Late 4th of July post

We packed the car last weekend and headed to Alabama to see our family there. We have been going there for July 4th for five years now. It's always a fun summer trip, and Hudson loves being with Ella. Since he was in the car for over 5 hours, I was so glad for him to get some energy out when we got there before the rain moved in.

Monday morning, we headed downtown to our normal spot for the parade. The kids played before the parade started at the school whose parking lot we were in.

Hudson and Daddy waiting on the parade to start. Thanks, Mrs. Elenor for saving our spot and for the fun pin wheels.

Ella was really thrilled about me taking her picture. Can't you tell?

My child has no fear...of anything! Here he is picking up a bug! GROSS!!!

He's always playing baseball or golf...even if there's a parade going on right in front of him. Too bad he's to young for me to sign him up on a team!

I had to post this picture from last year on July 4th. Sorry that it's so small....

Check out how much they have grown! We had to strap them into the wagon just to get them to stay still enough for a picture.

They played outside before we headed out to watch the fireworks.

Running, running, and more running.

This was before the fireworks started. I wasn't sure how my boy would react to the loud noise, but had a feeling that it wouldn't bother him.

I was right.

He watched for about 90 seconds, looked at me and said... "I like it!", then hopped down and ran around playing for the rest of the show.

The newlyweds!We had a great time, and stopped by IKEA on the way home. I love that store and could really spend the whole day there. We picked up some things that I've been wanting to get for a while. It's nice to be home after such a long drive. We are going to enjoy all the time we have left before school starts back. Hope you all had a wonderful July 4th.

Happy 4th of July!

We are out of town for most of the week, but I will leave you with a little bit of seriousness.....

.....and a BEAUTIFUL smile!

I'll post more of these great pictures later. THANK YOU to Laura Power at GandL photography for such a great session!

You might have a toddler in your house if...

you find a croc in the grill... you find a book on the toilet...

you find a zebra on your pillow....

you find your shoe in the hamper...

you find the letter "M" in the dishwasher...

or, you find a train when you turn down the covers.

22 months

The countdown is on for your 2nd birthday. Tomorrow you will be 22 months old. Where in the world have the last 2 years gone. I think back to the summer I was pregnant with you and it seems like it was a few months ago. Little boy, you really should SLOW DOWN with the growing and all.
You are so much fun and I am having the best summer ever with you. We have been really busy, and you like to stay on the go just like me. The pool is great this year and you swim like a fish. You jump in, jump off the diving board, go under, paddle, and kick all with your floaties on. You have no fear around the water which scares me sometimes but I am glad that you love it so much.
You continue to amaze me with what you say and do. Each day is something new, and your ever expanding vocabuary continues to grow as you talk in sentences. You can say anything and you DO. You are so cute singing along to songs on the radio even when you don't know the words, you still try.
I am not sure how much you weigh, but you are heavy! Your legs are getting longer and longer. We have really noticed this lately. You get that tall thing honestly though, look at your daddy. You wear mostly size 2t depending on what it is, but in shorts you wear smaller, and you can even wear some 3t things even though they are a little big.
The biggest thing this month is that you are potty training and you are doing VERY well. I am so proud of you and can't wait until the day that we no longer have to buy diapers for you. I can see it...that day is coming.
You are very independant and want to do everything all by yourself. You have recently gotten into band-aids and think that you always have a "boo boo" even when you don't.

You are full of funny faces these days and like to make them all the time. Here is your fish face.

This is your silly suprised face.

You saw a picture in one of my Parents magazines of a little boy with his tounge sticking out, so now you do it and say "boy in mommy's book". You have gotten so used to me taking pictures of you, and if you are asked "What do you do when mommy takes her camera out?", you make this face and say "cheese". I'm not really sure where you learned the whole "cheese" thing because I've never told you that.

more cheesin

You still LOVE to play ball. We have a basket full of every type of ball you can imagine. Here you are ready to catch the ball.

This is you playing baseball and showing how you will hit it.

You sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes all the time. You also sing Hot Potato all the time too. Here you are doing hot potato. It's so cute to watch you do this followed by the "cold spagetti" verse.

We can't forget to say the blessing before any meal because if we don't do it quick enough, you will remind us to "say God is Great". You like to say it even when we are not about to eat too. You look around to see who does not have their head bowed and eyes closed and they get called out by you.

In your true monkey-ish fashion, you climbed out of your crib this month.

Mommy is NOT ready to turn your sweet little nursery into a big boy room, but I'm afraid that the time is coming soon. We need to break your crib down into a toddler bed, but I really don't want to.

I love those mile long eyelashes.

...and I love your beautiful smile.

those dimples

You are such a fun boy.

I love you tons big boy!

(PS- I REALLY wish Blogger would not make my photos so grainy.)