Paul's 5th Birthday

These are a myriad of photos from the last few weeks including Paul's soccer game and birthday parties.

Coach Redfern getting the team ready to play.

Paul in action.

Daddy and Uncle Chris really look alike when Uncle Chris wears Daddy's clothes.

Kate took a liking to Mr. Jesse.

Making an appetizer.

Working hard on the cake with Aunt Megan. (note the lack of an "H")

The final cake for birthday number 5

2 peas in a pod

Daddy had to go to Chicago the next day so Uncle Chris was on LEGO duty.

helping Aunt Katherine with her hair

Getting Eli and Mater settled into their new home.

Paul's gift from Mom and Dad - a golf bag and clubs.

Monkey see - Monkey Do

More smiles at Gram and BB's

Gram and BB got Paul a new big bike for turning 5.

Last but not least - everyone lending a helping hand with Tom the Turkey.

Wrap up of the week...

Sorry for the delay in posts- it was a busy week in our house.
Kaitlyn really wanted to try and use the camera in this picture:
"Mommy, Kaitlyn's crawling towards the newspaper basket again. I'll move it!":
How tall is BB?
How tall is daddy?
Playing football with Uncle Ryan and Lauren when they were visiting last Sunday:



Kaitlyn and her Uncle Ry hanging out (the Eli jersey somehow was put on while Lauren and I were out shopping...hmmm....)

Look mom- I got myself up!
And, I'm even in the same outfit (this picture was taken prior to 7am... ;)

More vacation memories- Raquette Lake

Somehow vacation already feels like a long time ago, so here are more of our fun memories to keep our great times fresh in our mind...
Paul III and his "tree" at the Moose Lodge Chip and Putt- the tree has grown quite a bit and is already much taller than Paul:
Kaitlyn and her new tree, also at the Chip and Putt:
Gram, Paul III and Mommy headed in Gram's boat to the library in town:
A picnic lunch at the leantoo:
How many people does it take to get a 5 1/2 month old into a bathing suit:
And a picture which we somehow captured of our vacationing crew:
Paul and Gram digging (I also thought this was a neat, artistic picture):
Paul "cooking" with pine cones- note the "burners", "stove items" and "apron" (the apron was also on during the tree picture... much to daddy's dismay!):

My favorite things to do on vacation

Paul III:
Dig in the sand- at Lake Sunapee, NH
Dig in the sand- at Raquette Lake, NY
Drive the boat (at Raquette Lake, NY)
Eat!! Ice Cream and Birthday Cake (an early treat for mommy) with Gram and BB at Raquette Lake, NY
Make yummy ice cream sandwiches from Oreo Cookie crumbles with Nana
Dig in the sand with Uncle Chris in NH (notice a trend here?)
Kate:
Hang out at the beach (taking after mommy!) in NH.
Sit up on my own (don't you dare lie me on my back... I want to sit up- and will let you hear about it!).
Go for a swim- even though the water was chilly, I did well.
Do standing up exercises with Pop Pop (not pictured, but this one was cute anyway)
Paul Jr. and Leigh Anne:
Spending time with our families (Kate was already asleep on this gorgeous night at Raquette Lake when we went for a post-dinner boat ride)

Raquette Lake trip

We had a great few days at Raquette Lake for the fourth of July (despite it raining almost every day and barely making it above 60 degrees the entire trip) with Gram and BB, and little Paul has a bug-bit-bitten face to show for it!
Kaitlyn enjoyed her first trip to camp (and was a great car traveler) and seemed to enjoy the new sites, sounds and fresh air. She "chatted" for quite a while to everyone at the 4th of July picnic at our camp.
Paul talking about a boat ride (one of his favorite things to do) while sitting in one of the rocking chairs on the porch.
Daddy and Paul reading the New York Times on Sunday afternoon.
Kaitlyn and Paul doing tummy time together.
A picnic on the porch with Gram, Paul and Kaitlyn.
Paul shadowing his buddy, BB, at his desk.
Little Paul testing out his Moose Lodge hat on Kaitlyn.
Gram, BB and Little Paul on a John Deere Gator ride- covered up to protect themselves from the bugs and the rain.