Weekend Fun

Alek had drill this weekend in both the Sault and in Ishpeming. Friday night was the Freedom Salute Ceremony in the Sault where Alek gave out awards to all of his soldiers who went on the deployment. A soldier deployed for the first time received a flag in a display case, second timers received a pendulum clock, and third timers (Alek) received a plaque. (He also has the other two awards from his previous deployments.) Alek gave a nice speech and thanked the community for their gracious support and also a general was there who had many nice things to say about him. I am so proud to be married to this amazing man!

Saturday Alek and I left for Ishpeming while Dane stayed with Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger. Dane had fun playing with them and Grandma Mary and Aunt Abby too. But I think I am the one who had the most fun because I was baby-free and could do whatever I wanted. So Alek and I were able to go out to dinner and see a movie. But the best part was being able to sleep in and just lay around in the hotel room. Awwwww! It was so nice! Thank goodness for grandparents!

This weekend Dane started saying, "Oh my!" and "Oh boy!" It is really cute to hear him say it =) I wish I could get it on video!



Getting ready for bath time


Red Shirt Friday - eating apple and watching cartoons


Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger at Frank's Restaurant


Hi Grandma


Alek giving his speech


Getting his picture taken with the general and his family


Dane at Project Playground


He loves to pretend to kick me in the butt when swinging


Yay! Grandpa's tractor. Vroom! Vroom!


Grandpa put a rubber band on his head just like he does to the cat


Visiting Aunt Shirley and Uncle Al


Yee Haw!


Strawberry Shortcake. Yum!


Dane being a good boy as always for grandma


Dane's grandpa is Bob Willson. This man was one of Aunt Shirley's guests and his name is Bob Wilson, so grandma got a picture of the two handsome men.

Jungle Java

Today the house we are renting had a showing in the afternoon, so we decided to get out and go to Jungle Java. It is a huge coffee/snack shop with lots of jungle gyms and play activities for children. This one recently opened in Clinton Township. The past few times we went there was hardly anyone there, but today it was loaded with children everywhere! We probably won't go again on a weekend when the kids are out of school.

Here are some pictures from today. I realize you can't see Alek and Dane in all of the pictures, but you get the idea of what it looked like inside. Dane loves it here and gets super excited when we tell him we are going =)

18-19 Month Milestones for Dane

18 Months - very independent. Wants to feed himself and I can’t even have my hand near his plate or he will get mad and push it away.

18 Months - gives kisses with a smacking sound

18 Months - notices when things are not right or are confusing - will give you the “what the hell look.”

18.5 Months - started saying “No” and sometime it is “No! No! No!”

19 Months - started saying “me, me, me” if he wants something that I have when we are playing together.

19 Months - will say “poop” when he poops, but if I ask him if he wants me to change his diaper he will tell me no and run away.

19 Months - does not like the feel of a wet diaper. Will squat and pull on the diaper like he is uncomfortable.

19 Months - peeing larger amounts at one time so controlling bladder muscles more.

19 Months - separation anxiety kicking in towards me. I can't leave him with anyone without him crying and saying, "whe momma ah?" (where's mommy at?)

19 Months - learned to climb baby gates

18 Month Videos

This past weekend I went to a Mom-to-Mom sale and found this toy horse for $5. What a deal!



This fish was in the basement and we finally put batteries in it. Dane had just woken up from his nap, so he was a little shy.



Every night while I am getting dinner ready and afterwards, he pulls up a chair and tries to do the dishes. A lot of the time he just plays in the water with cups and gets all wet. We are going to remind him 10 years from now how much he used to beg to do the dishes.



Another chore he begs to do and yes, we will remind him of this too =)

Drill Weekend

This weekend Alek had drill in Ishpeming, so Dane and I were able to visit grandma and grandpa in Da Soo. He had loads of fun! We went swimming at the Park Inn (they have a nice, warm salt water pool), we went to the Bahweting carnival and Dane won cookies on the cake walk, we went to church where Dane was able to play on his favorite toy- the spring horse, and we went to the gym at LSSU so Dane could run around and play his current favorite sport - basketball.

Alek came to the Sault Sunday night and just the two of us went out to eat at the Palace Salon while grandma and grandpa watched Dane and got him ready for bed. It was so nice to go out on a "date" together as we have not done it since our aniversary in December. Thanks mom and dad!

Dane is 18.5 months old.

Bedtime Routine - 18 Months

Every night I get Dane ready for bed, and then he hollers for Alek to come read him some books.

Weekend Fun

Dane turned 18 months this weekend. He is growing up so fast!