The Difference a Day Makes

I was a little shocked, at FIRST today, when I realized that my definition of a "trim" and the stylist's that cut Joel's hair, definition of a "trim", were a bit different. But, it's already grown on me and I think I like Joel's new hair :) I should have taken a picture of the back, because all his curls are GONE!

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Friday morning update: Dad saw the haircut for the first time this morning and didn't like it... looks like we'll be growing those curls back soon :)

Everything...

is....

more fun...

TOGETHER!!

Pictures Online

Grant's one year photos can be viewed online at www.hjsphotogallery.com. Go to "Client Proofing" and enter "Grant" as password. They are reasonably good, considering he was not exactly thrilled about cracking a smile with a stranger in the room and he did not sit still for more than a few seconds at a time.

Summer Vacation Round 2

We managed to wrap-up our SECOND, week-long vacation, in a month's time, and here are the pictures to prove it. I had trouble narrowing down the pictures, so there are LOTS in thse slideshow.

If there has been any notable weeks of weather this summer, they would probably be during our first vacation (sunny and 90 every day), and this last one (rainy and in the 50's for the majority of the week). Oh well, we made the best of it and the kids don't even notice the weather... they just want to be outside all day, regardless :)

Some of the pictures are not the best quality. That is due to my the small picture size, because my sister-in-law sent them over email to me and that reduced the quality.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Favorite Pic

I had to post this picture my sister-in-law, Terri took at the 4th of July parade, simply because it's a great picture, for many reasons. Joel's cute little face, and curls poking out his hat and great use of aperature (creating the blurred background (I learned lots about aperature last week from Terri)). AND, the picture is also great because Joel was terrified, in a big way, of the exact type of big trucks you see in the background of this picture.

The 4th Weekend

All in all, we had a nice, long, holiday weekend. We got to spend some much-needed quality time at home, BBQing and hanging out in our own back yard and eating in our new porch, but also didn't miss out on the traditional 4th of July at the Spicer parade with the Benson's and Grandma and Grandpa Benson's farm afterward. We were missing Mitchell, as he spent the weekend with his mom and relies in WI.



Mmmm....

Double Mmmm....

No, I most certainly did not let Grant run around naked in the back yard... as usual, he escaped during a clothing change.


Joel pitching the ball to daddy... I love this, because nobody had actually taught him to throw like this (lifting leg, etc)... just must watch Mitchell, and baseball on TV with dad, I guess :)


Jeff, demonstrating how to run through the sprinkler (it took Joel quite awhile to get brave enough to do it.



Grant would always run up REALLY close to the sprinkler and then realize he had gotten way too close, after the fact. Funny, the difference between 1 year olds and 2 year olds... (or maybe just the difference between Joel and Grant, I'm not sure). Joel's approach is think carefully first, then act, while Grant's approach is act first, then think. Funny.


Joel, still contemplating a run through the sprinkler (note, dry hair)


Saturday morning at the Spicer parade. The parade did not start well for Joel... MULTIPLE fire trucks and rescue vehicles all with sirens going and horns honking. Joel just kept saying "go away, go away". He was pretty scared whenever he saw a big truck, for the rest of the parade, but was brave enough to collect candy and watch the rest of the parade, which I was thankful for.



Eventually, Joel and Aunt Dar got a little routine going... whenever a siren or loud horn was coming, he would go to Dar's lap and she would cover his ears until the noise passed.


The only routine this little guy had going, was his mission to bolt across the street as fast as his little legs could go. Jeff and I took turns running out to get him and hauling him back. He never gave up though. I was glad it was a pretty short parade :)


Cousins Jayna and Lincoln watching the parade with us.

Eating back at Grandmas.

I really didn't get many good pictures this day. In hindsight, I missed out on pictures of the animals at the farm, Grandma and Grandpa Benson, etc... but maybe next year, when Grant hopefully isn't about to be in grave danger at any moment, by running in the street, rolling off a curb, running out to meet the dogs and horses in the parade, running out to see the horses at the farm, etc.... maybe then I will get some better pictures :)

"Scrunchie" Face

Today, for fun, Grant started scrunching up his face and making a loud breathing/snorty sound. It has been cracking us up, and he thinks it's even funnier if you do it back at him. Thankfully, there are no pictures of me doing it back to him, since he is way cuter when he does it :)

(click on the picture to see it bigger)