fair time

It wouldn't be the end of summer without a trip to the State Fair. Steve and I have made it an annual tradition nearly every year since we met...including the year I was overdue with Anna and it was so HOT! This year we loaded the kids into their double stroller and hit the "Kidway". Here Anna was told she could choose 3 rides. Can you guess what she chose?

Choice #1: Nice horsey

Choice #2: No fear!

Choice #3: FASTER!

While Anna was busy on the rides, Emmett chilled in his stroller - people watching.

And when he tired of that, he cuddled with me.

While a little crazy to navigate a crowded fair with 2 children around dinnertime...we made it, and had some fun too! Oh, and some yummy treats as well. Why else would we go?!

it's a bird...it's a plane...it's a .... !

HOT AIR BALLOON! In our backyard. Hmmm, now how in the world did that happen?

Apparently while I was at the gym last night, this hot air balloon landed on the path behind our home. It was quite the spectacle for the neighborhood, as this was not their desired destination. We aren't sure what exactly happened, but it made for a lot of fun for those who were around to witness it!

first trip to the dentist

She doesn't look too afraid to me!

a little catch up

These past several weeks have been such a whirlwind that it's difficult to know where to begin. With Granka and Grandma Penny home, Steve's annual fastasy football draft weekend away, hair disasters, Granka's bday, my bday, Penny's bday and room re-designs - I haven't taken the time to document many of our "goings-on" as of late. So here will be the short version.

Anna and dance - you requested some pictures...here are a few of the little girls in their leotards enjoying dance class!

Granka and the little ones go to the zoo...we had a wonderful day with Granka at the zoo during his visit. We were able to see animals, enjoy lunch together and enjoy an absolutely gorgeous late summer day.

Birthdays! In addition to celebrating Granka's birthday early in his visit, we also celebrated my 25th birthday (ahem...). It was a wonderful day - while Steve was unfortunately out of town, I was spoiled by my family as my mom took me to coffee in the morning (and had Anna overnight the night before so I could enjoy a morning sleeping in), my dad took me to lunch and then my dad and Penny took the kids so I could get my hair disaster fixed. My dear husband surprised me with beautiful flowers and came home with a delicious chocolate cupcake in hand. It was a great day! And then we also celebrated Penny's 60th birthday with family and friends! It was a wonderful party hosted by my dad and Penny's daughters-in-law (and their families).

Party at the lake - we enjoyed a wonderful party at my aunt and uncle's home on the lake along with all of my cousins and their adorable kids. Despite the rain in the late afternoon, we (and the kids) managed to have a great time!

A room redesign. For Anna's birthday (which is quickly approaching) we had planned to re-design her room to equip her through the next several stages of her life. Namely, she needed a real-sized bed, a dresser, and places for her toys to go before her brother begins crawling. The furniture was delivered while Anna was away and I spent the day reconfiguring things, and assembling a doll house shelf to make the room her own. She was so overjoyed to see her SURPRISE when she came home and she still can't get over the novelty of her "big" bed and all of the little things that moved around. I still have work to do on getting the walls adorned, but that will come in the weeks ahead.

And now we say goodbye once again to Granka and Grandma Penny as they return to France...Steve and I will see them this fall again when we travel to Paris (whoo hoo!), but they will likely not be home again until January...and then shortly thereafter will be home for good (well, we think anyway). As always, we enjoyed every moment spent together and they will be missed!

Phew, it's been a crazy few weeks...a few more like this and then preschool starts! YIKES!

seven months

Our dear little Emmett is seven months old today! Wow! I can't believe how quickly we have entered into the second half of his first year. Oh Emmett! What can we say about you? Or better said, where do we begin?

This past month you have figured out how to sit up on your own. You still topple over now and again, and tend to like to launch yourself backwards and slam your head on the ground, but for the most part you have mastered balancing on your bottom.

You continue to exude a mellow and calm demeanor. You are happy nearly all of the time, you still eat and sleep very well, and you seem to adapt pretty well to whatever your surroundings as long as a familiar face is nearby.

In the past few weeks you have started to laugh...and what a belly laugh it is! You have the most beautiful smile and your laughs are one of the very best sounds in the whole world. You giggle and giggle and giggle when tickled, when we play the game of peek, and when we make silly noises with you.

