A few from our summer travels (cont. again)

Below are some pics from our San Diego trip

Scott having fun with Rachel and Breea.  He totally digs at least a few kids, I don't care what he says ;o)

A nice lunch at Islands with my buddies.  Not a bad picture for hitting the self timer button and then leaping over the stroller (where Link was sleeping) and sliding in next to Patti :o)

We had a great trip to the San Diego Zoo.  There were lots of great photos especially since Paula was doing her thing with her nice camera.  This is seriously a small fraction of the photos.

Rachel, Breea and Gwendolyn with their "twinkie" shirts from Paula.  So Cute!!!  Thank you Po!!

Ok girls, where to next??

Gwendolyn was wherever Rachel was.  She really clung to her this trip.

Aside from her love affair with Rachel, this orangutang was a close second.  Gwendolyn is normally very cautious but, she didn't have any reservations at getting close to this guy.  Thank goodness for tall, thick glass.  I bet she might have been a bit more reserved had the glass not been there.

The kids really enjoyed the beach.  At first, I was a bit nervous but, it turned out awesome!

Here's Gwendolyn waiting for the Bride to arrive at Brian and Christina's wedding

Marc took us to Legoland.  First we went through the aquarium part and then into the main park.  Fun was had by all!!

The kids took some major convincing before they would try touching a starfish.  I have a cute photo of Link stretching as long as he can but, you can see straight down my shirt so, you won't be seeing that photo ;o) LOL

A giant Darth Vader and R2D2 made out of legos...very cool!

Yes, Link should be on the other side of that barricade.  Stinker!  Miniature land was rough as Marc and I were constantly taking Link off of the displays!

This was Gwendolyn's first face painting and she adored it!  There were MANY tears at the end of the day when it had to be washed off.

Oh yeah, totally awesome lego display of Hagrid and Harry Potter!  WOOHOO!!

This was our last night and we hung out at Wendy's

A few from our summer travels (cont.)

Below are a few photos from our TN trip

Gwendolyn LOVES the tube!  The best part is going for a tube ride with cousins!!  YAY!!

Every summer we always take a ride to a local lake ice cream spot.  

Link got his first boat driving lesson from Grandpa.  He loved it!

Below are wake surfing photos.  We all enjoy this relatively new sport.  We've been doing it now for 2 years now and everyone seems to have fun with it.

Duncan

Greyson

Ginger

Just some chick 

Ken

Chillin' on the dock

All the young ones pass out during boat rides

Duncan wake boards

Gwendolyn learned to saucer this year and she really enjoys it

Here, Aunt Ginger gets her started

Greyson got in some wake boarding this year.  However, his first love is definitely the sky ski.

The TN trip is our annual family trip.  We all look forward to it and have a great time.  I feel so lucky to be able to travel so much with the kiddos but, Ken can't.  That's one of the reasons why the TN trip is extra special because we are there as a whole family.

A few from our summer travels

We did a lot of travel this summer.  I can't put up all the awesome photos from the trips but, I can certainly do a few.

Below are photos from our MN trip 

Link enjoyed feeding the sheep a lot at the MN Zoo

Gwendolyn enjoyed feeding the animals too

The MN Zoo has a sprinkler pad.  Gwendolyn and Imogen really had fun in there

In the Mall of America there's a little amusement park

The kids loved the rides.  Imogen loves them all and Gwendolyn loved the slow ones and the ones she could control something like the up and down flying things

What could be better than nutella crepes!!  YUM!!

The girls really had fun together.  They both ask about each other even months after seeing each other.  I love all the family love and strong bonds we have in our family.

Plan to play catch up

Ok, so as usual, I'm failing at blogging.  I have many posts back logged in my brain and I'm going to try and catch up.  Sorry to jam up your updated blog list....

Happy 2nd Birthday Lincoln

LINK IS TWO!!!!

