Video from New Zealand

A drive through the country


The whole family rides on the Roctopus.

Jane is in the baby carrier and John is filming from the 4th seat.

Jane Turns 1

Happy First Birthday Jane Hope!

Cake covered in plain greek yogurt and Goldfish crackers.

1 Year Finger Painting

Rachel and Genevieve join in. Click Rachel or Genevieve to see their one year finger painting.

Opening presents: a book and a teddy bear. Jane loves books and she loves to cuddle.

Presents from her loving sisters

Showing daddy her new books from the neighbors.

The Pool

These are from the YMCA water park. The girls love the shallow pool and all the fun slides.

Rachel and Jane

Genevieve waiting to get in the big pool.

Taking a break for a snack

Bog sister, Rachel, held Genevieve's hand all the way around the pool and up the stairs to help her reach the slides. Genevieve doesn't like all the falling water. Rachel also encouraged her down the slides.

At the bottom of the covered slide. This time Genevieve rode in front of Rachel. In the video Genevieve screams when the water starts pouring down. Rachel tried to talk her into getting in the slide together, but I think the water was Genevieve final motivator. She went down several more times on her own after this.

Beach 2011

We got to see our good friends Joanne, Mark and Sophia at the beach. All the girls liked the sand. Only Genevieve enjoyed going into the ocean. Jane and Sophie liked walking in the shallow water.

Jane walked the fastest I had ever seen. She would giggle when the waves washed over her feet.

Mark and Sophia took a break from their beach run.

John in the sand with his girls

Joanne and her sweet Sophia

Genevieve and Rachel loved playing in the sand.

John coming out of the water with Genevieve after they went out past the break.

Our family. (Genevieve is asleep in the stroller to the left.)

Mark, Joanne and Sophia

Yeah!

John read everyone and bedtime story.

Emily Visits

We were blessed with a visit from my niece, Emily for a whole week. She helped with the girls and with housework and still had plenty of energy for trips to the pool and a few kettle-bell classes. We enjoyed every minute with her!

Beautiful girl, Emily with her Auntie

Emily helped Genevieve stay afloat and provided a little rest for Rachel at the pool.

Jane, Emily, Genevieve and Rachel at the YMCA indoor pool

Before Kettle-bell

After!

Visit from Karrie

Karrie, Emily, Michael and Katie came for a visit in July. Wohoo! We got to have Karrie on her birthday. :0) I love my sister!

Deanna, Karrie and Jane

Jane and Katie

Rachel, Michael and Genevieve

Genevieve and Katie

And then, we kept Emily for the following week. (see next entry)

Jane!

Jane figured out how to stand on her own. That wasn't enough of a challenge, however. She wanted to stand on the sit-n-spin.

Playing on top of the little table. She pushed a small stool over to aid her ascent.

Jane loves cucumbers...only if they are whole.

Outside with Gyama

Ginsy came for a long visit in July. This is just one of the many fun days we enjoyed with her.