Happy Birthday Uncle Caleb! Love, Calla, Kelsey & Jay. And Happy Birthday Braylen! From Your Cousins

Last Thursday was July 25th, and Uncle Caleb & cousin Braylen's birthdays. I'll do cousin Braylen's birthday tribute today and Caleb's tomorrow. :-)

Braylen last year, two days after he was born:

 below: Braylen's first trip to our house! On August 12 (Jay's birthday)...

 below: Braylen and the rest of the cousins with Mema and Opa on Christmas

 below: Braylen and Brax and my kiddos with Mema and Opa on Easter...

Thursday morning the kids gradually woke up...Kelsey is usually the first, and then Jaybird, and then eventually Calla hears all the noise and joins us at the breakfast table (which is literally right next to her room...if her bedroom was upstairs then who knows how long she'd sleep in haha).

We went to the sports center Thursday morning at 9:30 for a mixer class. I am trying to do three 1-hour classes a week (which might not be much for some peeps but it's all I really want to go for ha). I am hoping to be swimsuit-ready just in time for the end of the summer. 

After working out I changed and then the kids and I headed home so I could pack a quick lunch. We ended up going to a park nearby at noon because I knew my girlfriend Brooke was going. It was fun to catch up! The kids had a great time too, although I have to keep an eye on Jaybird now that he likes to follow his big sisters everywhere they go. He doesn't seem to remember that he's just a tot sometimes. 

After the park we came home so Jay could take his nap, the girls could play, and I could take care of household items like a responsible adult. I was bringing a meal to a friend who recently adopted a baby, so that took up my entire afternoon (especially because I kept messing up the recipe...I seriously felt like Amelia Bedelia in the kitchen). Once Jay woke up, we all ate an early dinner (like 5pm!) and got into our swimsuits. Jonathan was going to be working until 8, so I thought we could drop off the meal and then head over to the pool. 

We arrived at the pool at about 6, and it seems we were the only ones with that idea. Mind you, it was barely 80 degrees. There were exactly two other families in the entire pool.

below: We had the baby pool to ourselves! THe kids loved it.

When the kids got chilly (the water was warm, but the girls got cold once they'd get out), we headed to the sand.

As you can see, we could barely find a plot of sand with all the crowds....

Well for the first time ever, the kids were ready to leave the pool before it was time to go! haha. After about an hour and a half, they were cold even if they were swimming. So I wrapped them up in their warm towels and we headed home.

Once we got home, I put everyone in the bath. Daddy arrived home just as everyone was getting out. The kids were so happy to see him! They watched him eat dinner and then he helped me put everyone to bed.

I hoped the weather would warm enough so we could have a "real" pool day soon, but it wasn't meant to be.... (ahhh, cliff-hanger...)

The County Fair

Wednesday it was too chilly to be at the pool, so after breakfast I decided that I should take them to the County Fair. We planned to go over the weekend at some point with Jonathan, but I thought another visit was in order. After all, it's across the street. And it cost $1/kid on Wednesdays. How could we possibly not get $1 worth of entertainment out of it?

I packed a lunch (fair food is not appealing to me in the least) and the kids grabbed their zip-up hoodies. (I know...what happened to the weather?) Then at 10:30 we headed out.

First stop: face painting. 

below: Jay doesn't miss out on face painting

below: Jay requested a "ball." 

Calla with "Hello Kitty" and Kelsey with a "butterfly" (she specified that she wanted it covering her whole face) and Birdie with his ball (sleeping apparently)...

I will now present to you countless pictures of the County fair. You will feel like you were there. We hung out from 10:30-1:30 and then came home from Jay's nap. Then (wait for it...) we ate an early dinner and went BACK to the fair. Jonathan knew he was going to be working late so we went from 6-8pm and got home at almost the exact same time as Daddy.

below: cow milking (an extra shiny cow)

 below: Visiting the bunnies. Jay desperately wanted to hold one.

 below: you know

 below: Goat petting (we had paused to watch a goat milking demonstration). Please note the 3 x 5 cards hanging off of Calla's shorts. They are her "verse cards." You never know when you need your Bible verses on your shorts.

