The bi-annual BBQ at Kathy & Larry's 7-15-06

This is Grandma D helping Shaner learn how to jump from the play fort onto the pole and slide down. Her version (and his) was to carry him from the stand to the pole.


















Here is the 2nd time going down the pole, minus the shirt, again Grandma carried him from the platform to the pole, even though I am in the background telling him to just jump.















Here I have switched places with my mom, I stood next to the platform with my arms out, and told Shane to jump and I would put him on the pole. He did but look where my hands are! Once he realized he could do it all by himself it was nonstop.
Grandma, Grandma just a little overprotective!

Busted.....

The setting: 10pm, Shane's room.

The problem: His bed time is 8:45. I hear giggling each time I walk by his room. Of course I give the "you better go to sleep. it's past your bedtime."statement about 5 times to no avail.

I opened his door and snapped a picture right away, he didn't know I had the camera. He was just sitting there laughing with his ears on.

Fourth of July 2006

4th of July was filled with a cook-out and later on fireworks. The neighborhood gathered on our front lawn while we went through a couple hours worth of Michigan permitted fireworks aka the legal ones, and IN fireworks aka the not so legal in MI ones. I mastered ( well almost) the task of lighting the fireworks without losing any limbs, and Shane was very helpful with instructions from the lawn while covering his ears. Evie ( our 137 pound whimpy dog) made it through the night with only 20mg of valium. Shane and Chris posed for photos under the flag and Army banner as he practiced his salute because when he is older, like 10, he says he will be in the U.S. Army.............another military man in the family.

Shaner practicing his salute with his Daddy before the fireworks


















Waiting for dusk to start the fireworks





















Shaner with the Red Sparklers from IN.
















Hmmm... watching and wondering if it's going to explode. My new job of lighting the fireworks and running while Shane covers his ears and the neighbors watch from our front lawn. Evie was tranqualized inside the house.

Shane and his pets

Shane with his spikey wig from Disney World, and Lucky our cat.















Shaner and The Big Girl ( aka Evie) after her haircut, bath, and new bandana for the 4th of July.

Shaner's First Swim in Lake Michigan 7-1-06

We ventured out on a 'family day' and decided to take Shane to South Haven. He'll be going to South Carolina next summer so I thought we should see what he thinks about the water. He loves it, which means I am in big trouble when it comes to going in the ocean next summer. Uncle Mike and Aunt Nicol will have to save the day while I patrol for sharks from the shore. The water was maybe 63 degrees, the sun was only out for about an hour, and the wind was strong. Great beach day I know, but its Michigan and the weather changes fast

Nicol and Mike, here's the proof I actually did go into the water with Shane past my ankels, however this does not mean I am going into the ocean next summer. I will maintain my shark patrol from the beach, while I entrust you two with preventing my baby boy from becoming shark bait. Can you imagine how freaked out I will be when he goes in the ocean? Better have some valuim. :)










Kicked back, relaxing, taking in the view. He's so darn cute!















Playing in the sand with Daddy. Shane looks nothing like me anymore, he's a mini Chris.

Too cute! He laughed so hard when Chris buried him in the sand.

















Cold little boy who doesn't want to go home. I'm holding him tight because he's trying to go back in the water.












Rolling in the sand.














Slam! Underwater and all! Didn't like that too well.