getting scared....

On Friday, we are getting on a plane with 2 crazy cute monsters. I am so very worried about how that will go. Naps are a fight. Snacks work as bribery, but once they're no longer hungry they cease to be very helpful. They like to move around. Colin will not have his own seat on the plane and will share with me, and he will wiggle the entire time.

Deep breaths. I think I can, I think I can.....

summer

You'd think that, now that summer is in full swing, I would actually update the blog. Or, maybe, just take a few pictures. But no, I have not updated the blog, and I haven't even taken pictures of the kids. (Or of anything else, just to be clear.) Wow. I'm fairly ashamed of myself.

Facebook has been my downfall. It's really easy to post a one-liner update of what's going on, or snap a quick picture on my phone and post it, and so I don't think about getting online to blog about anything. I am a very lazy blogger. I'm sorry.

We leave on Friday for Tucson, and I am certain that either Scott or I will take pictures of all the goings-on with the family. In the event that an epic picture-fail occurs, other family members will hopefully have cameras and snap away, sharing the fruits of their labors with us after we beg and plead. There WILL be pictures.

So, a quick update:

Gavin is 3 1/2 and he is amazing. He is taking swimming lessons at Nitro Swimming every Saturday, and he's *thisclose* to moving from station 1 to station 2 - to do so, he has to hold his breath for 5 seconds with his face fully submerged in the water. He got to 3 or 4 seconds this past Saturday, and then in the pool with Scott on Sunday did a full 10 seconds! This is a big deal, since getting him to even put on goggles (he calls them "gobbles") was an ordeal, and he's really not been a big fan of putting any part of his head underwater. Progress!! He loves to pretend, and he's a loving and fabulous big brother. He loves broccoli. He is so proud that he's finally learned to pee standing up. He can't get himself moving on the swing yet so he still demands to be pushed. He is an adept negotiator. Oh, and he gives the BEST hugs on the planet.

Colin is 16 months and walking (and running now too!) up a storm. He loves to be outside. He is talking more and more each day (I have GOT to post a video of him yelling "Da-EEEE" to get Scott's attention!). Today he figured out how to unhook the cabinet locks in the kitchen, and then he spent the rest of the afternoon/evening happily digging around and banging on my metal mixing bowls. He loves to close doors, so he'll go into Gavin's room, close the door, and then play with whatever is at hand. Or he'll notice that the pantry is partly open, go inside, and pull the door closed. I'll open the door and he's standing inside (in the dark), just grinning at me. He is learning to throw one heck of a tantrum. If he's mad, he'll lay down on the floor and start scooting (in whatever direction his head is pointed) until he hits a wall. If I leave the room, he'll scoot until he reaches an obstacle, stand up, find me, and lay back down to scoot some more. Of course, he screams the entire time. Hellooooooo terrible twos! You are early! When he's not channeling a demon, though, he is the sweetest, snuggliest little man. And he's got the beginnings of a mullet, since his hair's finally growing in. We're watching it, don't worry, it'll get cut before things get too crazy.

Scott has been traveling for work (Germany, Germany again, California, soon California again) more frequently these days. We all like it best when he's home! I had a couple of training days for school earlier in the month, and I go back the first week in August for 3 more training days. School stuff officially begins for me August 16 with staff development on my campus. Until then, I'm enjoying every second I have on vacation!