Camp Reunion/The 4th 09

First let me say... Happy Birthday to Tristan and Tyler who turned 1 on the 4th of July. Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you!

No 4th of July celebration would be complete without a little cornhole.
Heidi and AJ sporting their red, white and blue with their BIG, cheesy smiles!

AJ enjoying the parade on Papaw's shoulders.

Heidi doing the same on her Daddy's.

And of course, Brian being the ever-present councialman.

AJ and I finally snuck our way up to the curb to try and snag some candy. We managed a couple of tootsie rolls and a sucker!

Camp Bountiful Reunion 2009

Since mom wasn't able to walk around much, Dad bummed the golf-cart from work so she could tote herself around all week. It also entertained AJ quite well. Everytime he heard it start up he would drop everything and beeline towards it. Mom and AJ would take their daily nature "walks" all around the campgrounds collecting variours leaves, flowers, rocks, branches, etc. Here he is entertaining himself during one of the services with his bubbles.

He's starting to get really good at them too!

AJ also had his first taste of live guitar music, which absolutely fascinated him. He always asked to dance, which meant that he wanted more guitar music to dance to. Here he is learning how to strum it.

AJ's sleeping arrangement for the week.

AJ was just old enough this year to participate in some of the class/kids activities. Here they are singing a song with puppets. He LOVED being on stage with all of the kids and the video below will show you how into it he got!

Another source of service entertainment... playdough jewelry (earrings, bracelets and rings/brass knuckles) compliments of Grandma and Mom.

AJ pretending to drive... go figure.

AJ in his class enjoying cupcakes. He was the youngest one in there, which translate to I had to speak with him on several occasions about pushing. Honestly, I think he was just trying to hold his own.

Class picture in AJ's first camp-made t-shirt (handprints of course).

AJ also weasled a tractor ride out of the camp manager before we left. OMG... he was in little boy heaven. There's video of him riding on it with Grandpa.

Okay, so this was at KFC on the way home, but too cute to pass up. And I don't have too many pictures of AJ with his Grandpa Joe!

Video 1) AJ dancing to the guitar. I hope he never cares that he's the only one!

Video 2) Singing with the puppets.

Video 3) All the kids singing "A Tooty-Tot" (a well known song in the early ed. field). They only practiced this once before singing on stage, but AJ caught right on and still talks about it!

Video 4) Riding on the tractor.

Ring Bearer

One of my best friends from high school (one of the fabulous PINKS... the one, the only, Jessica Wolfe) got married today, and our little man was the ring bearer. Here he is looking ADORABLE while getting ready. Me and my handsome little stud (with a mouth full of fruit snacks of course)!

So with AJ being 2, he absolutely would not pose with any of the bridal party for any of the formal pictures. It was hard enough getting a few of my own.

"I make this look good!"

Me and the beautiful bride. Congratulations again Jessie (and Dave)! We love you!!!

Trying to bribe AJ into a picture with the bride by having him sit on the "bouncy" piano bench. Notice he wasn't there long enough to get the bride in the shot.

AH... finally another member of the bridal party! Natalie is another PINK'S daughter who actually goes to the same babysitter as AJ. He followed her everywhere and she is the reason he walked down the aisle.

This is as close as AJ got to being in a formal shot. Notice that it's with the girls and not the guys. He loves his girls!

Here comes the bride...

One of our better family photos (AJ being still and looking in the right direction).

I know its sad, but this is the ONLY photo I have of the bride AND groom. We really do love you too Dave!

The PINKS... Michelle, Amanda, Jessica, Megan and Lisa. For those of you wondering, we called our group of friends "The Pink Ladies" in high school. Yes, like in the movie "Grease."

Okay, so AJ absolutely TORE it up on the dance floor. When he wasn't "dancing," he was running around the dance floor or chasing all of the little girls. Here he is showing off his moves! LOVE IT!

Video 1) Walking down the aisle. AJ made it halfway and then turned around to head back towards me. Luckily I was walking down the far aisle along the wall, got his attention, and pointed him back in the right direction without too much of a scene. Everyone loved it though of course, and the fact that he had to carry his "b" (blankie) along with the ring pillow.

Video 2) AJ dancing... just watch!

West Palm Beach '09

We headed down to West Palm beach again this year for our annual Sauer vacation. AJ did great in the car (portable DVD players are a lifesaver), and found new ways to entertain himself as seen below. He advanced to grapes on the way home. We did however, have one nasty puking incident. Still love watching him sleep... He only made it one night on the cool "Cars" air mattress since I found him curled up on the hard floor in the middle of the night. After that, we removed the mattress on the hide-a-bed and put it on the floor for him to have a larger space to sleep (he moves like a wild man in his sleep).

AJ being brave and adventurous in the ocean. He actually got tossed a couple of times in the small waves. He loved it at the time, but didn't want anything to do with it when we took him back later in the week.

Hangin' out in the ocean with Daddy and Papaw.

AJ LOVED being able to swin around in the big pool by himself (thanks to the life vest). He's very good about keeping his head up when he rolls over, and loves to swing his body and arms around to splash people.

AJ now tells you when he wants you to do something, so Papaw had no choice but to sit on the teeter-toter with him and Daddy.

One lucky kid!

AJ showing Daddy how to play shuffle board. His way is the right way of course!

On Wednesday we took a side trip to Lion County Safari where you drive around like they do in Jurassic Park to see different wild animals. Most of them are free to wander. The ostriches came the closest to our car, and we had to wait once for one to cross the road.

Wish I had the brochure to tell you the name of these animals. Elephants (could not get to your car).Again, don't remember the name.

The best area was where the zebras and rhinos were. Zebras not too much of a concern, but a little suprised that the rhinos were free to come up to your car as well (although they do tell you to keep your car moving at all times when approaching the rhinos).

After the drive -thru safari we went into the park to see more animals and have some fun. Here's AJ and I at the photo-op station.

AJ on the little kiddie train. He had to ride it by himself, since the rest of us were older than 12. He LOVED riding the "choo-choo."

AJ having more fun at the water play area. Of course, five minutes after I got him in his suit a thunder storm began, which ended promptly by the time we had changed him again. Oh well, it gave him a chance to cool off.

Learning how to feed the goats.

This was actually the highlight of the day... AJ feeding the giraffes. His giggle when he felt the giraffe's tougue was priceless!

Vidoes... 1) Our compromise to AJ jumping into the pool (he just didn't clear a safe distance). Of course, he did this over and over again all week. 2) AJ got really good at kicking his legs and swimming around in the big pool with his life vest). He still enjoyed the baby pool a great deal where he learned how to throw his whole body into to water to make a big splash. 3) We went into town one night for a nice dinner and to enjoy an outdoor concert. This video shows AJ clapping to the music. 4) AJ showing off his white-boy moves.