Buck

So it's almost Fall and I couldn't be happier to see it cool down and welcome the season. We have a fabulous Mexican vacation in the near future and it'll be the ideal time to get away and when we return, we shall do so in the weather we adore. Cabo San Lucas ought to be perfect this time of year too. In the meantime, young Michael is growing (literally..at about 36 lbs) and thriving. He is pure joy. His vocabulary is expansive and his spirit is like none I've seen in a little boy. He loves to cuddle and hug and he reminds us all to laugh and hug and be grateful.

He is my little buddy and I can't imagine a life without him.

Elena, the amazing five- (going on 20) year old.

Elena's new thing...A secret 'passage-way' to her friend, Kelsey, who lives next door...They pass notes and 'wishes' (aka tree leafy things) to eachother through the fence. It's insanely cute and the kind of play I love to see. The creative stuff. The stuff that makes you feel so secretive and special and girly. I remember it as a kid and the feeling of having forts and special secret pathways...My little girl is SO growing up. And with SIX looming in a few days, I find myself staring at her with nostalgia and pride. My baby, my La, my tiny adult...how I love you. (and P.S...Elena MADE this framed vase with my Mom for my birthday. She even pressed the flowers for the vase. So we framed it and hung it on the wall).

Tough Mudder.

My Tough Mudder and my Mudder Brudder had a great time, teaming up for the 2011 Tough Mudder in Squaw last week. They completed in about five hours and will forever have a great memory of the event. Mike and Josh completed their team and I would suspect, we'll see them team up again as soon as this crazy event returns. Tomorrow brings Ryan's first half marathon and in a few weeks, the full. Phew, buddy.

Not busy, BUSY.

Oh, these beautiful children consume my heart and scanning through these pictures fills me with pride. What amazing kids we had and what amazing days these are. But busy, they are! And now that Daddy has been awarded the Green Capital Alliance-University of Phoenix MBA scholarship in Energy Management, we are so proud and prepping for an even busier life. In the meantime, we are preparing for our December Cabo San Lucas trip (see the passport pictures that I found very amusing), enjoying soccer days with Elena and making time for lots of fun with friends and just as a family.

Elena is eager for her Candyland party coming up next month and is receiving an iPod (though she doesn't know it yet, of course) with her Justin Bieber music dowloaded on it...I took her birthday off and will be in her classroom to help that day. The party is the 8th.... And as you can see, Elena hates all things fancy and pretty (not). She is full on diva/drama gal and we couldn't be happier to have her that way. We're just working on how to manage her spunky personality and her (almost) six years of knowledge that likes to dictate everyone's place and role in her life (sigh). I wonder whose kid she is... ;)

Michael is speaking in darn full sentences these days and took charge of his 'after-breakfast' cleanup this morning. He walked to the bathroom, turned on the light and tried to pump soap onto his hands. He needed a little help, but I stress little. He even pats his little hands in the sink before he moves to the towel (to keep them from dripping on the floor).

He marched in our room the other night, holding a blue balloon and circling the bed, waiting for one of us to wake and add him to what has become, our family bed. The kid is so darn cute and proudly now announces himself as "Michael Dohs."

The loves of my life live at 4041 Samuel Way....The proud, the mighty, the "Dohs" family.

A bun, a monk-me and a bum.

Young Michael is full of words, but they aren't all correct. Selflishly, we hate to see the pronunciation begin to improve and relish the days he says, "Bun" for bug; "Bum" for gum; "Monk-me" for monkey; and "Bee-ah (sounds like beer)" for bear.

Elena is knee-deep in soccer this year and seems to love it so much more than she ever did before. I hope it's an ongoing trend, as it would be such a nice sport for her to continue. She also wants to do the El Dorado Theatre Academy soon, so we're keeping our eyes open for the audition date. She's busy with birthday parties and is very excited for her own. Invitations just went out and they are amazing, if I do say so myself. The party plans are almost complete and we are all looking forward to her big day.

Daddy is busy running and running...and running these days. We find him insane, but are awfully proud of the commitment. His first marathon is November 6th, but he has several other races in the coming weeks. We also just received HUGE news that he was awarded a full ride scholarship to University of Phoenix for a MBA in Energy Management (Green Technology). He competed and was chosen for this $30k opportunity. It's going to be a long road (since I need to get my Master's Degree after he does), but we're hoping we can manage it!

And lastly, Mommy got the promotion she's been waiting to receive for a very long time. Last Friday, the 'scream heard 'round the world' rang in our home and my boss/friend, Keri surprised me by assembling 'my people' at the Purple Place to celebrate. She went all out with cake, balloons, a shirt I've been coveting and a huge bar bill she never should have paid. Regardless, I was very touched and I will remember it forever. I am thrilled and scared and grateful.

What a year we've had so far with gifts like we could never have imagined. The biggest gifts, of course, remain the two young Grohs kids.

Growing Grohs

My babies, darn them. They just won't stop the growing.


It's so obvious with Michael on a daily basis...he knows his colors (pretty much), can count to 1o and has completely stopped uttering, 'mmmm' for 'yes' and instead now says, yes or uh-hum.' Two weeks ago, he said, 'I you' for 'I love you' and today he says, 'I yuv you.' He speaks in 5 word sentences and just yesterday morning woke up to say, 'Me toot. Pancakes.' The kids knows what he wants and yesterday, he wanted to toot and eat. He also climbs into bed on his own and last night, slept there all night (SO rare). He has not once climbed out of his new big boy bed and has done so well without his pacifier...it's only a memory now. Gosh darn kid. His recent 'facial yeast infection,' a result of the old pacifier, is almost gone, but some funny doctor office and remedy photos are posted here.


Elena is ridiculously growing up with fury that fills her pink cheeks and passion that makes her embrace us and pour out words of affection at unusual times. She dresses herself every day and almost never picks out something that looks wrong. In fact, the kid's got style and will add bows, necklaces and the right shoes most of the time. We rode bikes together tonight (while Daddy and Michael went to gymnastics) and as we stopped at the library, she read the 'Open' sign. She does that a lot lately with short words. Kindergarten will propel that ability, but she has a great start and it's nuts. Fairly soon, Ryan and I will have to start finding code words instead of spelling our four letter spewings. Though Elena has her moments, we are finding our way together and I pray that kid grows up with the heart she has now. Pure love. And it goes right back to her.



Pictured here are Elena's lemonade stand at my Mom's a couple months ago...not sure I ever posted. And our weekend trip to Hooverville on Saturday, complete with live rotisserie pig. Makeup on Mommy, Michael's 'facial troubles,' his new train (a pacifier-free gift) and a nice one of my Mom and Dad laughing together. I just like that one.

Bye, Assey.

Today, Michael said goodbye to his pacifier, his "Assey." Honestly, it was too soon in my opinion, but he has a rash that develops from it and it's gotten to be too much to manage all the time. So my brave boy who sleeps in his big boy bed, now does so without a pacifier. Granted, he's only had the one nap and it was rough, but he did it and he's growing up. Please also see his 'fake sleeping' photo, his first drawing of a face, his art project and a family bike ride. He is such a part of this family and I wonder what we ever did without him.