Little friends

July has brought some very warm days, and we've been out enjoying the summer weather with friends. It's really a lot of fun to see Annikka interacting with other kids.

Here's a backyard pizza party with Mika.

From July 2009

From July 2009

Joining Hirut in the downtown fountain--the fountain isn't really Amani's thing though.

From July 2009

From July 2009

Although she took a few minutes to decide she liked it, she was soon happy to be in the middle of it all.

From July 2009

And a fun day with the "science club" (Jessica and Zane).

From July 2009

From July 2009

From July 2009

They are all getting big so fast.

Weekend at the coast

From July 2009

We spent the 4th of July at the coast with Meredith, Pete & Thurston. Although the weather was a little cooler than we had hoped for, we still got out for a little fun on the beach.

From July 2009

From July 2009

From July 2009

From July 2009

From July 2009

Here's Thurston (aka Baby T) with Mommy Meredith. He's a very happy 4 month old.

From July 2009

By the second day, Annikka even started to warm up to the idea of letting Mommy hold a baby, for a minute or two.

From July 2009

And she started having fun with Thurston too.

From July 2009

Too cute!

From July 2009

From July 2009

We also went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where Annikka saw sea otters...

From July 2009

sharks...

From July 2009

sea lions...

From July 2009

and the ever popular (at least around our house) octopus!!

From July 2009

Octopus, octopus squiggling in the water...(it's a daycare song)

From July 2009

It was a fun weekend, even though our bedtime comes too early to see fireworks.

Toddler

Annikka moved to the Toddler Room at daycare this week. On her second day, we got these pictures from her new teacher. :)

From June 2009

From June 2009

Ohio, the land of animals

First, there was the turtle at Papa and Alecia's house.

From June 2009

From June 2009

Then, we went to see the butterflies released at the Franklin Park Conservatory.

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

And, finally, we went to the Columbus zoo. It was really fun to get to see Annikka's excitement about getting to see so many animals. She enjoyed brushing a goat...

From June 2009

getting up close to a tiger

From June 2009

and a couple of monkeys,

From June 2009

From June 2009

and laughing at the gorillas.

From June 2009

Introducing Taisto to the Larsens

From June 2009

Earlier this month, we left the volcanos of Oregon (Mt Hood from the plane) and ventured off to Columbus...

From June 2009

to meet Taisto!

From June 2009

It was quite the Larsen gathering, with everyone there except for Michael.

From June 2009

We had a lot of fun; there was a lot of baby holding going on. :)

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

Although there were a few jealous moments, you can see Annikka got her fair share of attention from Annikka's aunts, uncles, cousins, Papa and Alecia.

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

From June 2009

Annikka also got to see great-aunt Sue (my mother's sister) and Brutus the Buckeye (well, kind of).

From June 2009

She visited a historic Howe family site, too--the chapel at OSU where Kathy and Dave met and married.

From June 2009

From June 2009