It's fun now that Ava understands more of what we are saying. She can nod and shake her head when we ask her questions. She chatters a lot! Getting more blonde hair with some curls. She points and talks about things. I don't really know what things, but it's still exciting. You just go along in the baby mode and kind of forget and then all of a sudden, she does all these new things and it's so exciting. I know I keep saying exciting, but it is!

First words!

Today we established the fact that Ava is saying or trying to say uh oh. It comes out, "Uh Uh" but in a sing song-y way. And she is definitely trying to communicate more. She nods sometimes and sometimes shakes her head. I'm pretty sure she says hi. It comes out HAAAII again in a sing song-y way, but she does it when she sees us. She waves a lot more. Still says AH to get our attention along with some mamamamas and other consonant sounds. Very exciting!

Summer Fun!

Well, it is summer and we are trying to have some fun in the sun!

Here are Jack and Ava playing in/by a pool at a friend's house.


Here is Ava enjoying a nice piece of watermelon after an outdoor Sunday evening service.


Here is Jack playing in the fountains at the MN Zoo



Here is our family taking a break in the middle of a nice bike ride.

July!

Well happy July! Finally summer is here! We are looking forward to the 4th with family, Ava's first birthday on the 19th, and the fair season! Starting in with a bang with 90+ degree weather, but that's okay. Winter is still too strong of a memory for me to resent it! And thank the Lord for air conditioning!

We have been hitting the zoo every week and are hoping the government shutdown doesn't last too long. We love going there with our friends.

Ava is interacting more and more. Sometimes I could swear she says certain things like mama or hi or dada - she is probably mimicking us a little - but it's never enough to "count". She is crawling fast now and pulls herself up a lot. Her feet get so dirty outside that I decided to start having her wear shoes, and she doesn't appreciate it so far! I'm enjoying the development though. The older she gets, the easier it is for our family to do things together and to just enjoy each other. I love hearing her join us in playing or laughing.

We are practicing manners with Jack. We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago with a very polite little boy (Wesley) who is just 2, and so I thought if he can do it, we should be doing a better job about it. So it is fun to hear Jack practicing how to say things. He has thanked me about 1000 times for a car I bought him the other day, but I haven't gotten tired of it yet!

Otherwise, that's about it. I'm just enjoying getting outside and being with the kids and getting together with family and friends. I have a few things on my to do list this summer, but I'm thinking about letting it all go and just enjoying my time to do other things. Winter will be here too soon, and there will be time enough for projects.

Vacation Bible School Fun!

We are having our vacation Bible school this week and that means that we are very busy and also having a lot of fun! We are having a great week so far. We had around 20 kids the first night and all of those kids came back the next night and brought many friends so we had 35 kids last night. Tonight is our big night as we have an end-of-the-week outdoor carnival. The kids are really looking forward to it. Shannon's dad has also played a part as he is the special speaker for our adults. Here are some pictures of the VBS fun.

Fun People!!! and other Jack stories

Dad was walking with Jack and told him to pick up a dime on the sidewalk. He told Jack, "Now you're rich." Jack said, "No, Mommy says we're not rich." Well what are you? "We're uh..uh..we're fun people!!!!" Sounds good to me! Family IS being rich, and we are exceptionally blessed!

Oh and when playing Lego Star Wars, Dardoo D2 is R2D2. It just makes me laugh every time I hear it, it's so cute. On the same line, he calls watermelon "lemonade" for some reason.

Matt was getting ready for work and putting his uniform on. Jack said, "Do policemen have guns?" Matt said, "Yep." Jack: "Do you have a gun?" Matt: "Nope." Jack: "Well how are you supposed to get the bad guys? Oh I forgot...you use your handcups!"

At church playing....making sword and shooting noises while jumping out from behind things....a lady said, "Who are you getting?" He said, "The Bad Guys." Like DUH! A couple of the little girls were hovering around, and he said to the lady, "Oh! They're with me."

He can be easily discouraged sometimes. I'm pretty sure I know where he gets that from! So it's funny to hear while trying to get his shirt on or something equally difficult, "These things are annoying me."

Today he wanted to play outside with his friends, and they were leaving. So he was moping, and I said, "Are you going to be sad?" "No, I'm just frustrated." That stemmed from the fact that he had turned the game off in order to go outside, and then they left. So no more game and no friends.

I raced you means I beat you.

Matt and I were frustrated the other day. Very busy day, and we were rushing to eat supper, and Jack was chatting up a storm until finally he looked at me and said, "Are you happy?" Matt said, "I'm not. Are you?" "YEP!" Nice to be a kid and not have to worry about things right? At least not the same things we worry about I guess.

Jack talks a lot. I remember when I used to wish he could talk, and now sometimes I think, what was I thinking? But then I remember how quiet and sad it would be if he weren't here. But he does seem to know just when Matt and I are talking about something serious and bursts in with something like, "Remember last time I hurt my knee? That wasn't very good." One day, Matt finally said, "Jack, why do you have to interrupt us all of the time with your comments?" Jack said, "That's what I just do." I think that comes from me, too!

Fun in the Tub

Jack and Ava have started to take some baths together since she is getting too big for the sink. Ava really didn't like that idea for the first few times, but she had a great time this last time. She was loving the rubber duckies.