Pumpkin Patch!

Kaitlin & Bogey on Craig's Birthday
Pumpkin Patch
Has mastered the scooter!
PP
See what I mean about the photos!

Jessie and Kaitlin playing during the softball reunion game
Kaitlin playing with the glove Jessie gave her..come to

determine that she really may be a lefty!

Holly - Coach D and Me - just like old times

Typical for me --standing in the outfield chewing gum and blowing bubbles!

Wow ---It seems as if I say this a lot but where has the last month gone! I can't believe that it is almost Halloween. Speaking of halloween I think Kaitlin has mixed emotions about the whole thing, she loves to play dress up and is going to be Tinker Bell for Halloween, BUT she is terrified of witches, ghosts all the accessories that go along with Halloween. So we may only visit a few neighbors (which is alright by me ...we don't need all the candy anyways.)

We have been busy taking Pajama Gymnastics at the YMCA on Monday nights and Mommie and Me dance class on Tuesdays. She really likes both a lot and constantly asks when we are going back, although she is funny when she gets there it takes her about 3 -4 minutes to warm up to everything.

Today we went on our annual Pumpkin Patch hayride, it was a gorgeous day. As you will see in the following pictures she did great and had a blast. I'm really glad that she likes to get her photo taken because I'm having a blast taking them with my new camera! I broke down shortly after our China Reunion this summer and bought a DSLR with a normal lense and I just got a telephoto lense. I think the colors and the photos turned out fantastic. I got the Canon EOS XSI ---WOW! Puts normal point and shoot digital cameras to shame on how many frames you can take in a row. Really helps capture the moment with the little ones --a blink of an eye and they are on to the next thing.

We went to Chicago last weekend and I had to stop to tell Santa that Kaitlin wanted an American Girl doll or two! He said only if she is good and listens to mommy and daddy. It's funny how once October hits you can start hanging the whole better be good or Santa won't bring you presents thing over their head. Anyways, ended up spending 2 1/2 hours in American Girl doll store needless to say I think Santa will hook the girl up!

Also a couple of weekends ago we had a high school reunion softball game, what a hoot. My friend Holly and I went and held our own --we were the oldest players there. How sad I felt when they announced our names and the year that we graduated (84) and one of the girls said "I wasn't even born yet" Ouch --that left a mark!

Hope all is well with everyone, and enjoyed the photos!

Where has Summer gone?

Kaitlin started taking Mommy and Me Dance Classes last week. Unfortunately I was in Houston but MiMi was able to take her. She was very excited!

This past Saturday it was raining out so we decided to clean out a closet and she saw her snow suit hanging there and insisted on putting it on! --How do you explain to a 2 year old that we really don't want snow!
Wow - is she fast! LOL ---this and the next picture were taken at pajama gym, she loves to run around and play in here and I was quite impressed that she listened so well.

This was on a Big slide that she wasn't too sure about and needless to say she didn't go down again!On our way to the first Quakers game - Go Quakers! is what she shouts everytime we drive by the football stadium.

A couple of weeks ago Kaitlin mastered the tricycle and her scooter! Now we spend alot of time down on the sidewalk practicing our new skill.
Imagination at its finest! --She is pretending to ride a school bus with her babies!

Notice the fuzzy scarfs - aka - seat belts!

We can't believe that summer is over and that we are half way through September - where did the summer go? Kaitlin is progressing fantastically, she is really starting to learn her colors and numbers, loves to play with her babies, dressup, coloring, and play Elmo on her Vtech. As you saw in the photos above her newest hobbies are riding her tricycle and scooter, dance class, gymnastics and cheering on the Quakers. Another interesting note is Kaitlin will be fired up about Santa! She is already asking when ho-ho is coming!

I'll try to keep up - but things are flying by!

Love Traci, Craig, Kaitlin and Bogey

2008 Balloon Fest

Mommy, Mimi, Camden, Kaitlin and Maddie

Uncle Terry, Mimi, Camden, Maddie, Kaitlin

Mommy and Kaitlin
The Night Glow

Oh Look - A Balloon!
ummmm---Corndog!
One of the 24 balloons that launched

Last night we went to the annual Hall of Fame Kickoff events which started this weekend with the balloon fest. She absolutley loved watching the balloons go up and then the night glow.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Travel Group 1147 2008 Reunion

It's our first reunion - 16 months ago we all first held and kissed our little girls in China, most of which were only crawling at the time. Now they are all talking and running and playing - it's hard to believe that just over a year ago we first met our little ones.

Reunion Recap ---Friday night - we visited our local park for dinner and some park rides.

Saturday - Met out at the Klopfer/Bichsel compound for swimming and reunion festivities.

Sunday - attended Church and then met at the pool for photos and some lunch before rushing out before a summer storm. It was great to see everyone that could make it and we defintely missed those of you who could not make it.

Pre-Reunion Photos

Mommy Cam
Alexa and Annie (Right)
First Smile I got out of Aleia all night

Stopping to smell the flowers
Aleia, Hannah, Kaitlin, and Alexa
Aleia Alexa and Bob
You will begin to see a theme with Daddies
and the Merry Go Round (Mommies didn't want to go
in circles for 15 minutes - the ride operator doesn't believe in short rides)
Audrey and Matt

Hannah and Darren

Alexa and Kaitlin
Annie and Kaitlin
The group the could make it :( :)
Kaitlin and Craig

Jack, Erich and Annie


Captain Daren - Little did Daren know that he was coming
to Ohio to help navigate a pontoon boat. Thursday night we
decided to go to Boaters beach - but if it wouldn't have been for Daren we
would have never left the dock!

Kaitlin taking after Daddy!
Kaitlin enjoying the swings
Hannah
Jack and Kaitlin

Well it's reunion weekend. Everyone that could make it to Ohio arrived today in the steamy 94 degree heat! We played a little golf, swam at the pool and visited our local Park. Enjoy some of the photos - I will be posting more on Sunday.

Tomorrow is our actual reunion and we have invited some local friends and family to join us out on the farm. We miss all of those that could not make it!