Out of their Minds Design

End of November

On the 29th of November, Nina used those adorable front teeth of hers to destroy a rice cracker. This image is a still taken from the video that I link to below. Grampa Dave saw this video and said he’d like a still image. Here ya go, sorry it doesn’t go bigger…

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Click here to see (and hear) Nina using her teeth to take a little notch out of this cracker!
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Same day, Ian sings us a song that he made up himself. See this image larger.

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Click here to see (and hear) Ian making up a song about night-night time!
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This is probably from a long time ago, but here’s some artwork that Ian put together. See this image larger.

So What Came Next?

The following entry was written on December 14th…

I’ve got some good pictures and videos coming up, that took place during this time, we’ll get there soon.

The day Mommy’s family went home after thanksgiving, Mommy helped open the DeVos Children’s Hospital. This is important because, not just part of Mommy’s job, it was also good to get to know this hospital, because it will be here that Nina will have her heart operation.

In the meanwhile, Daddy ran into work deadlines and difficulties, and stressed out pretty hard. With Mommy away, Daddy took care of the kids and did pretty good… in fact, Daddy had a lot more time to get to know Nina, and bonded. Again this may not sound all that significant, I (Daddy) feel much closer to Nina as a result of that week. The stress of the week got the better of Daddy, however and he got sick with something called “Shingles.” The nice thing was that Daddy did not get anybody else sick, which was a distinct possibility and perhaps a little dangerous with Nina.

Mommy’s work schedule got back to normal, and Daddy’s tried to regulate his hours.

And now some stories/updates about Nina and Ian.

I’ve heard that a co-worker of Mommy’s missed her baby’s first steps while helping open the hospital. It turns out Mommy missed a milestone as well… Nina ejected her first DVD that week. And it wasn’t the last time either, you can ask Ian. She’s also powered down the DVD player.

Nina can nicely handle a sippy cup now, even lifting it to get liquid to tip back into her mouth.

I’ve been playing more games with Nina… I notice that when I rapidly tap her on the back, she starts making an “uuuuuuuh” noise so that it make the “UhUhUhUhUh” sound.

We also made the same noise back and forth repeatedly, faster and faster, both of us smiling at each other while doing so.

Thanksgiving 2010, Part VI

The afternoon of the 28th, and Ian comes out to play! It is a little cold for basketball, even on our “deluxe covered court.” See this image larger.

All that winter gear makes it a little hard to swing! See this image larger.

But we manage! See this image larger.

Weee! (This really is a standing swing… actually has two big footprints on the “seat” to prove it.) See this image larger.

Ian and Mommy treck down into the woods… Might be Ian’s first, I can’t remember. See this image larger.

Kaylee and Aunt Melanie join shortly thereafter, and they make their way over to the park for more adventure! See this image larger.

Meanwhile a little bit of Grandma peek-a-boo is being enjoyed in the warmth of the house! See this image larger.

That evening this tall young man put up our Christmas lights for us! See this image larger.

Relaxing with Uncle D down in the office! See this image larger.

We had that kid out there until dark, and Uncle Ben helped too! See this image larger.

Pizza for dinner! See this image larger.

Nina eats whatever is orange in that bowl that most of us would only have the courage to sniff if it had marshmallows, brown sugar and butter involved. See this image larger.

And that’s it! Thanks for the nice visit!

I want to apologize for the stress level I was under… I ran into some hiccups with work that, compounded with other things, left me a little flipped out. Things got worse before they got better, but if it is any consolation, at the time of this writing, things are getting better.

It’ll probably be a couple days until I write in the blog again, I’ve got a bunch of stuff I need to format properly before catching us up — and a deadline, of course!

Thanksgiving 2010, Part V

The morning of the 28th..

I’ve looked around and even walked through the woods behind our house a couple of times, but it took Connor’s bravery to fully investigate. I knew there was a bit of a platform out there, but this looks like a real nice little treehouse, almost! Apparently the picnic table was included in the purchase price of the home! See this image larger.

From out in the woods you can see the tarp on our roof. Even now it is still not repaired fully — even though part of the check has already cleared. I love contractors. See this image larger.

Even further out, to the point where you’re no longer on our property, but still in the general area around it, and it turns out we have our own little neighborhood dunes with a shallow pond! See this image larger.

Meanwhile, inside, Dora the Explorer entertains the ladies.See this image larger.

You’re watching too, Nina, don’t give me that look. See this image larger.

Ian looks like he might prefer to watch some Diego. See this image larger.

Nina’s getting really good at this kind of maneuver… See this image larger.

Next entry, our Thanksgiving 2010 conclusion!

Thanksgiving 2010, Part IV

In the interest of not slowing down, I’m publishing this next entry mid-day today. Be sure to scroll down so that you don’t miss the third part in our turkey day exposé!!!

The evening of the 27th, Grandma Barb feeds Nina while Cousin Kaylee gives Nina’s soft hair a pettin’. See this image larger.

This is what you get when you surprise your kid by taking his picture. He may or may not have needed to go potty after this shot was taken. See this image larger.

Thanksgiving dinner. I think. To be honest we ate so many times it is hard to tell. See this image larger.

