Easter 2011

We travelled to Yakima to celebrate Easter with Grandma Patsy and Grandpa Bud. We had the added bonus of visiting with uncle Matt, uncle Will, Aunt Erin, Aunt Kiki and Maddy and Ella. Of course, I realize in looking at the pictures, I basically took pictures of the three cousins!

Our first Easter egg hunt. Maddy and Ella were amazing helpers and finders. This was quite a fun adventure to find the "eggs". He loves to say the word, but really doesn't like eating real eggs. The candy filled ones however were a favorite.
The Easter Bunny brought all three kids bubbles. Maddy and Ella blew the bubbles and Charlie laughed and chased them around the porch.
Uncle Will has built a dirt bike course in the back yard. The cousins plus Tom got quite dirty running around the hills. Ella kept lapping these three as she was really fast. Charlie kept giggling after each little hill.
Doesn't Tom look pleased to be the adult helping with the Easter egg coloring! Actually, I think he did enjoy the coloring. Much to his delight, Charlie got to color and put stickers on several eggs. Only one landed on the floor. Not too bad for a toddler egg coloring.
This picture isn't from Yakima, but I had to add it here. A few weekends back Tom took Charlie for a boys outing to the Spring Fair. This is one of the pictures from that day.

Children's Museum with friends

Yesterday our friends Dana and Emmett joined us for an outing to the Seattle Children's Museum. I certainly enjoyed having them join us and I'm quite certain Charlie did as well. However, the boys are at an age where they play together and then alone for a while and then back together.

After our time in the museum, we went outside (finally no rain!) and enjoyed a snack while watching the giant fountain in Seattle Center. Lots of fun was had yesterday!

This picture is for Uncle Andy. Here are a few firemen in training!

The artists.

Note the guitar shirt. Charlie loves playing his new guitar as well as wearing any item of clothing with a guitar on the front. A very popular item around here these days.

I finally got him to look at the camera and smile.

Exploring in one of the homes they have set up for the kids.

Family time

The last two weekends have been full of family visitors. Although Charlie had a very rough weekend last weekend with blood tests, IV and high fever, he pulled it together for those family that stayed at our home or met us outside the home. Below is a photo of book time last night. Maddy read two books to Charlie and Ella. She is an amazing reader!

These are three happy, tired cousins. This morning Charlie woke up early with tears, which is unusual for him. When I picked him up out of the crib, he said: "Ella! Maddy!" He proceeded to cry and yell for them until Ella woke up hearing him cry for her. They all were able to find each other before 7am. This was early as they didn't go to bed until 8pm (an hour past Charlie's bed time!).
Last weekend my cousin Kari was married. Although I didn't bring my camera to the wedding, I did get a few photos at breakfast the next morning. This is Charlie with his aunt Beth and his great uncle Dale. It took a while for Charlie to warm up to everyone, but then I didn't see him for about a half hour as he made his way around the room.

Aunt Beth and Eric came and stayed with us. We had lots of fun playing with these two. Charlie also had his first feeding the birds experience with these two. I forgot my camera! However, he loved, loved this outing. Here he is being the middle of a hug sandwich.

A few other comments about Charlie in his last month before hitting two years old. His vocabulary has really exploded in the last few weeks. He is now pointing to everything and asking "What's that?" Another favorite is "More please." This can be in connection to food as well as seeing a bus drive by and asking for "more please." Charlie also doesn't leave home without his moon boots on his feet. It is rather funny to see his feet in these big white boots.