Last Week of Summer Vacation

Time has just been flying by! Before we know it, it will be November and we'll be in full swing of baby preparations! We're all trying to soak up the time that we have before everybody is thrown in to the chaos of a newborn!!! Yesterday, as I was trying to convince Annabelle that she should start buckling the top part of her carseat buckle when she gets in the car, Wyatt piped in with, "Yeah, Annabelle, you need to start doing that now, because once the baby comes, you're on your own!" How does he know that already???

So our last week of summer vacation was spent with a lot of family time. The oldest cousins were down for their annual week-long visit. We had a lot of time hanging out with all of the cousins, which was really great. They all have such a great time when they're together. This time was the first time, though, that Amanda and Aurora's age difference was really apparent - they're 17 and 15 respectively. They were great, and had a great time, but I think they were ready to go home when the week was over!

On Wednesday of this week, Opa took Wyatt on his birthday Mystery Ride. Amanda and Aurora got to join us, too. It was a guided boat tour down the Napa River. It was fun and informational, and I think the kids enjoyed it! I forgot my camera, of course, so no pictures!

That night we came home to a box on our doorstep from Grandma. She had finished the banner for Wyatt's U6 Ponies soccer team! Michael Ageno designed it and Grandma did the handy work. It turned out awesome! I'm fairly certain our banner will be the best in the league!!!

We had one last family dinner with all the families and cousins on Thursday night. The kids swam and played while the adults ate and drank! Isn't that what it's all about?!!!

Jennifer and Annabelle

Maile by diving board; Amanda, Jennifer & Aurora in middle of pool; Wyatt by side and Annabelle on steps
Jennifer and Annabelle; Wyatt and Aurora

Amanda and Annabelle

Mystery Ride

One of the things we didn't get to do in Tahoe because Matthew was sick, was to go miniature golfing. Wyatt asked about it almost every day (after Matthew had mentioned it), but understood when we couldn't get to it. Matthew decided we'd take the kids on a Mystery Ride to Boomer's. This place has bumper boats, go karts, mini golf and a big arcade. The kids always love going on Mystery Rides, and had some good guesses last night. Wyatt - the thinker - guessed mini golf on our way there, that stinker!!! It was super fun , and made up for missing it in Tahoe!

Ready to get wet on the bumper boats!

Wyatt was able to control the boat really well, and he got his Papa nice and wet!



Off to the races!!





Annabelle's turn!



Wyatt was the only one who got a hole in one!

Annabelle lost interest in golfing pretty quickly, but she occupied herself on the surroundings! (not a big shocker!)


Taking a break in the shade with some much deserved frozen lemonade!

Baby Names

In the past, names had come pretty easily for us, and once we decide, we don't really switch around that much. This time was a little different...it's taken a little more discussion. Matthew came up with a baby girl's name really quickly that we both love - Daphne. For a boy's name, we were tossing around Aidan Patrick for a while, but then we both agreed that we loved Daphne a lot more than we liked Aidan. So it was back to the drawing board for a boy name. Matthew has LOVED Maximus forever, and I have always been hesitant, as it kind of sounds a little arrogant and very full of ego. But, secretly, I have always liked Max. So on our way to Tahoe, I gave in to Maximus, with the full contigency that he will be called Max. Matthew agreed, although he claims he will most likely call him the full Maximus.

So, there you have it. At 25 weeks, we think we will either have a Daphne Kate, or a Maximus Luke. I waffle back and forth by the hour on whether I feel like it's a boy or a girl. Most often, I feel like it's a boy, though. We like both names so much, we may just have to try for the one we don't get this time!!!

Wyatt, of course, still wants a boy; Annabelle, now, has found her own opinion and wants a girl. Both kids enjoy talking about the baby. When we are in public restrooms that have the fold-down changing table, Annabelle talks about how we will put Daphne on it to change her poopy diaper!

Annual Tahoe Vacation

We headed to Tahoe for the week, and had a blast. Annabelle had been sick the week before we left, Wyatt was sick the week we left, and Matthew caught it while we were there. These pregnancy horomones must be something because I (so far) have escaped it. I know I've just jinxed myself!!!

We had so much fun playing at the beach on Donner Lake, swimming at the pools, playing on the playgrounds, attending Bingo Night, rafting down the Truckee River (where poor Annabelle succumbed to the Mundelius motion sickness gene - multiple times!!!), hung out with friends, hiking, etc. The kids were soooo, soooo sad to leave when it was time to go home. I took a lot fewer pictures this time...I'm not sure why...so it's slim pickens here, but you get the gist of how much fun we had!

Hanging out in the morning...

We went on a hike to look for butterflies...there were tons of them!

It tried to rain a little this day, and we heard some good thunder! Great ambience for a hike!

At the beach on Donner Lake. Annabelle had so much fun filling this baggie with water and dumping it in the bucket! Who would have guessed!!!???

Wyatt and Charlie fishing for crawdads!

Rafting down the Truckee. Matthew was great, as this was the first day he wasn't feeling good. Annabelle was in the boat behind us...it was hard to get a picture of her!

Honing his links skills at the driving range!

This little girl can occupy herself ANYWHERE!!!

This pool had a waterslide that Wyatt loved!

The End of Summer is Near

Wyatt had one more swim meet to finish up his season. I won't bore you with the details or pictures. I just took one video this time! Enjoy!!!

Here are a few pictures, though, of Annabelle's last Guppies swim lesson. She is loving swimming, and is quite a fish!

Volunteering for something...I don't remember what!

Floating...

Jumping off the diving board! Whoopeee!!!

Funny Wyatt

Our patio is DIRTY, due to us being on "drought watch" and having to conserve water (so I can't obsessively hose it off!). Because of this, I plead to the kids to not walk on it with bare feet...they get FILTHY!!! So, when I asked Wyatt to shuck the corn on the cob (which he LOVES to do), he rode a little scooter that's close to the door over to his wheel loader, rode that back to the door, picked up his supplies - the corn and the compost bucket and rode his stuff over to the chair where he wanted to do the shucking. I told him he could just sit in the doorway and do it, but he had his own ideas! Notice how his feet still aren't touching the ground! He returned the same way, with the load on the wheel loader, and finished the task with clean feet!

Wyatt's First Dynamite Dolfins Swim Meet

The swim meet consisted of three different strokes, the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. I'm pretty sure the coach had the kids lined up so that they would be swimming against others that were pretty fairly matched. It was so fun to watch. Most kids just jumped off the starting block, some tried to dive. There were coaches in each lane to encourage and help kids to the other side. At the other end, were swimmers from the swim team, ready with ribbons in their hands to reward first, second and third places. After the swimmers were done, they had a little award ceremony to show off their ribbons and then a pizza/cupcake party! Way to build excitement for the real-deal next year! Wyatt had a blast, and Matthew was more proud than ever!

Standing in line, waiting for his heat. Yes, he's the only one in a speedo...I can't get him to wear anything else! He is so proud to wear that water polo suit!!!

A little pep-talk with Papa. On the way over there, Wyatt told me he was scared of racing because he was worried he wouldn't come in first! Matthew talked him down from his nerves!!!

Ready to jump in for the freestyle!

Making his way! The other two girls in his heat were really fast! Wyatt got third!

The Backstroke

He looks pretty good right here, but he ends up almost side-ways at one point!!!

Proud Papa watching his boy! Wyatt got second this time!

The dive for the Butterfly heat.

I couldn't seem to catch him above water...but he's doing it!!!

Here's how Annabelle spent her time...she could really swim if I could get her off the stairs!!!

He won first place in the butterfly!!!

The "awards ceremony", where each child showed off which ribbons they earned!