Piqua Heritage Festival

We took the kids to the Piqua Heritage Festival today after church. The last time we went was for our first anniversary, so that was almost 9 years ago! It was really hot and there wasn't much shade, but everyone had a fun time looking at the different vendors and things from days gone by. We even ran into my friend, Jen, and her family while we were there.

Jacob plays his flute

Emmaline takes a turn

Ellie - Ready for a barrel ride

Jacob loves this!

Emmaline stays hydrated

Jacob's new bow and arrow

Ellie got a princess flower head-piece

Picnic at the Park

We dropped Nathan's car off at his uncle's house this evening to be repaired over Labor Day weekend (it is leaking gas...really safe, huh?). Since we were already close by, we took a picnic dinner to a neat park in Centerville that the kids really like. It started to rain on the way there, but it stopped long enough for us to eat. The kids only got to play for about 15 minutes before the rain and thunder started up again. They were disappointed that we had to go home, but we're hoping to go back again soon.

Jacob liked riding on this plane

Daddy and Ellie ride the dinosaur

Emmaline doing her favorite thing

Jacob dries the slide with his shorts
(He had to strip down before we'd let him in the van)

Ellie wouldn't let anyone else bounce on this with her

A New Point of View

At 18-months old, Emmaline finally weighs 20 pounds and we were able to turn her carseat around. She absolutely loves it! Nathan put a mirror on the back of the driver seat so that Emmaline can see Jacob in the back row (and look at herself when she's riding alone). She hasn't had any trouble sleeping this way and she is now able to watch the movies with Jacob and Ellie without craning her neck around. She is one happy girl!

Ready to hit the road

She's so serious when she reads

First Day of School

We started our second year of homeschooling. Jacob is in first grade now. He really surprised me today when he was sounding out words during reading time. I am amazed at how much he remembered from kindergarten last year. Ellie is working on her letters and numbers this year. I switched to Sonlight curriculum and am really pleased so far. Jacob isn't a worksheet kid (we did a lot of those with Lifepacs...fit my personality perfectly, but not his), so I decided on one that is more hands on. Sonlight is A LOT of reading, but it teaches almost all of the subjects through picture and chapter books. Today we read a Magic Schoolbus book for science (Jacob's favorite) and started on Charlotte's Web during read-aloud time. It also does a good job of integrating Bible throughout the different subjects. Somedays I'm ready to pack up the kids and send them off to school, but I know that I would miss those "A-HA" moments when they learn something new. Overall, I really enjoy homeschooling and can't wait to see how much they grow and change over this next school year.

Gabrielle (with her baby doll)

Jacob (he posed himself)

Ellie practices her name

Jacob works on handwriting

We love Aunt Katie!

Katie came up from Cincinnati for Ellie's birthday and stayed the rest of the weekend. Here are some pictures taken when we spent the afternoon at my parents house on Sunday.

Jacob thinks it is funny to make pirate faces when he gets his picture taken

Aunt Katie and Jacob

Aunt Katie and Ellie
Except for eye color, these two look so much alike.
Maybe I'll do a post to compare their pics. soon.

Making Fishy Faces

Ellie took a picture of her "nose-holes"

Ellie said she looks like an "al-rhino" in this one (she meant "albino")

Jacob and Emmy reading a book with Aunt Katie

Our New Stair-climber

Emmaline accomplished another milestone today. We were at my parents' house after church today and my mom said that Emmy was heading for the steps. "Don't worry," I said, "she can't climb steps." I go to check on her and find this:

There she goes

Looking toward her goal (aka, the top of the steps)

Ellie's 4th Birthday Party

Today we had Ellie's 4th Birthday party out at church. This was her first "friend" party, so there were lots of little girls running around. Poor Jacob was the only boy, but he seemed to do okay. The kids did a craft, played a game, ate cake & ice cream, and then Ellie opened presents. She got lots of neat things and had a good time spending the afternoon with the people she loves.

Ellie with her door hangar

Aunt Katie helped Emmaline make one too

Jacob pins the berry jewel on Strawberry Shortcake's crown

All smiles with her presents

I think Emmy needs a snack

Family photo

Ellie wearing her ballerina outfit from Aunt Katie

18-months Old

Emmaline is 18-months old today. Where did the time go? My baby isn't so much a baby anymore. She went for her well check-up today and her doctor said that we made her day when she saw Emmy's progress. We have been so fortunate that she has been as healthy as she has thus far.

In the above picture, Emmaline is using her walker. It isn't a big deal for her to learn to use it because she'll be walking on her own in the next couple months. Her weekly PT just wants her to see that she can walk with some independence. She takes a few steps with it, but then realizes that she can crawl faster than she walks and resorts to crawling instead. We also met with her PT from the county that comes once/month. It is a good day when she says that she doesn't have any recommendations for us to work on at home because Emmy is doing so well.

Here are Emmaline's stats from the doctor:
Height: 31 inches (25%)
Weight: 20.3 pounds (5%)

More Birthday Presents

Today, Ellie got a package from my sister in California and her family. I didn't tell Angel this, but the one thing Ellie requested for her birthday was a Snow White dress. She couldn't have been more excited when she opened her gifts and found the Snow White dress, complete with gloves, purse, necklace, and crown. Auntie Angel did a good job picking out her presents this year!

I love the look on her face in this one...she looks so surprised

Princess Gabrielle

Painting in her new Strawberry Shortcake book

Another Surgery

Emmaline had another surgery today, this time to unplug her tear ducts. We had to be at the hospital at the ungodly hour of 5:30 am, but at least she was the first surgery of the day at 7:30 am. Thankfully, we were able to use the blue car from our last visit to keep her occupied while we waited (and we got to watch "Clean House" on cable, a luxury we don't have at home). The procedure took all of 15 minutes and we were home from the hospital by 9:30 am. She had a nose bleed for the remainder of the day, but other than that, she was back to her normal cheerful self after naptime.

All done and resting in Daddy's arms

Snack time...teddy grahams and apple juice

Mommy and Emmaline ready to head home

Birthday Lunch at Chuck E. Cheese

We took Ellie to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch to celebrate her special day. We ate pizza and then the kids (and Nathan) had fun playing games. Emmy especially loved the rides. After lunch, we headed home and Ellie and Jacob played with her doll house while Emmaline napped. At dinner time, I made Ellie's favorite, spaghetti with homemade sauce. Her request for dessert was homemade strawberry shortcake with lots of whipped cream.

The Boys

The Girls

Ellie and Emmaline take a ride on Scoop

Emmaline loved the merry-go-round

Ellie and Jacob

Hi Birthday Girl!

Emmy takes the mouse for a spin

Daddy and Jacob

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Make a Wish!