Akron Zoo

I decided it would be a good idea to take Ethan, Sophia and Mallory to the zoo a couple weeks ago.  It actually turned out really well.  They were all very well behaved and except for the three of them all needing to go to the bathroom at the same time, there were no major mishaps.  I love the Akron zoo because it is smaller and the kids can see the animals so much easier.  It also has a lot of other things geared toward little kids.  We rode the merry go round, the choo choo train and played on a couple of playgrounds. 

Ethan and Sophia loving the flamingos



Adorable



Kids Only

Sophie was too short so Ethan tried to help her...didn't really works so well but it was a nice effort

On the train...Mallory had fun too

Learning how to milk a cow

Such a girlie girl

Little penguins

Nicki's Wedding

Congratulations to Nicki and Ken!  Their wedding was beautiful.  Sophia was the flower girl and did an excellent job.  Kevin was a bit pageant-mom and followed her down the entire aisle with a video camera. 

The most beautiful flower girl

Practicing before the wedding.  It was a bit hard explaing to Ethan why only Sophie got to walk down the aisle.

Baby Jack slept through the entire ceremony.  It was quite hot...poor thing was sweating in my arms.

Kevin chasing Sophie while she runs away from him

The happy couple

The wedding was Dutch themed of course 

Pretty girls

Sisters :-)

Love this picture...Grandpa made it later than most everyone.  I was very impressed!

Nicki looked stunning

Daddy and his little girl

Say cheese!

Best Friends

He is getting to be such a big boy...makes me teary

Ethan danced and danced....

and danced....

and danced.  ALL NIGHT.  I was exhausted.

Family Photos

Poetic Portraiture did our family pictures along with Mallory's one year pictures.  Here are a few of my favorites....

Jackson Kenneth

Jackson Kenneth made is arrival into this world on July 28th.  I almost missed it, he came so fast.  Shannon didn't even have time for the epidural to kick in.  She did awesome and only pushed from 5:41 until 5:43.  I will never forget that statistic.  I just kept thinking, she pushed for as many minutes as I did hours :-)  He is absolutely perfect and quite the peanut at 6 1/2 pounds.  Everyone is doing great.  His big sister and cousins just adore him.  Well, truth be told, Mallory is started to get a bit jealous when he is in Grandma's arms.   But she still loves him deep down. 

Mallory's Birthday Party

Thanks to everyone who came to Mallory's birthday party!  Everything turned out really well and she had lots of fun.  Extra thanks to Uncle Kevin who kept all the other little kids entertained.  I actually got to sit down and enjoy myself for a little bit.  Mallory loved her first taste of cake!  Joe has said no more Sunday parties though...we were all exhausted!