Week 01.36 - We Are Family

"Boy, it feels a little better from up here!"

We had Valerie's Mom's side of the family reunion on Saturday.  Fun was had by all, but Paige managed to come down with a low-grade fever, and was generally disagreeable for most of the day.  She did still manage to have some fun though.

"Again with the photos Dad?  I thought I told you I have had enough!"

Along with the smiles when she wants to be photographed comes the desire also to not be bothered by being photographed other times...

"zzz."

Uh, Paige, there is a monkey in your bed.  Thought you should know.

"I guess I'll just hang in this parking lot in Osseo.  Seems interesting enough."

Grabbed a quick shot as the sun was starting to go down as we were doing a car swap in Osseo, Wisconsin.  Soon after Paige was all strapped in to Uncle Bryan's truck. 

Week 01.35 - Please State Your Answer in the Form of a Question

"Uhhhhmmmm"

Pretty much Paige's standard answer to any question these days is "Uhm."  When you give her two choices she says Uhm, and then she proceeds to cry when you try to give her either choice.   I don't understand it all that well.  Hopefully it is just a short phase.

"Slides?"

Paige and Gavin getting ready to head to the park to go down the slides.  Paige also showed a renewed interest in the swings.

"Peak-a-boo"

Paige figured out how to open the sliding door portion of the camper door.  Now we just have to make sure that she doesn't open the door and fall out. (again).

"This one Daddy?"

No super special story.  Paige is just fascinated by the painting supplies.

Week 01.34 - Twenty-Eight Teeth

"Another hotel room, another day.  Life on the road man.  It takes it's toll.  Anyone seen my sunglasses? I've got a killer headache."

You ever wake up in a hotel room
But can't remember the city or state
You look around, you roam around
But your mind just can't relate
You ever been so lost
That a map won't do you no good?

Paige, Valerie, Grandpa Roger and Grandma Denise took on a daunting task.  Driving the 16 some odd hours from Beaver Dam to Denver to visit Paige's Great Uncle Bernie, his family and our friends Tera and Steve.  They stopped at a hotel in some place in Nebraska (let's be honest, even if I told you what city, would you even know where it was, or how to distinguish it from any other random place in Nebraska?) for the night.  Paige, in her true rock star fashion had to trash the place. 

Bonus Photos:

"Zzzzz."

Sweep is providing Paige some assistance in keeping her head from rolling back and forth in her travel induced coma on the way to Denver.  (Sweep is the very poorly named monkey on the Paige's left, who is so named due to the previous week's Twins v. Brewers disaster.  The monkey is wearing a Brewers jersey.)

"Cheese!"

Paige has officially learned (with very little to no encouragement) to "smile" for the camera.  Super excited for all of the cute smiles.  Super sad for the end of capturing Paige without any thought as to what a camera actually means, and that she is expected to be anything other than herself.  (and yes, she actually says "cheese," though it is debatable whether she thinks it is funny, or is actually requesting a snack.)  Paige was home from Denver just long enough to trash the place before we headed off to Wisconsin for the weekend.  It was a quick turn around, but in the end well worth it.

"Bubble spewing lawn mower.  My turn?."

We went camping at Wolf River over the 4th of July weekend.  Gavin (Paige's second cousin) and Paige had a good time together, though the confrontations over the bubble wand and bubble lawn mower got somewhat heated at times.

Paige also had the opportunity to meet her second cousin Collin, who was born on June 26, 2010, and was taken from this world on July 9, 2010.  Collin, we shall forever love you and miss you.

Week 01.33 - C'mon Ride It (The Train)

"Tchoo Tchoo!"

We took advantage of the great weather and headed to Como Zoo for Father's Day.  It was pretty packed, but Paige had a great time playing in the water zone, riding the train, and of course, looking at all of the animals.  Although, there wasn't a lot of movement going on due to the heat.

Bonus Photos:

"Ok, Ball, it is just you and me.  You can't hide any more."

"Cotton Candy, The Twins and the Brewers!  What could be better?"

Paige and Valerie took a road trip to Wisconsin (and then to Denver which is to follow next week).  The Twins were in town, and unfortunately suffered horrible defeat at the hands of the Brewers.  They were in fact, swept.  Well done Brewers, Well Done.  Hopefully they will meet in the World Series this year, how fun would that be?

Week 01.32 - The Petite Salon

"Is that my hair on the floor?  What's going on?"

Well, it had to happen some time.  Paige's first haircut.  A good friend of ours, Bridget who is at The Petite Salon, did a wonderful job, and Paige was such a trooper.  She sat still in the seat the entire time (ok, it only lasted about 10 minutes, and she had her bangs trimmed and the back straightened up a bit).  Though subtle, we think it looks great.

Bonus Photos:

"I'm not so sure Momma, I think the garage looked better before..."

As you will notice in the background the garage is in pretty rough shape.  Valerie took the week off to try and get it scraped and painted.  Alas the weather conspired against us.  At least the scraping is done and priming is underway now. 

"I'll get you my pretty!"

"Yogurt is greater than or equal to cheese."

Paige is on a yogurt kick.  She asks for it more than she asks for cheese.  I don't know what is going on.  Also, note the hair.  Looks good I think.

Week 01.31 - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

"My turn Momma.  My turn."


Paige has to do everything that Momma does.  Including make-up.  Valerie was getting ready for our evening out for our sixth anniversary, and Paige had a go at the make-up. 


Bonus Photos:

"Samurai Chop!"

"Color, Color, Color!"


The coloring fest continues...

"Don't you love playing outside?"


Grabbed a quick shot between rain storms.  June sure is making up for the spring that we had. 

Week 01.30 - Use Your Napkin

"Nose?  Nose?"

Well, Paige has learned that she needs a napkin or a kleenex to wipe her nose.  Unfortunately, she thinks that each one is only good for one quick wipe.  Add this to the fact that she can now climb up onto the dining room chairs, and this is what you get.

Bonus Photos:
It was a hard week to choose the bonus photos.  A lot to choose from.

"Nothing more relaxing that a little camping."

"Time to color!"

It is amazing the things they have created.  They have these new markers (maybe they aren't new, and I just am old) that will only write on the special paper that they come with.  They don't write on the carpet, walls, couch, face, clothing, shoes or Kaija.  Ingenious!  Paige loves to color.

"See, I can do it all by myself.  Quit trying to do stuff for me."

Eating cereal (with milk) with a spoon.  Check.

"Why is the water falling out of the sky Daddy?  And why are you standing in it?"

Paige was looking out the window at the rain, and I had to run outside and get a shot.  (Thankfully I grabbed the D200, rather than the D70s, because it has weather sealing...)