Monday, May 31, 2010

Graduation, College Reunion, Other less stately events

Lots has happened over the last two weeks! Last weekend was Yale Graduation. Matt attended the formal ceremony, got all dressed up, received his degree, and celebrated with friends and family. It was a lovely weekend, full of putlucks in the yard, Turkish food, and quality time with family and friends.

Then, this weekend, we went to Amherst for our ten year college reunion. Another beautiful weekend, and the chance to catch up with college friends, many of whom we don't see very often. All that, followed by some yard work, playing in the mud, and finally strawberry picking - yum!

Photos below. More, as always, on Flickr - click on the link to the right.

Iris congratulates Dr. Eckelman, aka Da-deeee

Three generations of Jensens. See any family resemblence? (Unfortunately, the fourth generation was napping at the time)

Matt with Brian and Iris

Iris running around the courtyard while the Graduate Ceremony dragged on, er, continued


Iris has her first taste of an Atkins Farm Cider Donut (courtesy of our college reunion). She ate an entire donut, so I guess she liked it . . .

In front of Porter House, where Gwyneth lived for three of her four years at Amherst. Unfortunately, they've completely gutted and remodelled it, so her old rooms are gone forever.

Cavorting around the yard in a bathing suit. It's been hot lately, and Iris loves playing in water and dirt (even better with both), so we got out the kiddie pool and she had a great time throwing things in and out of it, making a huge mess.

Strawberry picking! Iris ate at least a dozen strawberries in the field. She had strawberry juices dribbling down her chin the whole time. At one point, she was sitting next to the basket. I thought she was eating the strawberries, but it turned out she was putting the ones we had already picked back (where they belonged) on the bushes!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Braintree Photos, Potluck and More!

No particular news this week, just some more photos and video. Iris is walking up a storm - it's all she wants to do. The first day I tried to put hard-soled shoes on her, she threw a fit and screamed for 20 minutes until I took them off. So, I took the shoes into daycare, where they got them on her with no problem. She hasn't put up a fight since. Sigh.

She's added more facial anatomy to her repertoire: eyes, ears and mouths. We had the first potluck of the season last weekend. One of our guests was Hayden, Iris's birth buddy. 'Someone' has taught Iris to lift up others' shirts and point to their belly button. Hayden had just learned about his own belly. The ensuing scene was quite hilarious: Iris and Daddy reading on the couch: Last weekend we also volunteered at a local environmentally themed charter school as part of the Yale Day of Service. We weeded the blueberry patch and did other miscellaneous gardening tasks. Here Matt and Iris get ready: Iris really likes to try to put Mama's sunglasses on: Iris with Grandpa John in Braintree: Gwyneth and Heather with daughters Eleanor (2) and Iris: Iris really enjoyed playing with Eleanor's sunglasses: John and Matt battle it out with the Wii: Why choose, when you can have both milk and water: Why Choose, the video:


Iris dancing and asking for food:


Iris plays with her new toy car (thanks Mark and Florence):

Okay, this is a kinda long video, but it features Iris walking across our yard and showing off her new "shaking her head NO" skills (in response to Mama asking if she wants to play with the soccer ball):

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Weekend in MA

We spent last weekend in the Boston area. We got to hang out with the Eckelman-Brouhards, visit with Alison, Matt and Petra, see Peace Corps friend Heather and her two year old daughter Eleanor, and have dim sum with Jacy, Victoria and Milo. And, of course, there was the mandatory trip to Christina's. Good times! I haven't gotten the photos off my camera, but Alison has posted some video, so here goes:

Iris and Petra get to know each other from Matt McKeon on Vimeo.



Iris walks and talks from Matt McKeon on Vimeo.



Alison's photos of the cousins from the weekend here

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Walking!

Iris started walking! Friday evening we were at a friend's house, and it must have clicked for her, as she started walking up and down the hallway. We're very proud, of course. It's neat how happy she is with herself.


She has also gotten quite proficient at a number of signs, which makes our lives easier. She signs 'milk', 'eat', 'more', 'done', and 'give to me' regularly. The last one is mostly used when she sees dogs in the neighborhood. She really likes them, until they get too close, of course.


Video and some new photos below.

Hannah and Iris at the park.



Iris the explorer in the sandbox


Ms. Iris having a snack (it may not be obvious, but this is the tail end of the "give it to me" sign, which involves pointint at something (i.e. a dog, a raisin, a beer bottle) and then pointing to her chest)


Daddy and Iris in the back-yard.


Daddy, Aunt Laura and Iris.

Walking:

In which Iris demonstrates her knowledge of anatomy:

(okay, so she only know about noses, but it's a start!)

In which Iris rocks out:

In which there would have been more rocking out, but the music ended:

In which Iris drives the 'car' in the sandbox:

In which walking, riding Mr. Moo, falling on her face, and bringing a book to Mama are featured (all in the course of 21 seconds: this gives you a sense of what our life is like!):