Hanitizer

I love the funny ways that kids say things. Today Lillie pointed to a hand santitizer dispenser and said, "mom, that's hanitizer". Now, we all call it that. It might be better to correct her, I don't know, but she so rarely mis-pronounces words now and I am really starting to miss it. So I'm hanging on to all that I can! Sadly she just figured out how to pronounce magazine. For the longest time it's been maa-za-zing...sad days.

Tim and Lillie go to CA

Tim took to Lillie to CA for 9 days to visit Grandma and Grandpa (and help put a new roof on the house). I was nervous to let Lillie go without me, but of course I had nothing to fear. Tim is a great dad and did a fantastic job with her. She had a blast. First hanging out with cousin Luka, and Ralph and Maureen's dog Jilly. Then, San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, shopping with Grandma and "Aunt" Maureen. The fun never stopped. I know they both had a blast. Sidenote: the boys and I had a fun week in TX too. We played a TON at chick-fil-a (Samuel's choice, I tried to give him a Samuel's choice week!) went to the free summer movies, got ice-cream, rode the train, and just spent a lot of time playing together. I had a blast boys! Okay, now back to CA...

Lillie had a ton of fun on all the rides at the boeardwalk. She was scared at all and loved the rollercoaster, spin rides, and best of all, log ride with Grandpa!

After a long and fun day shopping with Grandma and Aunt Maureen. She went to tea, bought clothes, and built the unicorn dubbed "pinky dinky doo" at Build a Bear. Thanks Grandma and Maureen, you know how to treat a girl right!

Lillie with a dog friend she made in SF

Lillie loved the spa and wanted to swim in it ALL the time!

Lillie with Maureen and Jilly.

Tim hard at work.

Talking on the phone to mom.

Appetizers

I am so proud! Lillie is a girl after my own heart. This was our conversation a couple of weeks ago: "Mom, I want to make something to eat." "Okay, what do you want." "No mom, I want to make it." "Oh, what do you want to make?" "Um, how about I take some sticks and I put on them, some cheese and some black olives, and some something else." "wow, where did you get that idea, cuz it's a pretty good one!" I thought it up all by myself." "Okay, how about some cucumbers too?" "That sounds good."
I got her the stuff, cut it up then she made these all by herself. While she was making them she said, "I'm going to make a lot and then let's invite a lot of people over to our house." Ahhh, it feels so good to have her following in my footsteps. What a little hostess! We had them at dinner that night and you know what?....They were really good! Good job Lil'Star!

ZZZZZZZZ

So, 2 days after Tim and Lillie left for CA we had church. When we came home I sat Samuel at the table with some dinner and went to feed Grant. When I came back to check on him this is what I found...

I was floored. This kid has never even fallen asleep watching TV! It's his bed or nothing. Maybe, every once in awhile the car. I stood there with my mouth hanging open for a few seconds. Then we he started falling out of the chair I had a major parenting decision. Grab the kid, or risk concussion and run for the camera. You can see what I decided. But I did pray the entire time that he wouldn't fall out. (He was safely buckled in I later remembered!) I wanted to give him a fun week, but I didn't realize I had tired him out quite so much! And this was only 2 days in!

A Present from Grant

So I moved Grant into his new crib. He had a new mattress pad, and freshly laundered sheets and bumper pad. He took one nap in it and this is what he did. I guess he liked it so much he decided to leave me a little present. Thankyou Grant, I love you too.

Katie's Graduation

My sister Katie graduated from High School on Thursday and I can't believe it! She was 8 when I left for college! The time flies by fast. Doesn't she look beautiful! And I am so proud of her. Now for the fun years of school! I love living close so that I cna go to these kinds of things. I only had Samuel and Grant for the ceremony as Lillie was in CA with Tim, but still, I was nervous. Her graduating class was over 700 and the ceremony was 3 hours long! Much to my surprise the kids did great! Samuel stayed in his seat the ENTIRE time! Grant started out sleeping was was jarred awake so many times by the loud screaming and applauding (one time by me, sorry baby!) that he finally just stayed awake. Luckily Grammy was there to give some Grammy love and Grant was happy as long as she was holding him. They ended up being awake 'til midnight. What's even more amazing is that Samuel still woke up at 6:45am (of course) and was not once cranky the entire next day. Go figure!
Anyway, Katie I am very proud of you!

I can roll over!

Grant can roll over now! He's got it down from back to tummy and he is working on tummy to back. Backwards, I know, but for some reason this is how all my kids did it. It's kind of sad because if I put him to bed awake he'll roll around (that sounds funny to say) and then get mad b/c he's on his tummy and can't get off. Silly boy. I of course am always worried that he will suffocate so I check on him, then disturb him, it's a viscious cycle really. But, yes, I'm proud of my rollin' over boy. Big milestone!

Samuel's Big Boy Bed

Samuel got his new big boy bed a week and a half ago. So, I thought Mr. Clings-to-the-old-hates-changes was going to have a really hard time giving up his crib. I couldn't have been more wrong. He was so excited to build the bed with dad. He was thrilled to sleep in it the 1st night and has never asked to go back. I was doubly surprised because at the same time he moved to Lillie's bedroom and STILL had no problem with the change. I think he really loved the whole "big boy" concept. He is, of course, having a difficult actually staying in the bed, but we're working on it. A piece of chocolate for a job well done the night before seems to do the trick. And hey, there is nothing wrong with a piece of chocolate for breakfast! Anyway, I am so proud of him. He has been very gracious about Grant taking over his crib and room...what a GREAT big brother!