I assumed Kelsey would want to walk. Well that girl loves a stroller. So she and Jay doubled up. It was Kelsey's idea but Jay thought it was a good one.

 below: checking out some sheep, up close and personal.

 below: See mom? It's comfortable.

 below: Okay this cracks me up. We were in the "goat pens" and a goat jumped and Jay jumped and instantly turned around to hug Kelsey (as if she was going to protect him). It was so cute.

 below: scaaared

 below: Hahahahaa. The girls ignored me, but the goat wanted his pic taken.

 below: The girls were feeling pretty brave about the animals. Kelsey was super nervous about them last year but she's gotten over it. I still don't think we have a Vet in the family ha.

 below:
LOL

We stopped to eat our packed lunch. I noticed Kelsey sitting awkwardly close to this stranger. I think she was pretty impressed with her corn dog.

below: Calla asked if I could take a pic of her and Kelsey with the clown. Jay wasn't too interested in getting near the clown.

 below: Lunch. She made that headband with the "headband-making" kit that Kelsey got from Stefani for her birthday.

 below:
Jay picked out cow stickers any chance he got (there were random booths with activities where you could win a "sticker."). Jay loves cows.

 below: Petting a chicken. Except it was a puppet chicken. It took a little while for the kids to catch on.

 below: Brother and sister

 We didn't miss the sheep-shearing demonstration at 1.
Or the maple syrup making demonstration at 7:30pm.

below: visiting Violet, the cow

 below: stopping by the petting zoo. I whisked them by the camel and pony rides ($5 each). Kelsey mentioned it but I told her we could ride a horse when we visit Mimi's next. What's Flash up to these days?

We just had a fabulous time. The weather was pretty perfect...usually my memory of the fair is walking around, sweating applesauce. But the weather was mild and the crowds were mild (since it was a Wednesday). I'm so glad we went.

Since we were clocking in 5 hours at the fair (literally), we weren't home for too long. Wednesday afternoon Jay napped and I worked on some marketing work and the girls played. We ate some dinner and headed over and then at 8 we came home and Daddy helped me put everyone to bed.

They smelled deliciously like the outdoor elegance of the county fair.

*Thursday was cousin Braylen's and Uncle Caleb's birthdays! I am up too late so I'll catch up tomorrow*

Happy Birthday, Courtney! Love, Calla, Kelsey & Jay

Monday was Aunt Courtney's birthday!!! Here is her belated birthday tribute....

 below: Courtney (holding baby Braylen) last August with Birdie on Bird's 1st bday

 below: Kurt and Courtney with all their nieces and nephews!

 below: Courtney came and helped me with Calla's "friends" birthday party in September

below: Jonathan and I with Kurt and Courtney for Jb's Aunt Carole's 50th birthday last fall

 
below: Courtney and I at a Christmas event at church

below: Kurt and Courtney with Jay on Easter!

On Monday morning I had a doctor's appointment so I got up early and got ready and then got the kids up (well, Jay and Kelsey Mae were awake but Calla needs some waking...). We drove to Dunkin Donuts to get the kids some donuts and then drove back to the house just in time for Stefani to show up to baby-sit. She asked if she could bring a friend Bryn (who had also come to the pool with us the week before). Two baby-sitters for the price of one? Who says no? 

I said goodbye to the donut-eating children and sitters and headed to my appointment. An hour and a half later I was home. We had barely said goodbye to Stefani when I realized it was practically lunchtime. We decided to pack a lunch and head to the pool. The week's forecast indicated Monday was the best pool day. 

There are picnic tables at Rice pool right near the diving boards, so we made our way over there. Jay peed on the picnic table seat. No better place than in a swimsuit in the outdoors, I suppose. 

We ate our lunch while we watched kids go off the diving board. Then Calla finished her lunch and asked if she could jump a few times.

below: Watching Calla jump. 

 She did a "cannon ball" (she actually does a terrific cannon ball!) and "a pencil" and "just a jump." Kelsey and Jay clapped dutifully, as younger siblings do.

We walked back to the "kid" section (zero-depth!). Calla paused to read the diving board rules on our walk over. She read them aloud. Kelsey and Jay listened (as younger siblings do! ha).

We ran into a couple friends at the pool. It wasn't terribly busy because it wasn't real sunny. But it was still hot, so we spent most of the time in the water. Before we left we spent some time in the sand. That's usually Jay's favorite part. And I'm not going to lie...I don't turn down an opportunity to sit on the lawn chair in the sand. It's as close to "relaxation" as going to a pool with children is. (I actually ran into a friend from church whose kids are older than mine...she was there to PICK UP her child from the pool! It's hard to believe there will be a day when my kids will be old enough to DROP OFF at the pool. Although I love the pool so much that maybe they will be dropping me off?!)

Two o'clock is pretty late for a nap for Jay (not because he's cranky, just because if he naps late then bedtime is late). But we stayed until then, and then some. And then we went home and Birdie took a nap and the girls sat around and colored.

Once Jay woke up, I gave everyone a substantial snack and then we headed to the store. I don't know why I don't remember how much I dislike going grocery shopping at the 4-5pm hour until I am out doing it. I think I am just tired or something by that point. I feel like I am much more cranky with the kids, who aren't really acting any different than they would at the 9-10am hour. Maybe I am hungry. haha.

Well anyway we got home and I emptied the groceries and got dinner started. The kids took the pillows off the front couch and jumped on them. That is the beauty of not carrying about the well-being of the front couch (apologies to Mema and Opa, who gave it to us).

