Eight Months Old

  Luke's eight months old today.  This has been a big month for him.  About two weeks ago he mastered the army crawling, and he has been non-stop crawling ever since.  He roams all over the house.  Ashlyn was changing his outfit today and wondered what he had gotten all over himself.  I assured her he had just been sweeping up the floor letting me know how inadequate my cleaning habits are.  He is still a ridiculously happy little guy.  There are no signs of teeth yet.  He loves to eat, and sometimes he makes a sound like he's a purring cat.

I love how happy he is!

He instinctively heads for the most dangerous areas such as this laundry room door that everyone uses to come into the house through the garage.  Also if not shut he can access the stairs that way.

Hanging out in his johnny jump up.  He's seems really disinterested in standing up.

I love this face.  

More happy baby.

                                                                             Crawling under the exersaucer.

He'll get up on his hand and knees to rock back and forth a little bit before doing the army crawl again.

Fourth of July Weekend

  It was a busy Fourth of July weekend.  It was my niece Ashlyn, and my brother-in-law's birthdays on Friday, and my Dad's birthday on the Fourth.  On Friday we spent  the day at the Family Fun Center in Tukwila.  Then Saturday we did some grilling with my family.  We spent the night at my parents because on Sunday we went to our friend's Ben and Christie's baby's blessing.  Avery and Harper were especially excited about the whole family having a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's.  Saturday night Daryl and I took Avery and Harper to pick out some fireworks, and we did a little show for them that night.  It was about ten o'clock by the time we were down with fireworks, and Harper promptly passed out on the couch.  When we drove back home today everyone fell asleep except for Avery, Daryl, and myself.  It was great to see so many of our friends and family.

DeAnna came to our house and did the girls' nails much to their delight.

Avery and Harper were very excited that Lady pup finally came to visit our house too.

The side by side of Zander and Luke.  Zander is exactly six months younger than Luke.

Luke looks very happy, and Zander doesn't look quite as pained in this picture.

Logan's pretty serious about his hat wearing.

Avery really enjoyed the pool.

Emery was soaking wet.  She loved playing in the pool. 

Harper passed out on the couch after fireworks.

Rainbow

   At the end of the school year Avery's Kindergarten teacher asked if we wanted to take home the class Betta fish Rainbow.  Avery had actually been talking about wanting a fish and Daryl and I decided that if she really wanted one we would get her a Betta.  When Avery's teacher asked if we wanted the fish I readily agreed, and Rainbow came home with us.  He's a pretty nice fish that is very low maintenance.  We are all enjoying Rainbow.

A blurry up close picture.

Rainbow with the bubble nest he built.  A bubble nest is when male Bettas try to entice female Bettas to spawn in their nest.  This means that he's pretty darn happy in our home.

Emery Turns 2

  Today is Emery's second birthday.  I can't believe she's not a baby anymore.  Now she's my energetic toddler.  She's not much of a talker yet.  Here favorite phrases to say are: thank you, look I see, and let's go.  Emery gives amazing high 5's.  She has a giant belly laugh, and loves to suck her thumb.  Her favorite cartoons are Max and Ruby, and Mickey Mouse.  Playing outside is one of her favorite things to do.  She loves eating a wide variety of things, but she really appreciates a good hamburger or hot dog.  Her hair is grower longer, but it just curls up.  I love her curly cap.  She still adores Luke, and loves to give him kisses and hugs.  Luke loves getting them too, and laughs joyously.  Emery can put her dirty dishes in the dishwasher with a lot of prompting.  

   For her birthday we just had a small get together with my mom, Karl, Aimee, and Tyler.   We opened her presents and did cake right after she woke up from her afternoon nap.  Once she saw her pile of presents on the table she became very excited.  Watching her open presents was so rewarding. Each time she opened one she gasped with delight upon revealing the gift inside.  

Tyler, Avery, Emery, and Harper

I love Tyler and Avery's faces in this picture.

I love that everyone's heads had to come together for the opening of the gifts.

While everyone else ate cake Luke was stuck with a paper plate.

Avery wanted her picture taken with this piece of frosting.

Emery enjoying her birthday cake.

Just one other picture of Luke and Karl.

Emery's favorite gift were these interlocking foam letters and numbers that my sister Nellie gave her.  I'll let you decide if they're my favorite gift.

Mt. St. Helens

     Yesterday Ashlyn and I loaded up the kids and picked up my Mom to go to Mt. St. Helens to the Forest Learning Center.  My sister DeAnna drove up from Portland to meet us there too.  The visitor center is pretty nice.  It has a large playground outside that Avery and Harper liked.  Emery as usual didn't want to stay in one place at pretty much any time, and cried when I tried to get her to do anything.  I managed to buy her happiness with some peanut butter cups from the gift shop, and then all was well.  We had lunch at a roadside restaurant, and then headed home when I-5 was closed for an accident forcing us to take about an hour's detour.  It was still a good trip though.

Mount Saint Helens

Ashlyn in a helicopter.

Avery in the helicopter.

Emery in the helicopter.  She wouldn't wear the headphones.

Harper in the helicopter now.

Avery really wanted her picture taken with this eagle talon on.

DeAnna being hugged by Avery and Harper.

This is what Emery did when she wasn't crying.

Luke was unimpressed.

Last Day of School

  Monday was Avery's last day of school finally.  She went for two hours only that day, so I spent the day at school with her attending the end of year assembly.  I also got to see their typical morning routine.  Avery was excited that I was able to come and be a mommy helper.  The next day when she woke up she proudly stood in front of me and asked if she looked like a first grader.  Naturally I said yes and she mused that she must have grown during the night.  Avery is very excited for summer vacation and happy about going to a new school next year.  We are going to miss her current school a lot.  

On the last day of school.

Avery with the girls from her class.

One of Avery's best friends at school and church is Tommy.  His family moved too though.

Avery and her amazing Kindergarten teacher.  We are so grateful to her for helping Avery have a great year.

Father's Day Weekend

  We had a fun weekend.  On Saturday I was able to give my BFF Christie her baby shower with Zander in tow since the first time I tried to make the baby shower happen he decided he needed to come into the world that day.  Daryl and my dad took the girls to the movie while the shower was going on.  Then Sunday was Father's Day of course.  Mom, Dad, Adam, Angie, and Logan came up for dinner.  Harper looked at Logan during dinner and called him a pig.  Then she started to oink.  That girl has a funny sense of humor.

Daryl, Avery, and Harper.

Adam, Logan, and Dad

Logan trying out Luke's exersaucer.

Avery visiting the bunnies at the baby shower with Hannah and Ender.

Emery hanging out.

Baby Zander all snuggled up.  I think he's wearing a little jacket that originally belonged to Addison.

Luke trying to figure out how to untie Dad's shoe.