~ SUMMER HAS (finally) BEGUN ~

The kids are really enjoying the nice, summer weather ~ it's about time! We have had some very wet June ~ Friday night there was an awful thunderstorm with hail! Anyhow, our weekend was glorious; sunny & warm ~ where else would we want to be than in the pool?!

Mia has carried over her love for hoarding into the pool. She uses this crab float to collect all the water toys; she will swim from one spot to another collecting them in her tube. She is just so much fun to watch!!

Our official summer vacation starts today ~ no more school!! We just plan to relax, swim, play and enjoy the lazy days of summer (hopefully with some great weather?!)

Hope you're enjoying your summer !!

~ POTTY TRAINED ~

No more diapers in our house! It took Mia a week or so to adjust to the idea that we have no more diapers (when I announced this to her one day, she actually told me to go buy them! hee, hee!) Anyhow, Mia is a creature of habit - aren't we all - and once she got used to the idea - well, she took on this new adventure with Mia-gusto!

I am SO happy I was able to get this picture of Mia, on our FRONT steps of all places, on her princess potty! She was playing with Eddie, gathering grass and leaves for their "stew", and mommy was getting water for the plants, next thing I know - she's LIKE THIS - for the whole neighborhood to see!! I flew past her, got my camera, and GOT the shot : )

Mia does not like to stop playing if she has to go. . . she will "hop" along on her potty to get to her toys or what ever else she is doing. Why should "life" stop for the potty, just bring it along!!

~ CHAMPIONS ~

Anthony's team won their championship game lastnight!

They played an awesome game ~ they've played an unbelievable season ~

they've all showed amazing teamwork!

CONGRATULATIONS DIAMOND BACKS!!

Congratulations Anthony ~ you are a true team player

I am so very proud of who you are on & off

the baseball field!!

~ A VERY SPECIAL DRESS ~

I have been so excited to put this dress on Mia Hope! I got it few months back at the "Seventh Diamonds fundraiser" and waited for the right moment to put it on Miss Mia ~ since it was Father's Day and "Sophia Jane" is now with her forever family; go here to see this sweet girl united with her family ~ I thought it was the perfect day!

We love seeing another China Princess join their family ~ Congratulations!!!

~ MOVIN' UP, PORT, LAST GAMES & DADDY'S DAY ~

Friday: Daddy took off from work to come to Anthony's movin' up ceremony; our big boy will start middle school in September! We are so very proud of him, he is an excellent student and his teachers have always loved having him in class ~ what else could parents ask for?!

The ceremony was supposed to take place outside, but since we have been "Under Water" (as a newspaper article described today), the ceremony took place in the gym and was changed around a bit to suit everyone - still it was very moving and touching for this mommy!

can you feel the excitement :)
Ant with his 5th grade class taking their DARE oath.
They also sang "lean on me" - had to fight back the tears!


Ant made this for a poster contest,
it's funny, as I was looking around the gym at the posters...
I took a photo, just knowing that my boy had made this!
When I showed him the picture, he said, "how did you know it was mine?"
A mom just knows :)

Friday night we met up with our friends at a local "port" for dinner, ice cream and playtime! The weather cleared up a bit and it turned out to be a gorgeous night:

pretty princess at play!

Eddie's class had went to our local fire dept.

for his class trip today. He loved practicing his drills!

We love to watch Mia at the parks. She has such gusto and

is never intimidated by the big kid slides or play areas!

It can be scarey for mommy & daddy at times to watch ~

that's why we send up the big brothers to supervise :)

Eddie's godfather tickling him :)

Maddy thinks her daddys the BEST!

*Mia started out with matching orange leggings...we had to change into these pink ones after she was standing on the playground steps, and declared "pee pee" as she did just that all down her leg and into her sneakers! Thank goodness I brought an extra pair of undies & leggings. She has been doing SO well with potty trainning the last week, but I guess being out & about threw her off (even though I brought her to the car twice to "go"?!!!) Oh, well this is our last time potty trainning a child - there are always some setbacks - again, I'm so glad I brought extra stuff :)


Saturday: Eddie had his very last t-ball game. We've had so much fun watching him play the last few months. He is such a character and so much fun to watch :

Ready for anything (hee, hee!)

This is usually our boy in the outfield :)

Daddy said next time we'll bring him a lawn chair!

Mommy adores her little boy!

Afterwards, his team went out for Italian Ices,

lemon is our boys favorite flavor :)

A short video of what goes on, on the sidelines:

Sunday: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

WE ALL LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

So sorry it's rainning again ~ and poor daddy has a cold ~

but we will make it a special day in spite of it!!

~ FIELD DAY FUN ~

My big guy had his field day (last week) and Eddie, Mia and I came to cheer him on. It has been an extra fun year, since Anthony has Meggie's big brother in his class! The weather held out - we've had some crummy June days, very wet, cloudy, just yuck! On field days in the past, it has been hot & humid - this year it was almost a bit chilly?! Anyhow, we had fun, as usual, watching Anthony :)

~ clowning around ~

~ Mia high fives Ant ~

The local fire dept brought by a fire truck & some hoses~

the kids really got a kick out of this~

they had to hit a target a few feet away!

Eddie ( &Mia) circled the fire truck

they were very impressed!

Ant's 5th grade class

Also, last week, Anthony's class had their "writers celebration" where the parents were able to come in and read their child's poetry & writings they had done throughout the year. I was so very touched ~ Anthony wrote a beautiful piece about the day we were in Hershey Park in Aug 2007, when we received our call with our TA (travel approval) for Mia! It was beautifully written and very touching. We also saw a video/movie of what the class has done throughout the year:

Mia had fun with Meggie & Mikey

Ant & his 5th grade teachers

We are SO PROUD of you Anthony!

(Eddie was in afternoon K!)

"FWIP FWOPS"

or I say "flip flops", are Mia's new obsession of late. She loves when mommy wears them, and finally I gave in and bought her a pair; however, this is how she wears them:

Mia cannot bear to put the piece between her toes - when I try to help her out she'll say "hurt here!" I'm on the lookout for "fwip fwops" with a real thin thread-like piece between the toe, maybe that will help?! Anyhow, she picked out this pair and after she wears them for a few minutes, she'll put them in her pocketbook or bag and just carry them around ~ so proud to have "fwip fwops" :)




And, this is the bathing suit Mia Hope picked out ~ princess-pink, frilly, tutu-ish and girly! Ahhh, it's fun to shop with my daughter :)