Galveston - 2nd part of the week

Since my parents, Daniel and the other Stevens had to leave on Thursday but we had the condo for the rest of the week, I decided to make it a party and invite my girlfriends to stay. Of course it wasn't the same kind of party we used to have, but the kind where the number of preschoolers outnumber adults and the moms are exhausted but smiling at the end of the day!
Pauline, kid free, Carrie with Jackson and Chase and Autumn with her two, Hoyt and Campbell came for the weekend. Gene drove in for a day and night from Houston and we really needed her to help with the kids. Even though my parents took Georgia for her special one-on-one time, the kids were wild and crazy and nonstop. We had 2 two year olds in the throws of potty training which was random timing, but worked out ok. Pauline was lots of help even though we missed her older girls to help babysit our little ones.
We let the kids play when they first arrived on Thursday then decided we didn't want to cook so we took them to Joe's Crab Shack because it had a playground! That was the 1st restaurant that Hayes went potty in..3 times! But he went without a fight or an accident! Then we knew the kids had too much energy so we went swimming til they were exhausted and so were we.
The next day we swam in the morning, played play-doh in the room and snacked until Pauline showed up and we hit the beach! It was lots of fun but a lot of work. So thankful that Pauline wanted to go way out with the older kids while we manned the beach with the babies. Hayes was so wild in the water this trip and was fearless in the waves. They would knock him down and he would go under but it wouldn't even phase him! That same day, Aunt Brandi and cousin Samuel came across the bridge to play with us. It was fun to see them and see how much he'd grown now that he is a big 1 year old! I hope they had fun and weren't too scared of the wildness of our group!
That night we ordered food in for the adults and let the kids eat play and watch a movie in the room. They were all so tired..it was great. Me and the girls stayed up really, really late chatting..it was so fun, but we sure did pay the next day! It was worth it because I can't remember the last time we were all together in the same spot. The next day Pauline had to leave but Marigene was able to come down so they basically tagged on the way in the door and Gene took over as our extra set of Mommy hands!
We played at the pool again and Gene got to see Hayesman being wild swimming all over. He is really good and can hold his breath for a long time. He also loves to Superman jump off the side of the pool. All he says is, "Again, again!"
We went out to eat at The Spot to kill some time and then decided to make one more run at the beach. This time we took only the bare necessities. We went late enough in the evening so we didn't take the canopy or really anything. A few snacks, towels and all the kids, of course! It was a great time to go and it wasn't too hot either.
The final night was a lot more mild, everyone was really tired, and we knew we had a long next day of packing, cleaning and driving home so we didn't stay up too late. We shared a bottle of wine and munched on some dips while the kids played.
It was a perfect weekend getting to share lots of time and space with my best friends. I miss having those opportunities. Now that the kids are getting older it is harder to find the time but easier to do at their ages. I think we all left there exhausted but thankful for old friends!

Galveston - 1st half of the week

Our Galveston family vacation was great. We had good weather and were able to do lots with the kids. Thank you so much to my parents who got so much food for us, made homemade icecream, took us out for amazing seafood and watched our kids for us. We had 2 condos next door to each other so my parents and the 3 older kids stayed in one and me, Daniel, Sidney, Jeff, Natalie and Preston stayed in the other. It was a nice break from the wildness but good they were still just next door! Hope to do it again next year! We ate at Guidos..yummy and fancy.. the kids really did good but it was annoying that they brought the kids' food early then they were done eating way before we even got started. Oh well it was worth it! Preston & Sidney in their matching swimmies from Aunt Natalie..love Mudpie brand..they are precious!! And I can't help but think they resemble eachother..We got to go out sans kids a night or two..it was fun watching the NBA finals and relaxing with some amazing drinks!
The cousins wearing their whale t-shirts..so cute with their names on them. Hayes was in a bad mood but we finally got him to pose for a few pics. Thanks again to Aunt Natalie for getting these made!
We headed to Pleasure Pier one evening and rode a ride or two and played games. It was fun and would be better had we gotten their earlier to ride more things. I was really impressed with the amount of activities there was to do in Galveston!This balcony was the spot that got Hayes to go to the bathroom standing up. He loved to pee off it and into the bushes..not so conventional, but hey, it worked and now he is potty trained!Hayes rode his 1st big ride, the ferris wheel..he wanted Mommy to go with him and he was so excited and brave..especially since the girls were too afraid to go! He was really fun to watch his expression and excitement and his fearlessness! Love that boy! My littlest gal in her strawberry swimsuit, a hand-me-down from Autumn and Campbell!

Sidney Rose is 4 months!!!

My angel baby is 4 months old today! What a gift! She is so much fun and pretty laid back. But don't get too comfy with her good behavior because she likes to keep us on our toes and shake things up when we least expect it! For instance she spent a good 3 weeks sleeping through the night to only start waking up again..maybe, hopefully a growth spurt!?! She was so good in the car and would spend countless times in her carseat..causing me to brag about her loving her it. Well, wouldn't you know, after a few hours of driving home from vacation she decided she was over it and would protest loudly about being in her seat. The only thing that kept her happy was rolling down the windows. Whatever works, right?!

So what is Miss Sidney Rose doing:
*She has found her hands and loves them. I think she would prefer to suck her thumb or fingers over a paci but I am not having..as best I can anyways. She tries to grab things with them and is trying to bring them to her mouth. They are always in her mouth. Can't tell if she is teething, hungry or just playing. She is a massive drooler too.
*Sidney is so close to rolling over from her back to tummy. She gets her leg up and pushes on it but can't quite get all the way over..I can't imagine why..maybe a little extra pounds she's packing?
*Sidney is a talker, she squeals, coos, yells, and laughs..her laughs don't come often yet but they are hearty when she does them.
*She is ticklish..mainly on her thighs and ribs and sometimes under her neck! It's so cute and makes her grunt.
*Sidney weighed 16.8 lbs last week on a friend's scale, so we will see when she goes to the dr. what it says. Sidney weighs 17.8 lbs. (95th%) and is 25 in. long (76th%) !
*Her new nickname she earned is "Patches" because she looks like a Cabbage Patch doll. She got that one from Aunt Lynn and Uncle Carlo. I have thought it for so long and so many people tell me that randomly so I think it's perfect!
*She is still nursing about every 3 hours, but often goes longer, and has been sleeping through the night without feeding.
*Sidney sleeps from about 9-7, give or take an hour. Mostly sleeping through the night but not 100%, she stinks at keeping or putting in her paci. She isn't good at naps either unless I am sleeping with her or we are on the go. She will take a shorter morning one and a longer afternoon one lately, like 1 hour to 3 hours. If I am laying down with her I can help her go back to sleep if she awakens and I may catch a nap too.
*She is in size 2 diapers, size 6-9 month clothes for the most part, and some 3-6 fit though.

Sidney,
You are loved by so many and make us all smile and want to be with you and hold you. Your big, open-mouthed smile is contagious and I can't imagine by days without you! Thank you for being the piece of the puzzle that completes our family! We love you!

Happy Father's Day 2013

We hope you had a wonderful and special day fishing with your Daddy!Happy Father's Day from your Fantastic Four!We love you with all our heart!