GiGi and PopPop Lean Over to Eat Their Food

So GiGi and PopPop made their annual pilgrimage to Florida and stopped off in Delaware on their way down. We were so glad to get to spend an evening with them, and the kids absolutely ATE UP the attention. RUS in particular has not stopped talking about them since they left. What was so memorable about their visit, you might ask?

While they were visiting, RUS was allowed to have some ice cream (to go with pie a la mode) and GiGi was instrumental in helping him learn the principle of leaning over his bowl while eating. He did SO GOOD! And now every time he leans over he tells us "GiGiPopPop lean over bowl!"

Yes, RUS, that's right! GiGi and PopPop do lean over their bowls! And, now, so do you! Hooray!

R develops her photography skills at GiGi and PopPop's House

We went to Connecticut this weekend to visit J's side of the family and had an AMAZING time. The first thing we did was head straight to GiGi and PopPop's house, where we had takeout lunch from Paul's. We just hung out and relaxed--RUS enjoyed picking up all of GiGi's delicate lighthouse decorations while we continuously told him "no, don't touch that!" and tried to distract him with plastic dinosaurs and duplo blocks. Too bad he's too smart for that kind of foolery.

Then we went outside to let the kids just run around. Well, outside, all RUS wanted to do was run into PopPop's shed, which is full of power tools and other lovely things that almost-two-year-olds cannot play with. We finally tried to corral the kids into a photo session. Only, R wanted to take the pictures. Here's her first attempt--it's actually really good, isn't it???

Here's her second attempt. Still! Not too bad!
Then I took the camera away and took a few pictures myself, including the one at the top of this post and this lovely one of GiGi, R, and PopPop making silly faces.

Whose Princess?

Looks like Grampie's got some competition....

Maybe we should have gotten the stroller?

Before they left, GiGi and PopPop gave us some money to get a little something for R. J and I had been talking about possibly getting R a stroller for her doll, and GiGi and PopPop suggested that that we pick one up for her.

On Sunday, J and I made it to Target, but instead of getting the stroller, we got this little high chair for her. We thought she would have a lot of fun feeding her doll and putting it in and out of the high chair, since she already does this with her regular high chair.

When we showed it to her, though, all she wanted to do was push it around.

(Fortunately, that's not the only thing she's wanted to do with it--she has fed the baby a whole mess of times since yesterday.)

GiGi and PopPop

GiGi and PopPop spend every winter down in Florida, and on their way down there this weekend they made a pit stop at our house. Boy, R has been eating up all the attention!

This was a rainy weekend here and she's been cooped up inside. But it's a lot easier to keep her entertained inside with GiGi and PopPop here. Because of the rain, we didn't get to show them as much of the city as we might have liked but we had a terrific dinner at the local vegetarian-friendly restaurant on Friday and then tonight we took them to the oldest restaurant in town and had some pretty good traditional American food. They're heading out early tomorrow morning, and R will definitely miss them after they leave.

Seeing the family

We had such a great time at GiGi and PopPop's house yesterday. R was a huge charmer and spent a lot of time hanging out with various friends and family members. When Grammie and Grampie's old neighbor, Bill, stopped by with his dog, R fell in love first with the dog, and then with Bill. She gave him several hugs before he went on his way, and I think he was really tickled by how much she liked him right off the bat.

It was really great to catch up with folks we haven't seen in awhile, including the awesome M, who did my hair at my wedding and who we haven't seen since then, as well as S&D, who have a brand-new 3-week-old granddaughter who we enjoyed hearing more about.

We got some great shots of the family, too.

Here's PopPop, holding R, and GiGi, holding Little Frog, with the gang-- Grampie, Grammie, JW, C, J, and me.
Here's Great-Aunt L and Great-Grammy with JW, Little Frog, C, Grampie, Grammie, J, me, and R.R had a lot of fun hanging around with J's cousin, Little J. At one point, she tried to trade him her pink stuffed hippopotamus for his PSP. He wouldn't go for it, though.And I know I've said this before, but seriously, is this not the cutest Little Frog you've ever seen? I have lots more cuteness to share but my camera cord is at home, so I'll add those later--these photos are all from Grammie's camera.

Party!

We're off to a party at GiGi and PopPop's today. Hopefully we'll get to see lots of family, including JW, C, and Little Frog, if they are feeling better. They've apparently all been sick this week, boo.

Lots of photos to update with once we get back home, as I didn't bring my camera cord. I may be able to snag a few off of Grammie's camera later, though!

J and I are also planning on going to "the train store" which is apparently an amazing toy store near where GiGi and PopPop live.

I'm so glad we're here in CT, too, because our tv apparently gets NO stations with just our bunny ears (GAH!) so this has been my only opportunity to watch the Olympics. Got to see Michael Phelps win his 7th gold medal last night in that photo finish, which was pretty awesome.