Happy Holidays

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, Jeffrey must have been the only kid in town who actually slept in Christmas morning - he didn't get up until 7:30 which is a half hour later than his 'official' getting up time. He was very excited on Christmas eve as you could see in the video of him chanting 'Christmas, Christmas....' over and over. He was happy to get things started by passing out stockings to everyone, then after examining the fun stuff in the stocking and opening a few toys we had a nice french toast breakfast followed by some more presents. Jeffrey got a lot of 'space' themed toys this year, the space shuttle, some rockets and lunar exploration toys. He also enjoyed playing with the usual trucks, airplanes, and driving his new McQueen car!

Jeffrey races McQueen around the house

Kids in their matching jammies on Christmas Morning

Meredith was delighted with wrapping paper and a shiny green bow, but she managed to do some unwrapping too and had fun playing with some new stacking bowls and a tea set. She was very happy to smile and pose for pictures. We were happy she is not yet mobile and was content to sit and play and enjoy the tree from across the room without trying to grab lights or ornaments.

Meredith unwraps a present

Checking out the new tea set

Jeffrey was thrilled to spend time over the holidays with all our family. There were many moments of high excitement. He enjoyed moments of sharing toys with Meredith and tried to make her smile and laugh. He has been very helpful at dinnertime picking up a spoon or cup that she drops and handing them back to her and she has been growing quickly, progressing over the last two months to eating babyfood - a favorite is vegetable turkey dinner- and sitting up on her own almost unassisted. She can spend long periods carefully examining a single toy and really enjoys the colored plastic stacking ring toy. Meredith just loves to see people and laughs and wiggles with joy when anyone engages her. She is the happiest baby I have ever seen! We had a wonderful Christmas and are planning on heading out to see ice sculptures downtown in the afternoon of New Year's Eve - an Axtell tradition!

Jeffrey Crashing his new car, with commentary

Kids excited for Christmas!

Some self-explanatory videos:

Some Xmas themed pictures

Everyone knows there are rules. The rules include rules for xmas. In case you don't know, some of the important rules are about when you are allowed to decorate. Xmas lights are to be put up on the first weekend in December .. no sooner, no later. However, the xmas tree itself is to be obtained and put up during the second week of December .. no sooner and no later. I'm happy to say that we are following the rules here. Two weekends ago I spent a long cold afternoon putting up all of the lights, including the icicle lights which required roof work! I really like the white LED's, mostly because they're bright.

From December 2010

From December 2010

Gwen has posted some pictures of our xmas tree on her picassa gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/gwenie/December2010#

Last weekend (the xmas tree weekend), we all went to have breakfast with Santa at Wegmans. Everyone had fun, and both Jeffrey and Meredith got to sit with Santa! Here are some pix

From December 2010

From December 2010

From December 2010

Happy Birthday Great Grandma!

Jeffrey and Meredith's great-grandma Johnson celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday. Congratulations! There was a very nice reception that I (Mike) went to. Here's a photo of me with Grandma Axtell, Uncle Steve, and great-grandma:

From December 2010

The kids and Gwen unfortunately had to say home -- everyone's been sick and we don't want it to spread to much.

Meredith has been working on sitting up. She can sit up well if she has some reinforcement, as you can see:

From December 2010

Today, I am putting up the xmas lights on the house. There are rules for when this is to occur. The 1st weekend in December is when the lights should go up, regardless of the weather. Also, the xmas tree goes up the second weekend of December. These are the rules people -- any earlier is too early!

In years past Gwen, Jeffrey, and I would go together to cut down the tree from a local tree farm. But we've learned our lesson. Jeffrey never has liked going and always cries and cries. Last year this led to some urgency in selecting our tree and in the end I made a rather poor tree choice. Not going to happen this year -- I'm going solo and coming back with a good tree without toddler strife. .. stay tuned.

Recent photos (full size) in the picassa albums:

http://picasaweb.google.com/axtell.mj/November2010#
http://picasaweb.google.com/axtell.mj/December2010#

Hi everyone

Posted some new pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/axtell.mj/November2010#.
Planning on quiet weekend here. Jeffrey can tell you what's planned..
mike

trick or treat!

Thursday was for some reason the official trick or treat night in State College, so we all went out. Jeffrey was a racecar driver, and Meredith was a little flower. Gwen was a bumble bee, and I just had a crazy hat on. We all had a good time and Jeffrey especially.

From October 2010

From October 2010

Some other recent pictures are also newly posted to my (Mike's) October Gallery on Picassa -- http://picasaweb.google.com/axtell.mj/October2010#

From October 2010

Alpha Fire House

On a sunny sunday afternoon our local volunteer department was having an open house for fire safety week and to show off their new firetruck. We all went and got to ride in a firetruck! It was so much fun!

Jeffrey poses next to the firetruck we all got to ride in.

Jeffrey and Mike got to go up in the bucket of the firetruck.

Jeffrey wishes he could 'drive' this truck all day. He did spend a lot of time here!

