Annie had her two month checkup this morning. She weighs 9 lbs 9 oz and is 22 inches long. She’s a peanut.

Poor Annie got 3 shots today. Maggie got a sticker and a sucker – seems fair.

The boys’ school gave each student a pair of eclipse glasses and let them go out to watch. We had peak coverage right after they got home, so I was able to borrow a pair to check out the eclipse too.

Dave and Adam talked about the eclipse and Dave broke out some highly scientific visual aides (a soccer ball, a golfball, and a baseball).

The kids and I finished “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at bedtime tonight. We have the movie and the sequel on hold at the library. They’re pretty excited.

Aunt Jane made me the best birthday cake ever. It’s perfect and it was delicious. She’s the best aunt ever.

Me and Mabel went to the store and I found some Minion candles. They came in packs of four, so we bought two packs so we could have eight.

The Magic 8 Ball was awesome. Aunt Stacy, Uncle Rock, Denny, and Lydia got it for me. They got me my PJ pants and new soccer cleats too. Mommy got the Minions shirt for me, which I liked a lot.

Uncle Steve, Aunt Amanda, and Connor got me Baseball Guys. Me and Luke like to play with them a lot. They are awesome because baseball is my favorite sport.

Aunt Lois gave me a Yoda card. I like it a lot because I like Star Wars and I like Yoda a lot. She got me some other really neat stuff too. I’m excited to use the hippo painting kit to paint a picture.

Grandma and Grandpa got me Otrio and I really like it. It’s like tic-tac-toe but there are a lot of ways to win. Me, and Daddy, and Luke like to play. It has a lot of pieces.

Maggie drew a picture of the whole family for me and she put it on top of the present. Inside the wrapping paper was a Minion kickboard to use at the pool. It is fun. We named it Dave.

I also had eclair cake for my birthday. It was delicious and we used different candles.

This is me blowing out my candles. I am getting ready to eat my cake. I forget what I wished for.

This is me with my Minion goggles on. Mommy got them as part of my decorations for my birthday. They were funny and they were hard to put on.

My birthday was the best.

Sandy says: These are just some of the moments and things that made Adam’s birthday so special for him. He celebrated twice (thus the two cakes) and he had so many people help make turning eight super fun. He’s a very loved kid.

Adam turned eight last month. I’ll keep taking these pictures for as long as he’ll let me.

Here’s a look back:

I think that bear is shrinking. It’s really the only explanation.

It started to rain yesterday while we waited for the boys at the bus stop. Maggie was thrilled to be able to use Ad’s umbrella. (Maggie always calls Adam “Ad” and pronounces Luke as “Wuke.”)

I couldn’t decide which of these pictures was the cutest – so you get them all.

Annie received this soft blanket and cuddly bunny from her great grandparents in Florida. I wanted to take a picture to include in the thank you note we sent and she turned on the smiles for me.

She really is a happy (and cute!) baby.

School started Wednesday and both boys had a great first day.

They looked super handsome. Mabel took them shopping for first (and second) day of school outfits again this year (and new sneakers as well – they aren’t spoiled at all).

They were thrilled with the clothes though and loved the special shopping trip with Mabel and her friend, Melanie.

The girls and I went out and got our traditional first day cookie cake for dessert that night.

It’s hard to believe that next year Maggie will be joining them!

I asked the boys what they wanted to do on their last day of summer vacation. They both said they wanted to go to the pool and then get ice cream. Adam also mentioned visiting a playground – so we tacked that on as well.

I took the kids to the pool after lunch. Annie dipped her toes in the water (wasn’t a fan) and then took a nap. When Dave got home from work we went to a playground for a picnic dinner and then stopped for ice cream on the way back home. Adam and Luke had just enough time for showers and a couple chapters of “Charlie and Chocolate Factory” before bed.

They were also handing out ice cream bars to the kids at the school today.

Maggie thoroughly enjoyed hers.

We went to the boys’ school today and dropped off their school supplies and met their teachers. Well, we met Adam’s teacher. We already know Luke’s teacher – since he lucked out and got the same teacher Adam had for first grade (and we’re thrilled!). Adam’s teacher is new to their school this year and is the only male classroom teacher in the building. Adam was so excited to be in his class because, “Boy teachers are really rare.”

In case you’re wondering what was on their school supply lists…

For third grade, Adam needed:

• 2 boxes of #2 pencils, sharpened 12 ct.
• 1 Crayola crayons, 24 ct.
• 1 set colored pencils, 12 ct.
• 6 large Elmer’s glue sticks
• 2 highlighters
• 1 package of notebook paper, wide ruled, 120 ct.
• 3 one subject spiral wide ruled notebooks
• 1 Post It Notes, 3” x 3”, yellow, 100ct
• 1 composition book,  wide ruled, black marble cover, 100 pg. 8×10
• 2 packs of pencil top erasers, 12 ct
• 1 red plastic Communicator Folder (School Student Store)
• 1 silver plastic folder (School Student Store)
• 1 headphones with volume control

For first grade, Luke needed:

• 2 boxes #2 Ticonderoga pencils, sharpened
• 2 large pink erasers
• 2 highlighters
• 1 Elmer’s glue, 4 oz. school/washable
• 6 large Elmer’s glue sticks
• 4 boxes Crayola crayons, 24 ct
• 1 box Crayola Broad Line Markers, Classic Colors, 10 ct.
• 1 pair of Fiskars scissors
• 1 set of Crayola Water Color Paints, 8 ct w/ brush
• 4 dry erase markers, black  1
• 1 school box, 5”x 8”
• 1 white 3 ring binder w/ front plastic pocket, 1 Inch
• 1 one subject spiral wide-ruled notebook
• 1 red plastic Communicator Folder (School Student Store)
• 1 each vinyl folders:  yellow, green, purple, orange (School Student Store)
• 1 headphones with volume control

Two more days until school starts!

We went to the zoo today for the first time in forever. We got lucky and Fiona, the baby hippo, was out with her mom, Bibi.

Adam, our hippo lover, snapped this cute picture of the two of them.

The three big kids wore their Team Fiona shirts from Mabel.

We also visited the baby giraffes and flamingos, a baby takin and an okapi, and we looked for the baby rhino (he and his mom weren’t out in the yard today though).

Maggie posed herself like this. She loved having her picture taken with the statues.

Annie spent her first zoo visit sleeping. She woke up as we were leaving.

Hopefully we’ll be able to see the real baby rhino on our next visit.