After we got back from Glacier National Park, we had a busy July. Elliot was enrolled in dance and soccer classes, while both kids were swimming one a week at Children of the Sea. Elliot absolutely loved her dance class - she got a pink leotard / tutu and couldn't contain her happiness dancing, twirling and spinning around. She was a bit less enthused about soccer, often choosing to sit on the sidelines and watch while the other kids kicked the ball and ran around. She just doesn't seem to be a fan of team sports....oh well. Wes took to the water like a fish, splashing, crashing, blowing bubbles and going underwater with the best of them. As he became more stable on his feet - he would crawl out of the pool and then turn right around and jump / crawl / fall back in. Elliot made the transition to the big kids class and was swimming with no parent in the water....they grow up so fast. Crystal and Mac blocked off a night to see the Avett brother's but the concert ended up cancelled because someone brought a gun into the venue. Ugh.
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| Good Sharing! |
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| Face paint and Bluegrass!! |
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| Mac was post-call - can you tell? |
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| Music festivals are hard work! |
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| Guess who LOVES to dance with a hula hoop! |
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| Then Grandma Cook came to visit!! |
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| Somewhere in there we took a hike and Cooper was too tired to continue.... |
In August, Elliot started at her new school - ABC. She almost immediately made new friends and we were soon regaled with stories of all her friends and the "silly" things they did at school. We were lucky enough to meet some of the parents of Elliot's friends and have started making "adult friends" as well. ABC is takes their kids to a farm once a week, on Thursday, and we got all kinds of fun stories and pictures about Elliot exploring the farm. It is amazing to watch her socially develop, make friends and navigate new situations.We were able to go camping for a weekend with friends from Portland and Seattle. We took the car up to a campground in southern Washington, set up in a nice shady area and spend two days, camping out, going swimming, exploring the campground, getting dirty and trying to get kids to sleep away from home. It was a fun weekend and we are starting to get the family car-camping thing organized.
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| A weekend away at Mt. Hood |
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| She is starting to get it! |
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| Mac's birthday while camping! |
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| More bluegrass! |
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| More bluegrass! |
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| Elliot and her friend Tristan watching the sun set in Washington |
September was marked by a big adventure back East. We started off with a trip to Wisconsin to visit the Weis side of the family. Elliot and Wes got to run around at the farm and meet little chickens and play A LOT with Paige, Jordan and Clay. Elliot was enamoured with the bigger girls, while Wes was just happy to crash around in a new play room. He was becoming much more steady on his feet at this point and, as a result, increasingly independent. We also got to go Apple picking as a family - picking apples until we couldn't hold any more and eating them until we couldn't take another bite. The apple farm had a bluegrass band playing for them and Wes danced his little heart out. He stood in front of them, rocking out to song after song, "singing" and spinning around like a crazy man. He LOVED it. We next traveled to Maine for Betsy's wedding. A few days at Cook's camp for down time and then down to Portland Maine, where Elliot was the flower girl for a beautiful fall wedding. She practiced and practiced and practiced and, when the time came, walked down the aisle perfectly and spread the leaves that Grandma had picked (all fragrant) PERFECTLY!. Mom and Dad we so proud. Wes, again, was a dancing machine at the rehersal and reception - smiling and saying hello to everyone! Elliot made a new friend at the reception and has so much fun dancing that she actually told Mac, - "dad, I have a friend - I don't need to dance with an adult." They grow up so fast... Gymnastics restarted and now that she was promoted to the big kid class, Elliot's skill exploded. She can walk down the balance beam by herself, flip over a bar and swing upside down from the rings. During open gym Wes, unsurprisingly, sings and spins to the music - running all over the place in a frantic attempt to keep up with his sister. Both kids are still going to music-together and can't get enough of the class. Elliot is now the big kid in the class with everyone looking up to her - and Wes loves to sing, drum and dance to the music.
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| Arriving in Wisconsin! |
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| Totally under control |
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| Cousin apple picking adventure |
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| Adventure Wes |
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| "I'm a Timber now!" |
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| Elliot is very excited because she thinks an ambulance is coming |
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| For an hour a free entertainment, give a toddle some versed....its worth it |
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| Oh Madison........ |
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| Quality parenting right there.... |
Elliot was a rainbow for Halloween, Crystal was a sun cloud, while Wes and Mac were lumberjacks. We went trick-or-treating with one of Elliot's little friends and her family. Elliot understood Halloween this year and LOVED it, while Wes mostly lover the lights and decorations.
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| Crystal made of these!!! |
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| She is SO HAPPY! |
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| "Come on Wes...we have to ask for candy" |
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| Rainbow!!!! |
A little fall leaf time!
In November, Crystal ran the Joshua tree half marathon and we had Thanksgiving at our friends house. We also took our 2018 family photos - expertly done by our friend Katana!
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| Mac's favorite |
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| Ice cream makes everything better! |
New Wes things:
- Running!
- Talking
- Pooping in the Potty (sometimes)
- Yelling "watch" and then jumping off of things
New Elliot things:
- swimming by herself
- 2 days a week at school.
- Improving greatly at gymnastics
-Lots of Dramatic imaginative play
Wes Likes
- Music
- Running around
- DOGGIES
Elliot Likes
- Music
- Dancing
- Reading
- Taking care of her "babies"
- Reminding Wes about the rules
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