Kevin and Alison

I should really call this post "Hair Trim"....because we didn't really do a whole cut.... Chloe was in need of a hair cut for a little while - look at this messy head of hair: She hardly went a day without a clip in her hair, my effort to keep it from being in her eyes. Last night, we trimmed some bangs and the back.....check out dad's grip on her head (but it kept her still!) and...she hated it: even though this picture is blurry, it shows that she's come around to liking her new hair-do: We think she looks pretty cute!

We had a great weekend together, just hanging out as a family. Friday we went to a local park/trail and enjoyed the waterfall at the end. You can see how well the stroller worked....Look at Kevin and Chloe walking back: Saturday Kevin and I saw Avatar in 3D (very good!) while Chloe spent some time at Grandpa and Grandma B.'s ....where she had fun pushing, not riding in, the wagon :) Chloe and I watched Kevin cut the grass tonight (still one of her favorite activities) and afterward, Kevin and I had fun watching Chloe walk around in the yard. She really is enjoying being able to get wherever she pleases! She took some time to pick some flowers (with Mom's help...she was just pulling the petals off) And then happily walked around our yard for a good 15 minutes or so. I think we ended up with some good pictures: g

I know that she's not exactly 12 months, she's a little bit older, but I just got her "stats" at the doctors this week, so that's why the post has waited.... Chloe Grace is now 18 pounds, 14 ounces and 29 1/2 inches long. The week after her birthday, she learned how to stand up on her own (not pulling up on anything) and since then all she wants to do is walk around. It's fun to watch her going from room to room, stopping to pick something up, or "arrange" things in her own little way. She isn't saying any real words, but 'talks' to herself or to me all day long. She still dances to all types of music ~ and now she can play her piano or guitar to make her own music! She loves to carry her babies, or bring them to me to hold, but we need to work on being gentle with them - she usually slams them to the ground! She isn't a picky eater....although if she could live on bread and cheese alone she probably would. She drinks 'regula...

At the beginning of August, we went on a camping trip with my immediate family. We had great campsites, right next to each other, and had fabulous weather. Chloe had a great time hanging out with her Aunt Laura, Uncle Bill, and Aunt Michelle: She also loved my dad's cell phone ringtone: Who says you can't eat great food while you're camping? Check out our dinner feast on Saturday night....Corn on the cob, cheeseburgers, grilled pineapple: Chloe had her first taste of the "beach" when we went to the lake one day. It was the first time she was in the sand, and I think she really liked it! When looking back at the camping pictures, I realized that Chloe wore a lot of hats on this trip: We got back from a Cousins Camping Trip on Sunday night. (Almost) All my cousins got together for the weekend and we had a great time. Another camping trip with good campsites and this time we just had okay weather. It rained Saturday night so everything was a bit soggy on Sunday ...

Someone must be missing you..... Or she can't figure out why you're in a cap and gown ;)

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Martin! :) We attended Natalie and Dallas' wedding on Saturday and had a lovely time. We know both the bride and groom from college....and just happen to be great friends with the bride's parents as well (Hi Bill and Doreen!). Here is the new couple - Natalie looked beautiful, and Dallas looked pretty good too ;) Here I am with the bride - check out her BLUE shoes! No wedding is complete without a little dancing and singing....particularly to Livin on a Prayer....Steve, Jeff, and Kevin sang at the top of their lungs and performed an air guitar solo: even the bride joined in: We had a great time! I'm thinking of the honeymooners.....kind of wishing I was on a tropical island somewhere too! :)

We had a party for Chloe on her actual birthday....here are some pictures: We had dinner, dessert, and opened presents outside: Singing Happy Birthday Chloe sat with the gift giver as I "helped" her open her gifts. A guitar! with Mommom R. Chloe received cute clothes - exactly what she needed for this fall/winter!! from: Mommom B. Great Aunt Nancy Cousin Mike Cousin/Auntie Erin She got a Veggie Tales DVD and CD ....and....a Vera Bradley purse (!!!) from: Aunt Michelle Grandpa and Grandma S. brought a whole bag full of gifts, including this piano! Grandma S. Grandpa and Grandma B. got Chloe a camping chair! Grandpa B. Mimi and Poppop gave this chair&cradle to Chloe ~ Poppop made it! She already knows how to climb down and rock her babies! Of course, the adults had to join in on some of Chloe's fun....Here are the grandpas in "Battle Bubble Machine" :) After a much needed bath and a quick style job from Aunt Michelle, this birthday girl was ready for bed! ~~~...