Dakota - Week 31 - The "S" 's

This week was all about the "S"'s - scootering, swinging, sliding, standing and smiling!

First came the scootering.  You may know that for a while now I have been strong enough and skilled enough to scooter to the park while Daddy pushed the girls in the stroller.  But this week marked Sierra's first scootering to the park.  She make it all of the way there and most of the way back - with just a short stroller ride to drink so water.  So watch out Daddy - your running days are coming quickly!

If a kid is going to go to the park - you know there has to be some Swinging!

A little sliding is always a good idea too!

And a milestone week like this - Dakota's 7 month birthday wouldn't be complete with out  a new skill - Standing!

So Happy Birthday! to my little sister - hope everyone is Smiling!

Dakota - Week 30 - Zoo Field Trip

This week Grandma and Daddy took Dakota, Sierra and I to the zoo while Mommy was traveling to India.  In honor of Momma, Daddy even brought the camera so Mommy could see a bit of what we saw.  The zoo was a lot of fun!

 Since this was the first time Sierra was able to "really" experience the zoo.  Momma was very curious to know what she seemed to like best.  Daddy and I both agreed - it was the peacock.  One even came pretty close to us!

 Hope you are enjoying the "wild things" that live by you!

Dakota Week 29 - First Days of School

This week was a big week for Sierra and I.  On Wednesday the 14th of Sept and Thursday the 15th of September Sierra and I started our school career!  Momma helped us to pack our backpacks.  Matchbox cars and books were the items of interest.

Then later in the morning Daddy took us to school.  Sierra's first day went really well.

 She didn't cry as Daddy and I went upstairs for the coffee hour.  I did cry a little though as we left her.  I love my little sister so much!  Her teacher said she was quiet and watched the other kids play from the spot she picked on the rug.  She made it through the entire class.

My first day of school was the next day!  I was both excited and scared.

 Like me the day before - Sierra and Dakota joined Daddy upstairs for the coffee hour.  The teacher came up and told Daddy I was doing a good job.  I didn't want to sit on the reading rug - but was listening from the table.  I stayed in class the entire time.  We went outside to the playground and I played with the toy trucks in the room.  When Daddy came back to pick me up - I wasn't ready to leave because I wanted to finish my lunch.

 After each day of school we celebrated.  Momma came and met us at Vito's for lunch - a very special treat.  She told us she was so very proud of us both.  She can't believe how quickly her little babies are growing up.

Dakota however - is looking forward to the playtime at home with Tazz and Daddy!

Dakota Week 28 - Labor Day Weekend with Ms. Mel, Lucas and Mira

What does 5 kids under the age of 5, 1 puppy, two Mommas and 1 Daddy going on a road trip spell - Disaster - Oh no - it was FUN, FUN, FUN.   This labor day weekend Momma and Daddy did a divide and play.  While Daddy headed out to the annual Bordlemay volley ball event at their house in Chambersburg, Momma, Sierra Dakota, Tazz and I hosted Momma's college friend Ms. Mel and her son Lucas and daughter Mira.  It was a blast!

 Nothing better than a tall wall for all the kids to climb on!

 Even Tazz had fun playing - Lucas was great a throwing the ball with the chuck-it

 I shared my one of my favorite games of "ghost" while we watched another hour of the scooby-doo marathon!

 Lucas had great fun!

 Ms. Mel - appreciated the chance to get catch a cat nap - while Scooby kept us entertained.

 Then it was time for the park - how my sisters love to swing!

 And we found a paper airplane that someone had made.  The amazing thing was that it was there TWO days in a row.  We had great fun flying it!

 Mira loved our park too!

 She helped me to make piles of acorns for the squirrels.

 Ms. Mel had a little snuggle baby time with Dakota.

 And Lucas, Sierra and I had great fun in the sandbox - each in our own little world.  Momma said it was the only "quiet" moment of the weekend.

 Mira convinced Ms. Mel to climb the slides with her - and Momma caught this shot of the smiling girls!

 Sierra started to teach Dakota how to do the "bumpy" slide while we were there.

 Dakota loved it!  She is getting to be such a big little sister.

 Mira liked our slides too.

 Sierra demonstrated the fun feature of the hang bar.  Our little monkey just LOVES to hang!

 Finally, Daddy came home.  We climbed right into his sleeping bag - so that he couldn't leave again!

 But then we realized Momma was going to take down the inflatable bed - so the 3 little monkeys had to get their last jumps in!

 Before they left on Sunday - Sierra started sharing her pool shark tricks with Mira.  World - watch out for these two!

Dakota Week 27 - Hurricane Irene & Toes

This week my family was very lucky to make it through Hurricane Irene with just a little water in the basement.  The winds were strong - but thankfully our house and electrical lines were stronger.  She did however have great fun playing with Lewis Brook just on the other size of the street from our house.  So much that the brook breached it banks and came to visit the house!  Daddy and Momma think it made it up to about 6 feet from the garage door at its height during the middle of the night.

 Daddy walked in to give us some perspective on just how deep the water was when Momma woke up at 7:30am.  Daddy said it was already lower than it had been.

 This is a picture of the other side of the bridge just by our house.  Normally this is all dry land to the right of the bridge.

 Sierra and I had great fun with the "river coming to play at our house".  Here she is just walking down the sidewalk.

 And since this was the ultimate puddle - we had to do some stomping!

 We hope you stayed safe when Irene came to visit you!

 On developmental news - Dakota has developed a new game.  Its called Puppy Toes.  It seems my littlest sister loves to try to catch Tazz by the toe.  But you all know that Tazz isn't really fond of her toes being touched.  But none the less, Dakota loves to play!  Surprisingly Tazz doesn't seem to mind too much.  I wonder if that will change when Dakota starts to crawl faster!

 Gotcha!

 Momma interrupts for a picture.

 Tazz says Thanks...

 Dakota says "I wasn't doing anything *wink*"