Catching UP - Again!

I feel like I’m always playing catch up here.. Oh well I try my best!  As you can see June went by in the blink of an eye and July has gone by nearly as fast.  Exhausting really!  Daddy has had a nice summer and has been able to golf nearly every weekend thus far this summer! He deserves it though, he does so much for our family! I’m so proud of him and his accomplishments.

So I wanted to pick up where I left off on my last blog.   After our wonderful vacation to Florida we came home – which was an interesting flight to say the least.  Max missed his afternoon nap and immediately became the screaming crying baby on the plane. It was miserable – but luckily we were at the very rear of the plane and I think part of his tears were drowned out of by the planes engines.  All I can say is thank goodness the flight was a mere 2 hours and was otherwise uneventful! 

So we made it back to Ohio in one piece and headed off to pick up Guinness! Meanwhile we forgot Max’s car seat at the airport and had to go back and get it. Ha! Go figure!  Luckily we didn’t travel to far.  Yikes!  So we got the car seat, got the dog and head off home – for a mere few minutes before we had to travel back to Sandusky for a Max’s birthday and my good friends wedding.

Max’s birthday was relaxed!  Daddy got a cake and we opened gifts. We spent the day playing and enjoying our little man. I can not believe he is ONE already! Ahhh!! He’s so wonderful and such a joy in our lives. He constantly amazes Kevin and me! He’s funny, rambunctious, adorable, loving and sweet. He’s the best thing in my life, besides daddy! I love him soooo much!!

After opening gifts and spending time with Max – we traveled to Detroit for my girlfriends wedding. It was lovely and fun! She had her wedding in a casino and nightclub attached. It was different and not like any wedding I had ever been to before. It was totally her and lots of fun. We actually danced – Kevin and I. I think this was the first time we had been to a club together – and it was a wedding. The drive there and back sucked but I’m glad we went and I’m very happy for my friend! 

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The weekend following Kevin, his brother and his father went and bottled beer, so Maxwell and I spent all day Saturday together. Memaw came out and we went to White House Fruit Farms and to lunch.  It was a nice afternoon and I loved spending the time with Max alone.   Max really enjoyed White House – as he got to try his first cucumber and I think he liked it.  He bite right into it… so that’s good!!

Then on Sunday daddy went golfing – again! And Max and I spent another day alone together. I can’t complain he’s very well behaved for me. He takes naps on schedule and plays the day away with me. The only thing I need to do is get a few more outside toys for him, so we can have more things to do outside. It’s hard playing with a 1 year old their attention span is short so he’s quick to want to move on to other things. Love him!

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The following weekend was the Annual Member Guest tournament that Kevin and my dad golf in every year.  They have so much fun golfing together and Kevin takes the competition very seriously!  They did well but didn’t win – oh well there’s always next year.

While daddy was off golfing Mommy, Max and Grandma went swimming!! Max loves to swim – he’s a little nut ball. He runs around and jumps in. He’s not scared at all which scares the crap out of me. I have to keep an eye on him or he’d be in on his own. Even thinking about anything bad scares me so I’m not going to. I am going to get him signed up for swim lesson again so he can hone his skills.

Thanks to my sister Alex for watching Maxwell – yet again – so Mommy and Daddy could go out and celebrate at the Member Guest Banquet.  It is always fun for mommy to have a night out!

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Okay we are now up to date and I just need to discuss this past weekend.... which is easy! We did nothing!  Kevin took down the old shed out back while Max and I played inside. When it stopped raining Max and I went outside and played with Guinness while watching daddy! We also watched the Olympics - my favorite thing every 4 years.  

On Saturday night we went to the St. Demetrious Greek Festival in Warren - which was interesting. I've never seen so many Greeks in one place and Max enjoyed all the interesting people he got to watch. He also got to eat 4 french fries! You see we met up with a friend of Kevin's and his lovely wife - who is expecting - and they were eating french fries - well Maxwell insisted on trying one and of course Loved It. So we allowed him to eat a few - I counted them so that he was eating to many. He only ate 4 okay he really at 7. I'm sorry I'm a bad mom I gave my kid fried food. Ahhh!!

Speaking of eating - Max is eating pretty good now, so I have been having some fun coming up with some new things for him to eat. This weekend it was Grilled Cheese - which he loved - and some tomato soup. Yummy... and a big hit!! He's had Grilled Cheese before - but really loved it this weekend.  This makes me happy as I'm going to start sneaking veggies into stuff like this as I don't think he will be able to tell:)

I'll let you know how that goes..

ON Sunday we ate dinner with Kevin parents at there house and I of course took some more pictures of Max. I'll post them up here later. Max really loves the golf cart so we rode around on that for some time and went out into the woods. The kid loves being outside! Ah I love him!

Below are a few photos that I took the other day - the others can be found here... www.lemoneyesphoto.blogspot.com.

HOLY JULY!! Where has time gone!?

Yikes I’ve done it again I’ve gone weeks without a blog post. It’s so hard to stay on top of these things I swear, especially with so much going on. Since my last post we – as usual – have been very busy.  We celebrated Max’s FIRST birthday – with a small family party, traveled to Florida and then attended a close friend of mine’s wedding and again celebrated Max’s FIRST REAL BRITHDAY!

I guess I start with a short recap of everything then I’ll get sappy and talk about my beautiful baby boy and how he’s become a walking, talking toddler. So let’s start with Max’s Birthday Party! Wow… did I almost bite off more than I could chew.  It’s a lot of working planning and implementing a party. I should know this as I do this on the regular for work, but nope I just can’t help myself and as always stretched the entire family to it’s limits.  Oh well, it was worth it, because afterall when are you going to celebrate a little baby’s first birthday ever again – ok we did but that’s not the same. Ha!

