Dinner with Friends

Last night we had a dinner with our friends- the Kutchs (Geoff, Brandie, Benjamin and Sarah).  It was a great night with great food and conversation.  Benjamin and Davis always have fun together.  After dinner the girls played on the swing set while the boys played a friendly game of soccer together.  Davis decided it would be fun for him and Vince to play against Benjamin and Geoff.  For dessert, we had blueberry fruit crisp for the adults and rainbow push up for the kids.  What a good looking group of kids!

New Glider, New Bedtime Routine?

Hanna's sleeping patterns have been so inconsistent.  Vince and I can't put any reason behind why one night she goes straight to bed and why another it takes her close to an hour and a half to settle and only after I lay with her for a few minutes.   It dawned on me one night that I used to read and rock with Davis until he was 4 years old.  He still loves to read books before going to bed.  Taking a book away before bedtime is the ultimate punishment to him.  I am hopeful that creating a similar routine will help Hanna and maybe make it feel less like we don't go straight from fun time to bed time without a transition.  I have been a mom before, I promise!  One of our friends from church offered to give us her glider rocker.  Tonight we started the routine with Hanna.  We read three books and rocked a bit before she jumped into bed and said "night night" and blew me a kiss.  It's only one night, but maybe the glider is what was missing.  Thanks, Kathy!!!  

Mommy is also trying to get a few books in while she is at home.  No easy task with a toddler at home, but I am in the India part of Eat, Pray, Love and next on the list is a parenting book- Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish.  My next project- put all of Davis' artwork from Primrose in a scrapbook- only the best over 5 years was saved but there is still a lot.  

Below is a cute photo of Hanna sleeping while we were in China.  Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby?

New School, New Germs

Our lucky streak has run out, Davis has not been sick since I can remember.  It has to have been over 2 years.  I know- amazing.  Yesterday when I picked him up from school, he was more tired than usual.  At first I thought it was just a long day, but then he could barely keep his eyes open and definitely was hot to the touch.  He had a 102 fever and went to bed for the night at 5:30.  Poor guy.  He is home from school today and seems to be doing a little better, but still spiking a fever.  I just hope Hanna doesn't get it next.  We shall see.

Funny Pics with Silly Glasses

Family Time with Uncle Anthony, Aunt Ella & Cousin Micah

If Davis didn't have to go to school, this would be the perfect visit.  He LOVES his cousin Micah and now they both get to leave Hanna out!  It brings back memories of me and my cousin Jason pushing Nick (my brother) aside.  But no worries, before everyone feels sorry for Hanna, she doesn't have a clue!  When they run from her, she thinks its a game chasing them and laughing the entire way.  I told you she was tough!  Ella is the best photographer I know, and we went to capture some shots today of Hanna at the WRAL azalea garden.  We were able to get a few before a fight for the colorful umbrella ensued between her and Micah.  If you need a good photographer, she is amazing and reasonably priced.   I'll send you her info if you want it- she specializes in kids- outdoors, not in a studio.  Sample photos are below.

Anthony and Ella plan to leave on Thursday and far too soon according to Davis.  He was worried about Thursday coming on Tuesday.  I think he would be fine if Micah moved in.

We have our first follow up visit with the social worker on Friday.  I expect it to go smoothly...more reports for China.

Family Photo

Here is a family photo including my parents and brother, with Lauren, our next official member of the family.  Their big day is September 25th. Try getting a family photo with two kids, a tense mom (me) with a son who doesn't like the sand combined with a tripod with a remote delay.  Good times.  None the less, out of several, we were able to get one or two that were okay.  It was a good time, and we are heading home tomorrow.  

Walker (Batchelor) Beach Week

Hanna loves the beach, just like her brother!  Davis doesn't love the sand, but frankly, I don't either.  The trip down only took 5 hours (many many stops) and all of our sanity, but we finally made it.  Vince is coming down tonight (Friday) and tomorrow is going to be a big day of play for Davis with Dad and Uncle Nick to ride the slide and boogie board with him.  For those of you who wonder why I take my children to the beach in their clothes, they do have swimsuits, but we were just supposed to be looking for shells.  The water was just too tempting.  Please note the photo of Hanna giving Pop Pop an very affordable spa treatment.  The best exfoliants you can buy.  It's been a great trip and its funny to watch them be so exhausted, but keep at it.   I am tired too, so are Oma and Pop Pop.

The tomatoes are FINALLY ripe

We had a nice visit today with my oldest friend, Gina, and her two daughters, Barrett and Addison.  I am glad we were able to coordinate a visit, it is generally to difficult for us to coordinate.  We played outside on the play set until Barrett, Gina's oldest daughter, realized the garden had some vegetables to pick.  It's been a chore we have needed to do for a few days so she and Davis picked away.  We picked a ton of tomatoes, a cucumber, and there were three eggplants I think I am going to leave on for another day or so just to be safe.  If you have suggestions on what to do with tomatoes please send suggestions.  I have already made salsa.  It was all fun and games until they stumbled upon a spider.  I had to take a picture of that too....

Cupcakes from Challie

Challie, our babysitter, stopped by this week to deliver some delicious cupcakes to welcome Hanna home.  Davis was most excited to see her, until she left and then the cupcakes hit the spot.  They were finger licking good- trust me, I had a few myself.  We have great friends!

A week in review...

It's been a good full week at home.  Davis started Vacation Bible School last Sunday- the theme was galactic blast.  He makes a great astronaut!  I realized being a stay at home mom is WAY harder than working.  Even though its busy, it's good to spend time with them and we are heading to the beach next week.  I hope to post new pictures as often as I can.  Hanna received a new baby doll from my mom, and we had a visit from Vince's family this weekend.  Hanna did great interacting with them.  She was most excited about the train track Vince's parents bought at an auction for Davis.  The highlight for me was that Hanna found her dress up clothes and decided the microphone was the best part of the ensemble.  These were a gift from a colleague (Thanks, Kayla!), who is also a mom to a little girl, so she knew it was the perfect gift.   Life is good.