Zeee Cruizzze – Week Two

And now, the pictures you’ve all been waiting for…up until my camera battery died…. THE CRUISE TO ALASKA!

The cruise was just beautiful and, even better, we got to spend a full week with family. It was such a generous gift from Grandpa and Grandma Ide for their 50th wedding anniversary.

Here’s a general overview of what we did. There was so much to do and see that I can’t write it all. You can check out my dad’s pictures if you’d like, he took some nice ones. (www.vernersphotography.com, Galleries, Family, Cruise or something like that)

Our boat, the Rhapsody of the Seas. (Royal Caribbean)

 

 

 

 

Coen’s favorite server, Daniele. She loved to play with him and let him beat rhythms on her tray.

 

 

 

 

We ended up dominating the Card Room most of the time. When we weren’t there we were on the deck, exploring the cities, in the hot tub, in the pool, eating, eating, eating, wine tasting, talking, walking, eating, eating, and enjoying everything!

 

 

Here we are on a formal night.

 

 

Our boat docked in Juneau, Alaska. The fog cleared shortly after we got off the boat.

We had to finish the ice cream before we were allowed in Alaska. Do you see the nice Kelty baby backpack Coen got for my birthday? Family in Skagway, Alaska. For the first couple of weeks Coen felt the need to pinch Jessica’s face. Here he is getting in trouble for it…

 

 

 

 

Victoria, B.C.

In Washington! Week One

Coen enjoyed his time with “Tita” Jessi. Jessica babysat him an entire day so that Justin and I could go river kayaking in Wenatchee with Joey Murphy. It was a little strange to be kid-free for most of the day, but it was fun! We didn’t fall off of our kayaks until the very last rapids, where I took a nice smash. Apparently, I went over the first big rapid, looked very proud and pleased with myself, then realized that I was getting sucked backwards underneath it and had a look of extreme horror.

 Coen loved playing at the beach and just wanted to smoosh the sand in his hands most of the time.

 Walter, Aaron, and Joey came to hang out one night. We went out in downtown Tacoma after some mahi mahi. 

 

 

 

Uncle Dan and Coen! Coen LOVED to play with Daniel and would choose him over other family members. Dan even let him play with the buttons on the fan.

Bay Beach in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Friday we spend the day in Bay Beach, which is a children’s amusement park outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin. All the rides were either 25 or 50 cents and it was a very fun time. The weather was a little warm, but a cool breeze was coming off of Lake Michigan so it was very bearable. We got snow cones for $1; everything was a very good deal.

Coen’s first amusement park ride was with Marcus on the fire trucks. He even got to pull the bell.

Coen’s first ride all by himself. I was nervous to let him go alone, but Justin put him on and he did just fine. I kept envisioning him jumping out like he does when I put him in the shopping cart. Turns out that rides are much more fun!

 

On the second-to-last ride at Bay Beach. This train went past the lake and around the park grounds.

 

 

Wisconsin Time

We went to Lomira for Joshua Lee Whitenight (our nephew)’s baptism. We left on Wednesday and spent the night in La Crosse, which broke up the trip and made it much more bearable. Justin worked until 6:30 PM on Wednesday so there was no way we wanted to drive the whole thing that night. Last time we did that we had a little monster boy wide awake from 1-2:30 in the morning…

 

Coen was thrilled to play with cousins Marcus (6 1/2) and Karl (2 1/2). He liked to honk Marcus’s nose and get pushed over by Karl.

 

Katrina came for Coen’s birthday celebration Thursday evening! I’m so glad she’s close.

 

 

 

Me & the Coco Bean. He was hungry for dinner when we opened presents so it wasn’t the smoothest, but it sure was fast.

This is the closest thing to a good picture of the cousins that I got on my camera. Left to right is Marcus, Joshua, Karl, Coen, & Miriam.

 

Coen liked to touch Joshua’s hands and just sit and look at him. He was very gentle and didn’t even try to squeeze him. (He squeezes things he likes.)

 

 

 

Coen ate all the chocolate frosting off and left the rest for some carrots. What a choc-o-holic…just like his dad.

 

 

Talking vacuum from Grandma Vilski. Coen LOVES it and pushed it around for 15 minutes. He was sure to get around Joshua & his car seat, the high chairs, and in the bathroom. What a good cleaner.

 

 

Justin & his brother Tim.

 

 

 

                 Kelly & Aunt Vonni.

Birthday Par-tay!

The day after Coen’s birthday we had a party for him. We invited a bunch of people over for hot dog dinner and even more people for ice cream sundaes. Here are the attendees:

Dinner: Mitch & Corrine Burmeister, Nick & Katherine & Mia Schmoller, Justin & Stacy Shrum, Laura & Bob & Jamis Martens, Maria & Bryant Laude, Emily Heidtke, and Bill & Beth Fuerstenau.

Ice Cream Sundaes: Margaret & Ruth (neighbors), Wessel clan, Koelpin clan, and Brian & Donna & Kari Fischer, Carmella & Milan (Fischer’s grandkids).

It was a very good time. Coen was good about opening his presents and didn’t get bored after the first one—he showed each present an equal amount of interest since they were all new and exciting. It was so nice that everyone could make it and after Coen went to bed (screaming at 8:30 PM….too much excitement), we all stayed up talking and getting eaten by mosquitoes. So wonderful. Here are some pictures!

 

This was shortly before bed.

 

Happy First Birthday, Coen. We love you so much!

Coen’s Birthday & Animal Fun

Justin & Coen on his birthday on our way to the park to play on the playground and play tennis. Coen had just gotten over a few days of a fairly high temperature (102-103 degrees) so we were very happy that he was feeling better.

Mitch dressed for the occasion. It didn’t help him win, though…

 

 

Here’s the birthday boy! He enjoyed carrying the balloon around for a while until he got distracted by other, cooler presents. Mitch & Corrine got him a “laptop”.

 

Corrine and I on the way to the park

Coen was interested in eating the cake for a while, but after eating the MnM’s he decided that he preferred his grilled cheese sandwich. We think he just likes chocolate.

This is the cake I made. It’s a snake.

 

 

Here’s his present from Justin and me; a Tow Mater ride-on toy. He loves to push the buttons and push it around.

 

The next day we went to our landlord’s house to their “hobby farm” of sorts. Coen got to pet the dog, play with the kitten, ride the horse, and touch the sheep. Here are a few pictures!

 

 

(He’s saying “yee haw” ------------------------------>)

I did it!

I somewhat successfully gave Justin a hair cut! I followed the instructions that came with the razor and it worked. I cut the sideburns too short he said, but I think it looks good. Coen said that now he wants a hair cut. But just the curls in back. :)