Boating 2015

 

Last summer we kept the boat in storage as we knew that with a newborn it would not be worth paying for a slip. So, for the first time in two years we've enjoyed getting the boat back into the water! The first year with a baby is always hard as they hate their life jacket and struggle to walk/play in the boat. They're not quite ready to play on the beach or in the water so mostly it takes a parent entertaining them at all times. But, we have proof that if you struggle through that first summer you will have excellent boaters for the rest of your summers!

 

Pretty happy guy when we are sitting still and he doesn't have to wear a life jacket.

I think Charlie said, "I love our boat!" about 15 times.

This is the first summer that the girls have liked sitting in the bow of the boat and telling Dad to "Go Faster!"

He doesn't like it when the boat is moving so it's easier on all of us if he takes a quick snooze.

 

Photo Credit: Tricia H.

11 Months

 

Will has learned lots of new tricks this month! He cruises along furniture, pulls up to stand everywhere and can even stand without assistance for a short period. He loves to walk around the house while pushing a box, or a chair, or a toy to help with support. He is starting to wave "Hi" and "Bye". He has started to refuse pureed foods and definitely prefers to feed himself. He has tried eggs, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, avocado, beans, cheerios, cheese, and crackers and even got to try some Mexican rice, French fries, and mac 'n cheese at a restaurant this week! And, he has started drinking water from a cup. Unfortunately, he has continued his regular schedule of a runny nose, cough, and ear infection about every 15 days. I took him to the ENT this week. His tubes look good, we just need him to catch a break from the constant colds. We'll see how he does with the summer weather and revaluate in a couple of moths.

 

When he is healthy he typically sleeps from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Give or take 30 minutes in either direction. He has started to have a little separation anxiety in the last month or so. If his favorite teacher is not in his room at daycare he cries when I drop him off. He also cries when she takes a lunch break of leaves for the day!

 

He laughs hysterically at the girls--they can get him laughing so hard that his face turns red and he struggles to catch his breath!

 

Walking around the house while pushing a chair.

Throwing things out of the pantry.

Drinking from a cup.

Goings On

 

Let's see. What have we been up to....

 

 

 

The teacher's from Charlie's room at daycare asked to take the girls to the Children's Museum a couple of Sunday's ago. I can't believe they were volunteering to spend more time with kids, but we happily loaned them Evy and Charlie for a few hours. They bought them these masks which the girls had a blast painting when they got home.

 

While the girls were at the Museum they got their blood pressure taken by nurses who were doing a special exhibit that day. They got to bring home this pair of blue medical gloves. One pair. After listening to the girls fight over the pair of gloves for a day I asked my friend, Dr. Tammy, to please bring us some extra pairs. Dr. Tammy saved the day and now everyone has their own pair of gloves. The gloves were in high demand when the girls were playing veterinarian. They have since forgotten about them.

After 14 years at my office I have decided to "hit pause" on my career for awhile. My last day in the office was April 30. I'm working from home through May and then possibly taking on the most taxing job I've ever had; stay at home mom!?!?! My mom sent me these flowers on my last day.

For some crazy reason I had the girls enrolled in dance, soccer, and swimming at the same time. Luckily swimming only lasted 4 weeks. This was Charlie's first time in swimming lessons. She passed the tadpole level with flying colors. Evy did so great they bumped her up a level part way through the session and she is now cleared to start level 5 in the summer! 

Soccer Time

The girls are signed up for spring soccer. This is Charlie's first year playing. She is so excited to do the things that Evy has been doing for 3 years.

 

After 3 years, Evy has found a little more confidence this year and is more willing to get into the pack. She scored 2 of her team's 3 goals the first night! She was so proud of herself and it was awesome to watch!

Rite of Passage

 

Charlie was so very excited to get invited to her first "friend" birthday party. She was been watching Evy go to parties for a couple of years now and was beyond excited that it was her turn. Her friend Nora turned 4 and had a fun party at the Children's Museum.

 

[Charlie coloring her crown]

[Trying on costumes with her friend Morgan. I think Charlie had a permanent smile on her face during the party]

 

I remembered this picture of Evy heading off to her first birthday party. Seems like it was yesterday. It was July 2012 and she was off to her friend Savannah's party.

 

 

Easter Rewind

The girls did a great job coloring their eggs. They had great patience and let the eggs soak for a long time which made vibrant colors!

 

 

We went to Grandma Joan's and Papa Jake's house for less than 24 hours but packed in a lot of fun with our cousins. The kids scored about 70 mini chocolate eggs each at the Lions Club Easter Egg hunt on Saturday morning.

 

Then we made nests filled with sugar with our cousins.

 

On Sunday morning the Easter Bunny came to our house and left eggs all over the yard.

 

I think last year's picture was of Charlie in her PJ's and Evy dressed in her new Easter dress. We can tell which one is going to be a fashion Diva.

 

The girls love their treats! Both of them consumed their chocolate bunnies, along with many other sweets, by the end of the day.

 

Will got a new sun hat from the Easter Bunny but unfortunately the size 12-18 month hat was too small.

 

We had beautiful weather so the girls got outside and rode bikes to burn all of the sugar off.

Charlotte Marie

 

On Fridays Charlie and Will stay home with me while Evy is at school. Charlie calls Fridays her "home day" and asks several times throughout the week when it's going to be her "home day." When I get Will down for his morning nap she likes to play board games. She likes to win the games and I let her win most of them. Occasionally I win, so she learns how to be a good sport.

 

The other night as we were getting ready for bed Charlie was talking about mommies and babies and I asked her if she wanted to have a baby when she grew up. She replied, "No. I want to be an elephant when I grow up."

 

Charlie was telling me about how she got into a disagreement with Ella at school. She said Ella called her a bully goat. I've heard Charlie say "bully goat" before and I think it's how she hears the word bully. I like "bully goat" better than I could ever like Billy Goat or bully.