Too long...

Hello Boys…miss me? Yes, it has been quite a while since your last update and I apologize for that. Life happens as you well know and sometimes you just have to roll with it.

Last time I checked in...Bug, you were dating and Monkey, you were trying to crawl. What a difference 8 months makes.

Bug, you graduated from Pre-K and are now officially a Kindergartener. I am beside myself typing that out. Your first day of Kindergarten was not outwardly as emotional as I thought it would be. I believe you are responsible for that…you were simply amazing. You handled yourself with such confidence and poise. I was in awe as I watched with joy as you walked to your class, put your backpack and lunch away and sat at your assigned seat and did you thing. I could tell your Dad and I were no longer needed so we said our goodbyes and left you to begin your formal education endeavors. I shed a tear or two on my way to work but it was because I was so proud of you and the hard work you have put in over the last year. You have come so far.



Monkey you are now in suite 150. When I last reported you had just moved to 100. Let’s just say the transition to 150 was not as seamless as 100. I think there were several factors going on. Teething…which is very difficult on you AND we had just returned from an extended vacation in San Diego. It took you a couple of weeks to get acclimated but true to form you adapted and you now love your class…only to begin preparations for transitioning into 200 by the end of this month. In only three months. Monkey…they tell me you are moving up because you are advanced and this is a true statement but I also wonder how much of it has to do with the biting…boy…you are a biter.

Of course you are walking, running and talking now. You started walking around the end of May and have not looked back. I love when I walk into a room and you run to me with the biggest smile on your face. My heart swells when I see you do that to your Dad as well.

You are a good eater. I must say much better than your brosef. I do not have anything specific that you do not like. A few of your favorites: Avocadoes, Lox, scrambled eggs, pancakes, donuts, ravioli, hot dogs, bananas, applesauce, sausage, yogurt, just to name a few, I could go on. I hope beyond hope that you do not ever lose your zest for trying new foods.



Well boys this summer started out with a vacation to San Diego to see the grandparents, aunt and cousins. Monkey, this was your first airplane ride. Uphill you did great. You even slept for 20 minutes…downhill on the way back…no dice. Let’s just say I got to know the flight attendants really well on our flight.

We stayed nine days and I think we succeeded and showing the both of you a good time. Bug, you played and played with your cousins, in the house, at the beach, at mema’s, and while picking strawberries. You spent the night at Aunt Stefanie’s a couple of times and one night a Nana and Papa’s. You did great. You were exhausted every day.

Monkey, this was a good trip for you too. You met your cousins and your Aunt for the first time. And you discovered your love for strawberries while in the strawberry fields.

It was so close to your birthday’s that Mema, Nana and Papa had a party for you. Both of you had a great time opening presents and eating cake. I was so glad you both were able to share your celebrations with your California family.

When we returned we got into the swing of a summer routine. Bug, your school offered swimming lessons during the day and we signed you up and who knew you were a fish. Sunday mornings are our family pool mornings and your Dad and I were floored the first time we saw you swim. One of the lifeguards even made a comment on how good your technique is. Of course…you never do anything halfway.

Monkey, you are the post child for water babies. You love the water and we so enjoyed our family time playing with you boys at the pool.

Bug, you received your yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do a few weeks ago. I haven’t been going to your classes because your brother wants to play with the big boys and he is too little right now. I was very impressed when I came to your testing. Again, what a difference a year makes. Very mature and confident, I am so proud of you.

Monkey you are talking up a storm. You say banana, stinky…and when I ask if you are stinky you will run and get me a diaper and lay down on the floor. You can say down and my suspicion is because when we go to the grocery store on Sunday afternoons I am constantly telling you to sit down. Your first word…other than Dada and Mama was shhoooooe? When you say it you sound like you are asking a question. Just last week you learned A-choo when I was singing “On Top of Ole Smokey” to you.

You have fallen in love with your bear and the two of you are starting to become inseparable. Right now you have a molar coming in on the bottom left and those bad boys wreak havoc with your system. Thankfully we are near the end of that milestone…at least while you cannot articulate your feelings.

I also have to add you are the most accident prone child since…well…me. We have been to the emergency clinic twice, x-rays, an ambulance ride and had an overnight at Texas Children’s…all before you were one. We need to work on getting you off that frequency.

This is long post but I had a lot to catch up on. My promise to you both is that I will keep up with this blog on a more regular basis from now on. The memories are too priceless to let fall by the wayside.

I love you both very much. Thanks for letting me by your mom.

Love,
Mom

Summer recap Part 1

How sad am I. It's been 4 months since I last gave any kind of update. That is just sad. So...sit back, relax and grab a cold one, this may take awhile.

I believe I was supposed to give a recap of our first family vacation to Sea.world. May 4-6th we travelled to San Antonio. I was very excited and I think you were to but really didn't know it at the time.

We arrived and checked into our room and headed to the River.walk where we walked, tried to keep you from going for a swim and had dinner at the Rain.forest cafe. At the restaurant every half hour a 'thunderstorm' would take place and you wanted nothing to do with that! We ate and got out of there a fast as possible only to end up at mar.ble slab. YUM-O. You had cotton candy flavored ice cream with M&.M's and sprinkles...I could put sprinkles on lima beans and I believe you would eat them. Hmmm....

We made it home and you crashed. You slept in your own bed which made me and daddy very happy. We had big plans the next day at Sea.world.

Saturday we had breakfast at the hotel and headed off on our adventure. We rented a little cart which was priceless and a must. We were off like a heard of turtles. The day was overcast thankfully and kept the temps down and made the entire day very tolerable. Our first stop was the water skier show. Around the corner just before the entrance to the show you spot a colorful bird that is talking up a storm. "Look Mom, a Macaw." I had to look around and make sure that came from you and not a 5 year old standing next to me. No, not a bird, a Macaw. Yes, you were right. During the water ski show you didn't take your eyes off the performers and they were as big as silver dollars.

Next stop was the childrens climbing area. You and Dad had fun climbing the ropes and walking across the wonky bridge. You and dad also rode on a mini, very mini ferris wheel. Nothing but smiles and laughing as you took it all in.

After lunch we went to feed the dolphins. A nice lady gave you a couple of fishes. You let mommy take the lead on that one. You loved looking at the dolphins but were not so much interested in them mistaking your hand for fish food.

Last but not least was the ultimate, the reason we were there, the end all be all...SHA.MU! Yes, we went to a show. You were fading fast but you managed to keep your wits about you as you sat on your dad's lap and watch the whales swim, dance and splash water all over the unsuspecting victims in the lower rows. That was it, that was all we had in us. Our day at Sea.world came to a close. It was great and fun was had by all of us.

On our way home we stopped and had dinner at Olive Gar.den, not gourmet but it was filling. No one had any trouble falling asleep that night.

Sunday we packed up and begin our trip home. The plan was to stop by Splash.town and have some fun at the waterpark. Of course the thought process was it is May and summers in Texas are notorious for being hot...who would have expected to be rainy and cold. Well...it is Texas so anything is possible.

Mom and Dad decided to brave the drizzle and we did the waterpark anyway. Hindsight it was a mistake. You ended up getting tonsilitis and we felt bad we kept you out in the rain cold and wet. But...to tell you truth mom and dad had fun being kids again, if only for a few minutes. A couple of days and you were back on your feet.

That concludes the first annual Wayne family vacation. Your dad and I absolutely love to see the joy and excitement of your new experiences. We are so blessed.

That's all for now. I'll recap the rest of the summer tomorrow.