Ride 'em cowgirl!

Helena on her horse. She's in training for next year's Kentucky Derby!

Labor Day Weekend 2007 - Boston

The family headed to Boston for the long weekend. Helena got to spend lots of time with all of her cousins and especially enjoyed running around the park on the Charles River Saturday morning.




Helena with all of her cousins (Lily, Zach, Josh, Rebecca, Avi, and Kobe)




Helena and cousins with her daddy




Close up of Zach




Helena giving a big hug to Zach




It's rough being a kid - sometimes you need a Red Bull to make it through the day!




Helena enjoying her Elmo cupcake




Helena with Avi




Helena with her daddy




Helena scaling the fence to see her daddy




Helena going down the slide with Kobe




Helena crawling out of the playground tunnel




Helena walking with Kobe and Avi




Helena looking cool in her sunglasses

I love the Fun Bus!

To celebrate the end of the summer, Helena's daycare had an afternoon of family fun last Friday. Besides pony rides, cotton candy, and snow cones, the Fun Bus made a surprise appearance (the Fun Bus is all we heard about from Helena in Los Angeles every time we saw any bus). Mommy and Daddy were extremely excited to finally see what all the talk was about with the Fun Bus!




The Fun Bus - a gutted school bus with gymnastics mats and small gymnastics equipment inside




Helena and good friend Ella playing in the Fun Bus




Helena and Daddy having a snack

Helena and Friends

Helena's daycare provided us with photos they had taken of all of the kids during their summer activities. Enjoy!







Helena dressed up as a firefighter. I know her grandfather especially likes this picture!




Helena playing in the water well on a hot day



Helena and classmates sitting outside by the toy tree




Helena and her good friend Caitlan




Helena reading a book during story time




Helena and classmates sitting outside under the big umbrella with teacher, Miss Tina

We Love LA!

The family took a summer vacation to Los Angeles, the first time Sara and Helena had been there. It was also the first time Helena went to the West Coast (her longest plane flight) and that she had to deal with a three-hour time change (fun for us all). Though Helena was not discovered as the next child actress, she did get to meet Billy Bush from Access Hollywood while we were on an NBC studio tour (he did comment that she was rather cute).




Helena, Mommy, and monkey are all smiles as we get ready for the plane to take off for Los Angeles




Helena pooped out at 4:30 pm on our first day in Los Angeles while we walked around Venice Beach




Helena enjoying herself in the backseat of the car while Daddy is stuck driving in typical LA traffic!




The family in the Rose Bowl. Hope to see you again on January 1st with the Michigan Wolverines!




Sara and Helena with friends Michael and Kevin at the Los Angeles Farmer's Market




Helena getting her first haircut. Thank you Kevin!




Helena at Zuma Beach in Malibu




The family lounging at the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.




Helena on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to Tom Cruise's star




Family picture with Leah Adler (Steven Spielberg's mother). She owns a restaurant in downtown L.A. You wouldn't know in talking to her that her son is a well-known movie director!




Sara and Helena at NBC Studios, home of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Jay was on hiatus so we didn't get to see him)




Out for dinner celebrating Sara and Jeff's third wedding anniversary

Barbeque

Sara threw a barbeque for her employees at the hotel. The weather was the best all weekend, and all had a great time eating, playing games, and swimming in the pool.



Helena all ready to go to the barbeque




Helena chilling out by the pool




Helena and Daddy in the moon bounce




Helena trying out the moon bounce on her own




Helena enjoying her snow cone (though thankfully only for a couple of bites because it could have been a messy clean up)

Have a goodnight!

Helena has outgrown her crib, and she now has her own little bed to sleep in, which she is able to share with her doll Carol and her stuff monkey (instead of joining Mommy and Daddy in their bed)! Helena was especially happy that Mommy and Daddy bought her Sesame Street sheets that had Elmo on the comforter.