Summer 2011: June - July

The 2010/2011 school year ended on June 23rd and since then we've hit the ground into the summer running.  We've been to the coast, visited Redmond over 4th of July to see my famiy and my highschool best friend Nicole (and her family) who were here from Italy.  We've also done a few home improvement projects like creating a big boy room for Xavier, and having a fence built.  It's seemed like we've been busy all the time, but there has definitely been a lot of relaxing and enjoying each others company and the company of our local friends. 

Ray and Xavier at the Rose Parade

 The Lions Men and the kiddos (baby Evelyn is 1 month old here)

Daddy and Xavier at Otter Crest playground 

 Playing at "Wings and Waves" in McMinnville, OR 

 Silly boy wanting to wrap his head in a towel like Momma after our shower

 Sal and Ray painting Xavier's "Big Boy" room

 X playing in his newly painted, yet still unfinished big boy room in his big boy "underwears"...if only he was truly potty trained...sigh, we've got a ways to go.

 Playing in the fountains at the Portland water front...only moments after this shot he slipped and feel face first into one of the fountains and got a face full of water...he wasn't a happy camper.

 Our short visit with Nicole, Lew, and Samuel England. 

I really miss her, but I'm so glad she'll be back state side next year!

 Family photo shot on July 3rd, 2011...Baby girl Lions is 32 weeks along in the oven.

It's been a year...here's a recap

So...it's almost been exactly a year since I posted anything to my blog.  I had great intentions of updating it at least once a month, but that's all it was...good intentions.  I won't promise that I'll be any better this time around, but I'll do my best with the time that I have.

Here are some pictures from September 2010 through May 2011.  My next post will be what we've been up to this summer.

September 2010 - Xavier (16 months) at the park by our house

October 2010 - At the beach with the Weeber Clan

November 2010 - Feeding the ducks at the Duck Pond by Papa Ray and Grandma Julia's 

December 2010 - Santa shot...Xavier LOVES Santa, haha 

January 2011 - Back to work for Mama and Xavier is helping 

 February 2011

 - Fun in the snow at our house...the only significant snow fall of the season.

- SUPRISE, Xavier is going to be a big brother at the end of August...Mommy is about 12.5 weeks along.

March 2011 - Being goofy in the bath 

April 2011 - Another trip to the coast with just our family...such a great rainy time!

 May 2011 - Xavier is a big boy with his new potty...now just getting him to stay on it for more than 3 seconds...this could be interesting

 



Under One Sky

Yesterday, Sunday August 22nd, was our church's big "Under One Sky" service where all the campuses and services come together at one time at a local football stadium.  After the service they had a bunch of fun things to do on the field.  Xavier made sure he tried most of it out.

Big Ball

Roller Scooters

Bounce house

Toddler Tumbler Time

There's a child fitness center in Vancouver called "Kids Club".  They have a toddler time set up in one of their rooms with big pads to climb on, bars to swing on, things to bounce on, and balls to throw and kick.  I decided to take Xavier this past Friday (August 20th) to check it out.  He had a great time being the little monkey that he is.  He's not quite to the point of really interacting with other kids besides taking balls from them, and then giving them back when I tell him to share.  But he still likes to watch them run around too.

Jamison Square

It was a hot day when Ray got home from class (Saturday August 14th), so we decided to head into Portland to check out a fountain we always see when we're at our favorite sushi restaraunt in the Pearl District.  It's called Jamison Square, and in the middle are terraces that have water coming out at each level.  At the bottom is a large grate that periodically fills up into a wadding pool for little ones to splash around in.

Xavier loved it!  There were tons of kids to interact with and lots of water to splash around in.  He had a blast, and it felt pretty good to us too.

 

Clark County Fair 2010

On Thursday August 12th the three of us went to the Clark County Fair with Ray's parents.  It was so much fun to watch Xavier interact with all the things around him.  He loved looking at and petting the animals.  He also loved all the yummy fair food he got...corn on the cob, corn dog, milkshake, elephant ears...Mmm mmm.

Corn on the Cob with Grandma Julia

The gang cruising the fair scene.

Petting the calf

The boys checking out the chicks

Xavier's First Hair Cut

Yesterday (Tuesday August 3rd) Xavier got his first hair cut.  I think I was more scared than he was...His first little baby hairs going bye-bye.  I also was worried about Xavier looking like a dufus with a boxy/blunt cut like on Dumb and Dumber.  However, Rays barber, Kimberly, did an amazing job and he looks like such a big boy now.

Before

During

Distracting the squirmer by combing Mom's hair

AFTER...tada!