The Daintys

Today was Leah's first tumbling class at the YMCA. Leah said her favorite part was "the jumpy jumpy," otherwise known as the trampoline. She is in the class with one of her very best friends, and the girls had so much fun, though at times caused a bit of mischief together! Here they are jumping with excitement: I find it comforting that gymnastics leotards haven't changed much since I wore them in the '90s... When Ryan first saw this picture he thought she was jumping off the high beam, but she's actually hopping off the low one just beneath her right foot!

We took a wonderful vacation to Tennessee at the end of our summer. (We've only been in school a week and a half...but vacation already seems so long ago!) We visited Ryan's parents and got to hang out with them for about half a week. Both Leah and Lucy had tons of fun in the swimming pool. Lucy is going through "rehab" after being hit by a car earlier this summer, so the swimming was great for her. (Lucy is doing very well these days...we go for two 45 minute walks a day to exercise her hip and legs and she is loving all the extra attention and walks! I have grown to quite appreciate my early morning treks with her.) After visiting Grammy and Papa, we went to stay in Pigeon Forge right near the Smoky Mountains with friends of ours. There was again, more swimming involved, as well as hiking, mini-golf, picnicking, and other fun adventures. Leah was a real dare devil at the waterpark and went on some HUGE waterslides with us. ("Let's do it AGAIN!"

I know I write a lot about Leah on here. Mostly about Leah. But, let's be honest...that's why most of you are checking this blog anyway, and she just brings us so much joy everyday! Here are some of the things we love about her these days: She is becoming a very responsible dog owner. She tells Lucy to stay when we open the gate in the back yard. She brushes Lucy's hair. She gives her a treat when we leave home. When we were heading home from vacation she brought me her very own special blanket and said, "Here mama, we need to put this in the car right next to me because Lucy has to lay down and take a nap. She can have it." She has her own little Leaptop (laptop) toy that she fondly refers to as her "pootager." She uses her "pootager" to "do her work," "look up recipes," and "check her email." I'm waiting for the day she says, "Just one minute mom, I have to check the Red Sox score on ESPN.com