Weekend at the Lake

For the first time in about a year, all five of us (including Millie) spent the entire weekend in Grenada for Father's Day.  It was a much needed, super fun relaxing weekend!  On Friday night, Mimi and Papaw met us at the lake house and grilled kebobs and veggies - delish!  We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset and had Papaw open his Father's Day gift with Grace on video call.  Papaw was having trouble opening his box (just kidding) so Silas and Avery came to the rescue!  

Don't worry Papaw - we got this!!

Even Millie enjoyed the weekend amongst friends... 

Notice Millie's protective stance where she ducks her head so Silas can't try to pull her lips off.  These three LOVE each other. 

Enjoying their cup of milk and watching the sunset before bed.  (yes, I am in a little chair and yes, it took a second or two to get out of it...)

Avery spent the two nights with Mimi and Papaw while Silas stayed at the lake with Bruce and me. This was the first time they've ever spent the night away from each other... they actually did really well and we enjoyed some rare one-on-one time.  It was as if Silas didn't realize she wasn't there until Saturday night when Mimi took Avery to get in the car to go home... we had a little meltdown but soon were fast asleep.  Saturday morning, Avery was up at the crack of dawn (of course!) and working hard to help Papaw shuck corn.  (Little did I know that we were having a celebration that day!)

She's such a big girl. Always cheesin'

Bruce, Silas and I had a lazy Saturday morning... in fact, we stayed in our pajamas until 11am when several cars pulled into the gravel drive - Mom, Dad, Avery, Micajah, Grace, Eleanor, Mop and Pop and Uncle Leo and Aunt Tonya came to celebrate a certain one's 30th birthday several days early!  I was certainly surprised and loved the time visiting with my awesome family!

Later that afternoon, we had so much fun catching up with Talty and Kelly, little Henry (scheduled to make his appearance in a few short weeks!). They drove down for the night from Oxford and brought Wilson, their lab - He and Millie played and played and swam and swam and rolled around for 4 solid hours.  We love having the Shannons in Oxford - so much closer to us! 

We had another first that night:  Eleanor braved the bath waters with the dynamic duo... and was initiated in Silas and Avery fashion. She was a good sport but no doubt a little spooked. Here is Avery totally in charge and washing her hair. We will have to try bubbles next time...  (see video footage from this bathtime event in the previous post)

Look at these sweetie pies!!

Somebody wants to be like Mommy...

Doesn't get much better than this!

Oh wait, maybe it does.

Mimi and Mornings

It's always a special day of the week when Mimi comes to play!  Silas and Avery both light up and race to be the first one to hug her neck.  It's probably one of the sweetest things I've ever seen.

They sometimes complete the tackle. 

As I've said many times before, it is fascinating to watch these two little people and see how different they are.  One wakes up like their Mommy - ready to go... (here she is ready for Vacation Bible School).  Hmmm, wish she would be as tired as her Mommy at bedtime

And the other one is like his Daddy and needs a few minutes to process the day...

"Dude, where's my coffee??!"

Silas is so funny 'reading' the paper.  He will hold it up high right at his face and make this humming-like sound while turning his whole head from left to right as if he was reading every word... (and 9 times out of 10 the section he's reading is upside down)  We just laugh and laugh.  Oh, and yes, he always sits in his chair to do this. 

I do not know what came over me a few weekends ago, but I had all I could take of goo on the floors.  I (we, see picture below) logged four hours with vinegar and water and a rag to scrub those boards clean.  I've got several rooms left to do, but at least it's a start.  There are just some things Pine Sol and a mop can't take care of...   (and yes, my shoulders were soooooore for the entire next week.)

Cleaning is always better with two little helpers! 

Rub-A-Dub-Dub...

Two monkeys in the tub...

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and in the car...

Fountains and Family

While the Warfs were here helping Bruce with Silas and Avery and I was in St Louis with the youth choir tour, the fountains at Renaissance were apparently a HIT!  Deducted from the pictures I saw when I got home, Silas and Avery either ran straight through the spouts with their clothes on (to ask forgiveness (and permission) afterwards) or their Daddy thought It'd be fun to play in the water fully clothed.  Too funny.  At least it was only 100 degrees outside. 

I'm so glad Daddy took pictures!!  

Water break...

The second crop of pictures on the camera was very similar, only Silas and Avery were wearing swimming suits. Must have been the next day.  We'll have to go back to play in the fountains again soon! 

