Fun Day with Mom

Mom has some vacation days to use before the end of fellowship, so she took today off. Do you know what that means???

A STAY HOME DAY! AND DOING "FUN THINGS!!!"

Today we went to Lamar's for a donut. Then we debated what to do next. Paradise Park? The pool? The park?

We decided to try something new...Xtreme Gymnastics!

It was way fun. Mom forgot the camera, so bear with us on the blurry phone pics.

The huge blow-up obstacle course and 2 story slide was my favorite.

Check me out--I'm airborne!

Then we both jumped on the trampolines and played in the foam pit.

Wes REALLY liked the foam pit!

He was jumping in by himself before it was all over!

Then we ended the day with both of us making it through the obstacle course

(Wes needed a little help from Mom).

It was really fun!

What's next, Mom?

Weston's tricks

Due to my bumpy start (all the feeding troubles and such) and despite my eloquent blog postings (ha ha), Mom has been a bit worried about my development. I'm a rockstar with motor skills--check this out.

I can:

walk

run

walk backwards

squat

go up stairs (walking) by myself

crawl down stairs

use a stool (I like to carry it where I need it, set it down, and climb on up)

scoop with a shovel and accurately dump into a pail or truck

scoop with a fork or a spoon and get it into my mouth

drink from a cup (no lid or straw) with a little help

color (I'm right-handed)

do simple puzzles and shape-sorters by myself

brush my teeth

I know some other tricks too:

show you my tummy and nose

follow commands like "come here," "get your shoes," and "go give Dad a high-five"

push myself on a 4-wheeled car

push my truck/car/firetruck around the house and NOT run into the walls

wipe my hands and face with a napkin

But Mom was worried because I really wasn't saying much. No "Mama" or "Dada." A few sign language signs ("more" for the most part). I pointed like a madman and got the point across, but was really not so verbal. That is until this last week or so. Mom and Grandma Phyllis sat down today and made a list of my words. Here's what I've learned to say, literally in the last 2 weeks (give or take a day):

Papa

Mama

Dada

Jack

buba (Jack)

Ted (my blanket)

baby

hi

bye (although it is usually just a wave)

dog

"pant-pant" (that's what our dog says anyway)

"quack-quack" (for a duck)

"moo" (for a cow)

"meow" (for a cat)

"ooo-ooo" (for a monkey)

"bra-loo" (for an elephant)

"rrrrr" (for a tiger/lion)

mi (milk)

coo-coo (cookie)

ah-don (all done)

pees (please--although I mostly just sign this one)

chip

cra-ca (cracker)

cheese (the food and for a camera)

na-na (banana)

poon (spoon)

choo-choo (train)

car

tru (truck)

tractor

bus

dig (digger)

dum (dump truck or dump as I dump the truck bed)

shoes

keys

ba (ball)

no (nose)

tum (tummy)

be (bee-bo--that's my belly button thanks to The Belly Button Book)

uh-oh

and I still sign "more" and made up my own signs for "napkin" and "airplane"

So Mom, judging by the almost 40 words I have learned to express in the last few weeks, I think I'm on track. So relax already! You'll be wishing I'd just stop talking so you can have some peace and quiet soon enough...

What do you do when it's 102? (day 2)

This time we went to Summit Waves!



We played in the kid's pool, rode the lazy river, jumped and floated in the deep adult pool and watched Mom and Dad go down the water slides (Jack and I were too short).

Did I mention there were water slides for us too?



They were sooooooo fun!



Jack was really good at the water cannons



We had a blast...


...and couldn't even keep our eyes open for the ride home...

What do you do when it's 102? (day 1)

You stay inside and play with the ever-favorite BEANS!



Then you head to Bass Pro for a tasty dinner and some boat drivin'



What can we do tomorrow?

Best buds

Quiet moments...

Or loud splashes...



Or crazy spins...



Me and Jack are best buds!

Look what the neighbors have!

