Day One in Michigan

We slept in late and it was already afternoon when we woke up. My cousins were back from their sleepover and were downstairs getting ready to eat lunch. I was hungry too so I sat down and ate with them. I had some macaroni and cheese, and my very first hot dog. Mmmmm...it was so yummy! Daddy and Grandma Karen left to go get Daddy a new drivers license because his expired. I went outside and played with Ella, Kara and a neighbor while Mommy took a shower. They have a trampoline, a sandbox, two Little Tykes slides and a big swing set. There was grass everywhere. It was so much fun wondering around with three little girls watching my every move. Cousin Ella took me and Kara for a wagon ride down to the circle at the end of the street. This kind of responsibility for a 6 year old was new to Mommy and I saw her peeking out the window the whole time.

Mommy, Aunt Shannon, Ella, Kara, Maya, and me all went grocery shopping to get stuff I would need, We needed a big cart to hold all four of us kids. When Mommy and Aunt Shannon were checking out Ella took me and Kara to ride the horse (it was only a penny!). When Daddy got home we went over to Papa and Grammy Ferry's house for dinner. We had nachos, burgers and brats. I even went right to Papa and let him hold me without getting scared(this was a first I usually need lots of warm-up time). They had lots of grass in their backyard too so I ran around and played while Papa barbecued.

After dinner we walked down to the park and played for awhile.When we got back to Aunt Shannon's Uncle Brent had scratched his eye and was in a lot of pain. Aunt Shannon took him to Urgent Care while Mommy and Daddy babysat my cousins. They wanted to be the fun Aunt and Uncle and let Ella stay up past her bed time. Aunt Shannon read me a story before I went to bed around 11pm.

1st Airplane Ride Phoenix to Detroit

Mommy and I went to Target for a few last minute things. We bought a monkey backpack with a lease type of handle so Mommy and Daddy could keep track of me in the airports. Grammy drove up to take us to the airport and get Jax. Daddy got out of work early and Grammy dropped us off at about 4:30. US Airways has computer check-in which proved to be a pain because it wanted us to pay for our bags (which we had already done online) and it had changed our seats to the exit row (can't sit here with a child). We were off to a bad start and couldn't get a real employee to help. They kept telling us to use the computer. Finally we got someone to help and she gave us tickets in two different parts of the plane because two together was no longer available. Obviously that wasn't going to work so we then had to go upstairs get our exit row seats back and then trade with another couple so we could sit together. Of course going through security Mommy's buckles on her shorts went off so she got pulled aside. Poor Daddy was left all alone with me, all the shoes, the liquids, two backpacks, a purse, my monkey backpack and his laptop. That part went pretty quick though. Next we were pulled aside so they could check my sippy cups and juice. They made Mommy open every cup and container which they held a Litmus paper over to test. It took a little bit but wasn't too bad. We got on the flight and all settled. I was a little antsy at first but sat on Daddy's lap and ate some snacks. I watched Classical Baby on Mommy's I-pod. All was going pretty good until I started kicking and hitting the seat in front of us and trying to share my lollipop with the man's hair. I fell asleep after about an hour and half and slept until just before landing. We got off the plane, changed my diaper and headed to get our luggage. Papa Ferry and Shannon picked us up. I went right to Aunt Shannon and she put me in the car seat. It was facing forward not backwards like my one at home and there was even a DVD player in front of my seat playing Baby Einstein. It was so cool! When we got to Aunt Shannon's and Uncle Brent's all the girls were away on a sleepover. I was awake of course so I got first dibs on all their toys. Aunt Shannon even set aside some books for me to read in our room. We all went to bed around 3:30 am and slept until 1 pm Michigan time.

Cowboy

I played dressup today with my cowboy hat. We are almost all packed and head out tomorrow for Michigan. Thanks to Grammie and Papa for taking us to the airport and watching Jax! Thanks to Aunt Shannon, Uncle Brent, and Grammy and Papa Ferry for helping fund the trip. See you soon!

Las Vegas or Bust

Aunt Dawn and Cassie left today for Vegas. I put on my Las Vegas t-shirt (given to me to Mommy's teaching assistants Amy and Chris), made a sign and hopped in my car. I won't see them until next Tuesday...I miss them already! Mommy finished packing us (except for a few last minute things) for our trip. We are all excited. Mommy and Daddy are a little nervous about how I will behave on the flight. Tuesday nights Daddy goes to an Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book study with an older friend he met in jail. Every Tuesday Andy comes to pick up Daddy for their group. Andy is a pool man so he always checks our pool and adds chemicals. Once he even brought me an airplane. I like Andy and go to him every Tuesday when he comes by to get Daddy.

Another Haircut...6th To Be Exact

Last night we went over to Cherne's and went swimming with Cassie and Aunt Dawn. It was fun to swim at night and the pool was perfect for me. I was so tired and fell asleep on the way home. Today we ran some errands. We got bug spray to try and get rid of our 'Bob' (nickname we gave the beetles) problem. We took Jax to get his haircut and I even got my haircut too. The lady did a really good job and it's probably my best cut yet.

