Summer has arrived!

With Friday being my last day of school and this past weekend being our first camping trip, it's quite obviously summer at the Weaver house.

Momma is so ready to be home for a while.  Mostly to spend time with Gracie and her cousins, but I'd be lying if I didn't also include my desire for some afternoon naps. Oh boy, have I missed those naps!  

Our first trip to the lake was a fabulous time. We had a slight issue as a result of severe weather on Friday night. We spent half an hour in the shower house waiting for the severe storms to pass through.  There's nothing quite like cozying up on the nasty shower house floor with your kid, your dog, your husband, and about 20 random (some of them toothless) strangers. Honestly, if we didn't have Gracie, I think I would have felt differently. But thinking of the worst case scenario when you've got a little one relying on you makes your blood pressure go up a little. I'm not usually a nervous person, but I felt it that night for sure. Luckily a few minutes into the ordeal, I noticed two familiar faces.  We met Ray and Diana last year and quite enjoyed their company.  They were hiding out too, which for some reason made me feel a little better, almost as if my parents were there.  After a bit, the severe weather threat cleared and we were able to get on with our trip.  

It was a gorgeous spring camping weekend. Chilly, but perfect for outdoor fun!  We met some old friends down there who have a son just about Gracie's age, which made for some fun with sidewalk chalk and duplo blocks.  We also found time to take many walks, fly a kite, play on the twisty slide, paint pictures outside, and build a campfire.   Gracie is the perfect age for camping and she completely loves everything about the lake. When we were on a walk, Ryan took a deep breath and said, "Ah... I love the lake."  And Little Gracie simply replied, "Me, too."  It was sweet. We're all a bunch of lake rats!

The only slightly bad part about the lake is Gracie's carsickness. If anyone has any advice for preventing a toddler from vomiting all over the place TWICE on the way down to the lake, I would really love to hear it. My poor baby girl handles it like a trooper, but I just feel terrible for her when it happens. Misery. 

As usual, no pictures from our trip. The photographer (me!) was too busy having fun to capture anything on camera. Here's one picture from our stop at Osceola Cheese on the way home. 

Cousin Love!

Gracie is such a lucky girl.  As of right now, she's got 3 cousins and she love, love, loves them!   There's another cousin in the oven... Aunt Brandi's oven! Yay!  And I am just sure that Gracie will be in love with Cousin Kershner, too!

Of all her cousins, she plays with Kianna the most.  They're the best playmates and seriously the cutest girls you've ever seen.  I'm not kidding.  So.  Cute.  She also adores her cousin Kyle and when you ask who her best friend is, she will tell you "Ky!"  It appears that the oldests have a special bond.  And then there's Natalie.  I'm pretty sure Gracie thinks Natalie is her own personal baby doll.  It's almost ridiculous how much my kid loves Natalie.  I really should be more accurate, Gracie loves "Nata-la-wee"  She adds a syllable to her name almost every time she says it.  Which of course, I think is adorable.  She constantly asks to hold her and will sing to her when she cries.  She kisses her on her forehead and offers her a pacifier, even when she's sleeping (probably because Gracie loves her paci so much).  Before Gracie goes off to play, she'll run back to smooch Natalawee and pet her hand.  It makes me think that she'll be a great big sissy someday!

Summer Bucket List

Now that the warmer weather has finally arrived, summer fever has infected the Weavers!  Most of our evenings are spent outside enjoying our swing set or blowing bubbles.  Swinging on the hammock while watching "pretend Barney" on the "pretend TV" in the maple trees is definitely our idea of a good time!  Ryan and I both love Gracie's creativity and outdoorsy nature.  Even the constant "I go camping today?" questions don't get annoying, because we're itching to go, too!

In an effort to keep things fresh and exciting this summer, I've created a Summer Bucket List for Gracie and I (and Ryan when possible).  For me, the basic premise is to be intentional about making memories when spending time with Gracie.  The whole idea was inspired by The Happy Family Movement, an organization that was started by the couple who photographed our wedding back in 2007.  I chose items for our list that Gracie has been asking to do, as well as items that are free or cheap because making memories doesn't have to cost anything.

Because Gracie isn't reading yet (duh!), I've made it visual by printing pictures to hang in the living room so that she can help me decide which activity we might cross off the list next.  And after we complete the activity, we'll add a sticker to the back.  Some of them we may do more than once, so I'm thinking a sticker for every time we complete the activity.

So here's our list!  We're all very excited about the fun in our future!  Check back throughout the summer to see our progress!

1. Explore the zoo

2.  Play at a park

3.  Ride on a train

4.  Run through a fountain

5.  Go to the pool

6.  Visit a farm

7.  Go to a Royal's game

8.  Eat ice cream outside

9.  Explore on a nature trail

10.  Watch fireworks

11.  Go on a picnic

12.  Visit the library

13.  Pick fresh fruit

14.  Go camping

15.  Watch airplanes

Macken Park

We met the Hurt family for a picnic at Macken Park today. It was a gorgeous day for playing on the "twisty slide" and swings.

Uncle John and Kyle walked to QT to get slushies while we girls played on the playground. Natalie and Stephanie sat in the shade while Kia, Gracie, and I took turns on the slide. You know slides have come a long way from the hot metal hazards of my day. These new plastic slides don't get nearly as hot, but I'll tell you what, the static electricity builds up something fierce on them. No joke... I seriously thought I blew my fingernail off more than once today! I think it's because I'm so big, the girls don't have a much of a problem. But holy moly... it's serious electricity!

Here are a few pictures from our day. I just love the crazy faces I snap of Gracie! Sorry for not capturing the slide... I didn't dare use an electronic device near all that static for fear we might blow! Just kidding... I must've been having too much fun to stop for pictures.

Natalie and Graham Cracker

Lately the kids have been teasing Grandma by calling her Graham Cracker. They just giggle and giggle when one of them remembers to say it. I don't think Graham Cracker loves the nickname, but I know she loves the giggles!

Here's a picture of Natalie and her super skinny Graham Cracker. I'm sure her innocence will fade before too long and she'll be giggling at Graham Cracker just like the others!

Hollywood

Such comedy! This was Gracie at breakfast on Saturday morning. Miss Hollywood needed her sunglasses before she could eat her sausage.

Natalie Juliette has arrived!

Our family is on cloud nine today because my niece Natalie was born yesterday morning! She is absolutely perfect, weighing in at 7 lbs. 15 oz. and 20 inches long. She is the spitting image of her big sissy Kia, except that she has a full head of dark hair! We were all surprised by the hair, but when you look at her Daddy, it's clear who she gets it from! As her Auntie, I can't wait to get a clip or hair bow on that head! There's a lot I'm looking forward to with Natalie and the other kids... lots of great memories ahead!

All the kids were interested in meeting Natalie. They took turns holding her and checking out her features. I think my sister would agree that Gracie's excitement for her cousin was through the roof! She was very attentive to her, kissing her forehead and examining her big nose (I can say that because I have one, too!). Gracie cried when we had to let someone else hold her and continued to ask about her all night long, commenting that "Baby Natalie is bootiful". It reassures me that she'll be a great big sister someday. Although after spending some quality overnight time with Natalie last night, I myself am content to wait a little while before adding to the Weaver Roster! Don't get me wrong, Natalie is a doll, but those first few nights are just plain tiring and unpredictable. It took me back to those early days of exhaustion and made me thankful for full nights of sleep. No worries, we'll join the "tired train" again someday, but not today.

Even though I could use a nap, I'm still overjoyed and so grateful for another beautiful baby blessing from God.

Check out a few pictures from Natalie's birth day!