Christmas

We enjoyed the holiday with our family in Western Washington.  Grandpa Mark came down from Anchorage and we all spent Christmas day at Grandma Bernie's beach.  The sun shone on us the entire weekend, it was beautiful and we felt very lucky. Oliver played with cousins Molly, Maggie and Olie.  We played games, walked in the woods, opened presents and ate really well.  Its nice to have family close enough to visit for the holidays.  Helps when I'm missing my family who are so far away.  

This was the first year that Oliver got Santa Claus and all that Christmas brings. It was a lot of fun watching him be with family and opening gifts. He is still saying every one's names and talking about the "loud" donkey that we encountered on Christmas day. 

 

Oliver's new train table - a hit!

Papa Mark is loved by his grand kids and the feelings are mutual.

Larabee State park near Bellingham - throwing rocks with daddy

Larabee park

Hanging with Matt

When Anth and I go out , we usually ask our friends Matt and Melissa to watch Oliver for a couple of hours. Oliver LOVES being with them, especially Matt.  With little coaching from us, he took to Matt from day one.  When we walk out the door there are no tears, no tantrums and no good byes.  He barely realizes we're gone. The last time they watched Oliver, Melissa took a few snapshots of their activities.  Now we can see why he likes them so much.  THEY'RE FUN! 

 

Walking with Frank the dog

Drinking

 

 Fire building

Drumming

Visit from Papa and trip to the West Side

Grandpa Fred came for a visit last week.  We kept him very busy!  Between trips to Spokane, Seattle, Anacortes and Bow, Oliver had him running all over the house.  Papa, as he is referred to by Oliver and cousin Alek, kept up very well. We miss him already!

 

We went up in the Space Needle

 

Hiking and biking with cousin Riley in Anacortes

Drumming at Monica and Kristjan's house

Getting ready for christmas

Decorating the tree

Making cookies is very serious business

Happy Thanksgiving

Gobble Gobble!
The house down the street has put this turkey up in their yard.  Oliver loves to pet it every time we walk by.  This time I actually had my camera with me. 

Olher Ochs

Last night Oliver started saying his full name. He can't quite get the V in Oliver so he says 'Olher'. But he can say 'Ochs' loud and clear. He's kind of shy about it but he'll put the two together when we ask him what his full name is. He's so smart!

McTaggart family visit

Jumping off of things is one of Oliver's favorite things to do now. Auntie Angela taught him to say "stick it" when he lands.

Playing in the leaves with Maggie.

He did some rock climbing with Maggie.

Molly and Maggie gave Oliver their old keyboard. He plays it ALL the time and knows how to turn it on and off and says piano. Great gift!

Remote control

Oliver got his first remote control car. If its not obvious already, this was purchased by Anthony. What is it with boys and their toys?



Ok, I have to admit I had some fun playing with it myself.

Tricks or Treats?

Oliver and I went to our friends' house in Cheney to go trick or treating and spend the scary night. Dave and Cori were great hosts and kept us very safe from all the ghosts and goblins while Anthony was gone hunting with the boys. Oliver was a moose and I was the hunter. He caught on after only one house that if he kept his hat on he got chocolate. And he even said 'trick or treat' a few times. It was a very fun night!

Fall days

Pumpkins

Oliver turns 2

Happy Birthday Oliver!

Sticking with my costume theme for his parties we made masks.
Oliver refused to wear his; party pooper.

Musical endeavors

Drumming with Matt, aka Animal

Oliver on the keyboard

Middle America

Oliver and I went to Illinois for a visit last week. We packed it ALL in, even a trip to St. Louis to see some friends from college and go to the zoo! This was Oliver's last plane ride as a "free infant" - thank god. He's way to big for my lap anymore. We celebrated his 2nd birthday early and twice on this journey. I sure hope he doesn't get used to that. He got to see cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, grandpa and even great-grandma. On our way home we saw lots of friends in Portland and cheered on the marathoners. Oliver waved sticks at them as they ran by us.

We had a great time and miss every one already!

But we're happy to be home with daddy again too.

Oliver and Ruby cheering on the Portland Marathoners

The Harvest Festival in Illinois with Cousin Alek

Cousin Alek

Oliver LOVES farm animals

Playing catch with Great-grandma Hazel

Chatting about running shoes with grandpa

Pensively watching the tigers pace

Oliver and Vivian looking at the giraffes at the St. Louis zoo

Woa, cool animals

Oliver and Vivian watching the hippos swim