Camping fun!

We went camping a few weeks ago at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.  It on the Green River, and only about 45 minutes from our house.  We stayed in a yurt, which made the trip that much easier.  It had electricity, a little heat, and mattresses to sleep on - it could sleep up to 5 people.  It was pretty cool because since it was the middle of February it's like we had the whole campground to ourselves.  I think we only saw about 5 other groups there.

 Abe and Dad making some funny faces while playing cards before bedtime.

 Abe getting in his sleepingbag, Abe-style.

 Mei Li wore a camping-appropriate bib to boot.

 After we walked along the Green River for a bit, we headed back to the yurt for a snack of salsa, guac, and beans.  Is this Abe's Blue Steel look?

Even Banjo got a little tired from our camping adventure.

Cute girl

We have been bad parents when it comes to posting pictures of our cute little girl.  Here are just a few that I've taken with my phone the past few months.

 Way to coordinate with the Boppy Little One!

 Mei Li like to sport the faux hawk on occasion.

 Having some fun with her play are with Brother 'Dood.

All wrapped up after a bath.

Abe's blog-adventure

Abe got Grandpa Gung-Gung's old digital camera for Christmas, and he had taken a few (~300) pictures since then.  He wanted to make a blog, so here are some of his favorite ones.

"I help make the captions".

"Ay ay Captain Ship"

 "I love her and care about her."

 "I love you and care about you and love everyone else".

 "I love her and care about her and take away the light rail."

 "I love Grammy's house and I do like her."

 "I love him and like him to lay in my bed."

 "I care and her and love her."

 "We love her, care about her, and love her."

 "Snowmen in the snow are fun."

"I like her and love it and care about it."

As you can see, Abe is very affectionate.  What a sweet guy!

3 months

Has it already been 3 months?  It seems like just yesterday we were posting her 2 month shot.  Baby girl is growing right up.  These days Mei Li likes to practice her smiles.  She's getting better at laying on her tummy.  And, she loves to watch her big brother Abe.  Last week I went back to work (3.5 days/week).  Mei Li has been doing great.  And both she and Abe are adjusting to the earlier schedule.

The Anders in Seattle!

Tessa, Elliot, Jude and Elsa came for a visit a few weeks ago.  It was so fun to see our good friends and to have the kids hang out.  We took a trip to the zoo, went on an adventure to see the container ships on harbor island (which involved seeing a very proud bronzed naked man) and a very chaotic dinner with the Johnsons.  Yay for visitors!  It's too bad they live so far away, but Abe is looking forward to a time when we go to visit them (in August he speculates).

 Nursing babes.  Elsa is just 6 months.

 Another friend who likes to eat!

 Baby!

Check out the blue water.

Fire fighter Jude.

Elsa and her great aunt Suze.

Baby Train

Mei Li and I joined a PEPS group.  I really liked doing the Cuddlers group in Anchorage with Abe, so I thought it would be fun to do something with just me and her.  We meet every Thursday evening.  All the other kids are first borns and have both the mom and dad attending.  It was kind of funny because they sang the more we get together song where they said, there's mom and baby and dad and baby.  But, for me and Mei Li they just said, "there's emily and mei li and emily and mei li."  Each week there's a topic they cover (this week's was sleep), which didn't really interest me.  But I think it will be fun to meet some new mommy and daddy friends.

Here's a picture of all the kids.  One by one they all started to cry like baby dominoes.  But, Mei Li managed to sleep through it all.

A very merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year with Abe and Mei Li.  Here are a few random pictures.

Mrs. Claus aka baby Jesus rockin out in front of the tree.  This year Mei Li starred as 1 of 2 baby Jesuses in the church Christmas pageant.  She did awesome until a gas bubble got the best of her.  Mary panicked and quickly handed her back to me.  

 Abe and Mei Li hanging out in front of the tree with a few of their gifts.  Abe got to wear his PJs all day.  He got the tea set from santa claus (per request).

 I just liked Mei Li's expression in this picture.

 On Christmas Eve we made a Christmas tent, because Abe really wanted to go camping (yay Abe!).  We had fun hanging out in it....and even opening our gifts.

 The best gift.

 Abe wanted to leave Santa popcorn rather than milk and cookies (he gets enough sweets).  The bowl on the left is for the reindeer--kibble and celery.

 The kids in their Christmas PJs.  Sarah made some cute matching christmas robes too!  I liked this picture because it looks like a sweet little family photo.  I guess it's a modern day family!

The day after christmas we took Abe bowling.  We thought it was his first time bowling, but we just found an old camera that contained evidence of a bowling trip 2 years ago.  

Surely this is Mei Li's first bowling trip.

All Aboard!

This year we went on a surprise trip to ride the santa train!  We got up early and got a quick breakfast at columbia city bakery (apparently its Abe's favorite), and then headed out to North Bend to catch the train.  

 Daddy and Mei Li riding out to see santa.

 The train takes you to the depot in Snoqualmie where you meet santa and eat cookies and hot chocolate.

 Also, the highlight for Abe, was the Thomas the train table set up in one of the train cars in Snoqualmie.  He could have cared less about Jolly ol St Nick.

One the way back they offered up the mic to anyone who wanted to sing Christmas carols.  It was a fun outing!

2 months

Smiiiiiiile!

Mei Li's really starting to smile and respond to people's faces.  Look at those chubby cheeks!

move over uncle ja-bob

Abe's school took a field trip to soundbridge at benaroya.  Half the field trip fun was riding the bus downtown.  Teacher Erica asked all the kids what the highlight of the field trip was.  Abe's favorite part was the snack.  Go figure.  It was crackers and a homemade granola bar.  

Little bud on the cello.

Christmas cousins

Today we went for our annual santa picture at Nordstroms.  One minor hitch--the jingle bell run.  Neil and Katie went early to get a place in line, but the run was scheduled to start right around the same time we needed to be down town with the kids.  So, to add to the fun (for Abe anyways) we took the light rail into town.  Abe wore his ear phones--because he was worried the train would be loud.

Abe was happy to be rocking on the horse, in fact he rocked so hard he slid all the way to the back of Santa's chair. Frannie's a little nervous about the big guy.  

 Afterwards we went to grandmoo's house for an encore photo shoot for her Christmas cards with the greats.  

Silly cousins.