More pool!!

Morgan and RJ can't get enough of the pool! If a 'real' pool wasn't so much work I would start thinking about getting one! I just don't want to deal with filters, or chemicals, or truly cleaning a big pool... They really enjoy the small pool!! I usually get to sit on the side and watch them have a blast!! (But the pool is big enough I can join them on a hot, hot day!)

Gardiner Fun!

Today the Gardiner clan came over! We had a lot of fun! Here are a few pictures of the girls in the pool!

We ate lunch, watched princess movies, played in the pool, 'destroyed' the playroom, shared, played, and ate a yummy supper!

What a fun day!!

Carnival Fun

We went to the local firehouse carnival tonight. It was a pretty good night. We ate some food, played some games, took pony rides, and went on rides. Morgan and RJ got stuck in the 'fun house' for a good ten minutes until RJ finally figured out how to climb the rope and get to the top (where eventually I asked some 10ish-year-old to push him down the slide) and Morgan climbed back out the way she came...

We figured it is important to support our local firehouse, really hoping we never need them, but you never know!!

Changing

RJ has made a lot of changes within the last week or so! It is amazing! Before this week RJ could not sit for more than on page of a two-word-per-page book. Now he can sit and listen to a whole story! It is like something clicked that he is no able to focus a bit longer and listen to an entire book... and not just a simple picture book but a book with several sentences per page! Yea! So happy for you RJ!! I was beginning to worry just a little that you may never be able to focus little man! You have proven me wrong!! I'm so proud of you!! You are also starting to talk more! Thank goodness! Although it may not all be intelligible~you are saying the same intonation/rhythm for the following words/sayings: Momma, Dada, Bless You, Thank you, All done, Ball. You are also trying to repeat what we ask you to say. It doesn't quite sound accurate yet, but you are trying! That is all I can ask for! I am just so thrilled! This week has been awesome! You never cease to surprise me!!

Struggling...

Today I am really struggling with stopping. I would still love to be nursing RJ, but everyone around me tells me it is a good time to stop. He is just about 22 months old and he does not NEED to nurse anymore. I decided that since Bob and I were going away for a night it would be a good time to stop nursing. I did not enjoy the thought of pumping before bed and then when I woke up. Really tried hard to be strong and make myself believe this was the correct thing to do! I did ok while we were gone! I even did ok last night. I had Bob put RJ to bed last night to prevent the urge for RJ to want to nurse. This morning I asked Bob to get RJ up and as soon as he entered our bed for snuggles he came over to me pulling at my nightgown saying, "Boo-boo". When I told him no he began hysterically screaming. It BROKE.MY.HEART! I had to leave the room before I either A. broke down and cried with him or B. gave in and exposed myself for him. I could easily have allowed him to begin nursing again, but I tried to stay firm. (Did I mention my breasts have been sore b/c they are full of milk so it would be really easy just to go back to nursing? I know; To much info...) Just struggling today... mentally and physically and emotionally!

Couple Only: Bob&Beth

Bob and I went to Longwood Gardens for a little date time! Bob actually won an overnight stay and two passes to the gardens. We left the house around 1:30 and headed on our way. When we got there we splurged and got a couple's massage! Wonderful! Then we went to a restaurant called Half Moon. Unique menu including Llama, Alligator, Boar, and Ostrich. Wow... I went with cow! Bob went with Boar chops. Our supper was delicious, a little pricey, but very good.

Off to Longwood Gardens we went today. We picked the HOTTEST day of the summer to go!! It was estimated to reach 100 degrees with tons of humidity! Ugh! We got to the gardens just a bit after 9am and began touring. We enjoyed a barbecue buffet at 3pm and then headed home. We were both drenched in sweat and were done looking at plants, flowers, and trees. Neither of us are avid plant, flower, tree observers so after 6 hours of looking, and 6 hours of hot, HOT weather we were ready to leave!

Below are a few pictures of our visit to Longwood Gardens.

QUEEN BEE!

Perfect last picture!

DENTIST!!!

Our first dentist visit!! Morgan did awesome!! RJ did ok... Morgan let both the hygienist and and dentist look in her mouth and brush the teeth and fluoride the teeth. RJ on the other hand... He let the dentist sort-of look in his mouth. A good first visit! They got tons of little toys plus their toothbrush and floss! I don't remember getting five to seven toys when I went! Times have changed!!

Water Play at DW!

Some pictures from Morgan, RJ, and Daddy's water play at Dutch Wonderland!! Lots of fun! Momma was the 'stuff' holder!

Here we go!

Splash!

That was fun!

Who is that coming down the slide

under that huge splash?

Oh! It is Daddy and RJ!

Strasburg Railroad

Bedtime last night was interesting... We had two double beds in the room. RJ slept in his pack-n-play and Morgan requested to sleep with Daddy. Ok, I get the other bed to myself! YES! Don't know how I scored that one, but I'm not complaining!! We had a little balcony overlooking the indoor pool so Daddy, Morgan and I sat out there for about ten minutes while RJ fell asleep in his pack-n-play. Morgan climbed into bed with Daddy and I climbed into the bed closest to RJ's pack-n-play. Needless to say I heard every movement either of the kids made! Around 1am I heard a thump, figured it was just RJ moving around again... Around 3:15am RJ started fussing, standing up in his bed. I held him in my bed and after about an hour I was able to slide him into the bed next to me. He slept perpendicular to me so needless to say I was continuously kicked throughout the rest of the 'night.' He was fully awake around 6:45, ugh. Morgan was fully awake by 7:15am, double ugh. We were all up and moving by 8:00am. Did I mention that thump? The thump was Morgan falling off the bed! Thank goodness I thought ahead and put pillows down on the floor between our beds! Funny though... she didn't even wake up! Ha! I had Morgan reenact where I found her sleeping in the morning. She actually asked me, "How did I get here Momma?" I told her and she laughed saying that was silly!

After breakfast we headed to the Strasburg Railroad. It was not what we expected, but Morgan seemed to really enjoy it. RJ enjoyed some of it, but sitting still was rough for him! He loves to be constantly on the go!

After the railroad ride we headed over to the outlets and shopped the rest of the day away.

After a long two days...