This is my dog Ike. He just got a haircut yesterday, and my Mommy is soooo happy! She was very sick of picking doghair out of me and my sister's mouth, and having to vaccuum everyday to get rid of the "hairball tumbleweeds" that seemed to take over our house. And if you ask me, I think he likes it. Strike a pose Ike-y!
Can you find me in this picture? Yesterday my family and I went to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch to pick some goodies to take back home with us. I had such a fun time picking the apples off the trees and finding just the right pumpkin. I tried to put the pumpkin in Eliza's carseat with her, as it looked like a great way to transport it home, but Mommy and Daddy thought the back of the car might be a better spot for it. 
Then later we got to have some cider and chili, and took an apple pie home with us for dessert. If I would have known fall was so cool and tasted so good, I would have put my swim trunks away a long time ago! 
Where, O where, has my Daddy gone? I keep seeing him walk out of the house with a very funny looking contraption. My Mommy says that it's almost hunting season again, and that Daddy has to practice shooting his bow and arrow. If I remember right, I think he brought me home a pet deer about this time last year. A very quiet pet deer if my memory serves me correctly, but a pet deer nonetheless. 
So good luck Daddy, I'll be waiting right here for you when you get back!
I like to call this piece "Dana Jae: The Toddler Years". I know it might be hard for the naked eye to see, but this really is a self-portrait. If you look closely you can see my red eyes, and my yellow nose, and my red and orange hair. If you would have seen the real me about five minutes after this picture was taken you could have seen my red and orange hair in person. My Mommy says she is very thankful to Crayola for inventing Washable Fingerpaint.
This pic is for all the skeptics out there who don't believe my Mommy exists. Everyone keeps asking me where she is, so here you go! My elusive, and hardly ever seen without the camera in her face Mommy. (And my baby sister, who I have discovered is really quite lazy. I've never seen someone sleep so much in my life!) 
On Saturday me, my Mommy, my Nana, and my Aunt Krista and her girls all went to feed the ducks. We had so much fun, even though one of the big white ones kept trying to bite my toes, and no matter how much coaxing I did they wouldn't let me hold them. I was so tired afterward that I booted my cousin Roxy out of her stroller so I could have a much needed rest. When did they start making those things so small?
So my Mommy thought it was pretty funny today when she walked into her bedroom and found me reading her Bible. I think she was hoping I was reading the passage about "honoring your father and mother", but actually I found a nice little diddy in Ephesians, talking to parents about "not exasperating your children".... I think I'm going to have to file that one away for future use. :)
Oh sweet summer, how short you were, and how much you will be missed! Already I see my Mommy putting up my pool, tucking away by beach towel, and hauling out my long sleeved shirts. And was it my imagination, or was the neighbor dog wearing a sweater this morning? (It was actually quite cute, a little pink and brown argyle number.) I guess we'll see you next year warm weather! (Now does anyone have any apple cider? Pumpkin pie? Cinnamon sticks? If we have to welcome in fall, let's at least do it right!)
My Mommy said that since Eliza is too little to write her own blog, that I need to include her in mine. I guess this is all right, it's not like she's taking over anything else of mine yet. Hey, wait a minute... is that my big girl bed she's laying on? And my carseat? And my green pillow? OK, so it's not my green pillow, but I can see where this is going.... 
Daddy, I just wanted to tell you how much fun I've had with you the last few weeks, you are the best playmate a little girl could ever ask for! I love spending time with you, and am so sad that you have to go back to school tomorrow. Those kids are so lucky to be able to be with you all day long! (If I'm good, will you take me with you? Mommy's no good at playing Horsie, and she can't hold a tune while singing the "Merry-Go-Round" song to save her life.) I'm going to miss you!
I would like to say a very big thank-you to my second cousins Jennifer and Lindsey for outgrowing their swingset and wanting to get a trampoline instead. Now I have a playground in my own backyard!!! I have had so much fun on it already, and have only fallen off the swings once. I'm going to blame that one on Daddy though, how could he not have known that I would want to jump off mid-swing?
