Cousins!

I'm back in BloNo and getting into the swing of things.  Today, I'm trying to get out the photos of the tail end of my time in WA.

Here are my lovely little cousins!  Jett and Jayla Marburger.  Two little joys, and I'm so glad I finally got to meet them and spend some time with Jessica. 

Jett is 3 (although he said with fierce determination that he is 5), and Jayla is 16 months...17 months?  Call it a 1.5 years :)

Holidays and Visiting WA

 At the Swift house, getting ready for Christmas means making sticky buns.  Yum!

 Harper with her dad.  Harper is teething.  I don't know what Dan's excuse is :)

 Harp was taken with his raindeer playing a saxaphone...

 ...and the kitchen that is just her size!  Thanks Joan!

 Harper in action!  Being chased by Grandpa Gus.

 At the cousin dessert gathering.  She wasn't shy - proven later as she plopped down with Emily to explore her iPhone.

 In Washington!
Here to visit with Auntie Ciara and Uncle Adam before they go back to Turkey and Seattle, respectively.

 The ladies with their festive red pants.

 Harper reaching for some dried apples.

 She and Grandpa Glen had a blast playing with a flashing, wailing, fire chief car. 

 Harper enjoying her throne...

 ...and her uncle!

 With Grandma Renee and Grandpa Martin!

 The kid loves her green beans.

 Harper's first day of 2013 and her first outing to play in snow! 

 Harper tracks.

 Super cute little wet snow boots.

 Goodbyes with my sister and Adam :(

Whew...

I'll be in Washing for another week and I'm hoping to have more pictures of visits with friends soon!

Cheeks and steps

 I love Harper's cheeks. 

 And she can now climb up, and down, to the sink unassisted.  So the tally currently stands:

Bathroom Sink...check
Kitchen sink...nope
Couch...check
Chairs in living room...check
Dining room chairs...nope
Parent's bed...almost  She has the down, but not the up

We are running out of climbing obstacles.  

Lion Tamer

My dad gave Harper this little lion when we last visited Spokane in (I think) July.  She hasn't been able to pull the rip cord...until today!  Not only can she pull the cord, but she is trying so hard to get the wheels on floor so it can scoot around. 

I can almost see her brain growing!

Fork

I sound like Strong Bad, but we're building motor skills regardless.  I'll look back and wince at the "stabbing eggs" bit, but whatever.  Infant cutlery is extremely dull and it's a challenage to get food to stay attached long enough for a wee one to attempt putting said food in his or her mouth.  My solution is brute force. 

And a bit of cheese.  Melted cheese helps hold things together.