Birthday Party.

We had a joint birthday party for the boys last Sunday.  JJ invited some friends from school and church and we all had a great time.  Unfortunately, it poured down rain in the morning so the kids couldn't go in the pool, but they all got along really well playing inside the whole afternoon.  We don't have very many good pictures because Brian and I were very busy the whole time!

JJ and his girlfriends took a break from playing to do some coloring.

Then they went and played "family" in his room.  It's a game they play at school and this time JJ was the "baby" : )  His "mom" and "sister" are hiding in the tent.

JJ requested a cake and cupcakes.

Birthday Boy!

Owen turned 1-year-old today!  He didn't seem too phased by it though : )  We had a nice day of swim lessons, JJ opened a few of Owen's presents, and we had cupcakes.  Overall, it was a pretty successful day.

In the last month he's gotten another bottom tooth and has 2 top teeth about to pop through.  He's still a way better sleeper at night than JJ was, but is a way pickier eater.  He started standing and he took his first steps on July 25, but is still only taking a few here and there, which is fine with me!  

See those two little teeth : )

He takes standing and walking very seriously.

Current Events.

So, since my parents left . . . .

Brian made a fort for JJ using a fan and duvet cover!

JJ finished his summer homework.

We've been relaxing a lot : )

Owen learned how to drink out of a sippy cup.

Although he tends to water board himself a lot.

The boys just keep growing.

Owen finally learned how to clap!

Owen is now obsessed with Eggo waffles.  When he hears the toaster go off in the morning he starts yelling and pointing his arms at the kitchen.  He also stops eating whatever else he's eating, which is normally yogurt, until he gets his waffle!

The summer is just flying by.  We started swim lessons this week, which is great for the boys.  JJ is able to be in the preschool class at the same time that I do "baby and me" classes with Owen.  It's lots of fun.

The only annoying development lately is that JJ now refuses to nap : (  I guess it's good that we made it until he was almost 4, but I was hoping for a little quiet time each day.  I try to make him stay in his room and relax, but it doesn't always work.  

Our biggest excitement lately though is that Brian made Chief!  He now has 6 weeks of Chief Training until the big pinning ceremony on September 13.  He's been super busy and it's been really hard on JJ, but we'll make it through.

Rome.

One of the last days my parents were here we took a day trip up to Rome.  They had taken a day trip on their own and gone to the Vatican, so on our trip, we did Eataly, the Colosseum, and the Trevi Fountain.  It was a great day.

Since my parents have been gone over a month now, this will be my last post about their visit.  We had a great time with them here and as always, it was really hard to see them leave.  Hopefully they'll visit again before we move back : )

Cefalu, Sicily.

One of the highlights from our time in Italy so far was our trip with my parents to Cefalu while we were in Sicily.  We spent the majority of our time in Palermo, but one day we took the train up to this amazing little beach city and had a great day.  The train ride was gorgeous, right along the water.  The city is small, not super touristy, and beautiful!  We had one of the best meals we've ever had thanks to good food, company, wine, and an amazing location!  

When we found this little restaurant for lunch, we weren't sure if it was open or not.  Most lunch places don't open until about 1 pm, but being American, we wanted to eat earlier than that : )  We walked in and there weren't any other customers there, but the waiter assured us that they we open, then he walked away and we didn't know where he went.  I saw a sign at the back of the restaurant that I thought said outdoor patio, but I wasn't entirely sure and Brian couldn't see any real seating out there.  After a minute or so of deliberations, this cute little Italian lady comes out and says, "blah, blah, blah, blah. . ." and motions us towards the back.  Sure enough, we walk outside and find this amazing patio with our waiter standing there waiting patiently for us! I asked JJ what the Italian lady had said and he says, "she said we need to go sit down now."  Since JJ hasn't been around Italian as much this summer, I think he has forgotten a lot, but since I'm sure he hears this phrase in school all the time he will never forget it!

The view from our table.

Sicily, Part II.

One thing that Sicily definitely is not lacking in is cathedrals.  It seemed like there was truly one on every street.  We only went in a couple, but they were beautiful.

We ate at this amazing little Focacceria that was first opened in 1834.  I got so excited about the yummy food that we ended up ordering waaaay too much.

Poor Owen took a header in the hotel and got his first of many bruises to his forehead.

On our last day we decided to do something different and went to the catacombs.  Unfortunately you can't take pictures in the tombs or I could show you the once in a lifetime images that I now have in my brain.  It was an experience that I will never forget, but kind of wish that I could!  The catacombs contain approximately 8,000 mummies and some are very well preserved.  Some even still had hair!  JJ was running around laughing at all the skeletons.  Luckily he had no idea what he was truly looking at!  He still talks about the funny skeletons.  Hopefully he will forget the experience sooner than later!