Summer fun!

The last couple weeks have been packed! H3 and I have been everywhere. We've been hanging out at a friend's swimming pool a couple times each week. They have three boys (age 5 and twin 2 year olds) and H3 loves playing with them. She's still not too keen on the water, but is gradually getting used to it. Each time we go she stays in a little longer, as opposed to preferring the rocks and other landscaping objects around the pool! Here she is taking a break from the water.


I've noticed that she likes to line things up, whether it's her food on the table (like cheerios), or toys in her room, or foam bath toys!


We went to the birthday party of the granddaughter of my EMT partner (birthday girl in the middle).


We went to Busch Gardens for a Steven Curtis Chapman concert. H3 enjoyed the music, but got really excited anytime people started clapping. She would squeal and clap too!


This past Monday, H3 and I drove to Roanoke to visit a friend of mine I used to work with at Liberty. She has two little girls, one 16 months old and one 8 weeks old. The 16 month old and H3 have played before, and this time was no different. They ran around the house chasing each other and playing with toys, and then before we left on Tuesday, we took them to a park and let them climb on the playground (see below).



Wednesday we met a friend and her 3 year old in Williamsburg for breakfast at Panera, then we took the two girls to a park and let them burn off some energy while we moms tried to stay out of the sun. It was still morning, but it was already in the high 80s and very humid. H3 and I headed home by 11 because it was so warm!

For the last couple days, the school has been having half-days. Tomorrow is the last day of school for H1, though they still have a teacher work day on Monday. We're so happy that the school year is closing out! H1 has been busy getting grades together and working on inventory stuff. It's been a good school year. Next year's schedule looks to be a challenge for him, but we'll cross that bridge in September. For now, we're going to enjoy the summer!

This morning H3 and I drove to Auntie Amber's house. After playing in her pool for a bit, H3 got to help collect eggs from the chickens. It was so fun to watch her. She was fascinated by the birds and they were actually pretty tame. They would let us pet them and everything! When H3 picked up the eggs, she was pretty gentle. We let her reach into the nests to get them, and she would take them out and hand them to me, though a bit reluctant to give up her prize before closer examination! Amber was kind enough to let me set up the pack-n-play in an extra room for H3's nap so she and I could get some more chat time in. H3 still naps for 2 - 3 hours in the middle of the day, and since we live at least 45 minutes from everything, it's quite a challenge to get in a good nap for her while we're out. Tonight has been spent in a cleaning frenzy so far. My parents are coing in town tomorrow morning and staying through Monday morning. Monday evening we have a dinner with our church home group, and then Tuesday we leave for NY! More cleaning and packing still to go!

~H2

Reflections and Anticipation

Am I ever glad that May is over! Granted, a lot of really good things did happen last month, like the renovations on our house being finished and H1 and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. It was busy though! H1's baseball season finished, the previously mentioned renovations on the house, and then the cleanup from that took up a lot of the month. June is looking equally busy, but in a different way. I'll get to that in a minute.

First, backtrack to the anniversary. Since our special day was on a Thursday, I made a nice dinner of steak, shrimp, mashed potatoes, and baby brussel sprouts. H2 had to work that day, so we made plans to go out over the weekend instead. On Saturday morning, we dropped H3 off with some friends and hit the town! After a nice lunch at Applebees, we went to see a movie. It's been over a year since we've gone to a theater, so it was kinda fun to see something new, before it makes its way to Redbox! After the movie, H1 and I enjoyed walking around for a bit before going back to pick up H3 and get her home by her bedtime. It was a fun day just hanging out.

We've rarely gotten to do that since H3 was born--a grand total of 3 times, partially because we live in the middle of nowhere and mostly because H1's schedule. Teaching + coaching 3 sports = no time at home, especially once you add in worship team at church and the church softball league this spring! God has blessed us though. We are so grateful that I am able to stay home with H3. Back when I was pregnant, we weren't even sure that was an option.

When H1's dad visited back in April, we got our season tickets to Busch Gardens. Since then, we've taken advantage of them twice. Below are some of the most recent pics. H3 had a blast and is becoming quite the adrenaline junkie when it comes to the little roller coasters. She's pretty tall (around 36"), so she can ride a lot of things. Most people think she's close to 3 years old when they first meet her because of her height, until she starts talking!






Now, back to June. As I said, this month is getting to be pretty packed. We've got something on the calendar everyday for the next 2 weeks, whether it's a doctor appt, birthday party, rescue squad activity, etc. On the fun note, we're hoping to go to a couple concerts. Busch Gardens hosts Christian concerts on Sunday nights throughout this month, and we are hoping to at least make it to see Steven Curtic Chapman. My parents are coming to visit Father's Day weekend, and then we leave for the Adirondacks on the 23rd!

Once we leave, I probably won't be able to post much until August. The camp only has dial-up in the main office, so more than a quick update will be hard to do, unless I take my laptop into town. We'll see. I'm really looking forward to going. H1 is the assistant camp director this year, so it will be a new experience for him. He'll also get to hang out with H3 a bit more, since his previous job had him down on the lake, and H3 couldn't be down there during the day. I'll be at my usual spot in the health lodge, patching up all the hurt/sick scouts and staff who come in. Again, this place has been a blessing to us. It provides a little extra money and has the huge bonus of getting to be in a place we love, enjoying the sports we love! I'm totally getting ahead of myself, but I'm just so excited about going!

Tonight H1 is at a church softball game. The games starts at 7:30, which is too close to H3's bedtime. We had pancakes and pineapple for dinner before he left though. What a dinner, right? That's what sounded good! Time to get the munchkin headed for bed....

~H2