It's been a pretty great summer, filled with many ups and several downs, but we're all doing just fine... In early July, we met up with Aunt Tristi, Owen and Uncle Justin for lunch in Baton Rouge. And of course, we had to stop at LSU so that Sammy could visit Mike's Cage for the first time. Mike was resting in the shade so Sam didn't actually see him but that's OK. Gotta start somewhere! Jasper pointed Mike out best he could, we took a few minutes to find my brick and just enjoyed being at our second home, LSU.
Granny will likely say we were hardly over to swim if you ask her, but we did manage to enjoy the pool more than a handful of times. And Granny certainly loved the company! Sammy finally had some time to relax in his boat from Santa as he perused the pool. Both Jasper and Sam have really enjoyed being in the water this year. By next year, Jasper will be swimming like a fish!We had all kinds of friends over like Kate, Jackson, Felicity, Aidan, Adam and of course, Nova and Baby Aiden!
St. Francis Cabbageball nights finally came to an end, and I couldn't have been happier. No, seriously, it was exhausting. Imagine trying to help your husband coach a bunch of three-year-olds at cabbageball when all they really want to do is play with the rocks on the ground and eat freezie pops. When the girls weren't hugging each other and covering up the entire base, they were playing with each other's hair. And when Jasper wasn't squatting on the ground looking at rocks, he was whining because someone got to the ball faster than he did. Oh, but it was so much fun to be out there; I wouldn't want to spend my Monday and Thursday summer nights anywhere else! On the last night, Jasper received his very first trophy... which he cracked before we even got home.
The New Orleans Zephyrs hosted an ALS Awareness Night on July 30th and in an effort to avoid the summer heat, we opted to get a snazzy suite to watch PawPaw throw out the first pitch, and to enjoy family and friends while watching some baseball. Both PawPaw and Grammie were overwhelmed by the surprises we had in store, from our Baton Rouge and Slidell cousins to the Gegenheimers, to our cool t-shirts, it was a great night, and it was all for PawPaw. Jasper stayed extra close to PawPaw all evening so he could walk on the field and help PawPaw throw out the first pitch. He was so proud to be with him, and excited to follow him on the mound.
Get ready for news on the ALS Walk, scheduled for October 17th. We hope everyone can participate in the fight to end ALS. We are so close!!
I'm pretty sure we have more "family time" than all of my friends combined so when there was talk of a baptism and vow renewal on the same day, I wasn't all that surprised. But what's nice is that I wasn't in charge! Tia and her family took the reins, and I must say, they hosted a fabulous party. We all met up at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Covington to celebrate Aiden's baptism into the church that morning, and spent the rest of the day enjoying each other at Tia's parents' new home. In the afternoon, Jeremy took the stage to officiate Mike and Joy's 40th anniversary vow renewals. Eileen stood in, just as she had 40 years before, and Neil was his dad's best man.
I'd be fibbing if I said it was a simple and sweet ceremony. The truth is, it was a difficult ceremony with more crying than laughter, as we commemorated their 40 years. But Mike and Joy were surrounded by us, their family and friends, as they shared memories and renewed their vows. Mike's words, in particular, resonated with me as he mentioned the significance of baseball in his life. Their relationship as kids started with dates to baseball games. Little did they know they'd spend many years at the ball park with their two boys. Two wonderful and fun boys that have grown into good and kind men. And now, we have another generation of little baseball players. Just ask Sammy, and he'll tell you, "BALL!"
It's no secret that I don't always see eye to eye with my in-laws, but after 40 years of marriage, as much as I hate to admit it, I do believe they are doing something right. (After 9 years with these crazy people) I think that their strategy is a simple one; loving one another unconditionally through good times and bad and having fun together. And Mike, if you ever doubt your family's future, know that we will follow your lead with your grandchildren, continuing to love and care for one another, be there for each other, laugh and be silly with each other, and work to embody God's unconditional love throughout our daily lives, just as you have exemplified His purpose throughout your life.
Happy Baptism Day to Aiden! You are certainly one of God's most wonderful gifts to everyone that knows you. And Happy 40th wedding anniversary to Mike & Joy. We wish you many, many more years together with more laughter than tears and enough energy to keep up with Nova, Jasper, Sam and Aiden!
I'm one of "those moms" that celebrates my kid's same birthday over and over again, this being the "first" of several 4th birthday celebrations for our Jasperino. In a last minute effort to coordinate with the cookie cake's theme, a pirate ship, I ordered pirate hats and eye patches for all invited. And let me just say, they were a freaking hit! Oh, and Baby Aiden stole the show with his pirate cuteness!
Since Jasper's birthday fell on the same night we were leaving for the beach, we invited family over that Monday before. Jasper didn't realize the celebration was for him til he saw the cake. And then, the presents! At one point, he looked as if he was so overwhelmed with excitement that he was going to burst! He was thrilled to have everyone sing to him and celebrate him, and the tools from Grandpa and Paw Patrol toys from Grammie and PawPaw made his night even better than he could've imagined. As a parent, there's nothing better than seeing your child so very happy. It was a great night and he was very appreciative. And the patches and hats were the perfect prop for picture-taking!
As if this summer didn't already throw us for a loop, we got some more frustrating news, this time it was the "Big C." Aunt Aimee found out that she had melanoma from a mole on her arm. Over the past month and a half, she has endured two painful surgeries, technically three to remove the cancer. She endured several biopsies, scans and plenty of anxiety, and even traveled to M.D. Anderson. As many times as Jeremy reminded me that my dear friend would be "fine," I still have to admit, I was more fearful than I let on. The thought of my "partner in crime" in such pain, or worse, the possibility of her being defeated by cancer scared the hell out of me. She's 33. It just doesn't make sense that she had to go through all of this. But good news; one cancerous mole and lymph node, and a ton of stitches later, our beloved Aunt Aimee is now cancer free, and we couldn't be more relieved. Aimee, I can't imagine our lives without you and John. We are so thankful you will be OK. As for me, my entire "moley" body has a dermatologist appointment next month!
