Melanie was thrilled when we expanded our folding chair options and bought her a pink princess chair.  This means she no longer has to fight with her brother over the one, $1 chair I bought two years ago in a garage sale, or that they don't have to use Mom & Dad's chairs, like Joey is up top while watching the polo match.  They got further upgraded when they both got sturdy red chairs for the back porch this past weekend.  You can see the chairs get put to good use in our house.  You can also see, from Joey's face in the top photo, that his Daddy likes to put LOTS of sunscreen on the kids' faces.  We had a great time at the polo match, despite the six hundred degree temperature.  The Farmers Bank hosted another great event!

Happy Fifteen Month Birthday!

 

 Joseph Pierce Worzala is now fifteen months old.  This means he is 21 pounds, 15 ounces (16%), and 31 5/8 inches (66%).  He is in size four diapers, size 12 clothes (some 18-month tops, and 18-month swim trunks), has eight teeth, lots of smiles, and loves fruit.  All fruit.  Like two pounds of blueberries a week.  He likes all toys that make noise (what kid his age doesn't??), is starting to learn to use a crayon and a fork, loves to throw balls, follows simple instructions, is fascinated by bringing us our shoes (particularly when we don't need them), waves bye-bye, blows kisses, gives kisses and hugs, continues his love of his left thumb and "binky bear" (his blue lovey object), loves to sleep (proving, despite his cuteness, that he IS my child!)  Joey's only real word is "ball" - but the doctor still isn't concerned.  He moved daycare rooms on August 1, and will be in with "older" kids, so maybe he'll pick up some of their communication skills!  And hopefully not the biting & hitting skills he has started to turn to.....

That top picture above looks so much like another Worzala grandson I can't get over it!

Who's a blondie??

Before:

 After:

On Tuesday night (7/12/11), Poppy took Joey for his second haircut.  Joe did SUCH a great job, sitting on Poppy's lap and being his easy-going self!  After months of people telling us "once you cut his hair, he's going to be blonde!" - we realized people were trying to tell us "Hey, slackers, cut your kid's hair!!" Now that it is cut, the kid honestly looks like a different/more grown up version of himself!  Happy haircutting!

Pig Wrasslin'

The team of “Wham, Bam, Thank you Ham” had a great showing at the Clinton County Fair on Tuesday night. The four of us (Laura, Heather, Christal and I) had sixty seconds to get the pig into the center barrel. While we were very successful at getting ahold of the pig, we never got the pig transferred to the barrel.

The general consensus was that our pig was too big for us; further, they added more water to the mud pit before we went out there; those two things combined (and surely not our pig wrestling ability) somewhat hindered our attempts.

In the end, the winner for our category was determined by a show of applause for each team. While our fan club was very extensive, they had all dissipated by the time the applause match started, and, sadly, we did not win.

The event was capped off by a parking-lot change of clothes, and more mud than I have ever seen in my life. I was very proud that both of my nieces and my nephew got to witness their Aunt Angie attempting to take down this pig!

Happy Birthday Molly Carolyn!

Molly turned THREE in July, and we were thrilled to be part of her big day!  She had a backyard, Diego-themed bash, where the kids were encouraged to get the various animals they found throughout the yard back into their natural habitats (including the sandbox Mel & Joey got her for her birthday), we had a bouncy-house, water table, etc.  A great time was had by all - over a dozen kids!

Cousin Lovin

Molly stayed the night with us the day before her 3rd birthday party.  The weekend started out with a bang, as we swam and played at Gigi & Poppy's on Friday night.  Mel and Molly got to play with Tony Abromitis, one of the Corea grandsons.  The kids had fun, and then Molly came back to our house for bedtime.  Saturday morning, we all headed to the farmer's market and the playground, before Gigi picked Molly up to get ready for her party.  It was truly hilarious to hear Melanie and Molly's conversations, and how they work their own arguments out (negotiating for chair space at the dinner table, for example).  A few examples of their conversations...

Melanie:  "Molly, who all is going to be at your birthday party tomorrow?" 

Molly:  "Well, Charlie will be there, and Ellie, and Sam."

Melanie (clearly confused because those are HER friends):  "What are their last names?

Molly:  "I'll show them all to you tomorrow."

Another example:

(driving home)

Molly:  "Mel-Mel, do you remember that time at Gigi's house when we saw a bathtub in the driveway that looked like a pool?"

Both girls:  Uncontrollable giggling.

Melanie:  "Mommy, one time, Molly and I saw a bathtub in the driveway.  it looked like a pool."

(made no sense to me, but I thought it was hilarious they have these shared memories)

One more example:

(driving home)

Molly:  "Melanie, those are my flip-flops you're wearing."

Melanie:  "Don't yell at me!!  Mommy, she yelled at me."

Molly:  "I did not yell at you" (Me:  "She did not yell at you, those are her flip flops.")

Melanie:  (crying hysterically):  "You hurt my feelings!!!!"

(Looking back to Molly, Molly is silently crying because Melanie's feelings are hurt)  By the time we got home, all was forgiven, and they kissed each other and told each other they loved each other.

Sunday had fun in store as well, as we headed to Fishers to play at Charlie & Sammie's pool while the guys played golf. Melanie & Joey are lucky to have all of their cousins living in Indiana now!

Happy Fourth of July!

Their shirts say "(Really Nice) Sister for Sale - Will Trade for Bike" and "Brother for Sale"

Watching fireworks with Poppaw

Melanie went through about a case of "Pop-Its" over the weekend.  She liked to throw them at people to scare them...

This is my Dad's golf hat.  Joey was ready to hit the course!

We had a fun Fourth this year - we loaded the kids and my parents into the minivan, and road-tripped to Jeff's parents' house for the long weekend.  The kids did pretty well in the car; Melanie liked having a movie playing at all times, even though she doesn't like to use the headphones.  Since Joey is still rear-facing, my mom and I used his TV to watch a movie.  On the way up, Joey slept most of the way, while Melanie only slept about the last 30 minutes.  While we were in Michigan, we swam every day, shot off fireworks every night, and just generally enjoyed being with all four grandparents all weekend!  This will presumably be the Worzalas' last 4th in Michigan, as they target next summer for a move back to Indiana!