Fun with Friends

we had a SUPER fun play date with some friends. Here are some of the highlights...

 

Samuel got to eat his first popsicle (frozen go-gurt).

 

Big siblings, little siblings

Katrina   -   Bryton
Samuel   -   Korah

 

What love!

"I know how to sit up alone!"

 

"This is not as fun as I thought it would be..."

 

"OK. This will be fun, Samuel."

 

"Korah, do you want to try it?"

Queen for a Day (or Everyday!)

Look how big Katrina is getting!

She is an absolute joy these days. She is so imaginative and loves pretend play. Dolls, Barbies and animals are her favorites right now.

She is going to be the flower girl in my brother's upcoming wedding and she is absolutely overjoyed. She is really not sure what a flower girl is and that is evident when she suggests various things for the wedding...

"Mama, I know. I could wear wings and fly in the wedding."

"Mama, I am going to be a princess flower girl. I want to wear this princess dress."

"Mama, who am I going to marry?"

We are hopeful that everything will go smoothly on the actual wedding day. When she tried on her flower girl dress she did not want to come out of the bedroom. I ended up having to walk with her which was no big deal then but I am not quite so sure it will be ok during the actual wedding.

27 Weeks

 

 

Ya Se Fueron

Abuelo y Abuela,

Queriamos decirles muchisimas gracias por venir a visitarnos. Pasamos el mejor rato con Uds. y estamos tan tristes que ya se fueron. Los amamos mas que nunca y no podemos esperar hasta diciembre cuando, si Dios quiere, podamos verlos otra vez alla en Venezuela. Siempre vamos a recordar de los bonitos tiempos que tuvimos juntos.

Abuelo, soy Katrina, me diverti demasiado cuando jugabas conmigo bebes.

Abuela, soy Samuel, a mi me encantaba cuando me dabas los teteros y jugabas conmigo bailando tu pie.

Son los mejores abuelos del mundo y los amamos tanto.

Katrinita y Samuelito

Disney Land

Tuesday morning Panchito had an appointment at the Venezuelan Consulate in Chicago to pick up his renewed Venezuelan passport (no, they do not mail them!). So, after we went to the Consulate and waited to get his passport we left Chicago because his parents were leaving from Mosinee this morning for Venezuela. On the way home we stopped at Chuck E. Cheese in Rockford. This was Katrina's first experience at Chuck E. Cheese and needless to say, it will not be our last. She LOVED it!

When we were back in the car, heading for the highway again, she said, "Papa, Mama, thank you so much for taking me to Disney Land."

Katrina, if you think Chuck E. Cheese is Disney Land, we are in luck!

Chicago Highlights

 

Carousel at Navy Pier

We have made it a tradition for Katrina to get a carousel ride every time we go somewhere that has one. She has so much fun!

 

 

Katrina and Panchito on the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel

 

Panho, Emelys, Samuel and me down on the ground. Can you see us?

(we have the stroller next to the bushes)

 

Katrina and her "primitas."

 

Eduardo, Daniela, Pancho, Emelys

 

Another vacation tradition: Build-A-Bear

 

Another vacation tradition: zoo

 

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago

 

Lincoln Park Zoo Carousel

 

The tradition continues with the second born.

 

Samuel got his first ride.

 

Abuelo and Abuela waiting for Katrina to finish her 3 carousel rides!

 

"This is the greatest."

 

Cute Samuel, waiting for Katrina to finish riding.

 

 

Bath Time Fun

 

Samuel is getting a bit too big for the little bathtub so I thought it would be a fun treat to have the kids bathe together...

We don't have a special bath seat and a friend used to use the bumbo with her girls in the tub so I figured it was worth a try. The bumbo works great but Samuel was a bit nervous in the big tub in a new seat and then when Katrina got in and started making lots of noise and splashing around I thought he would start laughing since he loves her rowdy-ness outside of the tub.

Well, I was SUPER wrong. He started screaming and screaming. Then, when I finally got him calmed down and enjoying himself again I decided to wash Katrina's hair and rinse it. I have said before that Katrina doesn't really like that part of the bath time experience. This night was no exception. She started screaming bloody murder (in the tub it sounds worse with the echoes!) and then guess who got SUPER scared? Both of them were screaming so loudly and I was fighting with Katrina to get the soap out of her hair. What a nightmare.

So, last night I needed to bathe Samuel again. I decided to take a chance with the bumbo in the big tub. At first he started to cry but I calmed him down. Then Katrina wanted to get in. Well, thankfully for all of us, Samuel started to go potty in the tub. With him seated the way he was in the bumbo, it was like a tiny fountain spraying all over. That deterred Katrina enough so she did not want to join him!

We will see how long it takes for them to have fun bathing together.

Almost Final Highlights

 

Our last night in town (we went to Chicago for two nights to do some Consulate stuff) was chilly! These pictures look like his parents were here in fall!

 

Katrina enjoyed roasting marshmallows.

 

She might need to work on her technique.

 

Just the way Abuelo and Abuela like s'mores... with burned marshmallows!

 

Panchito with the kids and his parents.

 

Me with the kids and his parents.

 

 

26 Weeks

 

 

6 months (on Sunday) and what I am up to...

 

I'm 6 months old already. Can you believe it? My mama and papa cannot. To them, it seems like just yesterday I was in mama's belly and now 6 months have already passed.

Well, even though it is hard to believe, it is true. On Sunday I will be 6 months officially.

We are not exactly sure how much I weigh but two weeks ago I was 18 pounds 3 ounces. So, more than that! I weigh enough that my papa had to move my car seat base to the side instead of in the middle because my mama cannot lift me up with her left arm into the base because her shoulder hurts too badly. I guess it happened with Katrina too, although she was quite a bit older.

I am wearing 6-12 month clothes and 9 month stuff.

I do not tolerate heat well. I enjoy cooler days to warmer ones.

I am beginning to do a better job during the night. Earlier this week I was waking up in the middle of the night and staying awake for an hour or so with my mama. I just wanted to spend some extra time with her, but she wasn't overly excited about the time frame I selected. The last two nights, however, I have done a much better job. I still wake up in the night, but mama gives me a bottle and I go back to sleep right away. Mama is much happier with me so I think I will try to keep this up. I take 1/2 teaspoon of Zyrtec at night, which the doctor suggested and that seemed to be helping the itching. I also use hydrocortisone ointment (2.5%) each morning and evening on the parts of my skin that are irritated and then Cetaphil on the rest of my body. I feel like a greased pig most of the time, but I like it.

I am still eating cereal and vegetables and fruits.

My abuelos are still here until next Wednesday. I have had the BEST time with them and I will be sad to see them go. We are going to visit Venezuela, Lord willing, in December, Papa and Mama tell me, so we will see them again soon. Just not soon enough.

My papa and mama and sister love me more than ever. I know I say that every month, but it is true.

* Oh, my papa and mama just bought me a swing at Menards today. I LOVE swinging (remember, right?) and now I can swing outside with my sister. Que fino!

 

It's just not right

 

It is July 17 today. It is 60 degrees outside.

Samuel needed to wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks. It's just not right. The middle of July and long-sleeves, long pants and socks...

He is adorable, nonetheless, don't you think?

Feliz Cumpleanos, Panchito

 

Paella

 

Platanos asados

 

Torta Maria Luisa

 

Famila Amada

 

Feliz Cumpleanos!

Panchito turned 30 yesterday. What a special day for our family! His parents were here to celebrate his big day. His mama and I worked all day long to make his favorite Venezuelan foods: chicha (not shown -- rice and milk beverage), paella, platanos asados and torta Maria Luisa. My family (minus Nick who had to work) was able to come and enjoy the meal with us.

Panchito, te amo mas que nunca. Estoy tan agradecida al Senor por haberme dado un esposo y mejor amigo. Gracias por ser el amor de mi vida. Espero que tuviste el mejor cumpleanos!

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

25 weeks

 

 

24 weeks

 

 

More Highlights

Jaycees 4th of July Celebration at Marathon Park

 

We ran into Katrina's good friend, Ellie, and they shared a few rides together.

 

Samuel fell asleep while we pushed him around at the fair.

Panchito was up north for an overnight with the guys and his parents wanted to get the yard work done for him. His dad used the shears to cut all the weeds and the taller grass around the edges of things.  

 

His mom was back behind the mower. 

*The members of the church believe that Pancho and Emelys are relaxing here in the US... Hopefully they understand that they wanted to do the yard work!

 

Katrina LOVES being with her abuelo.

 

She is such a good helper too, picking up all the weeds after he cuts them.
 

Believe it or not, their time with us is coming to an end. We are all very sad to see the 22nd appear on the calendar. Yesterday they started packing the first suitcase, the one full of many gifts for family and friends in Venezuela. Katrina was devastated  to find out that they will not be staying forever. Pray that we will continue to carpe diem and make lots of memories.