Busy Summer, Busy Baby

It has been quite a while since I've written, especially in baby time! Since my last post, Halle has begun crawling, pulling up to objects (like the couch), and has cut several more teeth (she now has eight!). She is a well-traveled little baby, and just this summer has been to Idaho and to Washington, D.C. She is trying to talk, saying words like duck, cup, yes, and many more. She doesn't say them all the time...just when she wants to. Just this week, she learned to walk along the couch (while holding on), to climb the stairs (scaring her mommy half to death), and to drink from a straw. She has quite a sense of humor already, and keeps us laughing. She loves attention, and is very friendly. She's pretty adventurous and isn't scared of much. However, she is terrified of the vacuum cleaner, and seems to be a little bit afraid of the dark. She has also learned to give hugs in the past few weeks, and I am loving that! I'm going to add some random pictures on this post, and will add pictures of our trip to D.C. a little later this week.

Halle figured out how to take her arm out of her shirt a few days ago. She thought it was very funny!



Halle loves to play the piano. Mommy is thrilled about that! This is her "How am I doing?" smile.

Halle also LOVES the bathtub. She can say "bath", and she's not afraid of the water at all, as you can see by her splashing.

My big girl standing at the couch.

Family, Friends, & Fun

When we came back from Idaho, my parents came to pick us up at the airport, and to get Asher and Donald and take them home. It was really fun to have Mom, Dad, Cierra and John here (along with Asher and Donald) for a few days. The visits are never long enough, but we had a great time. This is Cierra holding Halle.

Halle loving on Grandma Tami
Grandma and Grandpa with Halle

Playing games with Grandpa and Daddy
Halle's "piano"
On July 3, we watched fireworks at Westminster College. It was so much fun. Halle wasn't scared at all, just very interested and intense.

I love this picture! She's watching the fireworks here.
It was rainy and a little cool that evening. She had sandals on, but her feet were cold. The only socks I had in her bag were pink! She didn't seem to mind at all!!!

On July 4, some friends of ours rented a limo and took us and another couple from church to Pittsburgh to watch fireworks. It was really fun. We stopped and had dinner on the way down. Here are the guys in their section (l-r, Brian, Jesse, and Isaac).

Here's the kid's section. Halle, Nathan and Ellie. Our driver said he'd never seen a limo full of baby seats! The kids were really not that impressed, but had fun anyways.
Daddy feeding Halle while we listened to the Army Band.The music was really great...very patriotic and inspiring.



This is my baby girl's silly face. She is so funny right now. She keeps us laughing.

Our little friend, Nathan, came over to the house and Halle was playing with him. She gets a little rough sometimes, but he really loves her. They're so cute together.
Group hug!

Nathan thought that the bloomers to Halle's dress were a hat!
Halle and Daddy are best friends.

Halle's Big Trip

Halle is already a well-travelled little girl, especially for only being 8 months old! On June 18, we left for Idaho to visit my brother, Nevin, and his family. Brian was scheduled to preach a tent meeting for him, and we also wanted to spend some family time with them. My brother, Asher, and his friend, Donald, went with us. This was a missions trip for them.

This is Halle the day before we left, playing in her favorite toy.

She was enjoying getting reacquainted with Uncle Asher.

Cason's birthday was the 19th, so we were able to celebrate with him. He got new boots and a new hat!

The boys all loved Halle. This is Braden (left) and Cason playing with her.


My blue-eyed girl
These are my nephews at church, (L-R - Colton, Braden, Dawon, and Cason)

Halle and Daddy (and Cason)
Our family

Halle giving Daddy kisses

Aunt Jennibeth and Halle
Uncle Asher and Halle were best buddies

Halle playing with a train

These pictures were taken Sunday morning. We had a tent at the fairgrounds in Bonners Ferry, and had a three-day meeting. It was great!

This is Colton talking to Halle

Braden and Halle
I had to include this picture. We had the kids inside a blue tent for Sunday School. I took a picture of Colton and Halle, and this is how it turned out. I thought it was really cool! This is the tent we had at the fairgrounds. Isn't the background gorgeous?

All of the scenery is beautiful. This is an elk farm on the way to Nevin's house.

This is just a view from the highway.

Uncle Nevin and Halle playing

Uncle Asher and Halle

Halle learned to clap while we were in Idaho. This is the first night she did it. When you say "good girl" she claps.

Mommy & Halle

The three of usDaddy & Halle - can you tell they're having fun?
Halle and Dawson playing
All of us having breakfast at Panhandler Pies.

We went to the lake for a picnic. Nevin and Brian were trying to get the grill to heat up.
Halle taking a ride.

Dawson decided to try eating dirt. I don't think he liked it.

The boys had lots of fun playing in the dirt.

Nevin and Colton at the lake

Driving back home from the lake

Dawson finally decided he liked Halle about two days before we left.
Silly baby! Don't you love those teeth?

On the way home in the plane

We flew right beside a big storm....here's some of the lightning I could see out the window

Halle is such a good little traveller. On the way out, we flew from Akron to Chicago, Chicago to Seattle, and Seattle to Spokane. She was so good! People were coming up to us and commenting on what a good baby she was. On the way back we flew from Spokane to Denver, and then to Akron. We had a wonderful trip, enjoyed being with our family, and made lots of wonderful memories. Hopefully, we'll do it again next year!