Hershey Park

Pictures from 6/26/2010

We were lucky enough to inherit a set of tickets to Hershey Park a few weeks ago. I'd never been to Hershey and so we decided to lather on some sunscreen and head on out to the land of milk chocolate.

I was surprised by how many child friendly rides there were, and Caleb had a great time. Hershey Park also has a program where you can wait in line together as parents, and then one parent can ride while the other parent stays with the kids-- then you switch. That way you only have to wait in line once. It was pretty nice.

We also enjoyed the lazy river, which is totally worth the ticket price, which I don't know what it is, since we were given our tickets, but whatever the cost, the lazy river is worth it.

But enough about that. Here's the proof:

Riding a rocket ship. Grandpere gave us a book about Martians and since then, Caleb cannot stop talking about rocket ships. He was THRILLED to get to ride one.

No, you're not seeing things. Parkesburg is on the map. That's right.

I love watching their conversations.

Motorcycle. He did not want to get off this ride. It took a lot of convincing. And maybe, perhaps, an ice cream cone or two.

We realized that their swimming suits matched. It was even better because Pete's shirt was white and blue, while Caleb's was white and red. They totally coordinated.

He ate TWO. Yeah, sick, I know.

It's just too overwhelming.

Welcome to the World

Miss Emily Claire Harward joined the gang via
Mandy (Peter's sister) and her husband, Soren.

She arrived June 24, 2010 weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce
and measuring 21 1/4 inches long.

Mom and Dad are doing well and
Emily has been successful in wrapping all of us
around her little fingers.

Congrats Mandy and Soren, we're so excited for you.
(Now get some sleep!)

Jordan the Birthday Boy

This little boy just celebrated his first birthday.
His mom and dad were nice enough to throw a little (aka, totally awesome) party and Caleb was lucky enough to make the guest list.

We played games:

We tried to be patient, but it was hard:

We got lucky with some Swedish Fish:

But most of all, we partied!

Happy Birthday Jordan, thanks for sharing your day with us!

pictures from 6/18/2010

Autonomy

Apparently, as long as it is Caleb's idea, going to bed is simple, easy, and painless.

If it is mom's idea it is long, filled with tears and usually ends up with mom sleeping in Caleb's bed (which, believe me, does not feel great in the morning).

The past week has been awful at bedtime. Caleb would cry for h-o-u-r-s. Peter or I would end up in bed with him. It was not a pretty picture. A few nights ago, Peter just looked at him and said, "Alright, I'm done reading books to you now. If you want to stay up and read some books go ahead, but I'm leaving now."

His response? "Oh, ok Daddy." Ten minutes later, he was sound asleep.

It's worked for three days in a row. I think that counts as an official break-through.

And so a lifetime of deciding things for himself truly begins. (And a lifetime of me stepping back and letting him make such decisions.)

Choose wisely, little one, choose wisely.