A Photo with Santa is Never Free

Every year we drive out past North Bend to the same Christmas tree farm because honestly they have the best Santa ever! While Daddy was having the tree bailed Otto and I took a hay ride (free) on the tractor around the tree farm. It was neat to see families searching for the perfect tree and fathers bent over sawing away. The excitement was just what we needed.

While I waited in a medium sized line to sit on Santa's lap, Otto rode the hay tractor again with Daddy (did I mention it was free).
Then we entered the warm cabin and were offered hot apple cider (free). We got to stand by a warm crackling fire inside and then... Santa appeared. Oh, he's the best Santa ever! Otto hesitantly sat on Santa's lap (free) without being too uncomfortable because I told him that Santa would give him a candy cane (free). It was so cute!

Here's our second annual family photo with Santa (did I mention it was free). He is the best Santa ever!

Congo Visits Otto

Grandma Kathee came for an evening with Otto and brought, Congo, her hand puppet ape. I'm not sure if ape is correct, so I'll have to check the species with Kathee later. Anyway, they had a fantastic time and it was lots of fun watching Otto interact with Congo. He really thought Congo was real. Congo spent some time sleeping so Grandma Kathee could have a rest and play some more with Otto. I'm sure Congo will visit again sometime and Otto will be happy to see him again.

Seattle Half Marathon

So, after weeks of pushing Otto in the baby jogger I was finally ready for the Seattle Half Marathon. Believe it or not this is only my second half marathon since Otto was born. I better get moving! This is a pre-race photo and below is a post-race photo with Otto.

I had the best cheer squad! My friends Frances and Ian cheered me on around mile 11. Then my mom was making lots of noise for me around mile 13 (with balloons, roses and a camera in hand). Then as I was about to cross the finish line there was Andrew and Otto cheering for me. I'm one lucky lady! This was officially my slowest time ever :( but I felt great, the weather was great and I had a great time, so I can't complain.

Thanksgiving Turkey

I know these photos are one holiday too late, but I want to keep Otto's blog up to date so someday he can read about his childhood. Otto's 2nd Thanksgiving began by painting a turkey. He really likes to paint, but only has about a 10 minute attention span. After the turkey painting dried I cut it out and hung it on our front door to help welcome our family for Thanksgiving dinner.

During part of the big dinner preparations Grandma Kathee whipped up some whipping cream for the pumpkin pies. She spoiled Otto and Daddy by letting them lick the beaters. This was Otto's first beater licking extraveganza, so of course Daddy had to show him how it's done. Proud Opa is looking on.

We enjoyed the company of our families this year again making it an official tradition. My mom and Ron came up from Olympia and Andrew's parents came over from Kirkland. Andrew's sister and friend also joined us. It was a real treat having all our loved ones under one roof. After stuffing ourselves with a delicious meal we stuffed some more with three different kinds of pies. Otto liked the whipped cream the best. His look in this photo isn't one of distaste, instead it's one of 'stop taking photos and let me eat.'

Da Boyz

We hosted a baby shower on Sunday for our dear friends Laura, Noah and Eli. It was really nice to see all our friends from residency again and welcome the newest addition, Micah, Elizabeth and Bill's new son.
I was able to capture these four boys in one photo frame. Of course no one is looking at the camera, but what do you expect at this age! Here is Owen (2 yrs.), Otto (22 mnths.), Eli (3 in Dec.) and Liam (4.5 yrs.). We hope they grow up together and share happy memories just as their parents have done together.

Bubble Bath

With all the recent parties it was time for Otto to get clean. This was such a cute photo from his bubble bath I had to share it will everyone. I think the bathtub was the fullest it's ever been.

Happy 60th Birthday Grandma!

Otto's Grandma Joan turned 60 on Friday and we celebrated with a surprise birthday party for her. I forgot my camera so hopefully someone will email me some photos of the momentous occasion. Happy Birthday Grandma!

Happy 2nd Birthday Addy

Addison turned 2 on Friday and we were invited to celebrate at the Children's Museum in Olympia on Saturday. We had a great time playing and eating cake. Happy Birthday Addy!

Officially a Chubby Bunny

Last Thursday was one of those dreary Seattle afternoons. So after Otto's nap we had hot chocolate and marshmallows together. Otto was able to fit several marshmallows in his mouth at once so he's now officially part of Daddy's exclusive Chubby Bunny Club.

Otto's First Presidential Election

Recession, Economic Turmoil

Otto's putting it straight into the piggy bank.  Maybe I should do the same.

P.S.  If you look really closely at this photo Otto has a shiner on one eye, a cut on his other cheek and a band aid on his finger.  I promise you these were all self induced injuries.

Play Date with Ruby

Lucky, lucky us!  We got to babysit Ruby last weekend.  Andrew played with the finger puppets with them.

They colored and played together nicely.  Otto says, "Wooby."  It's very cute.

October: Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Love, Andrew, Kerry and Otto (the "bap")

Otto finger painted pumpkins and made brownies for all the neighbors this year.  We then took our treats to them.  We are thankful to have such wonderful neighbors.

