my boots

these are my john deere boots.

they are still too big but i asked momma to let me try them on the other night. i'm so stylin'. momma and daddy can't wait for me to wear them.

baby belly

i'm a little behind on posting, we've had a lot going on the past few weeks so i'll have several new photos and videos to post when i get around to it.

this morning marianne was doing a little playing while we were getting ready for work and school (daycare). i only got as far as putting her pants on before i got sidetracked with getting myself ready. i snapped this photo with my phone so it's not the best but i just love how it highlights her little belly.

she's not crawling yet but she seems determined. she's not very interested in sitting up but we've been trying to work on it with her. she'll sit up unaided for a few seconds and then topple over but she doesn't face-plant, she has enough control to lay her head down gently.

we had a very low-key labor day weekend...cleaning house, yard work, errands! loads of fun. ha. we did have an nfl fantasy league draft on monday. marianne (and momma) has her first fantasy team. momma didn't really know what she was doing but marianne hollered when she wanted a player for momma to bid on and draft. i think we ended up with a pretty good team. everyone at the draft kept saying how "marge pearl" (that's our team name) has one of the best-looking lineups. we'll see...game one tonight!

summer fun

sunday was ablaze so we took marianne up to the fountains in stapleton to try out her swimsuit and cool her off. all summer long there are always kids playing in the water...it's such a great little fountain and I couldn't wait to dip her in.

she was super pumped: swimsuit - check; smile - check...

unfortunately, by the time jer got home from the office and we walked up there, the sun was going down and it wasn't so hot out anymore and the water was COLD!!! brrrrrrrr

our water play was short-lived.

george is wishing he could get loose of the tree and join all of the kids in the fountain. he'd have that place cleared out in a heartbeat.

dry, warm and ready for some milk.

"i'm lookin' for milk. do you have any milk?"

then momma, daddy and george had ice cream but all marianne got was to lick the clean spoon.

gettin' air

she's small but strong and learning, trying and doing everyday! it is awesome to be witness to her discoveries within her own strength and mobility but another part of me kind of wants to hold her down -- what's her hurry anyway?

growing growing

testing out my jumperoo:

i'm so cute in this hat:

i guess i'll humor mom with a few smiles for the camera:

grandpa allen

grandpa allen was one of the most amazing people I have known in my life. he welcomed me (and my family) into his family with open, loving arms. he made himself as much my grandpa as he had always been to jerry. he embraced life with vigor and zeal...and even at 97 he could still sweet-talk the ladies.

grandpa passed from this life on the morning of 7 aug 2009 - a friday - at 97 years old and just eight days shy of his 78th wedding anniversary.

a few photos of grandpa allen and many from our long weekend in moundville honoring his life and the many lives he touched along the way: