Audrey Turns Four Months!

What can I say about the sweetest four month old around?  She is such a good baby! She has started to roll a bit and has some teeth coming in we think. She is very easy going and laid back.  She loves her big brothers and tolerates all the "love" that they give her;)  The three of them would do anything for her and jump at the chance to care for her.  Noah can dress her and change her diapers (supervised of course) and he can get her to smile and stop crying like nobody else.  James is constantly saying, "look, Audrey is smiling at me!" with a huge smile on his face. Ben continues to be her protector when the other two get what he perceives as too close he is not afraid to push them away.  He has also figured out how to, as gently as is possible for Ben, put the pacifier into her mouth:)

Gabe's First Week at Home & Connecticut Trip!

Gabe is finally done and we are more than thrilled to have him under the same roof as us!  We took full advantage showing him around the new "neighborhood", the area and our property.  It has been quite warm so the pool has gotten great use. More than anything I am probably enjoying being able to relax in the mornings having another set of hands around. We discovered the fantastic and cheap movie theater in town, which we were bold enough to take the entire family to... everyone did so well, it was the first enjoyable movie going experience we have had:) It helped that there were only a few other people in the theater on a beautiful and HOT Monday afternoon. Monsters University was a great movie for both kids and adults, we would highly recommend it.  After the movie we fed the kids supper and took them out for ice cream.

Gabe had another episode of atrial fibrilation last Wednesday and had to be cardioverted again... he is totally fine and we are very greatful he suffers no ill effects from this, but it is getting a bit old.  This time around we were in Wilton so Gabe was able meet his future co workers at the Franklin Memorial Hospital ED.  They all kept asking him if it was a test;)

Last weekend Grampy and Grammy Civiello came to visit and play.  We showed them around downtown, got some ice cream, hit up Reny's and our great local book store.  On Sunday we took a trip to visit friends in Connecticut.  Staying two nights we were able to spend some time visiting, playing and shopping at IKEA.  Thanks Melman family!

Other than that we have just been picking away at projects outside, getting things set up inside... and most importantly enjoying the beautiful summer weather!   

Summerfest 2013

The kids and I usually travel to East Millinocket each year for the "Summerfest", Gabe seems to be working or off at the family golf tournament.  The kids and I traveled up Wednesday night and stayed until lunch on Friday... we had all had enough by then and were REALLY REALLY looking forward to celebrating Gabe's last day at work... he didn't get home until after I went to bed... oh well, at least he is done and here today for a long summer vacation!

Until Friday mid-morning, when the breakdowns began, the kids were having a really great time;) We got to visit Uncle Jon and family at the barn where Noah decided to get rid of his training wheels. We also got to spend some great time hanging out with Grammy and Grampy Civiello as well as Nannie and Grandpa.  The highlight on Friday morning was the soap spray down by the fire department... Ben wanted nothing to do with it, but did have fun playing around the bubbles.

First Few Weeks, Fourth of July & Vermont Trip

Well, we have almost made it to the three week mark, just a few more days until Gabe is done work and actually lives in the house with us.  It has been a whirlwind mess of chaos, but we have made the best of it and will be glad when he is here!  The kids and I continue to pick away at getting rooms set up.  The next up was Benjamin's big boy bed.... the movers lost the pieces to put the bed back together, so for now it is just a mattress on the floor, but he is in love with his new dinosaur sheets:)  He is doing so well in his own room and bed, lets hope this continues.  

The kids and I have been taking several day trips to Bangor to visit my dad who was hospitalized with some cardiac issues and was there for the 4th of July.  The kids had a great time at the parade and visiting with the Witham & Pelkey clans as well as Uncle J-me and Uncle Jon! Audrey had a great time entertaining all at the hospital including my dad as she just loved his bright red socks and couldn't stop grabbing for them and smiling. Dad is doing much better now recovering from a stent placement, but still a long week + for all involved.... I hope this hospital thing is not a trend for the summer!  

Last weekend Gabe had 2 days off, so (instead of staying home like normal people) we traveled to Vermont for a get together with my former work family as well as a send of for our good friends moving to Washington state for a few years. Ben found his future vehicle and wouldn't get out of the driver's seat.  It was super quick, but a great visit... we will miss you Yukica family!!!!  I am sure our kids will be ready for a cross country adventure in the next year;)  

Amidst all of the traveling Noah lost another tooth (2 down and 3 more loose to go), we took an over night trip to Portland to visit Gabe, a day trip to Portland for dentist visits for N & J and well child checks for J & A, N & J are taking swimming lessons at the lake 4 days a week, and we are really just trying to get settled into the community here and loving every minute of it:)

First Days in Our New Home

Our house in Portland sold much faster than we had anticipated.... that leaves the kids and I living in the new house of 3 weeks while Gabe finishes up work.... I think we can make it;) A huge thank you to Gabe's sister and program director for giving him a place to stay during this time.  Gabe was able to be here for our first weekend in the house which gave us time to unpack and set up "enough" as well as explore the area.  Farmington was having a summer kick-off festival where the kids got arm paintings, rode ponies, fed the goats and road on the ferris wheel.... Ben is quite adventurous and does all of these things without hesitation... I think we should be worried;)  

Noah lost a tooth on the first morning in the new house and yes, the tooth fairy did find him. The kids and I spent the first few days exploring our new property, enjoying the beautiful weather and the pool.  No one wanted to get into the pool initially, so after 10 minutes or so James agreed to be thrown in... it was not warm. We are very fortunate to have what seems to be a really well thought out and landscaped yard that has been a bit neglected in recent years, but with a bit of work should be very enjoyable.  Our first findings were a cool robin's nest with chicks in the apple tree just off the deck, we also discovered some strawberry bushes and a rhubarb plant... sounds like good summer treats to me!