A Hostage Situation

My mom is staying with us for a month.  This seemed like a great idea to her until she got here and Everett took her hostage.  He won't let her out of his sight!  If I enter the room where they are playing, he promptly says, "Go away Mama!"  He made her sit in the closet with him for about an hour.  He would open the door and run around, but left her in there!  My mom said, "Even prisoners get to go out on the yard, Everett."  If I say time for nap, "I want Grandma to come in my crib."  If I say it's lunchtime, "I want Grandma to eat, too."  I have warned my mom that she better start napping when he naps because today is just day 1!  

We are so happy to have her here!

The Birthday Girl

Can you believe that Zoe celebrated her 10th birthday?  Still as cute as ever!

Susan's Shower

He stole the ladies' hearts

Lionel Meets the Family

Avery couldn't wait to hold Lionel

Not the best photo....but Avery looks great!

More cousins!

We thought Lionel would like the walker in the stationary position, just to play with the toys. We were wrong!  My boy wanted to walk!  

The girls cleared a way for him

He was all over the place!

Visiting with Grandma Carole

Cousins Avery and Sasha

More Lionel Adventures

Uncle Jamie was making Lionel laugh so hard

Ready for bed with Papa

Lionel meets Great-Grandpa George

Auntie & Uncle playing "Light as a feather, stiff as a board"

He May Be Sick, But....

.....he's still smiling!  Poor Lionel has the sickness now, too.  Lucky for us, he is still his jovial self.  He's an inspiration.

"I didn't make this mess.  It was Everett!"

Week of the Living Dead

This is the first time we have ever all been knocked on our butts by illness here at the Stano household.  It has been a nightmare.  Everett got it first - the stomach flu.  Vomiting and diarrhea galore.  Then, Billy got a sore throat, cold, and cough.  Everett's continued.  Then, I got the cough and a fever.  Everett's continued.  Billy's continued.  Then, Lionel got a fever last night.  All the rest of us continue to be sick, too.  I'm waiting for Zoe to start coughing!

It's been a week already.  Please make it go away!

Yum Yum!

I can't believe my little baby is eating solids!  We tried oatmeal this week.  He wasn't sure what to make of it at first, but he is getting better with each time.  He's growing up so fast!

Could this be any more precious?

Lionel's First Trip to the Zoo!

We went to the zoo on this absolutely beautiful day.  It was one of the best zoo days I've ever had.  All of the animals were out and active.  Everett got soaked at the splash pad and then covered in dirt at the tree house, but had a great time.  Lionel loved watching the kids and animals and even snuck a catnap in in the shade.  It was such a lovely day with my family.

The boys all geared up and ready to see some animals!

Giraffes!  Lionel's first animal sighting!

Checking out the giraffes from up high

Running around the splash pad and in the caves (his FAVORITE part!)

Milking a cow at the Kids' farm

Some lovely facial expressions!

Driving the tractor at the kids' farm

Everett touched every single goat

Lionel liked watching the goats

The Sweetest Baby Around

Red Rover, Red Rover....

....Let Lionel roll over!  Tonight, after dinner, Lionel rolled over for the first time!  He had been rolling onto his side for weeks and then falling back onto his back, but tonight he made it all the way over.  Once he got going, he couldn't stop!  It is so exciting to see him start his milestones.  He'll be crawling next, watch and see!

I did it!

Hmm, what's next for me?

My Little Artist

We had a play date at our house today and all the kids painted pots and then planted a flower in them.  Everett was way too excited to actually do it while all the kids were over our house, so we did his after his nap.  It was so much fun watching him do this.