Summer time!

Andrew's been very busy this summer! Here are a few of his favorite summer time activities!

Swimming...

Bubbles...
Bean bags...
Tunnels!!

Sunday Morning!

I went out Sunday morning for my aerobics class and came home to this........

Home Improvements

Another summer vacation from teaching... another "home improvement" project for Brandyn. Last summer Andrew and Brandyn took on a little back yard "sculpting" together. This year, its a full on overhaul. Stayed tuned for before and after pics... but for now... a few "progress" pics.

"Al, you're such a Mom!"

That's what my 20-something coworker told me yesterday, when I told her about my latest adventure in "me time" - Jazzercise. (Hey, at least she didn't call me OLD!!)

I've been trying to get my butt out of my office chair to take walks during lunch, but when I'm trying to leave the office at exactly 5 (sometimes earlier) to rush home to see my family, taking 45 minutes for a lunch walk, seems like a waste. So, I signed up for a class. One that will hold me accountable and force me to get my butt moving! I've been to three classes so far... and I'm telling you... my butt... its SORE.

I'm not sure how often I'm going to convince Brandyn to let me sneak out of the house, juuust before Andrew's bedtime routine, but so far I'm loving it. And the greatest thing about it... its ME time... just ME.

No, NO, Noooooooo!!

Is what I heard from the back seat of my car, on the way to Day Care this morning.

And so we've entered The "No" Stage (and the hitting stage and the general defiance stage).

Its so interesting to watch his mind grow and change. I remember distinctly around 6 months, Andrew started to be more aware of his surroundings.

Before 6 months he only cried out of need - he needed food, sleep, a diaper change.

At 6 month, he started crying when he wanted something - usually one of us.

At a year, he began crying when he wanted something he couldn't have - a toy, to be out of his crib, etc.

And now, now he's crying to make a point - to communicate feelings. He knows he's upset and he wants everyone to know it to.

We hear you Andrew, we hear you.