Graham had really good swim lessons on Monday and Tuesday evenings and we had two more date nights before swim class. He is getting more strokes and techniques and is just really into it, which is just wonderful! On Wednesday, he got to wear his swim trunks to school and had a really fun time during water play, so that was neat.

I headed out of town Wednesday and Dean headed to the doctor, he had a bacterial infection and ear infection, so he got some meds and headed to pick up the boys and then home. This was their first night for the three of them without me, it all went smooth, other than Dean not feeling great. Thursday was a long day for them as Dean picked both of them up and then they got something to eat and then went to swim lessons. They got home late and needless to say were happy when I got home Friday afternoon! I was able to pick both boys up early and they were very happy to see me. Graham had a rough week for listening at school, particularly when I was gone, so not sure if that is why or not, but hopefully this week will be better!

Evan weighed in at 19 pounds for his six month weight check and finished all his veggies and started on pears for the weekend. He has really improved on how good he is eating, so we will have a nice update for his six month appointment coming up here in about a week. He is rolling over to his belly like crazy, but still struggling with flipping back over and he only sits for very short spurts and then falls over. His second bottom tooth popped through while I was gone, it looks like it is coming in fast to catch that first tooth and if he is anything like Graham, there will be others to follow very quickly!

On Saturday, we headed to Wytheville for a playdate at the pool with Carol and her kids and Stacy and the girls and mama joined us as well. We had a great time and the kids, all seven of them, play so well together......well Evan napped, but he was still cooperative to let the big girls hold him and pose for pics! It was a lot of fun and the highlight of the afternoon was Graham going off the diving board in to 12 feet of water. He was fearless and wanted to do it over and over. He did have to wear a lifejacket, but he was eager to do it without one so that he could stay under water!!!! We went back by mom's and Graham got to play with Lillian some so that was fun. She just loves on Graham and runs to him when she sees him, it is so sweet! And, she loves to touch Evan's nose and say "baby,baby."

On Sunday, we headed to the lake and took Tyler, Bobby, Josephine and Vivienne with us, so that was lots of fun. Graham was very excited to take a friend from school to the lake with us. Everyone had lots of fun in the pool and at the beach. Dean took Graham and Josephine out in the kayak and they were so cute. Graham put his arms around her and held on to her tight, they had a blast! After lots of sand and water fun, we hit the pool again and then called it a day. It was nearly 100 degrees both days, so we all got our fill of the sun! We are all getting a pretty good tan and Graham has even had freckles start to pop out across his nose! Not sure if there is any correlation to him being in the sun so much or not, but mine always pop more when I am in the sun! So, I guess we will see how many he ends up with!

We had another jam packed week! On Tuesday evening, Graham and I had our date night at McDonald's before swim lessons and then were greatly disappointed to arrive at the pool to rain and canceled swim lessons! They re-scheduled it for next Monday, but Graham was very upset and offered to use his umbrella! Poor little guy. We bounced back with a playdate for the three of us and Tammy on Wednesday evening. Tammy picked up dinner and we had a picnic at a different playground than we had been to before. Graham loves going to new playgrounds and Evan was all eyes watching Graham run from thing to thing on the playground. We ended with a walk and Graham pushing Evan around in his stroller! He truly embraces every part of being the big brother!

On Thursday, we went to CiCi's pizza before swimming and then made it back in the pool. Graham and I are really making our rounds at the eating joints and getting lots of mommy and Graham time through swim lessons! Dean picks up Evan and they head on home. That just seems to work out best for all of us. Evan finished up squash and moved on to peas, next is green beans and then we will move to fruit. He is still eating a bowl of cereal each morning at school and then one jar of food in the evening. He is just under 19 pounds! He is still a great little napper and sleeper and loves to curl up on his side with his thumb in his mouth and sleep. That one little tooth that popped through on the bottom about two weeks ago is coming on through more and more, but no sign of any others yet. It is so cute!

On Saturday, we headed out to run some errands and put Evan in a shopping cart and restaurant high chair for the first time. He leans over a little, not quite steady enough but he definitely liked it. Graham of course thought it was pretty cool too, ha! Evan is still rolling over to his belly like crazy, but just can't get back over many times and we have to flip him back and then he flips right back!!!!

