summer recap

Summer is pretty much over and I haven't blogged much about what we have done.  This summer went by SO FAST, I can't believe it.  Having a sick kid through most of the summer didn't help either.  I feel like we lost a whole month to colds, coughs, sinus infections, etc.

But, we did manage to have some fun too.  Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera with us on all the swimming trips and other outings, but here are some highlights:

Allison played some soccer:

I got to attend my cousin's bridal shower and wedding and hang with some of my favorite people:

Took a trip to the aquarium:

Went to Boise for my nephew's baptism and got to spend time with my family:

Had a neighborhood patriotic breakfast and bike parade:

Went to Twin Falls to see more cousins and visit Craters of the Moon:

And did a ton of other stuff, but I didn't take pictures!  We did some swimming at the public pool, slip-n-slides in our backyard, played with friends (a lot), picnics, trips to the park, gymnastics, and a lot of watching the Olympics.  I wish we had a few more weeks before school starts.  I am not ready for early mornings and homework!

Mister Shane

Shane is 15 months old now.  Have I mentioned how much I adore this kid?  Like, seriously over the moon, crazy about him?  He is so sweet and cuddly it kills me.

He is still not walking on his own, although he does take a couple of baby steps here and there.  And he walks well if he holds our hands.

He has finally learned how to come down the stairs, which means we don't have to have the baby gate up 24/7.  He doesn't talk much yet, just repeats sounds and says "uh-oh" a lot.

Shane is still such a little guy and so babyish in a lot of ways, but he is slowly taking on toddler characteristics.

He loves it when we leave the pantry door open, and he can climb on the stool and get into everything:

He is good at climbing into the dishwasher:

And, he is just good at being cute!

At 15 months:
weight: 19 lbs. 11 oz (2 %)
height:  29 in. (3%)
head circumference:  (90%)
(No wonder he can't walk, he can't balance that huge head!)

He is still a sweet little guy and is very laid back and easy most of the time.  We love Mister Shane!

Princess Festival

Allison went to the Princess Festival with her cousins in June.  She had a ball.  She always amazes me with how social and uninhibited she is... so different from Corinne and Matthew!

Here are some pictures:

(Allison and Lily showing us the wands they made. Allison chose to make a wand so she could have something to use when Corinne and Matthew play Harry Potter.) 

Allison had a lot of fun and still talks about it.  She loved dressing up and going on an adventure.  It was a fun day!

a trip to the gardens

We went to the Tulip Festival for family night (in April) and the kids loved it.  I did too because I love flowers.  I wish I could have brought some home for myself.

Spelling Bee

At the end of the school year, Corinne participated in the 5th grade spelling bee.  All the 5th graders had a spelling bee in their class, with the top five from each class making it to the grade-wide spelling bee.  Corinne studied hard the week leading up to it and got 4th place in her class.  She was so excited to move on to the grade level competition!

Unfortunately, she was not as motivated to study the second time around.  On the bus ride home from school, she briefly read over some of her words (a different list than the first round).  She didn't want to study with me and do practice runs in the evening at all.  I kept telling her she needed to study more if she wanted to do well.

The night before the spelling bee she panicked and realized she was way behind.  I let her stay up a little later than bedtime and practice with me.  Still, we didn't get through the whole list.  I sent her to bed and reminded her that she had had all week to study, and now she would just have to do her best and prepare a little better next time.

She went to school hoping to not be the first one eliminated because that would be so embarrassing!  I admit, I said a little prayer for her when she was at school just that she wouldn't be humiliated.  I mentally prepared my motherly lecture all day..."Practice makes perfect!"..."If you want to do well, you have to do the work!"... "Success takes effort!"...

When she got home, I opened the door and she said, "Guess what???  I won!!!  I got first place!"

After all that, she took first in the whole spelling bee.  (And I didn't get to use my lecture at all!)

Here's what happened:

About 20 kids made it to the grade-wide spelling bee.  It came down to Corinne and one other girl.

The word was "decipherable".  The other girl went first.  Corinne said she wasn't going to really pay attention to how this girl spelled it, and then she felt like she should in case the girl got it wrong. "At least then I would know how NOT to spell it", she said.

"D-E-C-I-F-E-R-A-B-L-E"

Incorrect.

Then Corinne:

"D-E-C-I-P-H-E-R-A-B-L-E"

Correct!

Corinne's class jumped out of their seats and cheered and screamed for her like crazy.  It was an amazing moment for her, and she was thrilled!

We are all so proud of her.  I guess I'll save my lecture for another day...

this face makes me happy

Sometimes I just stare at this picture because it makes me smile.  He sure loves this My Little Pony Carousel.  Who wouldn't?  It spins and plays music!  What more does a one year old need?

I adore this kid.

Allison's Pinkalicious 4th Birthday

I gave Allison a Pinkalicious party for her 4th birthday.  She loves the book, and even though she isn't the most girly of girls, she was very excited.  Allie has been waiting for her birthday for months and asked me no less than 25 times in the last week,  "Is I'm 4 yet?"  Finally we can say "Yes!! You are 4!"

We had her cousins and her best friend Savannah over for the party.  All the little girls were asked to wear pink.  We read the Pinkalicious book, made crowns, played pin the cherry on the cupcake, and of course, ate pink cupcakes just like the ones in the book!

I had fun coming up with the decor and snacks for the party.  We ate cheese and crackers, strawberries, pink m&ms, marshmallows dipped in pink white chocolate, and drank pink lemonade.  Everyone took home a goodie bag filled with green treats and green candy to cure their "pinkititis"!

 

Thanks to everyone who came to Allie's party and for the thoughtful gifts!  She was a very happy girl!