Myrtle Beach 2

I didn't end up taking many pictures while in Myrtle Beach, but the day we left, I quickly tried to snap some shots. I didn't even take any on the beach, so we had to go down there to take some pictures before we left so we had some memories. We had a great time while we were down there- stayed at my sister kik's house (caed stayed relatively clean while there, although it was probably more sand then they've ever had in the house) and visited the beach almost everyday. We'd go down in the morning and then around nap time bring him up to my nana's house and he'd nap while we went back to the beach by ourselves. (they live 2 blocks away) Nana was a great babysitter.



The day of the water park we brought Caed to her house, and planned to go back to the park- only he didn't fall asleep as quickly as I thought, and finally I went in to check on him, and he'd managed to reach my grandmother's jewelry and had on her necklaces, and various other pieces were scattered in the pack and play. It was quite humorous. I didn't take a picture, but it would have been a good one. Luckily he didn't ruin any of it- it was her good jewelry too!



I am not going to reorganize the photos.



Nana (mormor; great grandmother in Swedish) and Caed



4 Generations

Watching one of the many planes that carry advertising banners

Fixing lunch before we left mom, co and jon

He got to sit on Uncle Ken's ATV. Was scared to sit on it with kik, but loved it when ken offered.

Watching morning cartoons

Saying goodbye at The Sun News, my mom and sister get confused as twins...although I think they look absolutely different!

Myrtle Beach Water Park

When we were in Myrtle Beach we had the opportunity to go to the water park (nice perk when your cousins husband is the manager!). It was a nice change from the beach- and Caed went down his first water slides! I was unexpectedly a little nervous about some of the slides, so Jon did a couple on his own. The picture below, that slide the the background I would not do (major wedgie slide!) but I did see a two and three year old come down- and enjoy it! I didn't send Caed down, we'll stick to the kiddie slides for now, uncovered. We went with my cousin, her two kids and a couple of their friends- and my mom who took the day off. It was a great day too.

mom on the rapid racing river thing. It's sort of like a lazy river, but forced water pushing you extremely fast (not so lazy).

Cousins in the water- Caed in the life preserver- although we found he did better without it.

Dad and Caed

Down the slide!! (it's incredibly easy for the youngsters, so if you debate it, you should really let them try, I was surprised..)

The fun little kids area

Down another slide!

His Whole Life

Last week I was outside the building museum on a grassy area and I asked Caed who was trailing off the area to come back closer to me. He replied very sternly to me:

"Mom, I am dreaming about my whole life!!"

he didn't want to come over, and surprised by the answer, I told him to come over to me again and with his finger pointing out and everything he repeated:

"I am dreaming about my whole life!!"

How does a 2 year old dream about their whole life?

They take it from a line in a movie that his mommy let him watch. Disney's Cars is the movie of choice (watched on our portable DVD player on our multiple travels this summer) and today I heard the line after Caed chuckled when the character said it, and then he repeated it. It's a barely noticeable line, but he thinks it's particularly funny, but serious as evidenced it how he used it to respond to me last week.

Too much.

Another funny Caed thing is that he's been asking pretty regularly to go to my nana's house (his mormor) to play with her trucks. She has at least a dozen Hess toy trucks that she brings out when the kids at at her house- but she's a good 7 hour drive, so stopping by isn't possible. Today after his nap he asked to put on his shoes, and so we put them on, and then he said "okay, let's go to mormor's house now." It breaks my heart because I would love to take him to see her (trucks) right then and there! I let him talk to her yesterday on the phone and it only made him more upset that he could hear her but he couldn't go there!

My Garden

This year I moved my vegetable garden to my front yard. We have a very nice yard considering we are in dc and don't own a 1/2 million dollar home. I tried for two years to grow a vegetable garden in my backyard in the shade of our willow tree. I tried my hardest to keep the tree trimmed, and keep the garden healthy but it just didn't work. I got one tomato off of a plant and some lettuce! So this year in the spring I took out some hedges that i hated and moved the garden to the front yard (off to the side, not in the center) and I have had so much already!! I planted tomatoes (3 kinds) Japanese eggplant, banana peppers, green peppers, yellow squash, and cucumbers. I didn't plan well, but I wasn't sure how it was going to go- so I have a squash overcrowding issue, but otherwise all my plants are producing so much!! I'll be doing a little reworking of my back garden (to shade enjoying plants) and take all the hard work out of vegetable gardening in the future (as long as we live there!). Here is a picture I took of last weeks crop. A lot of the success is also due to a neighbor who has graciously been watering our plants while we've been travelling so much.



