A weekend with Grandma Mary & Grandpa Craig

We welcomed Grandma Mary and Grandpa Craig for a nice weekend visit with plenty on the agenda.  Between showing them the train garden at the Botanic Garden, to going on the boat for the first time, to seeing Donna & Emil's new house, we had lots to keep us busy.  My favorite part of the weekend was just watching them interact with Luke and Claire.  (My least favorite part was watching 'The Impossible", the movie about the tsunami in Thailand.  I basically cried or hid my face in the pillow for 90% of it.  Moms beware, it is a tough one to watch.) 

Kid observation log:

• Luke loves to turn off all the lights in the house, and shut all the doors, too.  He is methodical, going from room to room, it is really funny.  This kid is not afraid of the dark.  The sad thing is (at least for me) that he can reach all the light switches WITHOUT his stools!  How did he get to be such a big kid?  
• Luke is singing and dancing so much more, it is really fun.  He used to just want you to sing to him, but now he gets in on the action.  In the bath one night we were singing "Wheels on the bus" and we sing "The Mommies on the bus" verse and instead of saying "Shhh Shhh Shhh" he says "The Mommies on the bus say 'Don't drink the dirty water, don't drink the dirty water, don't drink the dirty water.'"  Then he laughed at how funny he was.  I laughed too at his good memory and clever lyrics - because even though I have told him that many times, I hadn't for a while.  Smart kid:)
• Luke is newly obsessed with his night light turtle, even though he's owned it for a couple years now.  It actually is an incentive to going to bed at naptime and at bedtime - without the nightly fight of "only 3 books".  Amazing miracle product.
• Luke usually just ignores Claire, but the other day I was in the bedroom putting away clothes while Claire was in her swing and Luke was playing with his puzzles.  Luke came in to tell me that "Claire Bear is crying, Mommy".  This was the first time he seemed aware of her and concerned enough to come and tell me.  It was either that or her crying was hurting his ears and he wanted me to stop her from making all that noise!  
• Claire is holding herself up so well.  I can hold her on my hip with just one arm, instead of having to support her neck and head.  That means we have a baby now, not an infant!
• Claire is a grabbing machine.  She grabs onto toys, my clothes, my jewelry and my hair most of all (ouch!).  I forgot that a few months after you have a baby you lose a lot of hair.  I have been experiencing this crazy hair loss, so when Claire pulls more  of my hair out it isn't helping the situation!

Walking to the train garden.  He never lets me hold his hand, but asked to hold Grandma Mary's hand.

Looking at a train going by.

Love the puffball flowers

It was a beautiful day to go to the gardens

Boating time!  It was pretty chilly on the water, but still pretty fun.

Claire's first time on the boat!  The baby who never fusses hated the life vest, as all babies are required to because they are awful and uncomfortable.

Grandma reading Lukers stories, notice Claire craning to hear the story too!

SO big!

Enjoying a lovely visit in D&E's new backyard.

We walked to giant Bowen Park through a beautiful ravine trail from D&E's house.

Look at this beautiful face.  

Super strong stander-upper!  Rolls on the legs going strong.  We actually have to put a cream in between her skin rolls to protect that skin because it never sees the light of day!