Growing up

Three things happened today that reminded me that my little guy is growing up right before my eyes. 1. He took a chocolate bar, hid behind a couch cushion and started eating it. (He had just asked me if he could have it and I had said that we had bought those especially for Papa and that maybe after dinner they could share one. I thought he got down to go play, but after a few minutes I got curious because he was so quiet.) This is the first time he has ever intentionally done something he knew was wrong and try to actively hide it from me. Usually he is still so honest, even when he knows he will get in trouble. For example when I asked "Sawyer, why is Reesey crying?" He replied "I threw the harmonica at her head". 2. We got a Lego magazine in the mail, and he sat down with a pen and did one of the activities. His first workbook. Aaaaaagh, so cute. He had to circle all the things in the construction heap that were not Lego blocks. It was so adorable watching him try to do circles for the first time. 3. He has started to be able to name his emotions. He saw some kids riding bikes, and I asked if he wanted to try out the bike seat that is attached to my bike again. He said "no, I want to ride in a little car behind your bike." I asked him why he didn't want to try the bike seat again and he replied "it scares me mama." Oh, sadeees.

San Diego fun

We headed to San Diego this weekend for a much needed weekend with Katrina and her family. We stayed in a condo with a gorgeous view of the beach! It had a great pool that our 3 little swimming tadpoles loved. Sawyer was in awe of Tori and how she could take off her floaties and swim with her Papa. He even took his off and was convinced he could do the same, but promptly sank. He then asked to put his floaty back on, but has been asking me ever since to practice swimming in the bath tub so that he can swim without his floaties too. (I also just signed him up for his second round of swim lessons.) Reese also got in on the action. She put on her first bathing suit and took a dip in the pool! She didn't seem that excited about the whole thing.

The condo was right in Pacific beach and we could walk to the beach and lots of restaurants. When we landed it was an unheard of 97 degrees, and unfortunately the condo didn't have air conditioning. I didn't even think to check. I was worried with temp averages of 68 degrees in May that it wouldn't be warm enough to swim in the pool! Within walking distance was yummy fish tacos, delicious Mediterranean wraps, and best of all a to die for ice cream sandwhich shop, which we went to both nights! Sawyer tried strawberry ice cream for the first time, and loved it.

The condo was also a hit because one of the rooms had bunk beds. The kids loved climbing up and down the ladder. Hours of entertainment to be had with a ladder around. The last day we were together we went to Sea World. The kids loved the animal shows. Sawyer is still talking about the divers who performed with the dolphins. (Another reason why Sawyer wants to lose his floaties, he wants to try out the diving board. So out of character for my little cautious guy.) We also spent a lot of time in the Elmo playland area for toddlers. Sawyer went on his first amusement park rides, and he even met Elmo and Ernie. He walked right up to Ernie and asked "Where's Bert?" and then was very confused about why Ernie just mimed the answer and didn't talk back. He asked me all day why Ernie didn't talk.

It was such a relaxing trip and some much needed time with Katrina. We are going through so many similar things in life right now, it is a bummer that we don't get to see each other and talk more. I think we could really help support each other during this crazy time raising kids, not to mention just getting to witness each others children grow up. I miss her, and her family.

Reese's and sweet potatos

While the Timm's and my mom were in town for the baptism we introduced Reese to the world of solid foods. She tried sweet potato for the first time, just like her brother, and downed it like she had been doing it for months. She wanted to hold the spoon herself, and disappointed her audience by acting like it was no big deal. No funny faces, no weird reactions, no pushing the food out of her mouth. She was a very polite and proper table guest. Oh well, hopefully the peas with warrant some reaction tomorrow.

Ashley and Isaiah had a great time helping take care of Reese this weekend now that she is getting a little bigger and more sturdy.

< The kids even had time for a rainy day walk with us. The Timm's didn't have rain jackets, but my mom has prepared me with so many rain jackets for Sawyer's future, that I have one in every size. Sawyer didn't even realize that they were wearing jackets that he will grow into.

Reese's baptism

> What a special day! My mom and the Timm's were in town for the weekend and we had a special celebration for Reese's baptism. We had her baptized at the Saturday morning mass, and there were very few people attending the regular mass, so it felt like a private service all for Reese. Sawyer was convinced it couldn't really be mass though because there was no piano player present. :) Reese had lots of friends come witness her special day: The Vitons, The Mortons, The Powells, The Ollos', Pauline and Shelby along with both there families. It was quite a busy, fun day. She wore the dress that my mom was baptized in, and we think my grandma(Dorothy Folz) made it. So that was very special. And she was a trooper during the entire morning, except for a little fussy as I stripped her down naked in front of the whole church. She was even pretty happy sitting in the baptismal water as the Father poured water over her head. He was quite sweet and playful with her, and gave her a striking hairdo with the baptismal oils! He really worked all that hair and had the entire congregation laughing. < After the service, we had some yummy Lebanese food at our house, followed by my version of Mary's white cake. So delicious.