Crawling

Hi, you would think I am the mom wouldn't you with all my blog news. Well, my daughter doesn't have a blog yet, and I will probably have to teach her how to do one, so I have to do all the bragging.



On Leah's 8 month and 1 day birthday she started crawling forward. Yeah! It is so cute. We hadn't seen her for two days and went today to watch her crawl. She was so happy to see us. Big smiles and arms reaching out. This time I think she really likes me better than Grandma Great. She is kind of wobbly also but gets where she wants to go. Leah loves the phone, so Sarah puts it out way in front of her and off she goes for it. We are afraid we may have emergency vehicles at the front door someday since she loves to press those buttons.



Okay, I will add one picture. Leah is also getting her first tooth and we think she plays with her gum because almost all the time her tongue is curled over. Well, I can't get her to open up for a picture of the tooth, so the closest thing I have is a picture of the curly tongue. It's good for a chuckle.

Bathtime

It was our last bath time together so I decided we should take a few pictures to show how she has grown from the first pictures I took. Of course, couldn't find any bath, but this was a few months ago. Leah turned 8 months on

June 15th, Fathers Day. The day before we discovered that she is getting her first tooth on the bottom. Also, she started crawling forward yesterday. How exciting. Now we will really have to be on guard. She is a real mover.
I know it may be hard to believe, but she can also be an imp. This picture says it all.

Nothing feels better than cuddling with this sweetheart after her bath, all wrapped up in her towel. The one thing we can't figure out is that she hates to get her clothes changed now. She screams the whole time. So I end up giving her the desitin, my watch, my reading glasses, anything in site to keep her occupied. That is one pretty cute baby. Lori, she would give Anthony a run for his money in that Gerber baby contest.......Maybe we could get them to chose one girl and one boy.

Dueling Cameras

One of the best things I ever did was buy Sarah a camera just like mine. Not only does it take great pictures, not blurry, but I can download her pictures very easily onto my computer. I guess it is legal, like scraplifting for you scrapbookers.

They had a great weekend in May when they went south to Louisville, KY to visit their good friends James and Kim. Kim went to Andrews Academy and Andrews University with Sarah and David. Sarah and Kim graduated as teachers together and taught in MI for several years until Kim married James and moved to KY. They got engaged at our condo in Florida. Great kids and I am glad Sarah and David have them as friends. This is their baby, Levi.

Looks like he is checking out Leah. From what I was told, they turned into fast friends. She didn't even care when he licked her face.Leah also like to play with Auntie Kim. Those balloons were great and I have a cute video off the camera, but don't know how to put that on the blog yet. Still working on it. Kim and James are working very hard on the house they bought. Looks like Kim likes green like Sarah likes pink.

Time for bed and Leah was tucked away in a dresser drawer. Guess it didn't last too long cause she is quite the mover now.

After church on Sabbath the kids went to the zoo. Weather was great and they were able to buy tickets online before Sabbath. Leah loved it. Sarah now has a season pass to the Toledo Zoo as a gift from the school and can't wait to go.Those shades are great and mommies and daddies are nice too.What a great group picture.I think she likes this Kangaroo.
This is Kim's school with James getting ready for a 5K run that they sponsored. David was the brave soul who ran. Kim of course was in charge and made sure James and Sarah knew what they were responsible for.



Here are the official judges and time keepers. See what I mean about green?
Sarah and Leah were in charge of the refreshments.
He made it. Whew! (not really, he actually is a triathalon athelete)
Family picture at the end of the day. Looks like Leah even got in the green of things. David is faithful to his old school, check out the AA on his shirt.

Finally, with the medal. Great way to end the weekend. I know Sarah had a great time and can't wait to get together again. Study hard Kim and great going on that Masters.

Doubled Up

Can you tell we love Joe and Nilza. That is so funny that I put that picture on twice. They do look cute though.

School Comes

Another school year has come and gone. They seem to fly even faster now that my children are grown and we just volunteer to help Sarah. It was a hard one knowing you would be gone at the end. Sarah loves teaching and this year some of her friends children and the secretaries grandson were in her class. That made it especially hard to leave. Don't worry, she will be back. This was her 4th year of teaching. The school had 31 students and Sarah had 14 of them in her class. They were great kids. Two new teachers taught with Sarah this year and we enjoyed getting to know both of them, even though it was strange not to see Lynette and Stacy there.

Sarah and her class had some exciting times. Below are some pictures of the last few activities we enjoyed. Gymnastics was a great hit that started in the middle of the school year. It was done at a downriver Gymnastic center, and the instructor continually complimented Sarah on her students and how well they behaved and listened to and followed instructions. We can't wait to sign Leah up when she is 18 months old. She may go for a few early lessons next year when the school goes since she received a special invitation from the instructor. This picture is of Sarah and her 4 Kindergarteners at one of their last days of gymnastics.

