Tag Archives: Grandma

March 10th, 2018

Selfie game: strong

Pre-gaming at the new coffee shop ran by some of mom’s prior studio students

And it’s parade time, where magic like groups of dogs walk past their number one fan

The line was only temporarily held near the curb until descending into chaos further into the street. Des was ever so patient waiting for candy

The hunter, in action

Thumbs up for parades, no matter how cold

Ella has had her tongue out literally since birth, think the genetic responsibility has now been identified:

Five out of seven looking in the same direction, that’s a success

Waving at the firemen

Eleanor eventually needed a good stretch of the legs

With sufficient candy now in bag, Des just takes in the sights and sounds

All paraded out.

February 24th, 2018

Despite the impending late-winter storm, dad and the kids venture out to “the plant store” for seed trays and soil. “Come for the gardening supplies, stay for the pictures with old pickup trucks!”

Eleanor was eager for a good stretch of the legs

She does not trust giant tortoises, alive or bronze. Don’t worry, grandma will protect you.

These two are cute, not cute enough to convince grandma and dad to take them into the fragile housewares section.

What’s better than a weekend lunch at the food hall?

Apparently there are paparazzi amongst Team Llama…

Making some banana bread, just because

The “D” wasn’t detectable after baking, but worth a shot

Peter Pan for family movie night

Des’ glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs finally brought upstairs from Christmas. Not quite installed yet, it does appear they’re doing the dinosaurumpus (thanks again, great-grandpa Irv!)

Christmas 2017

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 10th, 2017

Both brother and sister playing in the kids section. Special thanks to grandma for the extra logistical support for grocery store trip with two little ones.

Eleanor stoked to play with brother’s new football from pa’s union hall the day before. Mom warns the decision to do this in the house will end poorly. “Maybe not today, but eventually.”

Desmond insisted on grabbing his ear muffs to play catch. Dunno, safety first?

Dad: “Desmond, I bet you can’t tell how loud you’re being with those on.”

Des, screaming: “I CAN TELL!”

Eleanor approves of her first taste of peanut butter cookie. Thanks Megan & Zach!

December 8th, 2017

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

Thanksgiving 2017

Watching the Macy’s parade, though Eleanor is just happy to be holding the remote

…see?

Eleanor continues her acrobatic feeding, this time, with accessories

Both kids stopped every one in a while to watch part of the parade, but it was mostly just play as usual

One of the greatest laughs <3

Everything is a chew toy, if you want it to be

Thanksgiving at ma and pa’s, and grandma too

Liam and Des kept busy

Eleanor trying pumpkin pie for the first time

Seemingly mixed review, though she had several more bites

Exhausted after not having a nap, though it’s only 5:30p :/

Movie picnic, watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

November 19th, 2017

Equal parts chew toy and entertainment, the Santa wand captivates the next sibling

Goofing around with dad

Desmond and grandma feeding the frogs

Desmond passionately lecturing on all matters frog 

Eleanor mildly excited to play in the ball tent

The littlest engineer, playing with the workbench more than brother

Birthday girl

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)