Tuesday, July 31, 2012

End of July

Just a few things.

Marshall showing Edith his train.

It was so great to see them playing together!

One morning they wanted to play dress-ups.  Eleanor got the cat costume out for Marshall.  He was happy to put it on at first.

But then he told us, "I don't like it!"  (This incidentally is one of his favorite phrases.)
 While talking to Marmar and Jonjon on Facetime Eleanor decided to do her hair.  She started by brushing it, with two brushes at the same time.  When Marshall decided to do his hair she shared a brush with him (after a small skirmish) and then slammed the door to the bathroom to "get ready".  This is the first time she has ever really shown any interest in doing her hair.  (Foreshadowing to the teenage years?  If so, she must be taking after Andrew because I'm sure I never did that...:))
The rat's nest (that was fun to comb out)

Side view. Note the purple clip at the bottom.

Front view, posing for the camera

Marshall jumped in on the photo action

Other side view

Beautiful Eleanor
 Edith's new favorite game is peekaboo.  It's just too cute!!
Where's Edith?

Peekaboo!

Uh-Oh! She's gone again.

Oh, there she is!
 We had pork ribs for dinner and Edith stole Daddy's bone.  A teething baby plus bone to chew plus success getting food off Daddy's plate equaled one happy baby girl!




Sunday, July 22, 2012

Since We've Been Home...

The must have photo of the baby wearing Daddy's hat

Eleanor woke up one morning pulled out the blocks and built this castle.

Here's Marshall working on his.  (Notice the number of blocks he got in his pile.  I'm sure I know younger brothers who can relate...(Zach? Sam? Marshall will need advice and encouragement.  Eleanor is just like me....:))

More castle building

We made some pumpkin soup.  Eleanor decided to feed Marshall.

I think she got it down his throat.

What?  Do I have lunch on my nose?

Eleanor and Daddy playing their guitars together.  I love the no pants look.

Edith is also a princess!

Marshall loves to take Edith down the slide.

Photo by Eleanor

Eleanor was playing outside and just running and singing and dancing.  She was just so happy and having so much fun. 

I don't think these photos really capture it.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Two Years

Obviously, this is a comfortable position!


June 2010

July 2012

Our Reccent Vacation, part 2

 So we spent a lot of time just hanging out at the beach.  The kids loved going down with Daddy in the morning while Edith was napping and then she would join them with Mommy before lunch and another nap.  Eleanor got some gardening tools from MarMar and JonJon for her birthday last year and they make great sand digging tools too!
Perfect castle spot

Mine will be next door

Eleanor built her's all by herself.
Happy supervisor!


The rake and hoe also made great sand writing tools.


Big brother love!!

Daddy went to find some shells to decorate the castles.  Marshall laid these out himself.

Eleanor wanted to collect her own.

Just a cute photo.
Daddy also went for a walk and collected some mussels off the rock and even got a paua.  Earlier in the morning we had all gone to collect pipis (cockels) but it turned into a bit of a disaster...
Anyway, we steamed opened the mussels and cockels and made a fresh seafood chowder for dinner and minced up the paua into fritters.  The kids were just so-so about the chowder, but Marshall gobbled up the fritters.  In fact, he ate Eleanor's as well.  (Gotta be fast, I tell ya!)
Part of the haul and Andrew working on the paua

Paua out of the shell

Chopped up mussels and pipis for chowder
While we were there Dunedin was celebrating the Cadbury Chocolate Festival and Sunday was Peninsula Day.  We tried going to the aquarium as it was going to be super cheap for everyone, but it was closed.  So we ended up going to the Royal Albatross Center where we got to see not only albatross chicks, but also old barracks from the 1880's.  It was very breezy and proved to be a fun day.  A special treat that night was having a friend from Centre College who lives in Dunedin with her kiwi husband come by for dinner!

Marshall checking out the big "disappearing" gun

Love the pose!!

Marshall trying to climb up to the top

Eleanor aiming the gun

The best effort at a group shot.  Any tips?!  Its like herding cats...At least Edith is looking.

Eleanor asked to have her picture taken with bubbie.  She is getting so big!

Eleanor took this of Edith

Daddy-daughter shot
After nap time Daddy would take the big kids down to the "pay-gown" (Marshall-ism)  When we first arrived there were workmen there putting in a new see-saw with horses.  Then it had to set and then it sit gated up all weekend just tempting the kids before they could use it.  We left on a Tuesday and so first thing Monday morning the kids went down to see if they could "go on a horsey ride" unfortunately, they had to wait until the afternoon.  When we got Marshall up from his nap I told him he was going to get to go on a horse ride that afternoon and he said, "boo one.  Eleno go on red."  I had no idea what he was talking about it, but it got him out the door quick!

"Eleno" on the red one

Marshall on the "boo" one

Eleanor took Daddy on a ride

Marshall picked up me and Edith

They had trouble reaching the ground with their feet and Daddy was helping them rock.  (And because I take a ton of pictures in an attempt to get a "good" one when you look at all of them together you get a movie effect.  pretty cool)

After the playground you had to walk home on the beach.
On Tuesday we had to say goodbye to the beach and on the way home we took a ride on the Taieri Gorge Railway.  It leaves from the Dunedin Railway Station.  Then we stayed with Mary and Neville (Andrew's aunt and uncle) before heading home on Wednesday.

Checking out the tracks from a crossover bridge.

Eleanor took this inside the railway station.

Eleanor performed a ballet dance for us while we are waiting.

"Is that the paparazzi?  Please no pictures!  Bodyguard Marshall get on that!"

On the train with her ticket

On the train with her snack.  Don't take that away or not give it back!

Marshall with his ticket

It was a four hour return trip and Eleanor was tired so she made her seat a bed and took a nap.  (If you think she actually slept you have never met Eleanor...:))

Checking out the view.  (OK we were going through a tunnel, but it was the best one and they really though the tunnels were cool.)

See there was breathtaking scenery...:)
And that was what we got up too over the school holidays.