October: Counting and a Shiner

So determined, Otto moves the beads across and sounds like he is counting.  He is really concentrating.  

Today when Otto was playing peek a boo with Daddy he hit his cheek bone on the bed rail.  It's not so bad in this photo, but it turned into a real shiner.  Ouch!

October: Another Weekend in Wenatchee

We enjoyed another beautiful weekend at Great Grandma's in Wenatchee.  This time we were joined by Great Uncle John and Great Aunt Dana.

Otto's first tumble weed.

We rode our bikes around the 11 mile loop at Riverfront Park.  It was nap time for Otto.

Otto checking in on the three cows across the street from my grandma's.

October: The Pumpkin Patch

Otto and I met our friends Nicki and her daughter Addy and Heidi and her son Carter at the pumpkin patch in Nisqually.  We also met up with Grandma Joan, Cousin Lauren, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Jason.  It was tons of fun with lots of activities.  Here is a photo of Otto and Addy hesitating to pet the sheep.

Otto wore his halloween costume.  Yep, he's a "bap." (he can't pronounce the /t/ at the end of words yet)
Otto, Addy, Carter and Lauren all got to ride the ponies.  They went around so many times I got dizzy.  Again, Otto was a natural.  Even uncle Jason thought so.
Here's Otto with Grandma drivin' tractor.  His legs are still too short to reach the pedals.
Lauren is pumpkin bowling and Otto is trying to "help."
Here's a family photo.  Lauren really likes to play with Otto.  The feeling is mutual except he's not much in to the hugs.

October: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Our poor little Otto had a bad case of hand, foot and mouth disease.  It looked a lot like chicken pox, but they were little blisters primarily on his hand, on his feet and in his mouth.  He was m-i-s-e-r-a-b-l-e!  A couple of the blisters on his feet turned in to blood blisters and he ate yogurt and ice cream for a few days.  We could tell he was in pain and had a hard time sleeping.  Thank goodness he's all better now.

September: Autumn in Wentachee

My mom, Otto and I spent a gorgeous weekend in Wenatchee visiting my grandma and my uncle John.

While there we caught a preying mantis, which fascinated Otto.
We also made our annual pilgrimage to the fruit stand just outside of Cashmere.  Otto went through the petting farm and fed the sheep some carrots.
He was shocked to see a goat on the rooftop.
We rode the cow train.  It was like a roller coaster ride.  I laughed hysterically the whole time.  Of course at the end Otto belted out, "Mmmmore."
He also pretended to drive a real tractor.

Fun, fun, fun!

September: Daddy's Socks

As I was folding and putting away the laundry today Otto wanted to put on Daddy's socks.  He looked ridiculously cute so I had to take a photo.

September: A New Sweater

Otto's a very lucky kid!  Grandma knit him another sweater.  It's a beautiful green and has lots of room to grow.  He'll be nice and warm this fall and winter.

September: Sponge Painting Con Binkey

Otto tried sponge painting for the first time and really liked it.  His picture was a keeper too.  He's pretty much given up the binkey except for sleeping, so this must have been right after nap time.  It worked well though so he wasn't tempted to eat the paint like he usually does. 

September: Walking the Duck in High Heels

As I'm getting ready for work in the morning Otto steals my shoes and takes the duck for a walk.  He loves the clip clop sound of my shoes on the hard floor.  Almost every morning he steals my shoes.  I'm proud to say he definitely gets the "shoe hound" gene from me.

September: SMILE

Still working on that smile...

September: Harvesting Carrots with Opa

Opa helped Otto harvest some delicious carrots from our garden.  It's amazing how sweet a fresh carrot tastes.  Otto loves learning new things from his Opa.

September: DINOSAURS

One of Andrew's colleagues gave Otto a collection of dinosaurs that her son had outgrown.  Otto was very interested and curious about them for several weeks, but now he's not so interested.  I'm not sure he knows what to do with them and his imaginative play hasn't totally developed yet.  So, well keep them around and continue introducing them to him in hopes he'll find more enjoyment out of them.

August: Taking After Grandpa

So, you might think this is a park or a golf course because of the lush and weed free lawn with each blade of grass exactly the same length, but it's Grandpa and Grandma's backyard in Olympia.  Remember not too long ago I said Otto was a gadget guy and liked the real thing.  Well, I spoke too soon.  He got a new bubble mower from Grandma and Grandpa and must have mowed the lawn for an hour.  He's taking after his Grandpa.

Maybe Grandpa can teach Otto how to smile.

August: Happy 93rd Birthday Great Grandma

We went to Wenatchee to celebrate my grandmother's 93rd birthday.  She lives in her own house and drives.  She's sharp as a tack, happy and healthy.  Pretty amazing for 93!  Otto's got 91 and a half more years to go.

August: A New Friend is Born

Welcome Baby Gabriel!  Gabriel Ricardo Marroquin was born in June to our dear friends Nate and Renee.  I was lucky enough to see him again at our friends Ryan and Dawn's 10 year wedding anniversary.  Otto isn't too sure of Gabriel just yet.  He's mostly just jealous that Mommy isn't giving him attention.  How can I resist when Gabriel is just so adorable!