Summer Summary

I've gotten so far behind that it's been impossible to catch up, so I'm stealing a page out of Renee's book and doing one huge summary post, minus the pictures.  I get so hung up on trying to upload pictures that I just never get anything written.  I'm realizing that if I don't get myself caught up soon I might end up giving up my blogging forever!

It's sad that I have to rewind all the way back to Easter, so I'm going to do my best to fill in the past 3 months--bear with me!  Here's a snapshot of all that we've been doing:

MAY...Got an offer on our house and the packing began. Kellan started playing tee ball.  He was really unsure at first since he didn't know a thing about any sport other than soccer, but it really grew on him.  He had a few friends on his team and he enjoyed it. Alex lost her first tooth while wrestling with Marlon.  Everyone was excited and the tooth fairy brought her a couple dollars.  I was busy with MOPS and the end of Alex's school year.  We had a visit from Ehren and baby Henry.  We went to State College for Michael and Katie's wedding and got to spend time with our old neighbors.  Alex and Kellan really enjoyed playing with Grace and Edie.  We ate ice cream at the Creamery and took pictures at the Nittany Lion shrine.  Alex celebrated her 6th birthday and we celebrated with a little BBQ over Memorial Day weekend. My mom, Jon, Nolan, and Mia came out for the weekend to celebrate and help us with packing.  We visited Hovatter's Zoo, went to the park, made homemade ice cream, and spent some quality time together. My mom stuck around after Jon left to help us get the house packed up...

JUNE...Alex finished her Kindergarten year.  My mom was able to be there for her kindergarten awards, end of year party, and read aloud with her class. Kellan continued with tee ball and we got the rest of the house packed up and ready to move into storage.  My mom, the kids and I headed to PA to spend a few weeks while Marlon was working and traveling.  Alex and I went up to NYC to the American Girl store with Nana and Aunt Lauren.  As their birthday gift to her she picked out her American Girl doll and some accessories.  We ate lunch at the American Girl Cafe.  It was REALLY hot out.  A few days later I went back to NYC with Marlon's mom and sister and we saw Sister Act on Broadway to celebrate her birthday.  Marlon and the rest of the adults met up with us later and we enjoyed a late birthday dinner at Shula's.  We spent the next 2 1/2 weeks in PA/NJ visiting friends and family.  We went to Sesame Place with Grammy.  We went to the Philly Zoo with Ehren and Henry.  We went to the beach with Grammy, Renee, Nolan and Mia. (oh and during all of this we officially closed on our house, became "homeless", and started construction on our new house).  We spent many days at the water park behind Grammy and Granddad's house, playing in the water, at the park, and riding bikes.  We spent a few nights at Jon & Renee's.  We went to church with them every week too.  Alex watched Cinderella (the version with Brandy and Whitney Houston) way too many times.  She also watched Cinderella II a bunch.  We ate lots of popcorn and had plenty of Granddad's milkshakes. We spent a little time up at Eagle Rock where we made a trip to Knoebel's with Renee and the kids.  Alex rode her first real roller coasters. She loved them!  We got to have a cookout with my siblings and their families at Jon & Renee's, complete with S'mores. We headed back to WV at the end of the month to move into our temporary hotel apartment residence--a 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom apartment with a full kitchen, washer, and dryer.  Our new home on the 14th floor! 

JULY...We returned home in the heat of summer. We went to a birthday party for Alex's buddy Layla, a pirate theme that included a water fight and a pinata.  We enjoyed a cookout at our neighbors' house-Rocky and Carrie.  Our house is coming along nicely, framed out, roof on.  We enjoyed fireworks outside the hotel on the 4th with Desiree & Adelaide and the Johnson family.  Marlon was busy with his summer camps and we often met up with him for dinner in the dining commons.  I was asked to coordinate MOPS for this coming year so the planning has started in full swing.  We went blueberry picking. Twice. We spent a few days at the pool.  Alex became a deep water swimmer.  Her swimming skills have improved so much since we have spent so much time at the hotel pool.  Kellan is no longer afraid of swimming on his own with swimmies.  He will jump into the deep end on his own.  He even tried swimming underwater without swimmies while at the lake. Speaking of the lake, we went back to Eagle Rock and spent a few days with Marlon's family up there.  The kids enjoyed playing at the lake. Alex got to swim out to the platform with the big girls.  A lot of good food was eaten.  Then Marlon's family headed home and my family came up for a few days.  There was more swimming, good food, and relaxing.  The kids had a great time and it was great to have Marlon with us for a little vacation.  Alex lost her 2nd tooth and promptly swallowed it while eating a S'more.  Luckily the tooth fairy was still able to find her at Eagle Rock.  We enjoyed a few long days at the pool when we got home to keep cool. 

Ahhh, it feels so good to catch up!  Now hopefully I can stay current.  Thanks for reading, if there's anyone still out there :)