Dear Lincoln,

         Happy Birthday my darling little man!!  It's been 2 years since the day I first held you in my arms.  Here I was thinking, "I've got this in the bag" (since I had all of 2 years and 5 months experience raising your sister).  True, there were some things, I did in fact "have in the bag" but, you never cease to show me just how much is no where near the bag never mind in it.  

You've certainly kept me on my toes as you are far more mischievous than Gwendolyn.  You are amazingly curious and always want to check things out.  We think you are a born engineer.  When you come upon any item, it doesn't matter if it's a mobile phone, dvd player, computer, toy.....etc..etc...you will find out how it works and it won't take you long.

We were concerned a little bit because, you didn't want to say much.  You were still communicating with us with sign language and unintelligible words but, not in the clear language your friends were.  At about 18 months, you really started to sign a lot.  Then you would talk like crazy but no one knew really what you were saying.  Luckily, you still signed your favorite signs (I wasn't able to get you to grab onto all the ones I tried teaching you) and you talk with the rest of your body too.  If you are displeased in any way, you make sure everyone around you knows it.  To do this you use your voice of course but, also some of the greatest expressions.  Amazingly, you already know how to use your expressions to try and manipulate those around you to get whatever you want.  Today, in addition to all those expressions and sign language, you are starting to say a decent amount of words that are intelligible to others.

(Link's first beach experience during our trip to San Diego)

One huge way you are different than not only your sister but, your parents too, is that you don't seem to care about sleep very much.  You rise and shine near 7am every morning, your nap is rarely much over an hour and you can make it until past 9pm before nursing down.  Regardless of when you go to bed, you are up at 7am.  I make a huge effort now to get you into bed by 8:30 because, you exhaust me my lovely son and I need some down time before I hit the sack myself.  As much giddy up and go that you have, you do enjoy tender moments throughout the day of just being held for a little snuggle and a kiss.  Then you're off and running again.  It truly is just a moment so, I try to pay attention and enjoy those when they happen.

Along the lines of nutrition you are doing much better.  It was almost a year ago that we started feeding therapy because you didn't like eating any solid foods.  It didn't take you long to see some of the finer points of cuisine.  Now, you are a better eater than your sister!  All of us in our family have dietary hurdles to overcome but, you Link are well on your way.  You do still nurse twice a day.  It's your morning coffee and your nightcap.  I have a feeling you may wean yourself soon but, then again, just when I think I've figured out what you're up to, you switch it up on me so, who knows when you'll decide you're done nursing.

Lincoln, you are a joy and light in my life.  I hope you remain a "mama's boy" as I love all the love you give me.  You are bound to achieve amazing things in your life.  At just 2 years old, I can tell that you will continue to make me proud for many many years to come.

Mommy Loves You!!!  xoxoxoxo

Why is 2 years apart the usual trend?

These days I've been seriously questioning why it seems that the most popular age difference in siblings is about 2 years?  I can tell you that in my grand plan I was going to have at least 3 years difference and still ended up with barely 2 1/2 years between my children.  That baby fever hit me earlier than expected.  Is it that???  Is biology to blame for this?  The reason I'm questioning this so hard these days is because, my children are both at difficult ages at the moment and I'm going more INSANE everyday!!  They are each challenging in a different way and it's not like they take turns.  It's always both at the same time......needing, challenging, testing, risking life and limb (even if they don't see the danger).......Could it be that if we just managed a larger or smaller age difference the challenge wouldn't seem so great?  I know all children are different.......there are challenges at every age so, it wouldn't necessarily matter.......you can tell me all of that but, I've heard it before....somehow, someday's, it still feels like whether it's biology or just following a terrible trend......I chose the hardest path and the worst age difference for my children.  Why is it that I don't think it's going to get any better when they are 4 and 6? As far as the adolescent years, lets just not go there......I'm already with one foot in the door of the looney bin ;o) LOL

This is one of my favorite photos.  Such genuine love and affection

Captain Mischief himself!