This summer we had a whole two months with Grandma and it was great! There was so much fit into those two months but alot of it was just our regular lives with Grandma there to help. Here are some highlights. 

Lots of swimming

Fourth of July

Lots and lots of baths

Sunday lunches out

Facetime with our cousin twin

Digging for dino bones

Bows!

Headbanz

Wisdom tooth extraction

Lots and lots of legos

Pizza making

Wine and cheese for Billie’s bday

Coffee

Creative artwork

Puffs by the pool

I know i’m far behind, but with an international move, starting a new job and all the many goodbye parties and dinners you all forgive me I’m sure. 

I’m taking it way back to last summer when Grandma was still here. We took an overnight trip to Tagatay. which is only 50 Kilometers away, but a three hour drive because of traffic. The kids were great and we headed right to Reptile park. One of the great things about being in the Philippines is that my kids have very reasonable expectations for children’s attractions. Reptile Park left alot to be desired. There was one live snake and two live monkeys *not a reptile. The rest of the reptiles, were mechanical. Still the boys LOVED it! 

We then checked out hotel and got ready for a fancy dinner at Antonios, one of the nicest restaurants in the Philippines. It was a really nice trip out of Manila. Having Grandma here for the summer was the best treat I could ever have asked for. I had help with the kids and someone to hang out with and have some wine and massages with. It was truly such a special time. 

Week 52- I am completely amazed that my little baby girl is a whole year old. In honor of her birthday I’m going to list 12 things I love about my Miral. 

Week 50- This week was a big week you started saying hi in the cutest little voice, with the biggest smile, while waving. It just makes me melt! I can’t wait until you start talking more and we get to hear your voice and thoughts! You also have a nnn, nnnn, nnnn sounds that may be the beginning of no…maybe we can skip that one 🙂

Week 51- Last week before your birthday! You are the cutest tiny dancer that I have ever met! You love to dance and bounce up and down to any music, whether its from one of your toys, my phone or the boys singing. You are walking so fast these days you are basically running! It’s getting hard to keep up with you. Your personality is really coming out and we are all so in love. You have such a twinkle in your eye, especially when you get your hands on something exciting, like my phone and run away as fast as you can! You love to laugh and like all of my kids, think it’s hysterical when someone gets hurt. You LOVE talking to daddy on the phone and loudly complain when the phone is not pointed towards you. We can’t wait to celebrate your birthday with you next week!

Week 49- You are a full fledged walker this week and even more exciting, your hair is finally long enough for a bow! Which means we are inching closer to pigtails!! You are also inching so close to one year! You are also getting to be such a good walker. You want to walk everywhere and you also want to climb everywhere- couches, chairs, strollers. Let’s not be the one to tell you to not climb up something…you are NOT interested in structure or mommy or grandma getting in your walking and climbing way. 

To thank kids in the Foreign Service whose parents are serving away from them, they have medals and certificates for the kids. It’s definitely not as good as having Randy around, but it was pretty special to have the Ambassador to the Philippines present the medals to the kids. And Randy was here and got to be a part of it. The boys have been really into medals and trophies so I thought they would like it and Miral likes to chew on stuff so I figured she could chew on hers. 

Like everything with kids, getting there didn’t go as planned. Adam is in a stage where he only wants to wear sweatpants and three t-shirts he likes. Normally I don’t care but I told him to go into the Ambassador’s office he has to wear real clothes (not jogging pants…) well an hour and a half later we were on our way. Adam only agreed to wear real clothes over his regular clothes with a few bribes. You can see in the photos below there was a quick outfit change after where Adam ripped the top layer off to be in comfy clothes. But we made it and because I work in Public Affairs, my friend Paul, one of the Embassy photographers came and took some photos for us. 

Week 48- This week you took 4 steps! You are 11 months and in charge. Your brothers like to act like they are, but man you love bossing them around already. They still mostly ignore you but they better watch out. You started dancing this week, mostly bopping up and down and it is the cutest thing I have ever seen! Your favorite song right now to dance to is the boy’s favorite song- We Will Rock You. I worry you will have green hair and rocking out by the time you are in Kindergarten. 

The hardest day for me without Randy is without a doubt Sunday. The weeks are so busy with work, camp, school, playdates and Saturdays are usually full with swimming, activities, friends. But Sundays we usually don’t have plans and I often find myself really missing Randy. Every Sunday for as long as I can remember Randy has cooked a big yummy meal for us. Even before we had kids, he would cook a special meal just for us at home. It is such a nice way to end a usually busy weekend and recharge as a family before another week of work and school. We all hang out while he cooks and spend time together and then we set the table with a tablecloth and use our nice places. 

While he was home with us we had a Sunday at home and Grandma was here too. So Randy made us all a yummy dinner or rice balls and steak. It was amazing. We played some kids charades, built with some blocks, had some wine and ate a delicious dinner. Countdown until Randy is home and we can have Sunday dinners every week!

Week 47- This week was your first Fourth of July! You wore your star dress and we went to celebrate with our friends You even got to see your first flag cake. You didn’t get a piece, but only 5 more weeks and you’ll have some birthday cake! You’re into everything these days and getting very close to walking. You want to walk so much but you drop down and crawl in the end and get there quicker but any day now you’ll be walking everywhere. You did learn how to crawl up on the couch and Grandma taught you how to get down. You love crawling up, laying on the pillow and crawling back down, rinse and repeat, over and over. I love how repetitive babies are. The littlest thing keeps them amused for so long.