Melissa was kind enough to note that I’m not in many shots. Really I just need to open my mouth more often and ask to be in more shots. I’d love to get more shots of Melissa, Ian, Nina and I together without having to use photoshop! 😉 See this image larger.

The Kinect was a big hit with the kids, and Connor and I played one night until I was about ready to fall over. See this image larger.

Love this shot… if you’re wondering, on the screen they’re both floating down rapids on a life-raft. If they both jump at once, the raft gets a little lift and can go up ramps, etc. See this image larger.

Here you can see Connor has stepped to his right, that turns the raft in that direction, if the second player doesn’t do something goofy like jump forward and giggle. See this image larger.

Is it me or does Ian look like he’s about 12 in this picture? See this image larger.

I think one of the earlier jumps by Connor resulted in Connor’s shirt flapping up, and it was rewarded as a good jump, so… apparently flopping your shirt up by hand might do the same thing? See this image larger.

Here Connor manipulates the menu, while Ian gives Connor a tackle hug. See this image larger.

Worn out, the kids head for bed while Mommy/Aunt Diss reads a story. See this image larger.

A couple more Thanksgiving adventures to go!

Thanksgiving 2010, Part III

The morning of the 27th, introducing Nina and her favorite means of transportation, Cousin Connor! See this image larger.

*Weee!* See this image larger.

*Tires are wearing, Connor, pull me into the pits on the next lap…* See this image larger.

Melissa took this one, that’s pretty much 4 smiles! Jackpot! See this image larger.

More wrestling! See this image larger.

It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt, kids. See this image larger.

What, nobody got hurt? Oh. See this image larger.

Well, carry on then. See this image larger.

The requirements were 1.) Get a picture of Nina. 2.) She is to be wearing her “First Thanksgiving” outfit. 3.) The message should be visible on the outfit. How’d I do? See this image larger.

This is the same outfit that Ian wore at around the same age. To see an image of Ian in this same outfit, click here. Or you can see this image larger.

Thanksgiving 2010, Part II

I published an entry earlier today that was a bunch of short stories… scroll down to read that, it has some good stuff in there too. Meanwhile, here’s more turkey day lovin’!

November 26th continues with a break for some wrestling. See this image larger.

If she can climb it to stand up next to it, she will. See this image larger.

Puzzle presents! See this image larger.

Connor helps turn a ball of dough into something flat. I believe that’s a pie thingy. Or something. See this image larger.

Is she waving, or does she want milk? Or is she just refusing the sweet potato spoonful? See this image larger.

Little drummer boy. Not so little, really. See this image larger.

Grampa Ray, one of the few people in attendance who could point out that the tapered tip of the potato peeler is for removing potato eyes. See this image larger.

Party in the gate-area! See this image larger.

Thanksgiving 2010, Part I

As you might suspect, November ended with Thanksgiving! Lots of family from out of town! It all starts on the 26th, but first…

November 23rd, Ian’s police car. See the light on top? See this image larger.

November 26th, probably not the cutest Nina picture I’ve seen, but we’ll work on that! See this image larger.

Yay, ice breaker! 5 minutes to set up, 15 seconds to play! See this image larger.

Chilling out in the sun room! See this image larger.

Woohoo! Up to the play room! See this image larger.

This was hilarious… Connor and Ian mentioned something about a parade, and then came down the steps, Connor carrying a drum — each of them playing it on the way down. See this image larger.

Ian thought that was cool. See this image larger.

And then there were guitar and flute solos. See this image larger.

Here a mat bridge is being created by our crafty construction workers! See this image larger.

A lot of people means at least twice that many shoes! See this image larger.

Grandma Barb says hi to Nina! See this image larger.

Nina’s a good walker, as long as she has a good walker! See this image larger.

Hi, little girl! See this image larger.

Short Stories

November 18th –
Daddy – “Nothing’s happening in this video. Are you bored?”
Ian – “You’re with me, so I’m not bored.” (He said this matter-of-factly or else I’d have thought he was buttering me up for something. Instead he just meant it like he said… it was sort of “How could I possibly be bored when you’re here?” or I guess possibly “…when anybody else is here?”)

November 23rd (estimated) –
Ian -“Hi Honey!” (imitating Mommy, yelling down the steps)

November 27th –
Kaylee – “Why does it keep spinnin’ wound and wound?” (Waiting for a movie on Netflix Instant Watch.)
Ian – “That’s cuz it is loadin’ up, Kaylee.”

November 29th –
Daddy – “So… we can move your bed back to your room?” (From Nina’s… so I could paint his room Garden Spot green.)
Ian – “No, I want to sleep in Nina’s room!”
Daddy – “… … (thinking…) But you are keeping her awake at night, I think, buddy.”
Ian – “No, SHE’s makin’ ME not sleep!”
Daddy – “Well I wonder what we could do about that? What do you think?”
Ian – “Move my bed to MY room!”
Daddy – “Awesome idea, kiddo.”

December 3rd –
Today and yesterday we received notes from Nina’s teacher in her daily report about “jail” time. We asked about this and it turns out Nina’s been a bit of a bad girl! I understand that she’s been standing up at a metal gate and shaking it loudly while babies are sleeping, taking zooeys and I guess she even gave somebody a little tap. I consider that to be mostly harmless at this point, so I’m giggling. When she gets to be Ian’s age I’ll be a little more concerned.