Catching up on the important stuff

Well, we have a lot of catching up to do on our blog, but the most important thing is that we welcomed our daughter Margaret Louise at 2:01am on Thursday, September 5, 2013. At 9 pounds and 21 inches, she is a healthy and happy baby! We are all delighted and look forward to this new chapter with our growing family.

Outside!

The weather has finally been nice enough that we can play outside after dinner (we're up to about 19 hours of sunlight a day too, which helps). Philip has been trying to figure out how to blow bubbles. As it turns out, this can be pretty tricky when you're only 2. One of the tricky things is learning how to keep the bubble solution in the bubble bottle.

                                  

No tears over spilled bubbles. 

 

 "Mom, I found a rock!!!!"

 "Dad, I found a rock!!!!!"

 High-five!

Stomping around the bed of the truck with the dogs and daddy. Stomp, stomp, stomp!

Taking and Oreo break...all that stomping, you know, builds an appetite!

Trains

Last weekend the Alaska Railroad held their annual open house. This was the first year that Philip was old enough to be excited, so we were excited to have this little adventure with him. We're also planning a train ride to Denali later this summer, so we wanted to make sure that he liked being on a train and wasn't scare. He LOVED it!

I commented on how nice the Railroad keeps their train cars. Brian said that the ones coming into the Refinery aren't nearly as nice. I suppose they were trying to impress, but everything was clean and polished so it sparkled!

There were free 15 minute train rides- Philip was SO excited.

 And spent most of the time staring out the window.

 Even though he had seen the route 100 times by car. I guess everything is more exciting when you're on a train.

Waiting for the conductor to make his way down the aisle, as he greeted all the families.

 Here's Philip looking a lot like is Grandpa Bickmeier. It any be how Brian did Philip's hair that morning (I was working).

A wonderful family afternoon! Can't wait for our trip to Denali in June! 

2-Years!

Philip turned 2 this last Thursday. We had a small party for him the evening of his birthday and then a larger party this weekend. I didn't get many good pics at either event, so I wanted to do a little photo shoot to show how much this little guy has changed in the last year. His personality is still as sweet as ever, but he's a little boy now, not a baby. He's talking up a storm and goes on adventures whenever the opportunity arises.  

Still looking a lot like his Dad.

All smiles. :)

 And always seems to be thinking.

On days that we're home, there's a lot of reading going on...it is also a good day to stall and not have to go down for a nap or at bedtime. He's a smart kid.

This is Hoots, the owl.  Next to Green, his blanket, Hoots is a very important friend. He generally goes with Philip from room to room, and is being held at the beginning and end of every nap and nighttime. Why an owl, you ask? We have no idea, but the two seem to be inseparable

We're all looking forward to the year ahead (and the addition of a new little sister for Philip in late August)! 

An Artist

Our little artist at work. 

A warm day in December

Today was a very pleasant 20 degree above zero, so after Philip's nap we went outside with the dogs to play. Philip hasn't liked snow in the past, but he's starting to warm up to it and loves stomping around in his little Sorels. He got a snowsuit from the Rusts earlier this year that fits perfectly and is great for playing on days like today!

Here's the house with a very happy Dawson!

One leap and he was across the entire front year. I think he was running off some cabin fever.

I hope we have many more days like today this winter!

Happy New Year!

In 2 days we welcome 2013. We'll be revisiting our blog and keeping it more updated than in months past. 2012 was an incredibly busy year with many, many changes. We're all looking forward to a quieter and more predicatable year. So, we wish all of you a wonderful year ahead!