Getaway to Phoenix

Day one of our getaway with Kate and Jed to Phoenix, we went to Sedona to see the famous red rocks. Can you pick out the formation named "Snoopy Rock" behind us? He is laying on his back. Look closely!

We went on a helicopter tour of canyons. It was really amazing! We saw amazing scenery, rock walls built in the walls where American Indians used to live, and took some crazy turns! We loved it!

Jed got to sit up front!

Katelyn gets ear tubes

We were at the hospital by 6:00am this morning for Katelyn to have ear tubes placed. We're hoping for an ear-infection-free fall and winter! She is doing great and was a champ all morning. Here is some of our pre-op fun!

Still a little sleepy
Look at that cute bum...and leg rolls too!

Family photo - doesn't everyone do this in pre-op? :)

Checking out her new socks

Surprise!

(Katelyn was giggling until I picked up the camera - go figure!)

Post-op sleeping - she was very angry when she woke up after surgery and this is when she finally calmed down. Such a sweet face!

Thank you to everyone for your prayers this morning. We really appreciated them and are so thankful that everything went as smoothly as expected.

First hour of preschool

Josh had his first day of preschool today - his first hour that is. But we did the carpool line, the teacher came and got him out and then I picked him up an hour later. His teachers, Mrs. DeSmit and Mrs. Barrentini, or "Mit" and "Tini" as Josh calls them, said Josh had a great time, was a good listener and even sat still on the carpet during circle time! We are very proud of him!

Mrs. DeSmit

Macy and Katelyn enjoy some Starbucks while we wait for Parker and Josh

Come and ride the train...and ride it!

Today we celebrated Josh's 2nd Birthday with our family and friends. (We missed you Uncie!) We spent the day at Leakin Park in Baltimore and rode on the steam engines run by the Chesapeake and Alleghany Live Steamers Society. It was a really fun day complete with a picnic lunch and cupcakes! We highly recommend everyone checking it out! http://calslivesteam.org/

Grant, Josh, Jackson and Aunt Cassi get their first glimpse of the trains

Parker, Bailey, Macy and Josh wait patiently in line to go for a ride

Still waiting! It was the first nice day of the weekend, so there were a lot of people in line.

The Birthday Boy!

Daddy, Josh and Mommy on the train

Unco, Jackson, Aunt Cassi and Jeff

Chad, Mia, Grace, Jed, Kate, Grandma Carol, Grandma Crossman and Katelyn

The party guests eating lunch

(Erdmans, Sniders, Smiths, Magers and Lightners)

The Family Table

The Choo-Choo Birthday Cake!

Thank you Carol and Cassi for all of your late-night decorating help!

Blowing out the candles after Josh helped everyone sing to him

Our Family

Madison, Parker, Grace and Mia each ate a train car

Josh digging into the engine. He's not quite as messy as last year, but still makes an effort!

Thank you for the gifts!

Josh spent the rest of the night playing with his new trains, tractor, and forklift.

The future's so bright...

In line for one last ride before we leave

The Squires' Men (and Katelyn)

Katelyn and Daddy

Katelyn LOVED riding in the train. She talked non-stop and waved her arms around!

Sesame Street Live!

We spent the morning in Baltimore to see Sesame Street Live - 1-2-3-Imagine! Grant and Josh enjoyed it and even the babies were interested in some of it (until they fell asleep!) It was a little long for Josh to sit still, but we were glad that we went! Thank you Stacey!

Cubbie Conference

Josh had his "first day" of preschool today. We went in as a family to meet his teachers and met a few other classmates. Here he is with Liam on the playground. Josh was kicking and screaming when we were leaving - a good sign we think!

There are choo-choos everywhere - the perfect theme for Josh!

Pulling to Stand

Katelyn is crawling a lot now and has gotten pretty quick. She's been crawling up onto our laps and over our legs, but this was the first time we've seen her pull herself up to standing!

Two-Year-Old Check-up

30 pounds, 36 inches - happy and healthy

And then it was time for the shots. 3 boo-boos.

It was a very sad way to end the appointment for Josh and Mommy.

Labor Day Weekend

We had a fun weekend and spent a lot of time outdoors. On Saturday, Betsy ran in her first race in New Freedom, PA with her training partners. Sunday was spent eating pulled pork, mac-n-cheese and peach milkshakes at the Castelluccis. Monday was spent on a long bike ride on the NCR trail with the Sniders and a BBQ with Grandma and Pop-Pop in Shrewsbury. It was a nice holiday for everyone!

Meghan, Betsy, Bettina posing before their 3-mile run

Betsy crossing the finish line with Trainer Jeff

The Waterboy

Betsy placed 1st in her age group and beat her goal by 1:28!

Katelyn and Avery Snider ready to ride!

The big kids, Madison Snider and Josh, enjoyed some light reading during their ride

Matt, Rachael and Avery Snider in front of a festival we happened upon. We later found out that it was a private festival for a family that owned this farm and it was by invite only. Hmmm...we are trying to figure out how to get on this list - it looked like a lot of fun!

The Squires Family

Josh and Madison liked looking through the crack on the bridge to see the water.

It made the adults nervous!

Swinging at Grandma and Pop-Pops house!

Katelyn trying to get to her Daddy!