Other Random Faves

The pictures seem limitless. Over the last few days I've posted lots from the week, but believe me there are more. Here are a few of my other favorites, in no particular order. And full disclosure, I'm in a lot of them. Because how can my favorite pictures not be of me with Lloyd, Rosie, Freddie, or Owen?

Walking to a park.

After the Ravens beat the Packers, Andy's dad photo-shopped our group Christmas picture and made this zinger.  

The sweetest face.

The girl likes to count.

What a little nut.

This was our vibe.

This was our vibe too.

Decorating cookies with toddlers and mail carriers.

The fearless slider.

Reading to her cousin.

Cameras.

It's always nice to be greeted upon arrival.

Owen's first Christmas did not disappoint.

Nor did his first time eating beets.

Keeping an eye on things.

Cleaning crew.

Playtime.

More of the week's vibe.

Uncle John calling to order the meeting of extraordinary gentlemen.

Heading out to the park.

Those smiles.

Ending with more of our Christmas vibe.

Christmas

We all gathered at Mary and Andy's house in our Christmas pajamas for gift opening.

And for picture taking.

Some kids were more squirmy than others.

It was Owen's first Christmas and he had a lot of fun. 

The cousins sat together to eat the traditional Christmas brunch fare of Mrs. Coin's French Toast.

There was plenty of time for play.

Not only for the small kids.

And of couse I didn't let anyone get away before we took a group photo.
 

First Days of School and Last Days of Summer

First things first! In the past week, all the grandkids have had a first day of school. Last week, after being gone for the summer, she rejoined her friends at her Polish daycare.

Next up was Owen. On Monday he was excited to go to his very first day of daycare ever, on his mom's first day back at work after spending five months at home with him. 

Tummy time is great place to meet new friends. Owen wasted no time in meeting other babies at daycare.

Not to be outdone, Lloyd and Freddie headed back in style to the first day of their new daycare school year. They've both moved up to a new class. But there are changes ahead. By the first of October, these two will be on their way to Minneapolis and a brand new daycare. 

But wait! There's been more happening than just the first day of school. You've heard of plus ones? Well here we have a plus two. Owen took his mom and dad to his very first wedding. He wore a vintage 1989 outfit, compliments of his Uncle Peter.

It's 1989 vs. 2025. Who wore it best? (Answer: it's a tie!)

Owen also got to spend a week at the Maryland shore and experience his first time "in" the Atlantic Ocean. 

Meanwhile, Lloyd and Freddie wound down their summer by catching up on their reading.

Over in Warsaw, Chef Rosie celebrated being back home in her two kitchens. (She has a kitchen in her bedroom and she shares her parents' kitchen with them.) Her dad got her a made-in-Elkader apron.

A few days later, Coach Rosie went to a small town in Poland with her mom and dad and a contingent of their American friends for the Mölkky World Championships. They competed and I'm told had an absolute blast. Sounds like a great finale to the summer.
 

Flashback Friday

It was nice to be in Elkader last week with the boys and extended family. In 2021, four years ago practically to the day, we were all there for my mom's funeral. 

Grandkids Update

In June, this group went to Delaware to have a family reunion with Troy's family.

These sweet brothers enjoyed some time on the sand.

Afterwards they went to Baltimore where they met up with Aunt Mary and .....

..... Uncle Andy and ..... they got to meet their cousin Owen for the first time!

Owen is the host-with-the-most. Not long after Lloyd and Freddie visited, Rosie and her family went to Baltimore too.

Owen got a lot of loving attention from his cousin Rosie and Aunt Jessa.

It's never too early to start learning how to be relevant for one's cousins. This book covers bases for Owen's Polish speaking cousin Rosie and his train loving cousin Lloyd.

Meanwhile in Denver, Freddie's a fan of swinging.

Lloyd and Freddie (see helmets above) rode on the bike with their parents at a Fourth of July parade in Denver.

A festive day!

The next weekend was Freddie's first birthday in Traverse City, Michigan.

In Traverse City, Lloyd found the best playground ever.

Meanwhile in Baltimore, Owen took his parents to his first-ever baseball game.

And finally, by the time she got to her other grandma's house in Pennsylvania,  Rosie discovered her love of the water.