All Star Festivities 2009

Mommy, Daddy and Delaney at FanFest!

Daddy and Delaney
Daddy helping Delaney hit the ball.

Yeah Laney!

Stealing home....

It took Delaney 16 seconds to run 90 feet from 3rd to home!

Future NL player?

Yadi

Ryan Franklin

Albert Pujols

A very sleepy Delaney and Uncle Alex at the parade.

Watching the parade.

Delaney waving to the "baseball people"

At City Garden

She had so much fun running back and forth.

Timid at first but got soaking wet by the end!

We have had some busy days her in St. Louis with all the All Star Festivities going on! My Dad aka The General got some great tickets so the boys went to most of the games. Mom aka MiMi was so nice to let Jer have her ticket for the All Star Game and the Futures and Celebrity Softball game. We all had tickets to check out FanFest. Delaney liked seeing the big giant baseballs, hitting the ball on the tee and running to steal home with Daddy. She got a Cardinal's Baloon that she is still running through the house with 2 days later! Mimi, Uncle Alex, Delaney and I went to the Players parade before the big game too. We had a man who I nicknamed "the brick wall" who was right in front of us and he was so tall and big.... he could have stood behind us as seen just as well! He also liked to call the players by nicknames like he knew them! Oh well! We could see most of the parade! We walked around downtown, had a late lunch then dropped Alex off to the boys for the game. Delaney loved the comotion of downtown and all the "baseball cardinals" everywhere. We even happened upon a bubble machine! With only a 45ish minute nap I was surprised at how well Delaney did the entire day! On the way back to the car we stopped at the new City Garden. It was a really nice little place! I let Delaney take off her shoes and run through the water fountains with the other kids and she had a blast. She didn't want to leave until she heard another little kid mention ice cream then she said "Ice cream for Laney too?" so I told her if she got out of the water we could get some... and we did. I really enjoyed getting to be a part of the action.... you don't know how long it will be until our city gets to host again!

Ohio Family Reunion

Delaney on 4th of July

Family shot...Right outside our Villa.

Closer up...Why am I the only one smiling?

Jerry making sure he is taller than his dad.

Nana and Delaney

Delaney walking with Dady by the lake.
On the boat ride.
Jerry with his Great Aunt Barbara and his Mommy.

Tina, Johnny Bill, Jerry and Tammy (with one of the puppies)

Delaney on the slide at the park in Coldwater Ohio.

Ready to race Mommy and Tammy back to the reunion.

Chillaxin in her tot spot!
The Holiday weekend had more in store for us than the 4th of July! We traveled to Ohio to the area where Jer's grandpa grew up, and where his family still lives, for a reunion. It was a long drive but we stopped often to let Delaney run around and stretch her legs! She kept busy in the back seat building block towers, coloring and watching DVD's.. mostly Baby Signing Time! She also picked our travel weekend to go on food strike and put not much more than milk into her little body..... toddlers!

On the 4th of July we were treated to an awesome ride on the lake in a pontoon with Nana's cousins. Delaney loves boat rides... and it was fun to be out on the water! We hit up a local spot for lunch that looked out on the lake before heading to meet Jer's Great Aunt and Uncle for a tour of the area. We got to see the house where Jerry's Grandpa grew up and other highlights of the area... including Nana's cousin Johnny Bill who had horses and newly born puppies. I am still surprised Tammy or Tina didn't bring one of them home! They were cute! We enjoyed some yummy pizza with the family before heading back to wait for the fireworks. It poured rain for so long we thought they might not have any fireworks... but they did...so we stood by the lake in the drizzle and watched them! Delaney was so tired but she enjoyed them and liked to say "boom" after each one.

Sunday was the reunion so we packed up and headed to the park. The weather was beautiful and Delaney enjoyed the slides, swings and rocking animals at the park. It was fun meeting all of the family and I am glad we all were able to go. We're looking forward to next year and making a trip out of it.. going to see some other things in the states nearby!

Thanks Mary and Junior! and Thanks Tina and Tammy for the pictures... I was too busy chasing after Delaney so I appreciate you sharing!

Zoo Trip with Nana, Papa and Aunt TT

Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papa and Delaney

Mommy, Daddy, Aunt TT and Delaney
Delaney on a frog!
Looking for the Hippo and enjoying the fish.
Showing off her tightrope skills!
Down the slide with Mommy.

Jer's parents and sister Tina were in town on Thursday before we left for Ohio so we took them to one of Delaney's favorite places.. the Zoo! Delaney enjoyed showing off her favorite zoo spots including the Children's Zoo! I think everyone had a great time! We were happy to have them in town with us for a day so they could see Delaney in her own environment! Thanks for coming Nana, Papa and TT! Hopefulyl next time Aunt Tammy, Uncle Jason and baby boy to be can come too! We love the Zoo... and it's even more fun with family and friends!

Thanks Tina for the pictures!

Summer Days Drifting Away.. to uh oh Those Summer Nights

The whole gang...

Hannah
Hannah, Alaina and Delaney all chilling in their boats.Gavin, Maya and Delaney
Caden

Hannah and Delaney

Hi

Chowing down on Lunch!

"Delaney where is the square?" "Right Here"
Looking for the circle...
Driving her car.

Mowing the Grass with Ajdin.

Trying to catch the lighting bugs.
"Reach it"
"I missed!

It's already July? Where in the world did June go? The summer days are definately drifting away.. and so are the summer nights! Delaney and I are very lucky to have a great groups of friends. We plan several events over the summer to visit and entertain the kids! Over the last few years our little group has grown.. and the kids are multiplying quickly! Yesterday we had a swim party and the kids had a blast... and were very worn out by the end... but so were we! Delaney talked about swimming with her friends after her nap.. it's so cute to hear her name off her friends by name! Hanging out with friends is one of our favorite summer activities.

