My Cute Shadow

Allison: "Mommy, I want to just be wherever you are all the time: every day, every night, every everything. OK, Mommy?"

What Chapter Are You On?

David can't wait until he can read. For now, he picks up a chapter book, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or a Ramona or Harry Potter book, puts his finger in a page in the middle, and carries it over to one of us, saying triumphantly, "I'm on Chapter 3, Mommy!" He will then come back 10 seconds later, with his finger in the same page, saying, "I'm on Chapter 4, Mommy!"

With the Harry Potter books in particular, because he has seen Charlie and me reading them frequently, he recognizes them from the cover. He'll pick one up, climb on the couch with the book open on his lap (sometimes upside down) and say, "I'm reading Harry Potter, Mommy! See?"

Just before the new one came out, I was reading one of the older ones to refresh my memory. He was sitting on the opposite couch playing with a toy phone. He said to me, "Mommy, can I read Harry Potter?"

"Yes," I answered, without looking up. It didn't seem worthwhile to explain that they were not for children his age. But he figured it out.

"When I'm bigger?"

"Yes, when you're bigger."

More Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach Vacation

Charlie and Sarah had an excellent vacation in Myrtle Beach with Gran Gran and Granddaddy Lane. The rest of us joined them later. They had a wonderful time, especially playing at the beach.




They got to meet two of their three new cousins: Amelia Grace and JuliAnna. We still look forward to meeting baby Sam in a future visit.

Jay, Jennifer, and JuliAnna

the Mackeys meet JuliAnna
[picture coming: Allison Grace and Amelia Grace]

Thank you, Alexander!

Bryant and the children called me from Myrtle Beach today. After catching up with Sarah on important matters, such as what names she has picked out for her future children (they are Annie [as in Little Orphan], Emily [what we would have named Charlie if he were a girl], Sean [one of our two final boy names for Sarah] and Elliott [no idea]), she said, "I'm so glad the telephone was invented, because then you can talk to people who are far away!"

Baseball Camp

David heard that Charlie was recently at Uncle John's baseball camp, and he thought that was the best thing he ever heard of. He woke up from a nap one day saying, "I'm going to baseball camp!" "Mommy, can I go to baseball camp?" "Isn't that a great idea?" "When I'm bigger can I go to baseball camp?" "I'm going to baseball camp!" Eventually I told him, "OK, but I think you have to be six." He said very earnestly and emphatically, "No, I have to be five!" He's mentioned it easily 30 times a day for the past two weeks. He seems to think it is a new way to say good morning, because the first thing he says when he wakes up in the morning or from a nap is, "I'm going to baseball camp."

I wonder if they have baseball camps for two-year-olds?!

How'd I Get In There, Anyway?

I often play with the children by pretending to gobble them up. They get a kick out of it, especially the younger two. I will say to David or Allison, "Can I have a bite of your elbow?" and they will giggle and present their arms to me. Then I pretend to chomp on their arms and tickle and kiss them.

We were in the car recently, and Allison was apparently thinking about this. Out of the blue she said, "Mommy, when I was in your tummy, did you eat me for real that time?"

Class of '86 Second Generation Party

Thanks to Kim and Scott for hosting a wonderful get-together of our high school friends and their families. Here are a few pictures from the afternoon. Our hosts seem to have been working so hard I didn't get any pictures of them!

Party for the Newlyweds

Granny and Grandpa had a party to celebrate Rob and Ally's wedding.
It was so much fun!

More Mackeys Come to Boston

David, Allison and I joined Charlie and Sarah in Boston for a long weekend.
We had a lot of fun! Here we are playing at the pool at Granny and Grandpa's club.

Charlie and Sarah Visit Boston

Charlie and Sarah had a great visit in Boston! They ran in the Fourth of July races that Grandpa organized. Charlie went to baseball camp run by Uncle John. Sarah went shopping and for manicures with Granny. They had a slumber party with Auntie. They hung out with Sydney and Jack and the Hanlons. They went to Aunt Cathy's pool with Uncle Ray and Auntie Sister. They went to the Perchards' annual Fourth of July party at the beach. Here are a few pictures from their adventures.

On the plane with Auntie and Sydney:

Having a slumber party at Auntie's:
July Fourth Races: See Grandpa with the megaphone, and Auntie helping Jack Hanlon start the two-and-under heat:

Charlie and Sarah in the brother/sister race on July Fourth:
Sitting atop the Coke Bar which they redecorated with Auntie:

17 Stitches

On the Sunday before the Fourth of July, Allison tired of jumping off the diving board and decided to see what it would be like to jump off the pool wall facing backwards. Needless to say, it did not work out as planned.

She was a real trooper throughout the whole process, and after the initial dismay of learning that we had to leave the pool to see a doctor, she didn't shed a tear. In fact, she was thrilled when the ER doctor gave her a popsicle.

A few hours and 17 stitches later, on the way home from the Emergency Room, I called my mother. After I hung up, Allison and I chatted in the car.

Me: I just wanted to tell Granny you're all right.
A: All right from what?
Me: From your boo boo!
A: What boo boo?

Later, I was asking Allison about the jumping backwards. She said, "We're all done with that!"

Allison Visits Myrtle Beach

Allison had a wonderful vacation with Gran-Gran and Granddaddy Lane in Myrtle Beach!

She came home laden with new clothes and raving about the ocean, the museum, and fun times!!

For some adorable pictures by Granddaddy Lane, see the link below:

http://www.lanesmith.com/Junallison/index.html