Max’s party was on June 23.. 2 weeks before his real birthday. We celebrated it early for 2 reasons… one our nephew and niece were up from Florida and two we would be traveling over the course of July making throwing a party nearly impossible.  I personally have never had relatives that have lived close to me, especially extended family relatives so it is very nice that Kevin does. I had originally wanted to keep our party small, just immediate family – aunts & uncles and stuff – but after talking it over with Memaw we decided that it would be nice to invite Kevin’s Aunts and Uncles and Cousins as well.. I mean jezz we live only 30 minutes or so from each other why not. And I have to say it was a good idea.. it’s so nice to get together with family… so nice! It means so much to us and we love them all so dearly!

It was a nice day – not too hot, which it was a few days earlier.  Kevin made some amazing bbq and I went all out on decorations. We started getting ready for the party around 9 a.m. and did not finish until just before it started – okay didn’t finish until it started. I’m sure I didn’t look my best – as I had no personal time to get ready – but it didn’t matter the party wasn’t about ME or anyone else – JUST MAX! My little man and his FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Since Max has taken a liking to Big Bird and Sesame Street I went with a Sesame Street theme.  I made all the water bottle labels, invitations and favors myself and had my printer print them for me.  They turned out sooo cute and it was a good way for me to use the baby food jars – recycling people! Max got lots of nice presents and he’s already been playing with most of them. He’s such a cutie!  It was such a FUN day and Max took a nice long nap afterwards.  Did I say how much “I love him” yet??

So the week after Max’s birthday party was a complete blur.  I had my annual sales meeting at work and Kevin was being bombarded as well since we were leaving for vacation that Friday.  I honestly don’t remember I single thing from that week.  It was crazy! And we were all ready for VACATION!!

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Sunny Florida – how we love thee! So vacation was wonderful!  We enjoyed everyday that we spent with Maxwell it was some much needed family bonding time.  We flew out of Youngstown – which is awesome and I totally suggest everyone do it.  Maxwell was very good on the way down – probably from being so exhausted all day – the way home he wasn’t quite so good.  Ha!  And the flight is short and direct.  We made it to Orlando by 8:20 or so, got our HUGE SUBARBAN rental car – free upgrade people – and were on our way to my parent’s house. We were all settled by 10 p.m. and Max was asleep for the nite.  It was lovely!! Kevin and I had a few drinks and unwinded and actually I went swimming – the pool was the perfect temperature and it was a blast. 

We spent the next 6 or so days, swimming, going to the beach, visiting Disney World, golfing, eating, drinking and enjoying each others company it was a blast.  Max is quite the fish and absolutely loved swimming in the swimming pool. We took home movies and will have the memories for years. I’m really not sure who was more excited for the swimming though – us or him – haha after a while it was definitely him!! He holds his breath and everything. He goes under the water on his own and even blows bubbles. Like I said everyone a FISH!!

If Max is a fish – then Daddy is a pro golfer. Daddy got to go golfing twice while on vacation and I’ve got to say – he’s getting really good! Not to jinx him though I shouldn’t say that.. but it’s true!! Secrets people.  I also went once, when Aunt Kerry came down to watch Max and I too should go pro. I’m great… except for putting who has patience for that nonsense.

So let’s talk about the MOUSE – as in MICKEY MOUSE!! OMG it’s been so long since I’ve been to Disney I forgot what an enchanting place it is and I’ve got to say we are the single luckiest people in the world to have a brother who works for Disney so we got to go free, plus he went with us so we had our own private Disney University Graduate Tour Guide.  We choose to go to Magic Kingdom as that’s a good starter visit.  Max really didn’t know what was going on – let’s be real here people he’s only 1 – but he did enjoy watching the people and seeing everything. We took him on the “Small World” ride and he did love it. I’ve never seen his eyes so wide. I think he was wondering how he could get up on stage and dance with the puppets. It was great. We also sat in the front of the boat so we had an amazing view.  We also visited the Swiss Family Robbinson home and rode the Dumbo Ride. Again another big hit.  Instead of waiting for the Dumbo ride you get in short line and head into the tent, once inside the tent they give you a pager and the kids get to play. It’s great and I think for some families actually better than the ride. 

We only stayed at Disney for 4 hours, but I think that was enough for our little man as this was his first visit and he is still young. It was fun and I can’t wait to take him back when he’s a little older.  Needless to say, after our 4 hour tour Max collapsed in my arms and slept until we got to the car.  I love it when he falls asleep on my shoulder reminds me of when he was a baby!!! 

 

So the day after Disney was a beach day, but first mommy got up early so that I could get a much needed massage – I totally suggest everyone get one at least once every 3 months or so… I’d go more if I had time & lots of money! Anyways, after my spa morning, we packed up and went to the beach. Max was in awe! And really enjoyed himself. He played in his tent and even went with mommy and daddy in the ocean.  Daddy built Max a sandcastle and Max played in his water bucket.  Even I went in the ocean, it was so hot I could not resist! It felt amazing and thankfully sharks did not attack us! Yippie! We survived – b/c afterall the ocean is a jungle people.  

The rest of our vacation was pretty lazy… which we enjoyed. Aunt Kerry came up one day and watched Max so we could go golfing - which was nice!  We had such an amazing time we feel so blessed to have gotten to spend a whole week with just us and Max. It was soo needed. 

Below are some pictures we took at the beach of us as a family!! Aren’t they cute!! 

Okay I know I've got more to write... to be continued...