LBI 2017

Well "vacation" (there is no Vacation with kids- it's just everyday life, in a different location) didn't start off too well. We were about an hour into the drive, still in Maryland, crossing the Tidings Bridge when traffic went from 70 mph to a complete stop. Frederic was able to stop in time before hitting the guy in front of us, but the guy behind us couldn't stop in time and rear-ended us. Luckily, the kids were strapped in correctly and were fine (a good lesson for Luc because he's in a state where he wants his buckle low and belt loose. I was able to educate him that wearing the seat belt correctly is important, like how Mommy put it on, otherwise he would've been very hurt from this accident). I was the only one who go hurt. I got whiplash- muscle spasm in my neck, shoulders, upper and lower back, and brain swelling which resulted in what felt like a head congestion cold for a few days. The medicine I was on made me very sleepy, which had its advantage since we were at the beach with my parents and brother.

Aria's first steps onto the beach this year were a little apprehensive. She put her barefoot down on the sand and stated: "yuck, it's San-day!" She was scared of the ocean for the first few days, but warmed up and liked jumping over the incoming waves or running away from them. She had a blast playing with the sand and smashing every sandcastle we built for her.

Luc didn't use his boogey board at all this year and instead just wanted to be either in the ocean swimming with Daddy or playing near the water in the sand and getting buried. He also found sand crabs and captured them for the day as his pet before releasing them back into the water before we left.

 
We watched the same 5 movies over and over again.










We saw some sunsets at the Bay.

Aria pretending she's Moana, singing to the water.

Luc went fishing with Grandpa (and then Daddy tried to fish too!)

The kids had a movie night inside with their beach chairs.

Dave, Frederic, and I went to the beach late at night after everyone else was asleep. Nothing makes you feel smaller in the world than being on a dark beach. 

Thursday, my cousin Karen and her family came for the day to hang out with us! Aria decided just as we got to the beach that she wanted to nap. And of course I didn't bring her Dora doll. So I had to walk all the way back to the beach house in 90-something degree weather, holding her in my arms because she was falling asleep. My back still hurts.
The Coz-cousins got along great. I think they had a fun day together.

Then we finally went out to get some ice cream. The previous night we were planning to go but the kids were acting so insane they lost that privilege.

We also had to visit Schooner's Wharf, it's tradition!

Vacations are fun, but it's nice to be home, sleeping in our own beds. The four of us shared a room together and Aria was on a cot for the first time. She never wanted to go to sleep. She waited until Luc came to bed and then I had to stand in the doorway to make sure she stayed in bed and then fell asleep. They were never asleep before 9-9:30pm. Yawn! No evenings to ourselves or time to do much on our own. But at least this year Aria wasn't up at 5am. She slept til 7 and Luc slept til 8-8:30am.

The evening we got home, there was a street block party. So we pulled whatever food we had in the fridge and went across the street. It was a big turn out! After the BBQ and the sun set, they set up a white sheet with a projector and showed Moana. Aria went to be on time, but Luc stayed up til the movie ended- 11pm! He slept til almost 10am the next day. Sweet!

4th of July Weekend

We took advantage of the 4th of July weekend and did lots of fun stuff.

Saturday, Frederic and my parents, and my brother, came over. They sat for a workshop assignment I had to complete for my Health Coach certification class. Afterward, they stayed for a BBQ dinner, and of course Dave hung out with us on the deck til much later.

Sunday, we made plans to hang out with Luc's school friend, Kira and her parents. We met up at their house and jumped on the B &A Trail with our bikes. Even though it reached into the 90's that afternoon, the kids stuck it out and ended up doing about 8 miles. We treated them to ice cream and pool time afterward.

Monday, Frederic had to go into work because he didn't get the day off like I did. Luc reminded me that I had to take him to get his allergy shot since the office was closed on the 4th and Wednesday I had my own appointment after work. So off we went. Then I took the kids with me to the grocery store to get a few things for the beach (we leave Saturday! Yay!). The rest of the day was inside the house so I could get laundry and some packing done. When Frederic got home a little after 3pm, we all went to the pool with our neighbor. After the kids had a quick bath and dinner, Frederic took Luc with the neighbors to see fireworks.

Tuesday, the 4th, was a crazy day.

I decorated all the kids' bikes with red, silver, and blue metallic pipe cleaners.

All the kids came out by noon and the adults had planned a cookout for the court. We started making hot dogs, hamburgers, corn, etc. while they flew kites around the street.

Then we brought out the water guns and water balloons for the kids to get wet and cool off since it was getting very hot and humid. Then the parents decided to turn on the kids and start a water balloon fight.

All the water balloons like confetti on the street

 As the moms were planning how we were going to pick up all the water balloon confetti off the street (we used about 600 balloons), Maricela came up with an awesome idea. She suggested we make it a contest for the kids who could pick up the most balloon scraps into their own plastic cup. Whoever won got a prize (then all ended up getting ice pops). It was amazing. They cleaned up all the balloons and the parents didn't have to do anything. I liked this game the most!

