Summer Summer and more Summer...

So, Craig has been nagging at me to update our blog and told me at had been 2 months to the day since I had last updated our blog to which I responded him with the “evil eye.” Summer has been so busy this year with my work, Craig’s work and summer fun that I haven’t had a chance to update this.

Our summer kicked off with our move to a different home and then Craig’s family family vacation in St. George. We rented some condos for our family and spent the days swimming at the pool, doing a small, kid-friendly hike, and spending time with cousins & siblings. So fun! After this, since I was already half way to Utah county, we (myself and the kids) headed up there for another couple of weeks while Craig headed back to work. Poor Craig! Craig sweated it out in our non-airconditioned home as L.A. hit the 100s while we went swimming at the Orem & Lindon Pools (by the way, I haven't even/wouldn't have turned on any A/C in our home except maybe a couple of times this whole summer, surprisngly this home stays pretty cool!). We also got in 2 weeks of swimming lessons for Haley & Cole in Utah, as Haley demanded she have her lessons done with Miss Pam (She is in Orem if anyone wants a referal for an awesome swim teacher). Haley did awesome! Cole…well…he hated them! But he can float on his back if he were to fall in the pool, which is important as we have a pool in our backyard. (It’s fully fenced in so the kids aren’t able to access it unless I open up the fence, but accidents do happen).

After being in Utah for a week I and the kids headed up to Idaho to visit with my family. We headed up to Boise to visit my little “big” brother, my grandmother, and my big brother & his family, who had just flown in from Europe for their first visit to the States! From L.A. to St. George, UT to Utah County to Twin Falls, ID to Boise, ID and then back down. Quite the trip and I am grateful to have a DVD player in our car! Though, I had lost my camera during all of this so I have no pictures. None. And now that I have found my camera, the battery is dead and I can’t find the charger. GRRRR to moving!

Cole—We have been concerned for Cole’s communication development (his understanding of language) over the past 6-9 months and have expressed concern to doctors. So after 3 failed hearing tests during a 4 month period (he could hear, just not in the normal range. There was a lot of fluid that wouldn’t drain that was causing hearing loss and causing a lot of pressure in Cole’s little ears..they explained it to me like, if you are in a plane or car and your ears don't pop...ouch!), Cole FINALLY had tubes put in at the end of July. And what a difference!!! If I were only in Utah, I probably could have had this all taken care of 3-4 months ago. My little Cole has doubled his vocabulary in the past 3 weeks (going from 40 words to 80+ words), learning 3-4 new words A DAY and starting to say words more correctly. (He was only saying 1-2 new words a week before). I know it will take a little while for him to catch up with his “language understanding” but I figure if he is doing so well with his speech I am sure the understanding of language will follow.

Haley—Did awesome in her swimming lessons. She is quite the little fish, or to her, quite the little mermaid! Oh how this child would love if she were to be a mermaid! Her swimming instructor told me she is “swim team” material. Well, she’s 4, so it would be a while, but if she keeps up with swimming then maybe it will be an option for her.

Funny Sayings—
Cole, had learned a new word last month, rock. Though, he puts an F in front of it and kinda excludes the R sound….so he had been running around saying the F word every time he would see a rock :) He learned the correct way to say rock last night…Whew!

Cole is always finding water or toothpaste (or anything else he can rub into his hands). and rubs the substance into his hair as hair gel. Haley seeing him this morning with water and says, “Ha! Cole thinks that water is hair Jell-o!” Yes, hair jell-o!

Haley- “Flip it with a Statula!” (meaning spatula)
Haley, in playing pretend with her friend, “I’m 16! I can marry who I want!”

Haley & Craig like to play an “Animal Guessing” game, in which one person will think of an animal in his/her mind and the other will ask questions about what the animal is or isn’t to try and figure out what animal is. These are a few of Haley’s animals she was thinking of. Craig couldn’t figure them out so she gave him some hints!

Haley- “I’ll give you a hint. It is in Africa AND Utah and eats honey!” Answer- BEE
Haley- “I’ll give you a hint. It is blue, eats seaweed, and lives in the ocean” Boy this one really stumped Craig. He couldn’t figure it out, but as soon as Haley said they eat seaweed, I knew the answer, and was chuckling. Answer- MERMAID (In the Barbie Mermaidia movies, you can eat seaweed to breathe underwater).
Haley- “Hint. It is brown, with fur, and eats water.” Answer- CAMEL
Haley- “Hint. It is grey, has a little pink nose and little pink paws, and a little itty bitty nose.” Answer- MOUSE

So, since I have no pictures for our 2 1/2 week long trip, here are some others from this summer....

Cole at Disneyland, loving the spray area.
Haley LOVES headbands...so of course, Cole has to try them on too.

Cole giving himself a kiss, and if you notice behind Cole, Haley is giving Cole a kiss.

More kisses....

Cole & Haley pushing each other across the hardwood floors on Cole's Fire Engine.

I wonder if Craig will make me take this one out? This picture is ala Haley.

I don't know what this is, but I thought it was funny.

Craig & Haley reading a book....don't know why they are sitting on the floor :)

We bought a grill when we moved and Haley pretty much put most of it together.

Cole....apparently a little sick.

My ballerina

It has been a pretty cool summer at the beach this year, so we haven't gone much. This particular day was pretty cold. Can you tell which one swims every day by their tan?

I have to show off Haley's natural curly hair.