The Maiden Voyage for The Winnebago

A few weeks ago we bought this beast of a motor home.

She's an oldie but a goodie.

We put her to good use the weekend she came home.

Our best friends came in from Texas and we all camped at the beach for a few days.

Were new to the RV world and are learning what more we need to pack and what chemicals are needed for the toilet tank.  

(that stunk...no pun intended)

But overall, it was a great trip and our family is going to love having this thing.

We're pretty excited about it.

Okay, back to camping at the beach....

 this girl loved helping her daddy sit in the parking lot waiting for our campsite.

 

Miles and Elise are 3 months apart and have the sweetest friendship.
They have always been so kind towards one another and ALWAYS pick up right where they left off.

(I hate that they live in Texas now)

These two played non stops for days.

Sometimes Andie would follow them and sit with them 

and sometimes she wanted to eat sand in peace.

Sand Castles were attempted...

the shore line was used to sit in...

Toys were discovered...

It didn't matter what they were doing, they were always together.

We went boogie boarding.

It makes my heart so happy to see my kids so happy.

There is nothing better!

But watching Miles and Romney boogie board together made my heart flutter.

It was pure JOY!

I loved watching both of their faces having fun together.

Andie didn't love being left behind but she found the pile of boards and was fine to climb them.

Both babes LOVED their time at the beach!

They played hard all day everyday!

It was so nice to have a hot shower after a sandy day,

it was so nice to have a comfy bed to sleep in.

We were spoiled but it made camping so much more fun for us!!

 

I am sad that I didn't take any pictures at night with all the kids cooking over the fire and the babies  covered in dirt.

But most of the time my phone was in the motor home charging from the day.

I am sad that our friends went back to Texas but excited to see them in the fall again.

On a scale of 100... how was our beach camping experience in the Winnie?

100/100 for sure.

She is One

I think this has been the fastest year of my life. 

Seriously, the time keeps moving faster and faster with babies.

Andie girl is one!

And couldnt be a happier baby.

She is spicy, and busy, and quick but she is H A P P Y !

She is trying to feed herself with a spoon now.

Most of the time, she scoops up her food and "paints" it all over the high chair tray and then maybe will put the food in her mouth.

She loves books.

If she finds a book while playing she will open it up and look at pictures on her own.

She has discovered that the car seat rocks back and forth and likes to play in it now...

In her spare time she enjoys lifting toilet seats and throwing toys in it.  

We keep bathroom doors closed, but when I am cleaning or re-stalking toilet paper she appears out of nowhere and quickly throws something in that darn toilet.

(same applies with the fridge....when I open it for something she magically appears in the door and tries to get in)

She's stealthy this one.

 

As soon as the back door opens she shoves her way out and goes straight for the dog bowls.

So now, we just know going outside will result in getting wet, and you may as well turn the hose on.... 

She and Magnus have been hanging out a lot lately.

She sits on him, pokes his eyes, lays on him, cuddles up right next to him and with lots of reminders is starting to be "ssssssoooooooft" when she attempts to pet him.

She survived Hand, Foot, and Mouth.

It was the worst!

There is nothing you can do but let it run its course.

On the day that she started eating again, she cuddled up with dad to watch some Olympics and share some puffs together.

She loves here daddy.

She loves watching him work on projects through the back door.

Its adorable to watch them interact through that window.

I love it.

Andie has 5 teeth

She has found the moon and points to it every night

She loves bubbles

She is starting to copy what other kids are doing

She RUNS...

She loves shredding toilet paper into tiny pieces and leaves a trail all over the house

She trumpets like an elephant for every animal she sees

She is very intrigued by animals

Her favorite books are Pat the Bunny and Blue Hat Green Hat

She likes being sung to

She like "the wheels on the bus" and tries to get those arms rolling

She is trying to do somersaults..it's so cute

She loves being outside

She loves the "I'm gonna get you" game

She runs away fast when you are after her to take away whatever she isn't suppose to have 

(and she laughs whiling running away)

Hates getting her fingernails clipped

She still loves her pacifier 

and STILL ISN'T sleeping through the night.

 Andie, life wouldn't be the same without you.

We love you.

Happy Birthday Little Miss

Pre School

I can NOT believe this boy is old enough to go to Pre School.

