Just Like Bruddah

Owen was so excited to put on Charlie's backpack and carry his lunch bag around the house. He calls Charlie "bruddah," and kept saying this as he walked around in Charlie's gear:

4th in the Heartland

We made our usual trek up to Ohio for the 4th. After a day in Columbus, we headed to Cleveland via the Akron Zoo.

Charlie & Grandpa check out the touch tank


Oceanic climbing wall


Charlie & Owen ride a faux carousel lion


Thank god Charlie is old enough to ride the carousel by himself now. Carousels make me feel like I'm going to toss my cookies, which might permanently scar the child riders.


Owen airborne


Everyone airborne!


Owen is obsessed with beer bottles, so we oblige him with empties


Reading bedtime stories with Great-grandma




Owen & Olivia check out the beverage selection at Uncle Tim & Aunt Colleen's annual 4th of July party


Hanging out in the pool with Grandpa


Not sure what's happening here, but I think it involves Evan's arm hair getting pulled out


Diaper break


All cleaned up and ready for stories


Lounging with Uncle Russell


The annual great-grands photo


#1 and #7


This kid is all about style . . .


. . . and eating watermelon


Even though you can't really see our faces, I love this picture


Peek-a-boo Owen


Hanging out in the pool




And then out of the pool




Cousin bath


Mastering the upside-down saxophone

Happy Father's Day

Blueberry-Blackberry-Birthday Bonanza

I've been trying to convince Charlie to have a birthday party at our favorite pick-your-own farm for years, but he always declines. So I decided I was done waiting for him and threw my own birthday party there! The blueberries and blackberries were lovely, as was the company.



Owen's hands were never empty


Baby Zane's first trip to the farm


Tricia & Sarah enjoy some shade


Berries and ice cream - not a bad way to spend the day




Riding the cow train






Rebecca, Ashleigh and Charlie measure up


A true gentleman

First Day of Summer Camp

Kindergarten Celebration

Today, Charlie "graduated" from pre-school. It was a very sweet celebration - the kids sang songs and did a dramatic presentation of a book called The Day the Babies Crawled Away. I will admit to getting a little misty . . .



The Day the Babies Crawled Away


Slideshow of the graduates


Proudly holding his diploma


G and Charlie celebrate with cupcakes


One last goodbye with the fish