You have also started to share your little voice with us more often. You babble and "ahhhh" in the night, and this morning you even said "dada" and "mamamama" (not in relation to Steve and I but just for fun). "Ga" is another sound in your vocabulary.

You continue to love your sister. You love to watch her, although you are starting to defend yourself when she comes in for a hug attack. You grab her hair in fistfuls and pull until she screams.

I love your cuddles, your smiles, your chubby little legs and cheeks. The moments in each day when I get to snuggle with you and just be silly are some of my favorites. I would guess that the month ahead will bring more in the way of gross motor skills - you have a desire to get moving and while it's fun to watch, I am not sure I am quite ready for that yet!

god's blessings

Emmett & his godfathers

Sunday August 9th we welcomed Emmett James into the church, as he was baptized before us in a very personal baptismal ceremony. We were so fortunate to have all of our family in attendance - all of Emmett's grandparents, his great-grandma Jeanette, his uncles and aunt, parents and big sister.

Arriving at the church

Ceremony

Emmett & Grandma Mary
Emmett & Nana & Papa
Emmett & Grandma Great

Emmett & Granka & Grandma Penny
One tired big sister

As I post this I realize regretfully that we don't have a photo of Uncle Patrick & Auntie Tanya...probably because they were snapping photos for us throughout the day as well. Now that is going to have to change because we need to capture their beautiful faces on camera as well!! (I'm sorry to you two!)

It was fun to enjoy some food and conversation at our home afterwards, and Emmett loved opening all of his lovely gifts (thank you) and tearing up the paper! It was such a wonderful day to celebrate our son and the love that God surrounds him with. Thank you all for being there and helping us celebrate!

weekend fun

This past weekend was filled with fun - my dad and Penny have arrived home from France for the next few weeks, and we have been fortunate to spend quite a bit of time with both of them so far! In addition, sweet Emmett was baptized this past Sunday and all of the grandparents, uncles and even grandma great were in town to help us celebrate.

We shared pizza together the evening my dad arrived from Paris, and he was met with many hugs from Anna. "Granka, I haven't seen you in such a long time!" she exclaimed.

Later in the weekend we celebrated Granka's birthday with a barbeque at he and Penny's home. Granka showed off some of his soccer moves - many of the same ones he and I used to share so many years ago. We enjoyed good food, good company, and yummy cake & ice cream.

Jim, Norma and Uncle Nate shared some special time with us as well over the weekend as we took in the events together, and in between Nana, Papa and Uncle Nate soaked up every minute of fun with the little ones. (AND helped us prepare for the baptism...thank you!)

It was a weekend filled with family, laughter, fun and more. Another reminder of God's blessings on us and our extended family.

dance mania

"Mommy, can I wear my pink....what's that thing called again? leotard? mommy, can I wear my leotard? And can I wear my ballet shoes too?"

"Mommy, you be Miss Kim and teach me how to dance."

"Mommy, watch this, I can do an arabesque"

This is the chorus playing in our household these days. After a few months at my gym, Anna has made a few friends in the "kids room", one of whom takes a dance class immediately following my Tuesday class. It's a preschool dance class which includes some ballet, some hip hop, some tumbling and more. After talking about it for several weeks, we sat in on a class one morning to see what Anna thought. 5 minutes in she was doing all of the moves next to me and was not happy when it was time for us to leave. I promptly emailed the instructor to see if she could squeeze us in.

Today began Anna's first official class. I wish I had had my camera, but I declined to bring it. I didn't want to be that creepy mom with the camera since there are only 3 classes left in this summer session (Anna missed the first 2/3 of the session).

Before the class began she managed to inform every other person in the gym that "I am going to dance class. But, I already know how to do an arabesque. See?!" Picture that - with her pink leotard, one size too small - little cheeks hanging out, covered with a white Disney princess skirt on top.

I was very impressed by her ability to listen, follow directions, and calmly try to mimic what the instructor did. I think this is going to be great for her! She absolutely loved it and it was such a joy to watch. Next time you see her you'll have to ask her to show you some moves!