Fair Fun

We went to the fair in town. It was exactly the way I remembered it from back in the day.  Maeve rode her first rides, the boats and the carosel.  She wasn't too crazy about either one.  Cam, on the other hand, was will to try a few more things, especially once he found his buddy Michael.

We ended the night with popcorn! With a funnel cake the night would have been complete.  Maybe next year!

67 Years

April 16th, 2010 marked the 67th wedding anniversary for my sweet grandparents.  Wow!  They are such an awesome example of unending love and devotion.  They boast that they have 15 great-granchildren.  It neat as one of their grandchildren to see them still getting so much joy from watching one of their own.  Both Cam and Maeve love to "boo" heads with Granddaddy, and they know they always have a delicious snack coming up from Granny.  More than anything, I am so thankful that my children have gotten this opportunity. 

"A righteous grandparent, who lives their lives to inspire and enrich the lives of their grandchildren, is worth untold - to those who cherish and love them dearly."

Letting Go

Our determined Maeve who needed a finger to walk

We finally officially have a walker in the house.  Maeve decided on Thursday, April 15, (when she was 13 months and 13 days old) that she could do it alone.  For months now, she's been walking with our fingertips, not really needing them for anything more than confidence.  She would walk a few steps here and there, but as soon as she didn't have a finger, she would instantly drop down to the ground.  And lately, she would really want to walk somewhere and come over to you to find your finger so you could take her there.  She would get so frustrated with you if you didn't do exactly what she needed you to do for her.  I thought for a while there she would never let go. 

But, Thursday afternoon, at Aunt Laura's house, she had somewhere to go (to find all the boys) and was just not really going to wait around for someone to take her there.  Mama said she walked all the way down the hall until she found them.  And since then, she's been toddling around wherever she wants to go.  She still has not mastered getting up once she falls, but atleast I can now stand her down on the ground while I do something with both hands!  It's such a relief for me for her to be a little more self-sufficient. 

Once again she has proven to be unpredictable.  For a baby who rolled over at 4 months and could crawl at record-breaking speeds, we just knew she would walk extra early.  We never dreamed it would finally be at 13 months!

Now, let the chasing begin! 

Maeve on her birthday, just barely letting go

My Cloud

Had the sweetest conversation with my four-year old this week.  For a while now, he's really had lots of questions about heaven.  In true strongwilled fashion, he has decided that he doesn't want to go to heaven.  When we say prayers at night, he will lie there and ponder heaven and say, "Mama, I don't want to go to heaven."  I've reassured him that heaven is a beautiful place that he would love to be in.  It's so hard to put something so big into an idea that a little one can comprehend.  I usually end our bedtime conversation by telling him that we won't worry about heaven right now and just have a fun time here together. 

I know his hesitation for heaven comes from not wanting to be separated from us.  We have declared age four as the fearful fours because it seems that he worries and frets over the tiniest things sometimes.  So, of course the thought of living somewhere other that where his mama and daddy may be is terrifying for him.  This is coming from a child who won't even think about spending the night with someone right now because he would have to be away from us. 

So, Cam was sitting at the table and had already started eating his supper while I was still stirring in the kitchen fixing something else for one of them.  Just out of the blue he said, "Mama, I'll go to heaven." He said it in the same tone that he uses when he decides to do something we've asked him to do after a huge protest. 

Just like those small things, I tried to react in the same way that I do to those.  I said, "I'm so glad you've decided to go.  You know it's a wonderful place." 

Then a few minutes later he added a thought and asked, "Will you ride on my cloud with me?" And I told him I would be honored to share his cloud as we ride up to heaven together! 

Number 5

After a long practice season that made us think this may be the only ball practicing we would ever get to do with Cam, he magically began to love t-ball.  All it took was getting his uniform!  He's always been crazy about playing dress up, so I guess this is the ultimate dress-up outfit for him. 

After getting the jersey and the hat, we had to go purchase the rest of the uniform.  (We had waited on this because it was looking like we may not ever make it to the games).  He had to put on the jersey and hat in the car on the way home.  Then, when we got home, he had to try out the entire uniform, including the cleats.  He was very excited about being a real ball player! 

The first game was fun for him. (This was after a little team-picture mishap that nearly ruined the fun for all of us).  He had the biggest fan club, and everytime he did something on the field, he would look out at all of us and give us a thumbs up!  He was very comfortable putting on a show for everyone and seemed to love being in the spotlight.  Hmmm. Wonder who he gets that from? 

We are looking forward to a fun season with our favorite number five!

Spring Break

After baseball interferred with our original spring break plans, we declared this week a staycation.  It was certainly that.  If only we never had to work, we could get into so many things!  Although we didn't have a single sleeping-in day, it was nice not to have to set any alarm clocks.  (We have two very reliable ones that chimed each morning before dawn!) 

We started with a busy Easter weekend.  When the weekdays began, we took advantage of the sunshine and had a pool day.  Maeve loved splashing around, and Cam finally released himself from the steps and was confident enough to trust his shark to hold him up as he swam all around the pool.  We fired up the grill and enjoyed eating and visiting with friends.  We took in a baseball game, which included a bag full of snacks and many baby-step laps around the fans.  Wednesday we had a playdate with Anna Belle in the morning and then took a day trip to the aquarium with Nonna.  Maeve loved looking at the "ish," and Cam was just so excited about seeing what was next.  We spent a day with "the boys" and did a little spring cleaning after an early bedtime.  We ended the week waiting on a new friend, Brenna, to arrive.  We finally all met her on Saturday.  We also had ballpractice, a birthday party, and friends over to eat that day.  Phew! 

Now it's time to return to the normal routine.  Six more weeks until we can have that glorious summertime that we all look forward to the whole year through.

Maeve sporting her new monogrammed suit!

Cam finally not so fearful of the water

Taking in the sights at the aquarium

The Boys

Holding Baby Brenna with my Big Baby looking on

Easter 2010

You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart!

We had a day full of family and egg hunting!  This wasn't one of those cool Easters when you have to grab sweaters to go on top of the newest spring trends.  It was actually hot with temperatures in the mid eighties!  So, all of the spring clothing options were much-needed.  Maeve got to sport her church dress without the tiny white sweater and tights.  She was able to go sleeveless with the low-cut frilly socks.  Cam was probably a bit toasty in her three-piece, pin-striped suit:  jacket, pants, and a boat tie! 

Both must have been worn out from looking so cute because they both fell asleep in church.  It is rare for either of them ever to take a little nap with so much going on.  We started to leave them both on the pews and run out.  However, we reconsidered and brought them both home with us.  I guess they were storing up the rest for the hunts that were about to take place. 

Cam was quite the hunter this year, even able to find the ones hidden under the fresh pinestraw.  Maeve acted like she knew what to do and picked up the first egg she saw.  Then she sat down and cracked it open for the candy.  One egg was all she needed!  CoCo polished off one of the hard-boiled eggs, shell and all.

What a great beginning to a restful and relaxing Spring Break!