Survey Says...

This week, Emmie would like some help naming her puppy.

poll by twiigs.com

Special Delivery

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa H for my special delivery. It made me feel better! I love the balloons and the Beanie Baby. It matches my Teanie Beanie Baby from McDonalds. Now Softy has a mommy named Shiny.

I don't feel like chatting just yet but I just wanted to say thank you very much!

Love,
Allie

Barackamoli & The Chunky Cheetoh

Now that's one title that can only be explained by our sweet and funny little Allie Bear. Just when she had stopped talking about Mr. President so much, she is now frequently referring to something called Barackamoli...is this some type of Presidential guacamole or something? She said that it's something to eat with a juice box.

Now for the Chunky Cheetoh explanation. One day, about a week ago, Allie just decided to start calling Will 'Cheetoh'. A couple of days later she added 'Chunky' and he became 'Chunky Cheetoh'. We think it's pretty funny. She is constantly saying things like "Where's Chunky Cheetoh?", "I love my Chunky Cheetoh" and "Cheetoh!!!"

Speaking of our little bear, she's had a rough day. She has a high fever and an unusual rash all over that the doctors couldn't explain this morning. What I thought would be a quick appointment resulting in antibiotics for strep ended up to be over 2 hours with many tears involved. Initial bloodwork led to more bloodwork and strong antibiotic shots to cover anything that might be found in the bloodwork. Please say a little prayer for her to feel better real soon.

Say Something...

I found a new and fun little blog gadget. Notice the little comment box at the top of the left column with the title 'Say Something'. Use it to say hello, tell us something, ask a question...whatever.

What are you concealing? Why do you hide? (Sorry, had to incorporate some lyrics.)

Survey Says...

Emmie loves to take polls and watch the results come in. She absolutely loved watching the results come in when we were choosing a name for Will. We had a very tough time getting her to go to sleep on election night. I added 'reactions' at the bottom of our posts on this blog but that doesn't seem to bring in any results for her so we're going to try this. I found www.twiigs.com so here we go....we'll start with an easy one! Hey, maybe I can even use this sometime for my indecisive self. :)

poll by twiigs.com

Little William Wants To Play

I captured this sweet video of Katie singing to Will yesterday! I began taping after she started and I think she thought I was just taking a picture. (And...yes, that is a faux-hawk you see!)

So Much Sugar....Just A Little Spice

There is something extremely cute about a bunch of 8-year-old girls playing softball in hot pink uniforms on a team named Sugar 'n' Spice. Emmie just finished her 3rd summer on this team. She will also be playing softball this Fall. Here are some pictures from the summer season.

On Base

On Base Again

Base Coach Daddy Pointing The Way

Got It!!!

Going For The Out!

What An Arm!

Father/Daughter Game on Father's Day

End Of Season Party: Emmie Trying To Dunk Rich in the Dunk Tank

Summer Trip- Chapter 3: Indiana

We went to Indiana to visit Grandma and Grandpa B and family. Also, we were lucky to see cousins Nicole and Jacob again. We arrived on Grandpa B's birthday (and R and I's anniversary) and stayed for a few days. The kids played and played and played again. We played beauty salon and did make-up and braided and braided and braided the girls' hair!

Family (taken by Uncle Joe)...

So Silly!

The Girls Slumber Party (taken by Uncle Joe)
Three Kisses And A Hug (taken by Uncle Joe)

On our way home, we stopped in St. Louis for the night and ended our 28-hour, over 1,800 mile trip the next afternoon....just in time to change clothes and head to a softball party!

Marge

Simpson...that is. A came running to me yesterday saying she drew a picture of me. I didn't know I was still stuck in the 80s with that big hair! The picture was complete with ears, circle arms, stick legs....and I think the dot in the middle is supposed to be my belly button.

It makes no difference....I love the picture she drew of me and especially that proud little face!

Uh- mmm

We are having fun teaching W to say uh-oh (currently uh-uh or uh-mmm) and ball! He's our 4th and I'm still amazed watching his mind work and observing each new thing he figures out along the way. Here are 2 videos I took while playing outside today.

Summer Trip- Chapter 2: Cleveland

Making a trip to Cleveland wasn't about touring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, going to an Indians game, making a trip to Put In Bay or Cedar Point....it was about visiting with old friends and catching up....often at some of our favorite restaurants. What could be better than great friends and great food?

We visited with our friend Miss Ann. She was the girls' Cleveland 'adopted Grandma'. She was a wonderful neighbor and so sweet to our girls. We still chat on the phone and keep in touch. It was so great to see her again.

Here are the girls with Ann.....our old house in the background.

A picture of Ann meeting W...
Here they are....our best neighbor buddies. The kids had not seen each other in 2 and a half years!
The kids played some old favorites....catching fireflies and butterflies in the backyard!I wanted to include these 3 pictures I took of A in our friends' backyard because I thought they were so sweet.We met a good friend of mine and her adorable and hilarious daughter for lunch and a trip to the park. I was so glad we were able to meet up. We chat all the time on the phone and are always there for each other.

Yummy breadsticks and pizza at Danny Boy's...

Look at her precious and sweet smile...and those curls!

Here they are at the park close to our old home that we always went to...Lake Erie in the background.

We visited with my friend and the girls' 'adopted Aunt' Amy. She has come to visit us here a couple of times and it was great to see her again...at R's favorite restaurant The Winking Lizard.We went swimming with our friends John and Julianne. Well, we tried to go swimming. It was cold and only John and K were able to stay in the water very long.

After giving up on the pool, we moved on to the next cold thing....ICECREAM!!! If you are ever in Cleveland, you must go to Mitchell's and have a Buckeye Sundae.

Goodnight Cleveland!