Early holiday celebration and other weekend happenings

This boy is just so happy all of the time.



He's becoming a tummy time expert now, too.



Bedtime is one of my favorite parts of the day. Clean fresh smelling kids all snuggled up together in our bed. Reading books and cuddling together.



We Merkels (and Taves) have large feet.


This one can swing from one emotion to the next in the blink of an eye.



Saturday we spent the entire day at the pool for their annual Fourth of July party. That was the first time we've spent the whole day at the pool since we've had kids. I think Tom and I were more worn out than the kids. Stasa had asked if her cousins could come so we invited Luke and Mariah to spend the day at the pool with us. Both girls had so much fun splashing and swimming around. Stasa even paddled into the deeper section with Mariah and didn't panic when she couldn't touch the bottom.





We finally decided to pack it up after spending nearly six hours in the sun and water. We ate our dinner before we left and then headed home to rest before coming back for the fireworks show. We realized that a golf course is the perfect place for a fireworks display. I loved it. There were kids running around and playing and families lounging on blankets and in chairs across the grass. A swing band playing while we all waited for the sun to set.


We bought the kids glow-in-the-dark necklaces, which kept them somewhat entertained. It helped having Mariah around - she happily walked around with the girls while Luke played soccer with a group of boys. They would all come and check in with us after running around for a bit.




Tommy slept for a bit, but then got fussy from us just sitting around. After a quick nap and feeding he was pretty content.



Once it was finally dark the fireworks show started. All of the kids loved it and so did we. I don't think I'll ever get too old to enjoy fireworks. I alternated between snapping pictures of the fireworks, watching my favorites and gazing at my happy kids. This is definitely the way to do the Fourth of July.

Summatime

It's officially summer, although I suppose it's been summer for awhile now and I'm just so far behind in everything, but whatareyougonnado, ya know?

June has found us outside as often as possible, usually at the pool or just playing in our cul-de-sac.I really want to get Stasa swim lessons this summer since she's become so independent in the pool and only ever wants to play in the big kid pool. I thought this would be a huge problem because of Lexi, but really that kid has zero desire to be in either pool unless I'm holding her. I'm also surprised at how well Stasa listens at the pool. She doesn't fight us when it's break time - she tells *us* when it's time to get out and just hops out on her own. She knows to wait for the lifeguard to be in the big chair before getting in and asks our permission first, too. I'm really impressed with her big girl behavior.






After watching both girls ride around the cul-de-sac we had a reality check about their "rides." Stasa is in desperate need of a bigger bike. She's long outgrown her trike and it's almost time for Lexi to start using it. At least Little Sister thinks she's ready.



We stopped by a local bike store this past weekend to pick up new inner tubes for one of our joggers. While we were waiting we had Stasa fitted for a bike. Size 16"! I was expecting 12ish, not 16" going on 18". I spent that afternoon scouring stores and craigslist for a deal and couldn't find much under $75. The bike store had a used bike in great condition for $90 and we just might get that since it'll need to last for all of our kids. 


Stasa and Lexi have also embraced getting down and dirty outside. If there's a dirt pile to play with, they'll find it. Last summer we picked up a few old metal Tonka trucks with the intention to clean them up and repaint them. We haven't quite gotten around to the restoration yet so we let the girls play with them as is for now.



Stas LOVES piling in ash and dirt in the dump truck and while she was digging she found a new-to-her bug. ROLY POLY! We taught her how to pick it up to make them roll up into a ball and she loved it.


The girl loves pretty much every bug with the exception of spiders. I have no idea how she became so spider phobic because I've tried to do everything I can to not act scared when I'm around them and her. But seriously, I can't blame her. Those suckers are frightening. And I'm fairly certain they carry weapons. I digress.

We're looking forward to hosting our friends for the July 4th holiday and Stasa is already wound up about having her friend, Avery, here. She's already declared that she and Avery will go to the pool, and has decided where Avery will sleep and eat and play, and she and Avery will take a bath and watch a movie, and she and Avery are best friends. I can't wait - it's going to be a blast!

For now, I need less work time and more this time:

Long weekend, definitely enjoyed

I love a nice long weekend, but I think I need an extra weekend to recover from my holiday weekend. We did a little of everything this weekend, but spent a good portion of our time at the pool, hence my suncrisped shoulders today.

Saturday we took advantage of the Memorial Day sales and snagged a new mattress for Stasa's room and one for one of our guest rooms. Stasa and I checked out the tempurpedic mattresses while Tom and Lexi checked out and OHMYGOD I think I need one. With the built in massagers.



I also took Stas to her last dance class of the year (until the fall). We stopped and bought Miss Kayleigh some thank you flowers before class. All we have left now is dress rehearsal this Friday and then the recital on Sunday. Then our Saturday mornings are freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


After that, we just hung out at the pool.



Saw some of Vince's art show...


And then more pool




(sleeping baby at the pool is the best, isn't it?)





And even more pool

I'm convinced there's a mark on our house

::sigh:: Poor Lexi. I took her to the Urgent Care Monday night because of this "impressive" rash.

Rewind.

Lexi had her 4 month well visit last Thursday and got 5 vaccinations (2 shots and 1 oral). She ended up with a low grade fever on Friday and Saturday, but Tylenol knocked that out pretty fast. Then we went out on Sunday and we noticed a small rash on her chest and back, but thought since it was so hot out (and she was crying - OF COURSE she was crying) that it was a simple heat rash. No big deal. Monday morning the rash was still there, but it wasn't terrible and she didn't have a fever so we took her to daycare. The rash spread like crazy over the day and was pretty bad by the time we picked her up (about the time that picture was taken). Our pediatrician's office was already closed and we didn't feel comfortable waiting until the morning, so off to Urgent Care we went.

Welp, she's got a cold and the rash is just part of the virus and it'll clear up in about a week or so.

And OF COURSE she's still not sleeping well at night. Tom and I "woke up" on Saturday morning, looked at each other, and laughed. Because we slept in 10 minute increments for a total of maybe MAYBE an hour of sleep. Maybe. Rinse and repeat Saturday night. And look how exhausted she was on Sunday when we got home.


We did manage to play a bit in the kiddie pool Sunday morning before it got too hot.


(pardon the boogie in her nose)