Missouri Summer 2010

We had another great trip to Missouri this summer filled with family, friends, sunshine, thunderstorms, and humidity :)  I was a terrible mother though and only took a few pictures. Luckily my mom had her camera and my stepsister Lisa did too...I am just waiting for pictures from her.

We started off at 4 am on a Saturday morning to head to the airport.  Of course, Grevin didn't fall back asleep and was excited that we wanted him up so early.  There were plenty of empty seats on the plane so we were able to take his carseat with us and he fell asleep for a whole 20 minutes on take off.  The carseat was the best thing we could have done because he is such a busy boy!  He stayed seated for over half of the trip and then made his rounds with Zippy to visit everyone else on the plane.  He also did very well when a storm shut down the KC airport just as we arrived and we had to do very bumpy circles around the airport for awhile before we could land.  We were almost diverted to Omaha but luckily it was a typical midwest storm and blew away before that had to happen.

Gigi picked us up and we headed back to the house for a short nap before his cousins came over and we headed out for a Saunders softball game.  He loved watching the game, playing in the water, playing with his second cousins, and playing with sticks with Gigi.

Grevin loved loved loved playing with his three cousins and they were so good with him.  My dad is building a little room in the attic for the boys to sleep in when they are there and Grevin thought it was the coolest place ever.  He would stand at the door and cry "up! up!" until someone would take him up there to play ball and jump on the sleeping bags.  It isn't completed yet but it will be awesome once it is done.

Zippy took all the boys running

On Father's Day,we went to great grandpa Kearney's for a potluck BBQ.  Grey got to meet alot of his great aunts and uncles he hadn't met yet and had fun climbing the tree with his cousin Ethan.

Grey absolutely adores Ethan and Ethan is so good with him!

Helping Gigi in the garden

We then headed to my mom's house for a few days before heading the lake.  She introduced Grey to greek yogurt and he was in LOVE!

Grey also got to experience country living: chasing frogs and spiders, riding 4wheelers and tractors, catching lightning bugs, and even got to see a baby raccoon.

He helped Grandma and me cook food for the lake, too.

We spent the last 3 days at the lake for the Big "O" Family Reunion.  We rented 7 cabins to fit all of us and it was a great time like always.  Lots of good food, drinks, boating, wakeboarding, waterplay, and laughter.

 The whole clan (minus Uncle Ben who couldn't be there-that is him in the chair with his beer and pink shirt!)

Grey loves playing in the water, riding in the boat, and especially honking the horn on the boat.  Grandpa Doyle was starting to regret that he taught him how to honk since he didn't want to stop!  Grey was not a fan though of his life jacket and floating in the water.  It kept flipping him onto his back and once while Grandpa Doyle was trying to upright him, he pulled him under the water.  After that, Grey was content just hanging on the boat.

 Grandpa Doyle and Grey driving the boat

Cousins: Ashlyn(19 mths) and Grey (15 mths)

You can tell it was really, really hot!

It was a fun trip and Grey was a trooper.  He was excited to see his own room though!  We got home around 8 pm on Monday night. I went to lay him down in his crib and he almost jumped out of my arms to bury his face in his blankets with a big smile on his face :)  It was a fun trip but it is good to be home.

Happy Belated Father's Day

I know, I know, I am a week late but I have been off of the internet for the last week, enjoying life away from the computer!  I just wanted to wish Zippy a belated Father's Day on here.  Grey and Zippy spent the day watching World Cup Soccer and BBQ'ing at Great Grandpa's house.

Thank you, Zippy, for being the bestest dad ever!

Grevin's Big Boy Hair Cut

I almost cried when we went to get Grey's haircut, I have no idea why I am so emotional about hair-it grows back!  I think it was how grown up he looked with his new do.  He was great sitting in the chair, didn't even flinch when the hairstylist turned on the clippers.   If you live in the area, I highly recommend Joelle at Lions, Tigers, and Hair in Petaluma.  She was so great with him :) 

Before Grandpa got ahold of the scissors

Grandpa's handywork

Getting his hair cut

My big boy!

If he is going to have short hair, might as well have fun with it!

More hair pictures

We went to get Grevin's hair fixed yesterday but I think we are going to wait until after we see my parents to post any pictures of the new big boy do.  Until then, here are some more shots of Grandpa's haircut....I am thinking he better stick to teaching :)

Grandpa's Haircut

Grandpa got in BIG trouble yesterday. He thought Grey's bangs were too long and were getting in his eyes so he decided to take matters into his own hands without any one else knowing what his plan was. While Grammie was on the phone trying to get her car into the shop, she unknowingly left Grey in the hands of a man with a plan with scissors. First off, who thinks it is a good idea to cut a 15 month old boys hair by themselves anyways? I expected a haircut like this at some point in Grey's life but I thought he would do it himself. What was Grandpa's excuse? That Grey wouldn't sit still.

Let me introduce Mullet Boy-just in time to go to Missouri! 

