The new pool

We finally filled up the new pool that the kids got for Sophie's birthday. This is a great little pool. It comes with little toys, and a separate area that is deeper for Ethan. The SLIDE is the best part. Ethan like me to throw him up, and bounce off the slide into the pool. Sophie has found that if she straddles the big blue edge she can bounce with one leg in the water. We have had two great days in our new Pool!!! Thank you Aunt Suzie and Family for the fun new pool.

a close call

Two summer Cuties

well if he can do it...

so can I...

Ethan controls the water

...even at the expense of his sister...

Time for a Drink!!

Ethan had the great idea to get a drink from the palm tree sprinkler.

Time to get out of the pool.

oh yes... I cut her bangs... yikes the verdict is still out. I am not sure what I think yet.

Backyardigans... of course!!

Time to dry off. You were not expecting anything less than a Backyardigans towel were you??? These lovely cartoon animals are the new "it" in this house!!! (oh you don't know them... well wait for his birthday!!)

Daddy???

Ethan waits for his Daddy everyday. We get home a couple hours before he does, and today Ethan was getting a little antsy. It made him feel better to give Daddy a call and see when he would be arriving.

NIght Night...

This is Sophie pretending to go to sleep on the towel. A long day it was in the sun and pool. What a cutie.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

This is a slogan that Bob the Builder has taught us. I think that Auntie Denise and the girls must know the slogan as well. These lovely skirts were graduation decorations just hours ago.

Isn't it crazy the things that you will do to see a smile on your childrens' faces? (being a teacher of little ones for the past 7 years, you would not imagine the crazy things I have done to see those smiles. There is nothing better than to know that you have brightened their day.

Edie...

Here is Becca holding Edie. Edie is also Sophie's cousin. Edie was born 21 days before Sophie. Soon Sophie will be walking too, and then the two of them will be running after each other!!

Kerry and her Baby...

Well.... he is not exactly a baby anymore. Kerry you have done a great job. Krys you have grown up to be a wonderful man.

CONGRATULATIONS

I can not believe that he has graduated!!When I graduated College, I moved in with Kerry and the kids. Krys was 9 just about to turn 10. Then all of a sudden he is graduating high school, it feels just like yesterday. Where has the time gone???

New Shirt

Auntie Kerry gave Ethan a special new shirt so that he too had a gift to open on Sophie's Birthday. I am not sure if Ethan is tired in this pic, or if I just caught him at an awkward pose?

more cake pics

Here are a couple more pictures from my mom of Sophie and her cake.

Big Brother is there to lead the way...

Ethan is right there next to his sister, trying to help her. I like to think of this pic, of him passing down his advice on how to eat the cake!!

Sophia's Birthday Dress

I love this dress. This was her special dress for her first birthday. I will keep it forever, I hope that one day she will pass it on to her children.

Poor Ethan...

As soon as he gets it built... here comes demolition. He works forever with the tongue hanging out to get all the pieces together for his trains to ride on the tracks, and no sooner here she comes to take it apart. He yells "walk away Sophia". This is a term he hears at school to help separate those that need some space (obviously he hears it quite frequently). He really is a great big brother, because as soon as I tell him that she is little and doesn't know how to play with his toys, he moves on to something else.

Getting Closer...

Since Grammy bought these spiffy walking shoes, Sophia is standing up more. She is using the walls and furniture to get around. The second pic is a little blurry because she was standing all by herself, so I was not even in focus when I snapped it. She is getting close.

some candid shots...

Nickolas is here with his brother Trevor, along with Ethan eating birthday cake. Trevor was having fun taking his own photos with a little help from his Dad, and Reagan loved the balloons. Edie and Helena are having fun in the playroom.

Good Hot Dog Aubrey???

That must have been some hot dog Aubrey!!!

Time for Presents

Sophie received some great gifts!! Thank you to everyone. I know that she will get great use out of the clothes, hours of enjoyment from her toys, and countless hours of sleep with her new blankies!!

Ethan was also surprised...

The story goes like this... last night Kerry came down and baby-sat for Brian and I. While she was here she decorated the playroom for Krys's graduation. Ethan of course saw all the balloons and glitter and sat on the stairs ready to pout. He was wondering where his party was. He has been to so many birthday parties that it is hard for him to wait for his own party. So afraid that he would burst into some uncontrollable tears, she told him that this was HIS party!!

5:13am Ethan wakes up... My party is downstairs he tells me. I try to tell him that it is too early and everyone is still sleeping. Meanwhile, I am trying to drill into him, that it is Sophie's party, but that he can help her, and have cake. Where are the "Backyards"? (he is having a Backyardigans theme party) Again, I try to tell him that it is Sophie's party... pick your battles right, I tell myself. I just have to go with the flow, I explained again that it is too early and go back to Na-nights... He looks at me, and tells me "it's not dark anymore"... what do you say... sometimes I am speechless.

Knowing that this would be hard for him, Brian and I picked him up a couple of his favorite things for being such a great big brother!!! (Along with Auntie Kerry and Auntie Joy. Aunt Suzie had the right idea and bought a gift they both could use!!) Good thinking!!!

Fred and the Birthday Girl...

Fred is a softy when it comes to the babies... Another rare shot of Fred and Sophie... This is Sophie in her pretty pink birthday dress.

Time for Happy Birthday

What is more fun than singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candles??? Well singing it three times and blowing out the candles three times of course!!! The kids were having so much fun singing and blowing out the candles that I just kept asking them if they wanted to do it again, and they kept yelling YES!!!

CAKE!!!!!!!!

First piece of cake ever!!! Sophie has been to a couple birthday parties, but I have avoided cake until today!! I wanted to have her taste cake for the first time at her birthday! She really liked to squeeze the frosting in her fingers!! I love the first pic the best... her eyes just say it all.