Balls, Balls and More Balls

Growing up, our family had the tradition of opening Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. It all started because my Grandmother just couldn't wait both to open presents and watch everyone else open their presents. So, I had a Grandma Betty moment this past week when I just couldn't resist to give Keely one of her birthday gifts early. We bought her 100 ball pit balls to put in her swimming pool to play with. We had some friends coming over who have a 13 month old and a 2 1/2 year old so I thought they would all have fun with the balls. Keely could not stop smiling when I first got them out. She helped take the balls out of the bag and put them into the pool and then she sat in the pool and would kick her legs to make them bounce. She has had a lot of fun with those balls!

What A Day!

But I sure am glad when we have days like we had yesterday and today, that Dad gives us something to smile about!

Yesterday, Keely and I went to the grocery store and normally she LOVES talking to all of the people that work there. One of the cashiers even ran to the door to meet us. But she just wasn't in a people mood. We got home and I put her down for a nap and she just screamed. (And normally she goes right down for her nap). I can't do anything to calm her down as long as I'm in her room. I finally realized that she really did have a dirty diaper, even though it didn't stink, so it fooled me! And just after a short time, she had a bad diaper rash!! So bad that she insisted on standing for the diaper change. However, that didn't help nap time. So, finally we go downstairs and she calms down when she sees me getting the stroller out. We weren't a few minutes away from the house and she was asleep! When I got home, I rolled the stroller into the dining room and she napped there in her stroller!! These days some type of bread with melted cheese is a real winner! So for lunch she was finishing up a grilled mozzarella with basil that we had gotten at a restaurant the day before and with all of the grease on the bread...she was a MESS!

(yes that is a bread crumb on her nose)

So into the bath we went. She preferred standing during her bath because of her sore bottom. (This is when Dad made me smile) She pats the faucet and looks at me and says "Wa Wa." So, of course I turned the water on!

At midnight last night, we heard Keely screaming. Yet again, nothing would calm her down as long as we were in her room. Finally, we calmed her down and were able to help her fall back asleep.

We are driving a different vehicle, because ours is in the shop. The day before when we were going on our walk, I had to run back inside for my keys to get our umbrella out of the truck because it was about to rain. BUT I forgot to get my keys out of the stroller. After Keely and I played and visited at the office, we drove back home for a nap. But then I realize I don't have keys or my cell phone. Our helper was suppose to be there, but wasn't yet. So, we wait a few minutes and then decide to drive to a store I had been wanting to go to. Keely fell asleep on the way there, so we napped in the parking lot. After we went to the store, I drove back by the house to get Keely's milk before we picked Jacob up for lunch. BUT the helper is still not at the house. So, Keely and I made a stop at a corner store for some boxed milk! Then at nap time this afternoon the electricity went out (at least it was only 15 minutes)!

What a couple of days!!

Springfield Cardinals

For those of you not from Springfield. Springfield got a minor league baseball team a few years ago, the Springfield Cardinals.

My dad sends Jacob the comics and this is one that he sent him.

For Christmas one year, Jacob got a Springfield Cardinals hat from my parents. When my parents came in may both Jacob and Keely received Springfield Cardinal's attire. Here they are showing off their spirit!

(You can also see our new living room rug!)

Hong Kong Vacation

Our week long vacation was to Hong Kong to spend time with some friends. We were very blessed to be able to get an affordable flight that goes directly to Hong Kong from here, without having to go to Bangkok first. However, the flight did leave at night and Keely wasn't able to sleep much on the plane. So, it did make it a very late night for her.

A couple interesting things about our flight was 1) there were only 25 passengers on a Boeing 737! They did skip the middle seat unless it was a family of 3 traveling, but they put us all up in the front together! 2) They gave us a baby seat belt to attach to ours for Keely. She fell asleep in the middle of the flight and then they put the seat belt sign on because supposedly we were going to experience turbulence (we didn't). So, I help Jacob get his belt on (he was holding Keely), but we didn't worry about Keely's. Then the flight attendants come up and stand there until I get hers on...so I had to undo Jacob's, attach the baby seat belt to his and then hook her in it. Keely let out a nice little scream protesting the interruption of her sleep, though she did go back to sleep!

