Heaven and Other Dreams

Enan at 14 months: September

Enan has discovered that he loves ROCKS! However, after this photo shoot we had to removed them until he is older, as he also loves to drop and throw. Not a good combination.

yumm, yumm! Not.

Looking dapper in his "Cars" jammies! And so much more like a little boy!

All you need for entertainment is a cardboard box!

TIMBER!!!! At work with Mama, Uncle Jesse, Grandpa and Uncle Michael.

That is one big log!

Riding the rocking horse that Mama got for her 1st birthday in 1978!

Enan at 15months: October

Mama - I just can't quite get this pumpkin up on the stack! Help please!

BEST . DAY . EVER! Dada let me ride on the tractor!!!!

Our good friends from Ontario were visiting family in BC and took part of a day to drive down and see us! We met them at the Aquarium in Seattle. We love you Sikkemas!

Alex and Rachel, and Arianne and Lauren Sikkema

Very similar to a picture of me when I was about Enan's age. Looking at the fish through the glass ceiling!

Enan and Dada in a beautiful setting.

I want to touch... that one, and that one... and that one.

Touching a starfish for the first time with Arianne Sikkema.
(I stole this picture from Rachel Sikkema's FB page!)

Enan and Lauren Sikkema loved to walk through this tube filled with jellyfish! It had pretty lights too.
With Brendan and Rachel Sikkema.

Look mama! It's a clown fish - and it's wearing orange like me!

Enan at 16 months: November

What does a little boy + rubber boots =? Puddle splashing time!

Hi Mama!

Helping mop the floor! Such a big boy!

Rediscovering a joy from his babyhood. The bouncy chair. :)

Like mother, like son - I have pictures of me around this same age with a big scrape on my forehead too.
I did a faceplant in the driveway as well. Poor little guy.

In August we took a week and drove to Alberta, Canada to visit Brendan's sister Marisa, her husband Geoff, their new baby Everett and Papa VanderVelde. It was a fantastic trip - Enan did really well in the car and we saw lots of wonderful things! We drove in a big loop, through Eastenr Washington to Idaho, up into British Columbia, through the Rockies to Alberta. We spent our first night in Pincher Creek, AB. On day two we visited Taber, then on the Calgary where we spent most of our time with the Hutten Family. On our way back we drove through Banff, then into Brisith Columbia, we spent one night in Kelowna and then through the Coastal Range and home. Here are a scant few pictures of the many that we took!

One of our first stops was to visit the Jagt family! Pastor Marc married Brendan and I, and was our minister for a time at the Ottawa Canadian Reformed Church. He now pastors the Canadian Reformed Church in Tabor, AB. It was so wonderful to visit with them over lunch and see their new home- and how their kids had grown!

Geoff and Marisa made sure to show us around their new city of Calgary. We took a good part of the day to walk through downtown and park along the river. It was beautiful. I really liked it as a city and I could see myself living there someday (I'd have to know what winter is like first though!).

While in Calgary we took a day trip North to visit Horsethief Canyon (I think!) for a hike and then on to the Royall Tyrell Musem to see the dinosaur fossils! I tried to find a geode or fossil while we were hiking, but had so such luck. It was a REALLY windy day!

Horsethief Canyon from the viewpoint.

Enan trying out his Tyrannosaurus Rex instincts on Dada's neck and the museum. Yummm!

We had no idea there was a dinosaur named after the VanderVelde's! :) Too bad I didn't get a picture of it. The name mean's VanderVelde's Swmimming Monster. It was a sea dragon discovered by a VanderVelde. I wonder if it is a relative? The VanderVelde - not the sea monster. ;)

Enan's close encounter with a dinosaur...statue.

Playing ball in the Hutten's back yard.

Football with Papa! What could be better. :)

While we were in Calgary Papa turned 60! Happy Birthday Papa!

Cousins! Enan and Everett. Hopefully they will be good friends when they get older!

Brother, Sister and Cousins! Wearing the same jacket no less!

Snack stop in the Canadian Rockies! It was beautiful!

Summer Highlights 2012

Brendan's Parents Visit in June

At the Hands On Children's Museum in Olympia with Dada, Papa and Nana in June.

First potato chip! It was greatly enjoyed. Dada was enjoying an icecream bar!

Tillicum Village

While Brendan's parents were visiting, we took them to Tillicum Village on Blake Island for a NW Native American salmon dinner and mask dancing show. It was a fantastic experience.

Taking the Boat to Tillicum Village - Like Father Like Son.

At Tillicum Village with Mama.

Having fun at Tillicum Village with Papa and Nana!

Beautiful NW Native art at Tillicum Village.

ENAN TURNS #1

June 29th, 2012 (party was actually on July 1st)

Enan's 1st birthday theme was "Goodnight Moon" - one of his favorite books.
Here is the AMAZING birthday cake that Gram O'Neill made

CAKE! It was delicious...

Opening gifts with Dada's help. This was the book "You Are My Cupcake"
- the last page reads ..."and baby I could just eat you up!" Enan is enjoying getting eaten by Dada.

Celebrating the 4th of July

In the ball pit with his cousins Lily and Rafael. Cousin Capri is leaning over her sister Lily.

Our Family :)

In the Pool on a Hot July Day

At Carmen and Carlos's Wedding

My handsome men!

Who could resist this face? He is saying "No-no-no-no-no" - which sounds more like "new-new-new-new-new".
Oddly enough, this means "more please" in Enan speak.

At Grayland Beach - 13 months old

We finally made it to the beach in late July on a beautiful sunny day.

Enan thought it was fantastic! He especially loved the rocks and the water.
He cried when he had to leave wading in the water.
His love of water makes his mother a wee bit nervous. There is such a thing as healthy fear!

So happy! Of course when it was time to go he had sand EVERYWHERE - in his eyes included.

Train Ride on Great Grandpa's Birthday in August

Great Grandpa Bob O'Neill turned 84 on August 11th, and for his birthday he invited all the grand and great grand kids to a friends house for a mini train ride. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Thanks Great Grandpa Bob!

The train gets ready to take off.

There were several bridges - it was quite the ride!

Happy Baby and Happy Dada.

Choo-Choo!!!

Mama and Enan near the caboose!

Enan's First Car

Some friends of ours outgrew this car and passed it on to Enan! He loves it! He doesn't totally get how it works, but getting in and out, shutting the door, and getting pushed around is still pretty fun stuff!

Splash Park in Chehalis

On an exceptionally hot day in August I took Enan to the local pool to play in the splash park. I already mentioned that he loves water. This was no exception. He had the most fun I've seen him have yet!

Look at this squeal of absolute delight!

Fun Fun!!!

Do we really have to go Mama? This is so much fun!!!!