Theo grows into travel!

Who knew having a kid was so time consuming!?  Juuuuuust kidding! We haven't exactly been making it easy on ourselves lately.  Katie went back to work August 10th and due to issues with some of her coworkers (health, new jobs etc.) she returned to essentially run the department as they moved into the busiest time of the year.  Andrew's work always picks up as we move into the fall and this year was no different.

Theo is solidly average in just about every way measurable which is perfect for us.  The doctor says he's just about at the 50th percentile for length and weight and he's right on schedule for muscle development.  We're just starting to introduce new foods, although Theo seems more interested in the breastmilk diet than shaking things up much.  He found his feet recently and has been perfecting his happy baby yoga pose.  It feels like things are going slowly, but when we look back at photos of just a month ago, it's shocking how far he's come.

So naturally, with everything that's going on, we decided Theo should start seeing new places!  Once we started traveling with him we haven't really slowed down.  He's approaching his 5 month birthday and has already been to 6 states (Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and California) with North Carolina on the way in a few weeks!

In mid-September, we returned to Kansas for Theo's first time to visit the all the family and let Andrew enjoy the state fair for the first time in 8 years!

Walking through the airport

 Riding the train!

4 generations of Kinasts!

Grandpa was sick most of the weekend, but he got a holding session in!

The worlds most photogenic baby at it again!

Then at the beginning of October we upped the airplane ante and braved the 4 hour flight to Los Angeles for a friend couple's wedding.  We also had 3 other close friends to visit in Mike, Ian, and Tim.  So Theo spent the weekend touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pacific shoreline, San Diego Zoo, and watched Tim perform a violin concerto from his doctoral recital.  

Airplane naps

Jet lag makes time for early morning tummy time.

Viewing rovers under construction for the Mars 2020 mission

First dip in the ocean!

Ian and his sons Sylar and Solomon with Theo and Andrew at the San Diego Zoo.  This is perhaps the single coolest and most terrifying reminder of how much we've grown!

Here we are again......

My the time has gone by fast since we last posted.  August brought a two week sub job at the Early Learning Center at church.  It was in the Pre-K room in the mornings which was fun and a transition time for the learning center.  Now Auntie and I are doing puppets for their chapel time on Friday mornings.  The children love them and always giggle at Oral, our rabbit character.  Auntie writes the scripts, I dress the puppets and do props and then we perform them.  What good fun!  August also brought Aurora's first birthday which we got to be in attendance for in New York.  September and October have been busy with spending time with grandchildren and family, working on quiet books, and regular day activities.  Randy is out now every week teaching/consulting and will be until mid-December.  Here are some of our activities in pictures.

8-31-2017 Mary, Kurtis and Aurora

Aurora enjoying her little "smash" cake.

Aurora's birthday in the park.

9-1-2017 Grandma blowing out her candles.

Enjoying present opening.

9-2-2017 Kate at her wedding shower.

Grandma, Aunt Vicki, Kate, and Auntie

Everyone got to enjoy the shower.

9-16-2017 Andrew, Theo, Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Vicki when Theo came to visit.

10-7-2017 Buddy Walk Fun (Auntie even got to wear a tutu)

Em cheering.

Emmie Roo's Crew

Our walk begins.

Meet Elcee and Oral.

Quiet Book Pages

Grandpa with ears and Grandma with a new dress and hand made wig.

10-11-2017 P & M Pumpkin Patch Fun - everyone loved the corn sand box.

Feeding the goats and sheep.

Train ride.

1st row: Adelynn, Olivia, Ava 2nd row: Emily, Kinley, Ollie.

Picking our pumpkins.

Happy Fall

For those of you outside Kansas it is more like summer.  It is 95 degrees and very windy.

It has been a busy time. A get together for the 4 Kinast siblings.

 A birthday dinner, lots to see at the Fair and a visit with Andrew and
Katie.
  With that said, I will try and post some pictures
.
                                                                    Annual Get together,
       

                                                                        Grandma's Birthday

State Fair

Talking toTheo

Four Generations

The most beautiful time of the year-almost

“It’s the most beautiful time of the year”  Just think Andy Williams and you might remember it.  Anyway, for me this week is almost the most beautiful time of the year.  The Kansas State Fair is in town.  My fair time and vacation started off slow.  I had to leave on the 1^st Friday for a work conference in Dallas.  It was an okay trip but not during fair time.  The powers that be decided that we, a party of 3, should drive.  Well, I was the designated city driver if that says anything.  All things considered, it went well and do you know if you by mistake take the Emergency Vehicle lane it is a lot quieter?  At first you wonder, why all the cars are traveling parallel to you but then they have these signs that say for Emergency Vehicles only.  Here’s my one and only picture from the Dallas trip.

Conference hotel-The Doubletree near DFW airport

In comparison, I already have these nice pictures from the first trip to the fair.  More will come in Grandma’s blog next week.

Lego Tree for the Themed Christmas Tree Contest-It got a blue ribbon.

Hubby tried a fitness thingy ma jig at the fair that appeared to shake him from head to toe and said it was helpful.  The poor guy has been having some back pain.  Please note it isn’t caused by me-that would be a pain in the neck.  Ha Ha.  I’m a little giddy while on vacation.

Wedding plans are back to the top of the list.  Last weekend Kate and Tyson had engagement pictures in the pasture.  The black eyed susans were in bloom and they should have some pretty cool pictures.  We had the wedding shower on Saturday.  It went well.  

We each made a Christmas ornament for Kate and Tyson instead of playing a game.

Gus had a smashing time at the shower.

Check in Table

Refreshment table (more food came later)-Cupcakes by Theresa

Other things on the list include talking to the caterer and seeing about renting an arch! It will be here soon and we are looking forward to seeing lots of family.

The Rise and Shine puppeteers make their return on Friday.  We are looking forward to it.

Love Auntie and Tim