This summer Delaney has also spent many afternoons in the driveway playing with sidewalk chalk and riding on her four wheeler, in her car etc. The last few days she has started to take an interest in playing shape, color, number and ABC games that I make up with on thr driveway. She can now show me almost any shape I ask and she loves jumping on the number line and counting! She has also finally learned to move her car on her own and enjoys dancing to the "tunes" as she drives it around!

This summer we have also really enjoyed our summer nights.. usually spent outside sitting and talking to our neighbors while the kids run around getting dirty and wearing themselves out! Last night we took Ajdin his birthday present.. a bubble blowing lawn mower.. but when we bought it we thought twice and bought Delaney one too... we were sure having just one might cause some trouble.... it turned out to be a great idea.... the kids mowed and mowed the lawns last night! The daddies were just wishing they actually CUT the grass!

The kids have really gotten into chasing lighning bugs this summer as well. Watching them brings back so many memories from my chidlhood! I tried to capture their pursuit in some pictures... but wasn't too successful!

Hoping the summer slows down a little... it's my favorite time of the year!

Visit to Daddy's Hometown

Crawling through the tunnel.

Mommy and Delaney laughing at silly Daddy on the Bear See-saw.
The best swing invention ever!

Delaney loved going round and round!

The hand glide made her giggle!

Delaney on the pony swing.

Delaney and Daddy on the see saw.

Swimming in her blow up pool!

We were back in Jer's hometown for a visit and Delaney's Aunt Tammy took these great pictures of Delaney playing at the park and in her pool. Thanks for sharing them with me Tammy! The park there has some things I haven't seen since my childhood... like see saws and the pony swings... seems as though most of those play things have been replaced.. but not in Carrollton... they are still there for everyone to enjoy. It makes me feel like a little kid again. The park also has new equipment to enjoy... but it's just not nearly as fun! We have fun playing at the park when we visit. Delaney's grandma (Nana) bought Delaney a small blow up pool and she also enjoyed playing in it. She would sing ring aroudn the rosies and throw herself down, laugh and repeat over and over! She's getting good at blowing bubbles, kicking her feet and floating on her back. Thanks Nana for the little pool... I think you saw just how much she enjoyed it!

Kickaroos

Kickaroos in action.....

Kicking the ball.

Coach telling them to put the ball on their head and then their nose! They thought this was fun!

Waiting for Coach to say "go"

Running and laughing... silly girl.

Balancing one foot on the ball.

Parachute fun!

Listening to her coach.

"Hands in team"

"Soccer!"

Rolling the ball back and forth with her foot while singing "I like to move it move it."

Running fast... can you see the exitement on her face?

Scoring a goal.

Jumping over the tiny hurdles.

Parachute time (Delaney's favorite part)

Austin and Delaney helping to put away the cones.

Jerry has been wanting Delaney to play soccer since.. well before we knew that she was a girl! When he heard about the Kickaroos program it didn't take him long to get Delaney signed up. Delaney's friends Maya and Gavin signed up too, and her friend Austin from Little Gym. The shirt they gave Delaney was a size 10-11! I could wear it... it's that big! So Delaney will be sporting some addidas outifts.. and yes she will wear bows! It's fun watching Daddy and Delaney play soccer.... even if Delaney often does what she wants and not what the coach asks! I still believe her true calling will be the performing arts.... but it's good to learn some sport skills too! Enjoy the pictures and video!

Botanical Gardens with Mommy

Being Cute.....

And Having Fun......

Delaney and I had an unexpected super fun trip to the Botanical Gardens last week! They had called for rain but at the last moment oushed it off to the afternoon.... so we headed out hoping for the best. We first walked around to see some of the flowers and plants. Delaney loved telling me what colors she saw! (Finally not everything is PINK) Then we visited the Children's Garden. Delaney ran all over that place... climbing up to the top of the treehouse, across the rope way up high and down the slides! I could hardly keep up but she's so little still I had to follow her! Once she spotted the water I knew I had to ket her go for it. I had brought a swim suit and her crocs because I knew it was there! It took her awhile to get used to the water spraying up here and there but she got comfortable and very wet. I was quite jealous because by this time it was a nice hot and muggy St. Louis day! She got dried off and dressed and we had a picnic lunch before we left to go home. We'll be visiting the Gardens again soon!

Play Date at Suson

Olivia was so sweet wanting to hold Delaney's hand.

Delaney and Caden pose as farmers.


Checking out the pigs.

The kids looking at the chickens.

Delaney loved the spinning seat on the playground.

Down the slide with Luke.

Climbing to the top with Caden.

Delaney going down the big "gween" slide.

Sweet Maya asked me to take her picture!
Delaney and I are so lucky to have a great group of friends! We are all teachers so we are planning several play date outings for the summer. Our first one was a trip to Suson Park to play on the playground and see the animals! This play is always a hit with kids.. and our kids had a blast! The weather was great too! We're looking forward to our next outing!

Two Zoo Trips

Looking for the Hippo with Hudson

Reading the map.

"Hi Mama Duck!" "Hi Baby Ducks!"

Riding a Tiger!

Playing in the water.

NOT posing for mama's camera....

"No Hippo!"

"ishies!" (yes ishies not fishies)

Watching the stingrays intently.

Last week we went to the Zoo twice! Once just Delaney and I and once with Amber and her boys! Delaney really loves Zoo trips lately! She shouts out the names of the animals and she asks what each animal is called if she doesn't know. She even pet the stingrays! I have a feeling we'll be visiting the Zoo many more times this summer!