Summer time

 Yes I still do blog...  Summer is flying by and now it's time for school to start.

Shelby is home from Disney! Yay!!! She had a great time and she probably would have stayed if she had the time with her studies and extra finances.  The Disney college program is awesome, but not something that you do to grow your savings account.  She thoroughly had a great time though.  She probably spent 85% of her days there in the parks while she was there and tried just about everything there is to do down there.  (She is a great resource of all things Disney if anyone ever has questions).  Now, she is back working at the farm mostly on the weekends and watching two little girls during the week.  She isn't going to do marching band this fall, it will be nice to have her around more and not racing around so much.  I think she will appreciate the extra time as her program studies ramp up this Fall.  Can't believe she is already a junior. 

Robbie is sweating his butt off for football this summer.  He has been conditioning a few days a week and freshman football started last week.  This is the first time in a long time that I am not a band-mom, I am now an official football mom.  He his so happy that I purchased "sparkle-mom-football jersey" with his last name on it.  His team is a little bigger this year and he is getting the chance to be a wide receiver and running back.  Robbie has always just had such a love of football and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up coaching in his life.  (sorry for the lack of a football picture, this is a much more handsome/less sweaty picture from his spring dance)

Matthew can ride a bike! We bought him a balance bike for his birthday.  During a recent camping trip, we had a spot near a cul d sac.  He is one determined boy and practiced all weekend.  By the time we came home, he asked to get out his bike with training wheels and have them removed.  To our shock, he was up and pedaling  away.  He got to go to safety town and will be going  off to kindergarten soon.  Matthew had an MRI in June and will have an ultrasound at the end of the year.  We are gauging  his need for sclerotherapy (injections to shrink some of the remaining tissue in his cheek).

Gracie is having a fun summer of speech and physical therapy.  She recently was fitted with additional bracing for her right leg.  She isn't a big fan of wearing it, but we are seeing a lot less falling. It offers more support to her weaker foot, but still allows enough flex ability to still build up the muscles in her leg.   She can now ride a tricycle really well and she is starting to work on Matthew's bike with training wheels.  Her language is really exploding and it's so sweet to have real conversations with her.  It's amazing to see her go from baby to preschooler in just over a year. 

Not sure if it's going to last, but both Grace and Matthew have been sleeping so much better.  We have spent the better part of the last 3.5 years dealing with a lot of interrupted sleep and having to sleep in their room.   Both of them have dealt with a lot of nighttime anxiety, rightfully so.  We are just down to Jeff laying down with them at night till they fall asleep  and just an occasional reassuring hug during the night.  It is so nice to sleep in my own bed, but now I am realizing it's time for us to get a new mattress, lol. 

Hoping to blog more, wish me luck!