The Baranko Family: May 2012

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

A Special Guest for Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend we had the pleasure of hosting Paige Jane all weekend while Kristin and Cory went to Las Vegas on an anniversary get away. We loved having her at the Baranko pad for 4 full days, all to ourselves! Matt and I got to "try out" having two kids and it was pretty fun. The kids entertain each other and it just feels like there's more activity going on in the house. Especially since Luke doesn't really talk yet, and PJ is a chatter box, it definitely wasn't as quiet as we are used to. The biggest adjustment came when we left the house. The adult to kid ratio was 1:1, which is a big change for us, nobody gets a break!

PJ "reading" Luke books

Balance biking

Eating berries at the breakfast bar

We crammed a lot of activities into the holiday weekend, and the gorgeous weather made everything even better. We went swimming a bunch, we went canoeing, we had friends and family over with lots of kids to play with, we went for dog walks to other playgrounds, we went on a bike ride, we had a bonfire, we went out to eat, we went to the beach, we read books and did crafts, it was non-stop action! When not doing those activities, I think PJ spent about 95% of the 4 days on the swings of Fort Dukerson, though. That kid loves to swing!

On Saturday we had Donna, Emil, Aunt Diane, Uncle Garry and second-cousin Orrin (3 yrs old) over to play during the day. Then Matt, PJ and I went canoeing while D&E stayed with Luke. While initially she wasn't keen on the idea of canoeing, she soon got into it and was very excited to point out all the birds and turtles she saw. About an hour in the calm of the river and the gentle sway of the canoe lulled her into a catnap. This is shocking for a little girl who doesn't sleep easily! Finally, that night we promised a bonfire for PJ, and she doesn't let you forget your promises. Once the fire was built she promptly roasted one marshmallow and then returned to swinging. Ha!

Luke's obsession with puzzles continues, he is wicked smart at doing them - even hard ones!

PJ, Orrin, Luke playing wonderfully together

PJ and Uncle Garry

Grandpa showing Luke how to spray the hose

On Sunday we had a last minute party with friends Kathryn, Valerie & Scott, and Luis. Also in attendance were Kathryn's daughter Madeline and friend Hannah (6 & 7 yrs old), and Val & Scott's boys Nathan and Ben (4 & 2 yrs old) so Luke and PJ were in heaven. I was in heaven too catching up with my dear friends and watching the kids have such a great time.

"Lake Forest Ladies" with our big hats

Ben and Paige making "mud pie". I think they did this for over an hour. Garden hose + sand = fun

Garden hose + slide = also very fun

Kathryn and Luis catching up

Finally, on Monday we decided to take a little bike ride. Paige was adamant that she wanted to ride her own bike. We acquiesced, but we had not even gotten down our own street before she decided riding in the trailer with Lukers was a lot less work! After our bike ride we headed to the beach to play in the sand, put our feet in the cold :Lake Michigan water, and play at the giant playground there. Kristin and Cory came home that day and our little mini-vacation had come to a close. It was a very fun weekend and we can't wait to have you back Ms. PJ!

Matt pulling two kids and one little pink bike

Running up and down the boardwalk at the beach

Bathing beauty

Luke helping to water the flowers.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Gypsies of Lake County

Isabelle Anne and her parents came up for a visit last weekend. They have had quite the busy week, so we felt very honored that they squeezed us in. Just one week ago Joe graduated from dental school, then on Wednesday they closed and moved out of their house in Indy meaning that for a short time they're homeless. We call them gypsies, since they're just going from house to house all summer long in the Midwest until they move to their final new home in Arizona in August. On Saturday morning Katie & Joe had an event to go to, so we got to babysit Isabelle for a few hours. She is an absolute angel! Seriously, she is the happiest most gorgeous baby. What a little doll! The rest of the day Saturday we had an impromptu pool party. The Carpenters came down and with the awesome weather it might as well have been mid July. Good thing we opened the pool early this year.

Isabelle's first swim in the pool!

Mom and Dad met Isabelle for the first time on Sunday morning.

On Sunday we had a barbecue at Jenni (Bean) Trautvetter's new house. It was a fun Purdue swimmer reunion and her new home is gorgeous. Luke loved playing with Bean's two little girls, and we loved visiting with all of old friends.

Leah and construction man Luke

Matt got another 20% of the playset done (thanks to Joe for helping with the tube slide). He just has a couple other aesthetic things left before it is D-O-N-E! We are calling it Fort Dukerson.

Not much Luke news to report. He continues to become more and more independent. We don't have to worry so much about his balance going up an down stairs or climbing into chairs. He can drink pretty well out of a real cup and definitely understands us when we talk to him. His new favorite song is "When You're Happy and You Know It" and puzzles are still the daily obsession. Isolene thinks he has a photographic memory since he can put puzzles together by himself after just doing them once with an adult. He is loving sleeping lately. Probably because he's playing so hard during the day, but at night he is starting to point at his crib to indicate that he wants to go to sleep even before we've finished his bedtime story. Now we need to get him talking more!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Grand Summit II

Few have conquered it, but many have tried, it is the GRAND SUMMIT II!!! Otherwise known as our new backyard play set. Wahoo! We hope that Lukers and friends will have many, many hundreds of hours playing on this set in the days and years to come. Matt and Emil did the installation and it was quite the job. After 11 hours of working on it I'd say it was about 75% completed. Almost there guys! While they did that, Donna helped me sew a pad cover for our new hall bench. It turned our pretty good, but I'm not quitting my day job.

Swinging on my swing set in a big boy swing!

Luke was super helpful during the sewing process....not

Finished product!

Last weekend I also went to my soon-to-be cousin Kristin's bridal shower. Kristin is cousin Brian's longtime girlfriend and has basically already been part of the family for years. We're excited that they're making it official at the end of June. She had a lovely shower in Crown Point, IN.

Bride to be!

Cousin Lisa with baby Nikki

Grandma and Lukers

Then this past weekend we had the good fortune to host our cousins, the Eichinger's, for a couple days. They came up from Springfield and we had a blast! Their three kids are adorable and fun. It was non-stop action.

A visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo

All the kids swinging!

Saturday was my 32nd birthday. Not only did I get to celebrate with the Eichinger clan at the zoo, but Donna and Emil came up and brought an awesome dinner too. The best part was the atomic cake!! Thanks Donna and Emil. And thanks to Matt and Luke for making my birthday special too.

Puzzles are still Luke's fave

Sunday was Mother's Day. After a gorgeous morning at the Lake Forest beach park before we bid the Eichinger's goodbye, we headed up to Wisconsin for the birthday/Mother's Day party at Mom and Dad's house. The perfect weather stuck, and the day was just wonderful. It was such a fun day all around and I was glad to spend Mother's Day with my mother and grandmother:)