Time to go home

Why does Jillian have that huge smile on her face on the airplane ride from Seattle to Kona? Well, duh! She had a super fantastic time in Illinois and Ohio this year!!!!!!!!

The Great Lakes Science Center

We went to the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland on our last day in Ohio. It was a ton of fun and a huge amount of interesting things to touch, learn, and do. We're not really sure what this thing does, but it sure was cool to spin around.

We tried to build an arch like the one in St. Louis, but were not very successful. The blocks kept falling away from the wall.

Here is Jillian and Nana experimenting with a device that makes puffs of smoke. Jillian would push down on it and a perfect donut of smoke would come out. Pretty neat!

Ice cream with the cousins

Jillian doesn't get to see her cousins in Ohio very often, but when she does it is guaranteed to be a great time. Here is Jillian being silly with her cousins at the ice cream bar after a fun night of dinner and lizard viewing at the Winking Lizard Tavern.

Fantastic four wheelin' fun!

Uncle Justin and Uncle Jake have a four wheeler and it is awesome! Who knew that riding the four wheeler around the yard could be such an amazing time. We think that Jillian's two uncles had just as much fun as Jillian did.

Nana's Pets

For the seven days that we were in Ohio, Jillian was in dog and cat heaven. Nana and Papa Dan have three dogs and two cats. Jillian gave these animals more attention than they could have ever hoped for. The puppy and kitty playtime was exhausting for all that were involved. Here in this picture, the dogs are resting up, and Jillian has wrapped them up for their nap.

Haircuts in Hannibal

Now it is time to be serious. Only Aunt Katie can cut Jillian's hair.

Uncle CJ gives Jillian a pony tail.

Aunt Natalie gets a new doo.

Just practicing.

For the love of Mimi

There are two things that Jillian has an excess of. One is energy and the other is love.

Mimi was the recipient of Jillian's abundance of love for a few days while we were in Quincy at Pop-Pop's house. Mimi wasn't sure what to do with all that love. Mimi didn't run and hide at the first sight of Jillian and was actually quite tolerant of all the holding and cuddling.

Sharing the couch with Cuzn' Ava

Sharing the couch with Cousin Ava was a great concept but wasn't so easy to apply in reality. The first thirty minutes or so of bedtime was filled with playing, kicking, giggling, and horseplay.

The Final Flat Rock Picture

Here is a picture of Grandma Suzy, Aunt Allie, Cousin Ava, Mama, Aunt Natalie, and Jillian at Flat Rock. This is an area that is just off in the woods near Grandma Eleanor's house in Missouri. This place is very special to Mama and all her sisters because they used to play here as little girls. This was the last visit to Flat Rock because the property was sold the next day.

Tie-dying for the new baby

After Aunt Natalie's (Pregnant Lily) baby shower, everyone got together to tie dye some baby clothes and rags. It was a group effort and very messy. Almost all of the participants had blue and purple hands the next day.

Hissing Aunties

Jillian is having some fun with her three aunts- Aunt Allie, Aunt Natalie, and Aunt Katie. They are pretending to be cats and hissing at the camera.

Jillian and Pop-Pop

Pop-Pop gives the best shoulder rides!

Getting a bird's eye view of the baby shower in Pacific, MO.

Goodbye Kindergarten! Hello First Grade!

Jillian the graduate.

Last year the graduating Kindergarten class got their pictures put on posters and then hung up on the stage. It was such a big hit, that it was continued this year. This year the teachers asked each student what they wanted to be when they grow up and also included that on the poster. Jillian said, "I want to be a Mom, have kids, and be a doctor." We are so proud!!!

Poniolo Party Fun!

Jillian got her face-painted as a dog.

The Poniolo (Cowboy) Party is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Jillian's school. It is usually scheduled earlier in the year, but this year there was a conflict with another big event in Kona so the party got pushed back until the last weekend of school. Jillian had an amazing time playing and petting all the animals that were at her school. Jillian is an animal lover.

Jillian gets her first pedicure

Jillian and her Mama went out and had some fun on their day off. The day started with lunch at Wendy's (Jillian's choice) and then they moved over to get a Mama/daughter pedicure before some shopping at Macy's

Jillian checks out one of God's promises

On this evening in May it was raining at the house and mauka, but it was almost sunset. The sun was low enough on the horizon that it was beyond and below the clouds on the horizon and so it was shining in on Kona. The sun was just at the perfect angle to create a majestic rainbow right behind our house. Jillian stood out on our lanai and watched the rainbow for long time.

Mother's Day Presentation

Jillian and her one and only.

Here is a shot of Jillian bringing her Mama a special made Mother's Day card and a leigh. The Kindergarten class worked all week on their special gifts.

Mouse Attack Team J2

Since the April Fools Kitty was just that... not real, Jeremy and Jillian trapped a mouse under the stove. These two mouse hunters were armed with a flashlight and a sticky trap so the mouse pretty much had no chance whatsoever of making it out from under the stove alive.

Pajama Day at school

Does it get any better than swinging on the monkey bars in your PJ's?

Easter 2011

This is what happens when you are six years old, loaded up with sugar, and the lookout for more candy.

A hidden easter egg is spotted on the far side of the yard.

Jillian's Easter dress. Jillian and Mama actually bought four dresses because they could not decide which one was the prettiest so they got them all. Jillian had an Easter dress the entire month of April.