Ben and I are so fortunate to have another summer spent together with our family and friends! Life seems to get so busy during the school year that we sometimes don't even realize just how busy it is for all of us. This summer we have been able to enjoy each day, minute, nuance, with our 2 little kiddos!
Some little moments I need to take note of so that when life gets busy once again, we can smile at these memories...
* Luke loves to brush his cheek against Ellie's ponytail in her hair. He will say, " Ellie's hair is so soft." Today in Lowe's they were both "driving" their car/cart and Luke twirled Ellie's pony the entire time. :)
* Ellie is rocking her 3-4 word sentences. Sometimes they almost seem to be one long word like " Sit right there." I love when she falls or tumbles and right away she'll say, " I'm OK."
* Ellie can count up to 10 all be herself! This took us by surprise one day...she just started counting and kept going. She also can sing her entire ABC's...she just skips Q, R, and S moving right from P to T. All of her colors are mastered too! She can name them all except for red. She still gets stumped on red but knows orange?!
* Luke LOVES watching baseball with Ben. I would limit it to the Tigers but he will watch any baseball game intently and if we let him...the entire game! He will wake up in the morning, grab the iPAD, scroll through the ESPN app just checking out the scores from last night's games. Hmmm, I wonder where he gets this from???
* Luke is learning the winning/losing aspect all over again. He understands that 1 team will win and the other will lose however, he changes his mind of who he wants to win mid-game by who has the higher score.
* Luke and Elle have a song and dance they made up by themselves. It has no words and the moves are basically jumping around in a circle but the same tune every time. Once one starts the other joins in right away.
* We went on a family trip to the Great Wolf Lodge and Luke went on every water slide with NO FEAR! He barely made the tallest slides...You have to be 42 inches and he barely passed the mark.
* Ellie on the other hand was so scared of the gigantic buckets that would spill water every 15 minutes that that's what she pretty much talked about the entire trip. She went to sleep talking about the "bucket" and the "bucket's noise" and that would be the first word she spoke when waking up.
* Ellie gives the sweetest little kisses.
* Luke is Ben's wing man this summer and wants to be doing anything and everything that Ben is up too.
* Ellie has found her "terrible two's". UGH. She doesn't really mind who is around or who is watching if she's mad she will let you know. DRAMA. Today she threw a sippy cup across the counter. Put her in timeout. She just started talking to me from the chair in a sweet voice like nothing just happened. She will also put her head to the side and give the sweetest, cutest smile after she knows she has made a bad choice. Ben and I try so hard to keep a straight face BUT it's so obvious it cracks you up. I want to get a video of it without her knowing!!! :)
* Ellie LOVES all animals and I am trying really hard to cultivate this passion for animals. She runs around the yard holding out her arms saying "Hug!" to all of the squirrels. I'm just thankful they have the reflex to run away.
* Luke is really into helping out with chores...LOVE it! He woke up this morning made his bed (without me asking!), watered the flowers on the porch, swept the leaves off the porch, and set the table for breakfast. Luke is my favorite kid right now ;)
4th of July Fireworks in Rochester Hills! I was able to drive back this year mid-week during a conference in Lansing. It was so worth it and I'm so thankful I was with everyone.
Luke with the parachute and Elle with animals. ( Of course...I HATE petting zoos and this girl wants to get in there with them.) It looks like I am pushing away her hand but I promise, I was just helping her reach!
Sun is starting to set...almost!
This girl just melts your heart with her cheery smile.
We had so much fun getting to the fireworks early and enjoying all of the activities! We played floor hockey, frisbee, soccer, face-painting, petting zoo, gymnastics area, ate a picnic dinner, danced, and fireworks!
Lovin' on my man.
Best show yet because all 4 us laid still the entire time during the show! That's right. We all stayed on the blanket, snuggled up, warm, with the fireworks showing above us...yes, it was pretty perfect.
Luke making last minute adjustments to all of his neon gear.
Ben, Grandpa and Grandma Uitti took us all to their Howell annual event...the Balloon Fest! More than 50 balloons take off from the same location and you watch them as they float off into the sunset.
Off they go!
Summer is here...Let the projects begin!
Storm door in the garage...check.
Ben's wing man in action!
All tuckered out. Look at her cuddling her doggy...
Thank you random lawn mower man for helping Ben out with the swing set!
Dancing around after the 4th of July parade in Clarkston! Luke showing off his moves and then Ellie steps in to!
Luke working on his rhyming words at the Library. Last week we had a Lukey and Mommy morning! This adventure included donuts and a trip to the Library. Love this fella!
Lukey scoring a goal in his last game! Luke really took off this year in his soccer games. Last year he would more or less trail behind the group of kiddos running by the ball. This year was much different! Go Luke go!
Luke is in the black hat and number 8!
