Working Backwards....

I once heard a strategy for scrapbooking is so start where you are and work backwards, so I'm testing out that philosophy with our family blog. Hopefully I will catch up our summer pictures and stories before it is a long memory (which it almost feels like!). So memories of summer vacation, moving (happily a distant memory), ear tubes #3 for little Paul and the start of the school year (Kindergarten for Paul, Preschool for Kaitlyn) will wait for another day.

We are absolutely loving our new home- more space, a wonderful yard (which means a riding mower... vrooomm...) and about 6 minutes to work (delightful)- four minutes if you make every traffic light.

The kids and I spruced up the mulch around the driveway and street... Paul helped out the entire time and Kaitlyn decided to rest under a tree in the shade about halfway through.

We think the kids finally understood what it means to have more space to safely play outside and in the driveway this weekend. They figured out a fun game with the tricycle and a red ride-on car, which was a favorite when they were younger. Our little engineer connected the bungee cords (which had been holding the bucket onto the back, but lost the battle) and got things started....

Paul caught this series on film.... going...

 Gone!

No injuries, just squeals of delight! A "helmets required for the passenger" rule was quickly added :)

"Little" Paul's Preschool Graduation

Tonight we celebrated an important milestone (which I still can't quite believe!)- little Paul's graduation from the Growing Place. We enjoyed a wonderful picnic-style evening with his friends and classmates, many of whom we've known since they were just babies. He'll still be going to 'school' until later this summer, but it was a fun night to celebrate our little "big" kids.

Paul and his buddy and wonderful teacher, Miss Amy.

 They had a great area where the kids could wear a formal graduation robe- with a hand-painted sign by one of the parents!

 Wow! A good picture of all of us!

 This picture kind of amazes me.... Paul and Elizabeth Smith, daughter of my dear friend Mary- how did we get to parents of kindergarten students? Mary and I began our jobs in the Gettysburg admissions office one day apart in 2000... how far we've come!

 Accepting his diploma from his teachers, Miss Amy and Miss Stacy. 

 He will miss them so much!

The Preschool C class of 2012: 

Congratulations to our buddy Paul!

Hello summer!

Somehow it is already June... but we're still here! Paul has recovered well from his back surgery at the end of March and is walking and exercising as best he can (after about 5-6 weeks off work to recover). 

Little Paul has 'graduation' from Preschool later this week (aahhh!) and has finished a fantastic spring at TBall. Kaitlyn continues to be full of energy and was a great fan at tball games (and practices) this spring. They have also both been very creative, including making a train one night- with a kitchen, chef and conductor.

 Kaitlyn had a friend over to play this weekend and Paul decided to be a firefighter- and hunt them down. The Giants helmet was the closest thing he could find (after a bit of frustration) to a firefighter mask.

 I found them! They're hiding in the corner! (cue the screams and squeals in the background)

 And of course it's watermelon season!

Welcome to little Paul's Tball league- here was a hit! 

 Waiting to catch the ball while playing first base. 

It was really fun to have some special guests in early June as Uncle Chris and Uncle Ryan were in town for a golf tournament (daddy Paul rode in the cart....)

 Paul also had t-ball super fans as Aunt Char and Charles were able to make it to many of the games. 

 We also had a beautiful double rainbow the other day after dinner- it was magnificent. 

The Giants helmet returns for another surprise outfit...this is a catcher's outfit (at 7am!). He used his backpack as the chest protector.... later his soccer shinpads came out as part of the ensemble, just like the guys who play for the Mets wear for their knees/shins. 

Long time, no post...

We're back- or at least attempting to catch up on some big milestones the past few months/weeks... I thought that getting a great new laptop would make it easier to keep our blog updated :) 

The Giants won the superbowl!! We had a fun picnic dinner with the kids for the first part of the game, and Paul III found the hafltime show fascinating- lots of questions. Fortunately there was a big win and daddy couldn't have been more pleased. 

A few days after the superbowl we went to St. Augustine, FL, for a quick but great vacation to see Uncle Steve and Susan. Daddy shot a 91 on the golf course but also tweaked his back during the round (more to come on this subject)... The weather was "chilly" for FL but we headed to the beach twice which was wonderful. 

 

 

 

Kaitlyn turned 3!!.... she continued her tradition of wearing all of her gifts- at one point she had on her boots from Aunt Kerry, her new leggings from Gram and BB, and a new dress from mom and dad. It was a pretty low key birthday party and our little gal had a great time.

  

After months of waiting, we were so excited to welcome Benjamin Robert Redfern at the end of February- Paul III, Kaitlyn and I got to meet him when he was 2 weeks old (a completely sweet and happy baby!)... it was also neat to have Paul, Kaitlyn and Ben together with their Great Grandma T. 

 

 

 

Unfortunately the next few weeks will be a bit low key for our family. Paul's back "tweak" in early February ended up being a ruptured disc which has been causing some significant pain, numbness and weakness in his right leg (pressure on his nerves).

So, after more than six weeks of resting, minimal activity, physical therapy, muscle relaxers/painkillers, and some TLC, based upon his MRI about a week and  a half ago, he is headed this week to have the ruptured disc fragments "cleaned up." He expects to have 4-6 weeks recovering but the neurosurgeon is confident that this will alleviate the significant discomfort in his leg. Not sure when he'll be back on the golf course, though!