Great Wolf Lodge - July

The girls LOVE Violet. They were so excited to see her! We actually bought little stuffed Violet dolls this time (as if they needed anymore buddies). 

Megan is tall enough to go on all the slides. 

So we did.

Airplane!  I saw it first!! I win!!!

Our day in the Cabana at the outdoor pool. It may have been 100+ outside but this was the best day because of the cabana. Money well spent!

We hit the 1000 ticket jackpot on our first game in the arcade.

Matthew liked playing the driving game. It was nice that they had a few games for the littles in the arcade. 

I don't know if James was really trying to beat her but Megan WON!!

We take this picture every time we visit. The girls love the "sugar bear" and the sweets this shop has to offer!

Naps to happen at Great Wolf. 

I could have taken a few myself.

My guys!

Matthew and the Barbie Bandaid!

He had a skinned knee already but when he fell in the parking lot, the scab came right off and there was SO MUCH BLOOD! It wouldn't stop and he was screaming and he wouldn't let me put a bandaid on him. Oh the mess and the chaos, right outside the front door of the lodge. That night, it happened again at the elevators. The blood was just flowing down his leg. I finally snuck a bandaid on him under his PJs and I think he decided it wasn't all that bad.

Megan didn't want to sleep on the top bunk. I don't think she was afraid of the "top" part but there was dust in the corners between the mattress and the frame of the upper bunk and she didn't like that.  (I have no idea what that was all about, really.)  So the girls shared the bottom bunk and this is how they were sleeping in the morning. Too cute!  Next time we will either get a roll away or another bottom bunk.

July 4th

Our neighborhood does a 4th of July Parade every year. We decided the girls would enjoy riding along in the parade this year so we decorated Megan's bike, Emily's scooter, and Matthew's wagon and joined the festivities. Matthew didn't keep up for more than the first 10 yards so James was on his own with Megan (going fast) and Emily (going painfully slow) while I tried to convince Matthew to just go.

The fire department brings an engine and leads the parade. The kids LOVE it.

James and Emily

Megan - so big and independent!

Popsicles to cool off after the parade!  

Even the Popsicles were patriotic!

Matthew's Birthday "Party"

Somewhere along the road, just a few sleeps ago, Matthew turned two. We have had such a busy summer that I haven't had much time to breathe, much less blog. I barely take pictures with my camera anymore but have thousands on my phone. Some day I will transfer them all from the "mobile uploads" folder to the month folders they belong in. 

Lucky kid enjoying a breakfast of donuts!! The kid can put away some donuts. 

He had a Fireman theme birthday. Not party, just the day. I think my fire cupcakes turned out pretty cute!

He was barely able to open his own presents. I think the girls were upset he is big enough to figure it out on his own.

For his birthday party, we took the family to Chuck E. Cheese. We did the whole party set up but didn't invite anyone other than Grammy and Grandma. Really, he is two. They don't have friends at two. We had a great time and I think the girls really enjoyed themselves. Matthew had fun but was NOT a fan of the giant fuzzy rat visiting the table or the sweet party host trying to sing Happy Birthday to him. All in all, the pizza was good, the games were fun, and the kids won their own party favors!

Megan's Pre-K Graduation!!

They don't stop growing up. Ever. They just grow up faster and faster and if you blink, you can miss the best moments. Or, if you forget your camera. The following pictures are from Megan's Pre-K Graduation, some are from my phone and the rest are from Mom. Thanks Mom! It was such a sweet night where all the kids gathered onstage to act out their version of "Oh the Places You Will Go" by Seuss. It was fun to watch and I think the kids had a good time too. Then each child was called out to receive their diploma, which was actually a blank piece of paper rolled up and tied with yarn.

Entering the auditorium to Pomp and Circumstance

All the graduating Preschoolers. Megan's Pre-K class and the 4 year old classes.

Megan's teachers were wonderful this year. On her last day of school I couldn't really say anything to them because I was fighting back tears. They taught her so much and were such a big part of our lives this year that I hate to leave them. Megan said she is sad she won't be a Wolf anymore.

The Wolf Class of 2012-2013

Megan being goofy, of course.

Sure, the other kids were there too but this night was all about Megan.  :-)

Bubby is TWO!!!

It's amazing how time flies as you just get older and older. The kids grow up way too fast. I can't believe Matthew is already 2 years old. I can't believe it has been two years since I was pregnant.  I can't believe it has been two years since I had breakfast delivered to me in bed ... ahhh hospital days.  oh ... uh ... back to it. Matthew had his two year check up today and screamed bloody murder while the poor nurse was trying to take his measurements. He wouldn't get on the scale at all. Wouldn't sit. Wouldn't stand.  Wouldn't lay down. Wouldn't stop screaming. Silly kid!!  So we did the highly scientific weigh-us-both-then-weigh-me-alone-and-subtract method. Yeah, I wasn't planning to step on a scale today but what choice did I have?  He did great with the doc though and barely cried when he got his shot. He only had to get one so he was a lucky kid today. Tasted his first lollipop after the appointment and just didn't quite get it. Good. I don't need a two year old running around with lollipops in his mouth AND I got a lolli! 

Here are his measurements ...

Height:    36.3 inches (92%)

Weight:   29 lbs 2 oz (77%)

Head:      20.5 inches (>99%)

Overall healthy and looks good but not many words and none used regularly. Worried? Nah!

Here's Emmy when she was two and her measurements.
27 lbs 14 oz
35.5 inches tall
20 inch head

And Megan too!

30 lbs 15 oz

37.5 inches tall

20 inch head

I guess it's not too surprising that Megan was the biggest at two years old. They are/were all around the same though so I guess there's some proof to genetics. They are all going to be taller than me someday. Well, maybe not Emily. She may have more of me than James in her. Poor kid. Destined to be height-challenged.

Attention Tooth Fairy

Megan lost her first tooth today!! One of her bottom ones finally came out after being loose since Spring Break. Her other tooth has sort of migrated to the center of the hole so I'm guessing it won't be there much longer. 

She wasn't a fan. She pulled it out herself but freaked a little when the bleeding started. I guess I had forgotten how scary it could be for a part of your body to fall off.  :-)

School Naps

Emily has always been a pretty good napper at school. She was often the only one asleep at pick-up in her 18 month class (those poor, poor moms). In the 2 year old class, most of them slept during nap time but my little Em was often the first out and the last one up. Today, at the end of the year of her 3 year old class, this is how I found her. Half her class was already gone and the lights were on. The kids that were still there were running around and being loud. Little Emily was flat on her back sleeping so soundly that it took me about 3 minutes to wake her up. 

Such a sweet little sleepy girl. 

Being crazy demon child at Target yesterday must have worn her out.