On Sunday, my parents, Kenneth, Lillian and Tammy joined us at the lake. We got there early and stayed most of the day, and had a blast as always. Graham enjoyed showing off his swimming, he is just doing so wonderful, it is amazing and Evan napped a couple times and then joined us in the pool. We had beach time and kayak time as well and just had a great day! Everyone was exhausted and took long late naps (well, except me, ha!). This week is a big week. Graham has swim lessons on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and it is swim day at school on Wednesday. Also, on Wednesday, I have to go to DC for meetings through Friday afternoon, so Dean will have both boys solo overnight for the first time. Hopefully everything will go very smoothly, including the adventure to swim lessons on Thursday!

We finishes our 4th of July weekend on Monday with another day at the lake, we just went to the pool and spent about three hours really working on Graham's swim lessons. By the time we left, he was jumping in the pool, without us catching him, and going under and then coming up and swimming to us! The main thing his teacher said he was rusty on was going under water with his whole face and head, so by the time we left on Monday, he was totally over that!

We headed to swim lessons on Wednesday evening and Thursday evening and Graham did great. He had two other girls in the lesson, but each turn went really quick and he got a lot of time in the water. He was so proud and excited of how he was doing. He told me after class he liked being a good swimmer! He is really enjoying himself and learning alot, so that is just great to see!

Evan did great with his cereal each day at daycare. We switched from carrots to sweet potatoes and Evan just kept gobbling them up, so this week we will switch to squash! He is still rolling over on his stomach like crazy and finally has flipped back over a time or time, but mostly still needs us to flip him back over. He weighed in at 18 and a half pounds and continues to get more and more alert and playful every day!

On Saturday, we had a big outing, we went to dinner and for a playdate at my co-worker Tyler's house. Her daughter, Jospehine has been in Graham's class for awhile now and she has a little sister just a few months older than Evan. So, we headed to their house for dinner and had a great evening. Tyler had the idea to dress the kids in their sibling t-shirts, which of course made for great photos! Graham and Josephine of course didnt need any time to warm up to each other and were both raring to go when we got there. They played on the playset outside, inside in the playroom and even ate dinner at a special little kids table. Evan and Vivienne bonded as much as two little ones could, which was cute, ha! We stayed past bedtimes and everyone was worn out when we left, just a sign of what a great time we had and that we must do it again soon!

On Sunday, we headed back to church for the first time in a few weeks. Everyone was glad to see us back and of course had a fit over how much Evan had changed and how much bigger he had gotten. He even sat in the high chair in the fellowship hall after service during refreshments and everyone had a fit over him and he just handed out big smiles! Evan was awake all through service and made some "noises," and Graham was quiet when he came in for communion, so that was a bit of a reversal, ha! We left there and headed to the pool for a couple hours. Graham was all gung ho on practicing his swimming some more and we just continue to be amazed at how good he is getting. We are really excited about it and wonder if we have even found his "sport!" Another busy but fun weekend for us! Next weekend will be more of the same.

Evan continued to eat his cereal once each day this past week and seemed to start getting the hang of it. On Saturday, we gave him carrots and he gobbled those right up too! It is so hard to believe that it is already time for him to be eating food! This week at daycare, they are going to start giving him cereal as well and then once we have worked through the veggies, we will send those in as well. Evan is rolling over like crazy, but gets stuck on his tummy and can't seem to flip back over so we have to rescue him. He is still sleeping a good bit also and loves to just curl up on his side with his thumb and go to sleep. He weighed in at 18 pounds on Sunday! We still have him in the infant carrier carseat mainly because of how much he sleeps in, but it is getting so heavy!!!!

On Saturday, Graham and I had a big date! We went to the Salem Fair for the afternoon! It was super hot and so we figured that Evan would just lay in the stroller and be hot while Graham went from ride to ride, so Dean and Evan and stayed home and it gave me and Graham a chance for some one on one time! We had a blast. A friend from work and her little girl met up with us and Graham showed her the ropes. He rode about 20 rides, a few that I got to ride with him and he also got to ride a pony, a camel and bungee jumped!!!!! Graham was no fear the whole day and even wanted to go on the adult rides! We had lots of treats and finished off the day with a big ice cream cone with sprinkles! We were there about 4 hours and were totally exhausted when we left!!! It was a great adventure for Graham!

We are off on Monday, so we are gonna head back to the pool, just to practice some swimming and then call it a holiday weekend!