oh just a bunch

of random daily photos :) 

looking for the pool balls

he loves laying down to look for things

he learned of his love to play in the water from grammys house

when we were gone! HAHA! 

mr. smiles

playing with cousin Ben

reading with Grandma

playing ball.  a new fav

 looking at books to start the morning

Go Michigan State

trying to fit a whole animal cracker in his mouth at once

no no!

and there you have the random picture post! :) 

quick seven weeks

and we are done with swim lessons

Arie seemed to like it 

at least the water!

we learned some new skills

like kicking, climbing out of the water, silly songs, and even going under the water

 he didnt make it to swim with out a cat nap :-/ which is never good

but he still had fun...just extra clingy 

see all ready to get in the pool

post swim shower and warm towels

and now we shall practice in the pool for a while 

and then will sign up for another round 

diamond in the rough

or diamond in the diaper

Monday we spent all day at Grandma and Grandpas

bc they left for Florida today.  insert big sad face! :( 

we love hanging out with them and will miss them..countdown is on to meet in Florida.  23 days

arie wanted to go with or help pack or get a ride

anyway back to the diamond

so my mom was dancing with Arie which is LOVES 

and was snuggling her...and she said awe he is even playing with my earring

and well 20 min later...OH No my earring is gone

so we search the whole basement floor [three adults crawling around]

back track up stairs

look some more and nothing

so head home.

arie naps.

has dinner

and I go to change his diaper

and low and behold the EARRING

[not in poop...just in the diaper. TMI?!?!

it fell down his oneies shirt and down his diaper

HOORRRAYYY!!!!

so happy it was found

so glad he didnt eat it

and so glad it is back safe and sound to grandma

 IT IS FOUND!

be mine

Arie asked me to be his valentine and of course I said yes!

Loved getting to spend our second valentines time day together :) 

We had a nice family day at church, then we all went to the outlet mall, and dinner out...was suppose to be Arnies but they are apparently closed on Sunday nights.  So Js favorite mexican restaurant and Krispy Kremes will do :) 

all ready for church mama

and then playing after church and a nap

after lunch playing

not getting the nice shirt dirty 

or just showing off his muscles :) 

 opening presents from Grandma

and all the loving from others

then out to dinner with my dates 

one last snuggle with the little love

 a very fun pink and red valentines day 

smile for a cracker

or anything else silly to get Arie to smile for his One year photos

and we just got them back

and here are a few of my favorite

really like Abigail Marie Photography

My baby looking a little to old :) 

smile on little man! 

not a blankey

or a pacy or a stuffed toy

instead....

spatulas

in particular the red one from grandmas house :)

she got him hooked on it when we were in Australia haha 

Starting out the day

three at a time at lunch at Grandmas 

three again while reading a book

staple at breakfast

playing in the morning 

an even well napping

well we will see how long this lasts :) 

silly boy

good day mate part two

day three

Started out early with a tour of the opera house

now if you know me...tours may not be my thing

but sue our hilarious tour guide [who self proclaimed to not being political correct!] and very interesting building made it the best tour yet ;-) 

View of the harbor from the inside

needed to take a selfie with the headphones on

it was beautiful inside!

we couldn't take pictures in any of the other 4 rooms because there were productions taking place later that day,,,but this was by far the best one to document

and now the outside

then we headed back on a Ferry to the zoo

riding in the cable car...which let us see a great view of the city

and finally I saw a kangaroo

elephants

giraffes oh my

 back to the city 

 then it was off to dinner in Darling Harbor 

pizza oh man the best food we had in Australia 

then a night walk by the opera house 

Day four

J was done with meetings [because it was Saturday]

So we all headed out together on a train about 45 mins out of town to Featherdale Wildlife Park

in search of Koalas 

which we found and were able to pet and take pictures with :) 

and then there was even a 'petting zoo' area for the kangaroos

you could walk up to them and pet them and feed them

big step for this scared of animals lady to be this close :) 

this was a mama

can you see the little tail popping out of her pouch!?!?

after the wildlife park

a Mcflurry for lunch

had to try the local flavor...cadbury crunch with caramel. YES PLEASE

america jump on board 

then it was a taxi ride to another lunch

and a taxi ride to this BEAUTIFUL beach

i loved it here

swimming pool filled by the ocean

then we took a walk around the coast

one more view before we headed back

Then J and I took a ferry ride back to Manly Beach for dinner

 the sun was setting

on the ferry on the way back the bridge and the opera house were both in red for the start of the Chinese New Years

Day five/morning

before we left I was up at 5 am...so we capitalized knowing we would be on the plane again 

We walked to and around the Botanical Gardens

which were 200 years old

saw this HUGE neat tree

Then walked around an area called The Rocks

were they set up a market on the weekend

I bought a poster from a local artist for Aries room

Then it was back to our room to finish packing 

off to the airport

thank goodness for no delays

and the ride home was 2.5 hours shorter! that was a big deal!

we left at 3:00 pm Sydney time

and arrived in Dallas at 3:00 pm

it is like it never happened :) 

and then back to GR to this beautiful sun set

and was totally SURPRISED to see this little man in the airport hallway

thanks to my in laws 

best surprise ever

He may have been more excited to see the luggage carousal then me and the luggage carts

but once we got home his feelings changed

he has been a cuddle bug all week

which has been great

we had such a wonderful time away

loved the area and all the sites

but sure felt good to be home to our little love

Many thanks to both of our parents for taking wonderful care of Arie!

and that is a wrap...Good day mate!