Birthday Ice Cream

What better way to celebrate my birthday, than to get ice cream with my two favorite kiddos. Jonathan didn't really want to go to school today because I think he thought he was going to miss out on something fun since it was birthday. I told him that all I wanted to do was get ice cream with him after school. Diana got excited and kept saying all day, "go get bro-bro, superman." She wanted superman ice cream from UDF. When we picked up Jonathan, he had been thinking orange leaf instead. Since it was my birthday and I didn't want a fight, we got Diana's UDF and then we went to Orange Leaf. Jonathan was a little disappointed because they didn't have the birthday cake flavor, which made since why he wanted to go there. Such a thoughtful young man!

Cousin Noah!

We welcomed a new cousin today! Noah Titus Hoehn Low. He was born at 9:09am, weighed in at 5lbs 13 oz, and length of 19". Both Auntie Heidi and baby Noah are doing great! We are so excited for everyone!!!

First School Work

Jonathan came home with his first Kindergarten school work today.

Kids are Famous

The kids made the paper! We went to the "Touch-a-truck" event at Montgomery Park back in July and while we were there we ran into our photographer (who did the last couple family photos of us). She was covering the event for the Cincinnati Enquirer and took a picture of the kids. She had mentioned she would try to get them in the paper but I had no idea it would be on the cover page of the local section, let alone as big as it was and in color. How very cool! I remember when she took the picture as Jonathan wanted to look at her, which is what we ask of him for the family pictures, and she had to tell him to look away. Too cute!

Swimming with GB

The kids sure have enjoyed swimming at GB and Grandpa's pool this summer. We didn't get up there as many Monday's as I would have liked. Today we got to swim with Natalie too!

GB & Grandpa Weeks Pool Party

GB & Grandpa Weeks watched the kids tonight for us while we went to a wedding. Luckily for the kids, their pool was having a party tonight. The kids got their faces painted, which I think is the first time for both, for sure for Diana. Diana choose a butterfly and Jonathan asked for a peregrine falcon. GB told me that the girl painting was probably in high school, had never done a falcon before but said she could find a picture on her phone and try and do it. This girl has some talent! Diana talked about her butterfly, and would point to her forehead for days. Thanks GB & Grandpa for the sleepover!

Lowe's Build-and-Grow

Planes to add to our collection. The kids are really enjoying these events.

School Pictures with Friends

Before school with Avery and McKenna...

After school...Rocco, Alex, McKenna and Avery.

Of course, this is what Diana is doing while we are trying to take pictures, making her silly face.

Kindergarten Pictures

Jonathan's first day of Kindergarten! His teacher, Mrs. Reker-Murphy, is in the orange dress behind him, not the best picture of her. I thought it was cute how Brad was walking down the sidewalk with both kids to school. When it was time to go into school, Diana was just as ready as Jonathan. The principal even made a comment that "she is ready too Mom," don't I know it! I told her she was in "training."

Jonathan's First Day of Kindergarten

Thanks to Shonda, I have some pictures to post on the blog of Jonathan's first day of Kindergarten (I haven't uploaded mine yet). Jonathan was so excited for his first day, he was up early and ready to go. He kept asking, can we go to school yet? All of the kids lined up in the parking lot/playground with their class and then walked into school. Family was welcome to come in to the classroom today to listen to the announcements, morning prayer and to read the "Kissing Hand" book before we said our goodbyes. Jonathan was so excited about the day that I was excited too. No tears shed from any of us.

Kindergarten Sneak Peak

I wanted to take some pictures of Jonathan in front of the sign I made for his first day of Kindergarten. Notice he wants to be a race car driver when he gets older. At one point during taking photos, Jonathan had to go to the bathroom, so he placed his apple down and wemt. Diana picked it up and started eating it! I guess we were done with pictures.

Swimming with GB

The kids had a sleepover at GB and Grandpa's last night while we went to the tennis tournament. Today we went swimming. The kids couldn't get enough of their GB at the pool, brad and I might as well not have been there. So cute! Jonathan has been working hard on practicing his back float.

Catapult

The kids love the building blocks at the Sports Club (pool). Today I was able to capture Jonathan midair jumping on his catapult that he came up with all on his own. I also got a picture of Diana's silly face. Any time she sees a camera this is what she does now. Diana also loves playing with her buddy Evan at the pool.

Potty Training

Just when I was about to give up on potty training for awhile, Diana had a moment that made me so happy that I guess I will keep trying for awhile. We almost had the potty training thing down but then a couple of things caused us to degress...vacation bible school (where she was in pullups for a week all morning) and then our 14 hour car ride and vacation (it's one thing if she pees on my floor but I couldn't have her doing that at Mom & Dad's). I will admit, it is a lot harder to potty train a child when you already have another child and you are constantly on the go. I remember with Jonathan I didn't go anywhere for the first couple weeks, not even to the grocery store. Now with Diana we are all over the place, which doesn't help matters. Diana and I have definitely been having our battles over the potty, she will refuse to go and if I try to put her on the potty she will back arch and not sit down. Today, I had to go upstairs and before I went, I asked her if she had to go potty. Of course she said no. I was up there for awhile and I kept yelling down and pretty soon I didn't hear an answer so I asked Jonathan what Diana was doing. She was in the bathroom, had gone potty and was trying to wipe. I was so excited! And then at nap time today I asked her to go before nap but she said no but after we read a couple books she said potty and took off to the bathroom. Fingers crossed that we might be back on track.

Rafting

Rafting down the Little Miami river today with Jonathan's preschool class. We had beautiful weather and so much fun! Jonathan was excited to see his friends and his teacher. I am not sure how much the kids actually "helped" paddle but they were trying and I got a good arm workout. Alex & Evan's dad, Tim, was in the back of our raft steering and it brought back memories for us when we went cabrewing in college together. This was obviously a little different. Jonathan's favorite part of the day was when we got in the lead and won the "race".

Bubbles

Guess who learned to blow bubbles? He has been wanting to do this for awhile now and today it finally clicked. The bubble yum gum did help.

Kindergarten Playdate

Jonathan had a Kindergarten playdate tonight at Land of Make Believer park.  There ended up being 65 people in total for families that will have a Kindergartner next year at St Mary's!  Jonathan had such a fun time!  I was a little embarrassed at points because he was running around like a mad man all hot and sweat screaming.  He had made up some game that him and his friends were playing and of course he was leading.  I was talking to another dad and he asked me if I would rather have him sitting on a picnic table twiddling his thumbs...and of course I wouldn't so that put it into perspective.  He did manage to find girls to play with too.  The picture below is of Elizabeth and McKenna (thanks to McKenna's mom for snapping the adorable picture).  He also found a forth grade girl he was having fun playing with.  Leave it to Jonathan!

Home Depot Build a Truck

I don't know what I was thinking when I suggested to Tara that we take the kids to the Home Depot build-a-truck event. 4 kids and 2 mom's, not a good combination. Jonathan of course wanted to do it all on his own, which for the most part he did quite well. He happened to get a nail bent in this picture though. Diana couldn't wait for her truck to be done because all she really wanted to do was paint.

Touch-a-Truck

We went to the annual Touch-a-Truck event today in Montgomery. Some friends joined us to make it extra fun...Dean, Wyatt, Bajorek's, Pusateri's, and others. Jonathan couldn't get to the trucks fast enough, while Diana was more interested in the playground. We did finally get Diana into some of the trucks. Jonathan's favorite for the military utility trucks, "fancy tow trucks" as Jonathan was told. I thought the fire truck ladder way up in the sky was cool. It was a fun event and a great way for kids to learn about all sorts of vehicles.