Anna and I on the top of Mount Washington, or as Jon has renamed it: Mount Puke-ing-ton
We caved and bought some hats at the gift shop at the summit. Partially because our ears were freezing because we were up in the clouds, and partially because Anna was just so darn cute in hers! See her modeling it below? Awww!
Anna, 5 years old, found the drive up the mountain and the weather to be exhilarating. Jon? Not so much. I tried to pretend to feel like Anna, but I was really feeling more like Jonathan. But it was a very neat experience, and I am glad we had it! It was an awesome view and a fun adventure!
Anna, Uncle Cory, and Jonathan. Jonathan was wearing Daddy's shirt that we had bought at the gift shop... He was not so pleased with this.
Baby Abe, 1 year old! On the porch at his house. He was the best part of New Hampshire!
After he got home from school, Abe liked to forage in the garden for a snack.
As you can see here, Abe enjoys his meals.
Mia (German Shepherd puppy), Jon, Uncle Cory, Abe (in stroller) and Anna out on a walk
Aunt Erin with Mia and Jon
Abe out in the garden
Jonathan and his Mama (me) after our swim/picnic at the lake (okay, I never got in because that water was COLD!)
Anna doing her thing and rocking out to the music they were playing at the lake... She is so funny. According to her, it doesn't matter what kind of rock music it is, as long as it is LOUD!
Anna said, Get a picture of me being like the Little Mermaid on these rocks! (As if I need any encouragement to take MORE pics!)
Uncle Dave, Abe, Jonathan and Anna. Cousins! Jonathan, 7, Anna, 5, and Abe, 1. Seeing Anna and Abe together brought back lots of memories of Jonathan and Justine together... Anna loved spending time with Abe. She took lots of pictures and video of him, and at one point proclaimed, He is just so cute I want to put him in my suitcase and take him home with me!
Aunt Jamie, Abe and Jon.
Uncle Cory had fireworks! Yay! The kids had not had any fireworks or sparklers this year so they had lots of fun with this.
Anna, Jonathan and me. I love my babies. They are going to start 2nd grade and the big K in a few weeks! I would say, where does the time go, but Jonathan looks so tall in that picture? I can totally see him as a third grader! And Anna has been ready to go to Kindergarten since um, like, DECEMBER! When she turned, FIVE! DUH! SERIOUSLY! (her words, not mine!)
Front porches are just fun! The end!
Jonathan made a great new friend! They had so much fun together!
Baby Abe with his mama, Erin, by the lake.
Jonathan, talking about something funny. Cory, Abe and Anna in the background.
Is Jon 7... or 17 here????
Abe giving his cousin Anna the staredown... maye thinking, is she going to eat ALL those chips? Is she going to SHARE whatever is in that green bottle? Hmmm...
Okay. Above, you see a posed picture. Below, you see an unprompted one. See the difference? Anna and Jon used Grandma Jane's hammock for everything except for its original intended purpose: relaxation. If anyone else tried to relax in it, they quickly switched into anti-relax mode and either climbed into swing and started jamming their bony appendages everywhere, or they started pushing the hammock like it was an amusement park ride meant to catapult the rider out. There is a large stone in the ground under the hammock and I think maybe there was an angel on assignment at Grandma Jane's hammock the week we were there. I don't know how everyone stayed unhurt and the hammock stayed intact. It was fun. :) And I love all the many pictures I snapped of them acting like siblings do... Taking off their shoes and beating each other; Trying to bite toes; Pinching ears; Screaming "Push me push me! Okay stop stop it! No, no, come back! Okay, again!"
The Dooligans 4: Dave, Jamie, Jonathan and Anna Good times and crazy days for our family. Our kids keep us laughing, our marriage keeps us sane, and our love for each other and God keeps us going and growing. The Dooligans 4: Mostly happy, sometimes stressed, always blessed.
Some Stuff That Smart People Said
"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." --Helen Keller
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." -- C.S. Lewis
"Character, not circumstance, makes the person." --Booker T. Washington
"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home."--Confucious
"A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary."--Dorothy Fisher
First there were two...
Dave and Jamie
And then there was one more...
Jonathan
Along came another...
Anna
And then there were FOUR!
The Dooligans 4
If you're going to forgive somebody, why wait?-- Marie T. Freeman
The nicest thing we can do for our heavenly Father is to be kind to one of His children. --St. Teresa of Avila
Forget the faults of others by remembering your own. --John Bunyan
God gives us always strength enough, and sense enough, for everything He wants us to do. -- John Ruskin
No one heals himself by wounding another. --St. Ambrose
It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor. --Martin Luther
No matter what, don't ever let yesterday use up too much of today. --Barbara Johnson
Our sins are nothing but a grain of sand alongside the great mountain of the mercy of God. -- St. John Vianney
Two works of mercy set a man free: forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive. --St. Augustine
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
Wants to be an electrical engineer when he grows up. Favorite color: Green. Favorite animal: Dog. Favorite food: Dumplings. Favorite book: Big Nate; Diary of Wimpy Kid
Anna
Wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Favorite color: Aqua. Favorite animal: Cat. Favorite food: Pasta salad and dumplings. Favorite books: Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones chapter books
Jonathan and Anna
Summer 2009
Jonathan and Anna
I told them to act like they liked each other, and this is what they did!
One Year Later
Jonathan and Anna 2009
Two Years Later
Jonathan & Anna, April 2010
David and Jamie
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.Martin Luther King, Jr.