A special adventure

Papa John invited Jonah to join him and a friend, Dr. McVicker on a special boys outing to Urbana last week to visit a fishery and a private WWII plane museum.  Jonah was over the moon and according to Papa and "Superhero" (the name jonah called Dr. McVicker b/c he's heard us call him Superman due to all of his help with the event's of Dad's summer) he was the most well behaved 4 year old boy either of them had ever met.  I am so grateful for the opportunity for all of them to have shared the day together.

fluffy the alligator  -  I'd say any day that involves a live alligator is a good day for jonah

papa and jonah having some fun

Superhero McVicker feeding his hand to the fishies

                                     

what an incredibly clean and cool private collection of planes

Artists in the making

I promise I dress my children.  Just not on art days apparently.  ;-)

i broke out the wheel and we made a cup that turned into a dog bowl, that turned into a plate, that turned into a pile of smoosh and a huge mess.  they were in a muddy heaven, though.

I asked hannah to take off her new skirt so she wouldn't get paint all over it and assumed she would have underwear on, I was wrong

yeah sports!!

I've been longing to get j and h involved in sports and they are now at great ages to start introducing them to new things!  Yahoo! 

Jonah started soccer and LOVES it!  He woke me up at 6am the morning of his first soccer class with his new shin guards in one hand and his new black socks in the other saying, "mom, it's time to go to soccer."  He now refers to coach chad any chance he gets.  He'll say, "i have to eat all my crust cause coach chad said."  or "I better practise running so coach chad doesn't get me during sharks and minos."  Oh jonah...

Hannah started a "nastics" class and is certainly a natural at the at the crab walk, snake slither, jump, roll and the hands up "ta-da" at the end of everything.  She is fearless and all smiles while she's there.  I think by the end of this session she should be pretty confident with her double back hand spring, back round off, tuck.  or maybe we'll just settle for a somersault. 

look at that form...and boy is he fast!

someone's losing his shorts

she's so cute, I can't stand it some days

a little warm up before they start flipping

TAA DAAA!

balance work

labor day

Our Labor Day plans were changed thanks to the lake flies in Chautauqua this year.  But, it ended up being a blessing.  We took the long weekend to soak up the last days of summer as a family.  We went swimming at the pool, to hocking hills for a hike through the caverns, wrapped up some house projects, played with our neighbors, ate lots of meals out, rested and just really enjoyed our time together.  It was by far my favorite weekend of the summer!

i smell a christmas card

and we're off!

we picked up a pirate along the way

jonah was a little hesitant in the caves...where are the bears?

umm hmm...a self portrait

no joke, hannah started to get sleepy as we headed into our second hiking location but we kept going...and then, out like a light!

we were proud parents to have as much control as we did over hannah

First Day of School

Jonah had his second, first-day-of-school experience.  He's in the 4 year old, Blue room this year and loves it!  I remember like it was yesterday how the first day of school went last year.  I cried before I got him in the room, he clung to me crying and the director of the school sat on the floor with him in a big bear hug shooing me out.  It was terribly sad.  This year was a whole new ball game.  As I took pictures, he said, "can I go in now mom?  can I?  can i?"  he was so ready and excited.  With a quick kiss and an, "ok, mom...I love you." he was off and running.  I'm looking forward to all of the new things he'll be learning and exploring this year.

he's so grown up, ugh

someone's signature grumpy face

Abby and Jonah on the first of many first day of school pictures together

"I've been training...!"

We got the idea to give Jonah a shot at riding his bike yesterday with out training wheels and it was a total success!  He kept telling Doug "I've been training Dad, I've been training."  And he was right,  after about 4 or 5 runs, he was off and going.  Hannah was the most supportive younger sister.  She rode along side of him on her bike with lots of positive praise.  After Jonah's longest ride (to the stop sign and back) he jumped off his bike, raced to Hannah and gave her a huge hug.  Trust me, Doug and I both had to hold back the water works.  What a great way to end an awesome weekend together!  Thank you Lord for this wonderful family!

Celebrating 65 years!

The weekend before Dad's 65th birthday, the Szporns and Truemans made a trip home to spend time together.  After a roller coaster of a summer, we were just excited to be together celebrating life.  Dad continues to come to Columbus each week to work on his physical therapy and things are moving along, slow and steady but making new progress each time.

Papa John is all smiles

Papa and his beautiful care giver...and wife of 40 years this weekend!

Jonah, Hannah, Anna, Ellie and Benjamin

Happy Birthday!!
(please note my over-sized , homemade cholate cakes)

Aunt liz's one of a kind birthday gifts for Jonah
a coaches costume equipped with sunglasses, camera, binaculars, stop watch and of course a bottle of gatorade

anna preparing to pick green beans

someone had a case of the belly aches

bucket o beans

Summer

I've missed quite a few updates from our summer...here are some photos that capture some of the fun we've shared!
xo

hannah practicing her casting skills in the back yard

abby and hannah dancing at the powell music concert starring Miss. Annie (jonah's music teacher)

jonah loved to jump and dance, too

luke making a gum mustache

joe being silly

mary shaking her maracas

All the Trueman grandchildren celebrated the 4th together in worthington this year

jonah as a scary tiger

aunt robin and her posse

hannah working on being too cute

cousin ella striking a pose

handsome dougie poo

hannah swinging with elise

taking the new fighter plane for a test run

i was thinking about joining a local carnival as a face painter..

jonah as another tiger





the hares at ballantrae in dublin

hannah jane playing in the bunny fountains

what a pair of bathing beauties!