4th of July

Here I am watching Classical Baby on my new I-Pod

On Friday we went over to the Cherne's for dinner. When we left I got to see some fireworks. I kept pointing and showing Daddy where they were. On Saturday morning we went to the mall to get Mommy's I-Pod fixed. It needs a new battery for our trip. Mommy bought a case and headphones for me. So now I can listen to music and watch my favorite shows. Grammie and Papa came up to visit. Grammie, Mommy, Daddy and me went and watched fireworks in Chandler. I fell asleep on the way home and Mommy and Daddy went out to watch the movie Hangover. Grammie and Papa took care of me Sunday and Monday morning so that Mommy and Daddy could sleep in. Thank you Grammie and Papa!!! I got to go swimming with everybody and Cassie and Aunt Dawn even came over. It was a good weekend.

Swimming

Yesterday Cassie, Johnny, and Aunt Dawn came over to my house and went swimming. Cassie and Johnny even bought me a Little Einsteins Rocket for the pool. We had fun and I even helped count to three before someone jumped in. I wanted Jax to go swimming too and kept pointing at him so Mommy let him get wet. He freaked out and I thought it was funny. Mommy found a weird looking dragonfly that was dead and took pictures of it. I was so tired after swimming that I fell asleep on the floor. Later I played with Jax in his cage. Today I got a new backpack. Mommy bought it for my toys and stuff on the airplane. It is neat and I wore it all around the house.

Cousins

I had ravioli today and insisted on feeding myself...it was a bigger mess than I expected.

This morning we went to meet a lady who does daycare out of her home. She was highly recommended to Mommy by some of the teachers at her school. She has been babysitting for 24 years and watching the kids of teachers at Mommies school for almost 10 years. We liked her and Mommy was surprised I was so comfy at her house (I helped myself to some toys). She only charges when the kids are there which is good because at other day cares Mommy would have to pay a whole week for holidays and school breaks. There are two other boys she is watching (one is 2 and the other is a month or two younger then me) and she will be watching her granddaughter for a few hours a few days a week. She is also really reasonable at $150 a week. The only thing we didn't like was that their house is really small! I mean REALLY small! The whole house is 1100 square feet but there is only one part of a small room dedicated to the kids. We haven't made a decision yet but will look for more options to compare. We went over to the Cherne's around 1:30 to see Nana, Aunt Sandy, Cousin Brittany, and Cousin Steve who were visiting. Later the kids came over to my house and we all went swimming before they headed to the drive-in.

Last Art Class and Peaches

Painting with a feather at art.The theme at art today was birds so here I am waving to you in my bird hat. I ate a WHOLE peach today! All that was left was the pit when I was done.

Daddy's friend needed help getting his motorcycle from the mechanic so Mommy gave him a ride. He had to leave it at our house for a little bit until he could pick it up. Daddy and I thought photo opportunity. This vary well be the only time I sit on one of these anyway. Ask Marlo and she'll tell you why.My cousin Brittany Eide came over to see me. I haven't seen her in almost a year but I warmed up pretty quick. I remembered how she used to put me to sleep rubbing my eyebrows.

Here is a video of me playing with my remote control car the Cherne's got me for my birthday. I'm finally getting good at driving it all around but I don't like when it heads towards me.

Father's Day

Yesterday we went to dinner at the Cherne's. I hadn't really napped all day so I was really tired. Mommy and Daddy didn't want me to sleep so early because then I'd be awake all night. This is the video of me falling asleep on Uncle John's lap.

Today we went out to breakfast at Denny's for Father's Day. After that we went to church and today Mommy stayed in the nursery to help me get acclimated. I threw a fit and cried the other times so Mommy was hoping this would help. I had fun today and was just fine. I didn't even pay any attention to Mommy until about 10 minutes before we left when I wanted to be held. I played with the toys and made a new friend named Brody. After church we went to Genghis Grill with the Cherne's. I got to eat some of Aunt Dawn's, Cassie's, and Mommy's. Before bed we took Daddy to hit golf balls again (we took him yesterday too).

CJ's new skill is climbing. He can get up on the bed and tries to climb the cabinets. I couldn't get him getting all the way on the bed but this shows you what he does. I think we are in trouble.

My Little Bee

Today was my third art class and I really still didn't enjoy it much. We (Mommy mostly) made a bee hat, a bee mobile, a flower, painted with foam paint, and played Playdough. The foam paint was kind of fun for a few minutes and it felt funny on my hands. I enjoyed throwing the crayons and Playdough on the ground. I also liked trying to eat the glue stick. The little boy behind me fell off his chair and had to go home. We went over to the Cherne's for dinner and I got to eat a cream puff...it was so good!