June Happenings

Well, June is coming to a close.....we've survived! The first couple weeks without school were a little rocky, but nothing that a new behavior chart and incentive program couldn't help with. So far so good....I've gotten to see some friends (Alicia, Anna Klara) for lunch, I got to go to Chocolate Soup before they closed its doors ( :( ), Scott and I went out on a date to the new Star Cinema Grill (Conroe's answer to Alamo Drafthouse), and we went on vacation to Austin and Kingsland. Caroline is growing right along (I think - she has her 4 mo checkup and shots next week). She recently discovered her feet and touches both sets of toes every chance she gets. She's got a horrible case of eczema that seems to be getting worse instead of better...I'll be talking to her pediatrician about that at the appointment. She's talking and blowing bubbles and drooling and shoving her whole fist in her mouth - definitely early teething. She's spitting up a lot more - which either means she's getting way too much to eat (I don't think that's it though) or she's having an upset tummy. She doesn't complain much if the second one is the case, but nevertheless, I have cut dairy out of my diet to see if that makes a difference. She is still a great night sleeper, and is doing better with naps during the day. She is officially losing her hair - the jury is still out if she'll lose all of it or just some. It looks pretty silly right now. But there's still some on top to put a bow in.

Ben is looking forward to his 4th birthday - Scott and I are finalizing his party plans (Scott's gone on a mission trip from July 11-19 and Ben's birthday is the 13th, so we're looking at a July 10th party). He's NOT looking forward to his 4 year well check, because they'll be the first shots he's had since his 2 year checkup. He keeps telling me that he'll skip his 4th birthday and go straight from 3 to 5 years old, since 5 is "the best numba eveh". He still doesn't say his "r"s and "th"s, which makes for a cute little voice, but we'll be addressing that in the fall. He's been very tentative in the water so far this year - we've already done one round of swim lessons - but he's starting to warm up to it a little more. I do remember when Jake was 3 1/2, he had some anxiety in the water and by the next summer he was swimming - maybe history will repeat itself.

Jake is leaving for Camp Cho-Yeh today. He is really looking forward to it - he'll get to spend every day with Lucy, his best friend, and go swimming 2-3 times a day. He likes camp food, and is looking forward to snack time each day where he can choose his own snack. They have lots of fun activities that he's looking forward to - martial arts, blobbing at the lake, horseback riding. He's been to the library twice a week so far this summer, loading up on chapter books and inhaling them like air.....he's hard to keep up with. He's also starting learning how to water ski - Scott lets him stand on his skis, and they've been working hard to get up on the skis and show Jake how it feels to be pulled by a boat.....he's pretty apprehensive about the whole business but does agree to try, and I'm proud of him for that. He's eating everything in sight, so I'm expecting another growth spurt. He already wears the same size shoe as his grandma, and he's getting closer and closer to 5 feet tall.

Everyone is growing and learning and testing boundaries - what childhood is all about, I suppose! Here are some pictures from the summer so far:

Jake with his cousins Austin and Connor Davis at the rapids

Daddy and Caroline at the pool

Mommy and Ben at the lodge

Caroline touching her toes

Caroline holding the silver cup at Austin Bryan Perry reunion