort. Then Anna broke out these killer dance moves:

Imaginary play

Anna is having a great time with the new toys she got for Christmas. I love watching her cook up some food in her kitchen to serve to her animals and carefully place her dollhouse family around the table for a meal. There have been a few moments, however, where I wonder how much she really "gets it." For instance last night her Daddy dollhouse character took her Grandma dollhouse character for a stroller ride. This morning her baby dollhouse character sat on the toilet in front of the kitchen table instead of a chair. Then while playing in her kitchen/laundry center she used her ironing board to iron a mushroom. This last one I should take the blame for. Given that I take all of Matt's non-wrinkle free shirts to the dry cleaner, I don't think she has ever seen the proper use of an iron.

Christmas in Albany

Anna, Matt, & I had a great trip to Albany. We were there from Dec. 23rd until today - which I think is the longest vacation Matt has taken from work since he began his job almost 3 years ago! In fact, because of his snow day before we left, he has only worked 1 1/2 days since Dec. 18th - a pretty good gig :)

We all had a great time on the trip. Anna liked spending time with all her relatives and playing with her new toys. A few highlights from our week:

Christmas Eve (posing in Mommy's old dress coat and hat)

Opening her new dollhouse on Christmas - she definitely knows it's for her!

making waffles with Daddy and Grandpa

Obviously taken before the game...

Tell me again about the 2007 season, Grandpa.

The toast is ready Anna, how are you doing on the eggs?

whoa!

dinner at the Noodle Company :)

Ring Around the Rosie - I love it when they hold hands :)

a few more words:

elbow

base

foot

sock

five

nine

You may be wondering how a 20 month old learns the word, "base." It was part of game where she moved her new toy truck between a "loading dock" and "home base."