Swingset and Waving

Two of Caroline's favorite things to do:

The County Fair

Sleeping with the new blankie

My Aunt Cindy made Danny-boy a new quilt. When the package arrived, Daniel couldn't believe his eyes. Aunt Cindy had made a new blankie to replace the one that was so sadly lost. And not only that, but she even, "Put her LEAST FAVORITE ANIMALS on there!!!" Yes sir, snakes made it onto blankie #2, along with sharks and other various creatures of his liking. The boy has slept with it every night since.

Tonight I took a few pictures of the two boys sleeping on Haley's bed. They fell asleep in here as I was typing all these posts to catch the blog up to speed. (It's been a busy summer!) Of course, they both brought their Aunt Cindy blankets into this room. And since the boys are in here, I think Haley is sleeping in my bed next to Tom and Caroline. Musical bedrooms tonight in the O household.  You know, if you don't move fast, you miss your chance to sleep. Move your feet, lose your seat.  Move your head, lose your bed! :)

PS
Love you, Aunt Cindy! Thanks SO much for tracking down the special fabric for Shawk-boy's quilt. It's amazing!

Daniel's helicopter ride

That's right, folks. Daniel can check another thing off his six-year-old bucket list. He has enjoyed a scenic ride over the Shenandoah Valley in a helicopter. Without his mother riding along... or any other relative, friend, or acquaintence for that matter. Just "his own self," the pilot, and the helicopter.  And no doors.  Nobody mentioned there would be no doors.  (I do not know if doors would have made me feel all that much better, but they couldn't have hurt.) Holy mackerel. I think I was more nervous than he was. But this kid, I'm telling you, he has more adventurous spirit in his little finger than the rest of us put together. Good grief. You gotta love him.

TOTALLY Santa Claus

Haley in bubble bath, "Ho, ho, ho! I am TOTALLY Santa Claus!"

Caroline, the dog whisperer

Caroline loves dogs.  Period.  Any shape, any size, any color.  She doesn't discriminate.  Drooling, shedding, barking?  No problem.  And, hey, if they pay attention to her, all the better.  But to be honest, she would settle for just observing one as it passes her by.  She even gets excited at the sound of dogs barking on the television.  "Woof!" could very likely come before "Mama!" in her vocabulary... I kid you not.  This girl is in love.

So, it's good that we have the support of so many family pets around us.  It takes a village, right?  Uncle Brith and Aunt Christine have plenty of big dogs to keep her entertained: a gorgeous bloodhound and two adorable basset hounds.  And Aunt Mary has an entertaining little pug.

Then there is Ranger.  The all-around favorite in my eyes.  And Caroline's, too, I think.  Man, this dog is a keeper.  What's not to love?

Ranger goes to his toy basket, picks out his favorite squeaky bone and brings it to her while she's sitting on the floor.  He sits and watches and waits.  She picks it up, chews on it (I know, I know...  Gross, right?), then proceeds to flip it around in her hands for five minutes trying to figure out how to let go of it.  Ranger will not take it from her even if it is just laying in her lap.  He just waits for the off chance that she actually throws it.  Then he runs, grabs it, and carries it the two feet back to her lap to start the process all over again.  Seriously.  If my video camera was working I'd record it.  It's amazing.

And by the way... Sutter, Charlotte, Izzy, Shadow?  No offense.  We love you, too.  Kisses.

Caroline holding the bone.

Waving it around... What a tease.  ;)

Trying to throw it.

Timberville Park

We love going to the river in Timberville.  It's shady, peaceful and full of fun things to see and do.

Yesterday, we explored the river and brought home about five or six tiny minnows to add to our collection in the goldfish bowl at home.  The kids have enjoyed finding countless crayfish and minnows and skipping about a million rocks.  Here are just a few quick snapshots:

Haley was here.