I also planted zinnias from seed, and I planted Gerber Daisy's which keep producing as well, and here's my little bouquet that I clipped from my shadier back yard...

Cutest Ever

So here's one picture of Caed at Uncle Andrew & Auntie Sally's wedding. I didn't take a single photo from the day. I can't believe it. But here's the well-behaved-but-can't- make-a-forced-smile-yet photo. Much to my family's chagrin he was adorable and extremely well behaved.
(thank you grandpa for passing along the photo!)

On the Road Again?

We're off again on a last minute trip to Jon's parents on the beach on Long Island. We'll get some boat time, and time to see Becky & Jason and new baby Eliana. I promise as soon as we're home for more then a few days I do have some fun pictures. We'll be back.

Traveling

We have been a gypsy family as of late. We've been running around and trying to keep things as normal as possible in between! It started with our week vacation in Myrtle Beach visiting with my family. It continued with a split family trip. Jon had the opportunity to go along with an old friend, Mark, on a trip with Mark's 8th grade youth trip to West Virginia to help out, mostly with cooking. Caed and I headed out the day after Jon left and went to visit my sister Heather in PA. We went from Wed- Fri, but the family desperately wanted a longer visit with Caed and so they kept him until yesterday, Monday. Over the weekend I took advantage of Caed being in PA and helped friends move with as much of my time as possible. It was really rewarding to help and not have to worry about Caed, and just keep working until we ran out of time! Jon returned on Sunday, so we're only trying to get back to normal now. But we're preparing for a trip this weekend to Grove City, PA for my brother in law's wedding. We are all in the ceremony, even little Caed in a tux! Aunt Betsy is on duty to evacuate Caed if there is any scene. We'll be back on Sunday.

And in the middle of all of this Jon is hung in the middle of his job ending and a job offer that was given and then put on hold. We're a little unsure of how God will continue to provide for us, but we are looking at the other end of this knowing that we are indeed being provided for.

We've got lots of photos to still post and will be back with them soon!

Christopher and Stacey's Expanding Family

I didn't get to post the shower photos yet, but we had a chance to visit Christopher and Stacey in the hospital after the birth of #2, a boy! not so little Simon Christopher was born on Friday and was working to beat Caed in size at birth! 9lbs 10oz and 22 1/2"! only 5 oz smaller then Caed. We are so happy for the family and we know little M will be a great big sister too!

Dairy Farm

Sally's Family has a couple of farms, and we had the chance of visiting her aunt's Dairy Farm when we were out for her Bridal Shower. Caed took a few minutes but once he warmed up he really enjoyed it. We were out in the sloppy mud and a thunderstorm, but he just kept going to see everything.

In with the calves:

The Calves, and Aunt Betsy:

Auntie Sally and one of the twins. I'll guess this is Kendall?

The calves:

This momma cow deliver about 5 minutes before this picture was taken. Additional gross fact, afterbirth was still apparent on the momma cow too. Amazing to see this so soon after the birth:

I forget the type of cow this was, but it was a really pretty one:

The inside of the barn:

Aunt Betsy loved just watching the mom taking care of her baby:

The piglet:

He was about a week old:

the farm, taken from the house:

The storm above, and the puddles:

More of the farm:

The bunny:

the chick:

Baby Shower #1

Back in May we threw a baby shower for my childhood best friend Becky. She's due in a couple of weeks and it's about time that I got these photos posted! It was back home on Long Island and it was a first for me with Caed and no dad. Luckily another friend was there that could take my camera so I actually ended up with photos. Thanks Kirsten! We had a good time, and it was good to see old friends and celebrate this exciting time in Becky's life! (sorry for so many photos)

Becky and her sister in law Soula:

Three childhood friends kids': (l-r: caed, Caleb and Liam)

Kristin, Becky's sister and almost best friend Debbie:

Party:

Becky and Debbie:

Becky's mom and good friend Debbie:

More party:


Best Friends:

Arlene and her little talk, making everyone laugh, of course:

Party:

Opening gifts:

More gift opening:

Mom and son wrestling:

The cake:

Becky and the Grant family:

Old friends and family: