I looked back through my blogs & I was much better at this in the beginning. Once a week??? I really had good intentions. Time just goes by way too fast. We've had a great summer. Lots of swimming, splash zones, zoo, friends, family and HEAT!!! Just what summer's supposed to be.
On 06/24 Daddy & Seany went to see Cars 2. Sean said he liked it better than the first one because there were more characters. And of course, all of the characters are available for purchase!! Just what we need, something else to collect. Speaking of things to collect, Sean's latest are plush pigs & birds from Angry Birds. I guess it's a game you play on an iphone. It's the craze right now. ;) On 06/28 we enjoyed an evening with the Boccaccios. They were here visiting from Africa. We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse & then came home & visited for awhile. It was so nice to spend time with them & have them spend time with Sean & Evie. Jason & I were a big part of their kids lives when they were Sean & Evie's ages. Time really does go by too fast. Sean was SO excited about fireworks this year. He couldn't wait to go shopping for them. Unfortunately, his whining (which we struggle with sometimes) lost him the priviledge of shopping for fireworks on 06/29. It was pitiful and so hard for me as a parent, but I had to stick to my guns. He cried himself to sleep in Aunt Mary's bed while we were waiting for a fridge to be delivered. I told him if he had a better attitude the next day, he'd be able to go buy some. Thankfully, he changed his attitude & was able to go to the fireworks store the next day. Grandma & Puppa gave him money too, so while Evie & I stayed at their house for dinner, Sean & Daddy went shopping. He got strobe lights, fountains, pops, sparklers and smoke balls. We did fireworks every night over 4th of July weekend. Grandpa Jim bought Sean a multi-pack and Grandma Sue & Grandpa Larry got him some pops too. Evie wasn't too crazy about the fountains or smokeballs, but she loved the pops. She'd throw them & say "pop"! On 07/05, we celebrated Puppa's birthday because he'd be up north on his actual birthday. Josh & Sarah came over for dinner too. Evie loved sitting in Puppa's lap while every one sang and she kept picking up his spoon to feed her more frosting from the cupcakes. 07/08 we picked Seany & Paige up from Grandma Sue & Grandpa Larry's and met cousin Nicole, cousin Amanda & the kids at the zoo. It was really hot, so we didn't see many animals, but the kids loved the dinosaur exhibit. Sean was our tour guide & Evie just rode in the wagon waiving at the dinosaurs & saying "rawr". We finished the night with dinner at Red Lobster with Grandma. We got a meal that came with dessert & Evie loved finishing off our brownie sundae. At one point she had a spoon in each hand. She doesn't growl as much when she eats anymore, but she says "mmmm" while she eats if she really likes something. On 07/09 we went to breakfast with Aunt Susie & Grandma. Later that afternoon we went to Ethan's 4th birthday party. Evie loved fishing for duckies in the baby pool. After the party, we met Aunt Mary, Uncle Scott & Grandma for dinner. Evie kept saying "got". She thought it was funny when Mary would say "no, say Aunt Mary", so she just kept pointing to Scott & saying "got". We finished the evening swimming with Grandma. On 07/10 we went to church & then met Daddy at home. We missed him SO much!! But, Sean protected me & kept me from being sad while he was gone. He's a good boy. On 07/13 we attempted to go to the zoo with Kiara & Grandpa Jim, but it was full!! I guess after weeks of 85-100 degree weather, everyone wanted to do something outside on a 75 degree day! So, we improvised & went to Great Lake Crossing instead. When we got in, there was a claw machine with Angry Bird pigs just outside of Rainforest Cafe. I won a pig (a pig that would normally cost us $20) for $1.50. That was the highlight of everyone's day (well, mine & Seany's at least ;). On 07/15, Daddy went into work late & we went to Bob Evan's for breakfast. I love days off like that. I wish Daddy never had to work! 07/16 was Grandpa Larry's family reunion. We enjoyed showing off the kids. Evie & Sean loved playing on the stairs in the santuary at Maranatha. Later that night we picked Paiger up, went swimming & then got an ice cream. It was a full day!! 07/17 We went to church & then to Liam's 6th birthday party. When we got home, Grandma & Puppa came over for dinner. We blasted "If you're happy & you know it" (Evie's favorite right now) and danced in the kitchen. She's great at the clapping, stomping & woo-hooing. :) 07/18 was Evie's ear tube surgery. Grandpa Jim came over at 7:00 to stay with Sean, while me, Daddy, Grandma & Evie went to the surgery center. Evie did amazing. I was so worried that she'd ask for something to eat or drink, but she just played with her baby & us in the waiting room. She even played & remained calm when we went in the back. She cried when the nurses had to take her from us. I cried too. :( Coming out of the sedation was hard for her too. She cried for a solid hour, hour and a half. It was hard for everyone involved. Even Sean's heart broke for his sister. He wanted to make her happy, but he couldn't. After a bubba & a nap, Evie was good as new. We're looking forward to a much happier & healthier fall & winter!! On 07/20 we went over to Mrs. Jenny's house to swim. It was 99 degrees outside and it got even hotter the next day. This was a tough week to be outside! 07/22 we met Grandpa Jim, Aiden, Liam, Aunt Val, Alex & Nathan at the Warren splash pad. The fountains there stop & start again, so Evie got quite a few faces full of water! She didn't seem to mind though, cause she just kept going back for more! 07/23 we went to breakfast & then shopping with Grandma. Evie is a shopper!! Good thing she doesn't have her own credit card and that most places have carts to confine her!! We went to Borders Express because they're closing & Sean found a talking Angry Bird pig there. Woo-hoo!! This was the day he hired Grandma to be his assistant for his birthday party too. He's planning himself a surprise party at Warren Community Center. Grandma's job is to buy him presents, tell everyone when to yell surprise and most importantly, she's suppose to make him forget, so that he can be surprised. :) Good luck Grandma!! After shopping with Granmda, we went to Staples with Aunt Annette, Connor & Ella to finish shopping for school supplies. Can't believe my BABY is starting Kindergarten soon. He gets mad at me when I whine about it. He tells me that he has to grow up. That my mom probably whined when I started growing up, but I grew up anyway. It's just how it is. Leave it to Sean to put me in my place! Later that day we went to memberfest at the zoo with the Wilsons. The Dinosaur exhibit & train rides were free and most of the animals were out. Probably my best Detroit Zoo experience yet. 07/26 we celebrated Paiger's 11th birthday. Everyone came to our house for dinner. Poor Andy had to go to the vet for stitches, so she wasn't up for partying. Sean broke Daddy's heart later that night because he was devastated when he tried to wake Andy up & couldn't. Daddy explained that she was just tired from her stitches & she was fine. He took him outside with Andy, to show him she was ok. Sean was scared that she'd die like his last dog. Poor baby still misses his Dani girl. :( 07/27 Sean went to the splash zone with Grandpa Jim, Aiden & Liam while me & Evie came home to hang out with Kiara, Rory & Mrs. Amanda. After Evie's nap, we went to the Mach's. Sean was so excited to hang out with Chase. They were able to link up their DS' and play Mario Bros together. :) 07/29 I took Evie to the doctors because she was waking up a lot at night. I wanted to make sure her ears weren't the problem, especially since she just had the tubes put in 11 days before. Ears were perfect, but gums were swollen. Ready to cut 4 molers...yipes! That night we dropped the kids off at Grandma Sue & Grandpa Larry's & Daddy & I went on a dinner date. We picked Evie up & Sean stayed the night there with Paiger. 07/30 Evie & I met Grandma & Aunt Mary at Cracker Barrel. She found necklaces, bracelets, a purse & a princess wand. She definitely looked like a girly girl. Doesn't get that from her mother!! ;) That afternoon Evie & I went to a birthday party while Daddy & Sean went to the Tigers game. Sean was convinced that he was going to catch a baseball. Daddy tried to prepare him by telling him that the odds were not in his favor. They went to the game early for batting practice in hopes to increase their odds. Sure enough a ball hit a couple chairs down from Sean while Daddy was chasing after another ball. Sean picked it up...that simple. He was so excited about that ball. When he told me the story he made it clear that he got it himself and that it was a special ball, not one that could be purchased in a store. This ball was hit by a real live baseball player. Grandpa Jim got him a display case & it's sitting on his dresser. Pretty awesome. On 07/31 after church Daddy & I went to a Tigers game while Sean & Evie hung out with Grandma & then Grandma & Puppa. Sean doesn't say he's jealous of Evie, but as she's interacting with HIS people more & more, it becomes clear that he struggles. When he's with Puppa at Puppa's house, they "read" a special book together. Grandma told me he did great most of the time, but when it was time to read his book with Puppa & Evie jumped in his lap, Sean started to draw the line!! I'm sure it's difficult to be the center of everyone's world & then have to deal with some one else stealing your spotlight. We try to make sure that Sean has special times/situations with his people to soften the blow. He's always had a special relationship with Grandma. They just GET each other. So, it's not shocking that she has the job of & is fulfilling her responsibilites as his personal assistant. She even does stuff that's not included in her job description, like hold doors open for him. Like he's royalty or something!! A few times throughout the week Sean spends time away from the house, with Grandpa Jim. They go to Chuck E. Cheese, the library, the splash zone, etc. Most Wednesdays his friends Aiden & Liam get to go with them. He spends the night at Grandma Sue & Grandpa Larry's without Evie once-twice a month. Daddy & I take turns going to events with him, without Evie. I'm sure one day he'll understand the effort we put into making him feel as special as he is, but to a 4 year old, right now, the shared attention with Evie is just plain tough sometimes! Today, 08/02 Sean got a countdown to his birthday present from Grandma. A white Angry Bird. He's only missing the yellow & black ones now. Grandpa Jim took him to his library summer reading program party. There was a magician there and Sean got a book, video, coloring book & magic wand! Tonight, Puppa came over for dinner & he brought Sean a slinky and Evie a board book. They all read the book together & then tried to get the slinky to go down the stairs. At dinner, Puppa got Sean to try lettuce & cucumbers (a food he used to like, but stopped at some point). We can usually get Sean to "try" foods, but they don't always end up going down. He made it though & even said he liked them!! I'm not sure where to insert this, so here will have to do. Sean & Evie are living it up on their "Susie" days this summer. They spend lots of time outside, at splash zones or beaches. They even went garage saling. What lives they have!
Evie has transitioned from baby to toddler this month. Everyone who sees her says they can't believe how much she's grown & how "old" she looks. Her communication skills are amazing. She understands everything & can usually get you to understand what she wants or needs. Her hand/eye coordination is insane. She was in a moving wagon at the zoo and she took a capri sun straw out & put it back in. That's tough for most people!! She chews her tongue. It's usually positioned where her vampire teeth will be on the left side. She doesn't like it when Daddy & I hug. She pushes us a part & whines. Probably because I'm her favorite person & she doesn't want to share. ;) If she wants to go outside (and she loves it outside), she gets your shoes & hers. The other day, she had her shoes on & a purse hanging from her wrist. She went to the front door & tried to turn the door knob. Evie still adores Seany. He can make her laugh like no one else. They both do a great dance routine to Beauty & the Beast's "Be Our Guest". Sean tries to dance like the candle stick & Evie spins around! She's still memorized by "Mommy & Me" and "Curious George". Her favorite morning foods are goldfish crackers and yogurt smoothies. Although we can't understand her, I'm convinced she knows how to read. ;) She turns the pages & babbles through each one. She's all of a sudden an independent eater or at least she tries to be. She wants your help getting the food on the utensil, but she has to put the food in her mouth.
We're all excited about our upcoming Pennsylvania trip. I can't wait for a week away with my favorite people!
