Just Like A Summer Day

I don't ever remember being at the beach in April, but we were today. We invited Grammie, Grampie, Uncle Rob, Aunt Beth and Aelia over for the day. Grampie couldn't come because he's not feeling well. Get better soon Grampie!!! We missed you today! We had a barbecue, rode our bikes and just played together in the yard. It's kind of funny watching Aeila and Caleb, because Aelia is so careful not to step on any ant holes. Which there are many of. Caleb on the other hand, looks for them so he can smoosh em. After we ate we headed to the park. I of course, grabbed my camera and ... battery dead!! I wasn't happy about that, but what can you do. No pictures this time:-( Caleb saw Aelia go down the big slide by herself, so he followed. He wouldn't do it the last time we were at the park, so we were very proud of him. Next we went to the beach. It was fairly breezy down there, but that didn't stop those kids from wanting to dive right in the water. That water was like ice. They went in up to the bottom of their shorts and that's all we could allow. They played in the sand and when we left, we went and got some ice cream. Yummy way to end the day together!! Caleb fell asleep in the car on the way back to his white home. David carried him upstairs to his room. Then David and I laid down for an hour, before we had to head back to Lisbon. It was another wonderful day!!!

Happy 16th Birthday to My Michelle

My little girl

Michelle is 16 years old today. It is so hard to believe that much time has gone by, so quickly. We had a big surprise party for her birthday last year, so this year we made it a little more intimate. Just a Mom and Michelle day. She has been talking about getting her belly button pierced for months. She had pierced her own nose about 6 months ago, so I thought, why not. The two of us went to the tattoo shop in Portland. It was pretty funny, because as soon as we pulled into the parking lot and she saw two or three big tattooed men standing outside she was like, "Mom, I can't go in there!" I said, "Who do you think is going to pierce your belly button? It's a tattoo place!" Anyway she got out of the car and we went in. We told them what she wanted, they did it and we were done. It took all of one minute. She said it didn't hurt at all. We went out to dinner and then to buy an ear piercing gun, so she could pierce a couple more holes in her ears. I don't know what this is all about, but I guess if she changes her mind, she can just take them out. So, when we got home, she was pretty excited to get started!! First, she wanted me to do it. I said, "No Way." So, guess who got roped in to do it? Yep, Davey!(as only Michelle is allowed to call him)!! He pierced the first hole in the upper left ear. Then there was a little controversy about the next one. She wanted him to pierce a spot on her ear, that he wasn't too comfortable with. He was afraid to hurt her. So, she just ended up doing it herself. No fear that girl! So, now she has 3 new holes in her body. Here are a couple of pictures, of her new ear piercings. One of her and David discussing the situation. Then one of her doing it herself in the mirror. She wouldn't let me take a picture of them piercing her belly button, but I did get one after the fact. I just didn't put it on the blog. (She is my little girl.) She had a happy birthday, all is well. I guess my baby isn't a baby anymore!

A Day Full of Fun With Family At The Russell Farm

Looking like pro bike riders with my cousin Aelia. What a fun day we had together. We even tried out each other's bikes.

Aelia got a tractor ride with my Daddy! When it was my turn Aelia sat on the porch with her Mommy and Daddy! We got a nice picture of them:-)

I guess when Uncle Rob saw us sharing bikes, he thought that meant him too. Um, No Uncle Rob, that's mine!!!

After we came in and ate dinner, Caleb played some more soccer. He's getting better all the time!!!

The Rest Of Our Sunday

He was so pooped after all his hard work, on his bike that he had no problem going down for a nap. David carried him upstairs, look at that face, snuggled right into Daddy's shoulder! During our down time from bike riding, Caleb helped me with the leaves again. I filled up his big Tonka truck and he drove it over to the big pile and dumped it. He was also playing on the little slide, that we still have in the yard for Maggie. He was leaping tall buildings in a single bound! Of course the jump I got on tape was the one when he wasn't watching at all, to what he was doing. After his nap, we made a picture for Aelie. Aelie is so thoughtful and is always thinking of Caleb. I wish we could see more of each other. Maybe during the summer, when we can all spend the day at the beach. We left home a little early today, so we could stop at Grammie and Grampie's house. We wanted to show off Caleb's new riding abilities. They were very proud! While we were there, we experienced Caleb's first real digger. He wiped out hard on the driveway. He got a fat lip, the first of many I'm sure. He cried for only a minute and then went right back to what he was doing before. What a trooper!

Caleb's New Bike and Learning To Ride It

We had talked about buying Caleb a new bike, after we noticed how much he liked riding at Jud and Marsie's house. Since, he'll be spending more and more time with us, we figured he should have a bike of his own at Daddy and Shell's house. Also, we happened to see that Aelia just got one, so we just had to do it. Next time Caleb and Aelia get together, they can ride together. They'll both be pros. It will be great! We got it home, Daddy put it together and Caleb was very excited to try it out. It took a little while, as a matter of fact there were a couple of moments where we decided we should do something else for a bit and try again later. He wanted so bad to do it himself, but when he couldn't and we tried to help, he got mad. He didn't give up though! After a few tantrums of frustration, he did it. He learned how to go downhill first and use his brakes, then came the going forward. Once he got the hang of it, he didn't want to do anything else. He loved it, he was so proud of himself. It was great to see David teaching him, how to ride his first big boy bicycle!!! A nice Father and son bonding day. It was very rewarding for both of us!