The first day we all hung out together, but then Alan needed to go to Macau for work, so Jacob went with him leaving us ladies with the 3 kids for 2 days! I definitely got to experience what it is like living in Hong Kong with kids! The first day we went to the park. It was a great park, complete with birds and flamingos! To get there we took the bus and I'm pretty sure it was a hilarious scene watching us get on and off the bus with 3 kids, 2 strollers and 2 diaper bags! We were going to go to Toys R Us that day as well, but after the park and lunch we abdanoned that idea and went home for naps. The next day we went to the market to shop for clothes for the kids. Jason was very concerned we were going to forget to go eat lunch and after every shop asked if we were going to go eat and when we told him a few more shops first he was say, "Remember, eat lunch." Thursday we went to Toys R Us when Jacob was with us and I'm glad he was there! Melissa had to go feed Danny, so Jacob went around Toys R Us with Jason looking for buttons to push and I pushed Keely while looking and feeding her Cheerios (she was hungry and didn't want to be in the stroller). Then we went to lunch where we had really great milkshakes. I decided to get blueberry and Keely decided to help me drink it! She's been working on sucking out of the straw, but hadn't been able to get it to come all the way up because the straw is too long. That is one determined little girl! There is ice cream in a cup and mom is offering it to you, then figuring out how to get it up the straw is very important. And she figured it out!

She also liked playing with the straw!

Yum!
(Keely does make a sound that sounds like yum and she was making it that day!)

Friday we went to the great recreation center that has a pool with an indoor and outdoor area. Half of the pool was a kiddie pool complete with play area with slide and rope swings! We put Keely in her float and she was able to walk and run all around by herself. She LOVED it! That evening we went to dinner with some friends and then walked along the harbor.

The next day we went to Stanley market and went shopping. Then we took the scenic route back home. Can you believe such a populous city can have such beautiful scenic spots?

(This one was taken through the window)

The trip wouldn't have been complete without excitement while we were trying to leave! That afternoon we looked online and saw our flight had been delayed by 2 hours. So, we decided to not leave as early and then Keely could take a nap. Keely had been having trouble napping all week, so she fell asleep on our bed and I put pillows around her (knowing that wouldn't contain her long, but hoping we would hear her when she woke up). Well, when she woke up, she was familiar with where she was (unlike a few days earlier when she cried immediately after waking up). So, she decided to go find mom and dad and crawled off the bed! She's fine, but that started our line of adventures for the afternoon. We were going to take the train to the airport, but our friends decided to go with us and eat at a restaurant that is not nearby where they live. On the way there, our tire blew out! We finally got to the airport and go to check-in and we can't find out check-in counter. We go to ask and we are informed that they closed check-in at the time as if our flight was on time. After some phone calls, they finally let us check in. We all go to eat dinner and Jacob and I don't have watches (I did find my yesterday though!) and Alan tells us we should get going pretty soon. As we are going, we realize we haven't ever gotten pictures of the kids and had to take a couple pictures!

Can you tell they are all exhausted?

So, we finally get to immigration and Jacob looks at his phone to see what time it is and it is 6:35. We are suppose to board at 6:35 and the ticket agents even told Jacob to be there at 6:35 and not to be late! And they close the gate 20 minutes before the flight leaves, so we have 20 minutes to get there. Well, we seem to get in the wrong line to go through immigration and when we are finally through we see that the line is SO long at security! It snaked 4 times (very long snakes)! So, we have 5 minutes to get there now. The gate was nearby but we had to go down 2 escalators! Jacob is carrying his backpack, the video camera, a bag of foam tiles and Keely and I'm carrying two bags, the computer (there wasn't time to put it back in the bag) and the stroller! We run up to the gate and find out the plane hasn't even arrived yet! Whew! That flight almost seemed not meant to be!!

Can you tell we had a good time, though?

Birthday Pizza Party

A few weeks ago, after we went to dinner for a friend's birthday, Jacob started thinking about what he wanted to do for his birthday. He decided he would like to have a make your own pizza party. So, since we got back from Hong Kong (Sunday night) I have been preparing for his birthday dinner. We had individual pizza crusts and lots of toppings for people to choose. Then we toasted marshmallows in the oven and had s'mores for dessert. It was a lot of fun!!

Keely sure liked her cheese pizza that Jacob made for her!

Happy Birthday Jacob

Thank you Grandma Kane for sending this picture. You definitely can tell who is Keely's daddy!