A short post in preparation for a much larger one…

This will most likely be the last blog post before one filled with baby pictures.  The time is near, the kids are excited, we’re excited, and everything is as ready as it’s going to get.  Stay tuned, we’re days a way!

Days, not weeks…

"Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation."
-C. Everett Koop

This post will be a little shorter than normal, because as the title implies we are now counting down in terms of days and weeks to the arrival of the newest addition to our little family.  Bags are packed, names are narrowed down, plans are in place.  Soon our home will be once again graced with the cries and laughter of a baby.

So until then big sister and brother are preparing by eating snow cones and smearing cake on their faces.  I’m not quite sure if they understand what the baby will mean when she arrives, but they seem excited about it.  Luckily they shouldn’t have any problem sleeping through the crying, this weekend the smoke alarms went off in the house (failing battery) and they weren’t even phased.

PePa came over this weekend to show James some basketball moves.  All James knows so far is the dunk, but I suspect this will get more difficult for him if he inherits his fathers athletic prowess.

While the kids were taking a break for nap/quiet time Mom was busy getting the afternoon activity ready.  How she manages to do that while being days from labor is beyond me, but she does it.  And the kids are happy.

Swimming, dinner, and a puddle…

"If you want to learn to swim jump into the water. On dry land no frame of mind is ever going to help you."
-Bruce Lee

Cousin Amy turned 18 so the Wolfe clan got together to celebrate the occasion.  The kids had a lot of fun playing the piano and jumping dangerously from the fireplace hearth.  Ashlyn jumped once and as soon as James saw her do it he climbed up and heedlessly threw himself off.  Those two are dangerous.

Sunday was spent at Nina and Papa’s for a little swimming and fun in the sun.  James showed off his sliding skills while Ashlyn jumped halfway across the pool.

I’ll end with a story about a boy.  It was a nice day and the family all went to gymnastics.  The boy became bored and wanted to play outside.  It was a nice day, but this particular boy has an amazing ability to sense out even the smallest puddle.  His senses were true, and the puddle was found quickly jumped in repeatedly.  Below you will see the only puddle in the gymnastics parking lot.  James found it.

Fourth of July and a surprise event…

"It's not working!"
-James

With Uncle John and Uncle Scott off to Hawaii and Washing, D.C. respectively, the family got together at the lake this weekend to celebrate both the birth of our nation and our little family that lives in it.  I suppose I can’t call it “little” anymore when you think of the number of adults and children that ran around for 2 days straight.

The holiday started with a 4th of July parade in downtown Granbury.  We dressed up James and Ashlyn in some outfits that Grandma made, although we were only able to get one picture of James before he practically ripped it off.  Apparently he is not as patriotic as Ashlyn, who wore hers with pride.  At the parade itself James split his time between watching bugs and parade floats.  Ashlyn enjoyed some Dip n’ Dots and free stuff that the parade goers gave her.

After the parade it was time to cool off in the pool.  When the water balloons were brought out, both kids went a bit crazy throwing them everywhere.  They had fun though, although I don’t think we’ll every find all the pieces.

The fireworks were brought out as night started coming around.  While it was still light the smoke bombs and sparklers were used.  It was the first time either kid had held a sparkler and they both had fun.  I’m also happy to report that only Daddy got burned, which is a tradition of mine on 4th. 

I don’t have any pictures from the fireworks show we put on that evening, but both the kids seemed to really enjoy them.  We weren’t sure what their reaction would be to the first big booming firework, but I knew everything was going to be ok when I heard a squeal of excitement followed by “Again!”.  Next year we’ll see if we can keep them up long enough to see a full fireworks show.  The rest of the lake trip was spent playing with water, bubbles, and birthday cakes.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Oh wait, as I was typing this blog post an exciting event occurred in our house.  The kids had just finished their baths and were playing super heroes with their towels in another room.  They stopped, and James must have said he needed to use the restroom because I heard Ashlyn instructing James to sit down on the little froggy potty in the room.  I didn’t want to interfere, and really I thought it was going to be another failed attempt, but Ashlyn got excited and started yelling “you’re doing it James!”  Sure enough, James went potty in the toilet for the first time.  It’s funny how exciting little things like that can be, but it’s the first step towards getting one more kid out of diapers.  Just in time!