So, really...does anyone know of any good daycares around here that are free and give one on one loving attention?  Ours is just not working out....

Wordless Wednesday

How To Eat Cheerios

World Cup 2030

Friday kicked off the beginning of World Cup 2010 and will continue with two to three games a day until the final in mid-July. Saturday, we went to watch the US. vs. England game with some friends. They had a small field in their yard so that Grey could start training for World Cup 2030.

I am glad he has another 20 years to practice!

15 months

Dear Grey,
I was going to wait and write to you at 18 months but I feel like I am going to forget everything that happens because you change so quickly! It has been 3 short months since your first birthday but you have grown so much. You are growing into a little boy!  You chat non-stop (luckily we have the signs to go with some of it so I can understand what you are saying!) and you are running everywhere.  We have to keep an eye on you at all times or you will be in the middle of the street, playing in the toilet, or exploring what ever else might catch your eye! I am envious of your endless energy and inquisitiveness.  You are constantly trying your boundaries: physically and mentally.  This gives you great pleasure and great pain. I think you have a permanant scab on your right knee-as soon as it is almost healed, you bang it up again!

Let's see if I can remember some other changes over the last 3 months:

-Running.  You are all over the place. You were walking at your first birthday but now you are running.  It is kind of funny though since your walking is probably faster than your "running" at this point.  Your legs move like crazy but you cover little ground.  You are an expert stair climber and are pretty good at knowing your limits of what size step you can walk down on your own or when you need help or need to go crawling backwards.  

-Being Gentle.  You are a definite boys boy.  You like to be rough and tumble, you like to throw things, push things and think everything is a drum.  We are constantly saying 'gentle touches' or 'be gentle.'  When we do, you immediately lean in to cuddle as a means of apology.  It was really cute when I was feeding the neighbors' 5 week old kitten.  You came over to check it out and I said "be gentle" so you laid your cheek gently against the kitten.  It is times like this that it makes my heart melt as your mommy.  Of course, it lasted .3 seconds and then you were throwing every toy into the kitten's pen and knocking over the water bowl :)

-Planes, trains, and automobiles.  You are fascinated with all three.  You love to watch the sky for the helicopters that land at the nearby hospital.  You run to the window when you hear the trash truck.  You vroom!vroom! your cars around the living room and sit in any little car you can find.  You are obsessed with keys.  We mistakenly let you sit in the front seat in the drive way one day and now that is all you want to do :)  You like to push the lock button on momma's car to make it beep.  It makes you crack up everytime...you are so proud of yourself!

-Balls.  You love to throw balls, any kind of ball.  Hard, soft, big, small.  You have to be at full alert in our house to keep from being beamed by one because you have a pretty good arm!  Daddy has also taught you how to kick, too.  You run around the house, kicking the ball, screaming GOALL!!

-Shoes/Outside/Water/Shovels- You love to bring everyone their shoes.  In the morning, I can hear you lugging your daddy's big work boots through the house to try to give them to him.  If I try to lay in bed on weekends, you will bring my shoes to me in bed.  You know you need to get your shoes on to go outside and as soon as you have them on, you head to the nearest door.  As soon as you are out of the door, you look for your favorite things: shovels, water, dirt, balls, rocks. This could keep you occupied all day!


-Talking.  We can hardly get a word in with you around :)  You realize that objects have labels and will walk around the house saying the words you know.  We still haven't quite figured out what you mean by "taco" though...maybe you are like your daddy and just love Mexican food?  But it is never in that context...I am hoping to figure this one out soon!  I need to look back at the list I posted a few months ago and update it with your current words.  You also love nursery rhymes with hand movements:  Rain, rain, go away; Bringing home a baby bumble bee; Itsy Bitsy Spider; If you are happy and you know it; are just a few of your favorites.

I know I am missing lots more because every day something new happens.  You bring us all so much joy and happiness and energy.  I love you through and through, yesterday, today, and tomorrow too!

Love,
Momma and Daddy

New Childcare Needed

Grandpa is done with school and is home with Grammie and Grey during the day.  Yesterday they went for a walk down the stree to the Luther Burbanks gardens and they pass through a cemetery to get there. 

Walking through the cemetery

Playing in the sprinkler!!

Does anyone know of any good nannies or childcare in the area?  I am thinking we need to find a new one :)

USA! USA! USA!

The 2010 Soccer World Cup start this Friday and it will be nonstop soccer at our house for the next month.  It is a good thing it only happens every four years because everything else in the world ceases to exist!  Zippy bought Grey a US soccer kit to where for the entire month of games...and I think he can wear it for the next 6 years.  The only options they had for sizing was small, medium, and large...so Zippy thought he should get the medium size (size 6!).  Grey loves his USA dress :)

Practicing yelling " GOALLLLLLL!!!"

Zippy has already placed another order for the small :)  It still didn't stop him from having Grey wear it to watch him play in his over-30s league on Sunday!