Swimming Lessons

Sadie and Wyatt took swim lessons for the very first time this summer in Albany.  I didn't really know what to expect and was a bit nervous, especially that Wyatt was going to have a hard time.  He has a hard time pretty much every time we take a bath because he HATES getting water in his eyes. So, when they told me they weren't allowed to wear goggles I though "here we go!"  However, to my surprise we didn't have any tears!

Sadie did awesome!  By the end of two weeks she was floating on her back and tummy, jumping in the pool without being caught, and starting to learn to paddle.  I think that she could have done even more if she had been in a more advanced class, but for a first time she did great!  At the end of the session they each got a report card.  Sadie's instructor, Taylor, wrote Sadie improved quickly and does great in the water.  Nice Job!

Wyatt also did a good job although he was far less compliant.  He did get his face wet every day and I was happy that the lessons seemed to make him more comfortable in the water.  At least we didn't end with him more afraid, right?  Wyatt had 2 instructors but the one that he had the majority of the time was Janel.  Janel had a very sweet personality and great smile although we had to laugh because she really didn't push Wyatt much.  I'm pretty sure that he thought she was the greatest thing ever as she was super silly with him and played with him a lot.  Her comments were Wyatt is very smiley and a great listener.  He's a great kid!

Cooper, well Cooper is a good sport about just about everything.  He hung out with me and Grammy, watched lessons, entertained us, ate snack, and distracted the life guard. We love this kid!!!

Little Miss Nut

Sisters

Seriously I don't know where all his personality comes from.  He is a certified goofball!

5 Months

At 5 months old our Little Miss Hazel is rolling over, she loves her toes and her thumb, she is sleeping until about 3a.m. every morning and then going back down until 7, and she is getting more and more leg strength. She is starting to really enjoy time in her jumper and sitting on the floor with toys.  She has also remained pretty flexible with her sleeping schedule, and is getting better and better about being in the car which we are very thankful for!  We love her sweet smile and giggle more than anything.

 Toes

 Tummy Time

 Hanging out with a very goofy big brother.

And another silly brother :)

I know I'm prejudice, but they really don't come any cuter!!!

Zoey

We added a puppy to the mix over 4th of July weekend.  Brandon has wanted to get another lab since we moved, but I have been hesitant with also having a new baby and because of the fact that we still have a lot of work to do around the yard, which means lots of mud and mess for a puppy.  However, with Sadie going to school in September we decided that this would be a good time for a puppy.  Wyatt is such an animal lover and while Cooper likes to play outside, Wyatt practically begs for people to play outside with him.  He wants to be out all day, and without Sadie we figured he might need another buddy to play with.  

So, we spent the weekends in June building Zoey a kennel and a dog house, and on the 4th of July we got to go and pick out our puppy.  The kids were so excited and fell in love with her right away.  Of course some of the novelty has worn off as she is a puppy and loves to jump on them and inevitably scratches and bites them a bit, but when we got her she was young, only 6 weeks old, and she really just slept a lot giving us plenty of time to cuddle with her.

 Even Hazel got out there to watch Daddy work on Zoey's house.

 Wyatt got the first turn holding Zoey as we brought her home.  She is after all his little buddy as Sadie keeps reminding us :)

 Sadie loves the puppy too although nothing compares to her love for her kitty!

 Cooper... well he mostly bulldozed the puppy, but I guess that's only fair as the puppy has spent the last 2 months getting him back.

 Watching cartoons with Zoey.

 Playing with Zoey.

They may invade her space just a bit.

A Boy and His Puppy!

Hazel loves Zoey Too!!!

You know you're loved when you get to sleep with the coveted blankie!

 Sweet Dreams!

4 Months Old

At 4 months old Miss Hazel loves to laugh and talk with us, especially when she has all of Mommy and Daddy's attention in the evening.  She weighs 12lb 6oz and measures 24 1/4 inches, she prefers standing to laying or even sitting, and she has definitely found her thumb.  I have yet to have a thumb sucker but she seems set on it.  She still won't take a pacifier or bottle of any type but loves her fingers and Mommy's fingers.  We're continuing to love watching her grow and become a part of our family more and more.  I've noticed that when I go out occasionally with just her that she seems more discontent and I think it is because she doesn't have all her brothers and sisters in the car with her.  She loves to hear their voices and they're getting really good at entertaining her.

A Visit With Friends

Our good friend Andrea and her kids, Georgia and Titus, came to visit us in May!  Her husband Dave was out of town for the week and we were so pleased that she asked to spend the time with us.  I continue to miss the moms that did life with me down in California.  While we love the space and freedoms that life in Oregon provides us, the trade off continues to feel great.  We miss being close to so many friends, having a neighborhood park to walk to, and because this season of life can be so chaotic we recognize how precious the sacrifice of time to connect really is.   That's why when Andrea called the day before they were going to leave to say that Titus was throwing up we said come anyway.  We never know when the next chance to spend time together will come so it seemed worth it even though we knew we might end up sick.  

Well, unfortunately we all did end up catching Titus' bug, including Andrea, but thankfully Hazel was spared and although Andrea and I didn't have the energy to hang out quite as much as I would have hoped in the evenings, I'm pretty sure the kids won't even remember that they were sick.  They had a blast playing together and even when they were sick all they could think about was getting back to playing.  I'm positive that they will only remember the fun that they had playing with friends and that makes it all worth it.  The kids were so sad to see them go when the week ended and Georgia prayed most nights that they could stay for 10 days instead of 6.  We definitely love this family and are thankful for more precious memories made!

Friendships Growing

A New Friendship Budding

So Much Playtime!

The Little Boys

It was fun getting to know Titus more this trip.  He was so little the last time we saw them but this time we got to see a bit more of his personality.  He is quite the adventurer and he loved, loved, loved, all the animals.

The Animals

T-Bone

Howie

Our neighbors have two horses that the kids enjoyed saying hello to.

Chickaletta and Little Red

The chickens got out at one point and the kids decided to try to catch them.  At the point that this picture was taken they had already been wrangled back into their pen but the kids still wanted to catch one.

Only Wyatt was successful!

Minnie

Minnie got lots of attention as usual.  Titus especially could not get enough time with her.

Quiet Time

We actually got all of the kids playing in their own rooms or napping most days for about an hour which I though was pretty good considering there were 6 of them.  Quite a few days quiet time quickly turned into this, which never happens, but was evidence of the fact that no one was feeling great even though all they wanted to do was play.

The Little Miss

The Dairy Farm

Someone still isn't feeling 100%.

It started with trying to lasso the lambs and ended with this poor little thing being hogtied and needing Mommy to rescue it.

Earlier in the day Andrea and I were reminiscing about the fun of playing outdoors and remembered hiding in tall grass as kids and making mazes through it.  Then we headed to the dairy and watched our kids doing the same thing, playing hide and seek and making little nests out in the grass.  So fun!

Playing in the cottonseed is always a highlight for kids when they visit the dairy.

 Quad rides are also usually a favorite.

I love this picture.  The look on Georgia's face as Titus tries to climb into the cow pen.  It's a classic big sister of a little brother look.

I think the calf barn was a highlight for Titus.  He really did love all the animals.  I couldn't believe how brave he was even letting Roberts fancy bull chew all over his arm.

Goodbye for now Wallace family.  Hope to see you guys again soon and thanks again for all the wonderful pictures Andrea!!!