The new firetruck, it went into service later that afternoon after the firefighters all 'christened' it with buckets of water

Videos

A couple of videos :
Meredith rolling over (this one was maybe the third time?)

... and Jeffrey playing the leaves on Saturday.

Meredith is rolling!

This week Meredith figured out how to roll from back to front. She was trying for a few weeks to master this, and was starting to get impatient! Now if I leave her on her blanket for a few moments when I return she will be on her belly! She seems quite pleased with herself and just needs to learn how to roll the other way too!

Meredith is happy she learned to roll over!


Meredith loves her new colorful booties! And she wants Penn State to win! (They didn't.)


Jeffrey called her 'Bear-idith' when she was wearing her bear hat.


Yes it is a major workout to push both kids around our hilly neighborhood! Jeffrey likes riding the 'skateboard' attached to the back of our stroller. It is a platform for 'big kids' to ride.

Field Trip to Way Fruit Farm

Jeffrey and I went to go on a field trip to Way Fruit Farm. It was organized by his preschool, and Grammie Laurie watched Meredith so Jeffrey and I could have some time together. It was raining earlier in the week so we were glad to have good weather on the day of the field trip. When we first got there Jeffrey played on a wooden toy tractor with all the other kids. Then we tried to find the biggest pumpkin in the nearby rows of pumpkins for sale. Finally it was time for the tractor ride through the orchard. Jeffrey said it was the 'best tractor ride ever!!!' - he really enjoyed it and I think he would have been happy riding around all afternoon. We got to hear about how they hand pick 30 varieties of apples, and that the farm has been in the family for 6 Generations.

Jeffrey 'drives' the tractor with his friend Brady.

They had some wonderful giant pumpkins for sale.

After the tractor ride we got to go into the giant cold room where apples are stored for months. The air was permeated with a cider smell. Then we saw the apple washing machine and heard about making cider. When we were finished with the tour we got a bag of apples and some cider to take home. Jeffrey played on the wooden play tractor again until I convinced him that it was time to go home. He wanted to go back soon to do it all again!

Jeffrey really really wanted to drive this forklift.

In the apple storage room.

Looking at the apple washing machine.

Just pictures here ...

One good one of Jeffrey, and then a lot of Meredith.

Mike

From September 2010

From September 2010

From September 2010

From September 2010

From September 2010

From September 2010

First Day of School

Jeffrey started his first day back at Stay and Play last week. He loves going to school, and has many friends to play with there, some from last year and some friends that are now enrolled this year. He has been telling me all about his days, he tells me what snacks they have, and that he rides bikes in the big room. He also sings some songs he has learned and tells me who he plays with at school. There is no adjustment to school for Jeffrey, he was ready to go from the first moment we arrived!

First day of Thrillin' Three's at Stay and Play.

Meredith is getting more active, she is trying to roll over and playing with a lot of toys now. She loves to watch people and smiles when she sees anyone. She saves her best smiles and giggles for her family and laughs with joy when Daddy comes home or Jeffrey tries to entertain her. She is such a happy girl!

Meredith shakes her froggie rattle - she is wearing her cute summer outfit on one of our last 90 degree days!


Jeffrey 'beats the heat' with his first red popsicle - it is strawberry, yum!


Axtell kids swingin' - they love to swing together!

Late August Events

Jeffrey had his last day of 'Summer Preschool' - they got to wear swimsuits and play in the sprinklers. He was pretty excited about it and had a good time at school this summer.

Ready for 'Splash Day' - Last day of summer preschool at Mt. Nittany.


Meredith is grabbing toys now. She is holding a bunny that she really likes, and she is also good at grabbing her owl and shaking her rattles.


Meredith is big enough for her baby swing outside. She was laughing and smiling while we were pushing her.


Here's a picture of Meredith on her 4 month birthday, August 29, 2010. She is on a beautiful quilt her Grandma Axtell made for her.


Meredith is such a happy girl. She loves bouncing in the baby bjorn seat. She is wearing one of my favorite outfits in this picture.

Pool Time

Jeffrey has been having a great time at the pool this summer. Mike has been taking Jeffrey almost every weekend. Jeffrey likes to 'bounce' in the big pool, jumping up and down in the 3 foot deep water and feeling the floating sensation. Meredith and I have been a few times, she likes to look at everything going on.

Mike and Jeffrey enjoy the shallow end of the pool.


Meredith hangs out in the shade of the umbrella with her 'baby friends'.


'Jeffrey Burrito' dries off after a morning of swimming.

apple sauce

We have three apple trees in our backyard that, even though we haven't really tried very hard to maintain them, make a lot of fruit each year. Gwen and I both have got the bug to try and make them more productive .. next year! But, this year so far we were able to harvest some decent fruit. Although we both want to make cider, buying a press and grinder just isn't in the cards this season. So, Gwen and I made apple sauce last weekend! My job was to harvest, and I worked on some of the peeling and chopping. Gwen did the rest. We made a 4 qts. and a little extra. It is really good! Here are some pictures.

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010