Satchel Turns Two!

Satchel actually turned two July 22nd, but I'm just now getting the photos up. For her birthday:

1. Balloons

2. Her favorite meal - pancakes, sausage, and eggs

(It was so darn hot that it didn't make sense for her to wear a shirt)

"Happy Birthday" crown from Aunt Michelle

A visit to Ohio to see Grandma, Grandpa, Great Aunt Barb, and Great Grandma on her birthday.

Satchel got an awesome dollhouse from Grandma and Grandpa and was particularly interested in the bathtub and potty.

Swinging in the park. It was so hot that there was not another soul around.

Satchel's travel tent/bed is so cool that Grandma has to try it out. I was really impressed that she fit!

Satchel in the UP

Some more photos of Satchel in the UP.

Pigtails and happy.

Pigtails and not so sure.

Pigtails and crabby.

Hauling your toys to a from the beach is hard work and, though we offered, she would not let us help her carry them.

Satchel usually refuses to wear a sun hat, but...if it's grandma's hat (AKA Dibit's hat), then it's OK.

Again with the crabby.

She looks like she's plotting something in this photo.

Daddy and Satchel heading home from the beach. Notice that she will hold Matt's hand, but not allow him to carry any of the toys.

So very pleased with her beach toy collection.

Playing with grandma.

Getting a ride on Uncle Mark's (uh Mak) shoulders.

First ever boat ride! Satchel has been a bit obsessed with boats for some time, so this was quite a bit deal. She spent nearly all of her first ride grinning.

And then down to the serious business of fishing. Satchel manning the landing net which she might have occasionally put on her head. She's always trying for a laugh, that Satchel.

Nighttime on the beach with grandma and grandpa (AKA Dibit and Dempa).

A night staying in downtown Chicago.

Looking back through the last few months of photos, there's some good ones that I've missed posting, so I'll do a few catch up posts.

These photos were taken during a visit from our friends, Andy, Sarah, and Zebulon a couple of months ago. We stayed a night in a hotel in downtown Chicago just for fun. Zebulon and Satchel slept with two cribs right next to each other and they giggled and tossed stuffed animals back and forth for hours before finally getting to sleep. In the morning they spent time looking out the hotel windows to the cars and buses waaaaayyy down below.

Momo (the monkey) and Dolly (the dolly) and binkie make up the essentials for bedtime (and often for easing into the morning, too).

Jamaica!

We returned home from Jamaica last night after an epic journey starting at 3:30am in Robin's Bay on the North coast of Jamaica and ending at 9pm in Chicago. The journey included a bus ride, two plane rides, and two train rides. And Satchel was a trooper through all of it.

But, I am getting ahead of myself. Our amazing week of vacation in Jamaica started in Chicago at O'Hare International Airport where Satchel spent an hour pointing out nearly every airplane that she saw (and there are quite a few at an airport) exclaiming "Airpane!". She also points out nearly every car she sees (again there are a lot). "Tars!" The 'K' sound is still hard for her.

Here she is in the airport pointing out one of the many planes. The pilot in this particular plane waved to us while pushing back from the gate.

Like father, like daughter. Reading on the plane. We had to take three planes to get to Montego Bay, so there was plenty of time for reading.

We arrived very late at night at Robin's Bay, so much of the next day was spent napping to catch up. This is Satchel's new travel bed/tent which she adores.

We partook of plenty of Red Stripe. What else would you drink?

We took an amazing hike with a guide to a black sand beach and a beautiful secluded waterfall.

Satchel slept her way through most of the hike.

The waterfall and pool were like a little private paradise. We were the only ones there and the water was perfect.

Much time was spent reading on the porch overlooking the ocean and our private beach.

And of course swimming and playing in the sand.

We went to a local farm to have a traditional British style tea with the family that lived there. They had a 3-year-old granddaughter, Amy, and Satchel and Amy hit it off right away and played together for hours well into the evening.

View from their veranda. Not too shabby.

And on our last evening, Satchel got a bit nutty (actually Satchel's always a bit of a nut). Though she refused to wear the lovely sun hat we packed for her, she decided that a Red Stripe box made a delightful hat and she wore it most of the evening.

Our daughter, a true German, lover of sausage and beer at the young age of two.

The last day was Marlene's birthday and we celebrated with an unexpected cake made by the resort staff.

All in all a wonderful time was had by all. If you are ever planning a trip to Jamaica, I would really recommend Strawberry Fields (http://strawberryfieldstogether.com/), a small ecotourism resort on a secluded section of the North coast. I can't say enough what a great place it was.

Painting

Sometimes if Matt is feeling brave, he'll get out the finger paints for Satchel on a rainy afternoon at home. Satchel always has a delightful time, but it does create quite the mess.

Satchel says "Isee" over and over at the beginning of this video. She's referring to Isaac.