Big Bad Baby Emmett's 10 Months

As you can see...he is still a nudist.

I actually sucked in a big breath of air when I looked at the calendar and saw that Big Bad Baby Emmett was 10 months old.  How could he be ten months old?!?  I am not okay with this.  I am not sure if it is because we are in the "double digits" now or it's because he is losing his baby-ness.  He likes to hold his own bottle, finally started eating some finger foods without instantly choking and is so close to walking.  Sigh.  He loves to "cruise" on the furniture and is always popping up in unexpected places...like the back of the couch.  Still has those giant hands...

He is still growing lots and lots of mysterious white blonde hair...in the back of his head.  The top has seemed to stop growing and is shaping up to be in a lovely Eddie Munster front comb unless I can swoop it to the side for at least a more appropriate comb over.  We are hoping this month brings more length to the top.  What is also weird about his hair is that the top is stick straight and the back is super curly...should be interesting as it gets longer.  I am thinking curly mullet.  Jokes, really.  He'll probably have a buzz cut like older bro Jameson.

He is down to about three bottles a day and takes about an hour morning nap (if we are home) and a three hour afternoon nap.  He is still my happy big little guy...at least, when he is not cutting teeth, which he now has eight.  Two came in within 24-hours, that made for a fun day!

He is still just talking baby language with lots of da, da, da, ba, da, ga, ba, da, etc.  In the morning we wake up to him practicing these "words" in all different octaves and then laughing at himself.  I love listening in the monitor for a minute before I go and get him up for the day.  What a goofball!

His fav spot - inside the dishwasher.

I am already missing all things "baby" about him but am excited to see where his toddlerhood takes us.  I see a lot of Brooklyn's feisty, stubborn ways in him but he is also super goofy like Jameson.  I think it will make for the perfect combo.

He also finally mastered the sippy cup!

No weight/height stats for you.  We'll be back to see Dr. Low in November for his one year check.  Ugh, he'll be one!  That freaks me out.  Til' Then!

First Soccer Game

On the 10th, Brooklyn had her first soccer game.  We were over the mountains at a wedding so we missed it but Grandma and Papa (Brett's parents) were gracious enough to take her to her first game.  Thank you!  She scored a goal and immediately went in to her token double fist pump celebration.  It was a hot day so she tried to sneak off the field several times but Grandma made sure that she got right back on the field.

Go Yellow Lions!

Thanks for taking pictures Lynn!

Group huddle.

9/10/11

On the iconic 9/10/11 my BFF (such a immature term but it's true!) Jessica got hitched in a picturesque country chic style wedding.  Having grown up with her, we've been friends since we were four, I had been to the wedding destination countless times.  In the beginning it was for birthday slumber parties at Grammy Doll's with a side of peanut butter and marshmallow toast.  In the middle it was for camping by the river and talking about boys but never actually talking to boys.  In college it was where we would meet up to party with our high school friends and our new college ones.  And now it is where we escape to relax and let my kids get froggy fingers in Pauldo's pool.  If you haven't caught on, it's the perfect place.

Pictures?  Well, being that I was a bridesmaid in the country affair I left my camera behind because I figured I would be shuffling back and forth between Auntie Caren's house, Paul and Viv's and the Barn countless times...and I lose everything so I simplified.  (Hey, anyone seen my bouquet?)  And, trust me, words cannot describe the beauty that the day provided.  The day, the dress, the stunning bride.  Aw-inspiring.

I arrived on Friday, the 9th, to help set-up for the big day and to later feast on a delicious buffet of meat products BBQ'd up by the groom, Brett (her own, not mine), and one of his Groomsmen, Spencer, for the rehearsal dinner.  Us Renton girls love us some meat!  Brisket, ribs, a roast, meat, meat, meat.  After we all were full to the brim Jessica and Brett presented us all with gifts and some lovely words...i.e. Jessica speeches.  :)  Us bridesmaid's received the family cherished and rare Ellensburg Blue necklaces.  Each had a Blue in it but was set in a setting that reminded Jess of us.  Super sweet.  The whole evening was a great way to kick off the weekend.

Saturday we arrived at Auntie Caren's at 9:00 a.m. for mimosa's, breakfast burritos, music and beautifying.  Jessica looked too good for words.  I literally can't think of the perfect word.  She was beaming, sparkling and stunning.  After we were all make-i-fied we took some pics and were happy we all had our hair off our backs cause it was the "hottest day of the year."  Literally.  A little blotting and we were ready for the ceremony.

Jessica and Brett personalized the ceremony to accentuate their personalities and it was a perfect fit.  We wrapped the ceremony up and got ready for a Ramquist Italian Buffet that was sooo good.  Dancing followed by some perfect karaoke by both Jessica and her Dad, Paul.  Fabulousness.

