Summer 2014

We have definitely had a full, fun, busy summer 2014!  We went on 2 family vacations this year.  The first one was the end of June to Orange Beach at the Phoenix 6 and the other one was the Grand in Point Clear, AL.  

 

The week in Orange Beach got off to a rocky start.  Emaline got sick the night before we were supposed to leave with hand, mouth and foot.  She had a pretty high fever, and it was very uncomfortable for her to eat/drink much (except the yummy strawberry milk daddy got her).  It was also the busiest I have ever seen Orange Beach so the traffic was backed up and the local grocery store was very busy.  But, we got through the night with just a little complaining from Em.  She really was such a trooper.  She felt better and better as the week went on.

 

It was supposed to rain every day the week we were at the beach, so every sunny morning, we hit the ground, or beach, running.  It only rained 1 day.  We really maximized our time at the beach and the pool this year.  Nana, PawPaw, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Leonard, Elise and Sara were there to make it even more fun!  We had a special game we played any time we had to catch the elevator. There were 4 elevators so we each picked the elevator we thought would come first.  Mommy was the ultimate winner.  I think I picked 16 right with a streak of 10 in a row!  Lucky?  Absolutely. 

 

Then, for Labor Day, we went to the Grand.  It was perfect weather and always a great time.  We had a wonderful view of the bay, and we were really close to the beach.  Gavin and Daddy rented a jet ski and went on Gavin's first jet ski ride.  I'm pretty sure he had fun but after about 20 minutes, he was done.  For those 20 minutes we were on the beach playing/watching daddy and Gavin on the jet ski, Miss Emaline got bitten by a red ant between her toes which caused her whole foot to balloon.  She was a little grouchy as a result of the itchy ant bite and fighting sleepiness because of the Benadryl.  Gavin made a friend that he played with all weekend.  His name was Michael Jackson Paul Peter Davis Matthew.  I wonder if we'll remember this joke in 20 years when we reread this blog ;)

 

Mommy and Daddy went to Atlanta for the Saints opening game for 2014.  The Falcons won, but we still had a great time.  We missed our kiddos something awful, and it was great to be back.

 

In between the trips, we had a lot of fun with adventures in our own backyard.  There were trips to splash pads (or squirt parks as Grandma calls it), parks, the zoo, the aquarium, the insectarium, Children's museum and so on....it was a great summer!

 

Emaline is 2!

 

 

Well...she was 4 months ago...I have a little catching up to do.  AND, I cannot find the pictures of her birthday party!  She had an ice cream party complete with a make your own ice cream station and root beer floats.  It really was cute.  I cherish these parties at home because I know too soon she'll want to have parties at bouncy house places where I will have little to no chance to decorate! 

 

So, my baby girl is TWO.  She continues to be such a special person.  She is so sweet and so snuggly.  She is so fun and so adventurous.  She is so smart and so aware.  She is a joy to be around...once you know her.  She is not easy to get close to, but once you do, it is worth it.  Her love is unconditional and intense.  I cannot imagine my life without her, and I don't want to.  I do want to freeze time, though, and always remember her like this.  She is my perfect, beautiful, smart little girl, and I love her so much.  Happy (belated) birthday, little girl.  You are loved by so many and have made many lives richer. 

 

 

 

Step Up Ceremony

This was a great week for my big boy.  First, he graduated Speech Therapy!  His therapist said he is such a hard worker and breezed through his therapy much quicker than expected.  Then, he graduated from PreK-4.  There was a sweet little ceremony where the kids sang and walked across the stage for their "completion" certificate.  I know he really meant something to his teacher...as he told her goodbye, she started to cry and hugged him so tight! He is growing up way too fast, but I'm so proud of him and excited to watch him grow up!

Gavin is 5.

My sweet boy turned 5 recently.  We had his party at the Mandeville Sports Complex, and it was wonderful!  I didn't see him for a while...well, I saw flashes of him now and then.  He played, ate pizza, and then we sang "Happy Birthday". 

 

After the party, we had a handful of people come back to the house while Gavin opened presents. 

 

On Gavin's actual birthday, I brought blue cupcakes (his request) to his school and picked up subway for lunch.  I got to eat lunch with him at school, we sang "Happy Birthday", then turned our tongues (and cheeks and hands) blue with cupcakes.

