alexs' entourage

Throughout the summer Alex has been building her entourage. It started with carrying around one baby. Then it grew to the baby and a monkey (I think she was excited about monkeys after the zoo). Then another baby was added to the mix. In addition, baby bottles have made the entourage cut. They are not just accessories to her babies but full on members. Occasionally, she adds a singing dog and bear (but at some point we just had to cut her off). The babies' names are Sophie and Rachel and the monkey's name is Ashley. The bottles (all of them) go by Ian. We get to bring them EVERYWHERE we go. At night she falls asleep with one baby under one arm and the other baby and monkey under the other arm. Below are pictures of how the entourage grew this summer.

 

lake roosevelt 2012

Our yearly visit to Lake Roosevelt was wonderful. We stayed with Papa Jake (of course) as did the Larson's, Busch's, and Herrel's. We had amazing weather. Skiing, surfing (behind the boat), and tubing were a blast. Alex enjoyed stomping on the sand castles that the other kids made for her. At one point, Colton made over 100 mini-sand castles for her to stomp through. She also liked going "deep" in the river. In the spirit of the Olympics just ending, we had our own "mini-Olympics". The biggest event this trip was Alex turned 2 years old!

two!

Alex turned two while we were in Lake Roosevelt (August 18th). She put on her own outfit that morning (as seen below). Ryan made her special birthday cookies...she wasn't too sure about the candles but loved eating the cookie. We couldn't be more proud of her. Alex has brought so much love and joy to our lives.

Fun Alex Facts:
1. She carries her babies and monkey with her everywhere she goes
2. She is good at playing independently
3. She loves coloring
4. She can speak in 6 word sentences on her own and tries to repeat everything we say
5. She takes a long while to "warm-up" to people
6. She loves babies and everything to do with them (including spending up to 30 minutes by herself reading baby catalogs)
7. She knows her colors
8. She loves going to the park
9. Favorite foods are bananas, avocado, blueberries, and salmon
10. Favorite books, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," "Good Dog Carl," "Moo, Ba, La La La"
11. Can put on her own shorts/pants and shoes (and take them off)
12. Is organized and likes to organize our things. Likes to put things where they belong (e.g. pushing in all the chairs at daycare).
13. Likes to help. Even her daycare teacher has commented on how she helps her (without asking) take out and put away everyone's nap tubs.