Back HOME in Arizona...

Back home from Wisconsin the family began to get life back to a normal routine. Our summer travels had thrown off our schedules, and Mom was determined to get things back to normal. We decided to stay close to home and focus on improving not only our daily schedule, but our behaviors and attitudes as well (they had gone a little sour recently). I wasn't enrolled in preschool at Lifetime until October, so Mom thought that this 6 week break at home would be the perfect time to work on household projects- I didn't realize that "at home" really meant staying at home- no gym, etc.

One of the big projects on Mom's list was potty training Macie (since we would be home), so for the next two weeks before her birthday we talked to her about using the potty and read all sorts of books telling her how and when she should use the potty.

At home we made use of lots of crafts Mom had accumulated over the summer, and when Aunt Hayley heard about all the fun we had planned, she came over for some Finger Painting Fun. She couldn't believe what incredible artists we were- too our bodies were used as the canvas...

We couldn't have had more fun, and both Macie and I were very proud of our creative designs.

We posed for some "Top Model" pictures, and Macie pulled out some high fashion posing.

To clean ourselves off, we got to run through the sprinklers, and once the paint was gone we got to go in the pool.

We have been doing a LOT of swimming this summer, and I have come a really long way. At the beginning of June I couldn't make it across the spa; now I can swim the full length of the pool all by myself, and can even JUMP OFF THE DIVING BOARD!!!

I LOVE being in the pool and could swim all day long!

Before leaving for our trip to Wisconsin, we had promised Aunt Hayley that we would take Jackson for checkup at her Veterinarian's Office once we returned home. Mom made him an official appointment with "Dr.Schafer", and when the big day finally arrived, the family packed into the car and drove down to Gilbert to see Aunt Hayley's' new office. We were quite impressed when we pulled into the parking lot and saw a parking space JUST FOR AUNT HAYLEY!

Not only did she have a parking space, but her name was listed as one of the Doctors on the door of the clinic- wow, she is legit!

We were led into a room where Dr.Schafer gave Jackson a thorough exam.

Macie and I were only interested in watching Hayley examine Jackson for a short while before we discovered that the exam room was FAR more intriguing- there were all sorts of drawers and tools, and there were buttons everywhere!!!


After the exam Aunt Hayley filled out Jackson's chart, and despite all the trash he has eaten, he is as healthy as an Ox.

We left Jax in the exam room and Hayley gave us a tour of the Veterinarian's office.We saw her desk, and to our surprise, our calendar was on the wall!!! It was really neat getting to tour her Vet clinic and we were so proud of Aunt Hayley for achieving her dream!

After Jackson's check up the family decided he was long over do for some hair styling, so Mom and Aunt Hayley worked their magic...

We have coined this look: "The Dawg Hawk":

Jackson is the COOLEST Dawg in town (See what happens when we are stuck in the house to long...)!

By the end of August the whole family was more than ready to celebrate a HUGE FAMILY HOLIDAY:

Macie's 2nd birthday!!!

It was bittersweet for Mom, whom finally had to come to terms with the fact that she no longer had any babies in the house...she was happy that Macie developed into a big girl with her own will (a VERY strong one) and personality, but was a little sad that her girls didn't rely on her like they once did. According to Mom it;s a funny thing; you pray for the day your children can grow up and "take care of themselves", a day when you don't have to constantly keep watch over them, and when that day finally arrives you find yourself longing for the days when all they wanted and needed was you... I guess I won't understand until I become a Mom myself, but I will agree with Mom that Macie is definitely a BIG GIRL!

She can hold her own in ANY conversation, and is fervently determined to anything and everything by herself- in fact her most used phrase is " me do it by myself." At her two year checkup (we went a little early) the Doctor praised Macie for being such a healthy and happy girl. She weighed in at 26lbs, and measured 31 inches tall putting her in the 50th percentile- go Macie!!!

We cant' believe how amazing she is, and can only imagine all the things she will do and accomplish in the coming year. Check back real soon for the details of her big day!