Before & After

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Balloons

We went to Hershey this weekend for the largest RV show in America (hey, you have to check it out). On our way back home, traffic on the highway got slowed by some hot air balloons flying just overhead. It gave Chloe such a thrill.

15 Months Old Today!

Oliver is 15 months old today! We went to the pediatrician this morning for his 15-month check-up. He's 24.6 lbs. and 31 inches tall. He has 5 teeth, but will soon add three more up front and his molars. 

Our pediatrician is happy with his progress as his body catches up to his head! She was also pleased with his gross motor skills, which were lagging behind at 12 months of age.

Oliver is still the happy little guy he's always been. At Gym*boree class the teacher calls him "The Mayor" because of his jovial attitude, warm greetings to parents and children and laughter.

Right now Oliver's favorite toy is a ball. He can throw and kick it. He babbles incoherently all day long, with a few recognizable words thrown in: Moma, Daddy, doggy, no, baba (bottle), this, "mump!" (which is "come" and he shouts it at the dogs every time he sees them), hi, and bye-bye. Every now and then Oliver will throw another word in on occassion--he has also said nose, bus and banana---but he has only said each word once and has never uttered them again!

He still has his "scream", which he does for attention or when he is excited and now he has discovered biting and scratching. These shall pass...real soon we hope.

The Napkin Note

Matt and I placed the above note, written on a napkin, in Chloe's lunchbox for school. It was a surprise. As I zipped up the lunchbox, Matt commented that Chloe will complain we wrote on her napkin.

I picked Chloe up after school and we walked home. Shortly into the walk Chloe asked: "Hey, why did you and Daddy write on my napkin? You keep writing on my napkins! Stop it you! No one else gets notes written on napkins. It's so embarrassing."

*SIGH*

I was a little hurt, though I didn't say anything. I changed the subject.

As we approached our home, Chloe said, "Mom, can you write on my napkin again? I was just kidding before. I want you to do it again. I accidentally threw the napkin away and I wanted to keep it. I want to start a collection of napkins that my mom wrote on."

Awwwgghhhhh!!!!

Dot Com

It was a rainy Sunday and that negated going out on the boat. After church we informed Chloe that we were going to go shopping for a new microwave as ours was on its last leg.

CHLOE: "I don't want to go! That's boring. I want to stay home and play W*ii!"

ME: "We will get some lunch and then buy a microwave. It won't take long. We need to go and get a new microwave."

CHLOE: "Why do we have to go? Why can't you order one online and have them deliver it?"

ME: "Because I want to look at them before I buy one."

CHLOE: "Oh come on lady! Its so easy to order on line and we don't have to leave the house! Here's what you do--go to the computer and type in 'microwaves.com', find a microwave, order it and it comes to the house. "

ME: "I need to see the microwaves before I buy one."

CHLOE: "Do you need me to do it for you? I'll do it, you just need to tell me how to spell 'microwave'."

Seriously, where is she learning this stuff? BTW, in the end we did go out and buy a microwave to which Chloe declared, "See, I told you this was going to be boring!".

The Scientist

Chloe would like to be a scientist when she grows up. On our day off from school yesterday we went to the aquarium and Chloe purchased a shark tooth excavation kit at the gift shop. She couldn't wait to "dig in". I honestly can't stand these activities as they create a huge powdery mess, but Chloe loves it and I had to smile when she put on her sunglasses and pretended they were goggles because "scientist protect their eyes" when they are working.

Oreos Make a Great After-School Snack...

First Day of First Grade

First Grade here she comes! School's back in session and Chloe wore her traditional first day of school tie (started in kindergarten). My parent's were still in town and they got to see Chloe before she set off for school.

Chloe seemed to be apprehensive at first and worried she wouldn't find her classroom. She also informed me that she didn't want me to walk her inside because it would be "too embarrassing." In the end, I did  walk her to her classroom, as did the other parents. She had a good time and she made three new friends!

Enjoying the Remains of Summer

There may be two weeks left of summer but everyone knows that the unofficial end of summer is Labor Day weekend. Since we purchased the boat this year and my parent's were in town and Chloe didn't start school until after Labor Day we decided to have a BIG summer send out.

My parent's arrived in town last Tuesday and we had big plans for a whale watching trip off of Long Island. Unfortunately, a storm named Hurricane Ea*rl decided to spoil things and the whale watching trip was canceled. We opted instead to head to a u-pick farm at in the Catskills. We picked peaches, tomatoes, grapes and apples.

Chloe and Oliver in the wagon at the u-pick farm.

PaPaw, BeBe and Chloe picking Concord grapes.

The final send-out of summer took place at Lake Wallenp*aupack. We rented a lake house for the weekend and invited my  parents, our friends Bryan and Sue and our two dogs. It was a great, relaxing weekend. The temperatures dropped 15-20 degrees, so it was cool and thanks to the Hurricane, the winds were gusty. It didn't make for the best boating weekend, but we had a great time enjoying each other's company.

Chloe enjoying the hammock at the lake house.

Matt & Chloe enjoying some snuggle time.

Oliver throwing away BeBe's shoe.

Matt and Bryan acting like kids on the tube.