My little Houdini has another crazy week of summer!!

I'm loving life!

This morning Griffin and I are saying goodbye to another week of summer BUT hell0 to a new one! Last week was jammed packed...with visitors, things to do, and just the day to day things that make you ask, is this really happening???


We started off the week with Caroline and Jacob, the two kids I am nannying for this summer. They spent some time at our house because they are moving to a new house. Having them in my house very much gave me the feel for what it would be like if they were all three mine! It's been fun to experience life with kids a little older and preview what's coming next! They are great kids and they love Griffin so it is nice for us all to have each other this summer.


After babysitting one day we went to shop because we had NO food at our house. I strapped Griffin into the cart and geared up to shop. Unfortunately it was not the relaxing trip I imagined....but when is it?, how is it that I am always surprised by this stuff?!?!?! A bottle of bathroom cleaner opened in my cart leaked on my purse and ruined my phone, checkbook, wallet.....you get the idea. Plus, I had dripped all the way through the store without out realizing because someone (I won't mention who) in a very "Houdini" like manor slipped out of the belt in the cart and was about to catapult himself out of the cart while I browsed the cracker isle. I stood up only to be eye to eye with the little escape artist himself....and believe me, he was not about to go back in the seat. So, short story looooong.....I was too distracted to notice the "snail trail" we were leaving until the damage was done...c'est la vie, right? It's all taken care of now! Needless to say, Griffin and are both ready to retire for grocery shopping...Dad??


Mid week we had visitors from Indiana! My best friend from high school, Andrea and her sister in law Abby came with her son Eli for a visit! We had lunch, adult conversation, and a lot of laughs as we watched the boys figure each other out. Eli is 18 months and Griffin is 13 so it was funny to see them together. Eli is getting really good with his words, which was so fun for me to see...I can't wait until Griffin can say "mommy" and "doggie"! As you can see from the pictures the boys had quite a time and we just followed along after them having equally as good a time! It was awesome to reconnect with them, catch up, and just be in good company! You can see more pics of the boys on their blog, http://www.beyondfridayphoto.blogspot.com/


...taking a ride"DOGGIE"
Let's share!

On Friday we ended our week with a bang! I met some girls from our church for a little "babies day out"! All told there were six moms, six babies, six high chairs, lots of bibs, diapers, binkis, and let me tell you....I have never seen a group of people get their own wipes out, sanitize the table, highchairs, and set up mats for Cheerios so fast! It was one of those, "you know you're a mom" moments. We all a great time shopping and discussing the ins and outs of motherhood. I feel really lucky to have found some people who are also part of this stage in life! It is a huge blessing to me.



The Orchard Stroller Cub!

After lunch and a little shopping Ryan picked us up (thank you ConAgra summer hours!) and we headed to the city to meet Kelly (Ryan's sister), McKenna (her friend), Ali (my sister), and Andy (my brother) for dinner. Kelly and McKenna came to Chicago for a summer get away and we all met up with Ali and Andy who now live downtown. We got to see Al's place for the first time and we love it....Ryan got the "city bug" and is ready to move in as soon as a room is available!! We spent the night hanging out down town and then headed home for a weekend of chill time with the girls! It was a fun, crazy, and interesting week...can't wait to see what's in store for us this next week! As for today, we are off to the pool with Caroline and Jacob...

My "you know a 1 year old lives with you moment": when you look for a few days for his shoe...give up...and finally find it when you go to cook something and it's just sitting there next to a baking sheet, right where he left it...you really never know what's behind the next door, do you?

Us lately.....

Isn't Summer great guys....

Griffin showing off his new summer bod

Wow. I just can't believe that it is already the week of the 4th. Unbelievable. This means that summer is half over already and that just can't be right. For Ryan, Griffin, and I it's been so busy, we haven't even noticed summer was here, much less already half gone. We have been to weddings, graduations, the lake and back just a few times, got together with friends and family and packed and repacked! It's been nuts. We are thankful for all the fun things we have been able to do, and are also anxious for a little down time too!

The Eccleston Family...I think we did so much relaxing this was the only picture I took all week!

Last week Ryan's family came to visit for the week. They saw and stayed in our house for the first time which was fun and then spent the latter half of the week at the lake. We basically chatted, ate, and beached it. Of coarse Grandma and Grandpa Eccleston would probably list their activities as simply stated, Griffin! He has been down to the beach a few times this summer already and loves to play down there. It's a blast to watch him get more adventurous each time the waves get closer and stick his toes in. On the down side, he's eaten quite a bit of sand...but I suppose he's earning his "BOY" stripes. We had a great visit with the family and loved getting to catch up!

Griffin marvels at a bike..

...and dad steps in to explain

Griffin has grown a ton lately. He's mastering new things all the time and becoming more adventurous every day. It's a workout just to keep up with the crazy child! My favorite new things he's added to his bag of tricks...a slobbery smooch and a serious of grunts he uses to communicate with his dad. My not so favorite...how any room in our house looks like the city Godzilla smashed up after Griff is done with it. I do have to award him creativity points for being able to make any empty box or bin a car or seatting area. He also bangs together any two objects he can get his hands on (now I finally understand the irony of the baby's name from the Flinstones..BAM BAM, I have one living here!) He is very curious and adventurous and it is fun to see his wheels turning, which they are constantly while he's awake! He is ALL boy, no ifs, ands, or buts about it...although the curls get him mistaken for a girl every once in while...come on people, he was wearing a navy blue Nike suit:)!

Well, that's about it for now! We are looking forward to spending more down time at the lake over the fourth and soaking in the sweet summer moments we have left! Happy fourth every one!