Monday, July 11, 2011

July (so far)....

I should be reformatting some documents for school that starts next month, but I decided to blog instead.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my maternity leave/summer vacation so far, but I must say, I've noticed that my mind isn't as sharp as it is during the school year (when I'm constantly reading/writing/listening to several things at once and remembering it all too).  I'll be happy to get back to work and back to normal when August gets here.  Anyhoo, here's some of July so far....
 Evan and Mike repainting some old-school Tonka trucks from Miss Alea's house.

Evan enjoying the slip and slide on July 4th.

 Papa, Mike and Evan enjoying a sparkler on July 4th.
 Reid watching Mike eat breakfast (we think he might enjoy food...he definitely eyes us while we eat).
 A cute little grin from a happy little boy.
 Reid enjoying some tummy time.
 Evan and Reid after a diaper change (Evan loves to help).
Evan holding Reid (he gets the urge to hold him about once a week or so).

Saturday, July 2, 2011

A Darth Vader Birthday, Slip 'N Slides, & Girl Cousins

I had my 34th birthday on Wednesday.  When we were going through our cake pans for Evan's birthday, he decided I should have a Darth Vader cake on my birthday.  Mike and Evan were in charge of decorating.  I got everything ready, then Mike decorated Darth Vader and Evan decorated his cake (I always bake him an extra mini cake when I bake, so he has something to decorate and call his own.).  Evan's cake is red and green.  It is a light saber fight.  Imaginative huh?  I got plates and a balloon to match.  I later realized I dressed to match my cake.  (Now if only we'd remembered to close the pantry doors so you don't have to know we have Hershey's Syrup and Rice Cereal in our pantry.)








We broke out the Slip 'N Slide for Evan this week.  He thought it was awesome.  He thought the best part was that he and Mike got to do it in their shorts and not their swim trunks.  The Walgreens by us is remodeling and having a super duper sale.  We got a "double wide" Slip 'N Slide for 75% off...that will be put to use soon.




Evan and Reid got to see all of their girl cousins yesterday (well, Reid didn't...he slept through seeing 2 of them).  They all (Evan and the girls) went swimming with Mike and Grandma Mary.  Afterward, they came in for lunch and some time on Grandma's iPad.  Here are some pics of the kids.




Sunday, June 26, 2011

This Week's Pics

After Evan's birthday on Monday, the camera was still all charged up for pictures.  I got some cute ones this week.  Reid turned 7 weeks old on Friday.  He is smiling a lot now!  :)  

 Evan and Reid

 Evan took this picture of Reid and me.
 Evan took these pictures of Reid.  He loves taking pictures, and he's good at it.

 We had a cool day on Friday, so I threw Reid in this outfit while it still fits.
 Reid was not too happy in this picture.
 Like the evil look he's giving me in this picture?
 Big boy likes to try to hold his bottle....
Ti got this for Reid - and he's even smiling!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Fun with Photo Booth







Here are the pics Evan took with Photo Booth.  He loves this program (as well as seeing his tongue in pictures).

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Evan is 4!

Evan had quite a birthday this year. 
We decided that any money we would spend on a party for kids his age would be better allocated for a quick day trip to the city of Chicago on Thursday to see the Cubbies play at Historic Wrigley Field!

Sadly, we weren't able to hook up with any of our Chicago friends since we were there just long enough to see the game. We left Reid with very good friends of ours in Northwest Indiana. They were only a little over an hour away, which made Mike and me (and even Evan) feel better.

We rode the South Shore Train from Gary to Chicago. That was one of the best parts of the trip for Evan. It was a double-decker bus, so, of course, we rode on the 2nd level. Once downtown, we hopped the Red Line on the L up to Wrigley Field. We got there in the middle of the 1st inning (traffic in Indy put us behind by about 35-40 minutes that morning). The Cubbies beat the Brewers 12-7 that day. It was a good day to watch a dinger or two make it to the bleachers. Evan ate a hot dog and worked on a chocolate malt. Yum! We visited the restrooms 4 times in 6 innings, and then we left after the 7th inning stretch (much to Mike's sadness - but we were with a 4 year old - and he expected that). We headed out to the souvenir shops and bought some stuff. Reid made out - he got 3 things and he didn't even go. :)




(Watching the train come to the stop)

 (At our seats)

 (By the Billy Williams statue)
 (In front of the Chicago Theatre)

(Our navigator fell asleep on the 14 minute drive from the train station to our friends' house.)

On Saturday, we ran up to Fort Wayne to see Papa for Father's Day and our Uncle Dan & Aunt Kathy from California. Evan ended up seeing the following people (not including Mimi, Papa, & Ti): 1 great-grandma, 2 great uncles, & 3 great aunts. He also got his 1st cake (I always make him 2), which was Percy from Thomas the Tank Engine. He loves trains and green is his favorite color, so Percy it was!

 (He fell down when he saw the Cars 2 double decker bus.)
 (Aunt Kathy & Uncle Dan loved holding Reid - he was spoiled - held from 11-6 that day.)
 (Evan with his Percy cake)
(Evan and Ti)

 On Monday, we went to the dentist for a cleaning, and Evan did a great job. We have some cavities though. :( So that means the whole family is on milk and water now... Evan's Grandma Mary and Auntie Judy came over after nap and helped Evan eat the cake he decorated. Ti came over a little later after work and we ate Marco's Pizza (yum) and opened all of his presents from us and ate his Lightning McQueen (otherwise known as "ka-chow") cake.

Evan is such a sweet and thoughful little boy. He was a little nutty for a while (18-36 months) when it came to how fast he could dart to where he wanted to go. He loves cars, his dad, trucks, his Mimi, trains, his Ti, playing tackle, his Papa, running errands with me, his Grandma Mary, decorating cakes, his Auntie Judy, watching cartoons, his "Reidy" (that is his name for Reid - he's the only one that can call him that - We're not fans), playing computer games, running, playing with friends, and telling everyone what to do. ;)

He even knows how to tell a joke or drive people crazy on purpose. His new thing is this: "Mom, when you get another baby in your belly, you'll have to go to the doctor." He can't do it with a straight face though because he knows I do not want to have another baby. He does it to tease me. So, I tell him he's rotten and he laughs. Stinker.

He's a great big brother to Reid. Today Reid was crying a little in his sleep, and before I got to him to check on him, Evan was singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to him. It was adorable.


 (Evan and Grandma Mary)
 (Evan giving thank you kisses to Auntie Judy)
 (Decorating one of his cakes)
(Showing off his "Evan" mug)

 (Wearing his new Bears jersey - Brian Urlacher just so happens to wear Evan's favorite numbers: 4 and 5.)