Jumping June and July

Wow, I say it a lot, but July has been even more busy than usual.  The end of June flew by and now we are almost halfway done with July.

First, to finish out June...
It was crazy busy with a work meetings, bunco night, friends over for dinner, and a birthday party for me.  Nick also helped a friend move houses and he helped my dad put in sod and we bought and constructed a metal storage shed.  We also had to organize and clean our house because Grammy and Poppi were coming in the first week of July.  So it was insane.  But I had a coupon for a free zoo ticket because we are members, so the girls and I squeezed in a trip to the Tampa Zoo with Nana.  Nick and I are working on a research project there, so we have been for 2 meetings but it had been awhile since I had actually walked around.  Sam did not want to ride the small coaster or flying bananas, but she joined to llama club (you buy a button and get to feed the llama) and got to feed Angie the llama.

Then we hit July, more storage building construction, Nick had to move lab stuff for poly, and more cleaning.  I also hosted book club for my moms group and I was in charge of a playdate about sense, both had been rained out in late June.  And all the first week of July Zoey had swim lessons.  She was very resistant until the last day, so I hope we can get her doing better soon.  Then Grammy and Poppi came in very late in the 3rd through the afternoon of the 7th.  It was so great to see them and both girls got lots of attention and spoiling.

First, Zoey has started eating corn off the cob thanks to demanding bites of my dad's even when she had some cut off for her.

And some silly hair she styled one day.

Sam was so excited and had to wait since Grammy and Poppi got in late and she got up way before them.  But as soon as they got up on the 4th, Sam had to read Where's Wooly because it is a story that includes a Sam and a Poppy.

Sam got tons of Grammy time reading to Grammy, listening to Grammy read, and playing games.

Zoey in a rare moment sitting still with Grammy.  She is always on the go, but she attached to Grammy very quickly.  We had not seen them since Thanksgiving.

A picture before they left.

Grammy and Poppi left and we had more busy days including when I hosted a mother night for Pina Colada day.  And then my cousin Linda and her daughter Olivia came to stay with my parents for my mom's birthday.  Linda had not seen Sam since she was about 10 months.  Sam and Zoey both really attached to Olivia.  Sam was devastated on the day Olivia took a nap.  Here are a few pictures when they came over to our house.

And overlapping with my cousins was a stop over of Nicks brother Jon and his family.  They came out to go on a Disney cruise and they stayed with us one night.  Sam and Zoey had a blast playing with the adorable Isabelle and Luke.  Their was chaos in our house for sure.  They were all chasing each other.  Luke got so excited and "tagged" Zoey which was a palm plant to her chest, knocking her down.  Zoey is a typical second child and very tough.  She did not even cry.  Just got up to keep up with the fun.

Here they all are, but the older girls are in the cardboard house.

Jon and Robyn had to run a couple of errands, so Nick took them after I put Zoey down.  I got to test out having 3 kids :)  My parents, Linda and Olivia dropped by briefly, but I was mostly on my own.

We had some ice cream.

It was pretty late, so we started getting ready for bed.  Luke was not ready.  I managed to get all 3 in pajamas and teeth brushed, but I did have some help at this point.  The plan was for Luke to sleep in Sam's car bed and the girls on the air mattress.  I started reading books and the Jon, Robyn and Nick got back.  We finished stories and I sang songs to Sam.  We said goodnight, but of course that is not where the story ends.  Luke was adamant and kept waking the girls up as they drifted off.  Luke did a short stint in the guest room but did not want to be alone, so he promised to behave and went back to the car bed.  The girls then took their turn causing havoc.  Isabelle ended up in the car bed with Luke, which made Sam upset.  After many times of kids being fussed at, Sam was told she would have to sleep in our room on her preschool nap mat.  Hysterics followed and Nick and I tag teamed her to finally get her calm.  In the end she could not keep her eyelids open to argue given that it was almost midnight and she had not taken a nap that day.  So she slept on her mat and Isabelle and Luke shared the car bed.  Zoey took a shift on havoc making duty from 4 to 6 am.  We are trying to get her back to sleeping through the night.  I tried rocking and singing, Nick tried a shift, but in the end I gave in a nursed her back to sleep.  almost 2 hours was my limit.  I folded.  Sam then got up at 7.  Isabelle was slow waking up, but the rest of the kids played in the morning.

Luke loved the tools.

 Everyone waiting while Isabelle got her hair done.

 Her beautiful hair.

  Then Jon and Robyn treated us to a quick breakfast at Panera and Nick drove them to the shuttle to go to their ship.  Sam got to play at Nana's, Zoey napped, Sam napped and we did a little shopping and dinner at Moe's with Linda, Olivia and Nana.  Linda and Olivia left this morning, but we will see them after our beach trip to their beach house in a few weeks. 

 Sam and Zoey drawing this morning.  Back to just 2 adorable and loving sisters and a more reasonable level of sleep deprivation caused by them.