"I wanna carry him like in South America, Mom!"

Reading and Racing with Popsy

Two of the favorite activities during our time with Popsy were reading (the 45 library books we'd checked out in anticipation of his arrival!) and racing (Go-Karts on a local indoor track). One of the pictures shows Parie proudly reading The Plane book to Tommy that she and Popsy had mastered together before dinner. I heard many-a quiz questions from Popsy, "What's this sight word? Now, I'm going to spell a different word and with your eyes closed, you tell me which sight word I spelled." So funny how much the kids LOVE Popsy quizes. Everyone wanted to sit with him and read and be quized! Sarah mastered the spelling of psychologist this visit...somehow that most favorite of quizes had sneaked past her these nine years of her life! Must have been a first grandchild overlook; I'm sure that mistake won't be made again! Be forewarned sweet William! You will be spelling psychologist by next month on your two year old birthday!

The go karts were a huge hit after a somewhat apprehensive start. Fletcher was a reluctant participant with much concern for safety factors, namely flipping and who might bump him around on the track. Sarah said flat out she'd just be watching. Her unspoken but disabling concerns (along with Fletcher) were for the potential big kids and having to drive with the masses swarming her. Well, it became apparent that our kids would be the only ones on the track that Monday morning and Sarah got the guts to try it with her younger siblings! We were all so glad she did. The three of them had a ball. Popsy so confidently declared from the initial interaction with the staff that Paris was indeed 48 inches, "We just measured her!" Our measurements had in fact placed her at about 46 inches but what's two inches to a well-meaning, though lying Popsy! Paris was the one child with no apprehensions, just sheer determination to have the chance to race...so she donned her highest heeled shoes, the beloved pink cowgirl boots and didn't bat an eyelash when her Popsy declared her 48 inches to the staff. In fact, her no apprehensions showed up on the track when she floored it all the way around the track for all 9 laps. Paris lapped both Fletcher and Sarah to win by a huge margin in their three person rookie go kart race!

Our pink Cowgirl boot wearing bike rider!

Paris put this outfit together when Popsy was visiting. She loves her pink cowgirl boots and wears them with everything!

Tommy sayings in Sept. 2010

Things that Tommy says that crack us up all the time:

"me fight Bad guys"

"Fwetchie, BAD guy!"

"awwww, DAD!"

"awww, Dah-nn ("dawn")" = awww, darn!

duh, nuh, nuh, nuh, duh, nuh, nuh...BATMAN!!

Tommy's First Haircut

I was SO ready to get his bangs out of his eyes and see the back of his neck again. I didn't want to see his curls go, though. I love when he gets sweaty and his hair spirals into ringlets.

The haircut went really well. Our wildest child sat the stillest of any of our kiddos during a first haircut. He was sooo proud of being such a big boy. He had the funniest expressions that had us all rolling.

Gammy Popsy Camp Activities

Some of the highlight activities of camp this year include, but are not limited to: pony rides, pool fun with freestyle stroke lessons and diving practice, "adventures" on the hiking trails, biking and "creeking" at Salem Lake, swimming and canoeing in the pond, fishing (with Popsy buying minnows daily and often leaving them in a sunny spot to accidentally bake to death!), plumming with Gammy (who was quite excited by the bountiful harvest of plums from her two trees...William consuming more than half of what she harvested!), and molding animal-shaped crayons from the old crayons from Gammy's school classroom.

Gammy Popsy Camp is SUCH a BLAST!!

Cousin time was such fun! Everyone loves holding "Ju-jee" who couldn't be more smiley and fun to play with! William was quite interested in Fletcher and his whereabouts and activities. William very kindly played with rough and tumble, quite-demanding Tommy. William was SO sweet to share toys with him constantly and cater to his ever-changing toy "needs." What a precious boy! We all love his heart, and Sarah so cutely pointed out she loves his pretty skin! :)