Thursday, June 30, 2011

Larsen family reunion

From May/June 2011

We were back in Minnesota last week for a Larsen family reunion. It was hot and sticky, but we had so much fun with everyone. I have SO many pictures, it would be ridiculous to post them all here, so be sure to check out the web album to see them all. Here's a "small" selection:

From May/June 2011

From May/June 2011

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From May/June 2011

From May/June 2011

From May/June 2011

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And best of all, the 5 cousins were finally together!

From May/June 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

I can't stop looking at these people that Annikka drew. "Mommy" is on the left, and "Daddy" is on the right. There's also a "baby" that's not pictured.

From May/June 2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Cousin Ruth

From May/June 2011

Annikka and Eila have another cousin! Ruth Kathryn Lucius was born on Wednesday, June 22 at 3 am. She was 7 lb, 7 oz and 21 inches.

As luck would have it, we were in Minneapolis and I got to be a part of Rachel's birth team. It was a wonderful experience to get to share with them. Here's the new family of three, just minutes after Ruth's arrival.

From May/June 2011


Later that day, the girls and I got to visit before heading to the airport. Annikka loved Ruth immediately and told us that she looked just the right size for her to hold (and Rachel kindly helped make that happen).

From May/June 2011

From May/June 2011


Welcome to the family Ruth! We look forward to getting to see you again in August.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Little Gym Finale 2011

Here's some video of the "final routines" from Annikka's last Little Gym class. It's actually looking a little more like gymnastics these days.





From May/June 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

OPS

It's been a busy time for us at daycare, Annikka also changed rooms to Older Preschool (aka OPS).

From May/June 2011


She was very happy for the change and looks forward to all the new activities. Although she also told us that it's too bad that she doesn't get to see her "little friends" as much (little does she realize that most of them will also be making the change, as soon as they are potty-trained).

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Wobbler

Today was Eila's first official day as a wobbler. It's really a sweet group of kids, and they have been very welcoming to her.

From May/June 2011

The change from the infant to wobbler room means that Eila is on a group schedule with more activities in her day, and she's encouraged to try to do more for herself. For instance, she now eats at a table.

From May/June 2011

Doesn't she look too little for this?

It also means more communicating. In just a few days, they are already helping to expand her vocabulary. Before this week she was saying: bye-bye, uh-oh, kit (for kitty), dis (this), & ah-done. Now she's added: up & help. And I'm really hoping that as more words come, it'll reduce the number of meltdowns we have to suffer through - she can have a short fuse. :)

From May/June 2011

Friday, June 3, 2011

Fillings

Annikka had to go to the dentist today to get fillings - who knew you got fillings in baby teeth. And it's a very different experience for preschoolers, they get drugs to make it possible for the dentist to work in their mouths. I was really unprepared for just what it meant for her to get sedatives, it took less than 10 minutes for her to be unable to stand or talk (she tried but her words were all slurred together).

This is very drugged Annikka at the beginning of her appointment:

From May/June 2011

Slightly less drugged Annikka (with a numb upper lip) at the end of her appointment:

From May/June 2011

Afterwards we went home, she was seeing double (she pointed out "two" planes flying together, but there was just one) and things moving (like the walls and floor). She kept telling me that the dentist forgot to fix her cavities and take her x-rays - the dentist told me that she would not remember anything.

Luckily it had all worn off by the time she woke up from her nap, so we went out to do something fun ... getting her toenails painted, purple of course.

From May/June 2011

When we were talking about her dentist appointment and what would happen, I told her that we would be spending the day together so we could do something fun afterwards. Getting her toenails painted has the hands down winner, and her top priority for the day.

From May/June 2011