He was so excited to go!
We have been counting down the days every.single. day.

But this morning he came in my room and said "mom, I dont want you to leave me"

I told him I'd be back to pick him at 11:30 and reminded him of the owl shirt he has been dying to wear.

He gasped and ran to his room and was happy again.

He was SO excited to wear his new pirate owl shirt that he picked out for the first day.

No, really, he was really excited about it.

He wasn't scared to walk up to the door like I thought he would be. 

He hung up his back pack and found his name with no problems.

And he went right to the table to play with the playdough.

He asked the boy sitting next to him what his name was.

I was so proud of him!!

That is so out of Miles comfort zone!

We practiced at home how to make friends with kids he doesnt know, and he applied what he learned.

I told him that I was going to go and his eyes got big and sad so I distracted him with
"oh, Miles I forgot to show you where the bathroom is"

So we went to the bathroom where we found the toilet, sink and soap (just like at home)

I told him I was proud of him for talking to the boy and gave him a hug.

He went right back to the table and I took one more picture of this happy cheesy smiling boy and said bye.

And I honestly cannot remember if he said bye back, he was happy playing.

At pick up he said "my school is awesome!"

I asked if he was happy to go back again and he said "YES"

Good day.

We're so excited for him.

11 Months of Andie Girl

11 months.

Where is time going?

This busy lady is on the move.

She is walking 100% and therefore has bumps and bruises on her head daily.

She is loving books and can be caught opening them up to look at the pictures throughout the day.

 

She likes playing peek-a-boo

She cannot get enough water!

It doesn't matter if it's the bath,

 the pool,

or Magnus' water bowl.

She will find it and splash!

She is in love.

 

She has discovered the world upside down and thinks it's pretty funny.

 

 She loves her blankets and likes to put them over her head.

She LOVES Miles and will follow him around!

Her newest trick is to go into the laundry room or pantry and shut the door.

But then cries because she can't get back out.

Silly baby.

She is clapping, waving (when she feels like it), and dancing when she hears a good tune.

When we leave the room, she follows us.

She loves to get in the wrestling action with dad and Miles.

She LOVES to chase Miles.

She is listening when we say "No No" and now shakes her head "no no" to us.

Lovely.

She will squeal "mmmmm"when she wants what we are eating or drinking.

She loves tiolets, toilet paper, and flyswatters.

Basically all things disgusting.

If you take your eyes off her for a second she is into something gross.

She loves her doggy and his kennel.

She loves peas, blueberries, cottage cheese, cherrios, and lunch meat.

She is drinking from her sippy like a champ.

She is obsessed with all things fabric.

She doesn't discriminate-it can be a comfy blanket, a smelly sock or a Tshirt...she will seek it out, pick it up, put it next to her face OR drop to the floor and cuddle with it.

She is such a fun baby.

We are enjoying her and can't believe she is almost one!

Swim Lessons

We started swim lessons!

Miles did awesome.

The first lesson was learning to pull his arms correctly and kick his legs behind him.

They used the noodle to help keep his legs in the right position.

By the second lesson he was swimming across the pool.

By the sixth and final lesson he was jumping in and swimming.

Awesome right?

No.

As soon as his lessons ended, he would not swim and insisted on floaties.

We tried being nice, we tried being stern, we tried telling him that some of his friends didn't wear floaties--nothing worked.

He would NOT swim.

It was so frustrating.

Then one day he was at his buddies house for a play date and I got a video text from his friends dad.

It was a video of Miles without his floaties on 

(but just on the steps of the shallow end but going under the water to get a toy)

I died.

I texted back stressing NOT to leave Miles the pool and he can't swim.

I died!!!

A few days later I came home and found Romney and Miles swimming in the pool completely floatie free.

Miles had declared "I don't ever want to swim with about my floaties again" 

("with about" = without...it's my favorite)

He's back to swimming across the pool, jumping in and doing awesome.

It's been a few weeks since his decloration and he is getting better and stronger everyday! 

However, if were not in the pool with him, he has to wear floaties

If were at a big pool party, he has to wear floaties

if were at the beach, he has to wear floaties. 

But soon enough he'll get those privileges. 

Soon enough.

Good Job Miles.

Were so proud of you.