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Mason, Rylan, and Elli
July has been a whirlwind of summer fun. We had a group of almost 70 people at our house for a lifegroup picnic at the beginning of the month! The shop and yard was actually a perfect spot for it. I also started doing the Clickin Moms photography scavenger hunt at the beginning of the month, and we have been looking for all 101 things on that list like crazy. We’ve gone places like the farmer’s market, Shenandoah Acres, and a produce stand; eaten things like bomb pops, kabobs, strawberry shortcake, corn on the cob, snow cones, and popsicles; and done things like play in the sprinkler, dive in the pool, use sidewalk chalk, and play on lots of playgrounds. Of course some of the things were things we were already going to do, but some were prompted by the scavenger hunt. I think I ended up getting all but five or six things on the list! I wasn’t planning on doing it, but it ended up giving us all kinds of adventures (and LOTS of pictures of our summer). We also went to Sweet Dreams, 3 parades, the Frontier Culture Museum, Waynesboro fireworks, a Diamondbacks baseball game, the Stuarts Draft carnival, and the mountain to celebrate Nana’s birthday. Oh and there was also the much looked forward to event of the year, where Poppy took both of you boys with Mikayah to the monster truck show. While you did that, Elli and I went to a tea party at Nonni’s, so we had some girly fun.
One big thing for us this month is that a little kitty found her way to our yard and has stayed ever since. She looks so much like Tippy, minus the tip on her tail. She’s friendlier too. She still doesn’t have a name, but she’s precious and we’ve been feeding her since she hasn’t left.
All of you had one day with a fever last week. Rylan had it on Tuesday, Then Elli had it on Friday, and Mason got it on Saturday. It was really strange- just one day with a fever where you each seemed to feel very yucky, but by the next day you were fine. I’m glad it was short lived, and I’m also secretly thankful for the snuggles that happened while you were sick.
Mason- you finished another session of swimming lessons. This time you were in Jellyfish with 5 other kids, and we were happily surprised that you had the same teacher as you did in June. You improved so much between your first lesson and your last. By the end of Jellyfish, you were sticking your head in the water while I counted how long you could stay under, you are learning how to dive, and you jumped off the diving board twice with no fear at all! You even ALMOST went off the high dive, but it was just a little too scary. You start school in three weeks, and I can’t believe it. I have mixed emotions about it, because I’m going to miss you a lot, but I also can tell you’re ready to go. You and Rylan have been extra loud and intense in your interactions (not always fighting; sometimes just loud, rough playing) lately, and I know you’re ready to have some other social settings. We don’t know who your teacher will be yet, and you’re going into a class where the kids almost all know each other already from Pre-K, but you make friends quickly, so I’m not worried about it. I think you’re going to like learning new things. Oh and just for the record, you still say “willn’t” (and so does Rylan). I assume that will change when school starts… For your date this month, I took you to Donuts Delight. You chose a chocolate donut and I had a breakfast sandwich. Then we went to the pet store, Michael’s, Ross, and Target to check some things off the scavenger hunt list. We did some fast shopping at Sharp Shopper after that too, and you got chocolate milk for a treat.
Rylan- you just had your first night of transitioning into sharing a room with Mason last night! You slept in the bottom bunk, and Mason slept in the race car bed. Daddy and I loved listening to the two of you on the monitor as you eventually went to sleep. Mason told you jokes, prayed for you when you were scared, and looked at a book with you. You woke up early at first, but then you went back to sleep and both of you slept until almost 9:30! (Oh yeah, school time transitioning isn’t going to be fun.) I’m looking forward to spending more time with you when Mason is in school. Nonni took him to meet another boy in his class the other day, and I got to have some one-on-one time with you while Elli napped, and it was really sweet. You’re smart and cute and cuddly. Speaking of which, we need to get you to give up the paci, but we haven’t been too strict about it yet. Right now you usually use one where the entire plastic around the edge is missing…crazy.
Elli- this month you got your second tooth (on the bottom) and started pulling up. You are doing it constantly now, and then you usually tip over after standing for a while. You get up on your hands and knees as if you’re going to crawl, but then you don’t actually go anywhere until you lay back down on your belly. You say lots of “mamama” “dadadada” “nanana” noises, but they’re still not really often connected to a person. You also make the “ppp---“ sound, but I think it’s just for fun too. We try to get you to say “more please” in sign language, but usually you just yell really loudly to get our attention when you want more food. You can yell VERY loudly. You are also adorable. You smile a lot, laugh easily, and make people happy. You really like the kitty and get excited when you see her.
Here are some of your best quotes from July:
“Daddy, while I sleep is it ok if I make monster truck noises?”
“Me-How old are you?
Ry- 3
Me- How old is Mason?
Ry- 7
Me- How old is Elle Belle?
Ry- SOOO big!!!!”
“I asked the lifeguard for a popsicle but she didn’t respond. I asked her over and over!”
“I don’t have any more energy. I need to go to the host-a-bittle.”
“Ry- Cavinet.
Me- Cavinet? Is that how you say it?
Ry- Yeah cavinet. That’s how kids say it.”
“I did an amaze!!”
“Ry- Elli, don’t get my candy.
Me- She won’t. She can’t reach it.
Ry- If she was real, she could.
Me- She is real!
Ry- If she was Spiderman, she could….”
I love all of you so much!!!