It had been a while since we got together with the Phillips and Thomas families, so we decided to bar-b-q.

And play with their GIANT waterslide!



Awesome, just awesome!


Wes and I both had a good time.

Actually, I had a GREAT time!



When can we come over again, Conner and Maggie?

Getting rid of "the cow"

For a while now, our downstairs guest toilet has made a strange sound when flushed. We affectionately refer to it as "the cow." We make jokes about it, asking who let Bessie in or if anyone has fed her today.

As funny and enduring as "the cow" may be, it was time for her to go. She was scaring our guests.

Dad and I set to work. Well, Dad worked; I supervised.



And Wes watched.



Hmm, Dad. Are you doing this right?



After I read the instructions to him (or made up what I thought they might say), things really started clicking.

"The cow" is gone now. But she'll not be forgotten.

Budding architect

My interpretation of the new tower being built at Mom's work.


Awesome, right?

Swimming with friends

Today we met some new friends.

Asher and Eli came to swim with us.

Their mom works with our mom.

It was pretty great.

Eli and Wes are the same age.

So they hung out.

And Asher (or "that boy" as I like to call him) is my age

so we hung out.

Or should I say "jumped around..."

Awesome.

After a full morning of swimming,

we hit Panera for lunch.

New friends, pool time, and mac and cheese?

Days don't get much better than this!

Curfew

Aaron and I sat on the deck last night, enjoying the new sectional (and trying not to dissolve in the heat). When we went upstairs to bed at about 11pm, Jack sat up in his bed as we walked by. Awesome. A 3 year old still awake 3 hours after bedtime.

I went in to talk to him and tuck in back in.

Jack: I didn't know where you guys were.
Mom: We were out on the deck. We would never leave you. We are always around.
Jack: I was sleeping on the stairs because I couldn't hear you.
Mom: You were sleeping on the stairs?
Jack: Yes. With my pillow and blanket.

At this point, I thought maybe he was talking a bit in his sleep since his pillow and blanket had obviously not been moved from the bed...

Mom: This pillow?
Jack: No, that one. (pointing to the other side of the bed) And the blanket.

I look on the other side of the bed and sure enough, his little train pillow and Thomas blanket are folded up neatly on the other side.

Mom (in disbelief): You slept on the stairs???
Jack: I was worried about you.

Guess Mom and Dad shouldn't stay out too late anymore. We're keeping Jack up at night...

Royals up close and personal

Tonight, Dad's cousin Bam invited us and all the other Millers (Grandma Phyllis's family) to go to the Royals game.

So we all headed out...



Wes and Grandpa lookin' good!



Little did we know we were going to be sitting in the Dugout Suite!!!


Yep, that would be third base right there!

It was sooooooo cool! We sat right next to the Detroit Tigers. There were all-you-could-eat hotdogs and nachos. And lots of tasty beverages.

We all had a really great time. We caught up on all the family happenings and gossip...



And spent some quality time with Uncle Ron...



And guess what?


The Royals even won!

Thanks, Bam! Can't wait for the next Miller event!

Weston's first big boy haircut

My curls were getting a little unruly, so Mom took me to get my first real haircut.

It went really well! I sat really still...


And before I knew it, it was done!

The sucker was the best part.


On to the next milestone!

4th of July at the Lake

We headed to the lake for a 5 day vacation!

There was a lot of swimming...



Jack's first time tubing (Chelsea and Jake helped him through)...



Driving the boat...



Playing on the beach...



And just some general hanging around in the water...



With my feet up even!



We threw rocks with Dad, too.



And then, there we the long awaited FIREWORKS!!!

Jack drug his dump truck FULL of them up to the road.



They were a little loud!



But before long, everyone was into it.



I was in bed, but Jack got to help out, picking the order of the show. Check out the loot...



Jack said it was better with head gear and his new friend Megan.



We rode 4-wheelers around the yard...






...And had some general silliness.






It was a great long weekend.



Happy 4th of July!!!