This is where things get a little fuzzy...you might be thinking, geeze you drank too much?  Nope.  I was avoiding the alcohol because all day I had felt a little funny.  I chalked it up to maybe a little dehydration or heat stroke but around 10:00 p.m. things started wrapping up and Jess and Brett headed off to Suncadia to kick off their Honeymoon.  We headed down to our tent by the river and after about an hour of full body chills I told Brett to tear down the tent, I needed to go home.  We made it to Cle Elum and I told him I was too sick to go on.  We sat at the stop sign contemplating driving to E-burg for the hospital (my fever was raging by now) or just sleep it off at a cheap motel we could find a room in.  Cheap motel won.  I shook and had cold sweats all night.  We loaded ourselves in to the car in the morning, got home and I slept for two days.  Ugh, the flu SUCKS.  So, it was a terrible end to a perfect day for me but I am so glad that my BFF picked the perfect date and had the perfect day.  I hope their lives together continue down the path that they started on 9/10/11.  Cheers to the Rafuse's!

Ooo, I stole a picture off of one of the other bridesmaid's blog of us before I came down with the flu:

Once Jess has her pictures up on her blog, I will direct you there so you can feast your eyes on some awesomeness. 

Pre-K

Today we sent Ms. Brooklyn off to Pre-K.  She is at Monroe Christian School again this year and actually has the same teachers as last year, Mrs. Jansons and Mrs. Haymond.  So, she wasn't nervous at all.  She was psyched!  However, her class size tripled from seven to twenty-one so that was a bit of an adjustment.  We miss her now that she is gone Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.  It's just the boys and me!  :)

Jameson squeeze!

Tree pose reflection time.

They are such little weirdos.

She's ready to go!

Backpack put away!

Her seat!

Soooo excited.

Tour of Fairs

We love Fairs!  We wrapped our summer up by attending the Kitsap County Fair on the 26th and the Evergreen State Fair on the 1st.  They were both great fun!  We ate the essential fair foods, the kids rode some sweet rides and we saw lots and lots of animals.

On the ferry to the Kitsap Fair...he spots firehose.  Duh.

Big Bad Baby Emmett!

In jail.  Wah, wah.

Brett wasn't so excited about this photo op.

Jameson was very serious.

A ladder truck.  Oooooh.

Lookin' up the ladder with Dad.

Checkin' out a turkey with Grandma.

Evergreen State Fair with the Bowden's and Papa and Mimi.

Baby Cow.

Scoutie loved the Baby Cow.

Brooklyn wanted a picture of the Baby Cow's bottle.

Baby Goat. There's a theme. They only liked the babies.

Brooklyn "smiling" by her teachers' sheep.

Baby Emmett!

More baby animals!

Checking out the piggies.

Jameson was sooo excited.

Happy Birthday Stryker!

Scoutie was also soooo excited.

He perked up!

The big slide was a HUGE hit.

They would fly down it.

Here comes Jameson!

So happy.

Auntie Melissa w/Emmett...sneaky Emmett stole her earring!

Their favorite ride, the BOING car.  All it did was bounce and say BOING.

Soccer Mom

Yep, I am officially a soccer mom.  How I got here I will never know.  Brooklyn had her first soccer practice today and shined just like I knew she would.  She was so pumped up to be there and was a little burned out about 45 minutes in to practice but like a true Krache she stuck it out.  She is now a member of the Yellow Lions.  The discussion to pick a name was hilarious.  Remember this is a team of all three and four year olds..It went a little something like this:

Coach:  Okay kids we need to come up with a name.  Our team color is yellow.  Any suggestions?
Kid:  My shirt is yellow.
Other kid: Belle wears a yellow dress.
Another Kid: My sister loves princesses.
Kid: I don't think we should wear dresses while playing soccer.
Brooklyn: Do you guys want to hear a story about princesses?
All kids:  Yeah!
Coach:  Well, we don't have time for stories but lets get back to name suggestions.
Other kid: How about the yellow dresses?
Brooklyn: I love princesses.

You can see where this is going.  It took a long time for them to finally pick the Yellow Lions.  It was between Bees and Lions and Lions won.  I am pretty sure her double fist pump when she scores a goal will be just fine.  Right?!?

Waiting for practice to start with Brett.

Some coaching.

Binkster.

Choosing a name with Coach Karrie.

Dribble Drills.

After practice we determined that she needed shin guards.  So, I tracked some down and brought them home for her to try them on.  Oh geez.  After telling me that she didn't need pants, I asked her to give me a soccer pose.  Introducing the soccer pose: