Reese turns 3!

This past Wednesday we celebrated Reese turning 3. It is crazy how fast time flies. We had all of our family out (minus my sister's family) to our house for the weekend to have a party for Reese. Everyone had a great time. Kyle's whole family arrived Thursday afternoon, so we went to the Children's Museum Friday morning before my parents got into town. Friday afternoon was spent swimming and enjoying the great weather. Saturday was spent prepping for the party. We had about 18 people here (family plus some friends of ours) and Reese had such a great day. She got lots of neat presents and loved hanging out with her cousins and friends. Here are some pics from the weekend.

Cupcake for breakfast- you only have a birthday once a year! :)

Her new dollhouse (for her new Barbies too!)

New scooter from Aidan and Aubrey

Babies at the party- Xavier, Mollie, and Preston

Holy heat wave

Indiana summer has finally arrived- welcomed with temps in the low 90s with heat indexes in the 100's for the past 5 days and not letting up anytime in the next 7 day forecast. The humidity has been out of control- even Reese now asks if it is humid outside before we go out and play. Play outside has been limited to early in the morning or right before bed time- unless we are in the pool. Our daily walks are now being taken right after breakfast to avoid the extreme heat. Today when we got back (around 9) Reese told me she was too sweaty and confused :) She is attempting to use more and more adjectives each day to describe things and especially how she feels- but sometimes doesn't use quite the right one. I asked her what confused meant, and she said hot- hmm, not exactly :) Yesterday we were in the pool before lunch as the temps were already mid 80s by 9:30. Having a pool this time of year sure is nice, especially since I am home all day with the kids. We use it once, if not twice a day most days- and sometimes hop in after dinner too!
Last weekend we stayed cool by having some friends over to grill out and swim. Hannah is 3 months younger than Reese, and Mollie is 2 months younger than Preston. We have gotten together with them a handful of times since moving here- but this time Preston LOVED playing with Mollie. Giving her kisses and following her around. Hannah and Reese played great together too and had a blast swimming. Sunday we were literally in the pool ALL day. I got in with Reese at 10- we got out for lunch- I laid in the pool while the kids napped- and then we all swam again after their nap. By 5:00, I was all sunned out, but got a nice little tan out of it!

The 4th and more

Man, these past few weeks have flown by! We have been so busy I can't believe it is already the middle of July- summer is flying by. We celebrated the long holiday weekend by having Kyle's parents out to our house for the first time. Reese showed them around and had so much fun playing with them for the 3 days they were here. Unfortunately, it wasn't the best of weather, so we only got to swim one day, but still had fun anyways. They, along with the rest of the family, will be back in a few weeks for Reese's 3rd birthday/party!

Preston is moving and groovin', and eating like a horse. I can't get the food on his tray fast enough before fistfuls enter his mouth. He is not picky what so ever, and I have to cut him off when I think he is probably full. I hope this is not a sign of what he is going to eat like when he is a teenager. He is now "walking" along furniture, waving bye, saying mama and dada, and giving high fives. He is sleeping ok most nights, but still wakes once or twice- sometimes not able to put himself back to sleep on his own. I yearn for the day I get to sleep a full night- I know it's going to happen someday, but I sure thought it would have been by now!!

Reese is loving the new house and the new neighbors girls down the street. She has already managed to have them wrapped around her finger, as they knock on our door wanting her to come out and play. Ellie, 10 and Reese (same name!) 7, love playing with her, as she does them too. Bonus- they also have a dog, Sophie, who Reese adores. The girls have had a lemonade stand the past couple of days, and Reese loves yelling "YEMONDADE" to the people driving by. So cute. Exactly the summer memories as a kid I want her to have. We have also begun the preschool search since I want her to go for a few days a week starting in September. I have gotten a few recommendations, and I am leaning towards a preschool located within a church (not biblically based though.) I am touring the Lutheran church's preschool program next Wednesday, and have already gotten her on the waiting list since there a 4 kids ahead of her to get in as they started registration last January. If I don't like it, I'll take her off, but I figured the sooner I get her on the list, the better. I have gotten many good recommendations for it though (the girls- Ellie and Reese from down the street- also went there) and everyone has great things to say about it. Fingers crossed!

Reese also started swimming lessons last Monday. We go every Monday for 5 weeks. It is a private lesson from someone in our neighborhood. She did ok last week, but wanted to just jump in and swim around instead of actually "following" the lesson. I had to help re-direct her a couple times to do what the teacher asked, but she ended up doing fine and cried when we left. Guess that's a good sign-she must have liked it!

Happy 4th of July!

10 mo old

Her first haircut- just a trim!

Sparklers on the 4th-not too sure about them