Silly Monkey!

Makenna the monkey.

Makenna put Cami's chair on her head and was dancing around the house last night. Jay asked her what she was and she told him she was a monkey. Here is Makenna dressing up like a monkey and signing it.

Camille is 8 months!

Cami making her way to Makenna.

Just being cute.

Always on the move now.

Cami had her eight month birthday while on her first vacation. She did so well on the plane, sleeping in a strange bed, being off of her schedule and meeting new people at every turn. We are so blessed with this child. Cami is able to say "dada", "mum" (only when she is mad), "hi" and she signs "milk". She is officially crawling. She crawls all over everything and likes to use mommy and daddy as a jungle gym. Her favorite toys are paper, my curtains and Makenna's hair and glasses. She hates to be left in a room by herself and makes it known! She has yet to meet a stranger and will smile and laugh with everyone she meets. One of her top teeth broke through her gums yesterday and the other one is soon to follow. What a perfect addition Cami has been to our family.

CHARGE and all that Jazz!!

Cami and Makenna enjoying social time.

Andrea and Makenna dancing.

Katie, Makenna and Camille in front to the CHARGE sign and waterfall.

Everyone enjoying the dance.

Makenna and Rachel Coleman from Signing Time!

Rachel signing and singing!

Makenna and friends at the dance.

Another spectacular conference! It was wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones. The information and networking were stellar as usual. I think this was a very important conference for Makenna. All year she has been asking who is like her - who has a g-tube, who has hearing aids, who has had a trach, who takes medicine everyday, etc. She was so excited to meet kids that were like her! She would get a huge smile when someone showed her their g-tube, trach, hearing aids or even if we saw someone getting a tube feeding. Makenna loved it! It is also great for her to see so many people signing and for people to sign to her instead of having to have mom there all the time. She found her indepence and worked the entire room during the Conference Idol performances. She went from family to family talking and dancing.

Makenna met a lady (Andrea) from Chile. She told us Makenna reminded her so much of her daughter. There was a big communication barrier but that didn't stop the bonding. Andrea didn't speak Engish or know any sign at all. It was really sweet though. Makenna must have understood some of what she was saying because she asked me if she was in her belly when she was a baby or my belly!

Rachel Coleman from Signing Time! performed at the carnivel. It was wonderful to see her in person after watching hours and hours and hours of her videos on TV. Makenna and Cami both got their picture taken with her after the performance.

New Ear Molds

Look at my new blue ear molds!

We went to the audiologist a few weeks ago and Makenna was so excited to get new ear molds. They are blue and she couldn't wait for them to come in the mail. Well we got them a week ago and she insisted I take some pictures.

What a big sister!

Cami was cracking up she could barely eat.

Makenna loves to watch Cami have her dinner. Today she decided to feed her.

Adamsville Homecoming Entertainment

Makenna is second from the left.

Getting into the swing of things.

We were a little rusty we hadn't performed our routine since May.

Having a ball!

Makenna's dance studio performed at the Adamsville Homecoming on Thursday. Her dance group was one of the selected ones to participate. I snapped a few pictures - sorry the fence was in the way.

Lake Isabella

We had an enjoyable day at the lake with the McLendon's yesterday. We started with a picnic lunch - even Makenna joined in for the yummy food. As soon as lunch was over - Makenna was ready to head for the sand and sun. We settled in at the VERY crowded beach and Makenna was having a great time digging in the sand and pouring it on Cassie's blanket! It didn't take long for Cami to venture to the edge of the blanket and find the sand too. She loved eatting it by the handfuls! We couldn't keep it out of her mouth. Soon Makenna was ready to swim. She and Daddy hit the water - it took Cami (and Mommy) a little longer to get used to the chilly temperature. Makenna wanted to know if there were big fish swimming in that water with her. I don't think she liked that idea too well, but had fun anyway. She thought Matthew and Jack wrestling around in the water were pretty funny. Cami didn't last too long in the water - she was ready for her lunch. The day ended too soon - but we had a great time while it lasted. Cami's first experience with sand went well for the most part. Makenna wants to know when we can head to the ocean for a vacation!

Sorry no pictures of this trip to the lake. Cassie and I both forgot our cameras!

Morning TV

Makenna loves to climb into our bed in the morning and grab her Daddy's binoculars to watch a little morning TV. This is her everyday routine. She just cracks us up - reading the guide through the binoculars and settling back to watch her favorite cartoons.

A Night at the Susil's

Yummy Popsicle!

Makenna is not too sure about feeding this donkey.

Jack either.

Matthew got the hang of it.

Makenna is not going to take her eyes off that donkey!

Playing some b-ball.

Catch Jack!

Cami's first guitar lesson from Matt.

He promises to have her playing by age 3!

Matt and Jack came over this evening. We had lots of fun. We played in the stream, played b-ball, ate Popsicles, had a music lesson and evening fed the donkeys! Matt and Jack are great with both of the girls! Makenna just loves to have her big cousins over. Earlier today - Cassie watched the girls while I worked and she took them all swimming at a friends house. Makenna and Cami had a BIG day!

Butterflies!

Cami's room is decorated with butterflies. Every time she gets up from a nap or in the morning she looks at those butterflies. She stares and stares with a serious expression until we tell her they are her butterflies and sign butterfly to her - then she gets a huge grin on her face.

Happy 4th of July!

Nana Buck and Tony - you can see Baba Buck in the back ground taking pictures!

Jack launching a corn hole bag.

Michelle and Marayah

Nana Buck and Cami

Ayla and Makenna - over the weight limit I think!

Ayla, Addison, Gracie and Ezra in the sandbox

Addison is tired - time to go home!

Cami is so excited to see Makenna after a night away! I am not sure Makenna feels the same way though.

We had a busy Fourth of July. We went to my Aunt Judy's house in the afternoon to celebrate. We had a nice time playing corn hole and enjoying Cami and Marayah. Grandma, Grandpa, Tony and his whole family, Cassie and Jim and the boys all came. Makenna was with her grandparents so we met up with her later in the evening at Aunt Christa's house. We had a nice cookout despite the rain. All the grandchildren had fun playing together. Makenna and Ayla had a great time riding the kiddie four wheeler. They enjoyed sparklers too! Ezra was really interested in Cami, finally someone smaller than him. Gracie and Addison loved exploring the yard and all the dogs.