The Warfs were so kind to fly down and spend the week with Silas and Avery (and Bruce!).  Everybody was happy (and tired) when I got home.  Silas and Avery loved playing with granny and grandpa... endlessly!  

Avery is going through a 'feeding baby' phase and wants to feed everyone/animals/her brother...  She puts all her baby dolls in the high chairs and tries to feed them with her fork or a cup.  Sweet Eleanor was over at our house last night and it's a good thing she was ready for her bottle 'cause Avery shoved it into her mouth and held it there until she finished every bit of it.  

Well, I looked over last Saturday morning and saw both Elmos in the high chairs... with leftover blueberry waffles in the mouths!  I never dreamed I'd have to hold Elmo over the sink and "burp" him to get the food out of the mouth.  Bahaha.  

Another Silas and Avery fetish:  the broom.

Man, I wish they liked the dustpan too... we'll have to work on that.  Such big helpers!  (I'll save this picture to show them when they're 15 and wouldn't be caught dead helping clean...)

Avery also has started saying 'chhhheeeeeeeesssseeeee" when you take her picture.  Literally, cheesin'.

There's no denying whose child she is.

Update on Little Buddy:  We took Silas to the allergist a few weeks ago when he had a major outbreak of eczema (most likely from the sudden HOT weather we've been having).  We've been suspicious about peanut butter for several months and the spring allergens this year have simply kicked his little sweet tail.  Here we are in the waiting room... 

So... now we are taking a mini dose of Zyrtec every night and using a little stronger steroid cream on his body for the 'bad spots' and another cream for his face.  We're also coating him all over in Cetaphil right after his bath.  After about one week, his skin has never looked better!  He is like a different child - and isn't scratching his skin all day!  The doctor said he will most likely grow out of the eczema and hopefully the peanut sensitivity as well.  

These precious little people are growing up too quickly.  Seriously.  

Catching up on pictures

With a few free moments (Saturday afternoon 3 hour nap...ahem, I said 3 hour nap! I did check to make sure they were okay) I am trying to upload the most recent pictures of Silas and Avery.  

What?  You don't scream at the top of your lungs then laugh hysterically in the bathtub?  You should try it.  Releases endorphins. For some, anyway.

 Avery loves her new backpack.  (and cheetos... which she is snacking on at 8am before Mother's Day Out)

Such a big girl!

 Avery's new thing is to raise her arms and spin around to show her clothes or shoes off...

Silas thinks she is funny.

Feeding Baby. Or intubating Baby.  You decide.  Maybe we have a future doctor on our hands!

With the hot weather creeping in we decided that poor Millie would feel much better without her fur (and my vacuum cleaner would appreciate it).  Since Silas and Avery were born, she has spent most of her time outdoors... but of course still loves to come inside for a few minutes every once in a while.  Silas especially L.O.V.E.S Millie.  He grabs her face and just smiles and slaps pets her until she collapses on the floor in submission... followed by Silas diving face first hugging her tightly.  Precious.

Petsmart charges the same for a full Furminating procedure and a shave.  We went with the shave.  Complimentary pigtais included.  Oh. my.

The new de-bulk-ified Millie was more than a little ashamed... but after 3 or 4 days, I think she likes her new "do"!  Now I've got to learn how to use the clipper set I bought several years ago... 

 Haircuts all around!!  As much as it pained me, we HAD to have Silas' curls trimmed.  He looks like he is 5 years old now... sniff, sniff.

We were at Bruce's closing celebration for Upward Soccer at our Madison campus and both Silas and Avery took to this cute miniature schnauzer...  looked just like the Gore's family pet, Bogie.  Bogie, you are missed! 

A few weeks ago, our friend Jack Bost turned two!  We had so much fun at his party - jumped on his space jump till our little legs gave out... splashed water from his water table all over us and everyone else around... and each ate a piece of birthday cake (and some of others' too!).  Birthday parties aren't a success till all the toddlers' clothes come off, right?! 

"No bath needed tonight, Mommy.  Look, I've got bubbles right here!"

And before we continue our lengthy update in the next post, I'll wrap up with the Madison County Chamber's Dragon Boat Regatta.  MS Sports Medicine had two boats and raced really well - placing 3rd overall out of 47 boats.  (For those who are wondering what a Dragon Boat is:  basically really big canoe with two rows of 10 paddlers, a steerer in the back and a drummer in the front beating out the rhythm of each stroke).  It was super fun!  

Team Castaways

Somebody else enjoyed the beautiful day!  (What you can't hear is Avery squealing "cheeeeeeeezzzzeeeee"!

To be continued...