Moving

So we've moved into our new house! K. is doing great--I think she's young enough that the move didn't seem to effect her too much. She's spent some time at friends' houses while Mom and Dad moved boxes.

K. has been really helping Mom and Dad with the move, and even has her own tools to use.

And she's also had a good time showing the dogs around their new place. And the dogs both sat so patiently while K. tried to clip the leash onto their collars. She doesn't quite have the clasp down yet, but liked to pretend. When it wasn't successful, she just grabbed their collars and lead them around. The dogs are saints and so kind and patient with her.

Friendly Interaction

K. and I had our friends over to the new house, and S. is getting to the age where he's pretty fascinated with kids. K. had a great time 'playing' with him, and he thought that she was hillarious!

Second Birthday Bash

Since we're in the midst of moving, we didn't have a huge birthday party for K, but we did have the immediate family over for lunch and cake. K. had fun opening presents this year, and Dad was the designated "opener of toys out of their boxes." K. really seemed to enjoy her day. She didn't quite get the concept of a birthday, or that she's two now, but had a good time nonetheless.
She doesn't look too pleased in this photo, but I think it's because there's food in front of her and she is not eating it at that moment.

As the cake is moved closer, happiness ensues. And for the record, she successfully blew out her candles!

And then she took the biggest bite of cake I have ever seen--and loved it (unlike last year).

Babbling and Mowing

At times she is quiet, but sometimes K. is quite the chatterbox. Today she sat in her dad's desk chair and talked for a while before I started taping. At the end of the video, of course, she realizes I'm taping and comes over to look at the picture on the camera.

K. has really started to live vicariously through her dolls and stuffed animals. Sure, it's called something else and is an important stage of development, but that's the best way I can describe it. She will use her dolls' hands to point at things in books, and today I caught her teaching Bear about outdoor work:

Future Golfer?

Perhaps golf is in K's future. I do think the requisite preppy style of dressing would suit her well. Hopefully she has inherited her dad's eye-hand coordination.

And why is she always so serious?!

Here she is reading at our friend S's house. The real reason for this photo, though, is to show her adorable French braid pigtails, courtesy of my friend. I hope to master this skill sometime, but for now I'll leave it up to the pros.

Awwwww...cute!
Sorry about this picture being out of focus. It's still cute!

End-of-June Triathalon

Enjoying her summer, K. completed the events of a triathalon. Since she's not yet two, she did it over the course of several days. First, the swimming:

Next came the bicycling:

And let me tell you how much she likes to ring the bell on her bicycle!

And finally, the running. In this particular race, she is accompanied by the Fisher-Price popcorn popper.

Pictured here with a fan: And relaxing after the big race:

Gotta Hop

K. actually got this bunny for easter, and was afraid of it for a little while. As with most animatronic items, though, she warmed up to it. This is what she did for most of the morning, in a loop. I stopped taping when she grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the dance floor.

I think she's actually trying to jump now--she has the idea of the motion. If I hold her hands, she can actually get air. She's pretty close if I don't.

Day of the Father

Happy Father's Day!

Not Around the Collar

At VBS, K. also learned "Ring Around the Rosie," which was new to her. She learned it quickly and will either do it holding hands with someone, or completely alone as long as someone sings the song for her. Here she performs the dance with bunny (Nunny).

VBS Week in Review

We had VBS this week. Since I was a volunteer, K. got to go to the nursery with the other volunteer kids who weren't old enough to participate. It was wonderful! They had great activities and did similar but age-appropriate things to what the older kids were doing.

K. was quite hesitant the first day (I think that me having to wake her up in the morning to leave played a big part). She carried her bunny, "Nunny," around with her much of the morning.

She did warm up and join in the activities (here she's still playing with a shaker from music time), and she's sitting next to her friend B. who has appeared before on this blog. They both turn 2 at the beginning of next month.
But what really got her to focus? What did she do for the first time ever? (Notice her concentration--and the lip!) Painting!
And the really good pictures in this post were taken by my friend K.W., who is an actual photographer. Yea!
When you take a group of two-year-olds outside to play, you've got to have a way to keep them together. K. figured out how to hold on to the rope quickly--I think all of her practice walking the dogs has come in handy! K. chilling after being outside:
"What in the world? We have to go inside already? I'm not done with my sandcastle yet!"

"I can't wait for next year!"

Friday Smile

"Why am I so happy? I've gotten to spend the last few days with Grandma and Grandpa L., and even got to see Aunt J for a day! They are so much fun and play with me all the time. Life is good! Yeah, Mom left me to go to a conference, but I managed to bounce back. In fact, she's the one who took this picture, so there are no hard feelings. She had fun; I had fun; we all win."

Circle the Wagon

K. took one of her babies on a wagon ride today at Grandma and Grandpa L's house.

But she always takes time to stop and smell the flowers.

Fashionista

After waking up from her nap today, she spent some time getting fancied up in her room and emerged with her headband, necklaces, and bracelets. I guess it's time for the mother-daughter chat about editing your accessorizing. And here's a random picture from Sunday.

Creative Cup Holder

K. discovered a convenient holder for her sippy cup while riding Neigh:

Pleasant Cousin Time

While visiting the grandparents, K. able to spend some time playing with her cousin. They played PlayDoh (which she's not really done before): And drove around in the Jeep. She had been in it once before, when she was nearly one year old, but this is the first time she really rode in it.
She still doesn't drive it--we won't show her how until she has at least a little concept of steering.

A Pleasant Boat Ride

K. enjoyed the fresh air on the boat this past Memorial Day weekend.

And she had an especially good time driving the boat with Grandpa.

This is what K. would look like if she were able to Kiyak. It's actually sitting on the front of the pontoon at the moment, but you can imagine that she's in the water, ready to paddle.

Outdoor Fun

One of K's favorite places to go is "side" (outside) and she'll stand at the back door and ask until we go out. She loves to play with her sand table, and the other day she pulled this chair over to it--from the other side of the patio! Maybe she was just loafing under the umbrella? I'm not sure. When I turned to take her picture, she gave me this huge grin. After that, she took her buckets and picked some of the grass. I'm thankful she gets to have a yard to play and explore in.

And as I sit here typing this, K. is playing with one of her dolls ("baby"). She's picking baby up, saying "night," giving her a kiss, and laying her in her car seat to sleep. She's done this a couple of times in a row now. So sweet!