Pictures from Auntie Margie

Rand has a fabulous Aunt Margie. Today she sent me these pictures (she took them on our last visit to California). Looks like we have another piano player in the family!

Thanks Margie!

On another note, I caved in and made chocolate chip cookies with Rand yesterday. He had so much fun helping me measure and pour all of the ingredients. Finally, we came to the last ingredient: the chocolate chips. We measured them out, then he held the measuring cup over the bowl. Then, instead of dumping them in, he looked at me and started stuffing his mouth full of chocolate chips as fast as he could. I had to gently "help" him to put the chocolate chips in the batter. He wasn't thrilled with this decision until the cookies came out of the oven. Then he was all smiles again.

Happenings

Hello again, loyal readers. Markita, THANK YOU for leaving a comment! Rand says hi to his Auntie Kiki and he promises to give her a nice sloppy kiss next time he sees you. So nice to see that somebody is reading! Hint, hint to my family.....just kidding!

We got Rand a sandbox today, now that the patio is all fixed up. It's a green turtle one, and he keeps going over and pointing and saying, "Turtle! Turtle!"

Rand can climb up on the couch all by himself. He still thinks that the laws of gravity don't apply to him, however. Luckily, mom has always been there to catch him, but someday he will be sadly disappointed.

Rand is also developing a sense of humor. His favorite thing to do now is to point up at the ceiling and look up. He waits until we look up -- at nothing, of course -- and then cracks up at how hilarious he is and that he made mom and dad look!

We made chocolate chip cookies on Sunday (they were soooo good, Godiva chocolate chips make all the difference). Since then, every morning when Rand gets up, he goes to the cupboard where I keep the mixer, opens it up, drags out the mixer, and says, "Cookies? Cookies?"

Rand looooves books -- thank goodness! -- and is starting to put a sound to all of his favorite books. "Moo, Baa, La-La-La" is "lalalalala." He has a new book about a fire engine that he calls "nee nah" (like the sound the fire engine makes, get it?). "Good Night Gorilla" is "lela." "Goodnight Moon" is "moon." It's very nice that he's starting to be able to ask for things by name, instead of me holding up book after book after book only to have them pushed away until the right one is found.

Stuff!

Hmmm. These are turning into weekly updates instead of daily. Anyhoo....

Rand got a new hat. He thinks it's really cool and leaves it on most of the time.

Rand loves his Babybug magazine! He always looks very serious when he reads it.

It has gotten very, very hot. Like triple digits hot. Rand and I have been going over to Melissa and Bella's house 2 or 3 times a week to go swim in their pool, eat popsicles, and sit under the misters. It makes a hot afternoon go by much faster!

Bella likes to bug Rand. She's always hugging him and patting his head. Rand tolerates it like a typical boy -- he puts up with it for a little while then screams "AAAAHHHHH" at her.

Last Sunday we went to the Phoenix Art Museum to see a special Rembrandt exhibit. It was a great museum, and Rand had a good time looking at all of the different sculptures and paintings. We couldn't take photos inside, but we did get a couple pictures of us outside.

Rand thought the fountain outside was just awesome.

Rand and me -- like my new hair?

May 8th was Teacher Appreciation Day. Werner got this nifty pin. Only a few bitter and sarcastic comments were made.

This was my superwoman project of the week. I never remember to take before and after pictures until I'm halfway through the project, so you can't really tell how cool this is. Before the brick, however, this was a 3'x5' muddy hole about 6" deep (just right for stepping in and nearly twisting an ankle). Before that, it was a square filled with dirt and rocks that the condo's former owner let her kitties use as a restroom. Rand was always trying to go play in the dirt, ergo, it had to leave. Now our patio feels much bigger, and Rand has a nice place to play.

Pictures!

While I was in California, I got a bunch of pictures from my dad that I hadn't seen before. Here are some of my favorites....

Rand and I looking at birds on the beach

Rand and Grandma

Rand and Great-Grandpa Fisher

Another Easter picture....

Rand is not quite sure what to make of the inferno that is Uncle Doug and Mommy's birthday cake!

Week with Great-Grandma

We got back last week from a lovely trip to California. We stayed with my Grandma for a week, and had a really nice visit. Some highlights from the trip:

Mom is not above bribing Rand with a milkshake to get a little peace and quiet on the 148th trip to California in the last two months.

Playing at the beach in Ventura

Sharing some sand with Granny

Fireplaces are fun to explore!

Rand looooved looking at the fish in this little aquarium

More fun in the sand

Lunch at Andrea's. Rand had ketchup for the first time. He would dip the fries and fish into the ketchup, lick them off, and dunk them in again. His lunch was 98% ketchup, 2% solid food. Mmmmm.

Rand gets brave! He liked getting his feet wet in the ocean, but he would get so mad when he would try to scoop up the water with his shovel and the wave would disappear before he could fill the shovel up.

He also loved this little bee that was outside Granny's house.

And that was our week with Granny. The end.