Go Knights!

Last weekend, we made a surprise visit to Nana and Papa Brauchler's to see Papa coach one of his last football games (at least that's what we're told).  Ashley, Scott and Elli were also able to make the trip and Papa was surprised when we showed up at the football game.  The weather ended up being perfect and both girls were pleasant and happy despite being up past their bedtime.



Cheering on the knights!

The ladies hanging out by the fence.

Future Cheerleaders

Kens with Auntie Ashley

The girls with Papa...it took Kens a few minutes to warm up (hence the face).

The rest of the weekend we spent relaxing and hanging out.  Saturday afternoon we took the girls for their first visit to 1812.  Every year, the area where we are from, re-enacts the Mississinewa Battle of 1812 that took place not far from my parent's house.  It's quite the experience (picture Sweet Home Alabama, but not quite as classy) and we quickly remembered why we hadn't been there in so many years.



Here are a few more pictures from the weekend.

The girls playing in their matching jammies.

Swinging with mommy on our childhood jungle gym that Papa built and then refinished for the babies. 

Ash and little Elli

We took the girls "swimming" in the hot tub (don't worry, the temperature was turned way down)

They loved splashing!

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We've had a pretty relaxing and uneventful week (hoping this weekend is the same).  Kensley continues to be on the move and her latest obsession (besides walking around everything) is climbing the stairs.  She's been climbing stairs for quite a while now, but never seems to have much interest in it as we don't spend much time in that room.  She typically only wants to climb up if one of us is upstairs or if we're going up with her.  Lately though, she'll stand at the bottom of the stairs and wait for one of us to come into the room.  As soon as I walk towards her, she starts scrambling and crawling at record speed up the the stairs (she gets excited and I think she thinks we're playing chase).  We've been teaching her to go feet first down the stairs and it's cute to see when she remembers without us telling her.

We feel like all of a sudden Kensley is really starting to "get" things.  We can tell she understands so much of what we say to her or ask her.  Lately, she's also really into pointing at things....mostly at things she wants (sippy cup, paci, etc.).

In the past few weeks, Kensley has really started to show more of an interest in her stuffed animals, blankets and dolls.  I kind of wondered if she'd have a "comfort" item besides her paci (which we are hoping doesn't hang around too much longer).  It's been really sweet to see as she snuggles up to her blankets and hugs (or gently lays her head on) her stuffed animals/dolls.  Her favorite friend lately is "Buddy" (the bright orange, oddly shaped, Dr. Seuss character).  Buddy was our lifesaver last week when Kens got her flu shot...she hugged him tight and shed only a few tears.

Kens enjoying her milk on the couch with Buddy.