Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Wally Boomerangs Back!

Last June, we were lucky enough to host the Luke's classroom's favorite mascot, Wally the Koala, to our home.  Well, the kids love Wally SO much that he is making another round of visits, and last week was our special time with everyone's favorite koala!

Luke was so excited when he got home!  He got special permission to show Wally his favorite YouTube video, NFL: A Bad Lip Reading.

Wally called Gavin, the previous week's host, on his special banana phone.  (don't ask me, that's what Luke said Wally told him)


Wally had a meeting with the other stuffed animals and shared his scrapbook of his previous visits

CELEBRATORY HOT DOG PARTY FOR DINNER!

Oh, Wally!

That night, Luke snuggled Wally and shared one of his eye masks with him.  Wally wasn't so sure...

Daddy took Wally to his office!
Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot for a koala to do, so he checked out Katonah Ave.
So he took a nap under Bill & Warren in the boss' office
When he woke up, he remembered Luke telling him that getting cups of water is his FAVORITE thing to do, so he got on that right away
Then he was bored in the conference room
So Daddy let him watch some cartoons
WALLY!  THAT'S NOT EUCALYPTUS!
He went off in search of real snacks...
Pistachios!  Success!
Finally, he made his own fun
Oh, Wally!


He also helped Mommy wrap Luke's birthday presents.  Hope he didn't ruin the surprise!
He supervised boiler repair
Helped Daddy work from home on the iPhone
And relaxed with a good book from Luke and Harper's library
He wrote some letters home to Australia at Luke and Harper's desk

On Saturday, Luke and Mommy brought Wally to their yoga class.  Look at his excellent lotus!


Luke loves Wally a lot (so does Harper, but Luke didn't let her get much snuggling in)

For weeks Luke had been planning on Wally's eventual visit, with "watching Buddy the Elf" being at the top of his list of priorities.  Check.

Wally's last day with us was a busy one.  In the morning, he joined us at swim classes
Wally watched Luke's class intently
And witnessed Luke's first ever jump into the pool all by himself!




In the afternoon, we took him to the library.  While Luke and Daddy were off looking for books, Harper showed him a book about a baby wombat, also from Australia

And she was very insistent that "Wally will like this book a lot," and showed him Happy Birthday, Good Knight



By the final night, Wally was OK with the eye mask


Bye Wally, see you next time!



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Christmas 2012

We had a crazy busy holiday season this year - Grandma and Grandpa Casey visited us for the first part of the break, and then we all headed to Grammy and Grandpap Rosella's in Pittsburgh for the latter half - and for their 50th anniversary!

In keeping with Casey tradition, the loot and year was captured for posterity by the kids.


Presents were opened on Christmas Eve - here's Grandma looking at the ornament Harper made for her
 A fine owl!
And Grandpa got a gingerbread man from Luke!
Harper's baby doll accessories were a hit - Luke helped himself to them with his doll, Max, while Harper blew up Peter's cell with the toy that came in her dolly diaper bag
Aunt Roberta sent us  pretzel cookies from MN - including all of our initials.  Harper holding her H up high
Luke gobbled his L up before we could get a proper picture
 CHOMP. SWALLOW.

Santa streaker interlude!

Santa delivered our stockings on Christmas Eve - and Luke left him a very helpful note (click to enlarge).  Dictated to Mama, drawn by Mama to his exact specifications, and Luke made the "snow" with the hole punch
Everyone dug right in
The traditional Christmas Stocking Dreidel 
Xmas Moooousssstaaaache!
YOU MUST PAY THE RENT!

Technology was employed this year - we did some virtual present opening with the Casey Conerys in Minnesota via iPads and laptops!  So here are all the grandkids (and Uncle Steve?) "under the tree"
Thank you, Steve Jobs!

Luke opening his beloved backscratcher from Ian.  He seriously had one in his top 3 requests all season
(See? He loooooves it)

After all of the hullaballoo, Luke and Harper had fun with Harps' new soft blocks from Grandma and Grandpa
  ...and the backscratcher and bristle blocks


The day after Xmas, we packed up the car and headed for Grammy and Grandpap's in Pittsburgh. We won't mention how their 50th anniversary was celebrated with 2 sick adults and a double ear infection from Harper.  Nope.  Not mentioning it.

It snowed

and snowed
and snowed
Luke got to go sledding!

Harper ate as much snow as she could fit

We visited Pittsburgh's amazing Children's Museum while we there.  And Luke was trapped by a "mag-a-net"
He delivered "news about a hurricane Sandy"

They raced magnet cars
Harper checked out the pendulum
Luke getting dry after waterplay
The REAL Daniel Striped Tiger!  Harper was adamant that she wanted "to hug hims [sic]"
Fun with the sand
and fun with the clay

fun with the art

Fun?

Lastly, Harper and Luke modeling their cool shirts from Cousin Peter, Freshman at University of Glasgow!
Future Belle & Sebastian fans
Making "angry faces'
Bears on heads!

Birthday Bear Photo Bomb!
PUPPETS!