Summer fun and New skills

In the past couple weeks we've enjoyed a trip to the fair (I schooled Tony at archery), another boating outing, a couple movies at the drive in (Harry Potter and Captain America) and lots of dinner guests.  We are enjoying our sunny summer and getting to know people, places and activities in our area.  Monica is discovering her voice, most of the time imitating a bird of prey.  I can't believe she is almost 5 months old!  Tony is working hard on finishing a Theology of the Sacraments class and I am getting into gardening (just tomatoes and strawberries this year- don't be impressed). 

Monica is showing major teething signs including drooling,

chewing on everything and a little extra whining.

She is learning to play the piano.  Of course she's a musical genius.

And she can read.  It is possible to learn by osmosis.

I call this look the "zone."  There is no breaking her of this sometimes.

She is now sporting a Cindy Loo Who look.

Top Ten: Road Trip

These are the top ten things I learned when I took a last minute 3 day, 900 mile round trip road trip to Washington D.C. . . . with a 4 month old . . . by myself. 

10.  If you blink, you will miss Delaware.
9. The purpose of tolls is to keep people employed in construction, taking your money and passing out paper tickets.
8.  I NEED a GPS.
7. The Washington Monument  . . . looks nothing like the guy (with respects to Jeff Dunham and Achmed).
6. I'm sure glad Michelle Obama started a garden so the rest of us would know how.
5.  I am willing go to great lengths for my friends.
4.  Apparently going 15 mph over the posted speed limit earns you a spot in the slow lane.
3. I can and will pee anywhere.
2.  Listening to an inspirational talk about practicing the virtues of patience, generosity, peace, and reliance on God ensures that you will fail miserably at practicing those virtues when stuck in traffic with a screaming baby.
1.  Never do it again.

Camping

This past weekend we went camping for the first time with Monica and the first time for Tony and me together.  I remembered camping being easier as a child . . .   Could it have been because I wasn't responsible for the planning, packing, setting up, fire starting, cooking, cleaning and baby tending back then?  But the trip was an overall success and lots of fun.  It took less than 24 hours before Tony said, "Let's go camping on my next weekend (which is in two weeks)!"  Due to wet wood, lack of skills and baby needs, we must have started the fire about 8 times in the weekend, finally producing two successes.  We went for a short hike/stroll through the woods (true hiking in 90 degree weather didn't really appeal to me) and Monica went for her first "swim" in the lake.  Tony and I had a blast playing games, reading and telling stories around the campfire.  We are looking forward to doing it again sometime soon (after we practice our fire starting skills).

We are ready!

We might have brought the entire house with us. 
Luckily we remembered the baby.

First things first . . . bug spray.

All my friends who warned us to keep the baby warm while
camping have never been camping in summer in the north east. 
All the blankets (or even clothes) weren't neccessary.

Maybe if you hadn't gotten up at 6 am you would be so tired Monica.

Can we go to the beach now mom?

Hiking was hard work for her.

This picture makes her seem so grown up. 
Don't be fooled, she isn't even close to standing,
let alone crawling or sitting up.

Monica even joined in on the s'mores.