9 Months = Harder Photo Shoots

We no longer tried to place the monthly sign for Mae conveniently beside her. She likes them too much now. So, we went sneak attack style! This was the morning we left for Virginia.

Distract with the TV and GO!

I guess I was too loud because that didn't take long

Okay now she's just mocking me

How 'bout a smile kid!

Jokes on you...that remote doesn't work the TV!

(Nope, jokes on me...I couldn't get the sign right quick enough)

Getting closer to a good one

Atta way, Mom! Now, let's confine this baby and drive to Virginia(joke's on you now, Mae!)!

Spjut Family Reunion Day 4: A Night(Day) at the Museum

I had to leave town. So, Lindsey took Mae and met the family at the museum. -T

Hooray the sound comes through on this one!

Audrey does the piggies with Mae. (Every piggie stays home.) -L




I guess I'm just a little confused why they made them wear bullet-proof vests at a children's museum. -T

Anyone seen the movie Piranhas 3D? I haven't but I wanna say if this were in it...Mae would be in trouble. -T

Mae couldn't do a lot at the museum, but she did watch the fish and turtles. -L

And smile for pictures. -L
I think Mae has a foot fetish...she likes to eat my toes and apparently I'm not the only one. -T
VICTORY. I get Mae to sleep AND she stays asleep while I buckle her in. -L

Mae likes this game and fortunately Mandy does too. -L

Last time all the cousins were together there were only 3...

A closer upper
The a/c couldn't keep up with all the people around but Baby is a problem solver sitting on the vent. -L

Spjut Family Reunion Day 3: The Actual 4th of July

Day 3 brought family pictures. After that it was fun in the backyard with water and then another trip to the pool. Of course, being the 4th of July, we had mexican for dinner followed by fireworks. We stayed inside - Mae didn't like fireworks. -T

Hold on tight Mae...we're off to Kentucky again!

Family Pictures!

Okay I don't know about everybody else being ready, including our own daughter, but Lindsey and I were SO ready for this picture!

I'm glad everyone could join us with being ready this time. Dangit Mae, except for you!

Grandma, Grandpa, and the G-Kiddies

Water fun
I say the smaller you are, the more fun you can have

Even getting picked on is fun!

Spjut Family Reunion Day 2: 60 Reasons Why We Love Grandpa

Day 2 brought a little more normalcy! After church it was all about hanging out and not about breaking into cars. That proposes the question. Would it have been okay to try to break into a car on the Sabbath? Anyway, the day was special as we celebrated Grandpa turning 60. -T

"Say CHEESE! Or just look at the great grandkids saying CHEESE!"
Say, "Only Grandma say CHEESE!" Oh you guys nailed it...good job!
The great debate: Who's the taller cousin?

Showering Grandpa with love...and paper hearts.
The Lucky 7 grandkid

Sometimes if you're not the tallest cousin, it becomes simply a battle of wills.

Mae lost.

Spjut Family Reunion - Day 1: The Unexpected

With the exception of Sister Jackie Spjut(current faithful servant of the Lord), Lindsey's family came altogether for the first time since our wedding day. Getting together with family always creates some unpredictability; however, no one could have ever predicted how this day unfolded. -T

The day started normal and it was great for Mae to meet the aunts, uncles, and cousins she had never met. Then, we needed something from the trunk...and everything changed.

Scenario: The trunk won't open electronically, the key doesn't work either, the latches to lay down the back seat are in the trunk, and you're going to need your wallet that's in there soon...what do you do?

A) Take it to the dealer, B) Call AAA to have them tell you to take it to a locksmith but it's a weekend and a holiday weekend so it's going to cost a ton, C) Go to the fire department D) Jiggle the key in the lock a bunch in hopes of a miracle, E) Read the owner's manual, F) At least consider taking it to a bad neighborhood to get some advice, G) Stick a pole through the seats in hopes of a different miracle (pictured below), H) All of the Above, or I) All of the Above and do something else?
Alright then..."I" it is...and we went to the pool

Mae's first swim
She liked it...she liked kicking her legs especially
She has fun with everyone...not that Aunt Kylee isn't fun, she just really has fun with everyone

Okay...next set of attempts - Seat out...check. I then had bruising later from on top of my hand and down my forearm with my desperate attempts to get my wallet out through a very small space. It was in my bag which I did finally get a hanger to pull it to the back of the trunk! That in itself made me so proud! However, I couldn't get my wallet out of it!

Even the smallest wrists had a hard time maneuvering.

Lindsey now knows what it feels like to be on the doctor's end of child birth.
Eventually, the bolts of the seat were taken off and I got my bag out! My wallet!

I got shoes, baby!

Then, we got greedy...we sent in Kylee to pull the latch for the backseats since that part of the seat was still attached

We got everything out and then sent Linsdey in.

"Hey, Lindsey...what's broken in there?"
Nothing. All it was was a special latch that had been flipped somehow.

So why didn't the key work? Well, the key Lindsey uses is the valet key. She never has needed a key to get in because she's always done it electronically.

So, could a day spent trying to break into our own trunk been avoided if we had the "spare" key sitting at home?

Sure could.

4th of July, 1st of Mae's Parades

Mae attending her first parade at Madeira's 4th of July Parade. She liked the music, not the sirens. -T

Going to take our own trip to wave at the crowd on our way to our viewing spot
She didn't disappoint
And she liked it
Part of the fan club came to see her

Mae didn't win the prize for most candy collected

Like
(Sorry, again no sound)

Dislike

Making Memories - Singing(Running) In the Rain

So, I was cutting the grass one day and was surprised by two things. The first was the way the small plants really filled in by our back wooden fence. Nope, the real surprise was it didn't really fill in. The back half of our apple tree lost it's battle to a storm and crashed over our fence...wonder how long it'd been like that? The second came with about 15 minutes left in my grass cutting. My thought process was just about this quick: Thought #1: Is the sky getting darker? Thought #2: Did I just feel a rain drop? Thought #3: It's raining so hard I can't even see in front of me...can I finish cutting? Thought #4 (2 minutes later): No. -T

Well, the good news is it really didn't grow apples anymore

That spot is not the sun

Remember Thought #3? This is my attempt. Blurry = Raining

Packing it in early...and I'm soaked

(If I knew more, I could determine why some of these don't play sound)