Grandma Sue’s April 2011 Visit, Part III
April 17th continues! We left the butterfly area in search of turtles! See this image larger.
Ian grins as we make our way onward. See this image larger.
Nina looking cute in her pink outfit. See this image larger.
Nina contemplates that dimple in Grandma Sue’s chin! See this image larger.
*Let’s go, people!* See this image larger.
Walking with just a little unsteadiness. See this image larger.
Down the elevator and here we are with the turtles, at last! See this image larger.
Mommy lets Nina run free, and there she goes! See this image larger.
Turtle! See this image larger.
Ian uses the elevator to go back up to the main level. See this image larger.
Nina presses the button to go down for the next people to get on the elevator. Glad there’s only two floors! See this image larger.
Crazy how quickly they grow. Just look at this kid! See this image larger.
Melissa could tell me what these are called. They’re yellow. They aren’t tulips. They’re kinda pretty. Let’s move on. See this image larger.
Pausing for a quick picture, but you can tell everybody’s running out of juice! See this image larger.
Another quick shot… See this image larger.
One more lap around the butterfly exhibit! See this image larger.
Home at last! Nina needs a drink! So does Daddy! See this image larger.
Ian wears that goofy basket on his head and pretends he’s a firefighter or something. See this image larger.
Look at this beautiful boy! See this image larger.
Grandma Sue reads Nina a tale as we sign off for the 17th! See this image larger.
From April 10th, Melissa’s phone – Ian is happy with his green sand. 
From April 12th, Melissa’s phone – little Nina in slumberland. 
On April 17th, we took Grandma Sue over to Meijer Gardens to have s’more fun with butterflies! We sent these two on ahead to warm up the benches, but we caught up with them here! 
A couple of mood shots for your viewing pleasure, mixed in with the kids… 
Nina uses her amazing powers of self-regulation to address lack-of-nap concerns. 
Whitish-Yellowish Butterflyicus, this rare and elusive beauty dines only on marbles. Scientists are still baffled by how this species survived before the round glass toys were invented. You know I’m kidding. 
You may be asking yourself which is the butterfly and which is the flower. If so, get your glasses, they’re on the couch next to the table, and try not to hurt yourself on the way there. 
Ah Ian, another no-smiler? I do have to say that somewhere between then and now, he’s gotten a little bit better about this. Maybe this was the instance that I explained it enough times that he “got it,” who knows. 
This is actually one of the coolest butterflies there… it has brown circular patterns on the outside that are intricate but a little boring. When its wings open, you see the really pretty range of blues. (I’m serious on this one.) 
Mommy and daughter prepare to step out of the butterfly part of our day. At least the first time through. More Meijer Gardens adventures with Grandma Sue next entry! 
Between April 12th, when this pic was taken, and the current date (May 20th) Ian slowly developed into a more loving brother and son, at times. Part of it feels like learning, and part of it feels like a return to a bit of his innocence — you sort of have to see the look on his face to get it. 
April 16th, Grandma Sue takes a pic of night-night rituals. 
April 17th, Ian and Nina play around in a Ian’s new car seat. 
I’m glad Grandma Sue pulled off a shot, because mine mostly look like this! 
This one didn’t turn out too bad. 
April 11th, Ian peeks over my video game chair in the office. 
April 10th, 2011, Melissa grabs the camera as Nina and Ian sit together watching TV. Pretty cute, right? 
Then Nina stands up… 
Turns out we were watching a TV program called Little Einsteins that asks the children to pat their laps along with a beat, and then raise their hands in the air and say “Blast Off!!!” (See Ian protecting Nina from falling? Good boy!) 
Nina was apparently paying attention to the show, because there she went! (I’ve got video of this coming up next entry, I think.) 
In the sunroom, our little girl relaxes with a book. 
That’s a good smile! Can you give us a little bit of teeth with that? 
Nice! A little more next time, but you got the right idea little girl! 
She loves a good book! 
Same day, Ian gives us a grin too. 
Nina wears her shampoo deflector! 
Nina blushes for Ian, who is unaware that he should be blushing. 
*This doesn’t come from a salon!!!* 
*I love you, green cup thingy.* 
She wears it in a very stylish fashion, doesn’t she? 
Uh oh! Is Ian getting too old for this? I promise to stop this soon, kiddo. 
Ian’s turn! 
Drenched! 
Nina giggles while Ian gets water dumped on his head! 
Nina settles down after her outside excursion and plays quietly. 
She’s so very sweet! 
*Time for tea?* 
*Time for zooey!* 
But where was Ian during this time? Well… 
He was told that when he got dressed he could come play with the rest of us. Apparently that was a deal he could live without! 
Ah, able to breathe in that fresh air! Still need a coat though.
*Help me Obi-Wan, you’re my only hope…*
Hard to choose a picture when they’re so alike, but so different.
At this point she was doing something a little more like a step-step-step-stop and stumble- step-step-step.
Peek-a-boo?
Ian got to go outside too!
You can tell, as a parent, that your kid needs to burn up some energy, and the attitude difference is measurable.
I can tell this is going to be a great summer, hopefully full of times like this.
And hopefully full of big smiles like this.
Or this…
He was rotating around in a circle on the swing, I had to try to capture these at each turn.
My favorite boy in the whole wide world.
Nina tries out the Grampa Dave-built swing and enjoys it!
Nina starts figuring out how it works.
An awesome playtime was had by all… let’s go inside!