Father's Day Weekend

As opposed to June 2009, this year June weekends have been generally sunny and rain free, which has allowed for many outdoor activities. Saturday was a busy day as we started by going to the pool before Helena had to attend a friend's birthday party. Saturday night we had a barbecue dinner at Auntie Amanda and Uncle Blair's to celebrate Father's Day. And of course, Sunday was Father's Day, which included breakfast out at the diner, an afternoon at the pool, and dinner out with Grandma and Grandpa. Too bad some of us have to go to work on Monday!




On the car ride to her friend's birthday party, Helena snuck in a little nap after a long day at the pool.




Helena and her friends at the birthday party




Happy Father's Day!!!

It's fun to go to the Y-M-C-A!

Last Friday marked the kids' last day at their current day care as tomorrow they prepare to start attending the local YMCA. The change is partly necessitated by the fact that Helena will be starting kindergarten at the public school in the fall. For Helena, it is the end of attending somewhere she has been going for over 4 1/2 years (and since she was only 3 months old). There were many tears shed (and none of them came from Helena or Jonathan), but we are all excited about the transition and experiences to be had in the coming months and years at the YMCA.





Helena and Jonathan posing at the entrance sign for their daycare




Posing with Miss Pam, the teacher they both had when they started




Jonathan with his favorite person, Miss Shalili (who worked in the kitchen at the daycare and brought him breakfast every morning; if you notice the clock in the background, it is only a little after 7 a.m.)




Helena's class held an outdoor party in the afternoon to celebrate the end of the school year




Helena posing with her friends

Summer buzz!

We have been trying desperately to get Jonathan a haircut because his hair had been getting a little wild (especially in the back). He refused to sit (or be held) nicely so that he could get a decent cut. Finally, it has been done!




The new Do




Helena and Jonathan




Helena showing off her dress




Jeff got a summer haircut, too!

Congratulations - Helena graduated preschool!

This past Friday Helena graduated from pre-school. In the fall, she will be off to kindergarten in our town.













The procession in




Sitting with the other graduates




Singing (I believe "It's a Small World")




Getting her diploma




The Graduate




Helena posing with Mommy and Daddy




Helena with her teacher, Ms. Shamsun





Helena with Ella and Alexa - friends since Day 1 since they started daycare together four years ago




Helena posing with Sophia and Emily




Helena with the boys - Patrick and Jackson




Of course there was a cake



Of course Helena had to have a slice...to celebrate!

Memorial Day Weekend

After our return from our vacation last week, we were thankful to have the long weekend before heading back to reality. Sara and Helena went strawberry picking on Sunday. Later that night, Sara and Jonathan (joined by their parents) went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a barbecue dinner.




Usually afraid to go near live animals, Helena got fairly close to these horses at the strawberry fields










Helena taking Jonathan for a ride




Courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa, Jonathan has his outfit picked out for the cruise in August!

Swimming at the hotel

Given the heat, we spent a lot of time each afternoon after a long day at the parks going to the resort's pool. The following are some random shots of the swimming pool, our hotel, and the remainder of our weeklong trip. We had such a great time, we are certain to be going back again.






Helena posing in the kitchen




Helena showing off the master bedroom jacuzzi




Jonathan eating breakfast




Helena on the balcony



A shot of the main pool at the resort complex




Jonathan is ready to go swimming




Jeff with the kids in the pool




Jonathan and Jeff practicing for some type of team competition in the pool




Helena drying off after her swim




Jonathan's wet head look




Helena posing at Downtown Disney







Showing off our new Disney shirts




Everybody asleep on the plane ride home




Jonathan woke up in time to have a snack before the plane landed

Epcot

Day 5 we headed to Epcot. The day started off very early because we arranged to attend the Princess Breakfast at Norway in Epcot's international section. Jonathan was not too fond of all of the princesses, but we weren't really there for him. Helena enjoyed meeting each and every one of them...and Jeff enjoyed the buffet breakfast (he tried every last danish...and the breakfast potatoes were amazing). After exploring some of the rides in Futureland, including Helena going for a ride with Jeff on the GM Test Track, lunch was at Mexico's San Angel Inn. Dinner was at an Irish pub in Downtown Disney before we went shopping to get some gifts to remember our vacation.




Family picture at the entrance to Epcot




Helena waiting to go to the Princess breakfast




Yeah baby!




Family picture with Belle




Helena with Sleeping Beauty




Helena with Cinderella




Helena with Snow White





Helena with Arielle




Posing in front of the Finding Nemo ride




Helena waiting to ride the Test Track




Helena locked in for the Test Track




"I once drank a Coke this big!"




Helena banging the drum in the Chinese gift shop




Jonathan taking a nap




Helena volunteered to be an honary captain on the boat that travels across Epcot's lake; she was rewarded with a captain's license and a sticker.







Photo of Sara and Jeff taken by Helena




"I've got the whole world in my hand..."