September 2012

Burke's first K-State Football Game!

Labor Day weekend Burke enjoyed 3 quarters of the preseason game vs. Missouri State in Manhattan. Mom and Dad took turns each quarter letting Burke stretch his legs. He sat on the bench by himself clapping and saying "Yay!" He had his first funnel cake and enjoyed the fireworks at the start of the game.

The Crofts all geared up for KSU Football

We celebrated Megan, Karyl and Dan's birthday with a dinner out in Manhattan. 

We have walls! The framing of our home is underway and making our plans come to life. 

Dan is diligent in capturing each day's progress. 

If you are interested check out his blog. www.croftlittlehouseontheprairie.blogspot.com

Burke is enoying his booster seat...and a peanut butter sandwhich. 

We have been working on Burke taking his own clothes off. We did get a report from his daycare teachers that he undressed one day at school during puzzle time. Next we will work on when it is appropriate to undress.

Burke has become more independent and can play quietly alone. Here he gets a little reading in.

Burke's latest art projects at school.

We took a Saturday field trip to the Olathe Ernie Miller nature center. 

Burke is hissing at the snake.

One Saturday night we went to Nicole's house for dinner. Burke ran full speed into the dining room table corner and got this big goose egg, now bruise on his forehead right above his left eye. We are sure this is just the first of many unfortunately. He definitely milked the attention.

 It must be all of Burke's reading. He has been sharing a new word a day. He is stringing words together, much to our entertainment. 

Burke's words & phrases:

Beep (any electronic is named this). I see you. See ya. Night Night. Burke's (insert noun here such as hat, bowl, shoe, sock, book, etc), Mama Run. Dada Run. Eww. Big Moon, Baby hop, balloon. Bye Bye. 

 Chef Burke adds rice, broccoli, corn and avocado to his apple sauce and stirs. We named this a "Burke Special" ...only for Burke to eat and say Yummmmm.

 Burke visits with Levi, my friend Michelle's 3 year old son. 

 We visited Michelle and sweet baby Isla (eye-luh) who just arrived 3 weeks ago. 

 The weather has been gorgeous and we have made many a trip to the dog park.

One Saturday we put Burke down for his daily nap about 11:30. He went down easily and it was quiet in his room so Dan and I assumed he was asleep. About noon, we heard a knocking from the inside of his bedroom door. We looked at each other, not knowing if we should believe our ears. We went to his bedroom door and opened it to check on him. Out comes Burke, streaking, diaper free and giggling! What!?!

Burke has figured out how to scale his crib and escape. We will be now converting his crib to a toddler bed to avoid any potential danger of him climbing out again and falling. We just need to anchor the bookshelf to the wall and "Burke proofing" his room should he not decide to sleep during nap time while he has the run of the room. Oh. Boy.

August 2012

Dan and I took a small "staycation" the first few days of August to catch up. We enjoyed an afternoon of relaxing at the pool, went flying one morning and took Burke to Wonderscope, a children's museum in Shawnee. Here are a few pics of the Small Wonders Room, perfect for Burke's size and high energy level.

 Ready, Set, Go!

Burke runs everywhere he goes. We are starting to have to discipline him as he thinks it is a fun game to run away from us.

 Captain Burke

 Never too old to play

 Peek A Boo!

 Does anyone see Burke hiding? His new hiding spot.

 We made a fort for Burke's Saturday morning reading.

 Pooped!

 Breakfast at Canterbury

 It has been a dry summer. The boys anxiously watch an evening storm roll in.

 Watching the Summer 2012 Olympics in London

 We have a basement on our lot. Check out Dan's blog for more home details.

 Dan inspecting the foundation. 

 The Crofts standing in their future backyard. Progress feels good!

Sunday, August 19th we Crofts headed to the Kansas City Zoo.

Dan and I hadn't been for 8 years and many renovations had improved the zoo drastically.

The first stop was to see the Polar Bear. It was actively entertaining the crowd with a plastic barrel it was rolling around in the water. 

 What a gorgeous day! We had a nice 70 degree morning stroll to the Australia portion of the zoo.

 Burke roared at the Siberian Tigers. Take that Tiger!

 Little did we know walking into a gated portion of the Australian Outback we would be walking among kangaroos. We even saw a Sally (female kangaroo) with a little Joey in her pouch. We learned that the Joeys dive in head first so their gangly legs stick out of their mama's pouch. Ouch!

 Look closely and you can see the Joey's leg sticking out by her belly.

A new baby giraffe was born the first week of August and was already available to the public. Burke thought the giraffe was a horse and immediately said "nay" to him. 

 We snorted at the rhinos.

 We took the train to and from the large Africa portion of the zoo, right past the elephants and pink flamingos.

All in all, a great trip. We were in at 8:30 and out by 11:30 for lunch and nap time for all.

July 2012

HAPPY 4TH of JULY!

The Croft Clan headed up to Parkville, MO for the 4th of July Pararad with the Pacey's and Elliot Family.

Burke had just gotten a new buzz hair cut, appropriate for the HOT HOT HOT 100 degree weather day.

Back at home the boys indulged in a few toddler grade fireworks- smoke balls, worms and snap n pops.

Burke wanted to hold the punk.

Burke learned at school that fireworks go up in the sky and say "BOOM!" which he says very eagerly.

The 4th of July was on a Wedneday and we moved two days later. We are in a duplex about 10 miles south of where we will be in our new house. We were very fortunate to have Mom and Dad come up, stay with Nicole to watch Burke and Grier kids. Nicole and friends helped us move. It was 105 degrees the two days we moved. Considering we moved every belonging we own in hot weather I feel very fortunate that everything went very well. While we are still adjusting to our new place we are quite settled. Our gaurd dog Gage is on high alert below as he patrols our new abode. Isn't he a beautiful boy!?!

We have a split level which is very handy considering our basement has a door directly to the garage which was slick for loading all our extra furniture and belongings from the moving truck.

Cheryll unpacked the kitchen for us. Thanks Cheryll! Little man is just exploring every corner, just like Gage.

Burke's room all moved in thanks to Aunt Nicole's help.

As long as all my boys are here with me I will feel at home.

Burke's new words this month are (s)nack, (s)poon, FUN, OUTSIDE, Owl sound, Burke sounds like Book, bye bye with a wave, pwease = please.

 We went to our friends' daughter, Eliza's, 2nd birthday party.

 Burke found the straw in a cup very riveting.

 The last weekend in July we went to the Lake of the Ozarks with the Pacey's and the McGown's. This has been an annual trip for over 7 years. We missed it last year but were happy to introduce Burke to the lake. He had a ball relaxing at the house and choosing 1 of 6 adults to read him a book.

 Saturday we played on the beach where he belly flopped on the beach and paddled around a lot. He LOVES the water and has a ball jumping off the dock.

 Sunday morning we took a boat ride.

 Pulling out of the dock it was almost Burke's nap time so he was just absorbing the lake scene and new experience.

 Two cool dudes.

 Wait a minute. He isn't relaxing. He is sleeping!
The boat must have rocked him to sleep. Funny guy.

 Back at home being a monkey and climbing everywhere.
There is a picture of me about the same age where I also crawled in the dog kennel.
Like mother. Like son.

 Burke is a puzzle master.