A visit with family,,,

This past week we went to Minnesota to see family, both Eric's (who live there) and mine (who flew in from NY). It was great time of visiting and sharing Anna with both sets of grandparents at the same time. Now that we're home we have to un-spoil Anna!

One of the days Anna's grandparents and aunt took her to a local park where there are animals. It was the first time she had seen horses and apparently she wasn't afraid to say hello.

Anna and her multi-talented, cake making aunt. Happy Birthday to you Anna, again!
And just for the record, Elmo has very tasty eyes!

Snack time in Grandma's kitchen.

A Memorial Day moment and two beautiful ladies

Birthday girl's party...

Yesterday we had a few neighbor friends over for a little mini birthday party.

It was nice, and Anna really enjoyed her cake and ice cream ( particularly her ice cream, the chocolate cake was okay).

Birthday girl...

One year ago today...

...we welcomed Anna.

Happy Birthday sweet baby!

Sandbox play

Last week we picked up a free sandbox from someone here in town and Anna is loving it. Yesterday she and I were out there for 40 minutes and she never left the box.
In fact, when it was time to come it, she wasn't very happy with Mommy.

It was time to make this into a riding toy!

Upstairs neighbors.

Spring 2007

Spring 2009

For the past two years we've enjoyed relative privacy and quiet while at home here in Cally, which we have really appreciated. Especially now that our view has changed and our privacy has vanished. Multiple times we've commented that we're glad not to own this home and we'll be able to leave the "upstairs neighbors" behind. The owner of the 'house on the hill' planted trees on the hillside to help us gain a bit of the privacy back, but unfortunately for us, we're not really going to benefit much from the gesture.

Through the door

What a little ham. Not that she was trying to be funny,
but all three of us were laughing at her antics.

Sugar!

Last week I made some cookies, and while Anna sat in her high chair to watch me and play on her own, I sprinkled her tray with some sugar. It didn't take her to long to figure out that is was a sweet treat, after which she didn't care about playing in it, all she wanted to do was get as much as she could into her mouth.

'Wasn't it a mess to clean up?', you ask. Of course, but that was part of the fun.
I do hope we found all of it though because there are sugar ants about!

Camera Phone

These next three post are pictures taken from Eric's camera phone. He does a great job capturing events and random moments and I am so glad that he thinks about pulling it out to use. Really for a camera phone, it does a pretty good job with pictures.

Laughing...

So maybe these are not the most appropriate pictures to be posting, but I loved the laughter that Eric caught with his little camera phone. I would LOVE to know what she was laughing at, or have been home to hear it for myself!

Hugs with Lily

Anna met a little person at a work picnic the other day and she was so excited & so was Lily.
They were very interested in giving hugs and touching each other's faces. At one point Lily pinched Anna's cheeks, you know, like a stereotypical grandma would do to her grandchildren. It was very cute.

Shopping with Daddy.

"Flavored milk! Hey Daddy, look flavored milk! You think Mom can give me that?"

"Ooooh! Crackers! How many boxes do you think I can carry?"

Learning about mud.

This past Friday Anna and I were out in the backyard enjoying various things; I was gardening in our small veggie patch while Anna was all over the patio moving my gardening tools,
watering can, hose and anything else she could lift (like the pine cone).

After I watered the garden she also discovered that mud is so much fun and
apparently she has no dislike for it. In fact I would say she's magnetically drawn to it.
Here's hoping she doesn't find a mud puddle while in her Sunday best.

I see mud facials in her future!

Water play

Temperatures this week have been very friendly to being outside in water,
so Anna has again enjoyed several wet play times on the patio.

Hand Bag.

I (Mandy) found this little bag at a thrift store and it's the perfect size for Anna to carry things around in. She really hasn't figured it out yet, but today was the first time she had seen it, so what can I expect? It was very cute watching her carry it around.

Oh the concentration!

Sidewalk walking.

Back yard friends.

Nap time with Daddy

Baby Dedication

This last week we dedicated Anna to God.
Eric and I feel so privileged to have this beautiful girl.

Oh Lord that she would came to know you and your ways and be a woman who is entirely devoted to living out her life for you and through you.

Peek-a-boo

Love'n bath time.