Weekly Update 06.28.10

Hiya peeps.

We went to the Zoo on Saturday. We almost died of heatstroke. Actually no really, we were fine, but it was ungodly hot and humid. I learned that the peacock is royalty. And I had the best of intentions when I brought with me a spray bottle of cool water (to spray down our hot babies), but instead looked like I was punishing a bad kitty every time I busted that sucker out ("I said get out of the plant! Squirt squirt!"). So I learned that next time maybe I leave the spray bottle at home, the zoo has those misting spray things for a reason.

Also Peter is not good at sharing his snacks; after sweetly offering to feed some strawberries to his life-long friend Jayson, he pulled the classic “Psyche!” move and yanked them away right before putting them in Jayson’s mouth. Then gobbled them up right in front of him. Nice. He didn’t learn that move from me I swear.

Also also: my son is afraid of carousels. He’s even afraid of the lame chairs that they set up on the thing for the ‘fraidy-cats.

So not afraid of the train, however. So we rode it twice.

We also hit up St. John’s Annual Mexican Fiesta. Unlike the Fiesta of last year, the weather did not cool down for us. Boo. We still enjoyed our food and the sights, oppressive heat be damned.

So we were standing in the (loooooong) food line and I looked down at my kid happily playing with his sunscreen bottle (because, you know, fake lotion woooo everybody hold out your hands!) and anyway I had a total internal freak-out about OH MY GOD PETER'S AWESOME HAT, IT’S NOT ON HIS HEAD WHERE DID IT GO OMG. I scanned the ground and the crowd around us and then, I asked Scott twice if he knew where the hat went. Twice. He looked at me strangely both times and then ignored me. And only then did I remember that I put it on my own head when Peter threw it on the ground earlier OH YEAH HA I KNEW THAT. Except not really.

Scott and placed our order, and then we performed a dazzling piece of spontaneous performance art portraying new-ish parents in today’s society - trying to find a place to sit while simultaneously juggling two plates full of food, two beers, plastic-ware, a stroller, a kid, a diaper bag, giant purse, sippy cup, the camera - and me also balancing a teeny hat on my head.

Once we got ourselves seated in the grass Peter made a break for it, but Scott caught him before he could find himself a new, normal set of parents.

Sunday my cousin Mike from Wisconsin came by for a visit. He’s traveling around the plains enjoying several sporting events (off to the College World Series after us) and even though I packed my camera in my bag, I did not take even one measly little image. Clearly I suck. Mike took off this morning, continuing on his adventures, and we wish him the best. Thanks for stopping by to hang out!

Doose. Doose. This is the word that is heard the most these days, Pete’s combination of “this/those”. It involves several emphatic points at the “doose” - generally a snack or treat, something food related, although it is used for most anything he wants really. Mainly snacks though, because let’s be honest, our kid is a bottomless pit.

“Doose?” he’ll ask sort-of hopefully, pointing, even after being told that no, you just had approximately 15 snacks in a row, you’re done. There may be a body flopping to the floor in anguish at this point or maybe a shriek in response, but undoubtedly more pointed requests for “Doose” will continue, all responses of ‘no’ ignored. And then, just when you think he’s given up, JUST TO CLARIFY ONE MORE TIME, THE VERDICT ON THE SNACKS: “…Doose?”. Sigh.

PSA of the Week: I don’t recommend ever letting your toddler see you watering the plants. Because you’ll never be able to do it yourself again. The best part is when your kid grabs the EMPTY watering can and so he jabs the pot repeatedly with it, in an effort to eek out some water. Effectively stabbing your plants to death.

FIN. See you next week.

Peter's Baptism

Peter's baptism was on August 1st. It was a great day - beautiful weather, lots of fun. We're all a bit tuckered out, so here are a bunch of pictures (and just a few words) from the big day :)

And a big thanks to Nikki for being our photographer at the ceremony!

We were getting ready to start the baptism in this one. Miss Mahni was pretty curious about the whole thing, she never left my side and asked lots of questions.

Dyl wanted to join in the fun too. I love my face in this one - I was probably thinking "hmmm can I hold my own son during his baptism?". It appears that the answer was "no", as Scott held him the entire time. Proud dad ;)

Making the sign of the cross on Peter's head.

The baptizing with holy water. Scott and I think that the baptismal font at our church looks like an outdoor water feature.

The lighting of the candle from the Pascal candle. Then we had the blessing of the parents and godparents (Beah and Paulo), and the welcoming into the church. All done! Fr. John does not waste time, I will say that. It was over in the blink of an eye.

The happy family! Plus Mahni, she was very excited by the whole thing so she squeezed in for pictures :)

Nikki also got a shot of the Kemmeters in attendance.

Peter lounging with Muzzy and Nikki, having a bottle after the ceremony.

Beah's pretty little toes. She'll probably kill me for posting this shot.

The cake! Grandma Mueller made the baptism cake, it was quite yummy. Eric helped by sprinkling it with pickle juice.

After lunch and cake, we played around outside for a bit. Here's Paul, who didn't join in with our 3D Chalk Debauchery but enjoyed watching us act like morons.

Let's just say that the way you feel from the lack of sleep that comes with having an infant? It's akin to how you act after drinking 5 glasses of wine.

Mahni checking out our masterpieces.

Dylan gets in the act as well.

The mighty Beah!

After everyone left to go home, Peter decided to relax by stripping down to his diaper and playing in the exersaucer that Beah loaned to us. He can't reach the bottom yet but boy, he still enjoyed the thing! I see many hours of entertainment ahead of him. Thank the lord for Beah and her exersaucer.

The End! See you all another week :)

Beah Visit 2008

Beah and the kiddos come for an annual visit usually in August, although this year we smartly changed that to September. Really helped to have the not-100-degree weather when we were at the Zoo! Anyhoo, a few shots from the trip can be found below.

And yes, as usual: I cried like a baby when they left.

On the playground at the KC Zoo:

This was typical of our day: Mahni in rapturous awe of the animals, Dylan crying and petrified of the animals.

Except for the sheep for some reason, which Dylan thought were dogs (he kept calling them "JoJo!").

Yay for Train Time! Best part of a visit to the Zoo :)

And it's all fun until someone loses a shoe. While still on the train ride. When the train made a stop (much much later), Hubs and the train conductor had to go back after it.

And that concluded our time at the Zoo.

Spent the first evening at home. Beah and the kids crashed out in the chair.

First thing the next morning: Picture Time with Josh Solar! For those who missed out from my food post, clicky HERE to see the cute babies on Josh's blog.

That afternoon we went shopping, and tried on a few costumes:

After the costume shop we grabbed some ice cream, and then walked off the calories at the rest of The Legends shopping. They had a yellow brick road there!

There are a ton of pictures of our time at the fountain @ The Legends - yeah, for a reason. The kiddies LOVED it, we spent a long time there playing. Which was fine by me; it was fun to shoot them playing in the fountain, too.

We had dinner at the T-Rex restaurant. Hit and miss - the kids loved it, and were simultaneously scared out of their minds.

We made cake! Yummy cake! Even though we accidentally put in too much butter...

No trip to Nemmie and Scott's is complete until someone poses with a Jayhawk. Like the Jayhawk flag hanging on the wall in the man cave, all college-dorm-like (reminder to self: find a flagpole and get that sucker up outside).

Sadly that is it, the time went by waaaaay too quickly. But! Beah and Mahnster are back in December to hit up The Nutcracker in KC, which will be a blast.