Summer Adventures

This has been one jam packed summer for us so far and it is only half way over! We've done so much it is hard to remember it all...thank goodness for pictures! Between the beach, short trip down to Avon Park, Daytona Cubs baseball game, July 4th celebrations, chocolate factory tour, the library summer programs, birthday parties, trip to California and Vacation Bible School it has all started to blur together!

Eric had a great time on his trip to California. He got to go camping in Omi & Oti's RV, play in the pirate tree house Omi built for him, go to San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park with Grandpa Dale and Leah, the beach and visit with Oma & Ota. He had so much fun that I don't think he even missed us! Tyler sure missed him though. He was not himself the entire time his brother was gone. Eric was definitely a trooper on the trip out there with a cancelled flight and much later arrival than anticipated. At the layover in Texas he sang "God Bless America" for everyone. When they started clapping during a pause he said "no no I'm not done yet!" and continued on. He also LOVED vacation bible school! He keeps asking me when he can go back again. Eric continues to amaze me with his ability to pick up on things so quickly. He remembered all the Bible verses from VBS easily and over the summer has started learning some sight words along with counting up to 160 on his own. He also wants to learn addition and subtraction so I picked up some workbooks for him which he was thrilled with. He is definitely going to be our smarty pants kid. He loves to learn which is such a blessing. I just hope he continues to love it as he gets older. Along with his intelligence comes a very strong will which will serve him well in the future but is slightly frustrating for us at the moment. While frustrating as he can be behaviorally, he is such a sweetheart as well. When his brother hurts himself he immediately goes over and gives him kisses and promptly scolds whatever hurt him such as the wall or table. :) His smile, laughter and love of life is very contagious!

Tyler is growing by leaps and bounds this summer. His vocabulary is expanding so much recently. He also has a personality all his own. Unlike his brother he is not strong willed but is definitely in the 2 year old phase. He is constantly pushing boundaries but once he learns where they are he pretty much stays within them. He is our fun loving make the most of life child. He loves to have fun and laugh. He absolutely loves to pretend to be a dinosaur. He is into anything that Eric likes and I think it is his mission in life to do whatever Eric does. Tyler is also our daredevil. While Eric is cautious, Tyler is the complete opposite. In the pool Tyler just jumps in and tries to swim without abandon while Eric prefers the safety of the swim vest and has to warm up to jumping in. Tyler is the one that is giving me gray hair and will continue to do as he gets older I'm afraid. Thank goodness for hair dye! We are now in the process of potty training Tyler. Today is day 2 and things are going pretty well. He tells us when he has to go which is great. We also have cut out nap time altogether which makes for an interesting afternoon. The upside is they actually go to bed on time and don't stay up until 9 or 10pm playing anymore. Tyler is also starting to pick up on some shapes and letters and can count to 10 now. This fall when Eric starts VPK I'm going to start working with Tyler to help him pick up more basics. He learns so different than Eric that it has been an adjustment for me. Tyler is all about play while Eric would sit still and just read with you for hours. Amazing how 2 kids from the same parents can be so different. I wouldn't have them any other way though. They are each special in their own way and I love them both so much! I tell both of them they are my gifts from God and that Eric is my favorite Eric and Tyler is my favorite Tyler. :)