NFL Game

Wow, summer is just flying by.  I can't believe it is almost September. We have had a fantastic summer so far.  The kids and I were able to spend all of July in Canada, which was awesome.  Darcy stayed back in Michigan, for school. But now we are back in Michigan and the weather is still hot and sunny...and humid.

A few days after we got back we were able to go to a Detroit Lions football game.  It was our first time going to a NFL game.  We met up with a bunch of our friends there, so it was extra fun to see them and catch up on their summer.  Come to think of it I must have been doing more visiting than watching, because I am not sure who won.  The kids had a blast too.  Mase, of course was scared of the screaming and cheering at first, but was having lots of fun half way into it.

Here are a few pictures.  I will have to post more of summer in a later post.

Mason turns 1

On June 8th, Mason turned 1 year old!  Sometimes I think, wow, that year went by super fast.  But it also feels like we've had Mason forever. 

We celebrated his birthday twice that week.  First we had a combined birthday party for Mason, and his friend Madelena, with our playgroup friends.  Their birthdays are only 3 days apart and they both turned one year old.  We had balloons, snacks, cupcakes, and a pinata.  The kids loved it!

Then on Saturday, (his actual birthday) we celebrated it again with just our little family.  Where we had more balloons and cupcakes.  We opened presents and went to the park and the pet store.  Pretty simple, but I think Mase had fun (Londy did for sure).

At 1 year old Mason likes to:
- say "mama", "Dada", "bye-bye", "Ba"for ball, "mo"for more
- imitate lots of sounds and actions
- walk along walls and furniture
- crawl really fast
- get into the cupboards and pull out pots and pans
- read books (or rather be read to)
- play with his sister
- eat! Yogurt is probably his favorite food and broccoli is his least
- play with balls and anything with wheels



Mase with the Sponge Bob pinata

The Birthday Babes!

Cute decorations made by my friend Marcella

playing

We couldn't leave out a picture of Londy at the party....of course we had to sing happy birthday to her too....twice

He loved the balloons

opening presents

new toys!

riding his new horse

 

cupcakes!

 

Eating cupcakes!

 

We love this one year old!!!!

Spring!

I cannot tell you how happy I am to be done with winter.  This is our first spring in Michigan, and it is beautiful.  Super green and blossomy (is that even a word?).  It rains quite a bit, but lately it has been pretty hot.  I'm guessing around  20-25 C.  We are loving the sunshine.

Everyday, London will say one of the following phrases:
"where will my feet take me today?...maybe to the park"
"It's not raining, it's a sunny day.....we could go to the park!"
"We hope we can go to the park today!"
"I have an idea... we could go to the park...is that a good idea?"
Needless to say we go to the parks often.  There are lots of them around us and they are quite nice, they usually have little streams with ducks and geese.  It's so fun to play outside with my 2 favorite people.

These pictures were taken in April, therefore the cold, drab scenery (imagine everything green now)

 

 

Darcy and London also went to a Tigers baseball game in May.  The weather was awesome and Londy loved game....and all the people there.  Darcy said by the end of the game everyone in their section knew her name and said goodbye to her.  She is such a character!

not the best self pic of the two of them but cute idea!

Perfection

Since Mason, was born, Darcy and I have always said if he would just sleep through the night he would be the perfect baby.  Well, it has taken a long 11 months but it's official: He's Perfect!!

