Monday, February 11, 2013

Florida Trip 2012


The 2 minute ferry to the island while the boys slept after a long night getting a hotel/rental car



This is how Sean says Cheese and smiles for the camera!
last sunset of 2012


At the Orange grove-yummy oranges!TT









Asleep before we left the parking lot
We spent 10 days in Florida over break.  We went to an island we call 'golf cart island' south of Sanibel.  It was very relaxing and provided quality family time away from the hustle and bustle of life!  We saw a tortoise!  We hoped to see more..but..well, two, if a dead one counts.  We rented kayaks and a golf cart for a few days.  We saw one dolphin.  No manatees.  But enjoyed the sun and warm weather...and lots of golf  trips adventuring the island.  We wanted to go to the State park, but it was too long a walk with little kids.  Then, we went back to Orlando and stayed at the Holiday Inn resort with a few pools.  We had watched the weather closely to go to Disney, but apparently the weather man was WRONG.  We spent way too much money on parkas, but let's just say we will use them for life.  The boys LOVED it.  Sean was in AWE and had his mouth open pretty much all day just taking it all in.  They had no meltdowns, even after 13 hours of being there, damp, in the rain.  Ahhh, the magic.  Sean LOVED meeting Mickey and Minnie, and gave them a big hug and a kiss...and pooh, Tigger, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy!  And we still LOVE "It's a small world"!

Family Pics 2012 at Meadowbrook Mansion at Oakland University


































February 2013!

I'm really bad at updating...so here's a flash of the past ...almost year!
Kyle is 5 and testy!
He still loves music, just started swimming lessons (the night before his first lessons he was crying and going on and on in bed saying, "I'm going to die, I know I am going to die"...such a worrywart :( ), learning to build with legos, had a fifth bowling birthday party, is making more friends at school (a mom of one of his schoolmates said that he told a girl he loved her in the playhouse!), loves art, can write his name, can write number to 10, needs a lot of encouragement because he always wants to get it right the first time!  He is still shy in new situations and still loves his blue blanket from Ann Drake! We are working on being a good sport, listening the FIRST time, ...and the new one..not talking back or telling us no!  With every age, a new phase....  We love him dearly.  He has become a better big brother.  Last night the two boys were playing in Kyle's room alone!  Woo hoo! 

Sean is 1 and 1/2 now...and growing fast!  He is a little ham who...still LOVES his brother to pieces!  In fact, he loves him so much that after he got out of time out the other day, Sean went and sat in time out and cried just like Kyle did!  He understands lots and shakes his head yes or no very seriously when asked a question, but mostly loves to laugh and be silly!  He loves 'dip dip' and now when he dips something in Ketchip, he does the 'dip dip' dance!  He adores his dad and is SO happy to see him when he gets home from work.  Mostly, he likes to mimic his big brother.  He is now talking lots!  We were starting to worry a few months back.  He just learned how to say 'thank you' today.  He loves Elmo and 'choo-choos'.  When we were at the library today, he had the best time playing with the trains for...ever! 
Him and Kyle both love books, dancing, baths, water, kisses, hugs, smiles, and encouragement.  We love our boys and are enjoying family time so much!  It is great to see them grow and learn so much! 

December Centerpieces



Monday, August 20, 2012

August 2012

Time continues to fly!
Sean is beginning to run, not just waddle-walk around now.  We have had the BEST summer ever!  We have been enjoying our neighborhood pool a lot, as well as meeting up with friends and spending family time together. We went on two trips.  One to Caseville to see Stacey while she was up from Bama and hang with her family for the 4th of July week, and we also went and stayed at Cross Village on Lake Michigan in the Tunnel of Trees.  We had fun going to Mackinac, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and riding our bike into town to enjoy Legs Inn.  Sean enjoyed riding in the bike seat attached to my bike and Kyle had a third wheel attached to Adam's bike. 
Kyle and Sean are interacting more.  Sean wants to do everything his big brother does.  Kyle has gotten better about interacting with Sean, but still has to let it be known that he's the bigger one or the that Sean is too little to do the things he does.  Sharing is hard for Kyle as well.
Sean is now 16 months and is hitting Kyle to get his attention and is already throwing tantrums on the floor.  He gets frustrated when he can't figure something out and will slap his head or hit his head on the floor.  Where in the world did he learn that!?!  Mostly, he is a VERY happy, loving, cuddly, blue-eyed boy who loves riding his pink Cozy Coupe around.  He eats most things or tries them at least.  He loves to giggle at Kyle and still loves his pacifier.  He stacks blocks, is starting to do simple puzzles, and loves to get into cupboards, and twist caps to things on and off.  And he loves to follow his mom wherever she goes!  He knows only a few words (mom, hi, what, bye), and calls both Adam and I mom, which makes it a little difficult at times to know who he is talking to!  One of my favorite memories is of me calling his name from upstairs or a different room and he yells back, "WHAT?!?"  It's hilarious.  His receptive language is much stronger at the moment.
Kyle has enjoyed learning to swim more and now puts his head under water.  He loves jumping in and swimming mostly with his floaties.  He has become much more brave.  He is very helpful around the house and is reasonable to work with now that we are past the 3 year stage! He still has a hard time going to sleep at night, and still takes naps most days.  He still loves Pesto Pasta and Taco Salad and his favorite color is currently green, yellow, and black.  He has not needed an eye patch for over one and a half years, but when we went back to see Dr. Bohra, his left eye lost strength, so we need to patch the right eye for 2 hours each day.  He has been a good sport about it.  He continues to enjoy reading and learning how to manipulate the ipad.  He played soccer, but wasn't in love, but he finally saved enough money to get a real kid-sized drum set and he LOVES it!  I really need to sign him up for drum lessons!  He really, really loves music!
And, again, no pics.  The new camera software has not been downloaded onto the computer...hopefully soon, before school starts.