Preparing

We have been preparing for baby Riemer for some time. A little over a week ago, Josie and I made a paper chain to count down the days until her little brother arrives. The first thing she does every morning is run to the chain and cuts off a link... or in this case 3 links since she was gone for a few days.

Last weekend while Josie was at Liz's, some friends threw a baby shower for me and the new baby. Although I'm not really one for showers and didn't even have one for Josie it was really fun to see a bunch of my favorite friends all together. Unfortuntely, there isn't a group shot but here a couple photos.


Of course Josie wasn't all that excited to see a bunch of new gifts and things for her brother and not much for her. She came around when I gave her a mini cupcake that I'd saved from the party.

Then, yesterday a bunch of Marty's friends from high school had another shower for us at a restaurant at South Center. Josie was the "present opener." Thankfully, she is pretty thrilled just to open the gifts and doesn't really care much that they are not for her.
She did get a really nice book just for her and took charge of the three stuffed animals that I'm sure were meant for her brother. She just had to use the camera and get a good shot of her little friends "all by herself"

Weekend in Heaven... AKA Snohomish

Last weekend Josie spent most of the weekend up with Aunt Liz and Uncle Ed. As always, Josie was in Heaven. Actually, for the few days leading up to her trip north, she kept saying, "I'm going to stay with Liz for 3 months!" I would have to tell her that no, actually, she was just staying 2 nights. But it did prompt me to ask her if she'd miss us if she were to be gone for 3 months. Her immediate response was a hearty, "NO!"

Here are just a few of the photos from the weekend. She had a ball on the boat, at the playground and at the Everett Children's Museum. Not to mention all the fun she had with Liz's llamas, goats, chickens, dogs and cats. No wonder she wants to stay for 3 months. They make it seem like summer camp each time she visits.

Hunting Easter Eggs

Josie had a blast yesterday at her friend, Boyan's Easter Egg Hunt.
Here is almost the whole group with their baskets ready.

Marty wasn't able to come so he and Josie did a "practice run" hiding things in our house before the party. I think they may have practiced a bit too much. Josie was definitely on a mission.

Before long, Josie's basket was overflowing. Whenever she bent over to pick up another egg a couple would fall from her basket. Her friend, Gabe, helps her pick up her fallen eggs.

After it was clear her basket could hold no more, she handed her basket to me and she helped Bryn fill her basket.

"Hmmm, there's got to be more over here."

I was starting to feel badly that Josie had so many eggs but now looking at all the other kids' full baskets it looks like everyone got a lot of eggs. Apparently, there were 300 eggs for the 12 or so kids.

Happy girls with their Spring dresses and full Easter baskets.

Here Come the Tulips

About a month after the daffodils bloomed the tulips started. They still aren't all the way open yet but they are on their way.

Bryn came over last week and they had fun playing hide and seek with masks

And a "dance party" It was St. Patrick's Day. Notice their green outfits.

Josie's First Swim Lesson

Josie had her first swimming lesson on Monday. As she does with most new things, she was a bit timid at first and really just wanted to check things out from afar. We go swimming with her quite a bit but this was the first time she was in the water without one of us. There were 10 kids ranging in age from 3 1/2 -5 and only two instructors. At first Josie was put at the end with all the "big" kids. I'm not sure if it was more traumatic for her or me :) Here she is looking a bit anxious.
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After it was clear that she was put on the wrong end of the line-up she was moved down to the end with kids closer to her own age. She was one of the shortest ones which typically means she is also one of the youngest.

After getting used to the situation she really did shine. She did her big kicks and big arms and blew bubbles and had a lot of fun.

After every turn out with the instructor she would look over at me and give me a thumbs up. Thankfully, they are getting one more instructor for the rest of the lessons. 1 on 3 seems much more reasonable than 1 on 5 beginner swimmers.

Bike Rides and Alki

Josie and Marty took their first bike ride of the season on Saturday. Unfortunately, I'm a bit too big and off balance to roller blade (or "roll my blades" as Josie calls it) next to them. I took the car and Josie and Marty rode the bike from our house down to Alki. Josie did GREAT. Last year she would get a bit antsy in the back but this time she just sat back and enjoyed the view. Marty kept hearing little comments from the back seat and because of the wind couldn't hear her very well so he would stop and ask her what she said and she would also respond "I just say 'whoa', Dad."

We met our friend Simone down at the beach and Josie and Marty built sand castles. After awhile Josie was ready for her favorite nearby park, the Whale Tail Park.

Here is the much requested "under dog"

And the "up high"

And the whole thing in action

Whenever just Josie and I go to this park she is always disappointed that I'm not taller to help her up the whale tail. One of the many good reasons to have a tall Dad!

After a great lunch at Pegasus (thanks Dawna and Kurt for the gift certificate... you didn't think we'd waste any time using it did you? :) Marty and Josie loaded the bike on the bus which let them off 5 or so blocks from our house and then they pedaled home.

Our Little Picasso

Josie has been REALLY into painting lately. She has always liked it at preschool but we hadn't really been painting much at home. She had gotten some finger paints for Christmas and we found some other paints and a bunch of recycled paper and the first day we painted she was busy for over 2 1/2 hours. No kidding. Almost 3 hours of solid painting.

Josie shows off her "E"

She takes her painting VERY seriously. If you ask her a question or even talked to her while she is painting she will let you know, in no uncertain terms, that she "is very busy working on a painting project."

She has a very interesting style as well. She paints right up to the corners so that every inch of the paper is covered in paint. Her style also involves almost more paint than paper. Let's just say they take up to 2 days to fully dry!!

The second day of painting I told her she needed to put on painting clothes and this is the outfit she came up with. I guess that will work.

This is only a VERY small fraction of the art work she has created over the past couple of weeks. I need a drying rack of some kind. When she really goes at it all of the kitchen counters and the island are covered with drying art.

Last week the house was disturbingly quiet for a bit too long. I found Josie in the small little room under the stairs working on her letters. Part of the alphabet was up but she filled in the rest by herself and was sitting back to appreciate her work. (I did the numbers. She hasn't quite gotten those down yet.)

Last Sunday I hosted a bridal shower for my friend Heather. Thankfully, I had a lot of help from Beth and Simone. Here are the four of us (Beth, Heather, Simone and me)

Josie has an amazing memory. Here she is "reading" books to her dog, Husky.