It is seriously a miracle!  If you remember Mason, started out as the typical newborn sleeper, waking up every three hours.  (which I was totally okay with).  Then suddenly at 3 months he started waking up every hour on the hour at night.  (which I was not okay with).  I read books, tried a million things to help him sleep better, but no luck.  We tried letting him cry it out for a while, but he was so little and would cry for so long, I just couldn't do it.  This went on for over a month, gradually he started waking up every 2 hours, then at 6 months he was back to his newborn routine of every 3 hours.  Up until last week he was still getting up 2-3 times per night.  Something had to be done!  Since, we live in a 2 bedroom apartment, Mase has always slept in our room.  We decided to move him into Londy's room all by himself and move her bed into our room.  Then I mentally prepared myself.... we were just going to let him cry.  My plan was to go in 1 time during the night at first and then not at all.  So the first night went really well, he woke up once, to which I got up, fed him, and put him back to sleep, and then slept until morning!  The next night he totally slept through the entire night and has ever since, what the..... he didn't even cry.  Now he sleeps a full 12 hours at night, I guess he just wanted his own room.

Mason is a delight.  He is still so happy and easy going.  Whether his is teething, sick, being bossed by his sister, or running errands with me all day he never complains.  He LOVES his Daddy, and usually prefers him to me, which Darcy loves.  I don't mind, he still snuggles me and crawls around the house all day saying, "mama, mama", and gives me big slobbery kisses! He is pure sunshine and we all love him to pieces!

silly face

striking a pose

Best Buds

Loving his first Popsicle! ( Don't worry he didn't eat the whole thing)

My  handsome lil' man!

London Says

This little girl is the best! She is super smart, animated, sassy, imaginative, dramatic, and sweet.  She is obsessed with anything princess, fairy, or sparkly.  She is quite the little chatterbox, and makes us laugh at least 100 times a day.  Lately, I've been trying to write down some of the funny things she says.  Obviously, I am bias so they might not be as hilarious to others as they are to me, but here are a few gems.  Enjoy!

Me: London, do you want some soup?

London: No, I don’t like soup; it has too many germs in it.

~

(London walking out the door, and turns to me)

“You comin’ Blondie?”

~

(At the grocery store)

London: Hi

Cashier: Hi

London: I have a present for you….hold out you hand

(Cashier holds out her hand)

(London reaches into her pocket and pulls out a piece of lint, then puts it into the cashiers hand)

~

Darcy: London, sing me a song

London: Sorry, I can’t sing you a song. Ursula, take my boyce! (voice)

~

(London hangs her head over the back of the edge of the couch)

“Quick, Mommy climb my golden hair!”

~

London goes to give me a kiss, then right before kissing me she stops and yells, “ Eric, NO! Get away from

 her!” (this is from The Little Mermaid)

~

(London telling Darcy what she did today)

“….we made cupcakes, then mommy say “don’t eat the icing”, and I did!… and then I did it again!”

March in Michigan

The month of March has been nothing but COLD!  In our little apartment we tend to go stir crazy if we don't get out every day, so we have taken advantage of every opportunity for an outing.  I love a good deal so here are some of our favorite fun and mostly free activities:

 We have 2 awesome Libraries close to our house.  There are lots of fun toys and things to do there.

 The Outlet mall is one of Londy's favorite places (and mine too, for obvious reasons).  There is a really great play place and carousel 

There is also a fun place called Jeepers  in the mall (it's like Chucky Cheese).  They have a huge jungle gym that kids can play on for free and games and rides for a quarter.

 We love going to Bounce U.  It is a place with 2 rooms filled with inflatable bouncers, obstacle courses, slides, etc.  If we go in the morning during playschool play date parents and non-walking children are free, so our family gets in for $6.00!!

London loves going grocery shopping and she loves horses.  At a grocery store by our house, they have a mechanical horse that costs a penny per ride.......A PENNY! 

Friends

Sometimes these two play together and it melts my heart.  I love the way London, is so motherly and bossy to her baby brother and the way Mason, is fascinated by his big sister.  Although, London may take away his toys, or dress him up like a prince, or  try to pick him up by his neck to bring him to mommy, Mason, doesn't mind... yet.... She can make him laugh the loudest and gives him the best hugs and kisses.  She is always concerned about her 'Little Mase' and needs to know where he is at all times, she also doesn't like to hear him cry and is the first to come to his rescue.  I'm so glad they have each other.