I have no idea where to past 2 weeks went. We have been busy to say the least. I started babysitting the Monday after Audrey's birthday. Surprisingly it's been a smooth transition, John & Audrey love having Tristan around. Thankfully the boys have no problem letting Audrey tag along and including her and what they are doing, and she is also very taken with baby Noah. So she floats back and forth between playing with the boys and "helping" with the baby. It has also helped having Oliva (the boys older sister) around.
She plays with the boys, or sooths the baby, and tries to help with Audrey but it's no secret Audrey is a mama's girl and doesn't want anyone but mama to help her. The first week she had a rough time adjusting to having the baby around. She liked him and wanted to help but was not happy with the amount of attention he was getting from me, and so whenever she saw me holding him she would would ask for something or help with something and if I told her I couldn't or to wait she would burst into tears. It was hard and frustrating for a few days, but she seems to have adjusted this past week.
Other than adjusting to our new weekly schedule we have also been busy with other summer activities. John took swim lessons last week, just one hour a day but he loved it. Because it was the 1st week I started watching the the other kids Aaron took John to his classes every day but one. The one day I went I snapped as many pictures as I could, and also realized that my son really needs to spend time in group setting where someone other than mom is in charge.
I was a little embarrassed by his behavior. He was all over the place running, jumping into the pool, splashing the teachers, and not listing to directions it was like he was in a completely different world than the rest of the kids. I could only take it for so long, I finally walked over to the pool pulled him out of the water and told him if he didn't starting behaving and listening to what his teachers where saying he was going home and would not be coming back to the rest of the week. It seemed to have worked for the rest of the class but I'm not sure how the rest of the week went. He starts preschool in the fall and I can only imagine the reports that are going to be sent home. I have my work cut out for me that's for sure. Other than his behavior he did well, he really has no fear of the water, and he even jumped of the diving board 3 out of 5 days, with a little cash incentive from Papa John. The other 2 days one of which I was actually able to go he wouldn't jump, he made them drop him off.
We have also been to more picnics in the last 2 weeks than I think we had all last year, but we have enjoyed every minute of it. There is nothing like good food, family, friends, and games on a warm summer night. One night in particular we went over to our friends the Taylor's house where they fried up all the fish Aaron and Thad had caught. After everyone ate more than we should have, we took the kids down to the empty lot on the corner and played wiffle ball. Anymore I have more fun watching my children play with other kids, the running, and laughing is enough to make my day.
I love that Audrey is so eager to be involved in what all the other kids are doing. She really has no idea that she is so much smaller than the rest of them, and does everything in her power to do and keep up with everything that the older kids are doing. Last night we had yet another picnic at Aaron's parents house with some extended family. Seeing it's the 4th of July weekend I took a few sparklers for all the kids to play with. I was unsure how Audrey or John for that matter would react because last year John was terrified of them. Surprisingly they where thrilled with them this year.
Although John was willing to hold one this year he was still on the cautious side, Audrey on the other hand was the one waving it around and making everyone else nerves. After we left the picnic we headed over to the fireworks in Austin. It was the 1st time either of the kids had been to fireworks, so I was excited and nerves for them. The hour leading up to the start of the show I couldn't help but laugh at Audrey.
She was so excited, but really has no idea what she was waiting for or excited about. She was sitting in my lap when they started and I will never forget her reaction. Her mouth dropped open as the 1st firework lit up the sky, and she sat in a frozen state with her eyes glued to the sky and mouth hanging open while the 1st round went off, and when it ended she sat up clapped her hand and yelled YAY!!!! It's moments like that, that make all the hard moments of parenting worth while.
John again was a little nerves because of the noise, but after they where over he deiced he liked them and wanted to go again the next day. I'm not sure if it's the fireworks he enjoyed, or a late night out with friends eating more junk than he's usually aloud. Either way, much to his dismay he'll just have to wait for the next 4th of July weekend to do it again.
I could think of no better way to end the long weekend, than with a family trip to Lyman Run. But other than a picture or two we will save that for another post.
That has been the highlights of our last 2 weeks. Summer is keeping us busy, and there is no signs of slowing down for a while, but we love it. I am all for making memories with my children, and not only for their sake but for mine. The day will come when they are grown and have their own families, and memories will be all I have left of days when they where just my babies.
It was nice to spend a few hours just the 4 of us, no TV, no cell phone, no distractions. As you know if you read my blog my kids love water, so they where thrilled. Lyman Run is a popular destination during summer holidays, so we arrived early to beat the crowds and we did:) When we 1st arrived other than 1 other family with 2 young kids we had the beach to ourselves. We played in the sand, swam in the lake, tried to catch the minnows swimming along the water's edge, chased butterflied, threw rocks, had a picnic lunch and even made new friends.It was the perfect way to spend a couple of hours, with my family on the 4th of July. 
I have always considered myself to be a patriotic person. However, having children has made me so much more thankful that I was given the privilege of being born, raised, and now raising my children right here in the United Stated Of America. So this year I want to say thank you to all the men and woman who have served, to their families who let them go for months, or even years at a time, and especially to those who have lost their lives, and those who have lost a father, husband, son, wife, mother, or daughter so that I can live here and raise my children in a country, where I am privileged enough to spend a day enjoying the sun, sand, and water with my family and not have to live my life in fear. A Country where I am free to worship God freely and openly and share his love with my family, friends and all those I come in contact with. Unfortunately our county is headed down a road that I am not very proud of, and am even worry about what the future of this country holds for my children if we continue down the path that we are on. However one of my favorite quotes says " As a mother it is my job to do the possible, and trust God with the impossible. I may not be able to control what their future holds, but I make it my personal mission, my job to lead my children to the Lord so that whatever the future holds I know that their lives are in the hand of our Creator and that no matter what they face God will be with them.