We managed to squeeze in a much needed beach trip this month. Notice I didn't use the words, beach "vacation." We don't get those anymore now that we have kids. But the boys enjoyed playing in the gulf and the sand, and spending time with Granny, Aunt Carol and Aunt Debbie. We mastered the games Candyland and Mouse Trap, thanks to Aunt Debbie, and watched Count of Monte Cristo because it never gets old. We all tried out my new s'mores maker and I cooked gluten free meals for everyone. We slept in. We napped. We spent way too much money at the outlet malls. We almost bought Jasper a hermit crab til we realized how much they stunk. And we went out for ice cream after dancing to live music and eating boiled shrimp and crabs. Uncle Tony seriously missed out.
The weather was perfect the first two days and there was a large sand bar on our piece of beach. So Jasper could walk out pretty far on his own, while "Captain Sammy" floated along in his boat. When it comes to the beach, it's getting easier and easier the older they get. They played well together in the sand and were entertained by all the shovels and buckets, not to mention a jellyfish sighting and a few crabs. Sam, however, was not a very good sport when Daddy and Jasper decided to bury him in the sand. We have no idea why he got so upset!
I was so proud of our little pumpkin on his first day, as he excitedly walked up to greet his friends and show off his new Paw Patrol school bag. He was confident and eager. After a few practice days of walking into school, and out to the playground, we decided to drop him off in the carpool line without us walking him in. He wasn't scared, not even a little. It made me think of my first few "months" of kindergarten, when I cried every single morning as my parents dropped me off. No seriously, I did this for months. And there he was, my fearless Jasper, smiling and telling us "bye bye!" with not a worry or care in the world. His confidence and courage are refreshing. And his delightful demeanor is so abundantly gratifying to us, his parents. I didn't cry the first day. But I did tear up as we drove away after that first "big boy" drop-off. Speaking of "drop-offs," I can totally relate to Marlin and how he felt in Finding Nemo... Fortunately, no sharks on the playground!
"Proud" isn't enough to describe the way I feel about him and who he is becoming. He's an amazing and kind big brother to Sam, sharing toys, helping him up, calming him down when he cries. I am honestly astounded at how close they are. He likes coming with me to wake Sam up. He tells me when he thinks he's hungry or wants a sippy cup. He tells me when Sam spills his cup or drops his toy in the car. He gives him high fives every morning as Jeremy takes Sam in to daycare, and says, "Have a great day Sammy!"
At night, when we pray together, he prays for PawPaw and Aunt Aimee to feel better. He lists all of the grandparents, aunts and uncles. He even prayed for Grandpa to understand him better, haha! His heart is so kind and I can already see how much he cares about people and things, whether it's Sam, PawPaw or even Callie. As for school, it's only been a week and he recited the days of the week and months of the year to me. He's learning so much and growing up so quickly. He lives off of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, pop tarts, "warm" tacos and cheese sandwiches. Everything else we fix him is usually forced. He still fits in 2T shorts, making laundry time very confusing for Jeremy when putting away clothes.
He has become both a negotiator and procrastinator when it comes to finishing dinner and going to bed. He'll say, "Just two more bites Mommy, than I can have ice cream!" And as many times as we ask, "Do you need to go potty," or "Do you want water," we can guarantee that every night, he will need to go potty and he will be very thirsty. Never fails.
The older he gets the more he talks, and talks, and talks. While he rarely tells us details of a typical school day like what he learned or who he played with, he does tell some magnificent stories, whether it's about the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, or what happens when you turn into a Zombie! Then, there are the cuter stories about the day he went with Granny, Carol and Debbie to shop at the mall. While walking in the kids' clothes department, he told Debbie that the clothes were very handsome! And a few nights later, when we drove passed the mall, he mentioned to me that he had gone to the mall with them and that's the place that has "handsome" clothes. When I asked what he meant by that, he said, "When you put the clothes on, they make you look handsome."
He's becoming a picky eater, and since we can't really force him to eat what we want him to eat at this age, he pretty much lives on apple sauce and ketchup. I think applesauce is his favorite word. That and "no." If we tell him to do something or not do something, he screams at us, "No!" That's when Jeremy tries to give him his most mean and scary face. Sammy just laughs at him. He always seems hungry, and grunts, "Eat, " at dinner time. He likes to feed himself and won't let us feed him at all, resulting in baths almost every night. His personality is definitely developing and changing. He's a tough guy, a risk taker and strong willed. Last night at the coffee shop, I kept trying to tell him not to stand up in the booth, and he got right back up and tried over and over again. I finally gave up after about 20 minutes, and just let him walk around Puccino's because it was that or incessant screaming. Needless to say, we cleared out the entire place in no time with our loud children. I was so embarrassed.
In the car, he screams for us to talk back to him, yelling "Mommy! Daddy!" That quiet and shy demeanor is almost non-existent now. He loves dancing to all music and he's now singing along to ABC and other nursery rhymes. He's still very much a daddy's boy, but there is one thing that works like a charm when I'm needing more Sammy time. He has a little case of eczema and our pediatrician recommended lotion. He LOVES for me to rub his arms and legs with it. Sometimes after his bath, and just before bed, I hold him in my lap and massage his arms and legs. And if I stop too soon, he fusses at me. Come to think of it, he reminds me of me, grumpy in the morning, hungry all the time, and always wanting to be near Daddy.
They keep us on our toes, but man, they're fun.
1 comment:
As always, superbly written. You make me laugh and cry. The Starr family is blessed to have you in it.
Post a Comment