Movin' On Up!

We (the kids and I) got home yesterday from spending the week with my sister Emily and her family. While we were there, Ainsley really started blossoming! She had pulled up a few times before we went there, but it really became easy to her during our stay. And she is FINALLY crawling! She's only really taken off on a "long" stretch of carpet once that I've seen, but she's on the move! That happened about three days ago. Two days ago, she started "cruising" - walking along furniture while holding on. And yesterday she had her first meal of adult food - green beans, pork chops, and crescent rolls - all cut up in TINY pieces, of course! :) And she's lovin' all of it! She's become even more content in general just because she's starting to have more to DO. It's really fun!

Asher had a great time with his cousin "Claire Bear" - except when he didn't, because they're TWO! :) They really did have a good time together, but they had countless run-ins...like the time when Claire was saying, "You're a-dor-a-ble." to him, and he was saying, "No." And then they kept saying the SAME things to each other back and forth and back and forth a million times until they were almost screaming at each other: "YOU'RE A-DOR-A-BLE!" "NOOOOO!" They are too cute, but ohhhh...it's hard to teach little people how to communicate effectively! :)

We loved being there, though! Baby Jacob, my new nephew, is SO SWEET! I loved taking care of him some in the mornings and when all the other kids were down for naps in the afternoon, so Emily could get some extra sleep. He loves being swaddled, given his paci, and held close - or laid on his side in his boppy. :) He's such a little, blue-eyed sweety! I miss him already! And of course, I always love being with my sister! We even got to go on a double date one night: Allan and Emily, and Jacob and me!

The day before we came home, we also got to see several relatives on Beau's side of the family. It was so special to see them all for a little while! Beau's dad's cousin, Kathy, her husband and their new baby were coming through town, so as many family members that were around got together for lunch. It was great to see everyone at Larry's and Mary's house - or "Uncle Mary's" as Asher said. :)

Today we had a low-key day at home for most of the day, which was nice. Then this evening, we went to the Expo with our friends, the Wilsons, for the kids to do some fun activities: little carnival-type games and inflatables, and to watch our local fireworks show. The kids both really liked the fireworks! Ainsley liked them so much, she couldn't stop clapping. :) And we had fun spending time with friends!

And here's a bit of humor for you: A little history first...I have a TERRIBLE memory. Really! I do! And it's not that hard to imagine me really losing it one day. Some of you know I'm not kidding. :) And I LOVE cute little dogs like lhaso apsos! So, tonight, someone was selling cute little puppies like those, and I was oohing and ahhing over them. Beau told me not to even think about it or something like that. And I told him that one day he would surprise me with one -
"even if it's when I'm 75 or something", I said. And he said, "When you're 75, I'll hand you a crumpled up piece of paper, and you'll think it's a dog." Maybe you would have had to have been there, but it was really funny. :) He cracks me up!

So with that, I'll say...HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! And good night.