I hope everyone is having a good summer. Ours seems to have been long and hot so far. Long for many reasons, and hot, because, well, it's just that time of the year. My personnelle issues are (fingers crossed) hopefully going to be dying down now a little now that some of my biggest problems are no longer with the company. I'm excited for a fresh start for my whole group, and for myself as well, I suppose. Nick has been wildly busy. Even after the youth gathering, there is no letting up. He's had a student leadership conference, and has been taking a large role in helping organize and support the annual middle school back to school retreat. It's pretty awesome. Nick helped get it off the ground last year. Basically all the staff and students go to a camp for the first two days of school to connect and start the school year off right. He also has freshman welcome coming up with the HS youth group and resuming middle school youth nights. I think I might get to high five him coming or going every once in a while the next few weeks! :) The week after Nick got back from the youth gathering, we got a chance to escape FL, our "real lives", and the heat for a few days and spend some great quality time with his side of the family in the mountains of North Carolina. In honor of Gary's 60th birthday, we decided in lieu of a party, we'd all get together for some much treasure family time all together. Gary, Nadine, Michael & Abby, Murray and Danielle, and me, Nick and Natalie were able to spend several days together. It was a great time, and the mountains were absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We explored some waterfalls, spent an afternoon on the lake, and shopped and roamed around a local town. We even rigged the camera so we could get a group shot one day. We all had a great time. One of the highlights of the trip for me was completely vegging out on the back deck reading Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living while I listend to Natalie have fun with her aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I'm simple. It doesn't take much to make me happy! Here are some pictures from our trip:
Our little girl is creeping ever closer to two years old. I can just hardly believe it. It seems like she is learning a new word, or doing something different every day. We took the side of her crib down this weekend and made it into a toddler bed. She has been doing great. She stays in when we put her in for a nap or for night, and has had a ball playing in "big bed!". So much fun. :) She has been role playing more. Baby and baby bear have naps and "eat", and go to the potty. Speaking of potty, that still presents a challenge for us. It is frustrating because there is not a concerted effort at school. It is of no fault of theirs. I mean, I just can't imagine trying to keep up with and keep on task 12 toddlers! She did great, and now ever day this past week about 45 minutes after Nick drops her off, she pees her pants. Grrrr. I guess all I can do is keep trying with her. I know that she knows what she's doing, it's just a matter of getting her to do it EVERY time. Keep that in your prayers if you will. Mommy gets frustrated. It's like two steps forward, one step back. Otherwise, she is just doing fantastic at St. Paul. She has been around some older kids that are moving up this fall, so her vocabulary is expanding and she is really talking to us. :) For fun, here are a couple of videos of sweet little Miss Natalie Shea.
Our little girl is creeping ever closer to two years old. I can just hardly believe it. It seems like she is learning a new word, or doing something different every day. We took the side of her crib down this weekend and made it into a toddler bed. She has been doing great. She stays in when we put her in for a nap or for night, and has had a ball playing in "big bed!". So much fun. :) She has been role playing more. Baby and baby bear have naps and "eat", and go to the potty. Speaking of potty, that still presents a challenge for us. It is frustrating because there is not a concerted effort at school. It is of no fault of theirs. I mean, I just can't imagine trying to keep up with and keep on task 12 toddlers! She did great, and now ever day this past week about 45 minutes after Nick drops her off, she pees her pants. Grrrr. I guess all I can do is keep trying with her. I know that she knows what she's doing, it's just a matter of getting her to do it EVERY time. Keep that in your prayers if you will. Mommy gets frustrated. It's like two steps forward, one step back. Otherwise, she is just doing fantastic at St. Paul. She has been around some older kids that are moving up this fall, so her vocabulary is expanding and she is really talking to us. :) For fun, here are a couple of videos of sweet little Miss Natalie Shea.
