It's Getting Hot Out Here

We have had 90 plus degree weather the past week. Mixed with rain storms here and there the humidity is unbelievable! We tried to go to a sandcastle event, but only lasted about 30 minutes. The girls were really hot and looked like they were going to pass out! My dad had to go out of town for a couple of weeks and was going to miss his favorite holiday... Father's Day:) We went down the Sunday before he left and celebrated. We brought down the supplies to make his favorite kilbasa sausage and noodles dish. Addison and Avery picked out some nuts to give him on his long drive to Idaho. We topped the night off with strawberry and rhubarb crisp. Avery was a stinker and threw all her food on their newly pressure washed deck...oops! We showered Papa with what we love most about him and then we had to head back. Once again I am grateful for the example I have because of my dad. Lately, I haven't been feeling very well and he has saved me by coming to get the girls. He is always willing to help babysit to give Dave and I a chance to go out. He calls to check in on us and I always enjoy talking to him. Lately when I call I always ask for John Fajen please. I love our weird and funny relationship. Happy (early) Father's Day Dad!

Meanwhile...

Meanwhile why Addison was at camp Avery and I played! She is a lover of the outdoors and mostly just running away from me. She still wants to be completely rocked to sleep. It's a love/hate relationship. Most nights I really enjoy it, but when I have to go in there 3 and 4 times I'm done! She is such a mamas girl and has a feisty personality. Currently she doesn't want to sit in her booster chair anymore. It is a STRUGGLE. I'm hoping we're almost past the 30 minute melt downs. She has ended up sitting on mine or Dave's lap for the past couple days. I'm hoping this is just a little phase. Addison has been getting speech and developmental therapy services for about a month now. Her pediatrician wanted me to have her screened by the states, Help Me Grow program. I set up and appointment and they came and did some screenings. She qualified for speech and developmental services every other week. Our overall goals are to increase her expressive language and to help her self soothe. Getting rid of the bottle was a huge step towards those goals! In the past month she has picked up a few new words. She says, "ME!" and pats her chest when she wants you to follow and help her. We're working on adding ,"Help, me!" Meal times are still the biggest guessing game. Although, Avery is still delayed in her speech I have seen her make improvements. I am grateful for my knowledge from my degree and for the help of the therapists that come faithfully. They are so patient with her and answer all my little questions. Right now we'll continue to have services for 6 months and then test again. Keep on growing Avery! 

Let It Go!

Addison had the highlight of her life this past week at Frozen summer camp. She got to go for 5 whole days for 2 and a half hours. Everyday she wanted to wear something Frozen. They made Olaf hats, snow globes, colored , played games and ran around outside. On the last day Elsa herself came for a visit. Addison was so excited to tell me that Elsa contained her freezing powers long enough to let them sit on her lap. The best part of the camp was that she got to go with her two little friends Brielle and Eve. They all had a blast and I hope that her love for princesses continues to be magical.

Dinner Snoozing

Avery missed a nap one day a couple weeks ago and was dying by dinner. We caught on video her trying to feed herself and fight off sleep. It was amazingly funny. We finally got her out and I sat in the recliner with her for a good 45 minutes before just putting her down. I loved the feeling of rocking a sleeping little one. She is such a light sleeper normally that this never happens. I abandoned all my household duties to let her drool all over my ironed shirt. I ended up falling asleep with her towards the end. It's the simple things in life and I often want to slow down time to remember these moments. 

The Many Faces...

Oh the many faces of Addison and Avery ! They both have such different personalities and I love to catch them on camera. Avery is loud and wants things now! Addison is timid and embarrasses easily. They can get each other to laugh like crazy though and I love it! Addison is really into wearing tall socks and jacking them up as high as she can. Very big fashion statement:) Addison wants to match Avery every Sunday and even had me buy matching pajamas for them. I'm pretty sure that won't last into their teenage years! I'm enjoying it now while I can. Avery finally gave up her bottle! She threw it out the shopping cart a few weeks ago and we all waved bye bye to it as we moved past it. It was the perfect farewell. She likes to say, "Ba, Ba, bye bye" now. We still have a few moments of meltdowns once the fridge opens and there really isn't a bottle sitting in there. Both girls are loving doing crafts. Avery is now big enough to sit at the art desk and do some coloring. She thinks she's pretty fancy and then eats the crayons! One day I gave her a tube of glitter glue and she squeezed and squeezed until it was dry. It was pretty funny to watch. The hot summer has arrived and we are loving all of our time outside. I'm grateful to be healthy this summer with no broken bones or kidney stones. Here's to a summer of late night bikes rides topped off with snow cones!

Haircuts & Hiking

Addison's hair is growing like crazy. I think she has a goal to have flowing blonde hair like Rapunzel and Elsa. I couldn't handle the struggle we were having each morning and decided it was time to get a trim. We went to a little kids hair cut place and she got to sit in an airplane. She did surprisingly really well. They gave her a balloon and a sucker and she was a happy lady! After the haircut we went on a little hike as a family. We need to start timing out Saturday outings a little better! Avery fell asleep on the way and we waited in the parking lot until she woke up. The trail was shaded for the most part so it was enjoyable. It was about a mile and a half and by the end both girls wanted to be carried. We have a goal as a family to go on more hikes than last summer. I even took a turn carrying Avery in the back pack and didn't die! 

The Dentist

I took the girls to the dentist last month and it was a success! Addison went right after she turned 2 and it was terrible. I found a great pediatric dentist and went with high hopes. Addison had a hard time laying back and letting the hygienist look in her mouth. Once they turned on the Disney channel for her she relaxed. She opened wide and let them count all her teeth. I was really proud of her because I could tell she was very nervous. I've been trying to work more with Addison on overcoming her shyness. She has a really hard time saying thank you to people. She mumbles it, but she's getting better! Baby steps! Avery was all over the place at the dentist! I didn't get a picture of her because I was too busy wrestling her. She let them count her teeth as well. She didn't even bite:) I'm glad the girls love to brush their teeth. They each got a sand timer to use to help brush their teeth.