Happy Birthday Gramme!

How does it get to be a week every time before I post again? I swear it hasn't been that long and yet my archives beg to differ. Here are some highlights for the past week:

Last Saturday we actually had decent weather (the exact opposite of the cold, sleety rain we're getting today) so we headed out for a bike ride to the park. While James loves playing outside, he wasn't too sure of the bike trailer. Once we got going, he was okay but there was tears going into it. Annika was super excited though. She likes going for bike rides. She is the more adventurous of the two though. James cemented that position when he hated the swings. He was more than happy to go down the slides but he was not a fan of the swings. Annika, of course, was all over the place climbing up and down whatever she could. We didn't stay too long at the second park we went to but that was only because Annika started her tell-tale potty dance. We made her get back into the bike trailer to go home and boy was she unhappy about that. Since we were a mile from home though at a park without restrooms, we couldn't wait too long.

Annika was much happier that evening when Nana and Papa came over for a visit. Annika had made a grocery store run with Kris when Nana and Papa arrived. While we waited for them to get home Papa took James for a walk in the wagon. When she arrived home, Annika came running into the house and headed straight for the couch, stopped dead in her tracks and started pouting. I knew immediately that while she was excited to see Nana, she was devastated that Papa wasn't there too. I scooped her up and assured her that Papa would be right back and sure enough he was. And then all was well again. James was pretty cute too. Papa took him out of the wagon and James bee-lined it back over and tried to crawl back in. Wagons good. Slides good. Swings bad.

Sunday night our neighbors came over for dinner. Kris started cooking at 2pm and was still preparing the dishes when they arrived a little after 5! He enjoyed it though - and don't let him tell you otherwise! He loves trying out new recipes. This one was a goat cheese enchilada recipe he found on Food Network. He even made his own guacamole and green rice dishes as well. It was super yummy too! All day we had been telling Annika that Ryan and Erin (the neighbor kids) were coming over to eat dinner with her. When we got the 2nd stool out of the closet and put it by the kitchen island, Annika got super excited. She just could not wait to sit at the counter with Ryan and eat dinner with him. She had a great night, until they left of course. I don't think she ever wanted them to leave. We had to reassure her that she would see and play with them again.

Sunday afternoon while Kris was cooking, I played a little Mario Galaxy (love that game!). Annika loves it when I play too and she loves giving me "tips" while I play (Mommy, don't fall off there. Mommy, don't run into that guy. Mommy, don't die. - Thanks Annika). Anyway, every time I would die and have to restart she would tell me "No dice." I have no idea where she got that but it was pretty cute to hear her say. And when I finally did get my star, she clapped and bounced and shrieked "Mommy, you got a star! Yay!" Man, is she silly.

Speaking of silly, Annika has now dubbed herself "Naked Super Nika!" The girl loves her naked time (she had an hour and a half of it yesterday according to Kris) and apparently she also likes to pretend she's a super hero. When naked, she runs around the bedroom with her arms outstretched yelling "Naked Super Nika! To the rescue!" Goofball to the max.

Last night while getting ready for bed I told Nika that in three days we were going to a big party with dancing. Her eyes lit up. I then told her that the big party was called Angie's wedding. She jumped up and exclaimed "Mommy, does that mean I get to wear my new polka dot dress?!?" When I told her yes, she flung her arms around my neck, squeezed as hard as she could and yelled "Mommy! I love you so much!" Um, I think she's excited to wear her dress, go to the party and dance. She is also hoping there are kids there for her to play with. I foresee us dragging her off the dance floor. Should be fun.

Jamesy, Jamesy, Jamesy. Don't think I forgot about him with all these Nika stories. He is stealing my heart a thousand times a day. Poor boy is finally cutting those molars that he's been working on. All four are coming through but only one has broken the surface so far. He's been crabby a few days this week for Kris.

Jamesy is turning into a climber. I've already told you about the toybox/coffee table shenanigans. Well, one night this week I turned around to find him on top of the dining room table! He had pushed a chair out, crawled on top of it and then on top of the table. He can get onto just about anything these days. We are so doomed. He's still too young yet to understand he could get hurt and he gets so mad when you take him down whatever it is that he's conquered. And he also gets mad when you block him from scaling something too. It must be rough to be Jamesy now. So much exploring to do and these mean parents limiting you!

He is still my precious little boy though. When I'm driving and at a stoplight I'll turn around and grin at him, he'll look at me and then give me the biggest, hugest grin right back. I'll turn back to the front and then turn back to him again and repeat this over and over again until I have to start driving again. I never get tired of him grinning at me like that. You can just see the love in his eyes. I also have to pick him up and hold him as soon as I walk in the door at night. There is no putting him down until he's ready either. Baby boy loves his mama.

Jamesy has started coloring this week. Give him a crayon or (washable) marker and he'll go to town scribbling. He does a pretty good job of staying on the paper too. Although I did come home today to a baby with a big blue streak across his cheek. Apparently he wanted to color himself today too. James favors his right hand for eating and coloring and we're pretty sure he's going to stay right handed too. I'll have to keep some of these very first scribbles!