Ava's Big Girl Bed

Ava has been binky free for over 2 weeks now.  She is officially over it and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Since she crawls out of her crib about every morning, we decided it would be safer if we made her bed into the full size it can convert into.  The mattress and bedding will be ordered this week but the frame is put together and she is sleeping on an air mattress as I write.  After Steve put it together, her and I spent a lot of time in her "new" room.  Me mostly taking photos.... it has been a long time since I just sat down and photographed the kids doing everyday things in the house. I have missed it!  She has grown leaps and bounds in the past couple months, physically and in terms of maturity.

Beckler River Camping Trip

We had such an amazing time camping with our neighbors that we are thinking about going again in a couple weeks. We left on Friday morning and returned on Sunday.  The camping site was perfect and roomy and we were right by the river so we heard the peaceful running of water all day and night.  It got pretty chilly at night, in the 50's so we all had to snuggle closely in our tent.  Jonathan and Janis has all of the gear and were so generous to shae with us.  We fixed yummy meals and drank some good and bad wine (Mad Housewife) and enjoyed each other's company!  The kids (and Steve) were unplugged from technology and it was great!  They had a blast rolling all over in the small 2 person "play" tent.  They chased each other around and wore themselves out.  The guys went fly fishing in the river... didn't have any luck catching anything but they had fun!  We really created some great memories and are excited to go camping again!

Here one minute, gone the next :(

We went camping this weekend and had a GREAT time!  We will be doing this again real soon.  But, with great sadness and a heavy heavy heart, I hate to say that we lost our beloved "B" somewhere on the rocky beach the first day we were there.  We looked everywhere and anywhere and he did not show up.  It was not until I was looked at my downloaded pictures today that I found the exact 2 minute period that he disappeared from Luke's hand.  At 2:54pm Luke had him and just 2 minutes later he was gone :(   Luke has been handling it great but he does want him, especially when he has a bad dream or gets a boo boo and needs some comfort.  Mommy pulled some magic tonight and I told Luke that "B" is on his way home and he will be arriving in the mail later this week.  It just so happened that B had a great bath in teh river and will be arriving cleaner than Luke can remember him.  More camping pictures to come later, but for now here is B's last documented photo :(

Izzy

We have been having great playdates with Luke's girlfriend from school, Izzy.  The two of them play so good together despite the gender difference.  Luke just can't get enough of her!  Ava and Izzy's little sister are getting to kknow each other too, they will be in school together next year. 

Summer Camp

Luke's final day of camp was today.  He had so much fun especially today.  The teachers had made rocks made of plaster that contained little plastic dinosaurs.  The kids got to use hammers to crack the rocks apart to discover fossil dinosaurs.  This was right up the alley for Luke!  The kids and I made cut out flower cookies today.  They had so much using their own cooking utensils, rolling pins, bowls and cookie cutters with Mommy's real cookie dough.  It was a huge mess to clean up but fun!  We are preparing to go camping this weekend with our neighbors.  It will be a first for the whole Lass family and I am sure I will have many pictures to share. 

Health Update

Just a little update on my health.  For the most part, I have been feeling better.  A few weeks ago, I decided to introduce some of my food allergens back.  I don't know what exactly did it, but my whole throat swelled up from my mouth to my clavical. It caused me to have a stiff neck.  I am now taking a zrytec every day and have completely cut out my allergens again.  I also found out I am allergic to the yeast in beer and egg whites :(  I go to an allergist in 3 weeks to get a more complete test.  I am secretly hoping this will go away as quickly as it came. My ulcer is still bothering me day to day... I will give my meds a couple more weeks to work but will probably have to go see another doctor to get it taken care of... hopefully I will not need surgery.

No More Binky!!!

We are on day 3 of no more binky!  Ava has handled it amazingly!  I am just shocked!  The only bad part about it is that she doesn't really nap anymore.  But since she has given it up, she earned herself a polly pocket dollhouse and pool and a big girl bed!  I love bribery when it works! 

Sydney's 1st Birthday Bash

We celebrated Baby Sydney's birthday this past weekend at our favorite beach!  It was so much fun!  The weather was perfect and all our friends and Grammy and Pop Pop joined us!  We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill and the kids played for hours in the sand and on the playground. 

We are so lucky to have our baby Sydney in our lives... she definitely has our little family of five complete.  She had her 1 year well child visit on her birthday and she is growing just fine.  She is in the 30% for weight at 19 lbs 13 oz and she is in the 80th% for height at 30 and 1/2 inches.  Ever since I had to stop breastfeeding her, she has been sleeping well through the night.  She goes to bed at 7ish and wakes up between 7 or 8am.  She still has some stranger anxiety we learned this weekend when Grammy and Pop Pop visited.  She is crawling all over the family room and kitchen and tried to stand up with no help from any furniture but is from from being able to do it.  She does not cruise yet.  She truly is the most laid back of both Luke and Ava. Sydney is napping 2 hours a day... sometimes only once.  She only drinks about 3-4 oz of milk a day.  She does not drink from a bottle, only a sippy cup.  She loves to eat fruit, yogurt and meat!

Happy Birthday Sydney, we love you!