Pool day was how they celebrated the last day of school. It was in a new facility in Romulus, close to the school. Perfect for little children and adults alike. Swimming pool, childrens water area with a huge bucket that spilled water on the kids, lazy river pool, and water slide. Leah looks pretty excited to get in. Grandma had to make a quick stop at Walmart for a floatie.
Here she is going down the lazy river with her friends. Grandmas never thought to bring a swimsuit, thought we would just be babysitting. Ha! The water was so warm and we were sure sorry we didn't bring our pool gear.
This is Sherwin heading off the water slide. Are those real flames on his swimsuit from the speed of his downhill slide? ? ? ?

Our annual Tea Party is held in May. We invite all the seniors from church, grandparents, moms, etc. Problem is with Sarah as teacher and in charge of the program, Grandma Lois as babysitter, me as caterer, and Nilza as craft director and all around helper, we could have used a photographer. Not to many great pictures, but a few so you can get an idea. The children performed musical selections, played a few games with the adults, made a beaded bookmark or key chain, and we all enjoyed a lunch. Made over 280 little pigs in a blanket and still had people asking for more. They are always a big hit.

Cori Hamstra made these adorable cookies for our dessert. Every last one was gone.
Here are our singers from grades 3-5
Sarah and I made rice krispie treat pops. We started by trying to cut them out with a daisy shaped cookie cutter. It was tough. Sarah was getting a blister, so we decided to just cut squares. When we dipped them in the colored chocolates, the daisy ones lookes like Mickey Mouse ears. We didn't like them at all. Should have made all squares. But, they also went pretty fast.
We always have a nice crowd for this event.
This was Leah's first Tea Party and she loved it. Of course she had to wear a party dress like the other girls. She is holding her spoon that we dunked in melted jolly ranchers to stir into your tea. Everyone was just eating them like suckers.
Their last field trip was to the old fashioned school house at Greenfield Village. Everyone dressed in period costumes. Looks like Mrs. Canada is using Mrs. Hamstra as an example of what happens to those girls and boys who don't behave. Thankfully, no one else had to wear that hat.
Hear are the boys paying close attention to their instructions. What and adorable set of boys they are. All unique in their own way.Class photo on front steps. Looks like they stepped back in time. Recess was really fun. Old fashioned games were enjoyed by all.
Here is the Bible text for the day. Good advice.Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America. Of course, graduation topped the school year off. Now class, line up and be quiet please.How could you help but smile with those adorable girls behind you. Or else Sarah is just trying to keep from crying.And here are the four graduates. It was fun because every year Sarah and I have made a mini scrapbook for each kindergartener. It is so much fun. We shrink down some of their work, and put in lots of pictures of them. We even dress them in an old Oakwood Academy jacket Adam wore when he was in first grade and take their pictures. This years looked like a black chalk board but of course we forgot to take any pictures of them, or did we just run out of time?????Passing out the graduation certificates.April and Jodi presenting Sarah with a membership to the Toledo Zoo and an adorable quilt on which the children each signed their names and a short message. Thank you all for being such great parents for Sarah to work with. We will see you at church.

MOTHER'S DAY

No, this is not my mom, but I do love sitting with her at the restaurant, especially since Uncle Adam was out of town receiving an award for Woolf Aircraft in Texas. I kept my Aunt Natalie company at our Mother's Day brunch. She shared me with Grandpa. He looks pretty good in that suit doesn't he. This is our traditional brunch at the Romulus golf course close to the shop. I was there for the first time last year but don't remember cause I was still inside my mommy. Unfortunately I didn't get to partake of any of the good food. Maybe next year. They have lots of choices for vegetarians.....
Uncle Tim always makes our reservations and treats. Thanks Uncle Tim.. Looks like we were right on time according to your watch.
Couldn't go without a group picture of the moms in the crowd. Here we are with our four generations on both my moms parents side. We missed Grandma Olney and her mom and Great Grandma Canada. I am so lucky to have all these grandmas.
Afterwards we went to Grandma Anns to see her new decorating and her flowers. Then on Monday we went out to eat again. Papa Vinos will be one of my favorite restaurants when I grow up. It was Auntie Nilza's birthday. Aren't they a cute couple. Aunt Nilza took care of me for two days while my granny's were out of town. I love her alot. She plays with me all the time and even takes me shopping. I hope she will teach me Spanish as I grow up. They are going back to Mexico for 6 months or so and my whole family will miss them alot. I had a fun time at your party. Please invite me again next year. That bumpy cake was delish!