Let's Dance

Right now, Ledger loves to sing and dance.  He frequently requests that we sing songs -- his favorite is the Hot Dog song from Mickey Mouse clubhouse...

 

Look for the Lining

This has not been a banner week for the Michel family.  Starting last Friday, Chris accidentally backed his car into my car.  Then our dishwasher started over heating and had to be completely unplugged to avoid a fire hazard.  On Monday, a day of record-breaking heat, our air conditioner was declared dead beyond repair and required total replacement.  We also got our lawn mower back after four weeks in the shop and the bill was about double what we were originally expecting.  And I cried, but comforted myself with the thought that the bad stuff has to be over with.  But tonight we found out that the storage shed at the lake was broken into and our wakeboards were stolen.

So instead of focusing on the negative, I find myself looking for the silver lining.  And, you know what, it's there.  On the hottest day of the spring, we managed to get a reliable air conditioning company to come out and install a new a/c unit within 24 hours.  Our riding lawn mower is in working order... finally!  We have an amazing family support system that has rallied around us to help us out as we have needed.  Sometimes I need to just step back and get a little perspective.  Stuff happens, and all I can do is go with it.

Our family is healthy and happy and loved and truly blessed.

First Lake Weekend

We had a very good first weekend at the lake.  The water level is down a bit, but we played around on the paddle boat and Ledger (and the dogs too) loved playing in the sand of the beach.  I'm so excited to be heading into summer!

And now you're two...

Dear Ledger,

Another year has flown by.  We have watched you grow from a baby to a little boy... right in front of our eyes.  Last summer, we took a family vacation to Colorado and you loved spending time with aunt Jaime and uncle V and Grammie and Grandpa.  We toured the Denver Aquarium and the Colorado Springs Zoo and visited Red Rocks and waterfalls.  You loved every minute of it!

We also took a Mommy and Daddy vacation and Ledger stayed with Oma and Doodah.  Although it was difficult for us to leave, you didn't bat an eye.  We spent the rest of the summer spending as much time as possible at the lake and in the pool.  You took to the water right away and spent most of your time wearing only a diaper and playing in the hose whenever you had the chance.

As we approached the fall, we loved watching Chiefs football and cheering for our favorite team!  We made a trip to Pittsburg to visit the Vanderbecks and watched a Pitt State football game.  We went to the KC Renaissance Fair, but you were a little overwhelmed by the costumes and craziness.  Your vocabulary really started to blossom and you constantly were learning new tricks to show off.

At Halloween, we went to three different pumpkin patches, but never carved a single pumpkin!  You dressed up like a cowardly lion and went trick-or-treating on Santa Fe street.  You had your first dum dum and loved it!

As we approached the holidays, you started really developing an ornery side.  You started being destructive and testing the limits that Mommy and Daddy would set for you.  You really loved Christmas time and helped us decorate.  We also went to the Parade of Lights with Jarod, Briana, and Shawn -- which has quickly developed into an annual tradition.  You got a huge stack of presents for Christmas, but your favorite gift was a toy vacuum.  And you vacuumed and vacuumed and vacuumed for the remainder of the holiday break.

With the arrival of the new year, you started to display your talent for singing and dancing.  You loved to read books with Mommy and Daddy.  You had your first real snow experience.  You loved eating the snow, but didn't like having cold hands!  We went to a few of cousin Ethan's basketball games, where you loved to play with the basketball and run on the court after the game.  In February, we converted your crib into a toddler bed.  As with everything else, you took it in stride and immediately loved being in a "big boy bed".

As spring approached, we continued to have new adventures.  We visited the nearby park when weather permitted and played inside when it didn't.  We spent quality time with family and friends.  We went to the circus and hunted Easter eggs.  You got a new "spiky" haircut.

And then you turned TWO.

You are an amazing boy.  You love to sing Twinkle Twinkle and ABCs.  You can hear an airplane or a train from miles away.  You can spot tractors and trucks as they speed by on the road.  You are affectionate and love to give hugs, kisses, and cuddle... when you're in the mood.  You are definitely an outside boy and spend as much time in the yard as we can handle.  You smile and laugh all the time and love it when you can make Mommy and Daddy laugh too.

We love you so much.  Every second we get to spend with you is a blessing in our lives.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy.

Who's Not Two?!

Ledger turns two tomorrow.  But you couldn't convince me that he's not already into the terrible twos.  Here's a video of one of his two-year tantrums -- this one because he didn't want to get into the car seat.

Ledger's 2nd Birthday Party

This week, my little boy will turn 2 years old.  We celebrated this weekend with family and friends on Saturday.  We chose a Mickey Mouse theme this year.  Chris and Uncle Josh decorated the house with balloons.  Aunt Emily helped decorate cupcakes.  Boom Ma and Boom Pa Powell, Grammie and Grandpa Michel, Oma Hensley, and Jarod, Briana, and Shawn all came over to help us celebrate.  Ledger started off a little overwhelmed but eventually he loosened up and had a great time.  He got a lot of presents, but his favorite of the day came from Jarod and Briana -- a toy lawnmower.  After cake and presents, we took the party into the front yard where Ledger mowed and chased bubbles!  The party was a success and we love that we were able to celebrate with our family and close friends!

I would just like to put a quick personal note at the end of this blog.  I had a truly amazing weekend from start to finish. BoomMa and BoomPa Powell came early to help us work on the fence project, which I am so happy to report is FINISHED!  I had Friday off and got to wake up early to watch the wedding of Prince William and Catherine.  And I cried.  On Saturday, we got some good garage sale deals.  We went out to eat at some of my favorite places -- Carlos O'Kellys and Scheme Pizza.  Ledger was all smiles because the weather was great and he got to spend a lot of time outdoors with his family.  On Sunday, I got to go see a girlie movie with my mom and sister (which hasn't happened in a long time) while Josh and Chris caught a different movie.  And then, after a very relaxing Sunday afternoon, we got the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed by American Sepecial Forces.  It was just a great weekend.  Thank you to all of our friends and family who helped make this weekend one to remember.