Tag Archives: Aunt Kellie

Dad’s 37th birthday

January 25, 2018 shreffler

Two cousins, zero serious photos (as Des would say, “that’s okay!”)

Eleanor always on the run, this time with brother’s BB-8 ball

Des presenting a card in envelope, “Here Dad, this is a Darth Vader card!” In all fairness, with the two lit-up lightsabers and noises, it was awesome. Though this was followed shortly by, “(handing wrapped present to dad) Here’s the R2-D2 coffee (mumble) [french press] we got you!”

Summarizing both kids’ interests:

Ribbons are fairly entertaining

Singing, to various degrees

Grandma supervising the tower build

Christmas 2017

December 25, 2017 shreffler

Walking downstairs Christmas morning to see that Santa had arrived

…and ate the pretzel left out for him the night before. And the reindeer somehow ate most of each petite carrot, but left just enough crumbs behind to remind the faithful of the plate’s original content. Christmas magic.

Eleanor, either happy about the orange in her stocking, or just excited to be awake

“Mom, can you open both of these like right now?”

R2-D2 and Stormtrooper plushies for the win (in hand going to sleep most nights since)

Desmond presses forward, Eleanor pit stops with a pouch

TWO oranges? Woah!

Pretzel break.

Desmond opening his first gift from Santa, a barn puzzle!

Sister opening her very own set of crayons

Beyond excited to tug at bows and rip paper

Sometimes you just need take a breather

Brother and sister opening Chutes and Ladders together. These two <3

Des modeling his new Cars robe

This time, the injustice was her inability to get her new forks out of their packaging instantly

Trial run with the new spoon- it works.

Desmond surveying the pair of new LEGO Junior sets (brilliant product, by the way)

Des and his new big boy camera

Christmas lunch with great-grandma Kathy

Cousin Viv supervising the first lego build, Des happily the assistant builder

Viv carefully studying the build instructions

…though occasionally pausing for a photo shoot as Liam puts Des’ new camera through the paces

Upon returning home for nap time, Desmond felt his new Lightning McQueen lego car need to be tucked in for a nap as well

Desmond and Cal continuing the Christmas cheer

Eleanor walking over to mom, and judging from the look on grandma’s face, the first time she saw Eleanor take more than three steps. At 13 months, Ella is practicing more persistently than her brother, who after initially discovering his walking ability, shelved it until a few months later

Squeaker/shaker toys… for babies!

Grandma and Des, reading his new book Here We Are

Aunt Kellie, grandma Anne and dad’s first Christmas together in seven years!

Grandma offering structural engineering advice

Snoopy Bob Cratchit watching after the house, it was so fulfilling to enjoy the first Christmas together as a foursome. Complete.

December 8th, 2017

December 8, 2017 shreffler

Celebrating Aunt Kellie’s first birthday back in Omaha, with sushi! While it looks like a crazy pile of wasabi, Eleanor is actually just a fan of the edamame hummus.

The boat arrived with dry ice flowing stern to bow

Birthday girl

November 5, 2017 shreffler

Playing with Viv and Grace. Shirt: “It’s my birthday!”

Ella, big fan of balloons

Des watching the first-year slideshow

Not knowing what was going on with the crowd staring at her, needless to say, Eleanor was taken back by the spontaneous singing

With prior cupcake training complete, Eleanor knew to eat the cake

…one tiny, non-smashing pinch at a time.

Desmond eating his cake and ice cream, with a side of Halloween candy. Someone found extra treats…

Even with demonstrating a lot off effort towards self-restraint, Desmond flirts with doing a majority of the unwrapping

Ribbons don’t get any easier later in life either

So happy

Opening her presents from mom dad- a tent/ballpit

and a new winter/indoor tricycle (there are days dad thinks Eleanor isn’t looking out the window at the trees or cars, but rather pining after brother’s blue tricycle on the front porch)

October 29th, 2017

October 29, 2017 shreffler

Eleanor relaxing with mom during Ernie’s birthday party

Desmond and Cal go (sit?) for a joy ride, though Des later someone talks Calvin into pushing around the yard

This is a stare of toy happiness, not toy jealousy…

Eleanor and dad hanging out with Nora

While everyone was napping, dad found a garter snake while mowing. It cannot be overstated just how brave dad was in eventually capturing the snake for Desmond to see later.

August 27th, 2017

August 27, 2017 shreffler

Watching the poor victims of little bunny foo-foo scurry about

Chasing penguins, trying get a mouth on one

Fishy glee

Still trying to figure out why she can’t touch anything

Finger-to-eel

Skyfari- the fastest way to see the new south end of the zoo. Saw the elephants running around below on the return trip

Driving the rover

The boys getting brave and petting the snake

Trying for the extra-long nap with dad for…

Ella’s nine-month photos, con cousins

After a long weekend and a good effort with photos, it was time for a treat

Wishing pa happy 60th on his birthday proper, Des demonstrates the prototypical toddler phone call. A patient pa, “I’m not sure what that conversation was about, but it sure was long.”