This person in particular is pretty obsessed with couch jumping:

Jonathan got home just as we put the cushions back on. Nothing to see here, dad. (Haha...just kidding. He knows we do it. And "we" as in "kids." Most of the time.)

Well we ate dinner at 6:30 or so and then did baths and what not and then it was bedtime. Jay had taken a pretty significant nap so he had some extended jumping time with Mama while Jonathan was putting the girls to bed.

Tuesday morning the kids thought we should get Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. That usually happens the day after we've had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. haha. Somehow "Honey Bunches of Oats" didn't have the same appeal. Well they ate their cereal nonetheless and then we went to the sports center.

Calla and Kelsey would go to the sports center every day if I was interested in that sort of thing. And that is because there is a girl who goes every day who brings along her rainbow loom. The rainbow loom is "the talk" of the elementary age girls in this area (and probably every area).

below: here it is

 Okay, that's not the actual loom. But that is the bracelets that you can make out of colorful (tiny) rubber bands using the loom. And a generous girl named Layla or something brings her loom to the sports center and cranks them out like it's her job. Calla and Kelsey each got to pick out colors and she made them a bracelet and I think they could just sit by the loom and watch this girl work her magic for hours. haha.

Well we weren't at the gym for hours. But I was there long enough for an hour-long class and a shower which is probably pretty long for Jaybird. (Calla and Kelsey put in a request for a "blue bracelet" for Bird.)

After the sports center we came home and ate some lunch. Jay went to bed at noon for his nap. He had been up so early that morning...I think he overheard that I was going to try to get up early to do my devotions and wanted to help. It wasn't helpful.

Jay took a three-hour nap, so that gave the girls and I plenty of time to pull weeds outside. It has been so rainy this year that I feel like the weeds are extra weedy.

At 3 or so, we put our swimsuits on and got ready to go to Rice pool. Jenny and I thought we'd meet up after naps for a swim. Luke got off work early so he was able to meet up at about 5...he took Calla and Norah off the diving board and down the slides. Bless his heart. The weather was less than ideal...like mid-70s. Not exactly a temperature I tend to submerge myself in pool water for.

Kelsey Mae and Jay did some swimming but complained they were cold so they camped out in the sand with Dane for a while. The upside for the not-very-summery day was the pool was practically empty. The lifeguard-swimmer ratio was probably 3:1. Haha.

After the pool, we went over to the Moo's for some pizza. Jonathan met us there after work (with the pizza). The kids played and played outdoors. It was definitely good weather for running around and playing "restaurant" (according to them).

below: Dane and Bird enjoying their popsicles. The perfect post-pizza dessert.

 below: Jaybird just adores Dane

 below: Bird trying to get the hang of the push-up pop.

 below: Dane drove with with me from the pool to the Moo's so I took this pic (when I was stopped).

The kids were playing so nicely and nobody was peeing their pants (ah-hem, referring to Jay) and it was just one of those nights when 8pm comes around too soon.

We said our goodbyes and came home and put the kids to bed. And then Jonathan drove and got me and him Culver's ice cream and I don't think the summer evening could have gotten better. Except of course if a speedboat would have driven by on a lake and taken me for a tube ride. (I am pretty convinced of late that there's no summer activity that rivals boat tubing in terms of fun in the sun.)

Callaism~

~ Calla can be such a dominant firstborn at our house but when we get with the Moo's she (almost) always defers to Norah. I think that it helps that Norah is almost a year older. It just makes sense that she would call the shots. :-)

Jayism~

~ Sometimes Jay is not a big fan of stopping his playtime to go in the potty but it turns out if he is outdoors he is always agreeable to go on a tree. He and Dane did this together no less than three times.

Last Weekend (of Birthday Parties)

Saturday & Sunday we had birthday lunches to attend! How fun is that? They were both outdoors and it was nice and sunny and hot. 

Saturday morning before birthday party #1, Daddy stayed home with the kids and I went to the sports center for a class. Then I came home and did some weeding before it was time to get in the shower and get ready for the party. The party was a "water-based" one so the girls got on their suits and then we headed out.

below: ready to paaaarty

The birthday girl was Hannah, who was turning 2. My friend Suzi hosted an adorable beach-themed party with lots of blow-up pools, Hawaiian leis, and a delicious lunch that was served in beach buckets. She had lots of Pinteresty-type details...it was so cute.

The best part for the kids was playing around outside. Matt and Suzi have a nice big yard so they got lots of running around in.

below: Jay LOVES the color blue. He picked out all the blue leis from the big bundle and put them around his neck. (The orange one was a lei his sister threw on him.)

After lunch and some cupcakes, Matt and Suzi set up the pinata. Somehow none of the kids got a head injury (little kids always look like they are going to slug each other with that bat as they unsuccessfully beat the piñata haha).

