The North Room: Backtracking...{Summer}

The start of summer began literally the Friday that school let out. It was a half day and that evening Joseph, Charbear and I flew to Houston for our friend Spencer's birthday. It was a fun trip and I felt totally free. Free from the stress of work, shows, grades, and end of year testing. No more teaching for me for at least one year. Now I just teach Charley colors, songs, and animal sounds :) Not glamorous, doesn't pay well, but VERY rewarding!

We spent a lot of time outside this summer (while I could still bare the heat...remember...I was pregnant at this time :) and Charley loves playing in any amounts of water and can say "swim", even though it sounds more like "sweeeeem".

Playing in the water with baby Jack Jack :)

Outside. And the boots. Many days spent playing in her new playhouse from Grand-mom Jen wearing those boots!

After a little bit of finger painting Charley soaks up some rays in her pool!

For my birthday in 2013 I was desperately missing my sister. Like crying over it and all. (Hormonal much?) My birthday was on a Friday this year and Joseph kept telling me that my gift wouldn't get here until Monday. I was SO bummed about this. Mainly because our UPS/FedEx guys don't deliver until well after 7pm, so to me that was that much more waiting. But alas, Monday came, and around 2pm Valerie pulls up...with none other than my fabulous sisterella! Jojo and Steph and planned for her to fly down all along! It was THE BEST gift I could have ever asked for!

Terrible photo quality. Magical family quality :)

Our "cheese" faces while eating in Ft. Worth for Father's Day Weekend!

We took some small trips to DFW and Austin and a big vacay with Meemer Val and Pawpaw Joe to California. It was HELL getting to Cali, as United Airlines was sucking majorly with every.single.flight delayed by at least 3 hours! At one point we were all stuck in Denver, waiting to board a midnight flight to LAX, which we would then either have to stay the night or drive another 3 hours to San Luis Obispo where Jarred and Bree live. I'd had it and knew that my cranky toddler just couldn't handle any more. So we talked with customer service, got some food vouchers, caught a shuttle to the Holiday Inn (paid for by United, thankyouverymuch!) and then caught an early flight to SFO then to SLO the following day.

Cali was a blast! I feel bad because I know I was sort of moody, as whenever Charley's routine gets messed up I get really frazzled and worried that she will be cranky. Of course I want everyone to see the sweet, fun Charley, so I just stay wound up the whole time. Ya. I need to let go. SLO is a beautiful place and we all really enjoyed spending time with Uncle J and Auntie Bree.

Finally. Sweet, sweet West Coast.

On the beach. Surprisingly, this child does NOT like the beach. I think the noise of the waves scare her and she doesn't like to get her hands or feet dirty. ::sigh::

Our little family.

Eating at a restaurant in Santa Barbara where we saw Jason Segal. For reals! Joseph was so giddy like a little girl he spilled his drink :) It was awesome!

The grandparents and a grumpy Char.

Two peas in a pod right there!

Us on the beach. And that beer gut looking thing is baby Liza :)

After Cali we tried to spend some of Joseph's off weekends at home. Since the beginning of summer we had been gone every weekend he was off. So we needed some time to just chill.

Charley and her swimming pool and Meemer and Pawpaw's house. (notice how beautiful and lush and green their grass is. Mine is not :(

The kid LOVES to swing!

In July we bit the bullet and decided to try and get Charley moved into a big girl bed so that we could use the crib for baby Liza. I was worried about a total meltdown, but like always, she took it like a champ, helping Pawpaw put the new bed together and super eager to sit in her "big bed".

Helping Pawpaw

Charley and her new big girl bed!

Right before a weekend trip to Austin we had our 20 week sonogram that revealed...

Charley and Liza will be the best of friends! I hope!

Our dear friends Aman (and Juliana-not pictured) and their beautiful girls Alena and Samaya. Charley loved playing with the big girls and their big girl toys!

Rounding up the end of summer was all about getting Charley ready for a Mother's Day Out program. I had been noticing that when she was around other kids, more often than not, Char would play by herself. Total social outcast...by her own doing. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to socialize her with other young kiddos. Here are some pre MDO pictures of the new goodies she got to prepare :)

New backpack and lunchbox! She was soooo excited! (Funny thing though, now she won't wear the backpack?)

From our Austin trip. Out of order pics...no biggie.

In late July, Joseph and some guy friends had a trip planned. And always being left behind with the babies, Nicole and I put our feet down and decided we would do something fun that weekend too! Of course we brought our babies, but the getaway in New Braunfels was a blast!

Charley and little Jackson in NB

Since New Braunfels is so close to Austin, Char and I hopped up North 35 to stay with Auntie Step Step and Weees for a few days. We really tried to stay inside as much as possible as it was SO stinkin' freakin' HOT! It was still fun though!!!!

Charbear and Auntie Step Step swimming!

Finally, our last trip of the summer, Mommy & Daddy got to take a no kids vacation with Spencer and Nicole to Nashville! So. Much. Fun! Actually, Joseph and I decided we liked Nashville waaaay better than Vegas. Gosh are we old?