Just For Aelia

This is just for Aelie, it's not much, just Caleb watching and listening to her message. I just wanted her to know, he did get it!! Here you go Aelie!
Hi Aelie, Caleb listened to your Easter message today. He really enjoyed listening and watching you talk to him on your blog. Unfortunately, he doesn't send messages to well. He did love it and he misses you. We made you a picture today. We gave it to Grammie, so when she sees you, she can give it to you. I hope you like it. We all hope to see you soon. We saw that you got a new bicycle. It looks like a really nice one and pink too. We bought Caleb a new bike, too. So, when you two get together you can ride together. That will be so much fun!! We'll show you Caleb's bike tomorrow. We love you<3

A Sleep Over With Maggie

Heeere's Maggie, my favorite little girl in the whole world!!! We have so much fun together. We had a little sleep over last night. Amanda and Andrew had a few things left to do before their trip to Florida on Saturday. So, of course I said, have her stay over night with Aunie and DD. After Amanda and Andrew left, we played for a little while before dinner. DD cooked, so we could play. We went upstairs, to get some toys out of the toybox and ended up in my bedroom. For some reason she started backing out of the room, closing the door on her way out. She'd say, "Bye-bye" and I'd say, "Where are you going? Don't leave Aunie." Then she would barge back through the door, laughing. She thought it was so funny, that she was tricking me. After a few times, I grabbed the camera. I couldn't resist. Here she is as she comes pushing back through the door(ha,ha here I am). After some more of that, DD called us down to dinner. After dinner was tub time and then off to bed. She slept great, all night, not a peep:-) When I woke her up the next morning, to get ready for Mommy to come, the first thing she said was, DD? Like, ok here you are, so where's DD! I told her he had already left for work. Anyway, it was great for all of us! She sure keeps us smiling:-) We'll have to do it again soon. Maybe when they get back from vacation.

Finding Easter Eggs

We picked Caleb up at daycare on Friday and headed over to Grammie and Grampie's house for a quick Easter Egg Hunt. The reason it was quick was, we were invited over to Jud and Marsie's for dinner, and this year we don't have Caleb for Easter, so it was very important we got to do a little bit of Easter fun with Grammie and Grampie, before heading over to Jud and Marsie's. Grammie hid them really well this year, because Grampie couldn't even find them. Here he is searching, finding and opening. Daddy and I got him a basket, that I didn't think I put too much candy in, but he managed to eat quite a bit. Aunt Donna came over with a few Easter gifts, and Kimmie gave him his own little chair to sit by the pool in. Thank you very much, to all of you. When we got to Jud and Marsie's, the girls were playing outside. Caleb jumped right on a bike and started having fun. He's not shy! It was wonderful to see them all. We had a wonderful meal and a wonderful visit. I think Caleb was in a sugar coma, he was a little out of sorts.(note to self, no more candy for our little guy)HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!

A Day Full of Fun with Caleb and Margaret

What a beautiful day we had to play outside. We brought out the balls, the little slide, the sidewalk chalk, trucks and cars. We had a great time, playing together. Caleb kicked that big ball all over the place. I'm convinced he's going to be a soccer player and a good one. Maggie on the other hand, she thought it was an exercise ball. She would lay on the ball, roll around and then fall to the ground and laugh and laugh, then do it all over again. Of course when we got out the camera, she was pretty much done with that. She did kick the ball a bit too. We wrote all over the driveway in different colored chalk(yes, Grandpa Russell all over the driveway). Ha,ha!! When we went in, we played play doh, markers, used our new scissors to cut up some paper. After lunch we were on our way to the park across the street. We were all walking together, Daddy was holding Caleb's hand. Then as we went to cross the road Caleb took Maggie's hand. It was very sweet. I told Caleb he was going to be a good big brother. We played on everything at the park. Caleb was a little more apprehensive this time, to do things by himself, but Daddy was right there beside him to do it with him. We had a great time running after the kids. I enjoy it much more now, because I'm the "Aunie" and the Step-Mother "Shell", so I can step back and just enjoy watching and photographing the fun they're having. God do I love these two kids! After Amanda and Margaret left and Caleb and David were napping, I got a chance to do some yard work. I love it when it's nice out and I can rake and weed and just enjoy time outside. I can't wait until the grass starts turning green. It looks so awful and dry, but it will come I know. When Caleb and David woke up, Caleb grabbed his big Tonka truck. I filled it up with leaves and he helped me dump it out into the big pile out back. I didn't go with David and Caleb for the ride to Lisbon this time. I took a nice relaxing bath and read my book. It was definitely a day full of fun!!!