Golfin' with Uncle Robert

We obviously just can't stay away from baby Carter (or in Anna's case, Avery) as we went down last Tuesday to spend some time loving on the baby and letting Anna play with her big cousin. I didn't bring the camera, and didn't take many pictures, but I couldn't help taking pictures of Uncle Robert playing golf with the little girls. Anna has always been drawn to Avery's play golf set, but has always played inside the house. When Robert began to hit some balls in the back yard and Avery got out her play set, Anna was over the moon. She kept following Uncle Robert around (often times getting in his way) and trying to do what he did. Sweet girl needs some practice... ha.

Monkey see, Monkey do!

 Watching to see whose went farther...

Anna's sometimes went backwards. Or nowhere.

And this terribly zoomed in photo taken on a phone is hilarious. It needs sound effects. Also note that it looks like Anna is hitting Robert with the golf club and Avery is trying to take the other out of his hand. I should have videoed this...

Muddy Puddles!

Recently we truly had an "April showers bring May flowers" kind of week. It rained hard most every day, leaving us trapped in the house. Anna and I did find a break in the clouds one afternoon, and when I asked if she would like to put on her rain boots and go splash in puddles, I was met with a very emphatic, "YES!". If you have been around her recently, you have been witness to the "yes!" which is only an answer if she is excited or very sure about something. Otherwise you get a "yeah, yep, or no either". Don't ask about the either... I don't know where it comes from (except I must say it often?).

First, we had to try out the driveway..

Then we ran up the street...

Then we had to "take pictures mommy's phone"... In other words, selfies.

So I finally made the effort to see how to put videos together on youtube, opposed to on the macbook which lives in the closet, and it is ridiculously easy. So here, I give you all of the clips of Anna jumping in puddles in one long video. If you think it is boring just play the last 20-30 seconds!

Discovery Place!

The Monday after Carter came into our world, everyone was still in the hospital, and Gigi was still hanging out with Avery. Anna and I had some serious allergies going on, so we were already not going to the gym. So, we decided to meet up to go to the museum. Unfortunately, Discovery Place Kids is closed on Mondays, so we headed to Discovery Place in Uptown. I had heard it was not as kid friendly (obviously) and had been several years back, but the girls still managed to have fun. Although, we determined in the parking lot that they probably could have had just as much fun in the elevator... Oh well.

This was a big hit with the little girls. I mean, who doesn't love an aquarium?

Gigi asked the girls who wanted to take a ride. Anna jumped right in, and after seeing her go, Avery decided it would be okay.

These three pics are from inside the 3D movie. Anna didn't understand the concept, obviously, and refused to keep her glasses on. I have no idea how she didn't get sick watching it...

Water play is usually a hit with most kids, but I think these two are too into staying neat and dry. Neither really went crazy.

Also, I think someone *cough, Avery* was a little sleepy...

It's a shame Anna doesn't love her cousin. Like, at all.

Silly silly girls!

Carter Edward Marshall!

So I mentioned last week that our sweet new nephew arrived! Mark practically had to hold me back from rushing down to meet him, and even when I finally convinced Mark to let me go we couldn't get our hands on him (see story here for his dramatic and emotional entry into the world).

This photo really needs side effects. Anna and Avery both had a serious case of the giggles!

Carter needed to eat, so we went on a field trip to see the geese and sit in rocking chairs. Hospitals are fun...

Avery seeing her little brother for the first time!

I'd say it was love at first sight!

The weekend following we drove to Ballantyne to bring dinner, but really just to get some baby snuggles. Spoiler, I stole all of them. We couldn't get over how tiny little Carter is, and how gigantic he makes Avery and Anna look!

Taking a ride in the Mamaroo...

Side story- we also met my great friend Elyse's baby boy, Wade this week. He too was in a mamaroo. Anna may or may not think that babies should always be located in these spaceship contraptions.

He was quite the sleepy fellow while we visited.

See? This was another yawn session he gave me when I was taking his picture.

Then he just straight up laughed at me trying to get him to wake up to eat.

Sweet sleeping babe.

Here is a phone pic of me and my sweet new nephew, too. It's terrible, but I'll take what I can get!

Cousins for life!

Happy Friday!

Just thought you might like to see a pantless toddler who put her boots on the wrong feet coloring on a magnadoodle. No? Well, here you are anyways. These are the photos that make the baby book. You know, the one I'm making in my head.

Lazy Five Videos!

So while uploading some new videos, I realized I never added some videos I took of Anna at Lazy Five. These videos crack me up, so I'm sure at least the grandparents will get a kick out of them.

What's going on:

Anna, talking to goat: "HEY!"

Mark asks Anna to pet the sheep

Anna: "Big! Hey sheep! Two sheeps! Hey! Hey! Hey!"

What's going on:

Anna: "I down"

Distracted by feed on the ground.

Walks past goat with handful of food.

Anna: "Sorry goat."

Runs to feed sheep.

What's going on:

Anna is picking up food off of the ground, trying to feed sheep.

Anna: "Here sheep!"

Follows sheep to continue to push dirty food at his face.

Anna  loves the sheep. End of story.

Flyin' High

I'm assuming it is some rite of passage to survive being thrown in the air by your father. That, and kids obviously love being tossed. I suppose I might like being tossed if anyone could actually throw a full grown adult into the air. I digress. We have started meeting Mark outside when he comes home from work whenever possible. Not only is it fun and exciting, but it is also a great distraction to sit on the bench on the front porch and wait for Daddy when it is usually melt-down-o-clock. This particular day Anna was catching some major air, so we had to get photos on the "real" camera, and I am so glad we did!