Book Club

This summer Jackson is in a book club with a bunch of his friends from school. Their first book selection was Bunnicula, a book about a Vampire Bunny.

 

They discussed the book, dressed up like vampire bunnies, and played games.

 

 

Then it was time to play in his friends awesome backyard! The fun part (at least according to the boys).

 

 

ALL of the boys in this book club are going to the new Somerset next year, which is a bit heartbreaking for Jackson (and me). He is really going to miss them.

 

Next book up, "Peter And The Starcatcher."

Swimming Lessons - Sadie

Last week Sade finished up a month of swimming lessons. This year we found out about Miss Sandy, and am so glad we did. She is fantastic!

Sadie was also fantastic! She finally decided that this year was the year she was going to become a good swimmer, and she did.

They started each day by warming up:



Miss Sandy helping Sade with her goggles:

One of the first things she learned to do was a sit dive. By her last week Miss Sandy remarked that Sade has the best sit dive she has ever seen (from a 5 year old). What can I say? She's amazing. :)

Sade learned 3 of the 4 major strokes. First freestyle.



Then backstroke:



And finally the breaststroke. Although this one needs a bit more practice. She didn't always remember to move her arms and legs at the same time.



Freestyle video:



Backstroke video:



Unfortunately Sandy only does swimming lessons in the month of June. I would have loved Sade to go all summer.

At 1

The  youngest member of our household, Tucker, turns one today!

He has gone from this:



To this:

 

At 1

 

He sleeps in his kennel every night and is quite content there.

 

His puppy chewing phase is lessening but we still occasionally see him eyeing shoes. Especially flip flops that belong to Sadie. Each of her shoes have nibble marks on them.

 

 

He likes to chew on shoes, but he LOVES to chew on underwear. I have thrown away countless pairs.

 

He is still prone to a bit of excitement pee, especially when Eric arrives home.

 

 

He is fed twice a day, but often doesn't eat his breakfast.

 

He is obsessed with chocolate. We don't give him people food, but he has gotten into the candy stash on occasion, and picks the chocolate out each time.

 

 

He eats the chocolate, wrapper and all, and then throws the whole thing up later. Usually around 3 am.

 

He loses his mind when anyone rings the doorbell. You have never heard such barking.

 

 

He also loses his mind when anyone enters the house. If we have children over I keep him in his kennel, but now when adults come over Eric holds him tightly so he will learn to stop barking.

 

When we go outside he is pretty good to follow us around and stay quite close. Unless a neighbor is out and then he runs at them full force hysterically barking.

 

 

Eric, Sadie, Megan and I can pretty much do whatever we want to him, like pick him up, take a toy away, pet him, etc., but if Jackson tries to do the same Tucker growls. Loudly.

 

He is also fiercely protective of Eric, Sadie, Megan and I, so if the kids are roughhousing or even if I am just giving Jackson a hug, Tucker does not like it and will start barking and growling at Jackson.

 

 

We go through quite a few dog toys, because instead of playing with them, Tucker likes to chew on them.

 

He is about 21 pounds and has been that size for a few months.

 

 

He drags tons of water throughout the house, do to his ears flapping in it whenever he drinks.

 

He doesn't like the heat and spends almost all of his time inside.

 

 

He doesn't shed a lot, except for when his hair is long. As it is now.

 

He likes to have all of his toys spread out all over the living room. If we have his toy box closed he sits over by it and whines until we open it.

 

We love our Tucky Wucky, even if he is a pain in the butt.

 

 

 Tucker's Birthday Celebration

 

For his birthday Tucker received three new toys. A rope toy that seems to be his favorite gift, a new KONG, and a KONG Frisbee.

 

Tucker with his gifts:

 

 

Present opening:

 

 

Happy 1st Birthday Tucker!