Z,Y,X,W,V,U, T.....spaghetti! (and no complaining!)

Saturday afternoon we let Dale go swimming. He had barely gotten outside and we decided he'd be lonely, so Greg went to sit with him and took Alan out too. Not much later, I went to the back door to bring Dale's towel, and there sat all three in the pool! Alan I would have expected, but Greg too? Lol. But, of course, there was a story behind it. To let Alan 'swim' with Dale, you have to squat at the edge of the pool and help him sit up. Even then, if you take his diaper off, that little bottom is slippery. Well....there had squatted Greg, helping a splashing, bucking Alan keep his balance...and Alan "tipped over". Oops! (So that's why his hair was soaking wet!) So, to avoid further tipping, Greg climbed in too...clothes and all. :)
Dale certainly didn't mind. We've decided his love language must be quality time. (If you aren't familiar with love languages, we recommend reading the book! There is one for couples, one for children, and one for teens, all by Gary Chapman.) Anyway, Dale loves being with either of us. Either he is wanting in on what we're doing, or wanting us to join him.

Dale also loves sending email. Many of you know this, because you have received email from him. It just hits him that he wants to send an email. Sometimes he already knows who he wants to send to, and sometimes I have to ask. I rarely lead him to pick anyone in particular, and everyone seems to rotate around pretty regularly. This all started when I switched over from Outlook Express to Incredimail, the free download with lots of backgrounds and smilies. There are tons of emoticons doing all kinds of things and making all sorts of faces. He loves it!
Lately he's started mixing in actual words & phrases, with help spelling, of course. And always look closely, because he signs his name in each one! :)

The last Sunday of each month is pot-luck lunch at church. Combine a particularly lazy Sunday morning with cooking my lunch contribution, and we managed to be late to church. Oops. I would have hated to sit behind us this week. (I would probably hate to sit behind us any week, but this one seemed particularly bad.) After filing in late, it took us through 3 hymns, announcements, a special, and the introduction of the sermon to get settled! And I can only hope Dale sat still for the rest of the sermon (though I kind of doubt it) because Alan and I were in the nursery.
On to lunch...I've learned that if you put your dish toward the end, most people's plates are too full to get much (if any) of what you brought, and you end up taking some home. This can be good or bad, depending on if you want leftovers. :) This week I took my chances and put my spaghetti toward the front, and still came home with hardly any missing. Not a great compliment on your cooking, but at least you don't have to cook supper! :)
Mom, Dad & Kristin came over to help us finish it off, so we wouldn't be eating spaghetti all week!
Alan has had a great day today!! Apart from a half-hour this morning that I spent very frustratedly trying to get him to sleep, that is. I cannot figure out why it is so different when Greg does it. I better figure it out quick though, because once the summer is over I'm on my own again!!
Anyway, Alan had a big breakfast for the second day in a row, and spent the morning in a great mood. Once I finally got him to sleep for a morning nap, he slept for an hour and a half! Greg spent most of the morning mowing. That comes around a lot these days, with all the rain, but after two years of drought I will NOT complain! Everything is so pretty and green! (and my petunias are drowning!...but I will NOT complain!) :)
Dale and I had an early PBJ lunch - his idea, and I liked it!
Alan woke up at noon, in a GREAT mood. He was so much fun! It's really fun to watch him and Dale playing together more and more. Dale loves to make him laugh (like he did here, hiding behind his highchair!), and is good about not minding when Alan gets one of his toys.
Alan had graham cracker for the first time this weekend, and loves it! So cute to see him eating like a big boy. :)
It rained again this afternoon (but I'm NOT complaining!) Dale and Alan each took a nap. It had to be Alan's longest nap ever. I am so happy! I would love to get him doing that every day.... it would be perfect!!! He woke up and ate almost a whole jar of babyfood mixed with cereal, something he hasn't done twice in one day before. He probably would have eaten the whole jar if I hadn't also been trying to get him to eat another kind (green beans & turkey) on the side. Ick. I don't think he likes meat very much. I've heard this is common with liver kids. Not sure with Alan if it is liver related or he's just not used to it yet.
We had a light supper, then went over to see Mimi, Gramps & Kristin for a little while. It was great to be out at 7:30/8:00 and still be warm and daylight outside. I love summer time!
Tomorrow promises to be a big day: Greg's mom, step-dad, brother (Scott) & nephew(Aaron) are all coming to visit.
We haven't seen Scott since December 2005! (Scott and Katie are in the Air Force, currently stationed in Utah). Aaron is one year and one week younger than Dale. (Almost 3, to Dale's almost 4.)
Dale's been talking about this visit for a couple of days. When he names off who all is coming, he keeps including Katie, but she isn't able to come. Today at breakfast he did it again, and we (again) reminded him "Aunt Katie has to go to work". For some reason this morning, that sent him off on a story (remember, Dale's stories are told all in one breath):

"Aunt Katie was on the phone with Grandma and she was going to sing the ABC's but she sang it backwards"

What?!? Greg and I about fell over in our chairs with that mental image, and I guess Dale thought his story was truth, because he then thought it was really funny that Aunt Katie sang the ABC's backwards! :)

So anyway...tomorrow....the population of our house is going to double proportionately. There will be 8 people here....6 males and two lonely females!! :) We'll miss you Katie! :) Oh...and there is a 70% chance of rain, but I am NOT complaining!!!

I'll take lots of pictures, and if I'm not too worn out maybe I can put them on tomorrow night. :) For now, I better go rest up!! :)