 

Later on that afternoon, NaNa and Grandma came over.  We went to eat at Rusty Pelican for dinner, one of Gavin's favorite restaurants! He likes it because he gets an Abita root beer.  We stopped at a bakery for a King cake.  When we got home, we sang "Happy Birthday"...again.  He had a pretty wonderful week.

 

 

Holidays 2013

This holiday season came and went so quickly.  Christmas started before Thanksgiving this year!  We went to get a tree the day before Thanksgiving.  It was a beauty, too, standing at 10' tall.  The kids really enjoyed decorating it, and Emaline only had to be reminded a hand full of time that "ornaments are for looking at only!"

 

We baked and decorated cookies, which has been a tradition since before we had children.  Emaline got into the "mix" this time.  Mostly, she smashed the cookie dough and ate a bunch of sprinkles.  Gavin has gotten pretty good at baking and decorating cookies.  He had more fun laughing at Emaline's antics, though. 

 

 

Gavin was a wise man in his school play, and he took it very seriously.  He learned all of his songs, which was impressive (maybe I should make our house rules into a song to the tune of "We Three Kings").  I don't know why, but I was so emotional watching him up on stage the 5minutes he was up there.  He's so big, handsome, and smart and I couldn't be more proud of him.  Ok, that's why I was emotional.  He was so surprised when he walked out on stage and saw not only Mommy, Daddy, and Emaline, but Gigi, Nana and PawPaw!  He smiled ear to ear the whole time. 

 

 

We had our first ever "Cul de Sac" Christmas for our neighbors.  It was a great turn out, and I really enjoyed meeting and socializing with everyone.  I have not a single picture from that night.  Emaline was pretty needy and overstimulated by all the strangers in her house.

 

Christmas morning was fun.  I woke up at 5am to start baking the 20 lb turkey.  Then, finally at 7:30, I went and woke the kids up.  Gavin asked for a blue Toyota FJ Cruiser...so, that's what he got.  He was pretty excited when he saw it.  Emaline got a Princess castle and both kids enjoyed playing with that!  All of our family came over around lunch, and we ate and opened presents.  It was a wonderful time, although we did pick up the mess for days!  I would do it every year!

 

We went to Christmas in the Oaks this year with some family.  We only walked through Story Land, but that was so much fun.  Gavin spent a couple of nights at Nana and PawPaw's house.  He always has fun there!

 

For New Year's Eve, we invited our friends Scott and Katherine over with their 2 kids, Gigi and Luke.  We had a great time, as usual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emaline...

Oh Emaline.  Emaline is 17 1/2 months old and already has so much personality.  She is a real sweetheart...unless you want her to do something she doesn't want to.  She is opinionated and FUN!  She's also a drama queen and a snuggle bug.  She says so many words (too many to think of right now), and has started saying sentences this week...among them "I love you", "I miss you", "nice to met you", "I see it", "I na color", etc.  I love the way she communicates!  She is running and climbing...quite the daredevil.  She is so great, and we love her so much.  I may not have many great pictures of her.  Pictures fall into the category of things she does NOT want to do...

Halloween 2013

Halloween this year was pretty fun!  We went to Mrs. Heather's pumpkin patch this year with Marcy and family.  It was HOT!  But, that didn't stop Gavin from having so much fun with Mason.  There was a corn maze,  zip lines, giant bags of air to jump on, hay stacks, and a pumpkin patch.  It was great, can't wait to go again next year!

 

 

 This year on Halloween night, we went to a party at The Gristina's house, as is tradition.  The whole gang was there...Gigi, Grandma, Nana, Paw Paw, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Leonard and Elise! Princess Lea and Darth Vader ate dinner and played until the meteorologist of the group said it was time to trick or treat if we wanted to beat the rain.  It still rained a little, but we had enough people carrying umbrellas to cover us.  Emaline really enjoyed trick or treating this year!  Although she didn't hold her bucket up for people to put candy in, she did take the candy and put it in her basket all by herself.  Gavin, of course, had such a great time.  He ran door to door the whole time!  Our kids are so lucky (and spoiled)! Our neighbors were so great...giving us specially prepared bags of candy and other treats, and we had practically our whole family here.

 

Great time this year!  I hope it doesn't rain next year...I'm already thinking about the theme.  I wonder if Gavin and Emaline will let me dress them :)  Jack is always the easy one!  I think me and daddy might join in next year.