Toby is a toy maker!

Toby spent many many hours working on the perfect gift for Annie's first birthday.  When he finished it earlier this week, he was too excited to wait to give it to her.  So don't worry about spilling the beans to Annie. 

She absolutely loves it!  Whenever I try to carry her past it, she tries to lunge out of my arms.  I don't have any pictures on the computer of her actually playing with it, but here 'tis...

It is a giant play cube with tons of fun activities.  The top has a bead chaser and stacking blocks.  One side has a chalkboard and a drawer for chalk.  She loooves chalk, but I'm afraid it has to go bye-bye for a while until she stops drawing on every surface in the house. For now she keeps our old cell phones in her drawer. 

Another side has a very cool painting with four figures that she can move around on tracks.  There is a closer
shot of this side below.

The third side has an abacus and blocks that spin around. The fourth side (also know as Annie's favorite side) has a shape sorter.  The best part is that the shapes fall into a cabinet and Annie can open and close (and open and close, open and close, open and close) the door all day long.   The cube is also on wheels, which is great since Annie loves to push stuff around, like her high chair, her crib at school, and anything else on wheels.

Here's a close up of Toby's painting and the figures on the tracks.  I think you can tell, but just in case you can't, those are a cardinal in the sky, surgeonfish in the sea, shetland pony in the meadow and butterfly in the flowers. I had no idea that Toby could paint so well! He is so creative - I hope Annie inherits that from him.

Toby had a lot of fun making this, and even got to buy some new power tools.  Win-win! Well done, Toby!

More England photos

I'm pretty sure that I am setting a record in length of time between going on a wonderful trip and updating the blog to reflect said trip.  These photos are really in no particular order, and sorry Autumn, I am still not featured in any of these. I hear there is a wedding video somewhere that will provide evidence that I actually did attend this trip to England. However, since I made a blubbering fool of myself on said video, you won't be seeing it.  Anyway...

Annie and Millie really hit it off - it was so cute watching them play, well, near each other.  I think in a few more months they might actually play together, but as babies - not so much.   They enjoyed some group bathing, complete with lots of new bath toys, courtesy of Nana and Grumps.

Toby got everything he ever wanted for Christmas, including pjs that match Annie!  He would be embarrassed if I published how many times he has worn that thing since Santa brought it...

Toby and James are so funny when they are strolling with the babes.  Our short walk was above-average on the hi-jinks scale.

Here's Annie and Grannie having a snuggle.  Annie has a face full of yogurt, which was her favorite English food.  They have fabulous baby yogurt.

Annie also enjoyed pinching Millie's toys.  Millie was very sweet to share - much sweeter than I expect Annie would have been had the situations been reversed.

We had a really lovely (but cold, Garrod, really cold) picnic in the North Yorkshire Moors.  Annie could not figure out why we were eating sausages off a grill in the middle of nowhere, but I knew why.  Grumps is determined to instill a sense of adventure in his granddaughters, that is for darn sure. :) The drive was among the best England has to offer - tiny roads, lots of sheep, Krista with her eyes shut in the back seat.

Next, tied for first place in the "tired but so cute" category - Millie and Annie, individually and also in the group competition. Happy Christmas!

The zoo!

Toby and I took Annie to the zoo today.  Toby had taken her there before, but this was the first time the three of us had been to any kind of "amusement park" before.  Toby carried her in a front pack since she only walks about 10 steps at a time.  Takeaways: (1) 90 minutes is a good length of time for a baby, so the zoo membership makes sense. (2) Annie really likes flamingos, and sort of likes giraffes.  (3) She won't look at anything in trees, only things on the ground.  (4) Her favorite part was when we were on a big open path with nobody around, and daddy started to run and make funny noises.  (Bonus - we can do that almost anywhere.)

Update on the kitchen renovation - the cabinets are in, and they look great.  I'm guessing it will be two more weeks before it is done.  The toe-kick drawers are really cool.  I highly recommend them for small kitchens.

11 months!

Annie turned 11 months earlier this week.  We tried to take a few photos, but she was not particularly in the mood.  We did get this funny one with a flower clipped into her hair.  The flower was in her hair for - I kid you not - less than one second before she wrenched it off.  She does not tolerate bows, flowers, hats, or really anything at all on her head.  I think this picture should be called, "You Have GOT to be Kidding Me." Or pehaps, "Who the Heck do you Think You're Messing With?" 

Annie is taking lots of steps now - she just did four or so in a row standing all by herself and moving towards a toy.  Until now she was walking only between people. She gets so proud, it is very cute.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Annie celebrated by taking two steps on her very own! 

Kudos to Toby!

Not to brag on my husband, but he just had his work evaluation, and the written evaluation says, among other good things, "Toby is the top performer."  

Okay, I am bragging, and unapologetically at that.  Way to go, Toby! 

Toby's upcoming adventure

Toby was chosen to participate in Franklin's Citizens Fire Academy.  I was 100% on board until I learned that it will involve actually going into a house that is on fire.  I am now 85% on board.  On May 19 I may need to borrow some anxiety medication.  Until then, feel free to send stern emails to Toby reminding him of the danger of fires.

The website is below - have a look.

http://www.franklin-gov.com/index.aspx?page=330