g is for greta

It’s looking like we might have a major trip every month this summer. Fun! This month we spent 10 days at my parents’ house in northeastern Ohio. My brother flew out with his family from Utah. Tony came up for a long weekend but had to get back for work. The kids and I stayed to enjoy family and the strawberry season at our family patch. Here’s some highlights:

My dad bought a battery-powered 4-wheeler and Jeep for the kids. I think that was the first thing out of Mason’s mouth every morning, “Can I go ride?”

Lance bought 3 3-wheelers for the adults to play on. Gotta love this picture!

Ethan couldn’t miss out on all the fun.

The weather was so hot and humid while we were visiting. We took advantage of the air conditioning at Chuck E Cheese.

My dad has an old fashioned car that the kids loved to pretend to drive.

The kids enjoyed getting soaked in the rain.

Strawberry season was in full swing. We tried to get a picture of all the kids together. This is my best one:

We celebrated Grandma Ann’s birthday with a Strawberry Shortcake cake. Corinne and Mom were both excited.

The best part of the trip was the Kiddie Park near Cleveland. The kids could have stayed there all day (and basically did).

So many activities really tuckered the kids out. For the first few nights, we slept at my grandma’s house. The kids thought her house was so cool and full of neat stuff. They were so excited to sleep on a pull-out bed. They’d never seen such a thing!

It really was a good time. The kids miss their cousins already. Good thing we’re heading to Utah in July for a long trip!

-g.

Poor Tony. The day started out well enough. I heard Ethan talking to himself around quarter after six so I stretched out staying in bed until around 6:30. I got up to take my shower thinking that if Ethan started crying Tony could get him. Well, get him he did. Ethan is known for his morning bowel movement. This morning was no different. When Tony opened the door, the smell greeted him. He said he was bummed out to have to start his day with a dirty diaper. Upon opening the door wider, he saw the scene. Poop. Everywhere. Somehow Ethan had removed both his pants AND his POOPY DIAPER! Not just any poop, either. No, runny poop. It was smeared all over his sheet, the crib, the walls, and even his face. Poor, poor Tony. Needless to say, I jumped out of the shower and gave Ethan a bath while Tony removed the damage. I don’t think the day can get worse. Only better. That’s looking at the glass half full.

-g.

That’s what Corinne calls losing your locks to try to handle the heat better. Here’s some before and after pics of the kids:

Mason Before (I’ve been working on getting a more natural smile out of him…)

Mason After (…but it always comes out like this.)

Corinne Before (nerd)

Corinne After (See the attitude? She knows she looks good. The multiple angles was her idea.)

Tony and Ethan also got haircuts but were left out of the “fun” of taking pictures. Then there is me, the loser of the universe. I was originally supposed to be the first one in the family to get a haircut. The salon had to reschedule me, however, so I ended up being last. My hair was the longest it has been in at least 5 years. I was impartial to it staying long or going short. I told the stylist he could do whatever cut he wished. How in the world did I end up with the same hair as Corinne!!!??? I feel like a dork with a little mini-me whenever we go somewhere. Maybe I should look into a Mother/Daughter Pageant to take advantage of the weirdness of it all. Corinne thinks it’s awesome, though. That’s my only saving grace.

-g.

The boy just doesn’t understand personal space. I was trying to capture some memories on film but instead was attacked by the Baby Monster.

He spots the camera and wonders what his crazy mother is up to.

Hmmm… I think I’ll check this out.

Grrrr. It’s the camera.

I’m gonna get you!

Ethan also loves the Wii. He crawls up to the TV and hollers at it whenever it is on. We gave him the wheel, and he knew exactly what to do:

He’s just too cute for words. Wouldn’t you agree?

-g.

We plant a garden every year. The tomatoes always grow into trees and the watermelon flops. The weather was chilly on planting morning. Corinne is kicking it. Check her out:

Mason loves dirt so planting was right up his alley.

I just want the cucumbers to hurry up already. Boy, do I love Cucumber Salad! I’ll have to post my recipes for those another day. Too many posts to catch up on.

-g.

Those were Corinne’s words bright and early the day after her pre-k class let out for the year. She was a peer model for Thomas Elementary Special Needs Preschool. She loved it and made some good friends. All the girls were peer models and seemed to stick like glue. Hopefully they will be over during the summer to keep her company. The last day of school was a party at the park across the street from the school. I went and took the boys with me.

Corinne with her twin friends Alexandra and Amara (definite keepers).

Mason hogged out on the snack.

His favorite game was the bubble machine.

Corinne has crazy ideas that summer vacation means we do some special trip everyday: zoo, pool, playplace, Graeter’s, etc. I’m afraid she’s going to be disappointed.

-g.

Tony’s parents came to Columbus Sunday to spend the holiday with us and Steph/James. It was great to be all together and have the kids entertained. Our church has a picnic around lunchtime. Corinne made a Patriotic Cookie Pizza to take for the Dessert Bake-Off.

After the picnic, we came home and made the most of the warm weather. Papa Tom loves to take the kids for bike rides and walks. He played with Ethan in the backyard.

Abuelita always has her mind on my kids and bought some Silly String she saw at the dollar store. Mason didn’t figure out how to push the button until the cans were almost empty, but Corinne sure had fun.

It’s nice to have Tony home on a lazy day to play together.

-g.

Ethan is sure a busy body! Our other kids didn’t move this much at Ethan’s age even if we combined their abilites. This boy climbs stairs, climbs into baskets, onto tables and couches, stands up in the middle of the room, and even plays standing up. Tony and I are sure his first steps will be soon in coming. Tony actually works with him on walking. I, however, do not relish in the idea of the boy being more mobile than he already is. He has his two bottom front teeth. His top ones are bulging so much it looks painful. He hurt himself on Sunday and tore his labial frenum (the little piece of tissue that connects your lip to your gums). On Monday, he fell over with his pacifier in his mouth and retore it open. Talk about blood! Sheesh. Here’s his mugs (before his new fat lip):

We start off easily enough.

Then he gets tired of sitting…
(Look at that smirk. He knows he’s doing something that will get a reaction.)

…so he has to stand up.

I picked him up and got him dressed for his next round of photos. He wasn’t happy with me after ruining the fun of rocking the chair standing up. He didn’t really give me any smiles.

He so adorable, though. I just don’t stay mad for long.

-g.