Boys 18 mos. appt

Max is 26 lbs. Nick is 20 lbs. Max does NOT like the doctor, even when he is just checking his breathing. Nick doesn't mind. Max wanted to get out of there ASAP. So did Nick.

July Catch Up

So, we had such an insanely busy July, we didn't do it justice on our blog. Mike does the best he can, but I (Stephanie) should contribute a bit more. Thus, my first blog!

July 5-11 Whirlwind trip to Austin, New Braunfels/Schlitterbahn for Cearley/Key family reunion, San Antonio for Virginia's wedding. Had a GREAT time. Lots of bonding time, water sports, bbq-ing, and Wii competition. Gracie's birthday was celebrated there for the first time. Her actual birthday is July 17th, so we made cupcakes at home for that.

July 26 - 27 We had the family (my side included, this time) in town the next weekend for her Pool Party. What a great time - she had her cousins and friends all around her. The plan was to have her leave that afternoon with my sister, Uncle Matt, and the cousins to go to The Woodlands for 5 days. It was to be the longest she's ever been away from us, but, we knew how good it would be for her, my mom and us. Well, the time came to leave and she was having NONE of that, screaming, crying, etc. This really equalled the excitment of the whole day, her exhaustion and it being past her naptime. She slept a SOLID 2 1/2 hours (all the while, my brother was stuck at the car dealer - another long story..)and was ready to blaze to Houston upon waking!

The week was very difficult for Mike and I, missing her so much. But, she LOVED it! She swam almost every day in Yiayia's pool, played with her cousins, went to her very first movie in the theatre with Amalia and Yiayia - UP! Meanwhile, I was just counting the days, as believe it or not, it was very quiet around the house without her. We left bright and early Friday morning for The Woodlands, as I was planning a surprise "Diaper Shower" for my sister. I was brave and attempted making a diaper cake and it came out so cute! We told Ange that the gathering at mom's house was for her birthday (which was the next day) and managed to pull off a surprise for her. As nice as it was, it's still a bitter-sweet thing to have a gathering and my dad not be there. We all had moments of disbelief that he wasn't there. I think Andrea really enjoyed the Shower and better yet, the 4th baby Balfour will be set for at least 6 months with diapers! After all the hooplah of food, cake (provided so generously by Athena) and presents, we all spent the afternoon swimming. Gracie had improved her swimming so much over that week. We were all amazed that she didn't need her floaties at all! Papou would have been proud.

On our way back to Wylie, Mike and I both agreed we needed some non-travelling R&R time. Unfortunately, the R&R turned into a month of home improvements - as you'll see in Mike's blogs.

Mike's birthday is July 31st and our anniversary is the 28th of July. For whatever reason, those two dates get sorely overlooked every year. We did have a "date night" to celebrate our anniversary, though. He is such a hard working husband, father and provider. I need to take more time to plan better to celebrate him. They say "Everything happens for a reason." Well, our opportunity to go to Austin City Limits Festival this year and go backstage to meet our all-time (mine:) favorite Dave Matthews Band was taken away. We're very sad, but are still planning on going to Austin the same weekend and Terri has agreed to babysit while we go camping. This will be his birthday party - just he and I. First time in 5 years. Happy Birthday, love!

Another project finished

The screened in patio project is finished. Technically, it needs another coat of white all the way around. Steph thinks it could use another coat of green, too. But I am calling it quits. For now. We need to do the floor, but it will wait.

1st Day of School

Gracie's first day of pre-K is today. She'll be going to First Baptist Wylie every Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8 - 12 NOON. She doesn't know anyone in her class (unlike last year), so it will be interesting to see how she assimilates. She was very excited this morning when she woke up.

Our prayer for her is that she continues to find joy in learning and that she will grow mentally, emotionally and socially.

We love you, Gracie.

Meet the teacher

The Cearley 5 went to Gracie's Meet the Teacher night last night at FBS. I was impressed with the whole operation. It's going to be a good, healthy environment for Gracie to develop. She'll be going 3 days a week (M, W, F) from 8 - NOON. Since she went 2 days a week last year, this will be the perfect transition since she'll go all 5 days a week next year (full days no less). Kindergarten, wow. Getting ahead of myself...

They've got a really good curriculum. She'll be exposed more to music and PE, plus she'll start learning on a computer. I try to teach her things on the computer at home, and she gets the fact that typing on the keys produces letters on the screen. But beyond that, I don't think she understands how it works. She'll learn, which I am happy about.

I feel like she's going to be in a good place, developmentally, this year. Last year's exposure to a classroom setting and everything she learned should really help her. Steph's work with her can't go unnoticed, either.

Although it's tough to come to terms with her growing up, it's comforting to know that she is growing up good.

Gracie's check up

Gracie had her 4-year old, pre-school well visit yesterday. She weighs 34 lbs, is 3'5" tall and has a little bit of her dad's eye genes. The eye test where she had to cover her eyes produced slight concern (20/50 in her left eye). We'll get her checked out by the same eye doctor who took care of (and operated on) Max's cyst. Then, we had the shots, which didn't go well at all. She had to get 4 and after trying to reason with a 4-year old about shots, I learned very quickly that the best way to have those administered is to hold her down with the help of the nurse and just do it. She didn't like it (which is a kind way to put it), but by the time she was on the way home, sucking on that sucker, I think she was over it. The swine flu vaccine is coming up at the end of October and that is 2 shots. I don't expect it to go much better.

These boys

Ah, boys. Growing boys to be exact. Our boys have, overnight it seems, turned into 2 Tazmanian Devils. They destroy anything in their path and sometimes each other and/or themselves. They climb. They fall. They hit. They break stuff. They run. Everything's a game, even they know it shouldn't be. And they know. These are smart boys. I suppose not all boys are smart at this age, but the Cearley boys, they're smart. The phase of sweet, little, fairly calm boys has now passed and as far as calm goes, I don't expect it to return. Oy vei.

Pics of the kids

Backyard Project Pics

Gracie

Gracie loves to peel the wrapper off of colors. She's liked since she could actually grip the paper.