Random pictures from John's Camera Phone

So recently, John and I got new cell phones. In that process John uploaded all the photos he'd had on his old phone onto the computer. These are pictures from the last 2 years, in no particular order, but that bring back memories, or at least make me laugh and smile!



Renee at the drinking fountain, probably March 2008.



Renee and Kelly lived for a little while at Aunt Katy's old house, here Renee is eating breakfast! March 2008.



The view from our old house, looking over the backyard and to the lake. Bittersweet, but fond farewell.



Kelly and Renee lived in a hotel for a while before settling into a house in IA. Why else would she be eating in bed...?



Kelly tried to catch a picture of Renee sleeping to send to Daddy... it's pretty dark, but that's a snuggle punk!



Out shopping, March 2008. Mommy thought this hat looked really cute, but everytime Daddy sees it, he says Renee looks like WT.



Mommy and Renee goofing around out front of the coffee shop in Gig Harbor, WA with Grannie Dunn and Aunt Katy. March 2008.



Looks like Mommy and Renee at the airport. Judging by Kelly's super short hair it was probably Dec 2007, picking up Julia at the airport for Christmas?



Aunt Julie snuggles Renee at Great Grandma Dunn's old house! Dec 2007.



Probably the same day, Dec 2007, at Great Grandma Dunn's house, with Popa, Harlan, Uncle Dave, Uncle Kenny.



Shopping with Daddy, December 2008 (Renee age 2.75 years old). Daddy's winter hat looks so cute on her!



Snuggled up in the car with Apollo in the backseat... road trip!



John acting very official back at his Navy office, wearing Gabe's "poopy suit" the outfit officers wear when they are underway on their submarine. Yes, Gabe is a little shorter than John. :)



Gabe at work... Hi Gabe!! John and Gabe were coworkers in the same office just before they both got out of the Navy. They did both leave the Navy by choice, as far as I know. None of their office antics had anything to do with it :)



Nice tubby bubble hat!!



Aww, hard to believe Renee used to be so little (sitting in a high chair?)! This is sometime in the Fall or Winter of 2007, Renee was just over 1 1/2 years old.



Summer 2009! Probably June? Cedar Falls, IA. Renee and Mommy by the Cedar River. Look at how small that belly is... That feels like a long time ago, Mommy's belly is getting much bigger now!



At most of our Cedar Falls community events there is a talented man who makes balloon sculptures for the kids- the flower hat is always a favorite! June 2009, Renee age 3.



My favorite picture from John's camera phone! We were walking home from the park, and John caught a shot of Renee in the light of the sunset. Pretty artistic for a cellphone picture! Summer 2008, Renee age 2.



Mommy and Renee playing in the park, Cedar Falls, IA, June 2008.



"Let's go fly a kite! Up to the highest height!" Spring 2009, Renee age 3.



April 2008 (age 2), Renee wears Grammie's sunglasses in the restaurant!



March 2008 shortly before we finished moving from WA to IA, Family Pancake House, Bremerton, WA lunch with Popa!



Aww... Aunt Katy sent this picture to John while Kelly and Renee were still in WA and John was in IA. Seeing this really made Daddy miss his little girl!



Apollo took the road trip with John and Jeremy when John was moving to IA. Such an easy travel companion, as long as he gets to come along, he's happy to hang out in the back seat.



Carl and Jeremy, hanging out late in Carl's parents' house. Feb 2008. I love the lighting in this picture, it almost looks like a shot from a movie, doesn't it?



Jeremy helped John drive his car across the country when John moved to IA. This was at a rest stop on the way, Feb 14, 2008.



Mommy and Renee, Jan 2008 (Renee almost 2 years old) on the ferry going to Seattle.



Mommy and Renee, Jan 2008, looking off the Bremerton-Seattle ferry.

Getting Ready for Preschool!

Darn, I just realized I should have brought my camera with us tonight! Tonight was "New Parent Orientation" for Renee's preschool! The kids got to meet their teachers and play in the classroom while the parents were reminded that every article of clothing needs to have your child's name on it. Renee seems genuinely excited, as we pulled into the parking lot, she said "wow", then quietly whispered "I love this!" What a goofy kid! Mommy and Daddy are equally excited!

Renee will be going to a Montessori preschool, and it's actually just down the street from where we live, so it's very close! She'll be attending 3 days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, from 8:30am - 11:30am. The first day of preschool is next Tuesday, Sept 1! Then on Wednesday night she starts dance lessons again! Next week will be very exciting for Renee! Wow my little girl is growing up!

Momma bear's grumpy day

I asked Renee to feed Apollo this morning, and she filled his food bowl with food -and water- and carried it from the sink over to the kitchen table to ask me if that was enough food. I told Renee to be very careful carrying the bowl, and she made it about 2 steps back across the kitchen when she dropped the whole thing on the floor, making a huge mess of water and dog food.

As I was cleaning the mess, I slid like a baseball player on my side because of the slippery floor. To make matters even worse, I couldn't get back up again right away because all my muscles were so tense. I was furious, wet, and smelled like dog food. If I was a bear I would have let out a big growling roar!

As I laid in the muck on the floor, I took stock of my body, and everything seemed fine. No real pain- just tight, stiff muscles and the humiliating stink of dog food. Somehow smelling like dog food seems about as gross as smelling like urine! After a few minutes I had Renee find my cell phone so I could call John at work and ask for his help. Since we recently started our birth class, they had talked about mom calling dad at work during a contraction and having dad talk to mom over the phone to help her relax during the contraction. I just didn't want to be alone, and I hoped John could coach me over the phone to relax my body enough so I could sit up. John instructed me to have Renee bring me lots of towels to mop around my head, and then a large pillow for me to rest my head on and relax. And then after another couple of minutes I was able to sit up. A little scuff on my elbow, stiff muscles, and furious, but most importantly baby was just fine -still kicking!

As if that wasn't enough excitement, while Renee and I sat eating lunch this afternoon, my clumsy pregnant self knocked over a glass of water right into Renee's lap. I swear I knock over glasses of water at least a few times each week! Quickly mopping up the new water mess, I apologized to Renee for my clumsiness and making her wet, and I told her we're just having a grumpy day- Renee's big mess on the kitchen floor, then Mommy's mess all over Renee. (Renee has a great book called "Smudge's Grumpy Day"- so if we have a rough day we say we're having a "grumpy day").

Then Renee stopped crying and said "Yeah, you're a bad mom, and I'm a bad kid."

I burst out laughing :) Isn't that the truth! Only from the mouths of babes!

Videos from Kelly and Renee's trip to WA

This is a clip of Renee playing badminton! We had so much fun, but whoever was on Renee's team had to be pretty patient!



The video of the camel riders as promised! That camel isn't even breaking a sweat! Isn't it great to see Papa up there along with Renee- who's the real kid?



Renee riding Viktor- but "look Ma, no hands!" Lori is the perfect instructor; patient and encouraging!



My little "Annie Oakley" in training! Even her mommy has never ridden backwards!



For those of you who are keen on details, you may notice that Viktor is moving a little faster, and you're right! They're trotting! My favorite part of this video is towards the end- seeing Renee's goofy grin as she rides by the camera!



One detail of this moment that you'd really appreciate is actually not caught on video- when Lori tells Mommy to stay away. And for good reason! There's no way I would have let Renee ride on her knees (or trot or ride with no hands) if it wasn't for Lori! Even Auntie Katy has a a tough time at first being able to let go! See, I'm not the only one!



Hide-n-seek! Who's hiding and who's really seeking... watch as hunter becomes the hunted!

Happy Birthday Grannie Dunn!

A video birthday song for Grannie Dunn. Happy Birthday!