The Many Faces of Jilli

Jilli looks like such a big girl in this picture and a lot like her Grandma, I think.

She runs towards me when I say her name to look up and these are the pictures we end up with.

She loves this toy uncle Brett and aunt Anne got her for Christmas. She especially loves climbing on it.

Ice Cream Beard

Drew has been asking for a ice cream cone lately. Andy tried ice cream cake (yes, we still have tons left), but he didn't want ice cream cake. So Monday on the way home from the store I got him a ice cream cone from McDonald's. I had them turn it upside down in a cup, so I could put it in the freezer and save it for after lunch. He ate all his blueberries and most of the rest of his lunch so it was ice cream time. He was excited.

He opted for the bite the side of the cone approach to eating his ice cream cone. Unconventional, but still yummy.

I wasn't really paying attention to him eating and then I saw his face. As if the blueberry hair and face weren't enough, he added ice cream. I asked Drew what he was doing and he told me it was an ice cream beard. He always makes bubble beards in the tub and I guess thought it would be appropriate to do the same with food. I let him know otherwise.

I told him you lick your ice cream cone and he did. How could I get mad at such a cute face.

Jilli had no ice cream, but was still happy. Does anyone know how to get blueberry stains out of clothes. I washed her shirt and pants 3 times and the stain is still there.

S'mores

Saturday evening the Long's had us over for a campfire and s'mores. They are such fun people. We are so lucky that they moved by us. In the pictures below Mr. Brett is getting the fire going, Ms. Shannon is supervising and Emily is looking cute in the corner. Our dogs were in our yard and stayed at the corner closest to the Long's and whined a little the whole time we were there. What loyal girls! You can see them in this pic.

We put Jilli in her jams and thought we would just change her and take her to bed when we got home, but we forgot that she would be playing and climbing on everything and getting dirty. Drew loved the bubble blower they had.

Emily getting the sticks (hangers) for the marshmallow roasting.

Drew eating his s'more. Surprise, surprise, he loved them.

Owen and Jillian

Crack Kills

I so wish that I would have caught her about 15 seconds earlier, because she was standing and you could really appreciate her ensemble. I don't know what she was doing, just tugging at her diaper.

I may never get a picture of my boy's face again. I hope the flash really doesn't hurt his eyes.
Still Cute!

A Mac & Cheese Facial

Today at lunch Jillian was insisting on feeding herself, so I let her at it.

This is her newest face. A toothy, dimply, squinty eyed smile. I think it is the cutest.

Hug anyone?
This feeding herself thing may need some perfecting yet.

The Backyardigans Live

Sunday while the boys went to the race, Tammy, Anne, Payton and McKenzie went shopping and Nana, the kids and I went to see the Backyardigans Live. My kids need a 12 step program for the Backyardigans. I was hoping for a better reaction than at the circus and they both did great. I think they were a little confused at first, but very entertained. If you ask Drew about the theatre he will tell you all about it. It was at the Midland, which was restored and recently reopened. It is a pretty cool place, kind of like the Fox in St. Louis. You weren't allowed to take pictures during the show, so just some pics of us. Drew covering his eyes again, because the flash hurts his eyes. Jillian looks just like a baby Andy in this picture.

My eyes!
Nana and Jilli.

Happy Birthday Kyle!

My nephew Kyle's 18th birthday was the 13th, so we celebrated Saturday evening. I can't believe he is 18, I can remember the day he was born. I am starting to sound like an old person.

As you could hear in the video Drew was upset. I asked him why he was crying and he said "because you sang the wrong words." I asked him what he wanted us to sing and he said "the right words." Duh!

Drew helping Kyle with his presents.

Kyle got money to spend at the races and we got him a Dale Jr. shirt and jacket.

KC Zoo

This weekend was the NASCAR races at Kansas Speedway, which is 15 minutes from our house. The whole Henke clan was in Bonner Springs. On Saturday, the boys and Tammy went to the race and the girls and Drew went to the Zoo. Here are the kids in their Cadillac wagon. It was a hot day and the shade was a definite plus. (Although I think that Drew walked most of the time).

Drew and Nana rubbing the Buddha belly for good luck. We had just bought powerball tickets. It worked, I won $7.
Payton and Jillian checking out some monkeys.

Me and the girls.

One cute bean.

Last time Andy and I took the kids we didn't make it to Australia, so that is where we started this time. Here are the lounging kangaroos.

The kids were having a little cracker snack when we came upon the sheep. We took the snack away, but the sheep could still smell the crumbs on their shirts. Neither Drew or Jillian like the sheep in their personal space.

Lots of funnies in this video - the sheep's strangely low baaaa followed by McKenzie impression of the sheep but then you hear Drew say oh-no as the sheep starts sticking it's head in the wagon and then that is followed by Jillian squealing.

As Anne walked away one continued to follow them. I am telling Drew "No", because he made a fist and took a swing at the sheep (good thing he missed). After this run in with the sheep, Jillian had had enough and I don't think she got back in the wagon after that.


Lately Jillian has been putting her hands over her ears. I notice she does it when she overwhelmed or stressed a little. She did this weekend when everyone was there, but she also does it at the YMCA daycare when there are a lot of kids and a lot of noise.

Aunt Anne and Jillian checking out the ring tailed lemurs.

Mom, Anne, Payton and McKenzie were such a big help, not only at the zoo, but all weekend. Thanks guys!

The Zoo only lasted about 2 hours and then Drew said that he was ready to go home. He was not listening to me at all, but he would listen to Nana, so she was in charge of him most of the day. It was hot that day and the kids were wore out. They both fell asleep in the truck on the way home. A nap that proved to be far from sufficient, by the behavior later that evening. What can I do, they are toddlers.