4 more days!!

Only 4 more days until our first Pennsylvania trip as a family of 5!! We are all so excited. I love the countdown. Evie & Sean love to talk about vacation at bedtime. We talk about all the fun stuff we'll do & see. Now I just have to survive the packing!! Right before the school year ended, Sean got a flyer home about Spring Hill day camp. I'd heard good things about Spring Hill & we were thinking about registering him. Then, Susie called me & said she got an employee discount & could use it for Sean. I registered him that day. Last week he attended his first Spring Hill camp & I can guarantee it won't be his last! He had the best time. He tried activities I never thought he would (rock climbing, flying squirrel, trampoline/bungee, giant water slide). He met amazing camp counselors who he enjoyed & admired. He looked forward to each day & was so sad when it ended. :( On the last day, parents were invited to join them for the closing rallies. We got to see Sean sing songs & recite the memory verse with his group. Sean was awarded the camper award of "dependability". #1 because he was always right by Frank's side & #2 because they could always depend on him to do what he was told. :) We then went to a big rally where all the campers sang & danced. It was awesome. I cried almost the whole time. Needless to say, Sean's already pre-registered for next year! Evie, Evie, Evie. When Evie does something naughty or makes a bad choice & you ask her why she did it, her answer is always "nuffing". "Evie, why did you bite/hit Sean?", "nuffing". "Evie, why did you color on my wall?", "nuffing". I wonder what she means by that. Maybe it's, "I don't have a good reason, I just did it. I'm impulsive, I'm 2!!!". Another fun little Evie saying is "don't talk a me". When you hear her say this, it means she's about to do something she knows she's not suppose to, but she doesn't want you to tell her no. If you tell her no, she may go to some one else, tell them not to talk to you and then ask him/her for the same thing you just said no to. Her latest is when you ask a question she can't answer right away, she says, "uh, my can't fink right now". Or, I've heard her say, "whew, that was a close one" a few times lately. She's SO smart. She's also been super loving lately. I never get tired of hearing, "my weally, weally need you mom" or "my wuv you so much". Yesterday we were sitting in the recliner together playing Angry Birds and when my bird knocked over the wall Evie said, "my so proud of you!". :) We're thinking Ally Joy is starting to teethe. She had a couple very crabby, very needy days last week. She always has her hands in her mouth & she's usually what we call "slimy" from drool. She loves being held on your side with her arm over your shoulder. This is the best position to look around & be entertained. She loves watching & smiling at her brother & sister. The other day Sean made her laugh by saying, "aahhhh boo" & jumping in her face. It made her jump, but it made her crack up too. She's getting pretty tall & chunky. We're going to have to figure out other sleeping arrangements soon as she's getting too big for her bassinet/rocker. Ugh... Figuring out where Ally will sleep next is not the only challenge we'll face after vacation. Evie's almost ready to start potty training & Sean starts 1st grade on 09/04. I hope the next 2 weeks go very slowly!

Hello!

I've been a slacker since Ally arrived, but my plan is to post regularly. I always start with that plan. But, I really want the kids to have this to look at when they're older. It's nice for me to go back & read them too. Sean graduated Kindergarten in May with a performance that blew all of our minds. He, along with his class, recited the books of the bible, the presidents, Eph 6:10-18, the 10 commandments & a few other songs & poems. Wow... He had his first season of tee ball & played for the St. Clair Shores Pirates. He's an AMAZING swimmer & we're thinking about getting him lessons to work on technique. Swimming just may be his "thing". He's going to Spring Hill day camp at the school next week, Monday-Friday. He starts 1st grade on 09/04. Slow down summer!!! Evie Loretta is like NO other 2 year old I know. When you're around her, you can't help but feel happy, proud & sometimes VERY frustrated! We were somewhere the other day & she looked at a woman & said, "Hi, I'm Evie, what's your name?". She's fearless, stubborn & quite the performer. She's an entertainer, almost always talking, singing and dancing. We're working on removing "no" from her vocabulary. As always, she adores her brother. They bicker a lot, but both of them can't stand to see the other one hurting or in trouble. And, they're both amazing older siblings to Ally. :) Ally Joy joined us on 04/20/12. She's been such a good baby. No belly issues; the best burper ever! She started sleeping 7-8 hours at 5 weeks & now she sleeps from 8:30 or 9:00 until 8:00 the next morning usually. She loves watching Sean & Evie. She's very smiley & just recently started laughing. We're working on tummy time & see some rolling in the near future. She always has her fists in her mouth, even after she's just finished a bubba. I went back to work the second week of June & the kids are with Grandma Sue & Grandpa Larry the days I work. They have their own system there & have adjusted wonderfully. Grandpa Jim picks them up to go swimming or to the park or to our house to play wii. They love having Paige there too. We just finished a trip up to St. Ignace for Nolan's dedication. We loved spending the weekend with them & Grandma & Puppa. I wish every weekend could be like the last (minus the driving!). As always, if the kids aren't with us, they're with their grandparents. They spend as much time with them as they do with us. This is great on so many levels. I love watching my kids light up when they see their grandparents. They love each one of them so much. My grandfathers passed away when I was young, but I had a special bond with my grandmas & I treasure the memories. I'm so thankful my children are making memories with their grandparents that they can treasure always too. :) We leave for Pennsylvania in 15 days!!! Can't wait!!!! :)