Dinner time came around and we started the grills back up and made the rest of the food. I ran into the house and cooked up some mac n cheese for the kids too. As we were eating, it started to rain, then pour! We finished eating, cleaned up, moved into the garage while the kids either went in or ran around in the rain.
We moms got soaked trying to put things away when it started really coming down.

The best days are those where you don't have to get into the car and go anywhere, you hang out outside talking and joking around, the kids are entertained and playing well together, food is good and belly's are full. Clean up is easy because there are so many hands, and the wonderful company of our awesome neighbors makes the day fun and enjoyable.

Aria is 2 1/2 Years Old!

This little tike has grown 2+ inches tall in 5 months, and gained 2 pounds. She's into size 3T clothing already and into 7.5/8 size shoes. Her hair will soon be like Rapunzel because I love it so much I can't even fathom cutting it. It's so golden, silky, long, and beautiful.
She flashes you a smile to get what she wants. She throws punches like a professional boxer when she's angry. Basically, 'No' is never the final answer, and she doesn't take S* from anybody. And so the Mommy/Daughter head butting begins at an early age. It's a battle of wills, a battle of might.

Don't be fooled by this angelical face.

Besides growing, Aria is getting more goofy, silly, feisty, opinionated, and independent.

She Loves:

Her Dora doll (Dora the Explorer, who is now multicultural because she has dreadlocks from Aria's "love")
Bows
Nail Polish
Things that sparkle
Dora
101 Dalmatians/Doggies
Singing along to Moana
Skirts and dresses
Shoes and boots
Kicking the soccer ball around
Pretending to cook
Playing in the water
Copying Luc (words, actions- everything!)
Minnie Mouse
Horses
Eggs, Chocolate, applesauce pouches, yogurt tubes

She does like when Luc tries to hold her.

One of Aria's favorite bedtime books is: "Love My Shoes!" (of course!). She's starting to learn it because I read it so much. She can finish some of the sentences. When we get to the page with rain boots, she stops me and calls them "Jump boots!". Because that's what rain boots are for- jumping in puddles. And that is something she just loves to do.

She Does Not Like:
Being told what to do
Not having what she wants for dinner (any other protein but eggs)
Luc teasing her
Luc not sharing with her
Giving up her pacifier (Please encourage me that a child won't hold onto it through college, and she'll give it up eventually!)
Luc calling her a "butt"- "I NOT a BUTT!"
People helping her do things she absolutely thinks she can do herself. "Don't Help ME, Mommy! I do it MYSELF."

Aria is learning to count, it's usually goes like this: "1,2" or "3,4,5,6,7...9, 11, 12"
She is also learning to sing along to the alphabet.
She's learning most of her colors and matching them correctly. Her favorite colors are pink and purple.
Aria is also getting better at drinking from a glass and feeding herself with a fork. She tends to prefer the left hand. But when she draws, she often uses her right.

A girl can never have too many bows. I think she learned this from Minnie Mouse.

This shirt just sums her up so well

 

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Luc gave Frederic his fathers' day gift from school a few weeks ago. He couldn't wait. It was little clear gems with Luc's picture on it, and Luc filled out a questionnaire about him and Frederic. It's super cute. 

I got Frederic a picture with a frame of the kids for his desk and a few ties (including one with bikes on it). 

Luc and Frederic got to take a bike ride alone while I shopped with Aria on Sunday, but then rest of the weekend we were all together trying to stay cool. 

Cali

We lost our Cali on Friday the 9th. 🌈

 She was my 13-year old Lab. I adopted her, with my parents, after I graduated from college. And though I only spent a year after living in the house (she stayed to live with my parents when I got married), she was still my dog in my heart.

I remembered changing her name to Cali (from Sophie- that's just not a dog name) because the color of her coat reminded me of sunshine and warm days. And California has sun and warm days all year round.

She was the sweetest dog ever. She never once growled or snapped at anyone- even when the kids would pull her tail, pet her the wrong way, climb on her back like a horse, or step on her feet. When they were born, she would come over to them in their car seats in the morning and lick their little faces. When they were older, she let them feed her her medicine and breakfast. Luc was able to start walking her (no longer did she pull on the leash like she did when she was a puppy) too.
She was the kids' first buddy.

But she grew old and was in a lot of pain due to Cushing's disease and arthritis in her back legs. She could no longer get up to drink water and she would collapse when she squatted to pee.

Luc is really sad and misses her, so I printed out this picture and bought a "Best Dog Ever" frame for him. He placed it on his dresser where he can see it first thing every morning.

Aria didn't really say anything the first week Cali was gone. But the next weekend we were over for Father's Day dinner and when we sat at the dining room table for dinner, Aria asked where Cali was. Cali used to come and lay under the table while we ate. I told her Cali went to live with Jesus. Aria answered back by saying, "She hiding. I got get her. Bring her back."
I wish, Aria. I really wish you could.

No More Soccer

Luc is pleased to announce that soccer is Done! And although it was pulling teeth every Saturday to get him there, and watch him crawl around the filed because he said it was too hot or tiring (mind you he can ride his bike for hours straight and have a fit when it's time to go inside), he was in love with his trophy. He carried it to the store, brought it over to show Grandma. And it's sitting on his dresser in a place of honor. I don't get it.