Donn Snedaker

We have had a difficult few weeks. Our friend Donn Snedaker passed away. Sned was like a Father to Tony and a Grandpa to Christopher. Christopher was named after Sned.

Sned was a teacher at our school for 32 years. He taught Tony, Me, all my siblings, my nieces and nephews. I truelly believe that no child accidently ended up in his classroom. He accepted the kids that needed extra help; educationally and emotionally.

I have been giving and doing philanthropic deeds forever, but I feel like I am not doing enough. Tony and I have sponosred 4 orphans for the last 5 years. All are out of the orphanage and have graduated vocational training. We have sent Christmas gifts to hundereds of kids in the orphanages each year. We sent blankets, sheets and coats to every child in one orphanage. We give food to the food panty, give toys to the daycare but am searching for a way to fill my philanthropic void.

Sned helped kids much deeper than what we do, I want to be like him.

Slip N Slide

We had a fun cookout with some Alpha Phi sisters -- Christopher played on a slip n slide. I did not think he would like it, but boy was I wrong. He loved it and would run to the slide, then crawl the length of the water slide. Too funny. Good thing the big boys were patient.
Watching Alex slide fast.


Christopher with Alex McComb

So cute

Missy takes great pictures. Of course I forgot my camera. And did not get a picture of Missy, Jen Wilson and me.

We also visited our friends who just had a new baby and Christopher even let me hold her. I asked him if he wanted Momma to have a baby and he said I could just take Lila. I don't think Lila's family would agree. I wish I would have gotten a few pictures, she is super sweet.

I tried to get Christopher's hair trimmed, but all hair dressers were booked. Tony had been telling me he would cut it, and I had been holding off. I gave in and Tony used the clippers on all of Christopher's curls and blond locks. I almost had tears when all the hair started falling to the floor. Tony stopped during the first swipe to see if I was OK, but I said You can't stop now. Tony was joking with my nephew Rodney, telling him it was his turn. Rodney jumped onto the stool - so Tony buzzed him too. They look cute.

Christopher looks so grown up, not like a baby at all. He has been doing a very good job with potty training and tomorrow we are going to go with no diaper at daycare. Daycare said they are ready for him - I think that will be helpful for me. But I need to keep it up all weekend. Sometimes diapers are easier, for me. But it will be great when I no longer have butt duty.

Summer Fun

Christopher loves Leo and talks about him all the time. Leo is a water boy and jumps right in the pool but Christopher just wanted to sit on the edge and kick water. Leo's dad was Tony's room mate in college. It is funny to see this picture of both of them as Daddies.

This picture reminds me of my brother Bill - he use to wear cowboy boots and underroos when we were kids. Christopher was dancing all around the house in this outfit.

Grandpa Joe bought this horse for Christopher for his Birthday and for 6 months he would pet it but would not get on it. One day last week, he climbed on it by himself and started riding.

For the Fourth of July there was a parade in town. Christopher liked it because it had firetrucks, ambulances, and horsey cars (that is a Mustang). Then we went to the Obermeyer's for a cookout. While the dads shot off fireworks the moms and boys hide under an umbrella from the rain. The little boys liked a few of the small fireworks but would not look up in the air to see the larger ones.

Christopher and Leo play so well together.

Christopher made this "4th of July" shirt at school.

Christopher's first Reds game

Christopher has seen the Reds at Spring Training but we have not taken him to a game a Great American Ballpark. When I came home from work he was already asking "ballplayers?", "ballgame?". He had a fun time - he ate 2 hot dogs and a bag of popcorn and drank a soda. I wanted to get him some peanuts but I was afraid he would puke. Those 3 things (hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts) are his favorite foods.

After the 4th inning we walked around and he saw the river with the boats --- another exciting site. We had to walk around because there was an annoying White Soxs fan behind us and Tony couldn't take it much longer. The Reds did win, would have been nice to be sitting by the annoying White Soxs fan when they lost.

They were having fireworks after the game - but we didn't stick around to watch.

On the way home I asked about his favorite part of the ballgame and he said it was the boats.

He also went to a public potty for the first time -- all exciting news.

Big boy bed

I converted Christopher's crib into a toddler bed two days ago. He is getting so big. He probably weighs 40 lbs. It was becoming difficult to pick him up to put him in bed. He has been eating like a machine lately - so I expect him to have another growth spurt.

He has slept in the bed without issue, he does have a safety rail. The first night I heard him crying and all I could think was he is stuck between the safety rail and the bed... I rushed in his room.... he just wanted chocolate milk. I worry about him all the time.

He woke up early today, I could hear him on the monitor "Momma, hold you! Momma, hold you!" So at 4 this morning, I went and held him and we rocked. He said he was scared. He has been telling me lately that he is scared of stuff. I don't know if he was really understands this concept, or if he knows that "scared concept" gets attention.

I held him, even after he fell asleep. He looked so sweet and precious sleeping. I held him until he began turning and rolling because he is outgrowing my lap. Other nights, He has asked me to put him in bed after a few minutes of holding because it is too hard for him to become comfortable on my lap any longer. It is bittersweet to watch him grow so quickly. He is such an angel.

More May stuff

Mothers day --- We bought me a new stroller for Mothers Day. Christopher is so tall that he has outgrown his old one. He likes his new one.


For the Indy 500 ... the Daycare had a Box care race. Tony made a Ford pickup truck from boxes and we decorated it. Christopher ran around the house with it on, but at the race.. the pressure was too much.. he was looking in the crowd for us, instead of running.



Yesterday we went tot he Stapp Farm in Greensburg. Christopher once again enjoyed the monkey and the tractor. He also feed an ear of corn to a giant steer. We also played with 3 baby goats that were 2 weeks old. He watched a 2 week old buffalo drink from a bottle. It is a cute place with bears, steer, deer, lamas, camels, goats, donkey, wolves, buffalo..... all kind of animals.

On the Tractor.... his favorite part

May

We took Christopher to the Cincy zoo. He enjoyed it. He walked most of the time. His favorite animals were the monkeys and his favorite part was the train and the popcorn. We only stayed a few hours and then he was tired and fell asleep before we got out of the parking lot.

Momma and Christopher

When he wasn't walking - this is where he would ride.

Waiting in line for the Train.

On the Train --- All Aboard