April 2014

Look, mama, a new bag!

Bath time continues to be a favorite with these two. 

We dyed Easter eggs with Teddy for the first time this year. If any of you read Nate Blogg, you'll see why I opted for the gloved approach. 

Teddy's "smile": a work in progress.

Relaxing in our not-so-infinity pool

Easter egg hunt! This was the first year we did one at home. We figured Jo wouldn't really get involved, but she immediately recognized the basket as a handbag and with her genetically ingrained OCD tendencies, she instinctively knew to tidy up all the eggs laying messily about. 

What's in there?

She was undaunted by the foil wrappers

Teddy showing me that there's peanut butter inside.  

 

Spruced up and ready for church. 

March 2014

In March, Grandma and Grandpa Amberg came to visit for a week and we had a birthday party for Jo. 

Here's Teddy enjoying a leisurely al fresco lunch in his pajama shirt. 

These kids love their milk. 

Given the opportunity, I think they'd both forego food and subsist on milk alone. 

Teddy likes to mimic Jo. Here: throwing his cup down. 

Scavenging Teddy's leftovers 

Party prep with Grandma Pinkie. 

For the record, they were both useless at blowing up balloons. 

But very cute. 

The party turned out lovely and the guest of honor was adorable. 

It was great to spend time with friends and family.

She was tentative about the cake for about a second - 

- and then she dug right in.

Why won't kids hold still for nice family photos?

By the end of the party, the birthday girl got a little sleepy which made for some nice snuggles for Grandpa.

At the playground

Playing suspiciously near to the forbidden realm of Reggie's dog food and water bucket. 

Ever since she began walking, she's taken to carrying handbags of all sorts in the crook of her arm. Such a little lady. Sometimes.

As promised, Daddy helped Teddy upgrade the rocket ship with a custom paint job.

The artist contemplates.

A masterpiece! 

Later that day, Grandma and Grandpa Rouspil came over to help with the rocket launch and take Jo out on a little Sunday drive.  

February 2014

February was a much better documented month, largely thanks to two big events: Judd and Sherri's wedding and Jo's 1st birthday.

The first weekend in January, we were joined by Grandma and Grandpa Amberg for a drive up to Lake Tahoe to celebrate the wedding of my Uncle Judd and Aunt Sherri. It was Teddy's first time in the snow so we borrowed some snow clothes and tromped out into the cold. He was very excited about wearing his gloves and snow boots. 

Out in the snow he set to the task of collecting all the fallen pinecones he could find. 

After stomping on a lot of snow, we went back to the hotel for lunch where we ran into many of the other Ambergs staying at the hotel, including the groom.
And of course, this adorable little guy...

That evening was the wedding, so we all got dressed up and Uncle Jeff took this great picture of the Amberg/Davis/Rouspil clan. Can you see Baby Davis making an appearance?

The wedding was beautiful and the reception was tons of fun. Teddy ran around and danced like a wildman. Jo was so close to walking at this point, but luckily there were lots of people willing to hold her, including the beautiful bride. 

 Jo did start walking the next week, just a couple weeks shy of her first birthday. 

She loves this chair; she climbs in and out (from all sides) and likes to corral toys in there, too.  

She learned to clap! Hooray!

Here is Teddy re-asserting his ownership of red car blue stick. It was lunch time and to keep Jo from playing with his cars while he ate, he hid them in the trunk. And then to keep her out of the car altogether he parked himself in the driver's seat.

Continuing his clever ways, he found a handy cup-holder for his Slurpee while playing in the backyard.

On February 22nd, Josephine turned 1 year old. We drove up to Calistoga the night before and had a jam-packed day of fun on Saturday. 

Waking up in the morning, Teddy and Jo goofed around in their Christmas PJs. 

A little smooch.

One blank stare, one cheesy grin. 

Teddy trapping himself and Jo in the baby tent. 

After the continental breakfast, we wandered from our hotel to downtown Calistoga. We went to the little farmer's market and visited a nice playground where Teddy and Brian played cowboy and yelled, "Yeehaw!"

Back at the hotel we took a dip in the mineral swimming pools.

Then we showered, packed up, checked out and headed to the geyser for a picnic lunch.  

Daddy stole some hugs, Teddy ate a few bites of his burrito and ran off.

Jo helped herself to his leftovers.

While Brian and Teddy went to feed the fainting goats, Jo and I wandered around practicing her wobbly walk. 

Then we hit the road for the 90 minute drive home and the kids napped in the car most of the way.
Success!

January 2014

I guess we didn't do much in January, because I have very few pictures to show for it. 

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Rouspil's to celebrate Bob and Paige's birthdays and went on an adventure to the local playground. Here's Grandma and Jo being super cute. 

Daddy and Teddy built a rocket ship to go get the owl they could hear in a neighboring tree. 

Teddy was disappointed that the rocket ship didn't actually fly, so Brian made plans to upgrade it later on. 

Jo discovered the red car blue stick and would just climb in and wait for a ride. Teddy gets a little jealous about sharing it with her, but on this trip to the corner store he happily scooted (which mostly means walking alongside his scooter). 

Jo continues to be a voracious eater. Here she decimated some rice, beans and carne asada.