Jamie + Playground = Happiness

Dawson has had a lot of baseball commitments this spring/summer, and Jamie has to tag along to every game and every practice.  (Luckily, most of the game locations have playgrounds!) 

So, she is basically a playground professional now.

 

Summer Carnival

As usual, there are a ton of things going on in our little downtown over the summer.  This weekend there was a carnival (a block away from us) and an art fair.  Carnivals are more expensive than I remember!  Those Carnies must be making some good money.  I think we may have indirectly (on the midway) bought the most expensive tiny stuffed dog and giant inflatable bats on earth.

Father's Day Weekend

 

Here is a page from Jamie's card. 
The last answer is our favorite.

Paula & David's Wedding 6.16.12

We have been very blessed with having another wonderful nanny, Paula, for the last few years.
(We already couldn't believe that we lucked out when we found our previous nanny, Abby, because she was such a great influence on the kids and a big help to us.)
When Abby moved out of state, Paula came into our lives and we have been blessed by her ever since.
 
Paula is the most genuine, kind, self-less, Christlike, caring and down to earth girl you will ever meet! Plus she now has a husband, David, who is just as great as she is!
So happy for them!

Jamie, Audrey and Carly getting their much anticipated hugs.

Infectious happiness

School's Out!

Today was the last day of school.  Yay! 

They have come a long way since the first day of school, last fall.

Below are end of the year interviews I did today with Jamie and Dawson.

Here are last year's answers - to compare.

Jamie - last day of 1st grade:

I am really good at: hula hooping
I really like to: play on the playground

My favorite thing to play at recess: climb on the rock wall

My favorite subject in school: gym

1 person that makes me laugh: Josie F.

My favorite book: Pinkalicious - Lemonade Stand
My favorite song: Dynamite
My favorite color: purple
My favorite food: pizza
My favorite Movie: Tinkerbell
My best friend: Josie F.
One word that describes me: funny
I am really happy when: Daddy tickles me
I am really sad when: my friends are mean
My favorite TV show: Shake it Up
My favorite Vacation Spot: Florida
I like school when: we go out for recess
I don’t like school when: I pee in my pants
My favorite season: summer
My favorite toy: Barbie dolls
My worst nightmare: Bad guys chained mommy up and I hid under the table
This makes me mad: when I get yelled at for doing nothing wrong
I like my dad because: he tickles me
I like my mom because: she gives me treats
I like my family because: they hug me and play with me and eat dinner with me
I like my grandparents because: they buy me treats
My favorite thing about Dawson: he shares with me
My favorite thing about Dylan: she talks to me
One thing I hope to do this summer: have a sleepover with Audrey
My favorite 1^st grade memory is: singing the songs that we sing in 1^st grade.
What I hope for the fall school year (2nd grade): that Josie and Maddy are in my class

Dawson - last day of 2nd grade:

I am really good at: art 
I really like to: play wii 

My favorite thing to play at recess:  wall ball
My favorite subject in school: gym
1 person that makes me laugh: Mikey J.
My favorite book:  Children's Encyclopedia
My favorite song: Boyfriend (Justin Beiber)
My favorite color: blue
My favorite food:  spaghetti
My favorite Movie: Star Wars
My best friend: Mikey
One word that describes me: funny
I am really happy when: I am with Mikey
I am really sad when: I can't do something
My favorite TV show: Phineas and Ferb
My favorite Vacation Spot: Tennessee
I like school when: it is snack time
I don’t like school when:  we do social studies
My favorite season: spring
My favorite toy: legos
My worst nightmare: walk inside door and a guy stabbed me
This makes me mad: when Jamie yells at me
I like my dad because: he is funny
I like my mom because: she lets me have candy
I like my family because: because they are nice
I like my grandparents because: they give me a lot of stuff
My favorite thing about Jamie: she is nice
My favorite thing about Dylan: when she laughs
One thing I hope to do this summer: catch fish
My favorite 2nd grade memory is: bike project
What I hope for the fall school year (3rd grade): to have Mrs. Kolkowski

Jamie had a last day of school party at a park nearby. 
Here is her first grade class lined up together for the last time.  

 Friends.
Elizabeth . Julia

 Maddy . Josie

Josie . Maddy . Julia

7 months

Dylan 7 Month Happenings:

• 15 lbs, still wearing size 2 diapers and 6 month clothes.
• Night time is better, with stretches of 7-8 hours, from around 9pm to 5am, then up to eat and right back down to sleep, in the very early morning. (She uses a Nuk and a cloth diaper/rag to fall asleep.)
• She usually has two naps, one longer one (2-ish hours) in the morning and a cat nap in the afternoon. Sometimes she needs one more in the evening.
• Still nursing in the morning and before bed, plus eating three meals of baby food a day.  She also started eating some easily dissolved finger foods, which keeps her pretty busy while we are all eating.
• Still no teeth, and she still chews and drools on everything possible.
• Right now her favorite toys are anything that isn't a toy.
• She does really well in the stroller, or baby carrier, or pretty much anywhere.  Most of the time, she is super easy-going and happy...which is great, because we are on the run a lot!
• She is sitting very well on her own and trying very hard to pull up to stand and to crawl.  Right now she gets to places by pulling herself with her hands (see video below).  The determination to crawl probably means it will only be a few more weeks before she figures it out.

Meeting Drew

Our friends Chris and Ryan visited us a few days ago.  Chris was pregnant at the same time as me this fall, and we were due right around the same time.  We haven't seen them in a while, with both of our families being so busy! So, it was great to see them and finally meet the new baby!

Meet Drew.  He is 6 days older than Dylan.
I think she is thinking, "Man, I hope this dude doesn't crush me."

This is Drew's brother, Jack.
He is the sweetest kid!

 

Front Lot Fun