We are finally settling into our new home in Massachusetts.  Not much time to go shopping, so we still have half the house to furnish.  Jeff's been extremely busy around the house (well any chance he gets that is).  Lots of yard work and lots of updates to the house and Papa is still helping us with lots of things too. The house is really starting to feel like our own now.  The kids are keeping busy, the girls are in swimming lessons and Keeley is also enrolled in gymnastics. Aidan's fun is being chased around by his sisters all day long.  They have a new giant swing set/clubhouse which they love.  It has lot so fun things to do to keep them all busy.  We visited WI earlier at the end of last month and stayed at Auntie Amy and Uncle Cary's resort with the rest of the Pierzchalski clan.  We posted a folder of pictures to tell the fun we had.  The girls loved fishing and Aidan loved playing in the sand all day long.  We also had a birthday party for Aidan and Elle's first birthdays.  Aidan had another birthday party back in MA.  We also celebrated the two Ryan's birthdays this month (5) and (8).  Lots of parties!  Work has been very busy for both Tara and Jeff and we've all been trying to stay cool with the very high temps in MA and very high humidity which none of us are use to!

The biggest news we have to share with this update is that we are expected another addition to our family in December.  Keeley, Kaelin and Aidan are excited about the new baby and Mommy's growing belly. Keeley has named the baby "Sharly" (when asked where she came up with that name she said "The Oompa Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gave it to me, but I haven't been to the factory yet to say thank you to them"...but it WON'T stick, believe us!).  We'll post an ultrasound picture soon, the little baby appears to be a girl! (yes, Aidan and Daddy are going to be out numbered! and we WON'T be trying to even up the numbers :-) in the future!

Aidan is 13 months old now!  His vocabulary is expanding every day--Today "boon" for  balloon.  But his favorites are still "MORE!" and "No!".  He has learned most of his baby sign language signs and can speak all his animal sounds (he loves dogs).  He's very much into trucks and balls--a true boy even at 1!  He gets very excited at seeing guitars and loves to strum them.  Aidan takes directions very well already (he'll bring his diaper to the garbage, get the tv clicker for his sisters and help them play clean up with the toys.  We celebrated his first birthday again with a family pool party earlier this month, pictures are posted.  Aidan was at Children's Hospital in Boston last week for a planned surgery to correct an obstruction in his ureter (the tube that goes from his left kidney to his bladder was too narrow, causing his kidney to dilate).  The surgery to correct the problem went perfectly, although it was very rough for all of us.  4.5 hours in surgery on Friday and a 4 day stay at the hospital.  A day after the operation, you wouldn't even know he had anything done (except for the fact that he had tons of tubes sticking in/out of him and a three inch incision across his belly).  He recovered remarkably well and was flirting with all the nurses during his stay!  We've posted some pictures of his hospital visit.

Kaelin is 27 months old.  Talking up a storm in very long sentences and beginning to tell stories too.  It's hysterical to hear her talk some times. She wants to know about everything ("Why Mommy", "How come Daddy", etc.etc.)  She's such a sweetheart but in the middle of her terrible twos as well....She loves playing dress up, singing, making projects and playing with her baby Darlene. She continues to adore her "brully" (even though she can clearly say "brother", this nickname has stuck! and is so gentle and loving with him.  Kaelin loves trying to impress us and is constantly saying "Look what I can do!" and putting herself in very funny positions.  She loves the pool and is getting good at swimming these days.  Anytime she sees letters written on anything, she begins reciting the alphabet.  We have a horse farm close to our house and she loves to stop there to looking at her favorite horses.

Keeley is 3 1/2.  She too is very inquisitive these days about everything, odd things...Last night--"Why did all the dinosaurs die Daddy", "Where did they go?". Try explaining extinction to a 3 year old! and this morning when she wanted to call Uncle Brady 3k miles away, we said she couldn't because it was 6am there and he'd still be sleeping.  She then inquired about why the time was different and we went on to try to explain that the sun comes up later there and when that explanation didn't sit well with her, we had to further explain the time zones.   With every explanation comes another dozen questions "But why?...".   Even though Kaelin doesn't understand some of Keeley's more complicated questions, she always follows Keeley by asking the same ones.  It's very cute.  Keeley is also learning to add and subtract. She is currently on a kick of asking how everything she views is spelled.  She's taking the summer off from preschool but we'll enroll her again come September. She still talks of found memories from her school in LA and her best friend Arthur.  Keeley is in a summer gymnastics program--she's great at walking on the balance beam and she's working on perfecting her summersaults.  Next week our swim instructor might be able to take Keeley under the water at swim class.

Upcoming birthdays & events include:

• August 10th Mommy and Daddy's 4th Wedding Anniversary
• August 16th Auntie Kelley's 34th Birthday
• August 25th Uncle Cary's 47th Birthday
• August 27th Nana and Papa's 39th Wedding Anniversary
• September 5th Cousin Falyn's 7th Birthday
• September 19th Papa's 60th Birthday
• September 19th Auntie Kelley and Uncle Sean's 8th Wedding Anniversary
• October 5th Daddy's 35th Birthday
• October 15th Cousin Natalia's 3rd Birthday
• October 30th Uncle Tony's 42nd Birthday