After we opened gifts, we headed home. We were all pretty hot, so the girls stayed indoors while Jay napped. Jonathan mowed the lawn and after I did some things around the house I decided to take the girls to the pool.

I've been wanting to teach Kelsey how to swim and I thought Saturday, without Jay, was as good a time as ever. I told Kelsey she wasn't allowed to put on her swimmies and I got ready to "teach her." She let me "teach" her for about one minute and thirty seconds. Then she said she didn't want my help. Whaat?

Well I told her I would just watch her then. I told her to do the doggy paddle (which I had just demonstrated how to do). She tried, and went under. But she was happy she tried and she didn't want me to touch her. (A far cry from teaching big sis how to swim.) Then I told her she needed to learn how to put her face in the water. I tried to help her but she didn't want any of it. She just ducked her whole head under the water, and came up spluttering but triumphant. She did it a few more times (on her terms).

Then I told her I couldn't catch her anymore when she jumped from the side. She was too old. So she worked up her courage (it took a few moments of standing there, in silence) and then jumped off the side (where she could reach). She fell under a couple times but most of the time she landed on her feet and didn't get too wet. I think she was surprised how easy it was.

Well I think Kelsey Mae likes to do things herself. It made me smile that she's always refused to put her head under water until I told her I would teach her how to do it, and then she wanted to do it by herself. I should take her training wheels off her bike and hand it to here and tell her to learn. ha.

Once Jay woke up, Jonathan brought Jay to the pool. We haven't all gone to the pool in awhile so it was fun! Kelsey showed off her new self-taught moves. We put on Bird's swimmies and he jumped off the side of the pool 4,502 times. Thankfully, Jonathan was there to catch him 4,000 of those times.

At 5:30 we headed home. The kids ate dinner and then Stefani came. Jay just lights up when she comes. Jonathan and I said goodbye and then we went on a date night.

We went to our favorite restaurant in Wheaton called Ivy and sat out on the patio and had a fabulous time.

In the meantime, Stef put up with these people...

 below: Stefani gave this dress to Kels for her birthday...

She also gave her a make-your-own-headband kit and a big coloring book. I think it's safe to say she's the best baby-sitter ever.

Sunday morning Jonathan had to get up early to volunteer to help with "parking." Bless his heart. I pretended to run over him when I got to church with the kids. Hopefully I didn't alarm any of the other "parking attendants."

During the first service I helped in Jay's class. Fortunately I didn't feed graham crackers to any of Jay's classmates with gluten allergies (like I did last time I was there - sheesh). Birdie always gets broken up when I leave after helping in the first service. Poor baby.

After church we had enough time to get home and out of our church clothes and back into the car to drive to Braylen's party.

Braylen and Uncle Caleb share a birthday on July 25, but his party was on Sunday (the 21st). Uncle Stephen and Aunt Alicia had a big bash at their place. Their backyard was set up with picnic tables and inflatable pools and the kids brought their swimsuits, ready to play. It was such a fun party! Uncle Stephen manned the grill. He did a great job!

And Stephen also refereed the Pinata. Two pinatas in two days! The kids have enough candy to rival Halloween.

It was nice to say hi to Aunt Courtney while we were there since her birthday was the next day. I think we have more family members with birthdays in July (5) than in any other month.

below: Jay happens to have a sweet-spot for Uncle Kurt.

below...talk to the hand

 below: opening presents (the birthday boy is in the wagon). My girls get pretty excited about present opening. If you can believe it, I had already told them to take three steps back...

We stayed until 3, which was pretty long since Jay hadn't napped yet.  By then the party was breaking up anyway so we wished Braylen happy birthday and drove home. Jaybird slept in the car and then slept another hour and a half in his crib.

Once he woke up, we ate dinner and then headed to Rice Pool to cool off. It wasn't real busy at the pool, even though it was super hot outside. Perfect combination if you ask me!

below: My three favorite people walking into the pool....

The kids swam with Daddy and then we played for awhile in the sand. Well, I should rephrase that. The kids played in the sand. I sat in a lawn chair and read a book. Another nice combination.

below: busy, busy

 below: Calla runs the show here in the sand

 below: showering off. The shower water is warm. Soo relaxing ha

 below: Jay could spend the entire time hanging out at the faucets...

 below: Ahhhh feels nice

Well all good things have to come to an end. We headed home at 7:30 and got everyone to bed. Kelsey almost fell asleep on the way home from the pool. All that time in the sun can take it out of you!

Jayism~

~ In the car, Calla likes to play the alphabet game. She asks me to call out a letter and then she says a word that starts with it. (Example: I say "d" and she says "duck," etc. She made this up.) It's good practice for Jaybird to learn how to say words because he always chimes in and repeats the word. Today he had to learn how to say Gymnastics haha.