Tuesday, August 14, 2012

An Eventful Week

Libby and Aunt Holly in the wild
This past week was the last week of Summer Vacation for Dad, and it also happened to be a week off for the girls from daycare.  This worked out in the girls' favor, as it turned in to a week of all of Libby and Mary's favorite summer activities (plus one or two of Dad's!).  On Monday, Libby and Mary went to Kiddie Park with Dad and Grammie Yandek.  No matter how many times the girls go, every time they pull in the parking lot, it's like the first time they've ever been there.  Mary, especially, can't even control herself.  She starts shaking and laughing to the point where strangers offer her a paper bag...

Libby and the Browns at the Stadium
Tuesday was a regular day with Grammie and Papa Hanna and the girls spent some time with Aunt Reen and Claire and Corinne on Wednesday morning.  But Wednesday night was Libby and Daddy Time!  It was off to Cleveland Browns Stadium for Browns Family Night.  Libby and Dad had a great time, although they stayed out way past Libby's bed time.  Libby's highlights of the evening, in order: 1) Fireworks, 2) Ice cream 3) Popcorn 4) Video games on Dad's phone 5) Browns football.  For Dad, the highlight of the night came after the fireworks ended and Libby turned, with a big smile and said "Thanks, Daddy" and followed that with a kiss.  It doesn't get any better than that...
Libby and Mary with Noah and Maddie
On Thursday, Libby and Mary went to their other favorite place--the zoo--with Dad and Aunt Holly.  It was the normal routine: "zoo bus", elephants, McDonalds, stinky rhinos, giraffes, cotton candy, monkeys, etc.  Then, Libby and Mary spent Friday with Grammie Yandek and Aunt Holly, and they got to help make (and eat) cookies, which is always a fun treat.  Then, on Saturday, it was Sean's 1st Birthday Party.  The girls had a great time eating and playing with everyone.  It really was an eventful and fun week for everyone involved.  While there is still plenty of summer left, school has started (already?!?!?) and the new baby is coming soon, so things are really about to get weird...

Monday, August 6, 2012

We're Still Here!

The fam in Lake Erie
There's lots to report since the last post, as summer has flown by (as it usually does!).  And, while the heat even lets up from time to time, Libby and Mary haven't stopped going--it's been one exciting adventure after another for the ladies, as they try to get as much "Mom and Dad Funtime" before New Sibling compromises Mom and Dad's time.
The Splash Sisters
The high points of the summer so far, along with June's Salt Fork vacation and the Fourth of July parade were a trip to Uncle Ed and Aunt Cathy's house in Vermilion and a week in Marblehead with Mom's family.  It was in Vermilion where the girls got their first-ever encounter with Lake Erie.  Libby was a little tentative at first (more on this later), while Mary had no qualms barreling right in.  Libby finally warmed up, and the girls each enjoyed the lake in their own way--Libby floating lazily on a raft and Mary jumping head-first into the waves!
The annual "How Tall Am I" shot at The Patio
The week in Marblehead was a great success, because it entailed a week-long sleep over with cousins Claire, Corinne and Declan.  So, no matter what happened or what the plans were, it was going to be a good week for the girls.  The big hit of the Marblehead week was the pool in the backyard complete with waterslide!  Once again, Mary was thrilled to try out the slide and swim in the pool by herself with her swimvest.  While Libby enjoyed swimming and jumping, it wasn't until Wednesday that she finally went down the slide.  Of course, she loved it, but she wasn't quite ready to try it more than a few times.
At Marblehead Lighthouse State Park
 Events of the week included multiple trips into Lakeside, where the girls enjoyed donuts from The Patio, went shopping for jewelry and Libby played her first round of putt-putt (with Dad, Uncle Jerry, Claire and Corinne).  It didn't take her long to figure out how to best manage the course--rather than "teeing off" from the designated area, she would place the ball just inches from the cup to better maximize her putting ability.  After a bogey on No. 1 (to be expected on her first hole ever), Libby found her stroke and finished with a 19.  She liked it so much, and did so well, that she and Dad went back and played again later in the week.
She's already a better putter than Uncle Tony
The girls also got another go-round with Lake Erie, this time at Bay Pointe beach.  The conditions were much different fromt their first time, as the waves were rolling in pretty high and pretty fast.  The girls were much more comfortable this time around, and they especially liked jumping head first into the waves as they came crashing in.
Mmmmmmmm, Patio donuts!
Of course, vacation wasn't all swimming and playing.  There was lots of eating as well.  Along with the aforementioned Patio donuts, the girls made multiple ice cream runs to Dairy Dock, went to Bruno's for pizza and made cupcakes with Dad.  The other highlight of the trip was the old arcade games in the rec room.  All the kids enjoyed the sights and sounds, although they didn't really have a clue what they were doing!
Superfly!
There has been more than just vacation, however.  The girls have continued to "decorate" their bedroom and have really gotten used to bunking together.  There have been trips to the zoo and the park as well as hours spent in the pool, both at home and elsewhere (thanks cousin Emma!).  They've also played with their friends Will and Henry, had a surprise visit from Aunt Nellie and had lots of fun during their regular weekly visits with their grandparents.  Suffice to say the girls are loving life right now.  Which is good, as it's all going to change.  Soon.  Very soon.