Where Did June Go?

From 2007, when we started the blog, to the end of 2010, we failed to provide a posting a month only three times. We are only halfway through 2011 and we have already missed three months. June was the most recent victim. We have a series of excuses lined up, but when it really comes down to it, we are clearly having a tougher time with the one-on-one defense than we expected. In any case, although we were not busy writing blog posts in June, we were definitely busy.

June is a special month for the Bowes family, because it means we can make our annual visit to the glorious blueberry bushes at Reed Valley Orchards. We have written about the place often enough that we need not repeat previous statements. But this was Reese's first visit, so that made this particular trip even more important. Needless to say, she enjoyed the experience, and was happy to relax on the porch with John after spending some time in the sun.



It was pretty darn hot in the month of June. Fortunately we have the technology to set up a pool in our backyard very quickly. Who knew that a $5 purchase could provide so much fun for a 3 1/2 year old. Of course, as the picture shows, it also provides a lot of fun for a 38 year old. This action shot captures one of Callie's favorite moves, running across the yard and jumping into the pool. It's a move that is more difficult to pull off if you are over six feet tall.


Reese also had no problem joining in the fun with the pool. After spending the first several months of her life in cold weather apparel she was excited to break out the summer gear. Early indications are that she is a water bug, whether it's the pool or the bathtub, she's a fan.



Hopefully in the upcoming months we will get both of the girls to the community pool that is just a bit bigger than our backyard deal. Then we will see some serious swimming and splashing.


This was the first year that Callie was able to take part in the Music and Arts Camp put on by our church. She spent four hours a day for a week doing crafts and learning songs for a big performance on Friday. The big show was quite impressive - and we have a number of pictures of Callie sitting down watching it while every one else was performing. We certainly don't have a little girl who strives to be the center of attention when she is outside of our house. One of the best things about camp is she got to go with her two friends, Vivie Ann and Murphy. This picture is representative of their distinctive approaches to life. We look forward to watching them all grow up - they could be trouble in the years to come.


Lately we have been living for the weekends around here. This is in part because John spent half of June traveling for work and Sarah has taken on extra responsibilities at work. So when we have the time to relax and be together as a family, we take full advantage of the opportunity.



The above picture captures a morning when we made blueberry pancakes, stayed in our pajamas until noon, and enjoyed some good playtime. It is awesome that Callie is still so over the moon for her sister.

Speaking of her sister, by missing June we missed posting some important numbers. On June 11 Reese turned six months, which meant it was time to visit Dr. Warner to get some measurements and shots. So here we go. Reese weighed in at 12lbs 14oz, which placed her in the 5th percentile. Her height of 25 1/2 inches put her in the 45th percentile. And finally, her head circumference of 42 1/4 cm qualified her for the ranking of 45th percentile.



So what does all of that mean? It means Reese is one tiny little girl. Healthy as can be, and cheerful like you dream of...but tiny. Other developmental notes include that she is successfully sleeping from about 7:30pm to 5am each night. She still has an aversion to eating solid food (aka pureed veggies) but we hope that changes soon. She is also starting to babble a lot, which is fun, and she is sitting up by herself. Crawling may not be too far away, but we shall see.


While John was away in Oklahoma City, Sarah, Callie, and Reese returned to Reed Valley for the Blueberry Pancake Jubilee with Vivie Ann, Mason, and their mother Jessica. Vivie Ann and Callie were ready and raring to go when the berry picking began. Although this was the Johnson family's first visit to the orchard, they were quick to see the appeal of the place.


The Blueberry Pancake Jubilee is something we have wanted to do for the last couple of years, but for a variety of reasons we have always missed it. This year we were able to not only pick blueberries, but also enjoy the pancake breakfast and a horse drawn carriage ride. Needless to say, we had a blast. Callie and Vivie Ann were very good workers while picking. Mason managed to eat far more blueberries than he placed in the containers.


So here's a picture of the four kids relaxing after their picking efforts. We have had a ton of fun hanging out with the Johnsons this summer, and the kids are a fun handful.



It's also important to share that Mason's love/affection for Reese almost surpasses Callie's in intensity. Indeed, he cannot be left alone with Reese if she is in reaching distance. It's pretty enjoyable to watch Seth and Jessica constantly restrain their son in Reese's presence.




The final picture for this post shows Callie and Reese in matching outfits sent to them by GA Teri. Callie loves the dress and is tickled that it matches her sister's outfit. We hope that this is only the beginning of a growing relationship between our daughters. We already have pictures from the 4th of July, so hopefully our next post won't be too far in the future.