Miscellaneous news and cuteness

Since this blog serves as my diary, I'm going to include some general things that have been going on around here. Doug started a new job last month. It's been a big adjustment to the longer commute, but we're getting used to it and Doug thinks he'll be much happier now.

On May 21, we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary! But had to save our actual celebrating for June because I left Doug and the kids and went to a girls weekend with my college besties. We had a wonderfully relaxing time. I wish we could see each other more often. Doug and I did finally celebrate our anniversary with a dinner out at a local Spanish/Portuguese restaurant that we'd never heard of before. It was AWESOME!

Okay, back to the usual blog subjects, the children!

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Gianna's gotten to be a really competent mouse user. She loves playing the games on our library's computer. Very serious.

We went to a friend's Memorial Day party and the kids got to make their own hats. She loved it!

If you remember, Mark was hospitalized a year ago for Kawasaki's disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. We will never know what he really had, but we have to proceed as if he had both. There is no follow-up for RMSV, but since Kawasaki's disease can affect the heart, in ways doctors can't fully know yet, Mark has to go for periodic checks. So last week I took him to the cardiologist for his echo. He hated it of course, but he was actually pretty good. And he looks so stinking cute in his gown. His results were all totally normal so we're very glad of that. He's such a happy little guy I often forget that he was ever so sick! So now he doesn't have to see the cardiologist until he's 5 and then when he's a teenager, they'll do a stress test. 

Unfortunately, right after this doctor visit, Mark got a fever and seemed to be feeling pretty bad, so when we took him to our regular doctor for his 18 month check-up, she found some bumps on his throat, which may or may not have been hand, foot, and mouth disease. He never had any other symptoms, so it was probably just a regular, old virus. In any case, he wasn't sleeping well, so when he did sleep he was super tired. I usually can't walk into his room without him popping up, but this week I did, so I thought I'd take a picture. So sweet.

Anyway, he seems to be feeling much better now. His stats for 18 months are 29 lbs, 1 oz and 35 inches tall. That's the 84th percentile for weight and the 97th for height. Where did our little giant come from?

Summer is here!

Okay, summer my not have officially arrived, but school is over for Gianna and we've busted out the pool, so it's summer at our house.

Gianna loves her new bathing suit.

Mark loves wearing his "suit" too. And he likes pouring water on my feet, or shorts and chair if he forgets himself.

But sometimes we have to beat the heat inside and make projects. When Mark's not eating the crafts, he loves to draw. 

Cousins!

Last month we visited Doug's brother and sister-in-law and their kids. I'm so glad they live close enough that we can see them on the weekends. The kids definitely love seeing each other. It was great to catch up and let the kids do a lot of playing.

The boys waiting for the bubble fun to begin.

Isabella gazing at the bubbles. I think her face is so precious in this picture!

The girls goofing around.

Mark and Jack enjoying a meal.

When some other friends came over, the children were enamored with baby Annabelle. So cute! I hope Mark doesn't always greet new lady friends without pants on.

Conversations with Gianna and Beans

Here are a few of Gianna's latest funnies:

(Doug walks in the house with a 2 liter bottle of soda)

Gianna: Whoa Daddy! That's a big chunk of beer!

(One day at the park (i.e. no bathrooms) Gianna really had to pee so I took her to a nearby bush.)

The next time at the park, she says, "Is that where I peed like a dog?"

(Mark puts on a toy necklace.)

Gianna: Mark, you look like a grown up girl! Big girl, big girl!

And, so we don't leave Mark out. Here he is. He likes black beans.

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day celebration started on Thursday with a fun snack at Gianna's school. The kids made us brownies and presented each of us with gifts they had made. It was very sweet. Though it ended with tears when Gianna was sad that they didn't get to sing songs to the mommies. (Turns out the songs they've been practicing are for the last day of school, not Mother's Day as Gianna thought.)

On actual Mother's Day, a truly gorgeous day, we went to the local, annual Azalea Festival with Grandma and Grandpa who had come to visit. Gianna loved all the inflatables!

But I think both the kids enjoyed this fountain most of all. I think they could have stayed there all day. 

I love this picture of Mark. It sums him up!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

I don't have any pictures of Doug on his birthday, just of the kids enjoying his cake. We didn't do much to celebrate, what with it being a Wednesday and Doug's 3rd day at a new job. But Gianna enjoyed making presents, cards, and cake. And Mark enjoyed eating cake, not surprising. Happy Birthday, Daddy; we love you!

Being outside

Spring has finally sprung around here and it's awesome. Now, if I could just bottle these temperatures and bring them out when it's stinking hot this summer. In any case, these kids are just loving being outside and I love how independent they are when we're out there. I can sit with a book while the kids chase balls, collect tree sap, and stare/bark at neighborhood dogs. I put down my book when it's time for chasing and ring-around-the-rosie. Mark nearly hyperventilates from excitement over those activities. I'll try to get a video sometime; it's too cute.


A boy and his ball; still his #1 obsession

Gianna loves playing ball too

Posing in a tree

I love this picture of her. It's very Gianna