This & That -- Summer 2014 Edition

Today is a big day at the Zajkowski household. I signed Abby up for a Tuesday/Thursday 9:00-12:00 day school program beginning this Fall. We had a tour this morning and I felt good about everything I saw. The Director of the preschool ("Miss Diane") has been there since 1980! I think it will be good for Abby to spend a little more time with kids her age and since I'm kind of a wimp, 2 mornings/week is a good way for us to start. :) I'm excited about having devoted practice time set aside for me again, too!

Robert spent most of last week in Vegas for work and when he got home on Friday, he was called back in during the middle of the night and we basically haven't seen him since. He didn't see Abby at all on Friday or Saturday and he made it home just in time for bedtime on Sunday. Once things slow down we're going to reschedule Father's Day. So disappointing, but we're grateful for his job and proud of the work he does.

Since summer is here and it's miserably hot and humid, we've been looking for places to play indoors. Abby and I had a mommy/daughter date at Glazer Childrens Museum one afternoon last week. It seems like she "gets" more and more of the activities each time we go. There were two areas where she held still long enough for me to take some pictures with my phone: the (rubber) sand box and the gardening area.

"How does this thing work?"

We've also been doing a lot more "reading" lately. The other day when we were reading through her Animal Alphabet book we came across "A is for Alligator" and she jumped up, ran to her Melissa & Doug jungle animals puzzle, and excitedly matched the wooden alligator puzzle piece to the picture in the book. She was so proud of herself! She did the same thing when I read "G is for Giraffe" and "L is for Lion." Also, my mom gave her a Maisy book about Maisy tidying up the house and in the middle of reading about Maisy mopping the floor, Abby ran into the other room to get her own play mop. I love that she's making these connections!

Can you see her holding the book up? This is usually how she falls asleep.

She's all about smelling things lately, too. Scentsy wax is a big hit.

I thought this was a pretty clever way to give Baby a ride.

Shenanigans! She thought it was great fun to pull the crib out from the wall and stockpile all of her toys, animals and books. Ignore her nakedness -- we were trying on clothes that afternoon. :)

And one of my current favorites -- our little fashionista. Audrey Hepburn + a bit of silliness?

Finally, we love eating lemons these days.

Stay tuned for a post covering my parents' visit. They'll be here in a week!

Grandpa & Grandmama's Visit

We've had such a great time visiting with friends and family the past few months. Robert's parents were our most recent guests -- they arrived at the end of May and stayed a little over a week. 

Stan was in a terrible car accident on Abby's birthday seven months ago. He and Betty normally come down for Thanksgiving but they were unable to make the trip this past year due to Stan rehabbing his broken leg. It had been nearly a year since Abby had seen her Grandpa, so it made us all happy to see them together again.

Robert and his siblings have been working on a project the past few months to create a retirement shadowbox for their dad. Since Stan was a pilot, they used his unit patches to show his time in service as well as his award ribbons, aviator wings, and oak leaves. Robert had a U.S. flag flown in Afghanistan and a Navy flag flown by a P-3 squadron out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL. We are all so proud of his service, not limited to his years in the Navy and Naval Reserve, but also as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

(Please ignore the throw pillow backdrop!)

I know it's become a broken record on this blog, but we spent large amounts of time during their visit eating. Eating really good food! We covered pretty much every cuisine: Greek at Mykonos when we took a day trip to Tarpon Springs. Barbecue (and the best buttery, parsley potatoes!) at Kojaks. Delicious burgers and boozy milkshakes at Square 1 Burgers. German sandwiches and apple strudel from Schiller's, our favorite little deli just down the road. Fresh ravioli from The Ravioli Company. And of course Datz.

We also took Stan and Betty to the Thai Food Festival. You might remember hearing about this place last year when we took my mom.

 

Massaman chicken curry & pumpkin curry.

Veggie spring rolls with peanut sauce.

Pho!

Abby doesn't sit still much anymore.

 

There's an area where they sell plants and the most beautiful orchids.

Whenever we do end up leaving Tampa, I know without a doubt that the Thai Food Festival is something we'll continue to reminisce about years later. It's such a unique experience!

The next day, we went to the beach.

Abby loves her Grandmama (Robert is trying to make this name happen -- it's taken from Downton Abbey) so very much and she gives her the best hugs.

I love this sweet picture.

Abby kept showing Stan the acorns.

The morning they left Abby resumed her usual position in the kitchen, ready to mooch! She still stands and walks on her tiptoes more than we would like her to.

Bacon, yum!

Stan and Betty, thank you for the good visit, good food and good company! Please come back at Thanksgiving. Surely by then we'll be hungry again?!

Baby Cora Chiles

Over Memorial Day weekend Robert, Abby and I piled into the car and drove 6+ hours north to Fort Walton Beach to visit my sister and her family. Baby Coralynn Georgia Chiles was born just 3 weeks prior on May 4th. (That's Star Wars Day, by the way. "May the fourth be with you." Get it? Robert may be the only person in our entire family who is impressed by this.) 

I was instantly in love with Miss Cora.

Proud Aunt! Oh Cora, what sorts of fun adventures are we going to have together?

I love these sweet pictures with Bethany. My sister is amazing. She is one of the most beautiful people I know -- both inside and out. She now has three children under 5 years old and somehow she still manages to keep it all together. She remains patient and nurturing despite the sleep deprivation and (dare I say?) chaos that surrounds her. I really don't know how she does it. Cadence, Clay and Cora are so very fortunate to have her as their mom.

Seriously, does it get any better than this?

Smooshy face.

Later that afternoon Robert and I took the 3 "big" kids to the park.

I wonder if Abby's hair will stay as curly as her cousin Cadence's?

I got several sweet pictures of Cadence with Cora but unfortunately I missed getting some good ones with big brother Clay.

Sweet, sweet baby girl

Look at Cora's beautiful, bright blue eyes.

Teeny tiny toes!

This is one of my favorites.

Cadence's ornery face.

Proud papa and one passed out baby.

Have I ever posted pictures of Mike & Bethany's two greyhounds? This is Lily.

Abigail was in heaven -- she loves dogs.

And here's Thomas.

Clay had fun pushing Abby around in his coupe.

Our second night in town, Cadence and I had a slumber party in her room. We played with Barbies and ponies and read book after book while eating Cheez-Its and fruit-o's cereal in her bed.

Visits with family are always too short. Abigail was a great traveler, especially considering the fact that we had just flown home from Milwaukee 4 days prior. She looked at books, took naps...

...and when she was out of ideas, she resorted to eating her toes. (?!)

We can't wait to see you again, sweet baby Cora! Bethany, hang in there with that house full of kiddos. :)