Last day of first grade

The morning of the last day of school I was in the emergency room with Lucy and I missed out on pictures and parent pick up, my friend Tina took pictures for me.  I just got those pictures from her, so here is a last day of first grade tribute.

Lilly won the dynamite student award on the last day of first grade.  She also won this award on the last day of kindergarten.  She was pretty thrilled to have such a tradition.

She had a great teacher for first grade and did extremely well.  Great job Lilly!

Caught up?

I am feeling like I will never catch up on my life.  Since Lucy has been born I have been behind on laundry, majorly behind. Maybe when my mom did my laundry I wasn't behind, but that doesn't count.  I recently read a blog post about "The Blur" that nailed it, here is my favorite quote:

"My father describes the years when his children were young as "The Blur". So that's where I was - deep in the Blur... I am on a 24 hour cycle of waking, sleeping, nursing, napping, cooking, cleaning, wiping, folding, dropping off, picking up and putting away. And it never, ever ends. I was once a very smart person. I was 2 semesters into a Doctorate when I had my first kid. Now, I am a moron. That's what The Blur has done to me."

I have exhaustion to the bone.  It's the kind of tired that makes you insane.  My memory is gone and I feel like I am acting like an alzheimer's patient.  People say "remember when I told you..." and I just say "of course I remember." In reality I have no idea what they are talking about.  I will find myself halfway into a conversation and realize I have no idea any of the details; who the story is about or why the story is being told.  I can't remember details or conversations.  Don't despair, I have read that when you go through stressful life situations your memory goes and I would imagine extreme sleep deprivation does the same.

Suffice it to say I am behind on my pictures and blog posts.  I say I am behind because the further away I get from an event the less I feel like writing about it and the further behind in writing the less I will want to document and just give up (that evil perfectionist sneaking up on me).

That was a long four paragraphs to just say: I feel behind! 

I am going to jump right in.

Lilly was really sad to say goodbye to her friends Alyssa and Addi this summer. We have had a lot of friends move and it has been very sad.  Although we have managed to have all of them over for a big farewell dinner and a few sleepovers as people clean out their houses and need a place to crash.

Addi (6), Alysson (8), Alyssa (8), Lilly (7), and Jack hiding behind Alysson (3)

These girls are all sorts of silly when they get together.  They car pooled home from school every day last year and every day they acted like crazy, silly girls.

That night Lilly and Alysson said goodbye to their friends there were many tears shed and then we went to the drive-in. We LOVE the drive-in.

Jack

My sweet beautiful Jack makes us laugh daily.  He knows he is funny and he likes to try and make everyone laugh.  His approach is a modern slapstick routine that involves slapping his face and head repeatedly.

This summer he is warming up to the pool and doing well with swimming lessons.  My favorite part about swimming lessons is that Jack loves to wear his swimming glasses (goggles) and his seat belt (swim belt).  I think swimming glasses is pretty much the most adorable expression I have heard. Sadly kids told him that they are NOT swimming glasses but goggles.  Now he wont say swimming glasses anymore. He is very perceptive and quietly brilliant.

I try to remind myself that my children are already people with full personalities and thoughts and opinions. They see and hear everything.

Pitcavage Family Reunion

Every 4th of July Jim's family has a reunion.  The past few years the reunion has been at Knoebels.  Which is really fun and brutally hot. This post is brought to you by a mixture of photos from my phone and John's Nikon.

This year I am pretty sure it was one billion degrees.  We were all hot and tired but still had a lot of fun.

Poor Lilly had her first bout of motion sickness from this ride.  This was the ride that did me in last year. Jack and Lilly spent the day hanging out with their cousins.

Limited cousin shoot (many cousins were missing from this photo!)

ABOVE:

Back row: Becca (11), Brooke (6 months), Jack (3)

Front row: Lilly (7), Baby Lucy (2 months), Emma (4), Sydney (2.9), Sage (4)

Jim's brother Mike, Aunt Valerie (not married to Mike) and Brooke

Maxing out the double jogger.

Lilly and Becca

Jack sweaty on the fire truck.

Sweet baby Lucy did great and we took breaks in the air conditioned mothers lounge.

Fun kiddie ride, the kiddie whip.

Lucy with her red, white, and blue (eyes).

Nothing like taking a picture at 12 noon in direct sunlight with a cranky baby when it's 1 billion degrees outside. Happy 4th!

Now everyone look at the camera and squint.

We had a great time and the kids loved going on rides with their cousins. John and Val and their three girls stayed with us a few nights and we all had a blast.