New Buffalo Beach

Last summer we discovered New Buffalo, Michigan.  It is a cute beach town right on Lake Michigan about two hours from our house.  We fell in love and we were so excited to go back this summer.  We went this weekend and, again, had the best time.  The girls both loved it.  Kyla loves the water and got right in.....head wet and everything.  Ashlyn wasn't sure of the water at first but once Daddy started spinning her around in it, she had the best time.  Here is a glimpse of our beach day.

Kyla so happy to be getting in the water

Ashlyn testing it out

 Sisters on the beach

Playing in the sand

Ashlyn having a blast with Daddy

Loving the water

Happy girl up high

Ashlyn and Mommy

At our favorite New Buffalo restaurant - Stray Dog Cafe

Ashlyn and Daddy having a good laugh

Time for ice cream!

The messier the better

Yummy

Yippee for ice cream

Here comes the water

Finding shells

Going deeper

Fun in the sand

Our sand castles

We are so grateful for this beach town that is close.  It is a  great summer day trip and the perfect place for our family to play in the sand and water.  We love this place.

 

May seem like no big deal, but it is

For over a year and a half we have been working with Ashlyn on drinking from a straw.  It is true, there are many things, even simple things, that can take kids with Down Syndrome longer to get.  And, for Ashlyn, this was one of those things.  When she turned a year, I knew I had to get her off of a bottle or I was afraid she would be on it forever.  By fourteen months, she no longer used a bottle and we had transitioned her to a baby sippy cup.  It had a soft spout and a little handles on the sides.  I was thrilled that she started drinking from it.  However, as time passed, I wanted to start trying other, more "big kid" cups with her.  She resisted and resisted at every point along the way.  Our therapists and doctors assured me that it wasn't the worst thing that she was drinking from that cup and that she needed her liquids.  There were a couple of times that I thought we should just take the baby sippy cup away from her cold turkey and make her drink from something else.  Well, one of those times after refusing to drink for almost 48 hours and being so uncomfortable, I had Troy digging through the trash to get it out.  We were desperate and back to the baby cup we went.

I wanted her to learn to drink from a straw, because once she got that we wouldn't have to bother with sippy cups anymore.  So, all this time while she was using the baby sippy cup, we would work on the straw.  I would put it to her mouth and make the liquid come up for her to try to drink it.  Over time she could tolerate that better and there wasn't liquid running all down her chin.  The bottom line is that it is really difficult to teach someone to drink from a straw.  And for the longest time I could tell that Ashlyn just wasn't getting it.  She would put her mouth on it but not really know what to do with it.  All the while, I would see 18 month olds walking around drinking from a straw and it would stress me out and make me sad.  And I had the memories of just giving Kyla a straw cup one day and she just did it.  Drinking from a straw seems like such a little thing, but when you work on it for over a year and a half, it becomes a big thing.

In recent days, when I would offer Ashlyn a cup with a straw, I could tell her lips were more rounded and I could see liquid starting to come up.  Well, last week during a typical everyday lunch at home, I gave her the straw cup we had been working with and up the liquid came....right into her sweet little mouth.  And she kept going!!  She got it!!  I am not kidding, I cried happy tears right there at the table.  It was such a relief and I was so proud of her for always hanging in there with me.....trying, trying and trying some more.  Things come a little harder, but the victories are so sweet.

I caught her on video, drinking away with her straw.  Honestly, I don't think it will ever get old seeing her do it.  And that is the crazy thing.  For as much as I wish it wasn't hard sometimes, I really do thank God every time I see her do it.  I don't think it is going to get old.  Every time I see those little lips round around a straw and drink it in I remember the therapy appointments that I cried in because we were trying everything and the prayers I prayed over this little issue that God knew was big to me.  It may seem little to you, but to us, it is huge.  We kept trying and she got it.

Festivities of the Fourth

I love the Fourth of July and yesterday was another great one.  We started the day before by getting a Fourth of July dessert ready and I've got the two best little helpers.....

When the day arrived, we had to wear our cutest, most patriotic outfits....

All three of us girls.....

Another great thing about the day was that Daddy was home with us all day.  Daddy and Kyla got some afternoon cuddles in.....

Another wonderful thing about this holiday is that it comes with good food, including grilled food, something that we all love to eat and Troy loves to make.  He made pulled pork for a BBQ with friends we went to. 

Kyla and Daddy with the pork, right off the grill

Helping Daddy shred it

Our friends, Keith and Kimber, invited us over for a Fourth of July gathering and we had so much fun.  Including, Kyla and Ashlyn who had lots of fun playing with their friends.

With their favorite little boy, Britton

Good to be in the water on a very hot day

Staying cool in Kimber's very cool sprinkler

 Kyla was the oldest child there and she did so great with the littler ones.  She loves to play with them and help them. Her big sister was shining through.  Here she is reading with Londyn.

We were undecided about whether we would go to fireworks or not.  It was very hot out and we knew it would be a late night.  But, when we got in the car to leave Troy and both said, "Let's go!"  We had a really good time and downtown Lafayette was set up so nice for the whole thing.  I love making memories like this.  I have so many fireworks memories from my own childhood and I love seeing my girls start to make some of their own.

Ashlyn getting a ride from Daddy

Kyla checking out the sprinklers they had for kids to run through

The girls were so happy to get glow sticks

Our sweet Ashlyn

 Our sweet Kyla

Giggles while waiting for the fireworks

Rosy, hot cheeks

And one of the best parts, watching fireworks through the eyes of a five year old.  I love it.  Ashlyn thought the fireworks were way too loud and she was scared of them, so she and Daddy had to take a little walk.  I stayed with Kyla and watched her take it all in.....

 Love these days of celebrating with family and friends and watching childhood memories happen. 

Joy of family

We had a great weekend over in Illinois at my mom and dad's house celebrating my mom's 60th birthday.  It is hard to live away from our families and so we are always so glad to be together. 

Kyla and Grandma

This trip was very special because my sister and brother in law were also there and my Grandpa Thurman, who lives in Ohio, was there for the celebration.  It was so great for us all to be together and very special for the girls to get to be with their Great Grandpa.  I have such wonderful memories from my childhood of times with my Grandma and Grandpa Thurman and I am so glad our girls were able to experience some of that this weekend.

Kyla and Ashlyn listening to Great Grandpa tell them a story.  I remember this well....he would always tell my sister and I stories that he made up as he went along, with lots of animation along the way.  We loved it and so did these two girls.

Kyla and Great Grandpa playing together

And laughing....

The girls also loved being with their Aunt Kara....

And Uncle Dustin.....

Cuddling with Aunt Kara while watching a video

Love being with my sister.  Usually when we are together, some of our time is spent day dreaming about what it would be like to live by each other.

We had some fun outings during our time together......

Kyla loves this fountain in Edwardsville, IL

Mom and I with Grandpa

Kyla and Grandma at the fountain (Ashlyn was taking a nap at this time)

Kyla and Grandpa

Troy and my Dad before heading to a Cardinals game

The girls loved going to a splash park by Grandma and Grandpa's house

Happy girls at Grandma and Grandpa's

Happy Ashlyn and Mommy

A special weekend celebrating my mom's precious life, the fun of grand kids being at grandma and grandpa's house, sisters and brother in laws laughing and the priceless gift of two little girls being with their Great Grandpa.

Thankful for the rich blessing of family.